In a vast endless embodiment of darkness that was bestowed upon someone's mind of seeping guilt and rage; It’s Jack, who’s unconscious and basking in the blackness around him.
“Wh-What’s this?” said Jack in his darkened mind, “This sound, is the sound of emptiness? Isolation? No… that's’-that isn’t it.”
Jack suddenly groans loudly inside his mind.
“Argh… this pain… What is this pain? My lungs, my skin, it’s burning, inflating, itching with horrid temptation, but I-I can’t mo-move!”
In a desolate area of what appeared to be a foggy mediaeval town of the dark ages was covered in a mass of darkness. Jack was laying on the ground, eyes closed and oblivious to the horrific sights surrounding him. Corpses of blistered people, rats eating the flesh of the dead, houses burned to the ground, and a child singing a lullaby out in the distance. The whooshing cold winds that blew the black plague across Jack’s pussed face blew away his blisters of yellow. He lifts an eye, feeling the immeasurable pain of his own rotting blackened flesh being exposed as those fist sized bumps were peeling away off his purplish black skin. He couldn’t scream, he couldn’t move, he could only feel, feel his tormenting silent pain.
Wh-Where… am I? Jack thought.
Jack glimpses around with the one eye he has open, trying to figure out where he’s at, but he couldn’t make it out. He was just in too much pain, but then, a man with an odd outfit appeared from the windy darkness. They had something sharp in their hand, Jack’s eye twitches, the man walks up to him, hair covering his face, lifeless pale skin. Jack feels like he’s seen him before, but where? The man lifts the sharp object and Jack’s eye waters as he sees that sharp object coming down onto him.
“No!” Jack shouted, waking up in his hotel bed, laying there with the look of confusion set on his face.
Jack blinks, trying to figure out the situation. That vivid dream he just had, what was it? This wasn’t the first time he had such a dream about the past, nor was it this horrifying like the others. He slowly sat up, still confused, his head hung, eyes baggy, he glimpsed to his right and noticed Eric wasn’t around. Now a pulsing heaviness filled his mind, making him clutch his head from the throbbing pain coursing within it.
“Why… why everytime, does this happen to my brain? Ah…” Jack breathes heavily, grabbing onto his chest and finally remembers why he’s having these aftermaths.
Last night he encountered Mathew, and that dreaded cross’s power.
“Tchh, that son of a bitch… gagh!” A giant painful sensation bumped out of his chest, “stu-stupid… bastard… my-my chest!” He hurls down, such unbearable pain, something might be broken, most definitely.
Something else popped into his memories, that horrified look on Mallory’s face, and he was the reason she looked so scared. He wondered if he was the true monster, but had some conflicting feelings afterwards about her monstrous doings, questioning who’s the true monster.
“I hope she isn’t too upset with—ah, who am I kidding? What am I even saying anymore…”
Thinking about it with this pain blended well to torment him. Her face was flashing continuously, making him feel utter guilt. After realising his fault for making her feel bad, not only that time but the time he went as far as to insult her and break her enough to bring his miserable life come to a brief end; That was a face he never wants to recreate, hopefully, ever again.
“Why? Do I feel so bad about making her feel sad? I can’t explain this feeling… damn.” Jack’s eyes slightly squinted and shook, “however… I don’t want you to make that sad face ever again, especially from someone who’s that… beautiful?”
Jack chuckles a bit, feeling conflicted.
“What am I saying? Again with these confusing asss thoughts. Look at me! I’m feeling bad for someone who’s made my life an utter hell… not to mention—” He rubs his stomach, “they’ve also sliced my bowels open and killed me.”
A cold breeze passed Jack’s body. He wondered if the air was low and looked around to find the thermometer but to find Mallory standing at the corner of the window, gazing out of it.
“Mall…ory?” Jack said.
Mallory stood there in silence, hands intertwined behind her back, and in a deep state of thinking. Jack watched as she stood there, her pale snow skin glistening with the morning sun, dress looking as elegant as ever, this was a sight he wanted imprinted instead of her face last night. Jack moans, this sight gave him motivation to stand up with the continuing pain and to surprise her with a huge hug of ‘I’m sorry’ to ease the tension between the two. Jack approached her and stopped a couple of inches from making contact, standing behind her like this made him realise just how vulnerable she seemed. Jack then heard her whimper softly, why though? This caught him off guard, of all people why is she crying at a time like this? Is it because of last night? Jack felt her soft cries reach his heart so he did what anyone would do to comfort someone that was close to them.
