Once Upon A December (Book 1)

Chapter 27-Hello, My Swan

(during Jack's leave)
Samantha's point of view
I walked away from the boy I hardly knew, claiming he loved such a mess, a grenade that would explode at any moment with these strangers staring at me like they knew me, maybe they did, but I didn't know them, I walked away angrier and more confused than I was before I came here, in fact, I was more angry and confused than the day I woke, why not just leave me to stay in the darkness? Why save me? Why bother when I won't know them? Why do they care so much for a girl that looks at them like strangers?, I question in my head. I walk to my room and change into a white long sleeve shirt with blue jeans with my brown boots, and stay there, me only hearing muffled voices outside my closed door, I run my hand through the left side of my hair in anger, that smile, his smile, that boy... I slowly put some pieces together, I only know that that boy, the one I just walked away from, might be the answer to how I got here, why I'm awake, how he knows me when I don't know him, how he holds such a strong spark in his eyes, I've never seen anyone look at me the way he looks at me. Small minutes go by, and I just sit there on my windowsill, staring out and watching the snow fall, and for some reason, it made me feel slightly better, making most of my questions seem little, thinking about the many questions that buzz in my head, I try and think out all of my questions, only for a knock to snap me out of my thinking "come in" I say to the soft knock, a head peaked in, a head of another oddly familiar face, she was beautiful, her feathers mixing colors of green. Blue and purple, making a feathered dress fall just above her knee, golden rings on her ankles and wrist, her wings beautiful and mixing in the same colors of her feathers, teeth beautiful and straight, as a friendly smile stayed on her face "hello, miss" she says fluttering above the floor, standing right in front of the door, I motion for her to come, she smiles and happily flies over to the windowsill, she sits on a blue bean bag that's near my window. "I never told you my name did I?" She asks, I nod no "Toothina, but you can call me Tooth" she introduces "Samantha Winter" I say with a small smile "you know... I was like you, young, free and happy" she started as I listened "but, like all happiness, someone must want to take it" she says sadly remembering the day "I was in love with the most handsome man, and he loved me for me, not for power, magic or usefulness, but because of my smile and personality" she says smiling. "He would do anything, be anything, a protector, a friend, an adventurer, but most of all, a lover and father" she says smiling to the memory "a father?" I ask "yes, a great evil came to me and my friends, and his name, was Pitch Black, he wanted for all of us to fade away, like he did once, for us to be forgotten and to be replaced by his fear and nightmares, we fought courageously, but he was too powerful, Manny, my love, had a plan to defeat Pitch. Manny sacrificed himself, giving his life away, just before he did, he gave me one last kiss, and placed a spell on me, his hands held my belly as if I was pregnant" she says mimicking how Manny held her stomach "but the thing was, I wasn't" she says as my eyes widen "I felt something go off in my stomach, but right when Manny died, the feeling went away, I haven't heard his voice or seen his face since" she says sadly "up until a month ago, I saw his handsome face again. He didn't change one bit, his face still as young and handsome as the last time I saw him" she says going into a day dream of the one she loves "but what I love about me and Manny..." She trails as I meet her eyes, my eyes previously going to the floor, thinking what it was like to have love like that "it's the fact that we were so far apart, no communication, no sign or hope of ever seeing each other again..." She starts as I look into her eyes "but that our memories of each other stayed in our hearts. No matter what we went through" she says "what does that have to do with me?" I ask, not mad but curious "you think your love is as far apart as me and Manny... But in truth, he's the one that was always there for you, the one that was always the first one to get to you, you aren't far apart, yes it may seem like you have no or sign of hope, but it's the memories that need to stay... And I know you're full of them, you just need to make sure they stay in your heart no matter what" she says. Suddenly a wind goes through my room, the sound of a familiar laughter hauntingly echoing in the map room, Tooth's eyes widen in fear, she looks to the door, then to me "stay here, I lost one friend to Pitch, I don't want to lose you" she says, she goes to the door, I follow her in suit, only to stop right at my door, I watch as she runs next to the boy I was with earlier, everyone in the map room stood their stances, looking around for Pitch, him appearing right on top of the globe. Right where me and the guardians where located "well, isn't this something?" He asks menacingly "such a sight... The guardians having a scary surprise" he smiles, I watch from my door, watching as the boy I once felt for smiles wickedly at the people that seem to care about me "what are you doing here, Pitch?" Jack demands "shh" Pitch shushes, placing his finger to his mouth "no need to shout, Jack, for a child is listening" he says, he seemed to have known I was watching because he turns to me with a huge wicked smile "hello, my swan," he greets evilly.