Frozen Flames (ROTG fanfic)

Chapter Twenty-One

[Tiffa]

"Oh lookie,it seems like we'll be having guests."

Pitch chuckled,turning to me.

I weakly sat up. And even that tired me. Before,I can fly for hours. Now,I can't even float an inch.

"Still up for a fight,Summers ?" He chuckled,turning to me. I made a plain expression,leaning against the cage. "I can't even fly… Y-you… Drained… My…"

I can't even speak without panting heavily. I'm slowly rotting in this cage.

"Oh dearie,don't worry. I'll give your staff back to you." He smiled,going over to my cage.

"But,you have to turn your back to them. Once you touch your staff,you'll have to hurt them. Hurt me,the pain inside you will worsen. Hurt them,it'll leave temporarily."

He spun my staff with one hand,then inserted the pole's end in the cage. He smiled proudly. "Pick."

What should I do…? I looked down at my staff's handle. I… I have to hurt them. Hurt Jack. For myself. I can just die.

But I'm too scared.

I don't want to die early. I have the greatest fear of dying. Of being forgotten if I die. Well,I already am forgotten,but I'm hoping that 5 people won't.

"Three,"

I tensed up. He's counting down ?! Uh…

"Two,"

I looked at the staff. Should I or Shouldn't I ?

"One,"

I quickly grabbed the staff subconsciously. Pitch blinked,before showing a chesire-cat-like grin. "Good."

My staff turned black from his hold. The gem went red. But when I held it,the black slowly faded. I started feeling my strength coming back. The gem turned back to orange,then sparkled slightly.

"Good choice. Now,here's the plan." Pitch laughed,crossing his arms. "You have to kill them. If not,I will." He smirked,snapping his fingers and making the cage disappear,setting me free.

I froze.

*Crash*

The door slammed open. Pitch and I turned,and in a blink of an eye,Pitch met boomerangs.

"Tiffa !"

I shakily looked at Jack. Worry was in his eyes. I instantly froze. No,please,not him.. Please…

But it happened.

He flew straight to me. No,I can't. I can't kill him !

"Tiffa,look,you don't have to follow his stuff !" Jack yelled out. I flew off,shaking my head. "Go away ! I don't want to hurt you…" I mumbled,then sent fire at him. Just to distract him.

He dodged,startled. I stopped and turned to him,just to see him groan in pain as he held his side.

My eyes went wide as the flashback came before my eyes. Gasping,I frowned in worry. Darn it,darn it !

"Oh look,he's all open."

I jumped in surprise,seeing Pitch pop out beside me. Jack growled,glaring at him. "Leave her alone !"

"If I do,you think she still has someone ?" Pitch laughed. I stiffened in my place. "She turned her back to you,she can't go back." He crossed his arms proudly,before grinning. "Now,do your job." He looked at me.

Looking down,I stared at my staff. I can feel Pitch's yellow eyes glare at me… Then the sand inside me started working.

Almost screaming,I clutched my chest,feeling the suffocating sensation I always had. Jack looked startled,keeping his distance. "What did you do to her ?!"

"G-go away while you still can…" I mumbled,before sending fire at him.

Gasping,Jack let himself fall downwards to dodge. Then,he sent ice at me,melting as it made contact with my skin.

I flinched at the temperature. The pain inside me increased my desire to turn this whole place to a burning palace !

"Look,Tiffa,you don't have to do this !" Jack yelled,worry and pity in his eyes. "You can still go back to us !"

"I can't,okay ?! I can't !" I yelled,sending more at him. How the hell does he dodge all of those fire ?!

"I'm stuck in this place ! I'm a monster,Jack ! Why can't you see that ?!" I yelled out,tears threatening to stream from my eyes. Jack silenced down,staring at me with a small frown. "No… You're not a monster,Tiffa.."

Gritting my teeth,I let a burst of flame flare out at him. I wielded my staff,sending him a lot of it. Almost every second.

He countered it with his ice. Grunting,he sent an ice beam to counter my last attack,panting hardly.

I trembled slightly,looking at him. "Why won't you just stay away ?!"

"Tiffa,you're my friend ! I don't let any of my friends down !"

Friend.

I knew it. He never saw me anything more than that word. And I hate it.

I frowned,and attacked again. I clutched my staff tightly,blinded in fury from the overflowing power,and from the feelings.

"I'm on my own now… And I'm a monster so please go away ! I don't want to hurt you again !"

I continued. Again and again. Until I got tired. But I didn't stop.

I panted heavily,trying to catch my breath. I knew he'll take that chance. I was about to attack. But then,he flew straight to me,opening his arms out wide.

And before I knew it,his freezing touch enveloped my whole body as he wrapped his arms around me. My eyes went wide. I smell mint… This happened before,right ? Deja vu…?

"You're not on your own… I'm right here for you.."

My chest tightened up. Tears formed in the corner of my eyes as sobs started choking me.

I can't do this.