As she continued whimpering, oblivious knowing that Jack was behind her, she said beneath her breath. “How could he know… my true identity, and my past…?” When she was about to let the dams open, she felt someone wrap their arms around her waist.
She softly moaned while being held, knowing who’s behind her. Then she heard his voice rub against her ear drums, saying “I’m here.” After hearing their voice she wanted to cry even more, but Jack held their bodies together, making her feel more at ease.
The two stayed there, in an ambiance of silent solitude, basking in the moment filled with forgiveness, and her envy. Mallory was so speechless, even her mind couldn’t comprehend the action Jack just did, but she was enjoying it. She finally stopped her silent crying, and reached one of her hands up to his cheek, resting its cold frost upon it. Jack didn’t mind, he too was enjoying this, though he wasn’t showing it with such a stone face. They both stared out the window as all their bad intentions for one another slowly drifted away from their souls, almost as if their bond was becoming greater than it already was becoming.
Jack lets one hand off her waist, and uses it to grab her hand that was on his cheek, intertwining their fingers. With a monotone voice, a straightened face filled with courage, Jack tells her, “Let's go back to the hospital.”
With a huge frail smile on her face, eyes a bit soaked and slightly red. Mallory clutched his hand to feel his warmth, and replied with a simple, “Okay.” in that beautiful gentle soft voice of hers.
***
At the other side of the city, inside the home of the known Witches, Sarah’s mother was just done cooking a nice healthy breakfast filled with nutrients needed to start the day off correctly. She’s humming, swaying her hips but heard her daughter Sarah come into the kitchen, and upon first glance, she still looked depressed about yesterday. Her face had a permanent look of despair, and absolute devastation. Sarah quietly sits on a chair with eyes so empty, it was almost pathetic for her to even look at someone with such a worthless look. Her mother knew how broken she was, she couldn’t help but feel this was her fault for not teaching her daughter that people like Exorcists exist in this not so normal world. Although that isn’t the only thing she’s hiding from her daughter, there are more things she still hasn’t told her, because she still feels she isn’t ready to hear such things.
She gathers up a plate for Sarah and sets its steamy deliciousness in front of her frozen face. “Breakfast is fresh and green. enjoy my little huddle of joy!”
She wanted to brighten her daughter's mood with her forced smile that seemed genuine, but Sarah didn’t react, only stillness.
“Sarah? Sweety?” She stands beside her daughter, placing her hand on Sarah’s shoulder, “everything… okay?”
Sarah;s mother still got nothing. Sarah continued being the statue she’s just become.
When her efforts felt useless and meaningless, Sarah actually reaches her hand out to grab her mother. The moment she made contact with her mother's warmth, her mom knew how scared she still was. The shaking, the soft quiet heavy breathing she was hiding, her mother wanted to tell her, but she couldn’t do so. She didn’t want to make things more complicated as they are. As Sarah was about to turn around and say something, their front door opened, both glared at it with extreme nervousness. Both women breathed rather fast and Sarah’s mother especially gave off the feeling of shame, but hid it. The person that walked in was none other than Sarah’s father, a tall white male with a brownish blonde goatee, hair that was red like a ginger, and a broken look upon his face. He walked in, threw his travel bags that he was carrying to the side and took his shoes off.
He walked into the kitchen, walking past his frightened family, and ignoring their existence. Sarah immediately got out of her chair and stepped aside, bowing her head and he sat in her place, now eating her breakfast without a thank you or any generosity.
Sarah, still bowing, didn't realise her mother was about to grab his shoulder, but instead she spoke, saying, “Th-That’s your daughters breakfast, you know?”
The moment those words came out of her mouth, he hung his head, the fork in his fingertips trembled a little until it snapped in half.
The metal pieces hurtled away and one landed on Sarah’s feet. She noticed and picked it up. Sarah was planning to throw it away when her father suddenly stopped her. He grabbed her arm and stood up, towering over her like a giant. She was shaken and afraid of what he was about to do.
He glances down at her, wanting to give his daughter a simple hug, but the guy seemed to be stubborn to do so. Instead he sighs, “Give me that, would you, Sarah?”
Sarah quickly sticks her hand out. Seeing her react this way towards him really made his heart hurt.
Her father looked away, he couldn't bring himself to look at his daughter's face. “That was my bad, I’ll serve my own breakfast.”
He takes the piece of metal and walks away, not before her mother stopped him, whistling at him like a dog. “Hold it right there, h-o-n-e-y.”
