Hello, amazing readers! My internet was down, so I couldn't update sooner. I'd like to give a heads up that this chapter is a tad slow, but it needs to be written in order for me to get on with the story. :) Without further or do, enjoy, and don't forget to review!

My head pounded angrily, and my lungs screamed in a pain that would not subside. I heard a soft beeping in a distance, and some low murmuring off to my far right. I could feel that i was lying down on a soft and rather warm surface. My mind felt numb and very odd. Curious and confused, I slowly opened my eyes, a bright light streaming in through my half-opened lids. My eyes, blurry with exhaustion, could not process anything but the light. I was a bit frustrated, but it didn't last long when I began to feel a comforting warmth all around me. I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

But my attempt to relax was in vain, for as soon as I tried to let out a small sigh in relief, My lungs convulsed and I began to cough uncontrollably. My constant coughs caused my throat to tighten in pain, and I was left in a miserable state. I let out a tiny sob of distress.

I felt someone touch my hand in a small way of comfort, but I felt no energy between my coughs to look at who was there.

"You're going to be alright, sweetie," someone murmured softly. "You're just a bit sick. No worries. You'll be all better soon."

I tried to comprehend her words. The coughs slowly began to fade away. Sick? W-what happened...? I thought I drowned and then... then I died... I tried to piece things together as quickly as my numbed mind would. So... I'm sick...? Is it possible that I actually didn't drown?! Hope fluttered in my heart. Maybe this whole time I was sick and delirious, causing me to imagine the whole Guardian thing up!

I struggled to make my eyes open so I could see where I was. Reluctantly, my eyes gradually obeyed and opened up once more. The light streamed back into them, making me squint. After a few moments, they adjusted to the light. Up above me was a plain, white ceiling. There were large lights embedded in some parts of the ceiling- like the way they sometimes are at a school.

I turned my head to the side of me where I had heard the voice- which was hard to do because my neck was very stiff- to see a lady in nurses' scrubs sitting in a chair beside me. She smiled gently at me.

"Ah, you are awake," she said happily. "How do you feel?"

"Funny..." I managed to croak out.

The nurse wrote something down on a clipboard. "Do you remember what happened?"

I frowned. Should I mention that I drowned? I guess I should...I'll see what she says.

My throat tightened up again, but I struggled to speak anyway. "I was skating with my siblings... I fell through the" -a harsh cough escaped me- "ice.."

"Good, you remember," the nurse murmured. "Anything else?"

Okay so I did drown... Everything did happen?! Oh goodness...

"Uh..." I coughed again.

"Here, let me prop you up so you an have some water," the nurse offered kindly. She used a small remote type-thing to move the back of the bed I was on upwards. She then moved me forward and placed a pillow behind my back. Handing me a cup of water, she continued, "Drink slowly."

I cautiously raised the plastic cup to my mouth and slid a few drops of water down my throat. I felt the soreness subside slightly, and I relaxed. I gave the cup back to the nurse.

"You were quite lucky, you know," the nurse began thoughtfully, "If it weren't for a stranger who hauled you out of the water, you'd be in a lot worse... erm... condition."

I felt my face contort in confusion. "A stranger? Did anyone speak to this person?"

"No. After your sister managed called the ambulance, the stranger disappeared. At least, that's what your siblings said. They didn't really describe this person, though."

Something in my mind clicked, and I began to feel very awkward. Who could have rescued me? My heart dropped like stone as I mentally listed everyone who had been at the lake. Oh great. 'They' didn't help me... did they? My mind went wild with several thoughts. If the Guardians were truly there... Then where'd Pitch go? What happened to everything?

The nurse seemed to have been watching my face intently as these thoughts swarmed around my mind. "It's a lot to take in," she agreed quietly. "I'm sure you'd like to talk to that person... I do really wonder why they ran off..."

I shrugged slightly. I dunno. Talking to them might be the most embarrassing and awkward thing I've ever done.

After a moment's silence, the nurse looked at me sympathetically. "Would you like to speak with your family?"

I shrugged again. "Sure.."

