A/N : Hello! Argument time in this chapter. Sorry if Jack seems out of character.
Chapter 10
I screamed in my nightmare, and unknowingly did so in reality. My throat became dry, and I felt like I was choking. There was no moisture, and I began to gag.
My eyes burned when they flew open, and I heard a scream. It was mine. It had to be. My mouth was open, my throat was sore, and I could feel my voice escape into the room. I promptly clamped both hands over my mouth, and silenced myself. What if Jack heard? That would be so embarrassing! He would think I'm crazy or something.
The door at the end of my room swung open without warning, and I shrank back against my head board. I could feel the tears prick at my eyes. They were still burning from the sudden exposure to the cold air. Only my eyes were visible when Jack stood at the doorway, staff glowing, shedding blue light into the room. He took one step inside, and spoke softly to me.
"_? Are you ok?"
I felt so drained from the nightmare. It was too real, more real than anything. I felt as if I had lost my parents for a second time. I barely survived losing them the first. My hands were shaking, and my body was weak.
"I'm ok."
He peered through the dim light, and let the staff fade. He looked at me, and was seeming to ask for my permission to come in. I nodded in understanding. I heard his soft footsteps come closer, and I hid my face from him. I didn't want him to see me. I hated to look weak. I felt my mattress flex from the new weight. I looked up, and there he was, sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting politely. He leaned his staff up against the side of the bed, and looked over at me. His eyes saddened when he saw the shining tear trails running down my face, all the way to my chin. I tried to smile in the dull light, but the pitiful effort made me wince. I couldn't bring myself to be fake anymore, not with him. I might as well be honest.
"_. It's... Ok to cry."
I felt his cool hand rest on my shoulder. His eyes shone with understanding. He had lost his family. He knew. I let the tears gush, warm and salty down my cheeks. My eyelashes became cold as the water caught the chilly air. I wiped them quickly with my sleeve and continued. I had to let it out. My chest tightened up, holding in the air. I coughed, and gasped. Another wave of tears came out of my red eyes. I felt isolated for some reason though. Like no one was really there. Jack was a couple feet away. But I felt distanced. Then, he seemed to understand, and pulled me into his side, blankets and all. I put my face against his hoodie, and cried silently a little more. My chest loosened up, and I stopped gasping for air. My tears slowed their rapid descent, and my eyes felt a little more soothed. I kept my face buried in the soft fabric though. It smelled just like the forest, and it calmed me. Pine trees and fresh, frigid air filled my nose. Both of Jack's arms were wrapped around me, still holding me to him. I wasn't cold though, because of the blankets clinging to me. His hand was gently rubbing my back, in a comforting manner. I felt safe there, in his arms.
After my eyes dried up, I looked at up him from my pile of blankets. I gave him a weak smile.
"Sorry to scare you. You probably thought that something had happened to me."
"Well, something did to make you scream like that."
"I had a nightmare."
"What was it about? I mean, you don't have to tell me or any-"
"My parents. The plane crash."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's alright."
"Just remember, it was only a dream."
He looked at me with seriousness. The words seems to hold a different weight when he said them. One of importance.
"Ya, I know. I knew it the whole time, Jack."
He nodded.
"Did it seem real?"
"Very. But, I knew it was dream, because I was flying. Without you there."
He seemed relieved. I thought it odd.
"Why do you look so happy?"
"Oh. It's just that I... I'm glad that your nightmare was just that, a nightmare."
"Jack, I practically relived the loss of my parents. It was more than a nightmare."
I looked at him with questioning eyes. What was he hiding?
"Jack."
He made eye contact.
"You aren't telling me something. Why?"
He looked frustrated, and seemed to be making a decision. He let go of me, and dug his hands into his hair. I let down my knees, so that they could dangle over the side of my bed. Finally, after much contemplation, he stood up, and walked over to the little square window. Dim light filtered in through the blizzard's snowy air. I glanced at my clock. It was 10:48am.
"_, you deserve, need, to know the truth. But first, I have to tell you something. Have you ever heard of the boogeyman? The guy that... Gives you nightmares?"
"Yes. As a child. I never really believed that he actually existed. Are you saying he's real? Like you?"
Jack nodded.
"He's real. And so are a lot of other legends."
"He gave me the nightmare."
I recalled the shadow from last night.
"Jack, I think he's here. Last night, I might have seen him. But I doubted myself."
"I thought that he might be here. Anyone I care about... He hurts them."
"You really care about me?"
"Yes."
"Then please, Jack. Tell me what's up."
He looked down at his bare feet, mustering up his courage. After a couple moments, he looked up at me with sad, guilty eyes. I became worried. What could he possibly have to say?
"I was there."
I stared at him. Was he talking about the plane crash?
"At the crash?"
He became mute, and nodded solemnly.
My heart fluttered in panic. Did this mean... That he caused the crash?! He couldn't have... It was possible though. There was no denying it. I stopped staring at him, and looked down at my hands. Why hadn't he told me sooner? Was he trying to protect me? My thoughts became crowded, and my head started to hurt. I cleared away all of the mess, and waited for one, solid thought to be brought forward.
He killed them.
A tear formed, not from sorrow alone, but from betrayal and malice. It fell onto my face, and I glared at Jack.
"How could you not tell me?"
His face became twisted in anger and surprise.
"How could I not tell you?! Where in the heck would I have fit in the bit about me causing the death of your parents?! When I introduced myself?! Hi, I'm Jack Frost, and I'm the one who orphaned you! _! Think about how I felt."
Shock registered on my face. Then anger and saddness seeped into my thoughts. I stood up.
"How could you say that about their deaths? How can you speak so freely about it? You don't know them! You never will! It's because of you that they died!"
I turned on my heel to leave the room, but his words stopped me.
"I was fighting Pitch. The boogeyman."
I looked over my shoulder.
"I was forced to make a storm. To protect myself..."
"To protect yourself? Did you think of the consequences? What would happen if you made a storm?"
"...no..."
I turned back around, and ran out of the room, down the stairs. I pulled on my boots, and flung open the back door after snagging my jacket on the way out.