After Dark

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Matthew quickly sat up trying to fight off a wave of dizziness. Jack was still there in front of him. He had his back turned to him and pressed against the bars. There was a grey furry hand around his throat and one over his mouth. Bunny was looming over him.

The Reaper reacted immediately. He used what energy he had left to grab the pooka with his magic. He threw Bunny roughly into the back wall of the cell. He thought the force would have knocked him out, but it didn't. The Guardian of hope moved to get up. The Canadian caught him by the throat with is magic and slowly crushed it. Bunny struggled clawing at the almost invisible barrier for a moment before he stopped moving.

Everything was quiet except for Jack's breathing. Matthew was exhausted from using his magic, but needed to make sure he was okay.

"Jack?" The Canadian asked. The winter spirit didn't answer or react. He was still staring at Bunny. "Jack?"

The Guardian of fun still didn't react. Matthew slowly reached out and touched his shoulder. Jack jumped with a strangled cry turning towards him. His eyes were wide with fear. The fear turned to recognition as he realized it was just the Canadian. He was holding in tears, but they quickly started to over flow.

Matthew went to reach out and hug him instinctively, but the chain stopped him. The cuffs dug into his wrists leaving behind more bruises on the already bruised skin. He hated he wasn't able to properly touch him or comfort him. It made him want to cry as well. He couldn't, he wanted to be a rock for Jack. The Guardian reached out and grabbed his hands. He was still crying.

"Are you okay?" Matthew asked gently.

The Canadian looked Jack up and down. It didn't look like Bunny was able to start anything, but he wanted to be sure. He had a small bleeding cut on his neck. He guessed it was from one of the pooka's claws.

"I'm okay." Jack said shutting his eyes tightly. He was trying to get a handle on his emotions and breathing. "He was just there suddenly. He didn't do anything."

Matthew was relieved. He looked past the winter spirit to where Bunny's body should have been, but it was gone. Jack turned and noticed as well. He relaxed slightly.

The Reaper felt bad that he decided to sleep. It left the winter spirit vulnerable. Bunny had tried to take advantage of that. He knew he shouldn't have slept.

"Sorry." The Guardian apologized turning back to him. Matthew was confused.

"It's okay." The Canadian said reassuringly. "You don't have anything to apologize for." Jack looked unsure. "You haven't done anything wrong."

The winter spirit nodded slowly. He let out a long sigh and rested his head against the bars. Matthew smiled and did the same resting their foreheads together. Jack smiled slightly.

—-❄️"I'm so used to being a wanted criminal and then I just got rid of the country that had a bounty on me, and all my problems were solved"❄️—-

Later...

Matthew hummed watching the winter spirit attempt to make snow. He was able to make a few flakes or small patch of ice. Not much more. The Reaper was patient and encouraging. He knew Jack's powers were their only real chance of escape. He also knew Matthew needed water. Individual snowflakes didn't really help.

The Canadian was exhausted, but refused to sleep. He didn't want Bunny to come back. He'd already hurt Jack enough. He wasn't sure how long it had been since the pooka had attacked. He guessed about a day, but time had little meaning. He was hungry, normally he'd be able to ignore it and focus on work. He was thirsty and his mouth was dry. His head constantly ached and he was slightly dizzy.

Jack grumbled giving up with his powers. He took Matthew's hands in his again. The Reaper noticed they were colder than before. He smiled tiredly. He could barely keep his eyes open.

"How are you, Birdie?" The Guardian asked. He spoke quietly knowing he had a head ache.

"I'm just tired." Matthew huffed leaning against the bars. He hadn't realized how dry his mouth was. "Don't worry about me."

"I am worrying." Jack said with his eyebrows furrowed. "You need water." He let go of one of his hands and reached out. He put his cold hand on the Canadian's forehead. He was warmer than normal. "I think you've got a fever."

"Probablement." Matthew shrugged. The winter spirit's touch was nice and cool. He leaned into the cooling touch. "Je t'aime."

"I love you too, Matthew." Jack smiled.

The Guardian shifted and leaned against the bars were the Reaper was. If they hadn't been there his head would have been on his shoulder. He squeezed his hand and the other squeezed back. Both smiled.

Neither one of them noticed three people creeping up on them until it was too late. Matthew's ankles were grabbed and stretched out on his back. His hands still cuffed over his head. The cuffs bit into the already bruised wrists. His wing ached from the weight suddenly on it. He wasn't able to move it from under him. The Canadian was confused and disoriented. There was weight on his legs and he couldn't move.

It took him a moment to realize where he was and what was happening. Bunny was sitting on his legs keeping him pinned. Pitch was looking over him with Mishal close by. The Reaper tried to move, but didn't have enough strength or leverage. He didn't have enough energy to use his magic.

"Leave him alone!" He heard Jack yell. "Don't hurt him."

Pitch looked up to Mishal who growled and stepped towards the cell bars. He snapped his fingers creating a flame.

"Quiet." The fire spirit snapped. Jack didn't look scared of him or the fire. "I'll melt you."

"That's not how that works." Jack said. Matthew knew he was trying to distract them. He didn't want the Guardian of fun to get burned because of it. "I'm not an actual snowman."

"Well, obviously!" Mishal said fire growing. "You've melted already!"

"You're smarter than you look." Jack smirked. "Probably the smartest fire spirit I've met. Which isn't saying much really."

Mishal snarled throwing a ball of fire at the winter spirit. He yelped and barely move out of the way. The flame hit the cell wall and went out.

"Hey!" Bunny growled. The fire spirit didn't notice. He was already creating another ball of fire. The pooka was about to get off of Matthew. The Canadian was ready to move. "You don't hurt him unless I say so!"

"Enough." Pitch snapped.

The Nightmare King raised his hand high enough to get the fire spirit's attention. Mishal snuffed the fire and glared at Jack. Bunny relaxed glaring at the fire spirit.

"Now," Pitch smiled looking down at Matthew. "As fun as it's been watching you waste away slowly, it getting boring. It's time to accelerate your death."

The Reaper narrowed his eyes watching his every move. Pitch met his eyes and never broke eye contact as he reached into his robe. He smiled wickedly pulling a glass vile from his robe. Matthew's eyes widened in fear as it was brought into his line of sight. It was filled with dreamsand.