Black wings, Snow, and Sand

Chapter 15: My Sunshine

I wake up, and the first thing I see is Victoria, laying lifeless a few feet away from me. NO! I race to her and hold her in my arms, no longer are they bound.
"Please, Please don't be dead, baby please!"
I hold her mouth up to my ear, steady yet hoarse breaths escape.
"Oh thank You."
I try to wake her, but nothing.
"This all my fault... Pitch was right I...make a mess of everything... You gave yourself up for me, and the others. Even though we didn't deserve your kindness....I..Im sorry."
I kiss her forehead gently. I suddenly hear a small squeaking noise coming from underneath her hair. I lift a section of it up to find baby tooth, trying to stay warm against Victoria's cheek. One wing is bent, showing signs of Pitch fighting back. She looks up at me with a small solemn look.
"Thank you for protecting her."
She squeaks twice as if to say "your welcome", then flies into my sweat shirt pocket.
"I don't know if that will keep you warm enough."
It suddenly occurs to me that Victoria is probably freezing. I take off my jacket and put it on her carefully, hoping not to hurt her nor baby tooth. After I pull her hair out from inside the jacket, I sit there and hold her in my arms as if I will never feel her warmth again...and maybe I....I won't.
I can do nothing else for her right now....Wait. Maybe I can. The one thing she loves, from what I've seen, is that little lullaby her father used to sing. She obviously loved him. He obviously did to. I'm not particularly good at singing, but I'll try my best. I clear my throat and sing the one melody she loves. Holding her in my arms, remembering every word, her beautiful voice filling my head as I sing.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy, when skies are grey
You'll never know dear, how much I......
I pause, for a second thinking about the next line thoughtfully.
I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine way...
The other night dear, while I lay sleeping
I dreamt I held you, all through the night
When I awoke dear, I was mistaken so I laid my head down and cried...
You are my sunshine-
I stop, feeling a lump in my thought

