"…Jack! Jack, can you hear me! Please, you have to stop this! Look at what you have done!"

The surrounding white made Jack flinch. It was sudden, unexpected. He turned a full circle, trying to focus on the voice, but could not choose a direction.

"You are hurting them, Jack! Please, stop this now before it is too late!"

That voice. He knew that voice. It was…

Jack was pulled from his dream by a sudden shift in the room. His mind felt it before it fully registered and confused Jack. Someone, or something, was here. Jack searched the shadows of his room, expecting the worst, but hoping it not to be true. The boogeyman. Pitch had found him. He was here. He could feel his presence.

"I-I know you're there," Jack whispered into the darkness around him, "Th-there is... I am armed. I will freeze you if you come any closer!" Jack's breathing quickened as his thoughts became frantic. He was hoping to not have to encounter Pitch Black ever again. He remembered him all too clearly; the monster who tried to give him nightmares and kill him time and time again. But, not this time. Jack would make sure of it.

"Come out Pitch. There is nowhere to hide!" Jack's voice became a little louder as he reached for a book that he had thrown on the floor yesterday. A soft, nearly inaudible chuckle echoed throughout the room, along with what sounded like a high pitched scream, also nearly silent. Jack flinched and shivered as he stared into a corner of his room. After a minute of complete silence, Jack stood up straight and walked over to the corner, not wanting to show any more fear for whatever was over there. As he approached the dark corner and saw nothing creeping there, something fell behind him. Jack turned around and threw the book. It hit the wall with a loud thud and fell to the floor, one page hanging limply outside of the covers. Jack searched the area, trying to find the source of the noise, and saw another book lying on the floor alongside the first. Jack hesitated for a second, then ran over to the book and fell to his knees. He picked up the book gingerly, afraid he would rip it the same as the first, and tried to read the cover. 'Norse Mythology and Culture', Jack read silently to himself, the book he had to read for school. Jack opened the book hastily, nearly ripping a page off and began to read, but could not because of the poor lighting. He would have to-

"Jack! Jack, are you-" North burst into the room, his eyes scanning the room for his nephew, and found him on the floor, hunched over a book and shaking like a leaf in an Autumn wind. "Jack," North sighed and knelt down beside him. He took the book from Jack's strong grip and set it aside.

"N…North? There was… I saw… he was here." Jack whispered, not wanting the one he was speaking of to hear.

"Who Jack. Who was here?" North asked as he helped Jack from the floor.

"Pitch. North, Pitch is back. He was here, in my room. Right over there." Jack pointed to the corner he was just in. "I felt it. I know he's here somewhere. Come out! Stop hiding, you coward!" Jack yelled into the darkness as North sat him forcibly on the bed. He picked up the book from the floor and put it in front of Jack.

"Jack, please, do not start this again. Now, is this what made that noise?" Jack stopped his yelling for a moment to stare at the offending book. He shook his head and brought his hand out to grab it. North pulled it away and set it on Jack's night stand.

"What made that sound? Was it you? Jack, I am just worried for your safety. Are you alright?" Jack nodded numbly and stared into the corner again. North followed his gaze and stared at the corner as well. After a minute of silence, besides Jack's clattering teeth, North gave up and put Jack's comforter around his shoulders.

"Perhaps you should sleep with me tonight?" North suggested, hoping the teenager would agree, but knew the idea was shot down when Jack stared at him with those cold eyes of his. "Alright, alright. But, I will come in to check on you throughout night, yes? Just to make sure there are no more… outbursts."

"It was not an outburst, North. I saw, I mean, I felt… Why won't you ever believe me?!" Jack spat at North, anger boiling in his stomach, making him feel like he wanted to vomit again. North frowned at the boy and stood up.

"Jack, I want you to get some rest, yes? We will talk in morning." And with that, North left the room, leaving the door cracked open, but turning off the hallway light. Jack sat shaking on his bed, refusing to give into the Boogieman's nightmares, but, after an hour, his eyes closed and he passed into a dreamless slumber.