RotG Fanfic - Part 4 - The Escape

    “I don’t know who you're talking about” You lied. It was a good idea to dodge their questions until you found out what they wanted. Yet, the whole situation struck you deeply. Jack was RIGHT. No good ‘Guardian’ would kidnap people so blatantly. And how none of them seemed against how you were taken, that must mean all of them were in on it. “I mean Jack Frost!” Santa Claus, I mean North said waving his arms about. “He was the one you met yesterday! White hair, blue eyes. No?” He asked as you shuffled the bag off you. Trying to make an innocent face you say “I didn’t meet anyone yesterday. It was too snowy to go out and play, as stupid as that sounds. But your description matches someone i saw in a dream, or was it purple eyes?” “A dream eh?” North questioned, turning to glance at the others behind him. There was an odd moment of silence. When North let out his booming voice again, startling you. “Well! Come on, come on, show her where she’s staying.” He motioned to the Yetis you just noticed behind you. “Wait, Staying?!” You realize how bad the situation just might be as the Yeti sweeps you up over it’s shoulder. Before it starts moving though, Bunnymund moves from his post, getting into your face. “You're not going anywhere missy. Not until we figure how to get this off you.” he said, tapping the tip of his boomerang on the mark on your hand. A ice blue flash rang, startling the rabbit causing him to drop the weapon. As you looked down at it, you saw it was covered in a layer of ice. More importantly your arm was numb and your head was swimming. You were going to pass out. As the world faded you heard one last comment. “Jack Frost must be taken down.”

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    It was a struggle to regain consciousness. Yet, you wrenched open your eyes and pulled yourself upright. Your head was still fuzzy but you were aware enough to move about. You were in a wooden room, decorated like a cabin. The bed you were laying on had a quilt, and all the furniture was made with wood. There was a large window that took up the wall on the other side of the door, a quick peak revealed an endless white landscape. Oddly this thought excited you, but before you spent more time on it you turned and saw a brick fireplace in the corner. Grabbing the bucket of safety water you immediately splashed it on the flames. The flames fizzled to embers. Sitting down at the short table, you started making work of the cookies there, the cup of fresh cocoa still steaming. using your sleeve you pushed it closer to the window where it would cool faster. As the cookie numbers dwindled, you started contemplating going over to the toy box and bookshelf in the other corner when you heard a knock at the door. “umm, i’m coming in.” a fluttery voice said.

    The door opened without a sound and in came the hummingbird-woman. Tooth, the name came to you. “Oh good you're up. We were worried when you passed out.” She said in a worried voice, not that you trusted it at all. She glanced at the window sill and saw the cocoa there. “Oh was it too cold? I’ll get another sent to you.” She turned to go when you said “It’s too hot.” Fluttering to a stop she asked “excuse me?” you shook your head “It’s too hot.” you touched the side then yanked your hand back, it was still too hot, how could they make stuff so boiling?! “it still is” you finished rubbing your fingertips. She then looked over to the fireplace, and the upturned covers “Oh!” zooming close, she grabs your hand. Her touch burned, too hot. Everything was too hot. “Oh, sweetie.” She says in a pity voice. You were so TIRED of hearing that tone, even now people using it when they found out about your parents.

    Smacking her arms away. “Don’t PITY ME!!” you shouted. Stomping to the door you slammed it open then quickly departed from the room. You were in a hallway, following the path you found yourself back in the workshop. The toymaking continues nonstop it seemed. Though it seems the stories were untrue. you thought as you watched the short jinglely elves build a fort out of cards, the similarity destroy it accidently. You continued walking about, occasionally watching a yeti work. you’ve tried several times to approach the elevators but were repelled by the guards (More freaking yetis). Eventually you were standing in the control center, the very spot you entered this place. You were just leaning on the banister, watching the giant globe turn. A slight wisp made you turn. you saw the golden sand guy standing next to you. “Sandman.” you greeted. He gave a slight smile. Above his head a flash of sand images came and went. a forest, snowflake, jack frost, and a question mark. Sighing “Yes, i met him.” you admitted.