Her father balled a fist, hearing her voice kept angering him, more notably the way she just whistled at him. “What? What… What do you want, woman?” He replied with little to no emotion, but Sarah could hear the tint of anger within his deep voice.
Sarah’s mother looked calm and confident, and then walked behind him, leaning close to his ear. “We have to talk about ‘Your’ daughter, very important things have happened since your absence.”
He looks away, smacking his lips. “Talk? Whatever… I already told you, I don’t want to talk with—”
“The Exorcist is here, and the one you fear is here also.”
His eyes exploded once he heard that word, Exorcist. Now his body was shakened, sweat dripping down his face, and swallowing out of fear.
“Im-Impossible…” he muttered beneath his breath.
She walks past him and starts serving his breakfast. “We'll talk later in our room, and I’ll reveal everything to you later, h-o-n-e-y.” She hums a happy song to lighten an intense depressing atmosphere to ease everyone, but his anger swelled.
Sarah’s father clenched his fists, glaring at her mother with intense anger. “Damn—you… you enjoy tormenting me, don’t you? woman.”
Sarah felt the tension between the two and decided to leave the room, but not before looking back one last time and saying, “father…” with a saddened soft tone. She leaves and her parents eat their breakfast, alone in the room filled with anger and guilt.
On the other side of town, in this brightened new day filled with opportunities and virtue, William, who yesterday was mad and built with frustration, was happy as can be. He said hello to everyone, giving out prayers and blessings with his kind British accent that everyone plagued him with compliments. Eventually he reached the park with his small adventure of his unusual stroll through town, by himself. Walking through the park with his stand out outfit of holy elegance, he marched through with the brightest smile out of everyone else. Even though it was already filled with the pinnacle of peace and happiness, Williams' own shine covered the park with his never ending smile.
Some kids nearby were playing. A couple of caucasian and black children ages between ten and fifteen were enjoying a nice game of football, but their ball flew past their group, hurtling towards William and hitting him from behind. The kids cringed, curled up out of feeling bad or ready to be cussed at by the person they just assaulted. William halted, and the kids quickly apologised for their negligence. William turns around without erasing that gentle bright smile and picks their ball up. The kids approach him until they come to a stop when they get a closer look at William. They’ve never seen someone so magnificent looking, clean, and appeared to be drizzled by riches and status. Never have they seen such a person in their young lives, only through their smartphone screens or televisions. It was almost scary to them, but having noticed the children's small freight building in them, William decided to glorify the atmosphere with his current mood.
William clears his throat and tucks his cane between his right arm. “Now now children, don’t be frightened! As I! William H. Christ, will bless your day with…” He turns around and with the ball still in his hand, he turns it into a beauty of golden rubber. “This! Behold, the glory of God has laid upon thee!”
All the kids were amazed and wowed by his performance, they wanted to see another, shouting “More, more!”
“Is that so children?” They all nodded with excitement to William who chuckled, “Well, okay, give me a second there you youth of innocence.”
William gave them the ball and reached into his jacket, pulling out his wallet.
“I will now demonstrate to you all how each of you will get one dollar, but how?!” William said, dragging his finger across their viewpoints.
The kids raised their shoulders and chuckled, saying “We don’t know?!”
William laughs and they do as well from his genuine sound of laughter. “See this, my wallet, my money, and boom!” He places the wallet back into his pocket.
All the kids tilted their heads and were disappointed at first until William told them to reach into their pockets. They did and all of them pulled out a dollar, every single child caused an uproar of excitement and joy, calling William a magician or even a God. William thanked them for their compliments, telling them it was nothing. The park seemed to be blessed with happiness and joy since William’s here until an awful wave of random gunfire erupted, causing a panic and wiping away the happiness that was here. Just when the sun was about to shine, it was covered by those dastardly grey clouds of Michigan's crime. Two kids were struck and even William was almost struck. William’s heart sank, he was heartbroken to see such a sight, the blood quickly pouring out of a little girl's abdomen profusely, a boy's shoulder rapidly making his shirt turn from white to red. But for William, it was a sight he was often familiar with, sadly.
William knew what he had to do as the gunfire continued. “Children! Gather around me and run in front of me!” He points to a big rock close by, “get behind there and I’ll be your shield!”
The kids didn’t hesitate and listened. William grabbed the two injured kids and told the rest to go. They all gathered together and ran in front of William to safety. William wanted to see who was the cause of this mess, he took a quick glance over his shoulder and saw a bunch of gangsters shooting at each other without a care in the world on who’s around them.
