Sorry about the late update people. Also, thank you for all the reviews. I know I can get a little well, demanding about leaving reviews, but it's just because I love hearing what you think. If you don't wish to leave a review feel free to message me instead. Other than that I hope that you're enjoying the Fanfic.

Shut up Sabaine and get on with it. Honestly.

Seabiscuit: RAWR. I like Evil Zoe. She kinda disappears in this chapter, but she'll return with a vengeance in the next chapter I swear.

Dex Zabeth: I hope you like this chapter, it gets a little crueller.

Cheshire Cat: I'm feeling better thank you. Zoe goes up and down more than a yo-yo.

Guest: Hello there. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. Thank you!

Robotic Unicorn Ninja Cookie: Ooooh sweets. I'm not saying anything. This chapter will explain a lot and I have a feeling that if you review it will be in capitals.

Koryandrs: Thanks! Here's hoping it continues.

Tanairy Cornelio: Aww Jack, indeed. I miss writing him.

Nano1012: 0: I hadn't even noticed that I was doing that! Thank you for pointing it out! I'm taking more care now. If I've done it again sorry!

SoaringPheonix86: Three words – Good fucking luck.

Chapter 13 – An unlucky number for a reason.

My hands are bloody, my nails have broken and I can feel the sharp pieces in my palms and scalp. I breathe in a choking breath, I don't know how long I've been here. All I know is that I want it to stop. I'm tearing my hair out, hoping it nulls the pain in my head, but no. I've clawed at my body trying to rip myself from my skin in vain hope that it will end. Nothing. The screams that have haunted me haven't stopped since I've been trapped here. I shake, curled into a ball, my knees brought up to my chest. But that's not the worse bit. Not by far, the worst bit is-

'Angel, you shouldn't ignore me.'

That. That is the worst bit. I shake my heard, this is all unreal. Nothing here is true. Jack is here. Well. A memory of him, or something that Pitch has created. All I know is that he's here and he's torturing me. A whimper breaks from my chest, I can't take more of this. I really can't.

'Angel,' he repeats. 'You know I don't like seeing you hurting yourself,' he says softly as I drag my hands through my hair. I feel my scalp bleed under the pressure that I place. My eyes well up, not from the physical pain but in agony of hearing his voice. 'Please Angel, don't.'

'You're not real,' I spit, my voice breaking. 'You're not. I killed you...'

'I'm still here,' he says. I feel his fingers run across my shoulders, I used to flinch, but now? I'm too broken to care. I shudder as he touches my cheek, I can sense his presence next to me. He's lying beside my curled up frame. I won't look at him. I can't. I'm hugging my scythe. That's real, that's the only real thing here. The blade sits over my shoulder and I can feel the length of the cold metal down my wing.

'You're not real...' I say weakly, in a tiny pathetic tone. I haven't stopped crying since I held his body and now is no different. The tears sting my eyes as they leave, I'm already dehydrated but they keep falling. Jack tuts and actually embraces me, my body arcs in reply, moving me away from his touch, but he doesn't give up and pulls me back despite my thrashing.

'Angel,' he says stroking my hair, 'please. Don't fight me. Please,' he repeats softly. I violently shake my head, the screams increasing in volume as I deny his existence. 'You are so strong my Angel, let me help you, you don't have to be strong for me,' he says smiling. My Jack, my wonderful Jack, what are you doing? Why are you doing this to me?

'Don't...' I plead. 'Stop...'

'Angel,' he kisses my cheek, 'look at me, my love.'

'No,' I clench my eyes shut tighter, I feel blood drip from my hair down my forehead. I hear him chuckle, the laugh that always makes me blush and feel goofy. His fingertips run from my hair down my face, wiping away my tears, my head is tilted towards his, without helping it, I open my eyes. A keening noise breaks from my lips as I stare into his blue eyes. They're exactly as I remember. His face crinkles into a smile, his trademark, cheeky grin. My heart crumbles, all the reserve I had held disappeared. I can't help but return his grin at him, I never thought I would see him look at me like that ever again. 'Jack?' I say despite my mind screaming at me to stop.

