~Chapter 13~

Jack and the others were beginning to become worried about Ember. It had been almost an hour or so since Pitch left to go rescue her. Jack was seriously thinking about just flying off to go find her on his own when Pitch appeared from the shadows. The Guardians all turned there heads at once to find a motionless body covered in a thick shadowy substance curled into Pitch's arms. Toothina gasped and jumped back.

"Don't just stand there gawking you fools! She needs help!" Pitch roared.

"Follow me, I have a spare bed that she may lay on." North motioned for Pitch to follow.

Pitch followed North down a hallway that led to multiple gets beds, the others following swiftly behind him. North pushed open the nearest door and beckoned Pitch in. It was a rather nice bed. It was clad in the usual Christmas colors you would expect like silver, red, and green. Pitch nearly gagged at the silky colors, it made the room to bright for his taste. But he didn't really have much of a choice at this point.

Pitch went to lay Ember down in the bed, but she just clung to Pitch's robe like she would drift off and be taken away if she did. Ember wasn't fully conscious. She couldn't make out her surroundings or any of the voices that seemed to ring out from time to time. But she did know that Pitch was there with her. He was still here with her, and she didn't want him to leave her.

Pitch felt like what was left of his heart was breaking. He hated to see Ember like this. He could already smell her sweet delicious fear oozing from her as he gently pulled her from his robe and laid her down. It wasn't that hard to break her grip even if Ember was trying her best to hold on. He had lost so much blood and energy that it was a miracle she wasn't dead already.

"Here, let me take a look at her so I know what I need to go get." Bunnymund announced as he pushed his way past the others and joined Pitch by Ember's side.

Bunnymund did a full examination of Ember. He looked to see how deep each stab wound was and what he would need to keep anymore blood from escaping her. Ember was closer to death than anyone had thought, it thoroughly frightened Bunnymund. He would need to leave now if he was to save Ember, but even then he might not be in time to save her.

"I'll be right back. I have to go my medical supplies." Bunnymund began. "Try your best to keep her from moving." With that, Bunnymund tapped his foot and was gone with a flash.

"Pitch..." Jack began as he moved forward, trying to put a consoling hand on his shoulder.

"Shut up, Frost." Pitch hissed as he slapped his hand away. "You are half the reason she's... like this!" Pitch exclaimed as he motioned his hand toward Ember motionless body. Pitch sneered and returned his attention back to Ember.

Jack was about to argue with Pitch, but North and Toothina both put a hand on Jack's shoulder and pulled him away. "Jack, come. Leave him for a bit."

It took every ounce of self-control Jack had, which wasn't much, to force himself to leave the room and wait outside for Bunnymund to return. He knew Pitch was right though. He was the reason Ember didn't have enough strength to fight off the Monkey King in the first place. If only he had realized that Ember was telling the truth in the first place. But it also struck Jack as odd. Pitch gave her a choice to have a new life, to pursue her dream of having a loving family. It seemed the more he thought about it, the more it seemed that Pitch was actually a nice guy deep down. Then again, he was guilty that he couldn't have come to save Ember in her time of fear. He would have loved to bring Ember back to the Guardians to help her start a new life, her dream. But it was rather late for that. Ember belonged to Pitch now, or more so she choose to be with him.

As the others waited outside Pitch desperately waited by Ember's side. There were moments when Ember would breath so softly that Pitch didn't think she was breathing at all. He would squeeze her ice cold hands and make sure she wasn't dead. Ember would make a strangled noise and Pitch would sigh with relief.

"Damn these emotions, it's just a silly little girl. It doesn't matter to me weather she lives or dies." Pitch thought. But even as the words formed in his head he knew he was lying to himself. Of course he cared about Ember, even if he hated to admit it. Ember had become more than a girl he found that desperately wanted to escape reality. Ember became his daughter, someone that he could never live without.

Suddenly Ember's chest had completely stopped moving. Not even the slightest breath escaped her, or entered her lungs. Pitch squeezed her hand again to make sure she was alright, but there was no response. Her hand was completely limp in his, just a cold limb. Pitch noticed that he couldn't smell Ember's fear any longer, it had completely stopped.

"Ember?" Pitch asked, squeezing her hand harder. No answer. "Ember!" Pitch tried again a little louder, shaking Ember a little. Still no answer. Just dead silence. Pitch dropped Ember's hand and slowly backed up. He couldn't believe his eyes. Ember was dead. She was actually dead.

"No no no. This isn't possible. She can't be dead... No, she couldn't have left me." Pitch assured himself. But the fear was already taking root inside of him. "Where is that damned Pooka!" Pitch growled as he ran both of his hands through his hair.

Just as Pitch was about to go find him, Bunnymund and the other Guardians stormed into the room. Bunnymund had a bag filled with an odd variety of plants and liquids. He raced to Ember's side, but nearly stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Pitch. Bunnymund looked at Ember to Pitch, and back to Ember. "No." Bunnymund breathed.

Bunnymund lifted one of Ember's lifeless hands in his paw and waited to see if he could read a heartbeat. But he got nothing. He put his ear up to her chest and listened as hard as he could. But still nothing. Bunnymund shook his head.

"Mate... I'm sor-" Bunnymund began.

"Bring her back. Just bring her back!" Pitch interrupted. He didn't want to hear apologies. He wanted Ember to be alive and breathing again.

Bunnymund nodded. But he wasn't sure if what he had would bring Ember back to life or not. He could only hope.