After Dark

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

The wind set them next to the entrance of the pole. It blew the door open scaring the guard yetis. Matthew sighed in relief seeing them. It caused him to start coughing. He couldn't breathe anymore and wasn't getting enough oxygen. His vision swam before he finally collapsed into the snow.

"Birdie!" Jack cried out seeing him fall face first. He dropped into the snow next to him. He couldn't stand on his own.

The Guardian carefully turned him over on to his back. There was blood on the snow underneath him. He could see Matthew was trying to breathe, but couldn't. He was exhausted. The most air he was getting was from coughing. His coughs sounded painful. There was blood leaking from his mouth. There were gold specks mixed with the red.

Jack carefully cupped his jaw taking his hands in one of his. The Canadian reacted to the cool touch. He opened his eyes for a moment before screwing them shut again. He let out a pained whine. The Guardian had absolutely no idea what to do to help him. He was terrified.

"Keep your eyes open, Birdie." The winter spirit said. Matthew shook his head gasping for breath. He was relieved the Reaper was still responding. He squeezed his hand slightly. "Stay awake."

Suddenly, there were furry hands touching him. He panicked. The temperature around them dropped. Jack yelped in fear and looked up to who was touching him. It was just yetis, but his heart was still racing. It took him a moment to realize they were just trying to help. The yetis were talking to each other, but he had no idea what they were saying.

One of the yetis carefully picked him up. Jack wanted to struggle and get away, but didn't. He kept a tight grip on Matthew's hands. Another yeti gently picked the Canadian up. He barely moved or reacted other than a small groan. His head lulled against the yeti's shoulder. His wings were relaxed and drooped. He still held tightly to Jack's hand.

The yetis started carrying them through the pole. They kept the pair close together as they ran. Jack didn't notice when Matthew's hand slipped from his. It felt like he was still holding on. The Guardian struggled in the yeti's arms and reached out towards the Reaper. He couldn't reach him.

Jack fought harder once they got to the medical wing. They were split up and taken to different rooms. The winter spirit struggled trying to get away from the yetis and to Matthew. The yetis were strong and wouldn't budge.

"Let me go!" Jack demanded. The temperature in the room dropped. "I need to be with Birdie!"

The yeti garbled something at him. He knew bits and pieces of their language, but he didn't understand what they were saying. He was set on a bed. As soon as the yeti let go of him, he tried to get up. Jack stood from the bed. He put some weight on his bad leg, but it hurt. He tried to hop, but the yeti scooped him up again.

"No!" The winter spirit yelled as he was set back onto the bed. Frost was spreading across the room. "Let me go!"

The yeti shook their head saying something to him. He was attempting to calm him. It wasn't working. Jack shook his head in frustration. Tears were starting to fall. He felt something brush over his hands and the yeti urged him to lay down. He wouldn't.

"I need to see Matthew!" Jack yelled trying to get up. He got his legs over the side of the bed. The yeti put hands on his shoulders to stop him. "Please! I have to be there!"

"Jack?" The winter spirit's eyes snapped to the voice. North was suddenly at his bedside. "Calm down, you're okay."

"North, I need Birdie." Jack said desperately. "Please."

"Let the yetis make sure you are okay first." The older Guardian said calmly. "They want to look at your leg."

"It's fine." The winter spirit said quickly. "I need to see Matthew. I have to know he's okay!"

"Let the yetis work on him." North said slowly. A grey yeti he recognized as one of the doctors stepped forward. She started to check him over as he was arguing with the Russian. "He'll be okay. He's in the best hands."

"No." Jack furrowed his eyebrows. There were still tears falling. "I need to see him, North."

The Guardian of fun went to stand again. North stood in his path as the doctor yeti put him back into the bed. There was a poke in his arm and he jumped. The yeti had injected him with something. The reaction was almost instant. It felt like someone warm was hugging him. He guessed it must have been something to calm him.

"Let the yetis take care of you." North said putting a hand on his shoulder. Jack shook his head. "He needs the doctors right now and so do you."

"I need to see him." The winter spirit said. They were talking in circles. Something was gently urging him to settle into the bed. He was starting to get sleepy. "Please."

"Jack, let the yetis work." North sighed. Jack blinked slowly and nodded.

"Fine." The winter spirit slurred slightly. It was getting hard to stay awake. The temperature in the room was slowly going back to normal. "Is he okay? Did you see him?"

"I don't know. I came here first." The Russian admitted. Jack's eyebrows furrowed. "Let yourself get taken care of, I'll watch over Matthew."

"Okay." The Guardian of fun agreed hesitantly. He couldn't stay awake any longer. "Thank you."

—-❄️"You wouldn't know my house, it goes to a different school."❄️—-

Jack blinked away. He was groggy and confused. Someone pressed a kiss to his forehead and he smiled. There was weight sitting on the bed next to him. He was comfortable and warm under their fuzzy blanket.

"Jack!" The winter spirit looked to the voice. He was confused to see North sitting in a chair next to the bed. He realized he wasn't in their room and remembered what happened. "Good to see you awake." He smiled gently. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired." Jack grumbled. His voice was rough from sleep. He was about to ask about Matthew, but the older Guardian interrupted him.

"Any pain?" North asked and Jack shook his head. "Good!" The Russian quickly explained how they had to operate and rebuild his leg.

"That's pretty cool." The winter spirit mumbled. He wasn't too interested. "How's Birdie?" North's expression shifted. He knew what was coming before he started speaking. "North?"

"I'm sorry, Jack." The Russian said. His voice was filled with grief. "There wasn't anything the yetis could do. He's gone."

"No, North." Jack

felt like he couldn't breathe. "Please, tell me you're lying."

"I'm sorry." The older Guardian looked to the floor. "He's gone."

The winter spirit started to cry. North stood up and sat on the edge of the bed. He carefully pulled Jack into a tight hug. He cried on his shoulder and the older Guardian rubbed circles onto his back. Jack clung to him shaking and crying. His sorrow was overwhelming. North wanted to tell him he'd be okay, but wasn't sure. He held him until the winter spirit finally cried himself out.

North carefully tucked him back into the bed. He didn't want to leave the youngest Guardian alone, but wanted one of the doctors to check him over. He slowly stood and walked quietly to the door. He shut the door behind himself and went to find one of the doctors. They weren't too far. He quickly found Meredith and asked her to check Jack.

The pair walked back to the room. North quietly opened the door and stepped inside. Neither one wanted to make noise. He looked over to where Jack was sleeping and stopped in his tracks. The bed was empty. The window was open and Jack was gone.

AN: Sad ending. There is more, but if you actually want a sad ending, stop reading here. Also sorry for the late uploads, started streaming lately and just kinda forgot to post. I am NoirVogelchen on twitch if you're interested.