Believe in Me

To the Pole

Sorry for the long time with no update, I've been sick. Oh, and sorry for putting Grey through so much crap, it's over for now. He's a tough guy, he'll get through okay >.>

"Wind, listen to me!" His voice echoed throughout the dark chamber, repeating itself softer and softer at each ring. But it was like Jack's first ally couldn't hear, forcing harder against the two. Ilia was struggling, something that wasn't helping, especially since his grip on her was getting looser and looser the harder the wind blew. The winter spirit narrowed his eyes, the force of the gale blasting into them making him tear up slightly, making it harder to see. "Pitch isn't good, you cant go to his side! He's lying to you, whatever he's saying to draw you in, its not true! Look at Ilia, look at Death!" He felt a sudden stop in the child's movements as he brought up the two names, bright eyes widen a little then narrow further, looking down with a small quiver of her lip but silence on her part. "Pitch did this to them.. you know that!" The force against him wasn't stopping though, wasn't listening to his shouts. His bare feet weren't gripping enough to the stone floors and he began to feel himself slipping. It was now or never. The guardians were around ten feet ahead. If he ran, he would no doubt hurt himself... but there was no choice. Ilia's chance was on the line too. Jack sprung forward with all the power his small frame could force, slamming himself into a headbutt with the wind's angry shoves. It felt even, at first he was being pushed back, at second he was making his way slowly but surely forward. North saw the struggle as did the rest of the guardians. "Bunny, smash this into wall!" The large russian shoved a snowglobe into the rabbit's paws without a second to waste. "Tooth, after Bunny opens portal, get medics ready!" The fairy wanted to help Jack badly but nodded, spinning and flying to a place ready next to the rabbit. "Sandy.. stay with me," the large man finished. Jack was inching closer and closer, his eyes squeezed shut, hands in fists and the small girl tightly in his grasps. "Jack, you're almost here!" North shouted. He was right, the winter spirit had just a few more feet until his hand would reach the outstretched large one head of him, North ready to pull him out of the blowing torrent. The wind realized this and gave one last heavy gust. Jack held his grounds barely... but Ilia didn't. The small girl was shoved out of his hands and slammed down against the ground, standing quickly and looking back to Jack. He grabbed North's hand and was pulled to the safety away from the air, turning and looking back to her. The look of determination she honed was enough for Jack to realize what she was doing. "Ilia come on!" He shouted with a plea to his voice, but after another pause, she spun and ran in the opposite direction, the wind helping her speed along despite the pain that screamed up her ankle. "Ilia!!" Jack shouted, starting to run back. North grabbed him by the shoulder quickly, gaining a small yelp. The russian didn't mean to hurt him, but the wind was blowing harder by the second and the spirit of nature had already faded into the darkness of the hallway. There was a shattering sound from behind him, the portal was open. "I'm sorry, Jack," North said quietly, turning and running through the mass of color opening its way to the Pole, being followed by Bunny, Tooth, and Sandy before it zipped shut, closing in on itself with a small pop as the only link the Pitch's lair vanished. Jack's watery eyes were near blinded by the sudden light and happiness of North's home. He had been in the darkness for so long, the light from the warmth in the fireplace was more of a pest than a comfort, stinging his eyes and searing at the openings in his just healing wounds. Tooth gave Jack a small, loose hug before fluttering away at full speed towards the infirmary, pulling two of the yetis she recognized as healers along with her, shouting out an order in a demanding voice that they were scared to ignore. Bunny turned back to Jack with a small sigh of relief. Sure the kid was gone, but, despite what North had said before, he was relieved. Death hadn't met them at the lair at all, and she had always been a nuisance to him. Pitch cant hurt a kid, he tried to tell himself mentally to ease the slight guilt of not caring that she was still locked in there. He already did multiple times. And of course that voice in his head would reply to make him feel worse.. still, he wouldn't admit he cared. She always seemed to try to make animals misbehave, especially around easter when they would tear up the eggs he worked so hard to paint, eat the candies and ruin his hard work before the children even woke up. Sure, revenge was wrong but.. wasn't it a little fair for her to get it back at her? Maybe not so far as torture but.. he stopped his thoughts before they made him feel any more guilty. North sat down in a chair with a sigh of small relief, the anxious glance still in his eyes to show that at least he cared about the spirit that was still locked away. North believed that Death was on Pitch's side, the rest of the guardians did as well. For all they knew, Ilia was all alone there. Jack didn't sit when North motioned for him to, on the contrary he turned clenched his hands into fists, gritting his teeth together. He felt so hopeless. He had dropped her! Just dropped her then forced to leave her there! Death was too badly hurt to protect her, no matter how strong he was, there was no way he could get up for at least another day with something that serious, being impaled wasn't something light! Pitch had full reign at her, he could kill her... yet again, Jack felt the pit of guilt fillilng to its top in himself. If Ilia had died last time it would've been his fault because he couldn't take her to safety in time. This time though, it was because he just left her in the situation in the first place... "I have to go back," he demanded, voice clear and strong despite the shakiness of pain still running through it. The guardians looked surprised, Sandy shaking his head and showing a sillouette of Pitch in golden sand over his messy haired head. "I don't care about Pitch! I made a promise.. I told Death I would bring her back, I have to.."