A/N : Hi! I won't be posting for awhile, because of my trip I'm taking for a couple days. Most likely no wifi there, but I'll still write stuff, so when I get home, I'll post. Sorry you guys! And thanks for all of those reviews! 90... Who woulda thought? Haha anyways, Merry Christmas!

Chapter 11

I pulled the jacket tight to my already freezing body. The wind bit through the wool and into my skin. My flannel pants and boots were all that I had on my legs. I immediately began shivering as I ran through the snow. I didn't look back at the house. I needed to think. I needed a quiet place, yet here I was, in the middle of a blizzard, seeking solace. What kind of idiot am I? Running through a blizzard. Yep, that's me. No matter. I need to get away from him for awhile. Will he come after me? Probably. I need a hiding place. There were some caves I had seen when I first moved in. I was heading in the right direction anyways. I slowed my running to a trudge, and had a new goal. Get to the caves, eat something, think. Then go back? Yes. Then go back.

Once or twice while on my little mission, I heard Jack calling out to me through the snow-thick air. He sounded desperate, searching for me. He must be trying to clear the storm by now. I could feel the wind weakening, and the air becoming a little more hospitable. It wouldn't be long until my cover was blown. I'd have to hurry. Even someone with his power couldn't clear away a blizzard this size completely in 10 minutes. 20? Maybe. I began running through the powder, coming to the begining of a new treeline. The snow flurries were easier to see through, because the wind was filtered through the thick forest. I looked behind me. My tracks weren't being covered by the snow here either. Out in the open, they most likely were. I would be alone for awhile. Good enough.

The caves looked strangely inviting, with their black mouths opening from the ground. I kept walking until I found one with an easy entrance. I stepped into the ground, step by step, each made up of earth and packed snow. I descended until it was dimly lit inside, and I felt sure that Jack wouldn't find me here. It was painfully silent, and I found a rock on the ground, and started etching into the soft walls.

I drew lines at first. Simple and boring. Then I made a star. Then a flower. A shephard's crook. I quickly scribbled that one out though. I wanted to draw a heart, to complete my collection of doodles, but I couldn't bring myself to make it. I instead made a simple pine tree. I sat back, content with my drawing session. I checked my watch. It was about 12:25pm, more or less. My stomach growled. I had already skipped breakfast.

I slowly stood, and walked towards the entance of the cave, where some light filtered down from the forest below, and carefully climbed out of the earth. I looked around, but Jack wasn't in sight. And besides, even if he did find me, I had had time to think alone. I felt the eerie feeling of being observed, and turned around, but saw nothing of course. The feeling persisted, and I looked curiously down into the cave. It was filled with shadows, and I couldn't make out anything distinctive. Then, the shadows changed into a definite form. The figure stood tall, watching me. Just the sight of him, I assumed he was a man, struck me with fear. He held my wide eyed stare, and took a daring step towards me. I bolted away, fear driving me to twist and weave through the trees. I had to leave. This man was evil, I could feel it. As I ran, the fear in my chest increased as my heart beat with panic. I was too far from any help. My home was too far. Jack was too far. My parents were too far. I really was on my own this time. I kept running though, that is, until I ran right into the man. I bounced off, and landed on my elbows on the ground. That would definitely bruise. I looked up at the tall figure looming before me.

We made eye contact. His eyes were... Golden looking. Amused and calculating. Actually, quite cynical. I became uneasy under his gaze. What was he chasing me for? He had to be that boogeyman Jack mentioned. Pitch. The one he fought. Pitch was the real cause of my parents' deaths. More responsible than Jack by far. My mind was made up. I would forgive Jack, but hold Pitch responsible for their perishing. That was what I had decided in the cave. And here I was, face to face with the monster who had my parents murdered.

"You're Pitch."

He smiled in a twisted up way. Must be him.

"And you must be _. Jack does seem utterly fascinated by you. You're the only human girl his age he's met in... I'd say centuries?"

I stood when he started to slowly stroll around me. I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him. I mean, the guy radiated a general bad feeling wherever he walked. He was the guy who made the nightmares. I felt... Scared. I hardly ever felt scared. Like, ever.

"So, what is it you want...Pitch, was it?"

He looked slightly annoyed. Good.

"Nothing from you really. I want something from Jack. But to get what I want from him, I have to go through you."

Cryptic much?

"So, you really do want something from me. Or am I hearing things?"

He smiled to himself.

