Hey again! So here's the newest chapter (and I think my longest yet)! I plan on updating again on Saturday so be looking forward to that. I have a lot of things coming towards you really fast so just bear with me. All questions will eventually be answered and we'll get some more Jack!whump!
Pitch watched Jack quietly as he circled the boy whom he had laid upon an uncomfortable rock slab. The boy was thrashing weakly, unable to move very much in the bonds that strapped his hands and legs to the rock. His face was contorted in fear and pain and the scent of his fear was potent enough to create three nightmares out of thin air and feed Pitch until he was overly full.
"So much power given to me through such a small being. How fascinating," he murmured, stopping at Jack's head. "I wonder what you dream of right now. You've gotten yourself so lost that not even I can see what's going on in that head of yours," Pitch sneered. His only answer was a weak whimper that brought a delighted smile to his lips.
"I do wish you would wake up but no matter. I can be patient. It will be worth it."
One of the nightmares gave a soft neigh that drew Pitch's attention to it. It was a stunning horse, obviously a female, and very obviously more powerful and ethereal than his own were. He briefly wondered why that was, seeing as it was his speciality, making nightmares. That thought fled his mind, however, as the mare stepped up to him and gave another low neigh. Pitch's eyes narrowed darkly as he flashed a snarl towards the unconscious body of Jack.
"So your wind wants to play games and ruin our fun, does it? Perhaps I should let them come and fall into an eternal abyss of darkness where they will just fall eternally. Or perhaps I'll trap them and make them watch as I slowly kill you. Both options sound so very tempting," he growled. The boy gave a high pitched whine in reply and Pitch could tell he was weakening, therefore rising from the depths of sleep.
Smoothing out his eyebrows, Pitch turned back to the nightmare and it's companions, face impassive as he thought. What would he do with the Guardians? He could not hurt the wind as it had no form and was known to be a powerful being nonetheless. His time with the frost spirit was very obviously getting shorter and shorter with every minute that passed, meaning he had to kick things into gear now, but the boy wasn't ready yet and quite frankly, neither was he. He wanted to see the boy beg and scream. He wanted to break him before he started his grand plan. Obviously that wasn't going to happen. Not with so little time left.
Pitch let out a roar and sent a blast of dark sand towards the walls of the cave. It was time to start, readiness be damned.
Sandy hurried rushed towards North and began to frantically pull on the giant's coat, quickly catching his attention. Furrowing his brow in concern at the panicked but hopeful look on the golden man's face, North quickly clapped his hands, catching the attention of Tooth and Bunny.
"What is it, Sandy? Must be finding Jack now," he rumbled. Sandy nodded his head quickly and pointed towards the thin stream of wriggling sand. The brows of his companions furrowed and Bunny bent down to sniff and study it.
"Blimey mate, this is Pitch's! Ya think he might be leadin' us ta Jack?" Sandy nodded once.
"But why would he do that? Wouldn't he want to...hurt...Jack for a while?" Tooth whispered, confused and worried. North and Bunny exchanged glances, thinking furiously. Sandy attempted to make them understand with his sand but only succeeded in confusing them more. Then a strong, sudden gust of wind gushed past them, so powerful they all stumbled forward in the direction the sand was heading. When uncertain glances were traded, another gust hit them and Bunny was struck with realization.
"It's tha wind! It's gonna lead us straight ta Jack!" he exclaimed, ears perked excitedly. Tooth gave a grin as North whooped and Sandy gave a sigh of relief that they had figured it out somewhat quickly.
"What are we waiting for? Jack needs us, no?" North shouted and scrambled back towards his sleigh, the other three right behind him. "Sandy, old friend, must ask you to stay near sand and lead way. Will work better." Sandy nodded in confirmation before he floated in front of the reindeer.
The others climbed in quickly and got settled before North was yelling out to the animals and snapping his reigns, quickly making the sleigh lift from the ground.
"Yah! Go, go! No time to waste! Follow Sandy!" North bellowed at the reindeer who immediately followed his orders.
Jack didn't know how long he had been struggling before he realized that he was steadily getting weaker. He guessed it had been hours, maybe days. He felt exhausted but completely terrified. His nightmares had been full of blood and hate. He had watched his family die over and over again at his own hands and had watched as the Guardians kicked him out, shunned him, time after time. It sickened him.
The only reason he realized he was getting weaker was because the nightmares were slowly but steadily getting easier to bear, meaning he was closer to waking up. He still didn't want to stop his struggles but he also wanted to escape the tortures of his own mind. But Jack was conflicted. He didn't want to be forced the face his mind, but he didn't want to face Pitch either. Neither sounded good for him and he didn't think he could last very long against either in the state he was in. He cursed Pitch silently for his timing.
Why had he decided to strike now? The entire mess was a little too convenient to Jack but under all the stress he had endured, his mind was too tired to draw conclusions and connect the dots so he didn't spend too much time thinking about it. Instead he put his energy and remaining mental capacities towards waking up and preparing to see Pitch. He knew he was in for a world of hurt.
