Larrin walked calmly through some sort of wooded area. Ahead she saw a little boy skipping along, stopping to investigate every little thing he could before racing off. Larrin couldn't even consider catching up. She simply smiled to herself and continued her leisurely pace. She somehow knew that the little boy wouldn't stray too far. He knew better.

She stopped to pick some of the tiny wildflowers that grew at the base of the trees. Little five petaled white flowers. She braided the stems into her ringlet hair as she went, humming the lullaby her mother sang to her as she walked.

A terrified scream ripped the calm air and made Larrin's heart jump to her throat. She instantly ran forward, trying to find the little boy. But when she traced his path she found herself in a clearing, full of dead grass and withered plants. And at the center a deep hole with a skeletal bed frame over it. There was what looked like skid marks leading up to the bed frame and some recently crumbled rock. And instantly Larrin knew. Her brother had fallen into the dark hole. Racing up to the edge of the abyss she peered down, not able to see to the bottom. But she heard sobbing and knew it was him.

"Joey!" she exclaimed.

"Larrin help me!" Her brother pleaded.

"I'll go get mum! Just stay calm! I'll be right back!" she jumped up to start running, but was surprised to find she was not alone in the clearing. A tall shadowy man stood opposite the hole from her, looking her over like a predator over pray. She shivered but pointed at the gap. "Please sir, my brother fell! Please help us!" She begged. The man considered the girl for a moment and evidently found something appealing about her.

"And what would I get in return for releasing your brother?" He asked seductively. She gaped at him, not quite understanding what he meant.

"Excuse me?" she asked, a little ticked off by the smirk on his face. He sensed her anger towards him and the smirk deepened. He casually walked around the bed frame, coming to tower over the girl, who none the less held her ground.

"Allow me to make some introductions. I am Pitch Black, the Boogeyman. King of Nightmares. You're brother fell right into my trap. And if you want me to let him go then what have you to offer me?" She narrowed her eyes.

"You want me to trade myself for my little brother?!"

"Ah, she understands." She scowled at the condescending tone of his voice. "He's so young and full of life. I would have a lot of fun scaring the happiness right out of him. But...I have the feeling you have something better to offer me..." She cast a look at the hole where Joey had fell, then back through the trees where they had come. The little town they were visiting wasn't too far. Maybe she could run and call for help before this madman did something to her or Joey. "I'm afraid by the time anyone arrived to help...there would be nothing for them to find." he spoke as if he could read her mind. She glared at him, which secretly sent a shiver of pleasure up the mans spine. He certainly liked the spirit and vibrant nature that radiated off this girl. If turned into fear, he could practically feed off it.

The girl considered the evil man for another moment, but another desperate call for help from her brother erased any doubt from her mind. She didn't care what happened to her...she had to save him from this monster.

"If you let Joey go...you can have me." She finally whispered. He grinned and in one fluid motion shoved the girl back. She tripped over the bed frame and tumbled down into the darkness of the opening. She landed on her shoulder, hissing as pain branched out from the site of impact. She gently sat up on her knees and looked around for Joey.

"Larrin!" his voice came from above her. A tiny face appeared at the top of the trap hole, squinting to try and see his sister.

"Joey run!" she demanded. She would not give herself up simply so her brother could fall victim again.

"But Larrin!"

"No! Listen to me! Get out of here!" She put as much anger and power into her voice so that the boy would listen. And after a short whimper and sob, he did run off. He yelled back that he would get help, but somehow Larrin knew he wouldn't be able to find her again. The man, Pitch Black, had stated as much. Speaking of the "King of Nightmares"...where was he? And more importantly...what happened now?

She stood on shaky legs, cradling her injured arm to her side, and curiously stepped forward to investigate. The tunnel led deeper into a sort of throne room. Decrepit cages covered the ceiling and an odd globe full of glowing yellow lights stood in the middle of the room. But other than that it was all dark stone in huge columns and staircases. Where ever she was it was strange. She continued to look around a little before a loud and creepy voice called out, echoing all over the walls and sending a shiver down her spine.