After a short run, they all hid behind the biggest rock in the park that he pointed out. William dropped the kids and rendered aid to them. He even went as far as ripping his holy jacket, even the kids felt he shouldn’t do such a thing because it looked rather expensive. William wrapped one kid's shoulder and the one that was injured the most, he wrapped her waist, hopefully to stop the bleeding. Now his clothes were stained with their innocent blood, torned, but he didn’t care, he wanted to save these childs lives. The kids told William that they’ll use their clothes instead, but he replied with that happy smile of his, telling them it’s okay because it's just clothes and most importantly to stay calm.
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William finishes his aid to the poor girl bleeding out, managing to stop it, for now. “There we are, this should stop the bleeding.”
The little girl who was badly injured looked into William’s eyes, her eyes were glassy. “Th-Thank… you… I li-like your… accent, mister…”
“Thank you sweetheart, I am British so of course I’d get complimented on the daily.” William said in a calm tone.
All the kids felt calm, safe around William, especially how he was talking to the little girl.
“I have a question for you all though…” William stands up and looks around, “is this a normal occurrence around here? I don’t see the police or the town going mad?”
All the kids nodded, one of them, a black kid who seemed the oldest, walked up to William. “Yeah… ain’t it a damn shame?”
The young kid pulled out his wallet and pulled a photo out of what appeared to be a picture of his little brother and him.
William grabbed it and saw the happiness between the two siblings. “This pictures what love, and a strong brotherly bond represents.”
William hands him back his picture and the kid hangs his head. “Yeah… it is normal around here, so much so that even…” He crushed his eyes and tears started slipping out between the closed gates he just shut. “It even took away my brother and the police didn’t do anything!” He broke down crying and the kids all looked sad for him.
William was devastated to hear that, but this was not the time to get angry, he had to brighten these kids again.
To ease the poor child, William bumps heads with him and rubs his hair. “Don’t worry young one!” The kid stops crying for a moment, looking directly into William's holy eyes of gold. “Even though these wretched streets took the life of your brother, know this…!” He pokes the kid's chest, “...deep down inside he still lives, because he’s watching from above, where God’s keeping him safe, away from these streets.”
William hugs the kid, making him cry again. “Is-Is that true?”
“It is, my child, and I hope and pray you’ll get the chance to live a magnificent life, along with all of you!”
He pats the kid on the head and stands up, walking back over to the badly injured girl, kneeling to grab her hand and ease her growing pain.
The girl yelped and moaned in pain, but William shushed her to bring her back to ease. “I hope and pray that God will help lend you children a hand and help you walk better paths.” The poor girl who seemed very young squirmed around, fighting off the pain as she whimpered and moaned more. “Easy sweetheart breath.” said William as he held her hand and patted her head.
The little girl softly giggles as the bleeding continuously grows and turns his piece of clothing red. “You're nice, mister!” She coughs badly, making the kids react out of more worry. “I’m glad to hear that… but, hey mister?” She asked William with sparkled eyes of peace and acceptance.
William clenches her hand, knowing her stare all too well. “What is it, love?”
The girl, using her other hand, grabs her necklace and grasps it. “Do you th-think I’ll see my mommy, in heaven?” Her eyes leaked, a huge smile of relief was present on her face.
William’s eyes quivered, he replies to her question with a gentle smile and says, “Yes sweetheart, you will.”
Hearing that really made the girl cry out of happiness, she thanks William once again by nodding and lets go of his grasp, reaching her hand out to the sky. “Momma… I’m -co-coming.”
William couldn’t accept this, he refused to let her die, but using his powers in the real world goes against his beliefs and the blessings given to him by his fallen mentors. The consequences of such powers, especially from a man like William, who knows what’ll happen to reality. William knew all too well what happens when he uses too much of his strength, and he vowed to never use them in such a manner again. But to him, healing shouldn't be such a bore to the world, right? Can’t he just heal the girl and hopefully, pray that the universe, especially time will accept such a different path? William’s mind was contradicting, but his heart wanted to do it. The girl's life was fading away before his very eyes, what should he do? His body and mind wouldn’t allow it because of past traumatic events, but his heart screeched at him to do it.
