Hey! Some new readers! Glad you guys are sticking around.

This is a very short chapter, but more are coming soon.

CHAPTER 17

There was nothing I had ever experienced while alive that came close to the feeling of flying. The land below me was so clear. I could follow the dips and rises of canyons, the twists and turns of rivers turning into streams turning into lakes. I could see the curve of the earth far in front of me. My wings held me in the air effortlessly, and everything felt possible. I didn't quite know where I was headed, but there was an invisible compass in my gut pushing me forward. I had been flying so long - or such a great distance - that I realized I was flying through night sky. The stars above me winked playfully, and the moon was glowing encouragingly. I could feel his presence, his quiet support and approval. The feeling in my stomach grew more intense. I knew I was close to wherever my destination was.

I spotted an expanse of buildings in the distance. From the glow of lights illuminating itself, it looked like a small city. Cars the size of ants moved around the bases of what looked like a few skyscrapers, and residential areas spiraled around them. As I got closer, I was drawn away from the loud center towards an outlying area, dotted with little houses. I was then flying over them, looking down on roofs of different shapes, backyards filled with green grass and scattered with swimming pools. My gut told me to fly lower, and so I began my descent. I circled around slowly, observing the neighborhood. A house and the end of a cul de sac drew my attention and I dived towards it. I halted my fall and re-gained my bearings as I touched down on the ground in front of the house. The door was painted a dark green, and the outside was a simple cream color. A window towards the top right of the front facade seemed to draw a spotlight in my mind.

I flew up to the window and peered inside. Cheery pictures and posters covered the walls, as well as what looked like a few sports medals. Some toys were scattered on the carpet, and along the far wall the young boy from my vision was curled up tightly in his bed. My gut was almost screaming at me to get inside. I tested the window and found that it was unlocked, and slid it open easily. If it weren't for the almost agonizing pull in my body I would have spent more energy thinking about just how weird this situation was. What am I doing here? Why am I in a random child's bedroom? Why am I in so much pain? I moved towards the bed where my gut was pushing me towards, and then I saw it. The boy's face was screwed up in discomfort, and he tossed and turned a few times just like he had in my head. I could feel his discomfort. This is his pain.

Suddenly, he shot up, breathing quickly and erratically. I froze in my spot as I was faced with the realization that I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't even know if the boy could see me. Maybe I should get out of here. I turned to leave when I heard the boy begin to cry softly. A cavern of emptiness and ache cut through my chest, and I could feel my eyes start to water. Without another thought I faced the boy and moved closer. I crouched next to his bed and slowly placed a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, turning his head to face me, and his wide, frightened eyes met mine. As we stared at each other, neither of us daring to make a sound, I began to feel grief. Or, what was almost grief. It was new and sore, but it wasn't quite formed yet. There was sadness and fear. There was longing.

"Who are you?" The boy asked quietly. He can see me. It was shocking to feel visible again. I would have enjoyed the moment more if the situation was different.

"I'm Autumn," I replied. The boy didn't seem satisfied by that.

"What are you?" I could see him glance behind me at my wings, which were still exposed.

"I'm a spirit." I didn't know any other way to answer the question.

"Like a ghost?"

"Not really."

"Oh." The boy looked down at his lap. I could feel a chasm of unspoken hurt in him.

"Hey, you can talk to me." A moment of silence passed.

"Is he gonna be okay?" The boy finally spoke. I was overpowered by emotions. I felt like I was experiencing his memories, although I wasn't seeing any visions this time. There was just a rush of feelings, and I was surprised to be able to follow the story it weaved. Someone was ill. Someone of importance, a person of guidance. It was a parent. His father. I felt a few tears trail down my cheek as I felt this boy's pain of being on the brink of loosing his father. There were so many things I wanted to say, but nothing felt right. There was an intense energy building up in my chest, like it was pounding away at the sadness and fear. It was growing stronger by the second, and I could see the boy's eyes widen. He was feeling it too.