"Your siblings are in the waiting room- they came with you here- and we managed to call your Grandfather as well. He'll be here very soon. I believe that he went to fetch your parents."

"Okay, that's good," I forced a weak smile.

"Would you like me to call in your siblings?"

I let out a wheezy breath before answering. "I-I guess so."

"Alright," the nurse stood up. "I will be right back, but if you need something while I'm gone or you start feeling as if you cannot breathe, push this button," she pointed to a little red button on the remote she had used. She then exited the room without another word.

I looked around. Attached to my finger was a pulse oximeter that was beeping to match my pulse. There was a window far to my right, and I could see snow softly falling outside. The sky was dark, so I figured it was still Christmas night.

This is officially the strangest Christmas I have EVER had, I thought gloomily as my chest ached angrily. And if everything I had seen earlier was real... Then things were going to get a lot weirder...

The sound of the door opening broke into my thoughts. I saw two short figures race towards me- Celine and Johnny, of course.

"You're okay!" Johnny cheered, jumping up beside my bed. "I was so scared!"

The nurse from earlier shushed him. "I'm going to leave you three alone now, alright?" She turned to my siblings, "and if anything happens, I'll be right in the room beside here."

Celine nodded. "Kay."

The nurse gazed firmly at the three of us before walking off.

My two siblings looked back at me, excitement and worry in there eyes.

"I had no idea what had happened," Johnny rambled, "we were so busy watching the Guar-"

"Hush up Johnny! Don't talk about that here! We'll talk about that later!'" Celine hissed. "Sorry about him.." She muttered to me.

"Used to it," I replied, my throat getting dry again. "Can I have that water over there..?"

Celine grabbed the plastic cup and handed it to me. As she watched me drink, she began to look sheepish. "I guess I shouldn't be worried about you-know-what right now..." she sighed. "I'm glad you're ok..."

I took another sip of water. "I'm glad too... I thought... I thought I wouldn't... Make it..."

Johnny shook his head. "Don't think about that. You're fine, and that's that."

I smiled at him, but before I could reply, someone rushed through the door. "Oh my lord, Destiny, are you alright?"

My mom hurried to my bedside. "Honey... You're so pale..." She gave me a very light hug, careful not to hurt me. She turned to my dad who had just hurried over. "Pete, your father is never ever going to take the children out again without me, understood?" She told him firmly.

Dad sighed. "I know." His gazed turned to me and he seem to melt. "Dest... I'm so sorry..."

My normal irritable self seemed to return. Stop fussing! I'm okay! My chest and throat hurt, and I'm tired, but I'm OKAY! I wanted to yell.

The nurse rescued me right on time. "I know you just got here, but Destiny really needs to get some rest..." She murmured. "The hospital wants to keep her for the rest of the night due to the fact that it took..." The nurse began to ramble on to my parents, and I instinctively stopped listening. My eyes began to droop close, and I fell into a peaceful sleep.

My sleep wasn't as peaceful as I would've liked, for as soon as my mind went blank with sleep, I began to be haunted with nightmares. But when I woke up, I would never recall what had ruthlessly terrified me in my sleep.

When I woke up, my chest had stopped hurting, but my body was sore as if I had been out running. My cheeks felt damp as if I had been in tears. The nurse was sitting by me, busily scratching things down on a piece of paper.

"What do ya got there?" I asked her.

The nurse jumped. "Huh!? Oh... You're awake... Sorry..." she glanced at the paper. "This? This is just a... Page I was doodling on..." the young woman smiled sheepishly. "I'm on my break, but I wanted to say goodbye to you before you left. So, I decided to stay in here and keep myself busy while waiting for you to wake up."

"I'm leaving? When?"

"You slept halfway through today, Destiny, it's December 26, 5pm. You parents are down the hall signing some paperwork. They are going to pick you up when I tell them you're awake," the nurse explained.

"So I'm alright..?"

"Get plenty of rest at home, don't do anything risky, stay warm, and eat healthy, and you'll be a-okay before New Year's Eve!"

I stared outside at the swirling snow. "I'm glad..."