'There's my Zoe,' he said laughing. 'There's my beautiful Angel.' I couldn't say anything before he leant closer, his lips touching mine. I flinch and try to move my head back but his hand was resting against my hair and he pulled me back, capturing my lips with his, I gasp but don't jerk away, instead I move into his kiss. It soothes the blind agony in my mind, his scent is overpowering. His other hand wraps around my waist pressing his body against me. I feel my heart pound, my skin prickle at the intensity that he kissed me. I lose myself in his grasp and feel as the guilt and depression that swamp my mind leave. When he moves the scythe from my grip, a pang of fear passes through me but I don't fight. Here, in this dream world, Jack is with me. I don't have to worry about the duty, or anything else. Here I'm free. So when the scythe leaves my hands, I let it go. Mentally and physically. Jack throws it to one side before cupping my face and kissing me even more. My heart rises for a few beats. I don't care if this isn't real. I don't.

'J-Jack,' I mumble, my lips brushing his, 'don't leave me,' I sob. 'Please, please don't leave me,' my tears fall heavier.

'I won't my Angel,' he said softly, 'I won't. I'm still here,' he says making me look at him. 'I'm always here for you Zoe, I'll never leave.'

'Promise?' I ask, the screams has quietened to an almost bearable level.

'I promise,' he says with a slight chuckle. I sigh in both relief and pure pleasure as the cacophony in my mind disappears completely. He smiles and kisses my forehead, not caring about the blood.

'A week, that's all it took?' A voice says laughing. 'I'm disappointed really. I thought it would take much, much longer than that. You're loosing your touch,' he says laughing more. It was Pitch. Both Jack and I jump to our feet, my head pounds with the sudden blood rush. What surprises me more is that Jack neither vanishes nor leaves my side. In fact he does the complete opposite and moves closer to me.

'Go to hell,' I spit. 'Whatever you want from me, you're not going to get,' I hiss.

'Oh, but I've already got it,' he says smiling. I raise a brow. Okay, I'm trapped, but the screams have gone for now and Jack's presence no longer tortures me. I'm still filled with guilt and grief, but I doubt that will ever leave. Jack takes my hand in his making me look at him.

'Angel,' he says quickly. 'I really am here, this is really me, I'm not ju-'

'Just some conjuration,' Pitch finishes picking up my scythe. My eyes widen. I look at Jack who begins to fade.

'What?' I say shocked. I can feel his fingers slipping from mine. He panics and tries to grab me, but his hands slip past through my body. 'What's going on?' I ask, my breath quickening. 'Jack?!'

'You see Cheryl,' Pitch says swinging my scythe idly in his hands. 'That is Jack's soul. Trapped inside your stones,' he chuckles. 'In here he was able to rejoin you, that's what you wanted wasn't it? For Jack to be with you? As you held your scythe, you were able to make it true, but now? Now, I hold your scythe and all the power it contains,' he said in glee. 'All it's power,' he laughs more.

'No!' I scream grasping for Jack's hand, but my fingers pass through. Fresh panic cuts straight through me. I'm going to lose him again. I look at him, it's like he's being pulled away by some unknown force. 'Don't leave me!' I yelp. Jack smiles, he knows that there's nothing he can do to stop himself from leaving.

'I'm always with you,' he says before he vanishes completely. My heart clenches and I look at Pitch with fresh rage. He's holding my scythe. My scythe. I try to summon it from his grip but it doesn't work, this is his world. He makes the rules. I scowl at him.

'Pitch!' I say angrily. 'Drop my scythe. Now.'

'Oh, I don't think so Cheryl. It's mine now.' He said holding it protectively.

'Drop it or I will-'

'Do nothing?' Pitch laughed. 'What can you do? I mean really?' He's right. Without my scythe I'm powerless. I honestly think I've never felt so helpless in my life. All my strength and power of languages, means nothing here. Of all the mistakes I've made, this is the second worst. The first being falling for Jack. I shouldn't have reciprocated his advances, I've been nothing but pain for him. In the end, I've killed him. Pitch ran his finger over the blade, smiling to himself. 'Well Cheryl, there is nothing more for me here. I've got what I needed. Now I can open the prison.' My head shoots up. Of course. The only way the prison can be opened is with death. Which he now has. He smiles at me and holds out his hand. Baby tooth and the little egg appeared. I stare horrified. Baby Tooth was colourless and still, she held the stone tightly. 'I was so happy when I saw your shades.' Pitch says casually. 'It was one of the reasons I let Nathara keep a hold of the stones, I wasn't going to risk it. Her death was painful, you'll be happy to know. She was so confused.'

