Chapter XVII

As I stand alone. Sinking like a stone. You can save me now. I can't live without. Tell me what should I do?—Adelitas Way, Closer to You

As these visions run through my mind again and again, my hears felt amplified as I grew a splitting headache. I held my head in my hands as I groaned in pain, wanting to scream for it to stop. I collapsed to the ground once again, feeling cool, soft hands but warm arms wrap around me.

"Hey! You okay?"

It was Jack's voice, calling for me with a worrisome, concerned tone to his voice.

"J-Jack…it's hurting…" I winced, my hands nearly pulling my hair, my teeth grinding against each other and my eyes squeezing shut.

Then I heard the deep laughter of Pitch. "Do you feel it? That insufferable pain, the Man in the Moon is now feeling?"

"That's enough, Pitch!" I heard North shout.

Then something warm drips from my nose and I take my hand, shakily, wiping whatever the warm liquid was, I see it was blood.

Tears begin to fill my eyes as all I wanted was this pain to end. "Make…it stop…" I begged. "I-I…I can't….I can't take it…anymore."

Jack held me tighter and surprisingly, with what was happening all around, I could hear Jack's breathing and how calm it made me feel. And before I knew it, I again fell into a deep subconscious state.

"Manny!" I shot up in a panic, screaming for my dear friend's name, only to be met with Jack, kneeled down next to me, his hand resting on my shoulder.

"It's okay…" He calmly said.

I take a breath and hunched over, rubbing my temples. "Did I pass out again?"

"Yeah."

"Ugh…I'm getting real tired of that." I sighed, my hands moved from my temples to my eyes, rubbing my eyes with the palms of my hands.

Jack lets out a low chuckle to which I can't help by give a weak smile too.

He then asked. "How are you feeling?"

"Better…thanks." I looked up at him, my voice reassuring.

"So what…" He paused, as if thinking about how to ask his question. "What happened?"

He didn't need to explain what he was asking, for I already knew. "I was feeling…what Manny was feeling."

Jack looks at me with a wavering expression.

"Pitch's power is strong and Manny trapped in his darkness. It's hurting him..." I wrapped my arms around myself, reminding the excruciating sensation I felt. "It's hurting him…and I felt it, but couldn't do anything to stop it." I started to vibrate.

Jack remained silent, his eyes fell to the ground, but the warmth from his arm the wrapped around my shoulders I felt reassured.

While Jack and I remained like that in silence, I sudden thought came to mind. "Where…are we?" I lifted my head and looked around.

I noticed the familiar interior of the room this time it not being so messy or abandoned looking, with no boards covering the window. It was the old office room that I had originally used as my room.

Jack stood up and offered his hand to me, and as I took it he spoke. "Well after that fight with Pitch, North sent the yetis and elves to re-build the place."

"No way." I said in awe as me and Jacked walked out of the room to see the finished renovated Planetarium.

There was a flick and the rest of the building illuminated, and I could see everything clearly. Polished wooden-panel floors, freshly painted walls, and no windows or doors boarded up. The place had been clean of the smell of dust and burning candles. Even the large globe in the middle of the foyer was reconstructed and glimmering in the light.

I stood in amazement as I heard Jack give a low chuckle from behind me. "What do you think? Not bad right?"

"This place looks amazing…" And unable to contain my excitement I jumped at Jack, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head over his shoulder. "Thank you, thank you!"

Returning the hug back, in a low mumble Jack said. "You're welcome…" Clearing his throat we then part away from each other and he nervously scratches the back of his head. "Uh…well North, the yetis and elves did most of the work. So uh...yeah."

"Well I'll just have to thank North when we get back to the Pole—Wait! This is no time to be lolly-gagging, Pitch is out there," I said in a panic as I made my way toward the entrance. "We have to go—" Then I felt myself being jerked back as Jack came around, blocking me from leaving.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I stared at him worrisome.

"I can't let you go." Jack stared back at me with a serious expression.

I felt my cheeks burn. "W-what?"

Jack turned towards the doors that lead outside then back at me. "I can't let you go out there…"

I fidgeted with my hands and bashfully turned away. "Oh… so that's what you meant—wait, why not?" I snapped my head back to look at him.

"It's too dangerous for you, after what we put you through…" Jacked trailed off as if reminiscing the past events.

"Like the kidnapping, the blizzard, Pitch's nightmares." I listed them off and noticed Jack's face grow grim.

Jack opened the door and turned to me. "That's why you're staying here." He briskly walked out slamming the doors behind him.

"Jack!" I screamed and ran to the doors, which wouldn't budge. "No, no!" I then raced to the other doors and windows that I noticed were frozen shut. The last window I tried opening was down in the office, but even that was frozen shut.

Jack came up to the window, his hand resting against the glass, and I couldn't help but rest my hand in the same spot, against his.

"Don't do this!" I pleaded. "You and the guardians can't beat him!"

Jack removes his hand with a determined look on his face. "It's all will be over tonight."

"Please, don't leave me alone!" I screamed out of fear and rage.

Jack's eyes softened. "I'm sorry…" Then he flew off, and eventually out of my sight.

I stumbled backwards, falling on the floor. My hands started to tremble as hot tears stung my eyes but no noise escaped me. Backing myself into a corner, I buried my face in between my knees and wrapped my arms around them tightly. I sobbed silently alone.