Chapter 23

He steps off of the edge of the ledge behind him, maintaining eye contact the entire time, and I let myself marvel at his ability to float in the air. He doesn't have to move a muscle, unlike myself. He just levitates. It's extraordinary. There's a tinge of jealously present, but I let it dissolve away into the awe of his gift. I remind myself that I also can fly, and that there's nothing to be jealous about. He's ready to start the actual fighting, and his echo rings out into the cave after he speaks.

"Since you're so eager..."

His friendly smile morphs into a mischievous smirk. The cave transforms into a black, infinite space that engulfs me. The comforting blue light is long gone.

From the dark space, I hear his voice and it's echo.

"I won't hold back."

I tune in to his heartbeat immediately, as I suspect he is doing for mine. I hear it, but it is much more faint than before. He must be further away. I see a flash of blue to my far right, and I yelp. Part of my right arm below the elbow is becoming numb. I can feel the faint sting of cold, so cold it burns. I feel my forearm with my left hand, and find it to be covered in frost. I swallow the faint stinging that's gradually growing, and prepare myself for a fist fight of some sort. I hear the heartbeat again, this time much closer, and to the left. A little predictable. It's getting louder, and I hear something moving through the air, so I duck. Jack manages to hit me with his staff in my right shoulder. I let out a sharp sound of pain, grit my teeth, and conjure a staff of my own. I remind myself that it's metal, and it'll do a lot of damage. More than wood.

Jack shoots ice at my right side again, and a flash of blue gives away his position. Straight ahead, up about 10 feet. I leap out into the darkness, unfold my wings, and manage to miss the spiked ceiling as I swing my staff out into the air, making sure I don't actually injure Jack with the blow. I hear a thump and feel the staff take the impact of hitting Jack. He yells out in pain.

"OW! Is that thing metal?"

"Hey, I'm not holding back either!"

"You asked for this."

The staff flashes blue, and I feel ice attack my abdomen. I sink lower in the air, and somehow find the ledge. It feels pretty bad as I gingerly probe my stomach. I hear Jack nearing me once more, and lash out with my fist instead of the staff. I feel it connect with his face. I guess that I've hit his cheek, possibly his jaw. His staff lashes out and hits me in the left shoulder and flashes blue. I blink hard from the brilliant light, and feel my shoulder freezing up. I can't move it much, and decide to use my right (still frozen) forearm to my advantage. I know Jack is behind me now by the sound of his heart. I whip around with my forearm as a weapon, and strike him across the chest. I hear his feet scuffle back from the force, but he regains his ground by launching himself at me. He swings his staff at my ankles, and knocks me onto my back. I feel stunned, and my breath is shallow. I feel ice spread up my legs after a brilliant flash goes off in front of me. I can't get up. Most of me is frozen. I form the staff again, and swing it as best as I can towards Jack's heartbeat. Ice cracks whenever I move, and I start to break it off of my limbs. My legs are freshly frozen though, and refuse to work. My stomach is also still icy. Maybe that's a good thing? It's like an armor plate. A stinging armor plate.

I keep swinging in frustration, and finally mange to hit Jack, probably in the calves. He must have jumped back, though. I can no longer reach him. I get rid of the staff, and conjure my bow and arrows. The arrows should have blunt tips, and I feel them before loading my bow. I shoot a couple in the dark towards his heartbeat, and hear them meet their target.

"Really? Arrows?"

"YA! And really? Ice? This stuff hurts!"

"That's the point."

"At least they're not real arrows!"

I hear his heartbeat get closer, and the shuffling of his feet as he nears me on the ledge. I'm still paralyzed, propped up on my elbows, and helpless. Except for my bow. I wait for him the get closer, and prepare to let another arrow fly. I don't get the chance to hit him, though. He dodges the arrow, jumps forward, and lands right on top of me. My breath is knocked out of my lungs.

"Sorry, thought you were further away than that."

His voice is muffled, mostly because his face is buried in my hair. I can only say one thing.

