Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the wait again... this was going to be longer, but I wanted you guys to know that I didn't give up on this, so here ya go!

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN HTTYD OR ROTG.

When I got home, North was already there. I guess it was one of those days where he was home sort of early. He was sitting on the couch, munching on some cookies. I just trudged through, too numb to really say anything.

"Jack!" North exclaimed. "Where have you been?"

"Out," I replied blandly. "I don't feel good. I'm going to bed." I didn't even wait for his response, and I just went to my room.

I collapsed onto my bed. This couldn't be happening. Everything was blended together in a blur of events and words and colors. I couldn't make sense of anything, but tonight's events kept replaying in my head.

A tear ran down my face, and it was like a dam was broken. I curled into a ball, clutching my pillow furiously, and cried. He was gone. Hiccup was gone.

I think I fell asleep crying, or I blacked out. I couldn't tell the difference. The next time I woke up, it was weird to not have Hiccup next to me. I pushed it out of my mind as fast as I could. I got dressed, washed my face, and went to the kitchen. North was there, making a pot of coffee.

"Morning Jack!" He greeted. I grunted. "You alright, son?" He asked.

"Fine, just tired," I replied. I poured myself a glass of orange juice and chugged it quickly. "I'm going to school. See you later."

"I'll be home normal time, Jack." North said.

"Got it." I replied. "Bye." I slung my backpack on my shoulder, my voice emotionless, and I walked out of the house. The walk to school was empty, quiet, and miserable. It felt like there was this hollow hole in my chest where my heart should have been. My stomach was twisted in knots, and I felt like I was going to be sick any second now.

Hiccup wasn't with me. He's not here.

But he saved me. He sacrificed his freedom for my life.

I'm going to die anyways.

But you can live knowing that he loves you enough to give everything up for you.

I didn't want him to give everything up. I want him here…

And then I was at school. My feet must have their own agenda, because I don't remember anything about how I got here. Classes were okay, the only thing different was that Hiccup wasn't there to walk me to my next class. But I managed. That's what he wanted me to do, right? Live my life, be happy…

How can I be happy when he was the only one who cared? Doesn't he know that?! He was most likely the only person I will ever be happy with and now he's gone!

The pity party stopped when I tripped on my way to lunch. I wasn't usually the clumsiest person around, and I haven't been tripping lately… but I knew that someone tripped me. It was a good thing I caught myself in time. I turned around sharply, and saw Pitch and his Fearlings looking at me, laughing.

"Where's your guard dog, Frost?" Pitch quipped, and I didn't have the energy to make a comeback. I turned around and continued walking. There was no use in saying anything. Those low-lives don't deserve it.

I think everyone who looked my way saw the difference immediately. My shoulders were slumped and my posture wasn't the greatest. My hair was more unruly than usual, and I looked like I didn't give a shit anymore. Well, I didn't. Not all that much. I didn't give a shit about school, that's for sure. There was so many things I could be doing, but I have to be here…

"Welcome back, Hamish," Red Death drawled, circling around Hiccup as if he was a piece of meat that he just bought from the butcher. It was creepy and made his skin crawl, but he endured it. He had to.

"I was never here in the first place, so this can't be a 'welcome back.'" Hiccup said, trying to wipe the glower off his face and replace it with a blank expression. It didn't go very well. Red Death grabbed his chin, and made him look the man in the eyes. The deep red eyes.

Red Death looking just like a human. He had a slightly sunburned complexion, and everything else about him was mostly normal. But his teeth were sharpened to a point that could cut steel in half with a touch and his tongue was forked, much like a snake's. His nails grew out about two inches, also razor-sharp. And of course his eyes were always red, always. No matter if he ate or not. Some say he literally had eyes in the back of his head, but Hiccup didn't believe that one bit. He always wore a black robe that dragged across the floor as he walked, as if the robe was an illustration of destruction: following wherever he goes.

"You do not talk back to me." Red Death said sternly. Hiccup just challenged him, not with words but with a black stare.

"What do you want with me?" Hiccup said. Red Death released his chin, thrusting him back violently and making him stumble a couple feet backwards.

"No one leaves my horde," Red Death growled. "You committed. You cannot back out."

"I think I did back out." Hiccup said. Red Death smacked him across the face.

"I do not want anything to come out of your mouth again, or I will cut your tongue out." He said.

"I don't see that happening." Hiccup said. Messing with this guy was all too fun. "My tongue will only grow back."

"Then I will gouge out your eyes and see if you will disobey me again." Red Death threatened, stepping into Hiccup's personal space.

"Then I would be useless to you and your cause." Hiccup said.

"Listen here," The man said, red eyes sizzling and burning through everything they made contact with… except Hiccup. He grabbed Hiccup by the hair, and Hiccup didn't even flinch as his head was tilted up roughly. "I know about your little human toy. I'd be a good solider if I were you, Hamish."

Hiccup's face screwed up into a scowl, wanting with all his soul to punch this man in the face and run for it. But he knew that it would take more than a punch to knock this one off it's feet. So… Hiccup did the only thing that he could have. He slumped, having Red Death be the only thing holding him up.

"Yes Master…" He mumbled, closing his eyes tightly.

After school, Jack was walking back home. Quickly, too. He was wasting no time. But… Pitch and the Fearlings had their eyes set on their target, now defenseless, and they were going in for the kill.

"You didn't answer me before, Frost," Pitch drawled. "Where's your guard dog?"

"If you're going to hurt me, do it quick." Jack said, cringing at how hard his words had sounded. "I have homework to do, and I don't want to have to put up with you."

The beating that followed was harsh, longer than intended, yet less satisfying at the same time. Throughout the punches, kicks, shoves, and words, Jack didn't utter a peep. All the anger and frustration the Pitch of the Fearlings had was poured out all over Jack, leaving him battered and bruised. He couldn't move, but at least he felt as bad on the outside than he did on the inside.

The pain actually helped, and Jack welcomed it. He was already in pain mentally, anything extra wouldn't be noticed. He trekked home slowly with a limp, a busted lip, and even lower spirits. Of course, North wasn't home when he arrived at the house. He just went to his room and drowned himself with homework, hoping that would help him get his mind off everything. Homework didn't help at all, and Jack resolved on fixing his lip and looking himself over for bruises as his pastime.

I wish he was here…

yeah... sorry. I hope you still love this. Thank you for reading. It means the world to me. Leave a review if you want.

Thanks!

~HB