"Jack! What brings you around here?" North asked as Jack ran into the Workshop.
"North! It's Pitch." He said. He gave him a terrified look and North returned it.
"What do you mean? It's been five years. He is gone." North replied.
"And I'm telling you he's not. I just saw him at the park when I was with Tanya." Jack explained.
"Tanya?" North asked.
"It's a long story. You better get the others here before I start." Jack said. North signaled the team and got an elf to bring them some hot chocolate and cookies.
"Y-y-you!" She stuttered, pointing at the shadow. Pitch stepped out, hands up in mock surrender. "Why are you here? You scared me and you had your fun so just leave me alone."
"Oh, but why would I leave you alone? Do you know how rare you are? Not only do you believe in me but you are a teenager. No, you've just become so much more interesting." Pitch exclaimed, stepping closer to her.
"Take it from an expert, I'm dull. It's not like I'm Kim Kardashian. No one would want candid video of my life." Tanya said. She stepped around him and headed for the door, grabbing her coat and boots. Pitch simply appeared in front of her, making her jump.
"I beg to differ. You interest me." He said, leaning down to meet her eyes.
"Well maybe you don't interest me." She spat as she yanked her boots on. She shoved past him and left, slamming the door behind her. Pitch looked at the door and smiled.
"If you thought that would dissuade me, you're wrong." He said to the door. Something about her absolutely interested him.
"I can't believe this." Tooth said. Sandy nodded mutely. Jack had told everyone the story and the group was in shock. Pitch was back. Bunny paused in his cookie eating and swallowed before speaking.
"This is serious mate. If he managed to crawl out of his lair, that means he regained control of his Nightmares. He could try something again." Bunny said.
"Tanya may be in danger." North said.
"Danger?" Jack breathed.
"Since she believes, Pitch might try to use her." Tooth said.
"What do you mean use her?" Jack whispered, freezing the ground around him.
"She's a teenager who believes. That's rare. He might try to use her to get more believers. It is possible for him to feed on her more adult fears and create Nightmares that could affect teenagers and adults." Bunny said, stepping back from the ice circle around Jack.
"I gotta go back then." Jack said abruptly, walking out of the room.
"Why?" North asked.
"Because I left her alone." Jack said. He felt a tug on his hood.
"Ay mate, you thought you were goin' in alone?" Bunny said. Jack turned around to look at the group and smiled.
"Now, to the sleigh!" North announced. Everyone followed, with a green-faced Bunny in the back.
Tanya was running down the street, headed for the mall. The mall was nice and crowded so he would have a hard time finding her. She could hide out in any multitude of stores and he wouldn't be able to find her.
Pitch lurked behind her in the shadows, following her to the mall. Tanya began to enter a large, white building. In bold black lettering above the door, it said Burgess Mall. She ran through the doors and Pitch followed. She was heading for a store with crates of soap and strange powdery objects called by the sign "Bath Bombs". The store front said Lush.
Tanya went in and walked up to the register. Amanda was working and was surprised to see her best friend.
"Tanya, you finally left the house!" She teased. But she noticed her friend looking nervously behind her, in the corners and the darkest spots of the store. "Honey, what's wrong?" She asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. Tanya jumped, turning to Amanda.
"Nothing. I've just… Never mind. How's work?" Tanya asked, hoping to divert the attention away from herself.
"Fine. Are you really okay?" Amanda asked, a worried look in her eyes. "My break is in five minutes. Do you wanna grab something to eat and talk?"
"Sure. Sure lets get something to eat." She replied. She didn't see Pitch, didn't see his yellow eyes or sharklike smile. Amanda smiled and chatted with Tanya until it was break time.
Pitch was outside the store, waiting for her to come out. Give her a false sense of security, hide in the shadows. Paranoid people are much easier to scare. He followed the girls to the food court, hiding in the shadows, occasionally letting Tanya glimpse at him then disappearing. He could smell the fear and it was intoxicating. The fears of teens had a richer smell, more alluring than children. Oh yes, he would have a good time with her.