Chapter 4

(Pitch's P.O.V.)

Surprise Surprise

Ivy seems to be doing better lately, or so it seems. I can't smell any fear emanating from her, and she seems to be paying attention during class with the help of Lauren. But yet something seems wrong, or maybe it's just my imagination. Most likely that, I have better things to worry about anyhow.

The bell rang to release the students and everyone packed up in a hurry, afraid that I might attack them or something if they didn't hurry. I must be a lot scarier than I seem. I could see out of the corner of my eye Lauren shaking Ivy out of another daze yet again. Ivy snapped out of it instantly and hurriedly packed up and rushed out of the door afraid that I might call her back. But I just let her go, I might have a talk with her later about it.

Either way I have more important business to attend to while I have the chance. I quickly summoned my fearlings and made some nightmares to go out on their nightly shifts to spread fear across the globe. I was just about to join them until I felt a small presence at the door. Who could it be now?

"Pitch, do you mind if I talk to you really quick? It's important." The familiar voice of Katherine called out.

"As a matter of fact I do mind." I hissed, making my way back into the shadows to go join my fearlings with their work. I had no time to be bothered by an annoying Guardian.

"Wait! Please, it involves Neo!" Katherine quickly added. I couldn't help but stop dead in my tracks... Neo? How is that possible?

"Make it quick." I snapped as I turned back around and glided over to her.

"Thank you. I had my students do a writing assignment about how they got here... and one particular student described that she was attacked by a man like Neo." Katherine explained.

"What does this have to do with me?" I asked as I leaned against one of the desks. I thought I said to make this quick?

"Well, that student was Ivy... and since you were the one that found her in the woods I was wondering if you saw any signs of him." Katherine replied. She nervously clutched the sides of her dress, trying to hide that she was seemingly afraid of my answer.

Hmm, it would explain why I found her so scared and shaken. But it proves nothing. "I saw no signs of Neo, just a scared girl in the forest. What proof do you have that makes you think it was Neo anyway?"

"This, here it's her paper. Read it." Katherine pulled out a folded piece of paper that had Ivy's scribbled hand writing on it and handed it to me.

I snatched it out of her hands and instantly began to scroll over it. I had never known why Ivy was chosen by that git in the moon, and neither did anyone else. She had never told anyone. But her description of what happened even made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. She described in a full account the exact description of Neo. A deadly threat to both me and the Guardians.

"This can't be right." I spat as I thrust the paper back at Katherine. "We made sure Neo was taken care of. Besides, if Ivy really had meet Neo; there is no way she could have survived that encounter."

"Yes, I'm well aware of that. But her description fits the one of Neo. Pitch, we can't take chances with this guy. If he is back than we need to act now. I'm calling a meeting this weekend to find out what she saw. Until then... can you please keep an eye on her?" Katherine begged.

"What a waste of my time. Fine, now quit bothering me. I have work to do." With that I quickly dissolved into the nearest shadow before she could get out another word. I did have work to do, but all the same Katherine's words kept repeating in my mind.

I would check on Ivy at dinner, but right now I had a job to do. I came to the nearest city that had died down a little for the night and began to send my nightmares out to every other house with a sleeping child in it. It was nice to taste the sweet fear of children again, granted the fear of my students is enough to last me a good while. But the outside world has not had a good nightmare in a while. So why not bless them with my presence?

"Hey Pitch! Long time no see." The frost spirit chimed as he came floating out of the sky, bringing a flurry of snow with him that began to cover the town.

"What do you want Frost? I was trying to enjoy a peaceful evening." I sighed. It was becoming soo much harder to have a peaceful day without one of the Guardians dropping in on me. Especially Jack, what an annoying brat.

"Oh, you know. Just dropping by to do my usual rounds." Jack smirked as he taped his staff on the ground, sending spirals of frost everywhere. I quickly side stepped the spiraling designs before they could reach my feet and began to create my nightmares again.

"Yes well if you don't mind I am quite busy, so if you and your shenanigans could leave me alone that would be brilliant." I stated as I sent a couple of nightmares to the nearest bedroom with a sleeping child in it.

"Oh! Have you heard about the meeting this weekend yet from Katherine? She didn't say why, but I heard it's important." Jack informed me, completely ignoring the fact that I just told him to scram.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I have. She told before I came. Now if you would please leave me be." I sneered, hoping he wouldn't try to continue the conversation.

"Really? Did she tell you what it was about?" Jack asked. I sighed and shook my head, what a pest.

"If I tell you will you go away?" I sighed.

"Pinky promise!" Jack exclaimed. "Now do tell!"

"It has something to do with Neo. She thinks that Ivy might have encountered him, but there is no way Ivy could have survived that." I explained waving a hand dismissively. "There, now you know. Now go away!"

"What! Neo? That's not possible, he's supposed to be dead." Jack stuttered as he gripped his staff tighter.

"I thought you promised to go away." I grumbled as I sent another fearling out across the city. Too many kids were having good dreams here, I have a lot of work to catch up on.

"Alright, fine. I'll go away. But you have some explaining to do Pitch!" Jack demanded. I rolled my eyes and dissolved into the nearest shadow before Jack decided to break his promise. There was too much work to be doing out here to be bothered by Jack. I'll have to keep my fearlings on longer shifts...

At dinner it seemed that the news had spread of Neo thanks to Jack. Everyone looked very concerned, and almost no one took their eyes off Ivy. She looked happy and defiantly not concerned with anything else but the jokes that Alberto was making. But Ivy eventually noticed the Guardians glances at her. I could feel her fear pike thinking she was in trouble. Poor thing, if only she knew the role she might end up playing if it turns out it was Neo...