She silently mouths something...
"Papa". She's thinks I'm her father. I smile knowing she's responding. Her eyes flutter open... No longer are they green, but a light grey. She looks up at me, and her face relaxes in relief. Her hand raises and cups my cheek. "Jack". She reaches up, hugging me slowly, and I hug back gently, hoping not to hurt her. We stay like this for about 20 or so minutes.
We finally let go of our embrace. I notice a drop of blood running down the bottom of her left cheek, I turn her head to see about a two-inch cut about an inch away from her mouth.
"Is this how you got the other scares? Your abilities being taken away?"
She nods. Another tear escapes, I wipe it away, and hold her face in my hands.
"Hey, hey....I will never let him hurt you again. I promise."
She shakes her head, then points at me.
"Me?"
She nods. I know what she's trying to say.
"I couldn't let him torture you, Victoria. I-"
She puts her hand on my mouth, to stop me. She didn't want me to save her, she wanted me to run, but of course I wouldn't do that, and I think she knows that.
I see a slight blush come across her pale face as she looks down at my bare chest. Embarrassment fills mine as her eyes quickly glaze over me. She looks down at my jacket on her, then looks back at me with a small smile, as if to say, "thank you, but I don't think I'll need it". She takes it off and hands it back to me. I pull it over my head, and back in place of my torso.
She tries to get up, walks perfectly fine for a few steps, but I catch her on the last step.
"You need to rest."
I state firmly. One thing I've learned is that she's stubborn as hell. She looks at me about to object, but looks down in defeat, and just nods. I slowly lay her down against the ice wall of the 40ish ft high crater. As soon as she settles, she reaches slowly, and begins to braid her hair to the side. Why didn't I follow her? I guess...its because I was afraid of hurting her, but instead of helping I made it worst. Dammit, I'm such a dumb ass. How could I not see this coming?
"How's your back?"
She nods her head side to side.
"You know you don't have to pretend for me. If it hurts nod yes, if it starting to heal, some how, spit."
She spits, then nods.
"Both?"
She looks at me for a second, and nods.
"Umm..How is it healing though?"
She unlaces her corset, takes it off, turns around slowly, and lifts her shirt, revealing her back. I can't believe it. Bandage wrapping is woven around the slits of her no longer wings.
"So the son of a bitch, doesn't know personal boundaries....but he patches up wounds...that he fucking created???!!"
Remembering what he did, infuriates me to the core.
"I can't kill him. But I will make him wish I could. I don't know how, or when, but I will."
She lowers her shirt turns around, and looks up at me. Her face, even with the scars is beautiful. She tries so hard to be brave, but deep down I know she's afraid, and I don't know how to help her. All I know is that, from now on I will always be there when she needs me. I dare Pitch to try and hurt her again, because I'll make him wish he was never born.
She looks at me with a thoughtful, yet vulnerable look. I wish I could hear her sweet voice. Know what she's thinking about, instead of playing the guessing game, I wish- hell-I want her to be happy. That's all I want right now.
She reaches slowly into her boot, the soft glint of light reflecting off the blade hits my eyes as she pulls it out. wait...
"How did you...?"
She winks at me, bringing off the"I still got it," look. Then, she looks at the ground, her proud smile turning to a deep, and thoughtful frown. She looks at the blade for a moment or two. Without warning she grabs the top of to braid, pulls it behind her back and slices through the raven mane. I don't say anything as she lets the rest of hair fall to the ground.... Her face looks sad, but at the same time, relieved. who could blame her, it must've weighed a ton.
Her hair settles into a bob, just bellow her chin.... This is probably not the first time she's cut it like this. Her face turns to look behind me, I turn with her, and see my once protective staff broken into two sticks. I don't even pick them up, it's no use. I turn back around, not knowing what to say or do. She starts to stand up slowly against the ice. I rush over to grab her just in case she falls. She holds up her hand to tell me she's ok.
"Ok. Ok."
She wobbles a little, but manages to stand up.
"Do you think you can walk?"
She thinks for a second, but nods. Suddenly a voice erupts from my pocket. What the hell!? I jump back, startling her as well. Reflexing with a jump, she slides down as fast as she got up and hits the ground with a thud.
"You ok??"
I get down on my knees to face her. Her face is contorted for a moment until she squints her eyes open, and nods. I look down to see baby tooth pulling out the memory box... It lights up with a little girls voice.
"Jaaaackk!"
I pick it up, not knowing what to do. I notice Baby tooth sitting on the end pointing at the purple diamond like button in the middle.
"What the-"
I press it, and I am immediately surrounded by scenes of memories... my memories.
A little girl with brown hair, and hazel eyes laughs, and giggles as a brown haired version of me puts two sticks against either side of my head. I start to make moose sounds.
"Knock it off Jack."
She says with a smile. My heart feels warmth and love, until the scene changes.
We're both standing on the frozen pond. The ice cracks under her ice skates.
"Jack. I'm scared."
"I know. I know, but it's gonna be ok. You're not gonna fall in. Uhh...We're gonna have a little fun instead."
"No, we're not!"
"Would I trick you??"
"Yes! You always play tricks!"
A nervous chuckle escapes my lips.
"Well not. Not this time. I promise. I promise. You're gonna be... you're gonna be fine. You have to believe in me."
The cracks grow under me as I try to step toward her. Her breath hitches as she watches me. Think! Think!
"You wanna play a game? We're gonna play hopscotch! Like we play everyday! It's as easy as. uhh, one..."
I step to the side, cracks rise under my foot and so does my heart rate. I gotta stay calm. I balance my self on that foot to make her giggle.
"Woah! Two.. Three.."
I step and bend down to a long stick. My staff! I look back up at her, while pointing the curved end in her direction.
"Ok. now it's your turn. One.."
She steps. Gasping as the ice cracks more.
"That's it. that's it. Two..three!"
I reach and grab her with the curved part and sling her toward the edge of the pond. She slides a little before stopping to look up at me with a smile. We both laugh with relief. But the laughter quickly stops when the ice gives out under me, causing me to fall straight into the freezing water.
"Jack!!!"
The scene disappears, and I'm back in Antartica, with My Sunshine, and my fairy friend. A laugh escapes my surprised lips.
"Did you guys see that!!?!"
They shake their heads in confusion. I turn toward Victoria.
"I had a sister! And and I saved her!"
She looks down puzzled before looking with wide eyes. She points to the man in the moon, then to me.
"W-what is it?"
She looks irritated, then looks to the ice ground. She quickly moves her hand, stroking the soft frost on top. Then she traces her finger to write the word 'Guardian', before pointing back to me. Holy shit.
"Me- I'm a Guardian? I'm really a Guardian!"
I jump to my feet with glee, bringing her with me and dancing her around with laughter and a silent bright smile from her. I'm a Guardian. A true, and actual Guardian. I died for a child. I stop dancing and look at her.
"We need to get out of here... We need to help the others."
I go to my staff and pick up pieces. There's gotta be a way to fix this.... I got it! I push the broken ends together forming ice from my hands. The wood pops, and cracks as the ice runs to the ends and with a bright blue light and a few more pops... its fixed!
I look to back at Victoria.
"Can you walk?"
She walks in a circle.
"Can you... fight?"
She looks down, then back at me. Then, she kicks as high as she can, and punches the air with pretty good agility and skill.
"Ok. Not bad."
I bend down, pick up baby tooth and the tooth box, putting them in my sweat shirt pocket, then wrapping my arm around Victoria's middle.
"Hold on."
We take off, unknowing of what lies ahead.