Hello! Here's chapter seven. This chapter is definitely shorter, but is just as intense. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you all for the support you've been giving me. Many of you got a little upset about the way I ended the previous chapter, but is all for the sake of the story ans suspense. I might do it again ;) Here we go!
Chapter Seven
Jack didn't realize when he fell asleep; nor did he notice any difference from his nightmares and the real life. His dreams were a perfect mirror of his life and he couldn't discern anymore from what was real and what was not. He just realized he was asleep when he was jerked awake by a kick in the shin. He winced in pain and he heard a soft, cold chuckle. Pitch was looking at him with a mischievous spark in his eyes, one Jack knew too well because it was the one he usually wore. Jack glared at him and Pitch just laughed coldly. "We are going to go outside, I prepared something for you," he told Jack grinning.
"Really? What else could you possibly give me?" Jack asked skeptically.
Pitch just waved his hand in front of him and dismissed the comment. "I'm not really asking you child," he said and untied Jack from the pole but not completely; Jack had still his arms tied to his torso and Pitch held the end of the rope the way one would when talking a dog for a walk, "I'm telling you. We are going outside." Pitch started to walk and Jack followed closely behind. He could barely move from the numbness on his legs, but still he managed. Pitch made it a very tiring job because occasionally he would pull on the rope harder to make Jack trip on his feet, to hurt him on purpose. When that happened he would just laugh and keep walking without looking back or stopping. Pitch was merciless to the boy.
They walked for several minutes through endless corridors in Pitch's lair. Soon, Jack saw at the end a tiny ray of light that grew bigger as they neared the exit of the hole they were buried under. Pitch easily exited, but for Jack was a much harder. His limbs weren't in the condition to be walking, much less climbing. Still, he managed after a while of efforts. Pitch yawned, as to implying Jack took too long and that he was bored. He could be so considerate to others some times.
When Jack finally got out he had to cover his eyes from the brightness of the sun. After being in the dark for so long, so much light hurt Jack and tried to give him a headache. How frustrated he was with his human body's limitation, when he was a spirit he never got hurt, never needed to rest not eat, and he certainly didn't get headaches. He closed his eyes tightly and then blinked repeatedly so that his eyes got used to daylight once again. All the while Pitch didn't wait and kept walking, pulling a blinded Jack along. He tripped on small rocks and roots all the way, and when he caught a glimpse of his feet he realized that they were a complete mess; full of bruises and cuts that bled… his feet looked practically red. That was the moment when he regretted not bringing his father's boots; they would have protected his feet when he fell down that big slope and now that he was walking barefoot.
He took a look at his surroundings and recognized the path Pitch was taking. He had taken it tons of times before and knew that area as he knew the palms of his hands, and he could have walked there with his eyes closed, clearly under better circumstances: the Boogeyman was leading Jack to the pond.
Jack felt puzzled. He couldn't possibly imagine what business did Pitch had at his lake; his home for three hundred years prior to that moment. When they were nearing the lake he realized there was a huge crown surrounding it. He took a closer look and realized they were the villagers of his town. He even spotted his parents, hugged tight and frightened to death leaning against a tree. His dad had a black eye, and Jack had the hunch that he didn't trip over when hunting. It was Pitch's doing. They were all looking at him with gazes of awe, surprise, hope, sorrow… fear. Jack knew then that they could see Pitch, which was highly rare sight; adults seeing spirits such as Pitch was never heard of. Fury boiled up on Jack and was threatening to spill. "What are you planning Pitch? What did you to them? Why can they see you? Why are they here?" he emphasized the last question, but Pitch just laughed.
"You see, Jack, this is something I love from this era. The people will believe in everything they hear because they can't prove it wrong. So, simply put, they heard from me from their children, who had nightmares about the Boogeyman thanks to the story you told them," Pitch explained nonchalantly while blaming it all on Jack, as if he wasn't really responsible for anything; waving away its importance with his hand, only managing to piss Jack off a lot more than what he already was. He wanted to rip Pitch apart limb by limb, but he just couldn't. He hadn't the strength, he was powerless, he was… human. Also it dawned on him the real weight of his responsibility. He thought he was just telling an amazing story; and yes, it was amazing. So amazing that the children believed it so much they started fearing the Boogeyman, as well as looking up to the guardians. The problem was that the guardians were under Pitch's mercy and were unable to help. If Jack didn't do something and Pitch won, the kids would most likely stop believing in the guardians, making them disappear.
