The air around him was cold, temperature certainly below freezing despite the fact that he was nestled quietly into a corner of North's workshop. A deal had been made. However, things hadn't gone quite as Jack had expected them to go. He had thought that the nightmares would start suddenly, the moment the word 'yes' had left his lips. But instead, Pitch had quietly let go of his jaw, disappearing into the shadows as he let out a quiet and dark chuckle.

Jack hadn't seen him since.

When he had returned to the workshop, the yetis had been hesitant to let him back in. North really didn't want him around. With only a few weeks left until Christmas, the elder male was obviously far too busy to deal with the mischievous winter spirit. This was something that Jack found ironic. Their work went hand in hand together. After all, everyone wished for a white Christmas. And who else could provide that but Jack himself?

With his knees pulled to his chest and chin resting against his knee, he could barely calm his thoughts down. He felt restless. This restlessness had caused hundreds of freak snowstorms to hit poor, unsuspecting towns, leaving them cursing Winter's name. But he couldn't bring himself to care. Pitch had offered to help him! But nothing had changed. He wasn't getting nightmares or strange visions or... whatever it was that Pitch needed to force upon him in order to satiate his dark desires.

Azure eyes closed, hidden behind thin eyelids, frost clinging to his lashes. "I can't do this anymore..." Had anyone been in the room with him, all they would have heard was a gentle exhalation of breath, ghosting out into the air. But Jack knew very well what this meant. He was still talking to himself, having no one else to provide conversation for him.

Jack...

His head snapped up, eyes suddenly wide with surprise. Glancing around the room, Jack's eyebrows furrowed, surprise evident on his features. Someone had said his name. Hopping down from the window seat he had been curled up on, he grabbed for his staff, taking a few hesitant steps across the floor.

You know where to find me.

There it was again. But this time, Jack realized that it hadn't come from inside the room. It had come from inside his head. And he would recognize that chilling, baritone tone anywhere. Pitch.

Without a second thought, he raced through the doorway, rounding a corner before he ran straight into someone else, almost knocking both of them down to the ground. Or, well, almost knocking himself to the floor anyway. The other person couldn't possibly be knocked over, considering their size.

"Sorry, North!" Jack apologized, rubbing his nose, surprised that he didn't break it with how solid the jolly man's chest was. When he glanced up, however, two pairs of blue eyes meeting, he was surprised by the look on his face. He had never seen North look so... intimidating.

"Jack. I thought Yetis told you to stay out of workshop, no? Too close to Christmas to have you running around carelessly. I am sorry, Jack, but is way it has to be." And without even taking a second to notice the moment of pain flickering through Jack's eyes, North side-stepped the shorter male, his boots thudding as he walked away, grumbling to himself about getting no peace and quiet.

Standing in place for a few moments, Jack stared after him, feeling his heart sink. So it was true then. North really didn't want him around. In a moment of foolish, childish belief, Jack had convinced himself that maybe Tooth had gotten the wrong message, or had told him the wrong thing. But no. Everyone knew but him.

Jack Frost was trouble.

With an overwhelming feeling of betrayal welling up inside of him, Jack raced down the hallway, feet padding against the floor as he did. Moving faster than ever, he reached the closest window, causing it to burst open with a gust of wind before he jumped out, taking straight to the sky. The stained glass shattered, cascading down in a thousand pieces, acting as a message to the other Guardians. Jack would not be back if he was not wanted.

Though he made it to the ominous hole in the ground in record time, he had also exhausted himself. Even with the wind's help, it was still hard work. His cheeks were stained with blue, from the biting wind cutting at his skin and his fingertips had started to turn a dull navy. As he descended into the darkness once more, he took a deep breath of the musky air that greeted him. The sound of his bare feet against the stone could be heard, echoing around him as he walked, staff dragging against the ground. This time, he made no effort to be quiet, instead announcing his presence without restrain.

"Pitch!" The name echoed back to him, ringing in his ears, his own anger evident in the sound of his voice. He had finally reached the clearing, where the hallway expanded into a bigger room. The globe was still a few feet away, lights glowing brightly as they dotted the map. There wasn't much else in hear, save for a few staircases of stone that reached to higher parts of the shadowy castle.

"What the hell are you doing in my head?!" He yelled again, knowing that his tone was far too demanding, but not being able to bring himself to care. He was angry. He wanted to destroy something. And for a moment, he had stupidly forgotten about his heroic deal made with the Nightmare King. With a heaving chest and blazing eyes, Jack turned around in circles, willing the other male to show up, so he could cast a wave of ice in his direction.

However, when a shadowy figure did appear, the words that penetrated the air stopped Jack short.

"You asked for me to be there, Jack."

Pitch was standing less than a few feet away, nightmare sand swirling at his feet, occasionally rising up to lick at the air like an angry serpent, hungry for destruction. His lips were spread in a wicked grin, seeming far too pleased with how all of this was turning out. Here was the newest Guardian. Alone and afraid and oh so vulnerable.

It was a delightful thing to see.

Jack's eyes narrowed. He remembered now, of course, but that didn't put out the fire of rage inside of him. He just wanted someone to notice him!

"Shut up," he seethed, grip on the staff tightening as he seemed to steady himself, feet parting so he could take more of a fighting stance. This only pulled the slightest chuckle from Pitch, his eyes rolling in blatant amusement.

"I didn't bring you here to fight, Jack. Do you not remember our deal?" Pitch began to walk in a slow, deliberate circle, not seeming bothered by the fact that the icy spirit before him was practically shaking with rage, slowly following every move the nightmare king made.

"I know you're angry. I would be too. Believe me, I know... But right now, you have to focus on what you want the most..." Pitch stopped, his eyes snapping back to meet Jack's with a devious murmur from inside the golden hues. He was suddenly right in front of the shorter boy, shadows threatening to drown out Jack's view with a sudden cover of darkness. All Jack could focus on was the gold, coercing him into a relaxed state. His staff slipped from his fingers, hitting the ground with a harsh clattering noise.

"You want to save the children. You want them to be happy and nightmare free, so they can finally believe in you again..." Pitch trailed off, a grey finger coming up to caress a gentle line down the side of Jack's jaw, ending at his chin, where he forced the white-haired boy to arch his neck upwards. "That... is what you want, right Jack?"

Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat and ignoring the twisting knot of fear that had begun to create itself, making it harder to breathe properly, Jack nodded. He would give anything to have the children believe in him.

To have anyone believe in him.

His answer pulled a wicked smile from the shadowy man staring down at him, his golden eyes seeming to shine with a twisted sense of victory.

"Then let's begin."

That was the last thing Jack heard before darkness overtook his vision, his head swimming with a sudden weight that pulled him to the ground, the faint echo of a chilling laugh permeating the sudden blackness.

The nightmare had begun.