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 Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:09 pm
"Thunder?" Jack questions. "We shouldn't hear thunder this far underground."
Jack's eyebrows are pushed together as he tries to think of why they'd be hearing thunder.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:20 pm
Scrunching his face up in concentration, Bunnymund turns his focus to the vibrations now running through the ground of the tunnels. He kneels down on his haunches, placing a forepaw in the soft grass to get a better feel of the distant movement. Then, without warning, he hops up and whirls to face Jack, breathing out a frantic, "Nightmares..."
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:24 pm
Jack curses under his breath as he nearly falls back on his butt, startled by Bunny's sudden reaction.
"Nightmares? I thought we got rid of them, though." Jack says, unable to stop the panic from coming out in his voice. Eyes wide, he stares down the tunnel behind Bunny.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:47 pm
"So did I, so why," Bunny starts, only to be cut off by an ear shattering screech. He snaps his head to stare into the tunnel behind Jack, ears standing straight up and body tense. Moving toward them at an unbelievable speed were several of the dark horses, their eyes gleaming orbs in the thick wall of black.
The Pooka turns on his heel, ready to sprint the rest of the way to the safety of Santoff Claussen. He only manages two steps before a dark tendril reaches out from the shadow of the tunnel, wrapping itself tightly around his neck before slamming him into the wall hard. He slides down to the ground as he's unceremoniously released, trying desperately to take oxygen into his burning lungs.
A dark chuckle reverberates throughout the now enclosed space, more black sand moving in toward the Winter Spirit. "You didn't really think you could get rid of me, did you, Jack?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:56 pm
Jack's wide blue eyes narrow on Pitch.
"One can always hope." He says through grit teeth. He falls back into a defensive posture, his staff thrust out in front of his body protectively, aimed at the tall ashen man before him. Jack wants nothing more than to rush over and help Bunny, but knows he can't take his eyes off of Pitch.
"What do you want now? The children aren't scared of you anymore, Pitch."
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:06 pm
"Oh, but this isn't about the children, Jack. It's about you; it's always been about you," Pitch says, merging out of the shadows into the open.
Clutching at his surely broken ribs, Bunny manages, "Run...Jack...Get outta here," forgoing a nickname in the urgent situation.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:17 pm
"M... Me?" Jack says, ignoring Bunny and glaring at Pitch. "Why do you want me? Heck, even the Guardians didn't even want me at first."
Pain is evident in the spirit's voice as Jack glares at the taller man, the sting of being invisible and unwanted still very sharp. Up until about a year ago, no one had wanted anything to do with the Winter Spirit and the children hadn't believed in him.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:26 pm
"You were the one who got away, Jack," Pitch says, his voice regretful, though whether the feelings are true or not is unclear. "I was there, you know. Three hundred years ago. You were so afraid. But right as I went to help you, the Man in the Moon snatched you up, condemning you to that life of solitude." He spits the name as if it burns his mouth to utter it.
"Don't listen 'im, Jack," Bunny wheezes, but is quickly silenced by a black spear piercing into his shoulder.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:32 pm
Jack glances between Bunny and Pitch, his heart thrown into turmoil. The seed of doubt had long since been planted in his heart centuries ago when the Man in the Moon left him alone and scared to figure things out for himself. He wants so bad to believe in his friends, but they had been reluctant to let him into their fold at first, especially Bunnymund.
"I... How do I know you're telling the truth?" Jack demands, his hands beginning to tremble slightly. He doesn't want to believe the Boogeyman, both something inside him says Pitch is telling him the truth.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:00 pm
Holding his hands slightly out to the side, Pitch asks, "Why would I lie?" He then folds his hands behind his back. "But if you must know, I could sense when the ice began to crack. Your little sister, Jocelyn was her name, I believe, was terrified, but you, Jack, you calmed her down, made her play a game with you. Then, in a feat of unquestionable bravery, sacrificed yourself to save her life. I jumped in after you, but before I could reach you, he took you."
"He's lyin' to ya, Jack, don't-gah!" Bunny winces as the spear is turned in his shoulder, cutting off the rest of his words.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:06 pm
Jack has to choke back a sob at just the thought of his sister, and how she'd nearly died that day.
"Lyn..." He whispers her name, his whole body beginning to tremble. Loosing his will to fight, Jack looks up at Pitch while fighting the tears that threaten to fall from his eyes.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:15 pm
Smiling victoriously on the inside, Pitch continues. "I was banned from any contact with you after that. So, I did the only thing I could think of to help you." He looks the boy straight in the eye, face serious. "I watched after your sister in your place, Jack. It was apparent you no longer remembered who you were, so I kept an eye on her, watched her grow up, all for you."
Bunnymund stares up at the King of Nightmares, utterly bewildered. Surely Jack isn't buying all this, right?
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:29 pm
Jack falters when he looks at the bleeding Bunnymund, pleading with his eyes for the rabbit to understand. He'd been alone for so long, he found it hard to trust, and here Pitch was offering the stability and comfort he'd needed.
Jack can feel himself succumbing to the Nightmare King's sugary words, and it terrifies him. He doesn't want to admit to himself that he had never trusted the Guardians.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:56 pm
Pitch smiles as he senses the fear, though it appears on his face as kind and sympathetic. Taking a few cautious steps forward, he closes the gap to place a gentle hand on the young Guardian's shoulder. "I know I've given you no reason to trust me, Jack, but if you'll just give me a chance, I can show you everything you missed. Were you aware that Jocelyn had children? Lovely bunch, they were."
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:03 pm
That was all Jack had needed to hear from Pitch to finally break the last of his defenses. He had tensed when the taller man touched him, but now he relaxes, slouching, and his staff falls from his shaking fingers. He looks up into Pitch's face with big eyes, the tears finally beginning to fall from his blue eyes though the salty liquid freezes before it hits the ground.
Jack falls to his knees at Pitch's feet and buries his face in his hands, letting the tears fall now. The boy can't even bare to look at Bunnymund, knowing he's betraying his friends. But he can't stop himself.
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