The people made way for them to get to the shore of the lake. Jack's eyes widened and he felt nauseous. His beautiful lake, once full of crystalline water, vibrant of life when the ice had just melted away was covered by a thick layer of black sand that simulated ice. Jack could tell it could support weight, but he feared what might happen if someone stepped in accidentally. After all, black dream sand meant nightmares and he didn't trust Pitch making it safe enough.
"Go to the center of the lake Jack," Pitch ordered him sternly, having trouble hiding the grin of anticipation he wanted to wear at what was about to happen. Jack looked at him in disbelief. There was no way he would step into that thing that had who-knows-what kind of monsters underneath. He was about to tell Pitch that he'd never do such a thing when unexpectedly the Boogeyman pushed him into the now black lake, making Jack lose his balance and almost trip over. The crowd gasped and many tried to reach out for him, but with a glare of Pitch they fell silent.
The feeling of the black sand in contact with his wounded and barefoot feet sent a chill running down his spine. He tried to move back, but Pitched snapped his finger and pikes raised from the black sand in the shore to stop him from escaping. With another snap of his fingers, the rope tying Jack untied itself and fell to the black surface, merging and becoming one with it. "Now, go to the center Jack," Pitch told him again, with a soft yet threatening tone. Jack felt bad, really bad.
He feared what he might do if he didn't complied, not much for him, but for the villagers. And his sister… where was she? Jack looked around desperately but he didn't find her. His soul fell to his feet thinking the worse. No! No think like that, she's fine, he scolded himself. He took a slow and hesitant step forward, then another, and another. When he confirmed it was steady enough, he fastened the pace. He made it to the center of the pond in one piece, but that was no time to relax. Now with a better view, he surveyed his surroundings. All the people were looking at him scared, not by him but for him. His mother was crying silently and his father was doing his best to be strong for her.
Pitch then arrived next to Jack in the pond on top of one of his fearlings. The horse looking hastily at everyone in a silent threat: if you move, I'll hurt you. Under its gaze everyone flinched and some of the younger kids started to cry. Pitch was a cruel man.
"Ladies and gentleman!" he called out in a clear, loud and cold voice that made everyone present shiver, even Jack. "We are gathering here today for an unprecedented event," he said and looked at Jack with an evil spark in his eyes. Then was that Jack realized Pitch's plot: he was going to break the hope of the people by getting rid of him in public. It was like a circus, and Jack was the clown everyone would mock and pity. Jack growled.
"We are going to play a game. We are going to give a little fun to the Guardian of Fun. Here's the deal," he turned to face Jack. Suddenly, a soft noise reached Jack's ears and he turned around to both sides, seeing too big cages emerge and form from the very sand they were standing on. His eyes widened when he saw who was in those cages.
To his left was his sister, Pippa. One part of him was relieved to see her alive, but she wasn't well. She was shaking terrified. She had bruises and cuts Jack knew she hadn't before and he knew Pitch had hurt her. From the crowd a woman screamed and tried to leap forward, stopped only by the strong arms of her husband. Jack's parents looked devastated. His mother was crying into his father's embrace while he was trying hard not to cry himself. Pippa was looking at Jack pleadingly; her eyes were saying Jack, help me. Save me. You told me to believe in you, so I believe now. Take me home safely, please.
On his right side was a bigger cage containing four beings, the four guardians. They were all mingled and wounded, but they weren't afraid. Tooth looked at him pleadingly, but not pleading for herself, but for him. She was pleading silently that Jack would be strong to overcome this obstacle. North looked at him proudly, knowing deep inside that Jack would get through this. Bunnymund was looking at him with a stern, yet determinate, look that said we trust you, you can do this. In the end you will make the right choice and that encouraged him to be strong. Sandy was looking at him hopefully.
Everyone's hopes were on him. If he failed, their hope would crack and they would be completely at the mercy of the Boogeyman. Jack couldn't allow that. In front of him, out of the black sand his staff emerged. Pitch urged him to grab it and Jack did. After testing it and discovering it was fine and functional, Pitch continued his speech.
