Author's note: I…AM…SO…SORRY! *wearing the cone of shame* I didn't mean to go so long without posting a new chapter! D:

Pitch's POV:

I walked past the globe room in my lair, and, instantly, it brought a smile to my face. A Nightmare had brought to my attention that a certain glowing blue dot had finally appeared. It seems whatever magic had been hiding him was finally gone. I smiled venomously; I think it's time I took a trip to the Artic Circle. As long as I can get to him before the Guardians, I can make sure that his precious little family never sees him again. He. Will. Pay. And nothing is going to get in my way!

Ella's POV:

It's been a full day since the incident. I'm still not sure what to say or think about it. I can't distinguish lie from reality so I'm going to wait and see. Jack wasn't kidding when he said he wasn't going anywhere. I tried to hand him his staff back, his only possession other than his clothes, and he refused to take it until he proved to me that the world isn't as horrible as I think. He wanted to introduce me to the Guardians, make sure the other spirits could see me, or, at least he said he did. I'm less likely to believe that this is all a joke but someone still can't be too careful.

Most of what he's been doing is walking around the castle blindly, unknowing of where he's headed. There are three times I can recall that I've had to lead him back to the throne room. I never put the magic wall back up, leaving him the choice to leave at any time and still he stays. I'm not really sure how long it will take for the Guardians to realize that he's reappeared on the globe. He's probably been missing for so long that they haven't thought to check it every now and then.

I sat in my room, stroking the strings of my guitar and humming a sweet tune. My guitar was usually my escape when I wanted to clear my mind or avoid certain thoughts. It was the winter wonderland of my mind to put it in perspective. I dropped an octave and began to sing.

Jack's POV:

I walked through the corridors in deep thought. The magic wall was down, meaning the Guardians would notice my location…eventually. Ella hasn't spoken about what happened yesterday morning; in fact, if anything, I think she's trying to avoid me. She left my staff by the throne for me to pick up and leave at any moment but I already told her I wasn't going anywhere. I walked past the door to her room, and my ears began to pick up on a sweet sound coming from the other side of the door. I quietly opened it to locate the source of the sweet sound. Peeking inside, I saw Ella, eyes closed, singing a slow song while playing her guitar beautifully.

'I shout, I scream, but you can't hear the words I say.

Begging, pleading, I only want someone to stay

Save me from the dark, this frozen heart!

I'm falling apart, right back at the start!'

I listened as each word left her lips, digging a hole into me. Every word she sang was exactly how I felt for three hundred years. Just wanting someone to be there. I silently stood there as she continued with her song, unaware of my presence.

'I walk through town talking to myself as they walk by.

I know they won't answer but it's such a beautiful lie.

Her voice got higher.

'I know I'm all alone, I know I've got no home

but before I fade away, promise you'll staaaayyyy'

I subconsciously found myself stepping forward towards the sound, but before I could get any closer, my leg brushed against an ice vase next to her doorway, causing it to roll around threatening to tip over. It leaned to the right, about to fall to the floor but I reached down, catching it and set it back into it's place. I looked back up, when I noticed the song had stopped and she was staring at me with an irritated look on her face, her guitar on her bed, and her arms crossed.

"Do you know what they say about eavesdropping?"

"Oh, sorry, that was just a, uh, really nice song." I said awkwardly.

She rolled her eyes and came up to the door, closing it on me. I left, slightly disappointed that I didn't get to hear the rest of the song. It was a beautiful tune sang from the heart. I walked down the corridor, back to the throne room, with my hands in my hoodie. I've been trying to find ways to occupy my hands because of my absent staff. It was a whole different matter when I had no choice as far as my staff was concerned but now that it's just sitting there, leaning against the throne, ready for me to take, my hands are starting to itch for it. The Nightmare was still standing frozen solid in the middle of the room. It gave atmosphere alright, just a terrifying kind. By the time I was all the way down the hall and in the middle of the throne room, I heard her door open again and I turned back.

"And stay out of my room!" She shouted in a childish manner and closed the door.

I gave a smile of amusement. She sounds just like every teenage girl when their little brother walks into their room to spy or cause mischief. I laughed a bit but as soon as it came, it was gone.

Suddenly, something really didn't feel right. I wasn't really sure what it was but I got a…feeling. It was kind of like the feeling I got almost a week ago when she had shot me down out of the sky and I was in the forest, being watched by her. It was rather unnerving. Then, I glanced down at my shadow, which was a lot taller than it was supposed to be…and darker. My eyes widened at the realization but before I could do anything, a hand clasped over my mouth and I was yanked backwards.

"Hello Frost." An all to familiar voice spoke.

Pitch. I felt the adrenalin coursing through my veins as I tried to break his grip. No, no, no, this was not supposed to happen! I even tried licking his hand to get it off but apparently he wasn't afraid of germs, that or he was too angry about his defeat last time to care.

"Very nice place you've made here. I'm not even going to ask why you ran away but I've got plans for you my boy." He half laughed, making himself sound like nothing short of a maniac.

I breathed heavily, trying to warn Ella but no sound was audible enough to get her attention from all the way down the hall in her room. It then dawned on me that he couldn't even see Ella so he was looking around to see who's attention I was trying to get. After a second, he ignored and continued. Black sand began flowing around him and formed together to create what I could only assume to be a portal. I struggled more as he dragged me towards it. If she came out and I was gone, she'd think she was right and that I'd abandoned her! His hand grasped my hood and yanked me into the darkness. It felt like I was going to be sick as I fell through the dark abyss-like portal and came out the other side gasping for breath as I hit the hard floor.

Then, everything went black…again.

Author's note: Hey hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry it's a lot shorter than most of my others. I promise the next one will be longer!

Jack: EVIL!

Me: Sorry, the story must go on.

Jack: I think you have that saying wrong.

Me: JUST ENJOY THE STORY!