Black In Black

I Promise

I felt sick to my stomach as I listened to my dad. The other Guardians looked at him like he must be crazy. It was, and it was also just like my dad to suggest it.
"You Guardians play it too safe. I think it's about time to--"
"To what, fight violence with violence?" I spoke up.
He looked back to me. "To finish this. Ellie, they want to hurt all of us, and you once they realize you're not on their side, I bet. I can't let that happen to you, Ellie." He looked back to the Guardians. "Plan--bait and trap. Lure them into a trap and then we go for the kill."
"Pitch we shouldn't do it this way--" Tooth started, before she was interrupted.
"I'll do it." All our eyes darted to the back of the room, to Jack who stepped from behind Bunny. "I'll do it. I'm second closest to Ellie, right? I must be a bigger target. I'll be the bait." His eyes met mine.
"Only second. I'm her father, I'd be the biggest." Dad spoke up, almost interrupting Jack as he spoke.
"The first and probably the biggest threat. We all saw what you did when you came to us to take her back, you're too powerful to attack first. I'm the easier target, more of a chance of them coming to attack me then you." I grimaced to myself. Jack made an unarguable point.
"Jack, you don't have to do this." North spoke in a quiet voice. Sandy, who had a concerned look on his face, floated closer to Jack to set a hand on his shoulder.
"I want to. Someone has to, right?"
I bit my lip. What was with this sudden self sacrifice? It was reckless of him.
"How about I act wounded, accidentally stumble right into them, and once their guard is down we attack?"
Everyone stood quiet. My mouth felt dry, like my mouth and jaw were stuck closed. Why can't I stop him? He was being reckless, he was being stupid. Right into their base? Right into their dungeon of horrors? I dont want to think about if he gets caught-- and they hurt him-- how am I allowing this?
"We better get going then," Dad spoke up, as all the Guardians slowly agreed. I just have the power to shake my head. My eyes fell from Jack's. Everyone slowly left the room to most likely prepare for the plan downstairs.
"Ellie, I have to do it--"
"No you dont. You didn't see what I saw when I was in there, how crazy they are about killing all of you." I snapped softly, at the only other one left in the room. cold hands found my arms, which ran down to hold my hands.
"I'll be okay. I'll go in, find them, and rush out to lead them all to where you all are. Quick, easy--"
"Reckless." I looked back up to him. "They aren't like my Dad, they're out to kill."
"Then tell me what I should do. Once I'm there, where should I go, what should I say?"
"Dont." I could barely hear myself. I bit my lip painfully.
Voices came from downstairs, calling us down with them. I turned from him, pulling my hands out of his before walking out.

----------

I absolutely hated this plan. Hated it. It made me sick. The cold hair of the pole whipped around all of us as we all rode in the sleigh, looking for my Mother and my Sister. All too soon, we saw two figures step out of a cave that looked familiar to where Jack and I stayed the night in previously.
"There they are. Ellie, are you ready? Jack?"
"Yeah." Jack spoke from beside me. I stayed quiet. Of course, I had to be apart of this plan.
The plan was to stage a fight between Jack and I. That I'd strike at him and he'll start free falling right into their path, where he'll act injured. By the time he lands we would have landed and came in close enough to capture the two who will be stalking Jack through the slow and woods.
"I'll be okay, I promise." He said quietly, leaving closer to me so only I heard. I could barely nod. It was too late to argue now.
I looked up to see North look down to us and nod curtly before having the sleigh hover in the air. Jack stood and climbed up onto the edge of the sleigh so he could start his freefall.
I followed and stood before him, as I lit my hands on fire.
"You better be okay," I croaked out softly, but loud enough for him to hear over the wind.
"I promise, Ellie. I promise," He repeated, as he prepared for my fake blow. The fire I created wouldn't harm him if it touched him, other than the subtle warmth from it that would be more uncomfortable to him than anything.
"Ready you two?"
I just nodded. He nodded too, before North gave us the okay.
I stepped up on one of the seats and shoved him off the edge, where he fell back to float in mid air. I lept where he was and went to hit him again, purposely barely missing. More flames then I expected erupted from my hands, flaring out around us. I watched as Jack jumped back in surprise and lost grip of his staff as it was caught in my flames.
"No, wait-" I went to shoot after him, giving his staff back, but a dark hand latched around my arm, yanking me back to the sleigh. North was already speeding down to a secluded area to land then follow the two stalk Jack.
But was Jack okay? The only image I had in my head was him looking at me in surprise, as the flames got a little too close, a little too big for his liking.
I squirmed in my Dad's grip as I dangled off the side. Once my feet touched snow I escaped his hand and darted to where we last saw Jack, his staff in hand.