| [Cinnamon. The taste that usually accompanied spiced apples and sweet crust, eaten with friends under the warm lights of Santa's workshop.
But here there was no gentle clicking as the Guardians globe turned. No subtle jingle of elves belled hats as they ran their errands, always getting under North's boots. No scent of fruit cakes and Yeti's and snow...
Jack opened his eyes, sitting up from the bed and reaching up to take the candy from his mouth. He looked at the sticky sweet, then at the small unfamiliar room with a bewildered frown before tossing the thing to one side and standing up. His staff was at his side, and he picked it up automatically, holding it as he always did as an extension of himself.]
Hello? [He called out, but his voice was the only sound within the space of the room. He peeked into the other rooms, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom again, but there was no one.]
What's going on? [He asked himself as he stepped to the front door and pushed down the handle. He walked bare footed out into the forth floor hall, wincing as the floorboards creaked.] |