"You seem like someone I would befriend, _. But unfortunately for you, I want Jack's suffering. I want him to feel a new kind of fear, just for me. I want him to run, I want him to hide, and I want him to suffer, just like I did."

With every hate filled word, he took a menacing step closer to me. He was just in front of me now. I could reach out and touch him. Fear welled up inside of me.

"But _. It's unfortunate for you, because for him to suffer, he needs to lose something, or someone in this case, that he loves. It seems to me... that he loves you."

His twisted grin broke into a small smile.

"And you, _, your greatest fear... is being alone. I hope you'll remember that."

I could feel myself shaking a bit. I felt completely lost, hopeless and deserted. But Pitch was the reason. He was doing this to me. To make me weak. I had to be strong. Not for just myself this time, but also for Jack. Both of us were on the line. I looked up at Pitch. Jack would be looking, right? He was my best bet against someone with powers like Pitch. I needed to stall.

"Were you the one who killed them?"

Pitch's eyes flickered. He took the bait.

"I couldn't have done it alone. Your friend Jack, he was gracious enough to provide the storm itself that sent the plane plummeting. Of course, I admit, I was the one who started the fight."

He smiled sickly at me, enjoying my pain. I became filled with anger. I took a step towards him.

"You're nothing Pitch. You're just a pathetic monster that enjoys the suffering of innocent children."

He reached out and grabbed me by the throat, and lifted me into the air. My feet dangled several feet above the snowy ground below. Boy, this guy was tall.

"Well, _, since you seem to consider me as one who enjoys pain, I might as well demonstrate that remarkable trait of mine to you now. I know that I'll enjoy it."

His fingers closed tighter around my throat. I could feel the crisp air being used up already in my lungs. They faintly burned. Pitch stared into my eyes. Jack had to be nearby. I attempted to yell for him, but nothing came out.

"See, _? You're going to face your greatest fear, being alone. So far from anyone, that you'll see what I've felt. What I've endured. And Jack will blame himself for everything. He'll finally feel pain, real pain."

A sharp pain jabbed its way from my stomach, to my entire being. I felt warmth leaving my body, and Pitch dropped me into the snow. I squinted up, and he was gone. I was relieved, and my fears subsided. I tried to sit up, but the sharp pain returned. I cried out, and I fell onto my back. I craned my neck forward, and looked at my stomach. My eyes went wide with realization. Pitch had stabbed me with some sort of black knife. It appeared to be made out of some kind of sand. It burned though. A lot. I ler my head fall back into the snow, and gritted my teeth in pain. A couple tears came sliding down my face.

"Jack! Jaaaaack!"

I waited, looking up at the sky framed with the tips of evergreens and pines. I was alone. Fear creeped its way into my heart and mind. I became weaker. I felt for my stomach, and grimaced when I found the knife, still stuck in me. I brought my hand back, stained with red, and wiped it on my jacket. I turned my head to the side, eyesight blurring from tears and blood loss. The sun was going down already. How long have I been like this?

Cold wind rushed through the trees. I yelled out for Jack. He might be close.

"Jack!"

My voice cracked, and more tears came out. I stared hopelessly into the darkening sky above. Pitch was hoping that Jack would find me. So that he would witness me leaving him forever. I felt selfish, because I wanted him here no matter what. I needed him here. I couldn't die alone.

The wind flourished as Jack's face appeared above me. I smiled weakly.

"You found me."

He nodded, and saw my wound, the strange knife. He looked bewildered.

"Pitch did this to you..."

I nodded back quietly.

His face said it all. He couldn't fix it. No one human could either. I decided to say what needed to be said.

"Jack, I'm sorry for accusing you of everything. I know that it wasn't your fault now. It was Pitch. It was all him. I forgive you, even if you don't forgive yourself."

"_. "

He knelt down beside me.

He pushed back my hair, and tried to keep his eyes off of the knife. We both knew that I wasn't going to make it much longer. Jack picked me up carefully, and held me. We stayed like that for awhile. I could feel the cold against me, and didn't care anymore. I wasn't alone. Everything would be ok.

"Jack."

He looked down on me. I grabbed his hand and held it.

"We're going to be ok. Promise me that."

A moment passed. His eyes became glossy.

"_, we're gonna be fine, ok?"

I nodded, and felt weak. I closed my eyes, and felt Jack grab my hand back. I began going numb, and felt him kiss my knuckle before everything went away.

A/N : The feels! This isn't the end though, I promise. Shoulda used that as a line. Bleh. Stuffs about to get CRAZY. Prepare yourselves! :D