Author's Note:

This definitely is the most exciting chapter I've written so far. Don't worry; there will be more chapters like this in the future. There's much more excitement to come. Personally, I'm excited about more interactions between Anna and Pitch, but that might have to wait a while.

Again, criticism is welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
STS

Chapter 5

I walked back to where the kids were sleeping in the living room and smiled. Both of them were still inside the massive pillow fort, surrounded by plush and fleece. Sophie was curled up in a ball with her blanket wrapped around her head like a headscarf and her thumb in her mouth. Bits of her massive, curly hair stuck out of the pink fleece. Her breathing was slow and gentle, unlike when she was awake and running around. Jamie was right beside her, snoring softly into his own blanket which he had wrapped around his torso. He had his arm protectively around his sister as if just his arm could keep anything from harming her.

As quietly as I could, I tiptoed into the fort and sat by Jamie. Gently, I reached out and brushed his hair out of his face. I loved both of them as if they were my own siblings. In a way, they were. I knew Sophie for her entire life. In fact, I was there with their entire family when she took her first step. Jamie was almost the same way. He used to be a small kid, but he grew up so fast. For being so young, he was such a stout little guy. He was so brave for his sister.

That was when I started crying. There, in the semi-darkness of the living room, I choked silently on my tears. Hot tears steadily poured down my cheeks as I put my hand over my mouth to keep me from crying out too loudly. It was just so much to handle. I knew I had to be there for the both of them, to keep them protected from Pitch, but I didn't know how. Never in my life had I dealt with something even close to this. Jack had explained to me the horrors that Pitch could unleash. What could I, a normal seventeen year old, do against a powerful force that was thousands of years old? Against Pitch, I was nothing. Basically, I was an ant and he was a boot. Even my best efforts wouldn't keep him from getting near them.

And the business with Jack and the Guardians? It was so difficult accepting something that I had so easily forgotten long ago. Now that my imaginative past had come back, I didn't know what to believe anymore. Jack was nice and a great…spirit, but things had been so much easier when I didn't believe. Believing made everything difficult. If I hadn't been so curious that one night, I wouldn't have ever gotten into this mess.

The toughest part was that I was trying so hard not to feel the way I was feeling. I didn't want to be like this, especially in front of Jamie and Sophie, but in the quiet of the night when everything was so dark, I had to face the fact that I was afraid.

I eventually was able to calm myself down. With my breathing back to normal, I was able to stop crying my eyes out. Sniffling, I wiped my eyes with my sweatshirt, finally stopping my tears. My head hurt from my sudden outburst, but I definitely felt better than I had before.

"How touching."

I immediately jumped up, careful not to jostle Jamie or Sophie. Upon seeing the owner of the voice, my mouth dropped. Once I saw the pale skin, black clothing, and yellow eyes, I knew immediately that it was the person I was totally afraid of. To my confusion, he seemed surprised.

"Aha, so it's true. You can see me now," Pitch chuckled darkly as he circled…no, glided around the room. "Convenient."

I tried to form words, but all that would come out were incoherent mumbles. I wasn't sure what I should do. How do I respond to him? Do I make threats? Do I beg and plead? What do I do?!

"What did the old man North say your name was again?" Pitch paused for a moment, putting a slim finger to his chin as if he were thinking. I was about to answer when he interrupted me. "Ah, yes. Anna. Anna Evans." He observed me for a minute before commenting, "Not much if you ask me. Short. Quiet. A bit chubby too, if you ask me. How pathetic," He seemed disgusted by my apparent incompetence. "And here I thought I was going to be given a challenge."

"G-get out." I finally managed to say quietly.

Pitch feigned surprise. "My word, she actually speaks!" He laughed aloud, a sound that sent a chill down my spine.

I managed to regain my composure once more, this time with more energy. "Get out." I growled, curling my hands into fists at my sides.

Upon noticing my sudden audacity, the Boogeyman's expression suddenly darkened. His amber eyes narrowed into thin slits and his pupils as they focused on me. Drawing himself up to his full height, he advanced towards me threateningly. If I had any courage before, it left me. As Pitch stalked towards me, I grew weak at the knees. The fear I had crippled me so much that I fell backwards and almost hit the kids.

Jamie, slightly jostled by my fall, woke up. Upon seeing Pitch, he gasped and clung to Sophie, who also woke up. She was a bit bleary eyed, but as soon as she realized what was happening she began to cry. I dove towards them, holding them in my arms.

"It's okay, guys. You're going to be okay." I whispered to them, trying to stay calm even as my voice noticeably shook.

Pitch cackled, making me grow even more nervous than before. "You honestly think that your pathetic babysitter can contend with me?" He asked the children, "I can feel her fear. And let me tell you, darling," He chuckled as he turned his attention to me. "It's like a drug."

"Leave her alone!" Jamie exclaimed, trying to squirm out of my grip to stand up. I quickly shushed him and pulled him back down.

Sophie squirmed in my grasp and moved closer to me. She pulled her small hand up to my ear and whispered, "W-where Jack?"

"Oh my God…" I mouthed. Jack had even said it: We're just a shout away. I inhaled quickly, and screamed as loud as I could.

"JACK!"

Pitch glared at me. "Why you little imbecile!" He shouted. The Boogeyman waved his hand forward, pointing at me, and a stream of black shot towards me. I tried to pull away from it, but it wrapped around my ankle and slowly made its way up my calf. Frantically, I clawed at the substance, but I couldn't get free of it. Sand. I thought to myself in horror. Just like the black stuff in the nightlight.

The grip around my leg tightened as I was pulled towards the Boogeyman. As I tried to pull away, Pitch grabbed my upper arm and pulled me to my feet. I could hear the sound of Jamie and Sophie's pleads as I stared into the amber eyes of Pitch. He was definitely furious, but I was even more concerned when his expression softened. Leering at me, he spoke softly.

"You'll do quite nicely as a distraction for them, won't you?"

I didn't get a chance to ask him what he meant, for as soon as I opened my mouth I started screaming as I was plunged into a deep, dark hole. Clawing the space around me, I expected to make contact with something, but I never did. I kept falling, down deeper and deeper. Am I going to die? I thought frantically, but then I suddenly hit solid ground. Scrambling to my feet, I looked around me.

I was in the middle of a forest. There was no light, not even from the moon which was hidden behind the clouds. The forest was extremely dark and I was completely alone.

"JAMIE?!" I yelled. "SOPHIE?!"

There was no answer. Oh my God. He's still in the house with them. I started breathing heavily. What could I do? There was nothing I could do. Jamie and Sophie were at the mercy of Pitch.

"Anna?!"

I twisted around. "Who's there?" I asked.

My question was answered when Jack suddenly appeared in front of me. "Why are you calling me in the middle of the woods? Where's Jamie?"

I started breathing faster. "Jamie and Sophie…they're back at the house…why aren't you at the house?!" I asked, losing my breath.

"You were the one who called me! I come to the one who calls me!"

"But…oh God…" I was getting dizzy. Everything was spinning. I felt like I was drowning because I couldn't breathe. There were more inhales than exhales. "I'm…having…a panic…"

Everything turned black as I collapsed on the cold, forest floor.