OK so this is the next chapter.

Thank you all for the reviews/favorites/follows

I would like to apologize for my absence and to give you this nice little update.

Shout out to L.L. Wayne who suggested this only a few hours ago really. This is a little short one-shot based off of the video and lyrics of the song "Flares" by the Script. I hope you like it!

I don't own ROTG or what this was based off of.

Onto the chapter!

Jack felt a frozen tear slip down his face as he stared up at the moon. Ever since he woke up from the lake, he's been alone. He's cried out for others, he's called out for anyone but no one ever came to help him. He felt his eyes sting with the feeling of the salty tears well up and fall from his eyes, but he couldn't stop them. He was so alone.

"Why?" He called to the moon. "Why won't you help me? Why am I alone?"

There was no answer.

Through his blurred vision, Jack could have sworn the moon grew just a bit dimmer, as if whoever was watching him from it had left. A choked sob left his lips and tears fell even faster.

Was no one out there for him?

Jack tried to block out the sounds of the battle just outside of his hiding place in the woods. He didn't know why the people were fighting and battling and he just wanted it to stop. Night and day he was hunted by the sound of guns firing, people falling, and blood staining the ground.

An explosion sounded close to him and he cried out, but he knew no one would come to his aid. Guns fired and he could feel one that were too close nick him and make his own blood paint his clothing. Just as he went to duck away from another explosion, the sound of stumbling caught his ears.

Looking up he found a young, beaten and bloodied boy stumbling through the forest, his eyes wide in horror. Jack could only watch from where he was hidden as the man suddenly jerked forward with a cry and fell to the ground holding his chest. As the boy lay there, dying, Jack crawled slowly from his hiding place to his side, choking on his sobs.

"Don't worry." Jack whispered to the young boy as he moved his hand to place it on his shoulder, only to pull away when it passed through it. Jack let his hand hover over the boy as he continued.

"I won't let you die alone." Jack whispered. "You may not know it…but…but I'm here for you."

The boy never showed any sign that he heard Jack, his glassy eyes darting to and fro in pain and terror. Jack let his hand drop to the ground as he stayed by the boy's side even as the battle continued to rage around them. Jack knew what it was like to deal with things alone and, while he knew that he himself was alone at this moment, he would not let the boy be.

Snow began to fall gently around his kneeling body as he wept for the young soldier. Jack could not believe someone had to die this young, no matter how many times he's seen it happen now.

And then, it was only a few moments later that the boy's eyes grew dull and blank and Jack was once again alone.

His eyes stared blankly into the window of the party of spirits. He knew he wasn't welcome. Would he ever have anyone to help him? Would he ever have someone to simply be there for him? Should he really keep trying? It was obvious no one wanted him around, he was just a nuisance to everyone in the spirit world. What part did he really play other than bringing sorrow and destruction?

The wind suddenly swirled around him softly, giving him a soft embrace that Jack took the chance to lean into.

That's right. For now he had the wind. For now he had someone out there for him, giving him comfort when he needed it.

With one last glance at the party, Jack took to the sky with a barely a sound, the lights fading in the distance like dying embers of a fire.

When he finally joined the Guardians, Jack knew they would never really care for him. They would never truly understand the pain he had gone through all those years. They would never understand the scars that were carved into his mind. The reason he would flinch at the smallest touches or why he was so desperate for their opinions even if he tried to avoid them. Even though he could tell they were trying to grow closer to him, he couldn't trust them. He couldn't count on them to be there and understand every choice he makes and why he acts the way he does.

He could tell they were trying to help him with all his problems, but he didn't know how much they could be true.

Jack looked up at the moon from where he sat on the branch. Even as a Guardian, MiM had yet to speak to him. Perhaps he was nothing but a mistake to the spirit.

After so many years, Jack could once again feel the tears stinging his vision. He didn't know how long this would keep up. He was so afraid of growing close to the Guardians, that they would leave him eventually.

He didn't know if he could trust those flares they were lighting up for him to follow.

"AH!" Jack cried out as he was thrown into the rocky surface of the mountain. Through blurry eyes he could see the demon like creatures advancing on him. He had no idea what they were, but they were difficult to fight.

Their purple eyes bore into his own and words stung his mind even though they never seemed to speak. His past pains would pop up and torture his mind with loneliness before the creatures would go in for a kill. The pain and the memories made tears slip free and Jack felt so helpless.

He felt so alone.

Would he finally be done for? Is this how he would die? Dying the same way he had come into this world? Alone?

Just then he felt something clink on his chest, something light and smooth.

Reaching into his hoody, Jack slowly drew out the snowflake pendent he had around his neck. Looking at it, all those memories and thoughts were forced from his mind. That's right, he wasn't alone anymore, not after everything he and the Guardians had gone through. It was why he trust them with the snowflakes. It was his way of showing he trusted them.

That he was ready to let them in.

With a heavy heart, Jack called out to the others for them to come help him. To be honest, he was scared. He was afraid they wouldn't come. That they would ignore his call to them. That he would be lost to deal with this and those scars in his mind to become engraved even deeper.

And then he heard them: a portal opening, a tunnel following it, and behind the two the sound of wings and sand. Almost not daring himself to believe, Jack slowly opened his eyes and could have cried at the sight.

The other four Guardians stood in front of his beaten body and facing off with the creatures. He watched as they fought them off and kept them away from his scarred and tormented mind. No more horrible memories were forced upon him as the purple eyes no longer met his own. He was safe now. He had been found by people who actually cared for him and now he was safe.

He…he would be okay now.

So that was that. Just a short little one shot that comes before Painful Torture Causes Triggers.

Feel free to suggest, ask questions, comment, etc.

Until next time! :D