'Nathara died?' I repeated. I had been wondering why I hadn't seen her. She would be the first to gloat. I won't lie. I feel smug that she's died.

'Yes, she was holding the egg,' Pitch smiles. 'Poor Baby Tooth,' he says with a little frown. 'Such a waste.' He lifts the little fairy by the wing and pulls the stone from her. Her body is limp and she doesn't react or move. 'The death of such a pretty little creature is always so sad,' he sighs. He throws her to me and I instinctively catch her. She's stone cold, her feathers ragged, I can see blood from the corner of her mouth. It would have been painful. Since I let myself be with Jack for that half an hour the tears and screams stopped. But, my eyes well up.

'Baby Tooth,' I say softly stroking her feathers. 'I'm so sorry,' I mumble, wiping my eyes with the back of my spare hand. I tear some of my tank top off, a strip, I wrap her in it gently, tying the ends to my shorts belt loops. My pockets aren't big enough to hold her without crushing her frame. This way she's in a little cocoon next to me. I will correct this. I swear. There's no way I'm letting a helpless fairy die for my mistakes. I look up to Pitch, promises of death in my eyes. He smiles at me and picks up the egg. He crushes it in his hand, leaving the stone in his palm surrounded by green shell. I can feel my breath come faster and harder. This can't happen. I already have two stones set in my scythe, fire and dark. Pitch winks at me as he swings the hilt around and presses both the stones into their settings. There was a brief flash of dark light.

'And then there were four,' he says giddily. I can feel the power rise from him. 'I hate to cut this short Cheryl, but there is a world out there waiting. With the Guardians crippled, there's no one to stop me.'

'I will kill you,' I state.

'No Cheryl.' He said shaking his head. 'You can't.' With that the shadows envelope him and he slips away. I sag a little with the departure of my weapon. The source of my power. But, I will break free. I will kill him. I will set this right.

On my life I swear it.

….

The earth began to shake and violently crack, the sky was a deep, dark blue. Black clouds swirled, blocking the sun. People in towns had begun to panic, the electricity had failed and they were plunged into darkness. Crimes were happening, children and mothers screamed as their homes were ravaged. The main focus of the strange weather was over a small cliff, known to the locals as the lookout. The cliff itself began to crumble into the sea, vicious gouges appeared in the turf. Shadows slipped from the wounds, the grass and flowers dying underfoot. Then there was a moment of silence, completely still. Only the clouds above roiling and tumbling over each other. With a groaning shudder the surface of the cliff tore open, Pitch rising from the crack like the devil himself. His poisonous sand and shades swept from him. He inhaled deeply twirling the stolen scythe in his fingers. 'I'm back,' he says to the world in general. 'What's first on the agenda?' He says picking at a nail. 'Oh yes. The world, it's very afraid,' he laughs to himself. 'But it's not Pitch Black.'

…

Tooth flew in the snow, weakly and barely able to keep herself upright. She carried the last of her fairies, making the move to the Pole. Since Pitch had somehow released himself, the Earth was in turmoil. She and her fairies had tried doing their duty as normal, but it just wasn't enough to battle against the darkness, Sandy was the only one that was able to make a difference. But slowly, even he was being weakened. It was only because of the stone that he wore around his neck that allowed him to keep going. Drawing on it's strength. They had warned him against wearing it, but he refused to listen. They all searched for Zoe, desperately. She was nowhere to be found. They were certain that if she could be found then they would stand a chance. It had been at least a couple of weeks since Pitch's sudden appearance, it had taken it's toll on everyone. Even the sisters of Samhain, unable to perform their duties because of the mayhem. Rosie was constantly searching for Lucas, as was Seth. Although he was hindered by his own reincarnation and kept being called. Ashley followed her sister everywhere, refusing to leave her side in case they were attacked. North stayed at the Pole, aiding Bunny's recovery, he was now able to sit up and talk, even walk around a little with the help of an walking stick. He was distraught to find out about Jack, as much as they teased each other, they were good friends. Tooth passed the area where the yetis had built a shelter. Something strange had happened there also. They hadn't been able to move Jack, or even touch his staff. An ice structure had begun to form around the lost spirit. As Tooth flew closer she could see that the ice was no longer a spire, but had become a tree. She gaped and landed next to the impossible creation. Her fairies twittered in her arms and she held them close protecting them from the harsh wind. The tree even had crystalline leaves that glittered. Inside the trunk, Jack was suspended, along with his staff, the gem glowing a bright blue.