"You're heavier than you look."

I hear him laugh, but he doesn't attempt to move.

"Jack... you're smushing me."

"Ya, well... That's your problem. You wanted to fight so badly."

"Didn't think it'd end like this."

"You're comfy. I don't wanna get up."

"Jack, come on! My stomach is still stinging. Like a lot. Most of my body is stinging."

"Ok..."

I feel him prop himself up, and the weight lifts. He must be beside me, and his staff finally lights up the dark. I look at my frozen arm and shoulder, then at my stomach, and my legs. Jack runs his hand through his hair, then looks down at me.

I feel myself blush.

"Can you even get up?"

"...no..."

He glances at my frozen legs, then back at me.

"I did a good job."

"Mhm, sure. Now defrost me."

He starts with my legs, and presses his hands on them. I don't feel them until after several, several seconds. Even then, they're numb with the cold. He assesses my forearm next, and presses it between his palms. I feel the ice recede, and feeling starts to return. I wait as he fixes my shoulder, and I try my best to remain still. Now the awkward part. He nervously glances at me before actually setting his hands on my stomach, as if asking my permission. I give him a look that says "Go for it. I'm cold.". I don't feel much at first, except the pressure of his hands, but as my stomach defrosts, I start to get ticklish. I feel the impulse to curl up and laugh, and try desperately to remain motionless. He's still concentrating on absorbing the ice when I laugh out loud by accident. He looks surprised, and I see a wicked smile take its place on his face. What have I done? He lightly pushes at my stomach, and I can't help but laugh again. This time, he grins and I see his teeth show. He does it again, and enjoys my laughing.

"Jack! HAHA! Jack! Come on!"

"Oh my gosh, this is too good."

"PSHH WHAT? HAHAAA! Jack! Stop it!"

He's laughing too, so much that his shoulders rise with each sound.

He continues tickling me until I can't take much more. Then he sits back, stands, and pulls me up from the ground to my feet.

"Can you fly?"

"Probably."

I can feel myself blushing in the light.

I step over to the edge, and see the pool spreading out below us. I feel traces of cold still present on my skin and shiver a bit, hoping that Jack doesn't notice. That would be embarrassing. He must though, because his trademark grin glints in the light of the staff.

"Cold?"

I hug my arms around myself, pretending to cross them in defiance.

"No."

"I doubt that."

He floats past me, and I blush against my will.

"Let's practice some more."

He dims the staff, and the cave is once again a damp dark. I create the staff I used earlier and hold it in my hand, ready to fight. It isn't long before Jack engages. I feel the blow of his staff across my folded wings, enough to make me stumble forward. I grit my teeth, and regain my ground, minding the edge in front of me. That water looks cold. And deep. I listen for any movement. Pure instict tells me that something is behind me as I feel my neck prickle from coldness. Without hesitation I crouch close to the ground, and swing my staff out as hard as I can behind me. At the last second, before it makes contact with Jack, I pull back on it to lessen the impact. I don't want to break any bones. I hear the thud of metal on fabric and Jack shuffling back. I quickly change my staff to what I guess to be white oak wood. Metal seems to be a little harsh. I raise my staff up to block a hit I hear whistling through the air. The clack of wood echos in the cave's space. Jack hesitates to swing again, probably because he's confused as to the sudden change of weapons. I take advantage of his mild delay and swing out at where his feet may be. I feel the staff reverberate in my hands, and the sound of him hitting the rock ground rewards my ears. Finally. But what do I do now? Surely not hit him while he's down. Is that what he expects? Instead of beating him with my staff, I point it towards him. I know he's still lying there, I can feel the cold air and hear him breathing. After a moment, he grabs it, and I pull him up with my sore arm. I grit my teeth, and keep pulling him up even though my arm is microscopically tearing. And I thought immortality meant you felt no pain.

