All I have to say is, I'm sorry. Buuuut, I'm still up and running, don't worry. I didn't die. :)
From Jack's perspective...
I waited for the Boogieman's wicked voice to finally leave my head. I knew he'd be waiting for me in this cave, but there was no way I'd be afraid. After all that he's done to not only me, but the guardians, and Cupid especially. Not to mention all the people of the world who now suffer because of him.
The cave was small yet shrouded by darkness. So much death and despair seemed to linger around such a tiny object. Each foot step made it seem bigger and bigger. I didn't feel cold, nor scared. Just angry. Angry at Pitch. Angry at that mysterious black figure that appeared in Santoff Clausen. Oh yeah, that reminds me. Angry at Sandy because he probably got himself captured by it. But nothing made me angrier than remembering Cupid's terrified face when she had seen Pitch. When she was taken away from me.
I grasped my staff firmly as if my fingers very existence depended upon it. I knew my knuckles would pop out of my skin if I didn't calm down but I didn't care. My mind was racing from being so close to the essence of evil itself. I was at the end of the lake. The gray cave sat mere feet away from the tips of my bare toes. I took a deep breath before continuing into it.
Inside was pitch black. I couldn't see at all but I could hear water dripping far off into the cave. I tapped my staff around me to assure clean footing. Where was he? Where were they?
Hahaha, I heard echoing from further inside. So, the final Guardian really did show? It was Pitch, playing his awful mind games once again. Come to be the hero, Jacky? Well, sorry, you're too late. I've changed my mind. I'm keeping all my little toys. After all, they're precious to me now. We've had soo much time to bond, what with you hanging out with those children. I began to panic. What was he talking about?
I charged forward, my staff bared despite my lack of sight. Suddenly, the voice wasn't an echo anymore, but rather a full voice that was very close. "Did you come to save Cupid?" Pitch's voice rose at the end of his sentence. My anger skyrocketed. How dare he say her name! "Or maybe the Guardians? I have them all, you know. Oh, don't worry, they're perfectly safe and comfortable. After all, I'm soo hospitable."
"Shut up!" I yelled. I wished I could see him. Just to have a slight hint as to where he was. In front, behind, to my side. Where, where, where?! "Show yourself!"
More laughter erupted from the darkness. "Show myself, Jacky?" Pitch's voice was close. Just up ahead, maybe? I began to inch my way forward, keeping my staff ready. "Now, why would I do that? You know how weak I am, I know how strong you are. It'd be a waste, truly. You should take this darkness as a challenge, come! Face me head on!" Challenge accepted. I charged forward, staff first. An acrid odor hit me immediately. What was that? White orbs danced in front of me. They had pupils, but I couldn't believe they were eyes. Then, a grin appeared with shiny white teeth, sharp and pointed, just below the eyes. I couldn't do anything but let out a gasp.
"Meet my friend, Jack," Pitch cooed, "You can call him anything you want, really, it doesn't make a difference when you're dead." Chuckles came from Pitch's clenched throat. He could probably smell the same thing. I charged on, into the darkness and past the white eyes and mouth.
I heard a slight gasp from Pitch. That gave him away. "Haven't you heard, Pitch?" I said, sliding a bit on my heels and raising my staff above my head, "When someone fights for what they love, they're not afraid of death." I let my staff wallop the spirit right upside his head. Then, swinging it back down underhandedly, I socked him right in the gut. Choking sounds came from figure in front of me and, suddenly, I could see. Not enough to find definite details, but enough to see that the figure in front of me wasn't Pitch. It was something much more precious.
"Cupid!" My voice was hoarse and dead. So seemed the world around me.