I didn't expect this to end up the way it did. I've been reading a fair bit of BlackIce as of late, so it has crept it's way in here a little. Soooo... watch out for that:)

Guest Reviews:

Sofie Rose: Your review was the reason this chapter went in the direction it did. I had a different idea in the back of my head. After I read your review, I couldn't do what I wanted without hearing it in the background. This is your fault. (Just kidding, I'm actually glad you said what you did last time")

Picasso Penguin: He won't die. At least for now...

AEIMPROK: Because I can. Simple, really. You don't hate me, and we both know it:)

Sorry, this took so long, but now you can enjoy this short (but very overdue) chapter!

Enjoy!

When I open my eyes, I immediately recognise the surroundings.

"North's infirmary," I grumble.

Great.

I can't even die properly!

After drowning all those years ago and now being hurt so viciously, I should be resting in eternal peace, with my baby sister and my mother.

But I managed to screw up my death. Twice.

I can't do anything right, can I?

There's a sudden sharp pain through my stomach. I hesitate before looking down. I regret my decision. The sight is horrifying. My torso is completely covered in bandages, which are covered in blood.

North silently enters the room, as I stare at the space where my stomach should be.

He doesn't look me in the eye, nor does he speak. He just silently pulls the bandages off.

I can't help myself. After taking a pained breath, I look down and stare in terror. The scythe had almost gone all the way through me. I'm lucky there isn't a giant hole all the way through my stomach.

Even after hearing my gasp of shock, North says nothing. He quietly cleans the wound before wrapping me up again. Then he leaves to attend to someone in the bed across from me.

His mood changes completely as he gently asks Tooth if she's okay.

"I'm fine, North." Her voice twinkles, not indicating the pain she must be in.

After all, I should know. I hurt her.

"I really have to get back to the palace." She tells North. "Baby Tooth can't handle the job for so long."

I hear North mumble, in what sounds like understanding, before helping her out of bed. The tear is visible, however, significantly smaller than before.

North hands her two snowglobes, telling her to use the second tomorrow morning to get back to the Pole, so the Yetis could check on her.

She agrees and disappears in a flash of light.

Without looking at me, North leaves the infirmary.

"Finally receiving the repercussions of your actions, I see."

I whip my head to see a very familiar, slender man.

"Pitch." I'm a little shocked at the way his name comes out like a growl. "What business do you have here?"

"I was just passing by." I scoff. He continues as if I never made a sound. "And I decided to see how deep of a grave you've dug for yourself.

"What?" My voice can't seem to decide what emotion I'm showing. A moment before, it was angered, now I just sounded confused.

Possibly a little worried.

"Don't you think you have been acting a little...peculiar, as of the past day?"

Now that he mentions it, I realise that I had been...snarkier than usual. Putting it lightly.

Pitch laughs as this little fact dawns on me, and if I wasn't bedridden, I would've socked him.

"Slipping you that potion yesterday was so easy!"

My eyes instantly widened tenfold.

"What do you mean?"

Pitch's grin is giving me shivers. "You mean the anger amplifier I had concocted and slipped you while you were hanging from your tree yesterday?"

"Anger amplifier? No wonder I was more bitter than usual."

I quickly realise that I shouldn't have said that in my current company.

"It worked far better then I could've ever expected. The Guardians don't want to even talk to you!"

North's strange behaviour was starting to make more sense.

"Why?" Out of all the questions, that's the only one I can ask.

"You made a mistake refusing to join me back then. I needed to show you that this little friendship you had gained wouldn't last long. Your previous brattiness has ruined all the connections you've built with these fools."

"Stop beating around the bush." I look for my staff, but it's by the door. Too far away.

"I'm giving you 24 hours. You either help me or I eliminate the threat. I will win no matter what you choose. Join me, or I'll finish the job."

He indicates to my bandaged stomach. I look down and instinctively bring my hand up. He laughs at my pitiful attempt to protect myself. He snaps his fingers and the result is instant. Tears run down my face as I cry due to the sudden eruption of pain.

Once he believes I've suffered enough, he snaps his fingers again, instantly ceasing the pain.

"24 hours, Jack." He turns to leave but pauses, just before he steps into the shadows. He turns back to me. his grin is feral. "Good luck trying to get the Guardians to help. I've been listening to them talk while you slept. They've decided to leave you alone. North didn't want to accidentally anger you."

"If I tell them what you did, they would believe me." My voice cracks and Pitch glides closer. He leans in, cupping my cheek with a gentleness I didn't know he could achieve.

"Poor, naïve Jack. Still believes in the Guardians." He squeezes my cheeks and moves his face extremely close to my own. His lips are less than a centimetre away from my own. My heart clenches in worry. When he speaks, its a low whisper. His breath is too warm on my face. "It looks like you need some help understanding."

I struggle, trying to get his foul fingers off of my face. However, his grip on me is too strong.

"I could have my way with you, right now, and the Guardians wouldn't believe you."

Any argument dies quickly. Pitch sees this and grins. He pulls away and leaves.

I can finally breathe, terrified at how close Pitch had just been.

After a minute, a quick shot of pain races through me. It disappears just as quickly.

A warning.

I yell out the first name I can think of.

"North!"

Nothing.

I try again.

"North! Bunny! Sandy!"

Still nothing.

They weren't coming.

Pitch's voice echoes through my mind.

"Poor, naïve Jack. Still believes in the Guardians."

I had to do something.

And soon.