Chapter 6

Chapter 6! This is getting so intense. I apologize for the Jack beating! I do love him..but this story...is just intense! Thanks for reading! 3

"North. NORTH!" Toothiana fluttered anxiously around the workshop. Baby Tooths whizzed around her, showing her the latest lost tooth report before going out to retrieve it. Tooth did her best to give the okays and the orders...but her mind was occupied by something more serious. That was why she had gone to North's workshop. But now that she was there, her worry grew. "North! Where is Jack? I thought he would be here with you." Her voice trailed off as she noticed the ex-bandit pacing back and forth while stroking his large beard. She knew he was already on the same page.

"He left here ina panic just the other day. But as far as I know, it was just dream that had 'im worked up." North shook his head. "No. I know Jack vwould call if he needed help." His thick accent echoed in his own mind. There was no way Jack would take anything on alone. However, there was something that had been on North's mind for a few days. There had been an odd feeling in the air blowing through the open windows of his workshop. He couldn't quite put his finger...or his belly on it. But it didn't feel right at all.

Tooth broke North's thoughts by abruptly appearing in front of him. Her soft pink eyes smiling even though she was not. A slight smile spread across her lips. "I suppose you are right. He said he was going to come to the Tooth Palace and help me with a few things, but he never showed up." She clasped her hands together and twiddled her thumbs. "I-I was just looking forward to seeing him!" Some color rushed into her cheeks.

"Really, Tooth? Ya fell for the winter sprite? Aw, mate." A warm voice snapped the two Guardians out of their thoughts. "Bunny! Vwhat brings you here? I thought it vwas too cold." North let out a hearty laugh. His cheeks filled with their usual rosey color again. "I came here with some odd news, mate." North's brow perked. "I've been smelling some odd things in the air, even down in the Earth's core. I think we need to talk to the Man in the Moon and see if he's noticed anything. Something just doesn't feel right, mate."

As Bunnymund shared what was on his mind, North's suspicions were now relevant. "I agree! Vwe vwill contact Man in Moon as soon as vwe can get a hold of 'im." North had already sent a sign to Manny, hoping he would contact them. "Wve wvill vwait here until he answers." The three Guardians stood by the globe and waited for the Man in the Moon to answer their questions.

While the Guardians were gathered at the North Pole, Jack was face to face with the Nightmare King once more. The rage built up inside of him. He knew he had to do anything and everything in his power to make sure Jamie got out safely. He didn't know what Pitch had done to him...but whatever it was, it couldn't have been good.

Pitch could see the anger flare up in Jack's eyes. Even though Jack was pretty much under his control, the Guardian was still pretty unpredictable. He broke his stare to search around for the sprite's staff. Luckily for him, it was out of reach. He returned his glare. "As I was saying...it seems you and I have a few things to discuss."

Jack didn't respond. He grit his teeth as his eyes grew more fierce. "My my. You don't want to lose your temper right now...because if you do, you might endanger the boy's life…" With a snap of his fingers, the hands that Jack had felt pull him around earlier appeared around Jamie. One of the hands brushed through the child's hair, which sent chills down Jack's spine. His eyes traveled back to Pitch. "What...do you want?"

"Oh, this is too easy!" Pitch knew that the fight wasn't over yet, but he thoroughly enjoyed taunting the Guardian. "Well, as you can see, Jamie belongs to me right now. If you want me to free him...I need you to take his place."

Jack's brow arched. "You need me….to take his place? For what? What..are you planning?" It was difficult for him to speak. He couldn't seem to form words. What in the world could Pitch be up to? And just how was he forcing Jamie to stay asleep? In the past, the children were able to wake up...but this...this sand was something completely different. "What have you..done to Jamie!"

"So many questions, my boy." Pitch tightened his grip on Jack's hair. The Guardian winced in pain and cursed Pitch. "You curse me now...but just wait until all is said and done. You won't be then." Pitch cleared his throat. "Now, I need to you to cooperate in order for Jamie to go free. I have big plans for you...and for the children all over the world. But of course, I'm not just going to spill my entire plan out to you. You may go and blab to those fools you've taken a liking to. I just need you….to stay."

Jack's eyes widened. He didn't have it in his heart to stay in the dark with Pitch. He had done it once and swore to himself never again. The pain he felt all over his body vanished as he mustered up all of the strength he had in his body. He was going to do everything his power to escape with Jamie.

The Winter Spirit raised his arms up and pushed Pitch away from him with all of his might. This sent Pitch flying back. Now free, Jack jumped to his feet. His eyes scanned around for his staff. When he located it, he immediately flew over and scooped it up in his hand. He gripped his staff tightly and sent a bolt of frost barreling towards Pitch. The Nightmare King had little time to react and was hit by the attack. With the light smoke creating a screen, Jack had to use this as his opportunity to escape. Jack bolted over to Jamie's side. He scooped the child up in his arms and made a break for it.

Things were going to be alright...or so Jack thought. As he ran, he glanced down at Jamie only to see that the child he held to his chest started to...melt. He froze in his tracks. All of the color had faded from "Jamie" and started to glisten black. Then, without warning, the mass wrapped tightly around his body. The sand had made itself heavy and brought Jack down to the ground. He could feel Pitch's laugh vibrate the cold stone under his cheek.

"You think you could get away so easily? Trust me, Jack, I have taken every precaution to make sure everything goes my way." His voice echoed through the underground cave as he came closer to the bound Guardian. Jack struggled to break free from the nightmare sand but each time he pushed as hard as he could against the sand, the sand squeezed tighter. The pressure caused him to loosen his grip on his staff. Seeing this as his opportunity, Pitch reached for the staff. He was able to snatch it up easily. He straightened his posture and burst out in laughter. "Oh how the mighty do fall! What are you going to do now, Guardian?"

"I will keep fighting you. I will keep fighting fear! You wo-ahhhh!" Pitch narrowed his eyes and the sand reacted. It had tightened its grip and squeezed the frost sprite. There was a small cracking sound that came from Jack. The Nightmare King knew that something inside of the boy had been damaged. This only brought him more joy. "This is going even better than I had expected! You see...the more you struggle, the more damage I can do. You just put yourself and that boy in a very dangerous situation…"

A trail of sand slithered its way over to Pitch's side. At first, it was a small trickle, but then its width started to grow. Finally, a large mass of sand appeared, with Jamie engulfed in the center of it. Pitch raised the wooden staff to the child's neck. Normally, Jack wouldn't have worried because the staff only responded to him. But, a faint black light began to shine through the cracks of the staff. Jack writhed to break free, but again the pressure intensified. "This is simply pathetic. But...you should be worried. I've figured this twig out, you see."

"Likely story…" Jack scoffed. "Oh, but I have!" The Nightmare King exclaimed excitedly. "You see...I can tap into people's fears and control them at my will. For example, the little brat here. I am controlling his nightmare as we speak. Oh, it's a glorious one at that….but I digress. You and this staff have been together quite some time...alone in the world. Over those years, this twig has felt your pain, your happiness, you sadness, and...your fear. It allows me to reach into it now and harness its energy." Pitch grinned, quite pleased with himself. He hadn't sent the small nightmare masses out to spy on Jack for nothing.

After saying his piece, the staff swirled with black sand and a faint gold light, shimmering against the grains. "Now then...in order for this boy to go free...I need you to stay...and be mine."