Once he's on his feet, he does the unexpected. I expect him to perhaps shed blue light in the cave, congratulate me, and call it a day. But no. He's Jack Frost. He launches himself at me, hits me with his shoulder, and bulldozes me off the ledge. It's a 30 foot fall. Basically a three story building. Taller than the orpanage, the cabin, or any school I've attended in the past. I feel myself falling, and have enough time to unfold my wings. I consider it for a split second, but decide against it anyway. It would only tear them on impact with the water. That icy pool of ink staring me in the face. Somehow I've turned during the fall, and now I'm face down to the pool. I don't feel or hear Jack falling with me in the dark. Just wait until I get out- I hit the water messily, not quite a belly flop, but not a straight dive either. I'm angled funny, and my face takes the initial impact. It hurts, and the cold water doesn't help. I feel stinging climb from my chin to my forehead as I sink further into the water, propelled by gravity and force. My face will be red for two reasons now. Make that three as anger rises from my stinging chest. I've sunken into the darkness too far, and open my eyes wide. I don't know which way is up. I've spun and twisted too much to know. Can I even drown? No sense in trying that theory out in this situation. Maybe some other time. I carefully let out a string of bubbles from my mouth. Stupid. I can't see them, or which way they float. I turn in a circle and flip around in a contained sense of panic. Which way do I go? I can't tell if my vision is dimming, because I really can't see anything anyway. I feel lightheaded though. I can faintly hear through the water, and I guess that Jack is getting worried. I relax my body, fight the panic infecting my mind, and try to float, like a kite trying to rise. There isn't enough air in my lungs to lift my body. I'm too heavy. My feathers are soaked to the bone, and are dragging me down. Down. I've found up. I kick against the downward force, and see a flash of blinding blue light from above, so bright, i squeeze my eyes shut. It bounces through the water, and I hear Jack yelling for me through the pool. More like a vertical tunnel. It sounds funny, too far away. His figure infiltrates the water above me, staff shining, not a gentle glow like before. I realize that my vision is indeed dimming to darkness on the edges. I've been down here too long. And I'm terrible at swimming. I have no energy to kick forward, and I try to keep my breath in. I just have to wait for him. He sees me, and we make eye contact. He looks determined, but his eyes flash with worry. He kicks downwards, staff guiding him towards me.

The air has been used though, and every oxygen molecule in my lungs has burned away, floating through my blood keeping me on the edge of consciousness. I feel like sleeping, maybe taking a nap. It feels like the time I had hypothermia. I was dumb enough to stay out too long looking for a box of matches in the shed outside my cabin. It was nighttime, and snowing. I didn't bring a jacket, and I ran through the snow. I remember tripping, falling into the stinging cold fluff, just like the water, but softer. I just want to sleep. Just as Jack grabs my limp arm, I let out the last of my air in defeat, and apologize with my eyes. Sorry, they say in a quiet voice.

One of last things I feel before blacking out from oxygen deprivation is burning. In my lungs, a fire has started, water enflaming my flesh. It feels like acid. It's not meant to be there, that's for sure. I wish I could take the oxygen out, like fish do. But I have wings, not gills. I feel heavier as the water turns my lungs into weights. Just like ballasts on a submarine. I fight the urge to cough. That will pull more in, and besides, I would be expelling water for water. Not air. The pain is numbing, and I slip away from consciousness. My last thoughts: I'm pathetic. I can't even swim. I couldn't get out of a pool of water. I'm a disappointment. What will Jack think of me?

Nothing happens for awhile. I'm wandering around inside my mind. It's dim and dark, like the cave. I'm going no where in particular when I find a trail of white feathers, leading away into blackness. I don't get the chance to follow them though.

