Confessions

Chapter 3

A/N: I STILL DON'T OWN RISE OF THE GUARDIANS!

P.S. I HATE DISCLAIMERS

Fear gripped Sophie's heart five minutes after her brother and Jack left for Santoff Claussen.

"Sophie, what's wrong?" Aster asked, seeing the girl had frozen.

"I don't know, something happened to Jamie. We need to go to Santoff Claussen. NOW," Sophie said, putting down the egg she had been painting.

Aster didn't argue. He had never seen Sophie so upset before. Not even when her grandmother had died a year ago.

Aster opened a tunnel to Santoff Claussen and scooped up Sophie, putting her onto his back. With a grunted, "Hold on tight Sophie," he took off, heading to North's workshop.

"Jack, what's wrong?" Aster asked when the duo arrived, seeing the winter spirit surrounded by yetis, subdued elves and a very worried North.

"Ah Bunny, maybe you help. All Jack say is, 'He took him'."

Aster approached Jack slowly. "Jack mate, what happened?"
"J...Jamie and I arrived. P...Pitch was waiting for us. H...he t...took Jamie," Jack whispered, half-frozen tears on his face.

"How did Pitch get into Santoff Claussen?" Aster asked, looking to North for answers.

"Don't know. Maybe Sandy know. Called Sandy and Tooth as soon as saw Jack."

"Aster, we need to get the others. Pitch could go after them too," Sophie said, standing from where she was crouched next to Jack, "Oh sweet Manny what am I going to tell Sammie?"

"Sophie's right, we need to get the other ankle-biters. They'll be safer here than anywhere else," Aster said. "I'll go with her to get them," Aster said, opening a tunnel to Burgess and putting Sophie onto his back. "We'll be back soon."

With that, Aster jumped into the tunnel and ran to Burgess.

The first stop was Sammie's house. Sophie knocked on the door while Aster chose to stay in his tunnel, where it was warmer.

"Hi Mrs. Smith, can Sammie come out?" Sophie asked when the door was opened.

"Sure Sophie, just let me go get her," Mrs. Smith said, "Step inside if you want. It's freezing out there."

Sophie stepped inside and looked around. This house never ceased to amuse her with all its different colors and patterns.

"Sophie! Where are we going? What's wrong? I saw the lights," Sammie asked, wrapping her arms around the younger girl.

"I can't tell you yet. We have to get the others and get to Santoff Claussen," Sophie said softly.

Sammie pulled back a bit and nodded. "Okay," she said, putting on her coat. "I'm going out for a while Mom!"

"Alright, be home by dark," her mom called back.

Sophie led Sammie out of the house and to get the others.

When Sophie had everyone assembled, Aster opened the tunnel and took them back to Santoff Claussen.

"North, how's Jack?" Aster asked when they got back.

"Little better. Yeti's move him to infirmary," North responded, looking exhausted.

The children looked around the workshop. The place was in shambles.

"North, what happened here?" Sammie asked softly.

"Pitch got in, ruined everything," the large man said sadly.

Fear hit Sammie hard. "North, where's Jamie? Did Pitch take Jamie?"

North hesitated and then nodded slowly. "He was with Jack and he come through portal first. Pitch grab him. Nothing Jack could do."

Sammie started sobbing. Even though Jamie didn't know it, she loved him just as much as he loved her.

North patted the girl's back softly. "Do not worry. We will get Jamie back. He be home for Christmas."

"Where's Tooth?" Sophie asked, knowing the female Guardian would soothe Sammie.

"She and Sandy in the infirmary with Jack," North said.

"Come on Sammie. Let's go find Tooth," Sophie said, putting her arm around Sammie, Jane on the other side.

"North, how can we help?" Caleb asked, approaching the man.

"We must fix globe. Pitch tried destroying it so we not find."

"Come on guys, we have a friend to find."