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——————————————————————————— "J-Jack?"
Ash was at a loss for words. She didn't even recognize him. His once electric blue eyes were now a piercing yellow, and his pure white hair was now a corrupt shade of black.
Jack looked at her without a shred of remorse. He knew that she wouldn't understand. How could she? She wasn't the one who created the blizzard that killed thousands back in '68. The winter that he brought every year killed people, so what else is there for him? She certainly doesn't deserve a killer.
"Oh poor, poor Ash. If only you could see your face. Such anger, confusion, fear." Pitch drawled.
However, Pitch's words fell on deaf ears. Ash merely stared at Jack, with an expression that brought chills down Jack's spine. In a matter of seconds Ash wordlessly marched up to Jack and-
SMACK!!!
A deafening silence followed. Jack was stunned at the sound that he heard next. He looked up from the ground only to see his soulmate in tears. Globs of liquid poured relentlessly from Ash's eyes, and sniffles intensified.
"Why..." Ash whispered to Jack quietly, afraid that she would break if she spoke any louder.
"..."
"WHY? WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO THE GUARDIANS? TO MAN IN THE MOON? TO ME? TO THE CHILDR-"
"JILLIAN." Jack screamed, cutting Ash off.
Ash was taken aback. He never called her by her first name. Ever.
"Tell me Ash, do you know what it's like, knowing that your power kills people every year? Do you know what it's like seeing people's last dying breath because of something you created?"
"OF COURSE I DO! OR WERE YOU NOT PAYING ATTENTION FOR THE LAST THREE HUNDRED YEARS??" Ash screamed in anguish.
"THEN WHY CANT YOU UNDERSTAND?"
Ash laughed in disbelief.
"Because everything that I do will never be out of a place of fear. You're scared, Jack."
"IM NOT SCARED."
"Yes you are, love. You're scared. Hell, even petrified that these things will define you. That it'll make you less of a person."
"WHEN WILL IT GET THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL THAT THERE'S NOTHING LEFT FOR ME HERE? HUH?"
"If there's nothing left for you here... What does that make me, Jack? Did all those years mean nothing to you? Do I mean nothing to you?" Ash said, her voice breaking.
Profound silence followed.
Blinking back tears, Ash continued.
"Even if I don't mean anything to you, you are so loved, Jack. I'll even scream it to the heavens if it means you'll come back to me. You. Are. Enough."
Jack couldn't respond to that. In fact, he had no idea how. All this time with Ash, he had loved her with everything he had, but he was empty. He had no idea how he felt now, but with Pitch, he hasn't felt more alive.
However, Jack's heart was breaking, crying out to her because he knew within the depths of his soul that this was wrong. But that didn't matter, his conviction outweighed his morality that screamed at him to stop.
Numb. That's how I felt. All those years together, meant nothing to him. I mean nothing to him.
I love him so much to the point that it hurts. It hurts so much to see him so afraid. He's so blind to the love he truly deserves.
Honestly, at this point I don't even know if the boy I fell in love with is still there. Even so, that would mean that the Jack I want to spend my eternity with, is gone. The only thing that's left of him is his physical body. He's probably not there anymore...
"I'm not going to change your mind am I?" Ash asked, a single tear running down her face, "You will never see that you deserve to be unconditionally loved, will you?"
Jack stared at Ash in response. It was then, that Ash's suspicions seemed correct, but she couldn't be more wrong. Jack felt horrible, longing to go back to her. However, Pitch's shadow was looming over him, stopping him from taking a step towards her. Jack looked at Ash, and realized how much irreversible damage he had done to her.
Her vibrant, emerald eyes no longer held light to them. They were dull, and void of life. Life that Jack gave her with each passing day. As he was about to leave with Pitch, he froze. At that moment, his world was shattered. He could only feel the most excruciating pain, all because of one simple phrase from the girl that he loved.
"I'm sorry I wasn't enough for you. Goodbye, Jackson."