'Jack,' Tooth whispered touching the ice. 'What's going on?' She said softly. She didn't expect an answer, he wasn't alive after all. But she was just as disappointed when all she heard was the wind. Tooth sighed and dropped her hand, summoning the last of her strength she took off towards North's home. She got there, breathing heavily and almost sagged to the floor as she walked into the main study, she placed the last of her fairies near the fire, the rest of her flock twittered at her in worry as she entered. They covered almost every surface and were being looked after by the elves. Sort of. Their power being low meant they could only just walk, none of them could fly. She smiled and spoke to them gently, reassuring them that she was fine.

'Tooth!' North said finding her. He hugged her tightly. 'I am glad you are unharmed,' he said. 'If only portals would work,' he said in a sigh. Since the loss of their power the snow globes began to malfunction and would open a tunnel to a random place, not where you asked.

'I'm fine North,' she replied smiling a little. 'Have you seen what's happening out on the plain?' She asked referring to Jack's tree.

'Yes. It is a strange thing. I do not understand why it happened,' he said with a frown. 'It may be Zoe's work,' he says with a shrug.

'North mate, no-one's seen her in weeks,' Bunny says limping in with a walking stick. 'Don't even think about telling me to go back to bed. I'll go even more nutty than I already am if I stay in there any longer,' he says rolling his eyes.

'Has Rosie found Lucas yet?' Tooth asked. North shook his head, Bunny sat in the chair, rubbing his eyes. 'Oh, if things couldn't get more complicated,' Tooth sighed. 'I don't know what we're going to do,' she said in a quiet voice.

'We're going to survive. That's what,' Bunny says. 'We've never given up, we won't now. Zoe may be gone, it just means we'll have to find another way,' he smiles weakly. Tooth's fairies began to twitter at door. The Guardians turned around and looked wary. But relaxed as Sandy floated through the door. Bunny grinned. 'Hello mate, long time no see,' he said with a light chuckle. Sandy waved and created a series of pictures.

'That bad?' North said with a deep sigh. 'We are in serious trouble.' Sandy nodded and his hand went up to his collar where the stone lay underneath.

…

Pitch smiled to himself as he crossed the snow. It had taken him a while but he finally found where the Guardians had taken Jack. A cloak of shadow followed him, making the snow look like an oil slick. He chuckled as he came closer to the ice structure. 'Well, would you look at that,' he says grinning. He twirls the scythe in his hands before swinging it towards the trunk. The blade hissed, and embedded itself against the ice. Pitch frowned pulling it out. The ice instantly repaired. Pitch needed the stone in Jack's staff. He swung at the tree again and again, but it made no difference. He growled, gritting his teeth.

'Pitch!' Tooth screamed as they appeared from the shelter. As soon as Pitch arrived the yetis that had been waiting and keeping an eye on things instantly returned to the workshop and let the Guardians know what was happening. North was helping Bunny and Sandy followed closely behind Tooth.

'Oh joy.' Pitch said dryly brushing his long hair back, 'what do you want?'

'Stop this right now! Leave Jack alone,' Tooth demanded.

'He's dead, you silly woman,' Pitch says rolling his eyes. His harsh comment made Tooth flinch. 'How does it feel to be completely powerless?' He laughs. Then an idea hits him. 'Oh this will be beautiful,' he says smiling. He clicks his fingers and the shadows that surrounded him move away creating an orb. In a flash of darkness it disappears leaving a hunched figure with dark wings wrapped around her.

'Zoe!?' North exclaimed.

'Get up Cheryl,' Pitch laughed. 'I want you to see this,' he smiles. Zoe gets up stiffly and looks around, her eyes widening at the tree. She looked at the Guardians and then looked at Pitch. 'That's it darling,' he chuckles. 'Watch as I take Jack's stone, then the sandman's,' he says his eyes glinting.

'No.' Zoe said quietly. She opened her wings, looking at him, her blood red eyes filled with promise. 'This time. You die.'

Guess what? Only two chapters left XD

Please review. Let me know what you think.

Spoiler alert: Massive battle next. Gore galore!