The guardians and Scarlett looked down with horrified expressions. The entire nightmare army was flying towards them, and they were flying fast!
Scarlett desperately clinged to North's arm. "We have to make it to be surface before they catch us!"
At the sound of Scarlett's voice, everyone made their way to the opening in the ceiling. The huge army of nightmares only grew closer and closer. The gap between the two different groups was closing fast.
No matter how fast they flew, the exit didn't seem to be getting any closer to them. Jack was struggling to support North in the air and all the pressure of being chased wasn't helping. "Keep flying!"
The first nightmare attempted to bite at North's feet, but he kicked it hard, causing it to vaporize into dust. "We don't have much time, friends! We must pick up the pace!"
Scarlett roled her eyes the best she could. It was obvious they didn't have any time left. She looked up but saw that the exit was still no closer than it was before.
Scarlett called out to the rest of the guardians. "It's an illusion! We'll never reach it unless you do what I say! We need to fly into the wall over there where it's the darkest!"
The guardians obeyed and beforehand they knew it, they felt the sun beaming down into their backs as they rested on the floor.
But the battle wasn't over yet. "Sandy! I need you to block the hole with sand."
The golden man obeyed and created a sand boulder and placed it where they had exited Pitch's lair moments before.
Everyone sat down and took deep breaths. Scarlett was the first one to stir. "That won't hold them for long. We have to get moving."
The guardians looked at each other with curious looks. How did Scarlett know all of that?
They all got up and made their way towards the sleigh. Afterwards, North took a snow globe that he had stored away and within seconds, they were back at the pole.
Once the sleigh had landed, the guardians started walking towards the globe room where they could talk in secret. Scarlett, however had started walking the other direction, towards the exit. Bunny caught her by the shoulder. "Where do you think your going? We have some questions for you."
Surprisingly, Bunny didn't look angry or upset. Just curious. This didn't give Scarlett any comfort, though. "I'd rather not. You know, I'm not in the mood and I just want to be alone."
With that final statement, Scarlett took off and flew out of an open window. Jack stood there, thinking. She was always happy and she's never acted like this. What is going on with her?"
Tooth flew next to Jack, her wings beating ferociously. "Go on Jack. Talk to her. Maybe she'll listen to you."
Jack smiled and flew off in the direction Scarlett went.
Scarlett had already dissapeared from sight by the time Jack was able to get a good look of his surroundings. There's only one place she could be. He redirected himself and flew in the direction of Scarlett's only home.
When he arrived at the top of the mountain filled with plants and foliage, he walked around and started looking. That's when he heard a voice. "What are you doing here?"
He looked around but couldn't find out where Scarlett's voice was coming from. It seemed to be all around him at once. It almost reminded him of...
He discarded that idea and focused on trying to find Scarlett. "I want you to come out. What's the harm in talking?"
Jack smiled even though he wasn't sure Scarlett could see him. "I don't want to talk. Just leave me alone."
Scarlett's voice was still bouncing all around him. "Then we won't talk. Just come out so I know you're okay."
Scarlett hesitated before finally coming out of hiding. She was hiding behind a large rock to Jack's right. "Well...?"
Jack smiled. "Well what?"
Scarlett shrugged her shoulders, still not smiling. "What now. I'm not going back to the guardians and you have too..."
Jack walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulder. "I'm not going anywhere. As long as you stop acting all sad."
Scarlett looked down at the ground and chuckled. "I'll take you up in that offer."
Jack started talking in a playful and mischivious voice. "Well look at us, talking to each other!"
Scarlett laughed and playfully pushed him away. "You cheater."
Jack laughed now. "What did I cheat on?"
Scarlett smiled and crossed her arms. "You made me all you, obviously."
Jack leaned against his staff. "That's not a bad thing, is it?"
Scarlett shrugged her shoulders with a smile on her face. "I suppose not."
Jack's smile faded a bit. "I need you to come back."
Scarlett backed away from him. "I said I wouldn't go back."
Jack walked over to her. "I know, but the guardians will start to get mad."
Scarlett pushed him away, put this time there was no fun in it. "You said you weren't going to leave
Jack looked back at her with a shameful look on his face. "I know, but they sent me here so I could bring you back so they could ask you questions!"
Scarlett looked like she just watched her favorite thing get taken away from her. "They sent you? They made you come here!"
Jack realized what he said and reached over to her. "Scarlett, no! It's not like that I-"
He was interrupted by Scarlett's infuriated voice. "You just want answers, huh? Fine!"
She turned away from his so Jack couldn't see the tears in her eyes. "When I first came around, I worked with Pitch! I helped him get feed off fear!"
Jack stood there awestruck. "He was like a father figure to me and he treated me like his daughter! Then I betrayed him!"
Scarlett attempted to speak in between her sobs. "Are you-happy-now!"
Scarlett flew off, leaving behind a feather as she raced away as fast as possible. Jack picked it up as he tried to process what he had just learned. He touched the bark on a nearby tree with his staff before flying back to the guardians.
The frost left behind was a note:
Im so sorry I hurt you. I love you Scarlett.