I feel before I see. It's all black, but I feel pressure. Pressure from somewhere. On my lips? That's strange. It feels nice though, I admit. Then frigid, dry air. It rushes through my lungs, and I feel my chest rise and fall, all without any effort on my part. I find it a little unsettling. What's happening? I'm alive, I assume. The pressure remains, and the air fills my lungs several more times, each time improving my thought process. I begin to think clearly, but I still don't feel much beyond the cold air and pressure. I feel like I'm in a sort of half-coma. Then, the pressure from my lips lifts, and I'm sad to feel it go. Now, something much less pleasant takes its place. Crushing pressure on my ribs, caving them in, and expanding them. Over and over. It feels terrible, and I wonder what exactly is happening. I feel warmth in my chest, and it slowly spreads with each compression. It moves through my arm, down my side, to my legs, back up, through the rest of my body, and eventually back to where my heart is. I vaguely guess that it's blood. The compressions stop, and the soft pressure returns to my lips. More cold air. It feels wonderful compared to the compressions. My ears work next. I hear airy noises, and ringing. Nothing useful. Then my eyes finally kick in. They're shut, so I see red and dark warm colors because of my eyelids. There must be some light wherever I am. I can't seem to open my eyes though. The pressure leaves my lips once again, but I feel a new pressure against my neck. Something is being held there. It turns out to be two fingers, taking my pulse. They must not find anything, because they move to my left wrist. I hear a whispery exasperation.

"Come on. I know you're ok. Please, just wake up."

It's Jack. His voice is saturated in concern, and there's some panic evident too. I want to sit up, I want to say I'm fine. But, my mouth won't move. My eyes won't even open. I can't take a breath on my own.

Then, he presses his ear to my chest. I can feel him straining to hear my heartbeat. Usually, he hears it from a distance. He must be scared, and I hate to make him that way.

The painful compressions start up again, and I feel some sort of jolt. It's minuscule, but it's right where my heart is. I think it's electricity. A tiny amount that sustains my heartbeat. My heart starts up on its own once Jack stops directing it. He leans down, listening intently to my chest. I feel his head rise up again.

"Oh, thank god!"

He puts his hand on the side of my face and shocks me with a kiss right on the lips. He must think I'm still unconscious. He pulls away. I'm relieved to feel myself take a breath on my own, and exhale. I'm not sure what to think about the kiss. It complicates things, thats for sure. Maybe it was just a thing he did because he was in the moment. I try to open my eyes, can't, and concentrate on breathing instead. I notice that my heart is a little fluttery, probably because of Jack. I calm it down, barely, and use all of my willpower on opening my eyes. It's like opening a garage door that weighs a ton. Finally, a crack of light emerges in each eye. I pry them open bit by bit, and they stay open. I'm squinting into Jack's eyes when I hear his laugh echo in the blue lit cave.

"_! You're awake! You're ok!"

He pulls me up by my shoulders and brings me into a hug. I'm glad that my face is against his hoodie, otherwise he would see my blush. He doesn't know that I was conscious the whole time. Maybe I should let him believe it, too.

My life sure is dramatic.

He continues to hold me, and I become aware of my shaking. I'm trembling like a leaf.

"_?"

He looks at me strangely, and I see his concern. I turn to the side impulsively, and spit up blood after coughing. I try out speaking. My voice is hoarse and faint.

"Jack, why didn't any water come out? It should have, right? I had it in my lungs."

This detail scares me for some reason. It's like evidence that suggests I didn't actually drown, like I'm imagining the whole thing.

"There was water. A lot of it. I used my power to get it out. I had to freeze it first, though. That's why you're coughing up blood. I'm sorry, it was neccessary. I didn't want to do it, but it was the fastest way."

I understand. I'm also glad that I wasn't conscious for that part. It would have been painfull. I briefly imagine icicles forming inside my lungs.

"Thank you."

I close my eyes selfishly out of exhaustion, then open them out of guilt. And curiosity.

"Jack, could you have used your powers to get me out of the water?"

"Yes, but I would have to freeze it, and that would take time. And I don't know what that'd do to you. It might hurt you, it might not. Not the time for experimenting, either."

"I didn't know I could drown."

"Me neither. Get injured, yes. But get that close to death..."

There was a solemn silence between us.