"You have to choose one of them to save," the crowd and Jack gasped at the same time. "This is the question the Man in the Moon was going to ask you, this was your test; I'm only making it more interesting," he justified himself. "If you choose your sister, you choose to stay human and you will live in your village like everybody else with the slight difference that I will be there to haunt you. On the other hand, if you are foolish enough as to choose the guardians then you will meet the same fate they will. I'll give you… five minutes to make your decision, choose wisely" Pitch said and left the pond, which in a way looked like an arena. Everyone's eyes were on him. Everyone's hope was on him.
Jack decided that Pitch wouldn't get rid of him. He would crush everyone's hope by making Jack a pawn on his game. If he choose Pippa he would be betraying the guardians and would have to live in fear forever, if he choose the guardians he would be betraying his town, his family, his sister. He looked both sides again; his scared sister pleading and the guardians hopefully. He closed his eyes and thought. Pitch was right about something, which was what the test was all about. Manny had planned this out but it went berserk with Pitch messing with it. There was no right answer, because everything he said would be saving someone but betraying someone else. Unless… And just like that, in an instant, Jack knew his answer. He knew what he would choose, and he knew it was a real risky bet, but he needed to try. He might die trying anyway, but the hope wouldn't die with him because he would go down fighting.
"Time's up," Pitch's voice roared from the shore. "Tell us your decision," he asked him.
Jack still didn't open his eyes. He had to gather the courage to carry out his plan. He opened his eyes, now lighted up with a fiery determination that wasn't there before. He took a deep breath before voicing out his choice. "I… I choose… me," he said and everyone in the crowd gasped. Even Pitch looked a little startled, but he composed himself on time.
"That wasn't one of the options," he threatened while forming a whip out of black sand and stepping into the pond, nearing Jack. He knew that that might happen, but he also knew that if he died the people would remember him as someone who stood up for Pitch and might fight back. However, before he met his fate, Jack has some things left to say.
"What you don't understand, Pitch, is that you are making me choose between my two homes. I am Jackson Overland as much as I am Jack Frost, and not even you can change that. I can't choose between two halves of myself, I'm always going to be me. And you can't do nothing about it," Jack said clear and loud, so that everyone could hear him clearly. He saw everyone's eyes widen but this time not in fear, but in realization. They saw truth in his words and Jack smiled at that. Even his parents felt reassured and had a proud air around them, the guardians too.
Then he felt a familiar cold tug in the pit of his stomach and he closed his eyes. He smiled while he reached for that cold feeling, and soon a white light seemed to emerge from him and grew wider, covering the whole pond. Everyone, even Pitch, had to cover their eyes, and when they opened them again and light had dissipated they stared in awe in front of them. In the center of the pond, instead of the skinny, wounded and weak child that once stood there was a tall, lean, proud and fearless young man with pale skin, bright icy blue eyes, white hair and a real mischievous smile on his face, putting the one Pitch had worn to shame. He looked at himself and smiled. He played with his staff and smiled wider when the frost designs once there formed again. He hovered a few feet above the ground and the wind saluted him gratefully. Jack Frost was back.
He landed softly on his feet, feeling the black sand shiver while it turned to ice under his touch. He looked at everyone, who barely believed their eyes. His sister was smiling again, which relieved him. The guardians took pride on his position and then Jack knew that he had passed the test. He had chosen the right answer; he had chosen wisely.
He looked at Pitch and his smile faded into an angry frown, his mouth tense in a horizontal line. Pitch's smile also faded and he looked at Jack with surprise, frustration… and fear. "Now, we are going to play my own game," Jack said in a low, yet clear, voice full of contained rage while he glared at Pitch.
The later smiled evilly once again before replying: "Let the Fun begin."
So, how was that? I hope you like it. The next chapter will be the epic battle between Pitch and Jack, who are you rooting for? Review and tell me what you think about the story so far, if you have any suggestions or want to comment on anything feel free to do so. I'm really struggling to keep writing and updating daily, but I can't dissapoint my followers. You deserve the story and so I write it. I'll try my best to keep the daily updates, if by chance I don't manage to do that, then I would upload it the next day. Thank you all again and I hope you liked it. See you soon!