    He would ask charade questions and you would grudgingly answer. It was never about Jack or any of the guardians. Favorite snack, what i played, who i was friends with. You even told him about Jamie. “Yeah, he can be annoying at times. Yet, friendships would be boring if they didn’t get on your nerves sometimes.” After a bit of more question time he started telling stories using the sand. Of adventure and honor. Out of curiosity, you lifted your non-marked hand and touched the sand. With the bit of a swirl it changed shape, becoming images of your dreams and hopes of what you wanted to be. As more came and went your heart lightened a little remembering the happiness you used to have. Lifting your marked hand you touched a different part of the sand hoping to make more appear. However, instead of a flash, the mark glowed and the sand froze and died. As the light faded, so too was the spark in your chest swept away. Your mood fell, Sandy was one of the people who helped kidnap you. And remembering the sand in the tunnel you slid into, he was also one of the people who stopped you from finding Lizzy. Turning away, you leaned away from him watching the globe again. Out of the corner of your eyes you saw a wisp of sand draw closer again. Swiping your marked hard, you froze the sand. “Leave me alone.” You snapped at the Sandman without ever turning back to him.

    After a few moments he left, though you felt he wasn’t happy about it. It wasn’t long before the one you knew you don’t like at all appeared. The shadows grew a bit darker and you felt a slithering in the dark corners of your mind. “My oh my, what a naughty girl.” The sly voice of Pitch Black said as he drew up behind you. “How long has it been, Since your parents died? Just a year. I wonder. How they would feel if they knew all those things you’ve done. How your friends will feel. But then again, you don’t consider them friends. Do you?” He commented, turning about you, like a wolf cornering it’s prey. You could feel your fear and anger rising, this. . .this creature. had no right shuffling through your mind! Before you could make a snappy line back, he got to the point you feared most. “You belong nowhere child. You are just as empty as these dolls. No heart, no true emotions. How long will it be i wonder, until you kill again.~” Snapping, you grab one of the toys he waved at, throwing it at the shadow being. It never hit, Pitch retreating back into shadows with a fading laugh as he left.

    Now in a truly bitter mood you left the control station to wander around more. It wasn’t long before you came across North, or he came across you. “Perfect timing! Follow me!” he said patting you ahead. In moments you were in what you judged to be his office. unfinished toys lined the walls and scattered about the floor. Sat in a chair across the big man, you wondered if you were finally going home. you had enough of this place hours ago. “About your situation.” Or not “It comes to my attention that your, mark, is changing you. You are very sensitive to heat. you feel like ice to others. The mark flashes and freezes that it deems dangerous. Something must be done, no?” “Definitely.” you relied thinking ‘Just not what you're thinking of.’ North stood up again and walked about the room. “We are looking through our books to see if this has happened before.” Brushing his hand against the books, you lost track of what he was saying as you spied a stack of non-decorated snow globes near him. You wondered why it seemed they weren’t getting finished, when you remember the clack of a snow globe that you heard during the kidnapping. ‘a teleportation device?’ you thought to yourself. “-you understand?” You realize North just finished talking. Smiling and nodded you say “yeah.” “Perfect! we’ll attempt it tomorrow.” Crap. Tomarrow. As you left the office, you were already making plans to get a snow globe, and getting the hell out of here.

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    It was now extremely late at night. you stayed up so far using the sugar rush from more cookies and the cocoa (now cool). Moving about on the balls of your feet, you slide open the door the tiniest bit. Squeezing through you closed it behind you. Moving as fast as quietness will allow you, you reached the workshop. Peeking around the corner, it seemed even the yetis got tired. Most were lethargic and some even sleeping at their tables. Skirting the shadows and avoiding their range of sight it took longer than you liked to reach the door of North’s office. Testing the handle you found it unlocked. Ever so slowly you inched the door open to look inside. Dang it. North himself was in there, sleeping at his desk. But there was no way you could get another chance.

    Bracing yourself you opened the door enough the squeeze in. leaving it open behind you for a quick escape. Keeping a watchful eye on North you didn’t notice how close you were getting until you heavily bumped into the desk. Before you watched one of the snowglobes rolled, heading towards the edge of the table ‘NO’ you thought, reaching out your hand. Catching it a foot from the ground, you returned your attention to North as you remained frozen in place. Mumbling, he scratched his belly then resumed snoring. Sliding backwards out of the room (watching where you were going this time), you placed the hand-sized globe in your pajama pocket. Barley maintaining the patience to close the door slowly and not just bolt back to the room was hard. As you were about to lift your hand from the handle a voice startled you. “What are you doing up so late?” Turning you saw Bunnymund approaching. Thinking fast you answer “I’m nervous about tomorrow, i wanted someone to talk to.” Leaning his ears towards the door he said “well i think North’s asleep, let's move further away so the big lug can rest.” Nodding you followed him as he lead to back to your room. As you reached the door the rabbit kneeled to your height and said “No need to be scared. We won’t ever let something happen ok?” As you gazed into his clear green eyes, one could almost think he actually meant it. For a quiet nod, he laughed a bit then opened the door, nudging you in. “Get some sleep little one. Tomorrow is a big day.”