"Do you like your new home little one?"

"Home? Try prison!" She shouted back, but her voice didn't carry or echo like his did. She wondered just what this guy was, and why he wanted her so bad as to trick her brother.

"So harsh. It's positively adorable." The voice again taunted her. She spun around, searching for the man behind the voice. Where was he? A hand grabbed hold of her uninjured arm and pulled her back into shadows. When the darkness went away from her eyes, she wasn't in the large room anymore. Instead a tiny cell with no bed, nor any defining features, greeted her. She stepped curiously to the center of the room, trying to understand how she'd gotten there. This was all just so weird. She was sure she'd done the right thing. Joey was safe, and that was all that mattered. Still, she was starting to get scared. What would happen to her? What did the odd man want from her?

In the corner of the room, the man materialized from the shadows and watched her silently for a moment before stepping forward. Once she caught sight of him, she backed away, all the way to the wall. He grinned as the first little taste of the girls fear met him. Even from that little tidbit he was hooked. It was like no fear he'd ever experienced before. So full of other emotions that it made him glow with longing. He had to have more.

"Stay away from me!" she yelled when he stepped forward. Ignoring her words he continued until he was uncomfortably close to her. He realized that without her little bravery front he could get so much more fear from the girl. What was her name again? Larrin.

"Now now Larrin...you belong to me now. You don't get to tell me what to do." he tisked and backhanded the girl. From the pain came another trace of that magical fear that Pitch wanted. He sighed in bliss as he felt it once more, and frowned when it stopped. The girl had resumed her unflinching demeanor.

"I do not belong to you! I saved my brother, I didn't sell my soul." Pitch laughed at this, grabbing the girl's face in his hand. His pointed fingernails dug into her cheeks and she shrieked a little at the sudden pain.

"That is where you are wrong. You are mine. And I have a perfect idea as to what to do with you." His smile made her shiver and his glowing gold eyes narrowed into slits. God...what had she gotten herself into?

Larrin shot up from the memory, a cold sweat on her forehead. Jack Frost, who had volunteered to stay with her while she slept, stirred from his own dreams. He noticed immediately the panic written all over the girls face and put his hand on hers.

"Are you okay?"

"I remember what happened! Pitch tricked me into trading myself for my brother!" She exclaimed, her voice cracking and practically rising an octave. Jack signaled to the attending yeti to go get North then turned back to Larrin.

"Do you remember where you were, or your parents?"

"No...just my brother." Her eyes teared up at the thought. What had happened to Joey after that? Did her parents go looking for her? Were they still looking for her two years after that horrible day?

"What is wrong?" North barged in, taking in the frightened Larrin and the concerned Jack.

"She had a nightmare about the day Pitch took her." Jack explained sympathetically. North's eyes narrowed a little and he took up the other side of her bed, putting a heavy hand on her shoulder. No one spoke for a moment. Larrin's mind was full of her brother. Then Pitch's glowing eyes. A visible shudder went up her spine. Would she ever be able to completely remember how she was before him? Would she ever be able to be that way again? Innocent and fearless...

"Jack...what if Pitch goes after Joey again?" Larrin suddenly exclaimed.

"We will find your brother Larrin." Jack assured her. "If Pitch goes anywhere near your family or you he will suffer dearly."

"But...I don't remember where they are or who they are! There must be a way for me to remember!" She was beginning to become frustrated. Fear had practically destroyed any memory of her happily life previous to that dungeon. But now she was sure there was one and that she must remember. North and Jack exchanged a look, both knowing who could help her, but neither one sure if she was up to it. She was still upset and weak. Two years of being tortured would make anyone less than peachy.

"Larrin are you sure you're strong enough to go searching for answers?" Jack questioned, looking the girl right in the eyes.

"I have to know Jack." He nodded slowly.

"I'll go get Sandy."