"Even if he is not, you will be," I said. I felt the energy wrap itself around the pain over and over again, breaking it down until there was almost none left. Suddenly, it vanished, and I felt light. There was no cavern of ache in my chest, no stabs of fear or sadness. I breathed deeply. The boy breathed with me. He was looking at me in awe, and I knew that the pain in him was gone as well.

"Did you do that?" He asked.

"I think so," I replied.

"Is it gone forever?" I thought about the question.

"Pain like that can never be gone forever, but I will always be here to help you through it. I promise." The boy smiled. It felt like he hadn't smiled like that in a while. I stood up and walked towards his window.

"Wait," the boy called. I turned to face him. "Thank you." My heart swelled at the sight of him. He was sat straight up with a delightful grin. The room wasn't heavy like when I had arrived. Everything seemed lighter.

"Anytime." With that I crept out of the window and launched into the air and headed towards the North Pole.

.o.0.o.

The shadows in the corner of the boy's bedroom shifted. A figure crept slowly from corner to corner, watching the boy sleep peacefully. Only a little while ago he was tossing and turning, rampant with sadness and fear. Now, he was rested, and the room felt light and calm. The figure recoiled at the sight, and stepped out into the moonlight streaming through the window. Pitch Black looked down at the boy in anger. He didn't understand what had taken all the fear out of him. He knew that his powers were the weakest they had ever been, but usually he was able to sustain fear throughout the night. He reached out towards the child, letting a weak tendril of fear slip forward. Pitch looked on in shock as it suddenly extinguished. He tried again and again, but each time the fear was gone before it had even reached the bed. Pitch whipped his head towards the window. The moon was peaking through, his light on the floor shining tauntingly. Pitch growled and fled out of the window and into the street. He snarled at the moon, pointing his finger accusingly.

"You've just got to ruin everything. Haven't you taken enough from me?" The moon looked on. "What is it this time? Trying to get rid of all the fear in the world once and for all? You know that will never work. I will always exist." The moon remained silent. Pitch balled his hands into a fist and opened his mouth to continue when he saw a small shadow pass over the moon. He focused as hard as he could, only seeing two large wings carrying what looked to be a person through the sky. He could sense the moon shifting his energy. "So that's what you're trying out now, huh? A new spirit? That's your oldest trick in the book, Manny. Why don't you try something new?" Pitch began to smile. "I know I will."

.o.0.o.

I landed ungracefully on the ground in front of North's workshops doors, tired from the long flight. It was going to take some time to get used to flying this much. It's gonna take some time to get used to flying at all. I was about to knock on the doors when they flew open. Jack and North were on the other side, and a few yetis had turned their heads to see what the commotion was about.

"See, she's fine," North said, giving Jack a hard pat on the back. He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, I knew that, I totally knew that…" He said, quickly brushing off North's comments and walking towards me. He seemed to start to raise his arms to initiate a hug but quickly brought them down. Instead, he stuck his hands in his hoodie pocket. I guess it was normal for us to hug before. "So, where did you fly off to?"

"A random child's house," I replied deadpan. Jack raised his brows. "You're gonna wanna hear the story. Is there someplace inside I could sit down? Flying really took a lot out me."

"Yes, the lounge is this way," North said, walking to the right. Jack held out his right arm towards me.

"You need this?" He asked. I stared at him in a bit of shock. Sometimes if I was especially tired I would ask someone for support while walking. Everyone I asked usually tried to take hold of my arm or just offer their hand, neither of which helped my balance much. People closest to me had learned that holding out their right arm, crooked, for me to hold on to was the best way to help. Of course, they only knew that if they knew about my history. I wrapped my left arm in the crook of his elbow and we began walking. I was a little unbalanced, but Jack's arm was sturdy.

"We were really close," I said. It wasn't a question because I knew the answer.

"Yeah, we were," he replied.