To Ally with the Guardians

Chapter 6: Power

Matt beat and clawed against North's thick arms in a frenzy, shouting and hollering as the Guardian continued to lead the elves and other children- most observing Matt and Duran with wide eyes, a few whimpering- down the underground staircase. The torches placed periodically along the stone walls cast long shadows over the crowd as Duran struggled with his captor as well. Matt's body felt chilled, the sweat on his skin cooling against his will as he fought. He would not let his girlfriend die!

"We have to save Haven!" he said to the children. "The girl with short blond hair! She saved a lot of you!" There were so many that maybe they could overpower North and the Yeti holding Duran. Matt saw sparks of recognition in some of their bright eyes, but there were no other reactions.

"Your cure is too dangerous," North told him. The man wasn't reacting to Matt's physical attacks. "I'm very sorry for your girlfriend, but we can't risk losing another. She would not want you to turn into a Fearling like her, no?"

Matt squirmed, trying to slip his tense slick body through North's grasp, but it wasn't working. "If I turn into a Fearling, you can just turn me back!" Matt said.

"That didn't work with Haven, so it might not work with you. We have to protect all the children of the world," North paused to swallow and take a deep, shuddery breath, "no matter the cost."

Matt and Duran opened their mouths to speak, but someone else beat them to it.

"Haven saved me," a small voice that belonged to a young girl right behind North's heels said, her dark bangs nearly covering her eyes.

"And now we need to keep you safe," North said, his voice gaining a note of confidence again.

"Doesn't Haven deserve to be saved, though?"

"Yes!" Matt pounded North's arm to no avail.

"She does!" Duran agreed.

"There is no safe way to save her." North's voice sounded hollow and distant, and his grip around Matt tightened. "But we can keep you safe."

A sudden collection of Nightmare neighs above them made the children shriek, murmur, and sprint around North's legs, voluntarily plunging farther down the dark and chilly passage.

It was during the rotund man's surprise at this that Matt, with a sudden surge of strength, wrenched himself free and dashed up the stairs. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Duran manage to break free as well and follow.

*/*/*/*

"Jamie! Sophie!" Mallory ran along the edge of Santa's workshop as best he could, trekking up and down the icy slopes while searching for his kids. If they had still been in the houses, they would have come out by now. The Guardians had been here, but maybe they just hadn't spotted Mallory's children.

The snow was darkening from light to dark gray in the shadow, and a familiar spirit flew up beside Mallory, shooting at the Fearlings and Nightmares that were growing far too close. "Where could they be?" Mallory asked him.

"They couldn't have gone far." Jack's gaze kept darting from the threats to the nooks and crannies hidden by the lack of light. He flew a little higher, looking down on the hard snow-covered ground, and the Fearlings and Nightmares came closer.

"Jamie! Sophie!" Where were they? Mallory's heart pounded in his chest, and his head felt light. He looked all around, desperately searching around the frigid outdoors as the dark creatures drew even nearer. Maybe his kids had gone inside? But he hadn't seen them there while running with Whisper, and he hadn't seen them when the other kids were fleeing, so where did that leave?