Chapter 1
Jack thought that he understood fear when he thought that no one would ever see or hear him ever.
Nothing prepared him for the bolt of unadulterated terror that shot through him when the pendant around his neck heated up. The other four looked at him strangely when he suddenly let out a cry before reaching for his staff to signal the wind, a chorus of ‘nononononono’ spilling from his lips. He flinched slightly when a hand landed on his shoulder.
“Where do you need to go, lad?” North asked, holding up one of his snow globe portals. Jack felt tears well up from relief and gratitude.
“Number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.” North blinked at the very specific address that rolled off Jack’s tongue, before throwing the globe down and opening the portal. Jack dashed through and whipped his head around, eyes finally locking on the house.
The front lawn had been gouged in places, and dark-colored crystalline formations were scattered around. The front door had been ripped from the frame and Jack could hear wailing from inside. Jack dashed inside, closely followed by the other Guardians, and began searching frantically for his believer.
“Oh my Moon.” Tooth gasped out as she found the source of the wails. A boy, probably eight or ten and incredibly overweight, was pinned to the ground by a Nightmare, wailing in fear every time the creature leaned down and huffed or nickered. Another Nightmare was crouching over another person, a woman, lying in the corner. The woman, probably the mother, was twitching and crying in her sleep, but seemed unable to wake up.
Jack seemed unconcerned about the two humans as he tore the house apart. “Crikey, Jack. We got a child and ‘is mum ‘ere, but you don’t seem too broken up about it.” Bunnymund ribbed none-too-gently.
Jack whipped around to him, tears in his eyes and wind shrieking around him the longer it took to find whatever he was looking for. “There’s supposed to be another child here.” He sobbed.
Everyone sobered and turned to him. “Another child?” Tooth came up and placed her hands on his shoulders. Jack nodded.
“Her-her name is Nix. She’s the same age as the tub of lard down there, but about a quarter his size. She’s supposed to be here, but she’s not… Oh Moon, Tooth, Pitch was here. He was here, and he took Nix…” Jack’s voice rose as he spoke. “He took Nix! He took my believer!” Tooth had to tighten her grip to ground him again, even as her throat closed in realization.
“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay, Jack. We’ll find Nix. Won’t we guys?” Tooth turned to the others who nodded. Jack nodded, drawing in a deep breath to slow the tears.
“Alright, let’s go.” Jack jumped to his feet, wind following behind, loudly snatching up the guardians and blowing them toward the door. “Let’s go!”
“Do you mind? You’re very loud.” The guardians froze, slowly turning to the doorway. There stood the Nightmare King himself, cradling a bundle that shifted ever so slightly of its own accord at all the noise. Pitch pulled down the corner of a blanket, revealing a dark head of hair streaked with white. “Shh, shh, shh, little one, all is well.” The Nightmare King spoke in a surprisingly soothing tone, threading his fingers through the salt-and-pepper hair until the child calmed down again.
“Nix!” Jack had spoken quietly, but he was practically vibrating on the spot, eyes fixed on the black-and-white in the Nightmare King’s arms. Pitch glanced up at the winter spirit, irritated, before eyeing Nix contemplatively. The rest of the Guardians all tensed as Pitch slowly strode into the room, right up to the winter spirit, and narrowed his eyes at him. Jack held his ground as best he could, glancing between the Nightmare King and the bundle in his arms who was the only living being on the planet that knew Jack existed.