"Yes, me too. It was a tough night though. You wouldn't stop writhing in your sleep! It was almost impossible to keep you still so you wouldn't hurt yourself…" The nurse groaned.

I sighed. "Er… sorry?"

The nurse waved it away. "Not your fault! I shouldn't have said anything. Now, your clothes are over there by the door, and your phone—what's left of it, anyway—is on the counter."

Is that all I had? I did a quick recap of all my items. The necklace!

"Was there a necklace? It had a ruby or gold pendant," I questioned.

"Ruby or gold pendant…" the nurse repeated, confused. "Nope. I'm sorry, Destiny. It must have fallen off of you. I can check with some of the other nurses to make sure, if you'd like."

I smiled weakly, despite the worried thoughts running through my mind. "Um it's okay, there's no need."

"Are you sure?" she got up from the chair.

"Positive," I mumbled.

The nurse looked uncertainly at me. "I guess I should go get your parents, then. It was very nice talking to you, Destiny."

"You too. Hey, what's your name?"

"Amy. Amy Polsun," Amy grinned. Her eyes lit up. "Ooohh! I almost forgot! There was a note left for you by your pillow last night. I have no idea where it came from, but here," she handed me an envelope.

On the front of the envelope was my name in sloppy handwriting, which looked as if whoever had written it was in a rush. "Thank you," I said politely to Amy.

Amy nodded and then exited the room.

I tore open the envelope as soon as she closed the door. A slip of paper was inside. In the same handwriting as the front of the envelope, it said:

Dear Destiny,

We hope you feel alright. We've been quite worried. We're sorry that we let this happen- we should've been watching you more closely. Anyway, do you have the necklace? We can't find it here, so it didn't fall into the water. Please let us know by leaving a note under your pillow. Baby Tooth will pick it up tomorrow night. (That's December 26, in case you are reading this later than intended). We've let your siblings know what's going on with Pitch, so they will fill you in soon.

Love and concern,

The Big Five

(written by North, by the way)

P.S. If you're wondering how we were able to send this, well, Tooth sent Baby Tooth personally to deliver it- just to let you know.

My mind went numb again, unsure of what to make of the words before my eyes. I shoved the letter back into its envelope as my parents entered the room,

My mother smiled at me. "Come on honey," she said softly. "Do you want Daddy to carry you to the car?"

I stared at her. "What?! No, thank you!" I exclaimed.

Mom sighed. "I'm glad you're feeling yourself again... I just thought that you might like it, you just look so worn down..." she mumbled. She was quiet for a moment, deep in thought, before her grin returned. "When we get home I'll make you some hot chocolate," she promised.

"What about us?" came a whine from the doorway.

I sat up to see Celine and Johnny standing in the doorway, looking very jittery. They both glanced at me quickly, and then looked away when they saw that I was watching.

"Is um… everything alright?" I asked them.

"Us? Uh, yeah, sure," Celine muttered, avoiding my eyes. She turned back to our mother. "Do we get hot chocolate?" she repeated.

Mom shrugged. "Sure, I don't see why not…" She gestured to Johnny. "Grab Destiny's clothes for me, and we'll be off."

Johnny groaned. "Kay."

Celine walked over to me. "What's that letter?" she whispered to me, still dodging my gaze.

I glanced at my mom who was now examining the remains of my phone.

"Uh… tell you at home…" I hissed.

"Okay, you won't believe what Johnny and I found out last night, though," she murmured. "Give me the letter and I'll put it in my pocket, alright?"

I handed the letter over, and Celine barely grasped it, as though it was a ticking bomb.

Celine squinted over her shoulder. "Thanks. By the way, you got a lot of sleep, right? Tonight is going to be a long night…"

Okie dokie! Chapter ended! I hope you enjoyed, I'm sorry it was slow and that nothing really happened. I promise action in the next chapter! Don't forget to review!

Until next time,

~Tai Ling
Hey uhh… how old do you guys think I am, judging by my writing?

Fun fact: I wrote this chapter on my phone since my laptop was being strange. My thumbs hurt now.