Trapped by Fear

Chapter 6

(Jack's POV)

Bunny was in disgrace. After that stunt he pulled with Elsa. Tooth gave him a talking to that would make any strict mother proud. Though he was too proud to admit it, you could tell he felt bad about it afterwards. I shared the small amount of information that I had gained from talking to Elsa with the Guardians. Which rightfully made Bunny feel even worse. We were trying to decide on the best course of action when North held up a hand to silence us.

"Something is wrong. I can feel it in my belly," North announced.

Sandy began furiously signing to North who nodded. "Yes, I too think Pitch."

An anxious Tooth butted in, "What is it? What is he doing? Is he here? We need to do something. We can't just sit here and wait. Should we spend time with the children to build belief, or maybe stay here, we could-"

"Tooth, you talk much and with speed. Remain calm, we do not know what Pitch is planning yet. I feel he is not yet near but he is making plan. We stay here. He want the girl-"

"Her name is Elsa." I chipped in.

"Yes, yes Elsa. He want so we must do to protect her. At moment no need to panic. Jack Frost, since you think important enough to interrupt me, you go be lookout tonight."

I started to argue but with Bunny laughing at me from behind North and North already on to his next task I saw it was useless. So with a glare at Bunny and a frustrated grunt I flew to sit outside Elsa's window. The moon was full tonight. As I sat staring into the night with the wind ruffling my hair I let my thoughts wander.

What could Pitch be planning? It was odd how he seemed so obsessed with Elsa. He'd been known to play the long game before but this was something else. He probably wasn't trying to convert her to his side like he once did to me. And even then he admitted defeat soon after. She had ice powers but Pitch wasn't trying to use or steal them as far as we knew. He wanted her for something. Something that had to be important or he wouldn't have got so mad when we rescued her. She would have to go home eventually. When it was safe to do so. Her family must be worried sick about her. I wonder if Tzar (A/N; the man in the moon, aka Tzar Lunar) has a plan. You know funny enough; for being a Guardian, this was the first time I ever had to actually guard someone.

Just then I heard a small gasp. So quiet that I almost dismissed it as my mind playing tricks on me. But purely by reflex I whipped my head around anyway, just in time to catch a glimpse of Elsa before she disappeared into a dark pit that had appeared beneath her.

Without thinking I dove in after her, just as the pit closed. I found myself on a mountain a short distance from North's workshop. A few meters away I saw Elsa lying in the snow with Pitch looming over her.

"Get away from her Pitch!"

"Jack Frost, I wasn't expecting to see you here, but I can work with this."

"I said get away from her!" I gripped my staff and took up a defensive stance but didn't shoot. He was too close to Elsa, and I risked hitting her. (Not cause my aim was bad ok! But, like Winter, my powers are a little wild and blasts from my staff are more powerful than concentrated. So there!)

"Why? What could you possibly want with this worthless wench. She's nothing but a walking disaster" He added cruelly and kicked her for emphasis.

I fired a warning shot but Pitch was unfazed. Grabbing Elsa by her shoulders he stood her up and made her face me. He whispered into her ear, and she took a few wobbly steps forward. But she still wasn't close enough for me to reach her without risking Pitch getting there first.

"Now Elsa!" Pitch commanded.

I thought that she was going to attack me. Had she been working with Pitch all along? Ooh, Bunny would never let me live that down. But that wasn't what happened. Instead, she curtsied? She was shaking and her cheeks were flooded with tears. She looked up at me and again I saw more emotions in those eyes than I thought possible. Shame, fear, depression, embarrassment and pain, so much pain.