After such conflict within himself, ultimately, his heart won the battle. “Don’t worry darling, I’ll—!” Before he could do anything, the girl's arm fell and William caught it before it came crashing down on the ground. Still holding her hand too, he felt that warmth that was once there, seeping away slowly, and she became cold. She was now just a cold empty vessel of what life was. William’s eyes were hidden, a dark cloud over his head, he closed the girl's eyelids, and picked her up. The rest of the kids all cried, mourning the death of the poor little girl who only wanted to play football and make new friends.
Realising what just happened now and what the kids told him, this was just everyday life for them. An acceptance of most people who’ve given up on their political leaders who’ve done nothing to stop such senseless violence that even takes the lives of the innocent; William was absolutely angry. The kids could tell because he gave off such a menacing aura.
William loathed this reality. “How could such negligence come to be? This is absolute—madness…” he muttered.
William couldn’t believe such ignorance, he has the power to stop it, everything in fact, but he can’t use it whenever because of the consequences he knows all too well. William eased himself off by humming a lullaby of the past to the now deceased girl, and slowly walked out from behind the rock. The kids all stopped their mourning and followed behind him like mindless zombies, singing along with him. The gunfire finally came to a stop a moment ago, and William headed in their direction, with the body and blood of innocence in his hands.
The ignorant gangsters were about to leave until William’s lullaby was heard, along with the sound of the church's bells going off down the street. Even from such a distance, they heard his song of sorrow.
“Yo? What is that.” one of them said.
“I don’t know, but this shits freaking me out!” Said another.
The last one saw William with the girl in his arms, slowly approaching their direction, along with the kids following behind him. “Yo! What the fuck?!” He points and the rest were alerted, “what the fuck is this creepy shit?!” He panics and yells for his boss, “Yo boss! Come over here, I think we fucked up and some spooky shit is going on.”
William stops, with a look of hatred set upon his face and the faces of the children dead as stone, they all glared at the men, with eyes full of his anger.
William scanned the gangsters and knitted his brows. “How dare you…” he said very angrily yet softly. “How bloody dare you, incompetent bastards.”
He tightens his teeth, his lip slightly twitching, William narrows his eyes to his immense anger.
“Have you no shame? Shame for taking the lives of INNOCENCE!” His mighty roar filled with sadden regret vibrated their ear drums, exploding the car windows close by, and blew away the clouds from above, exposing the sun shine that was meant to be upon him.
They freaked out and as they were about to lift their guns and shoot, their boss finally revealed himself, and he was someone who William had seen before. Coming out from behind the three, he observed the situation and saw the girl in William’s arms.
The boss looked upset and turned to his boys. “Don’t tell me? That you dumbasses killed a child?!” The boss was William’s height, but very buff, arms covered in tats, and William knew who he exactly was. “You fucking IDIOTS!”
He punches one of them and the rest hopped in the cars so they wouldn’t be beaten next.
The boss turns back around and looks at William dead in his angry eyes. “Hey… it’s my fault for letting these idiots kill your daughter… I’m so sorry!”
William sensed his shame, he wasn’t lying! He was genuinely hurt, this relaxed him and actually corroded away some of that anger.
William kept his anger showing, so he can have them see and hear his might. “This isn’t my child, this was just a poor girl who happened to enjoy her time with the rest of the poor children you’ve frightened.” He lays a kiss on the girl's cheek, and prays to her quietly.
The boss shakes his head. “I’m sorry again, really, I am. Shit, I’ll even kill the guy responsible or perhaps all three if they were the instigators.”
William finishes his prayer and returns his sight back to the boss. “Do your people have no dignity? No shame of their own stupidity?! The fact they were so keen on their petty deal they shot blindly like a bunch of blokes! Bunch of plonkers is what I tell ya!”
“Again, like I said, my guy… my apologies for letting them get carried away.” Even though William still sensed his condolences, he could tell that he was growing impatient and even angry. “Look man, you could report us to the police and all, but you ain’t the only one who’s been in crossfire… and she—” He points to the girl, “ain’t the only one who’s died because of morons like behind me.”
Hearing him say that so calm and confidently brought a chuckle out of William, the boss didn’t like that, he detested it.
Hearing William chuckle made the boss twitch an eye. “What’s so funny, cracka?”
William chuckles, chuckles, and chuckles away his anger, but rather broken than amused. The boss yelled at him to stop, but William’s chuckles continued, and the kids singing grew even louder. The church bells dinged profusely, overwhelming his voice and drowning it out. The boss yelled at the top of his lungs, trying to tell him to shut up, but all this noise burying his voice couldn’t reach William’s ears. He had enough, he pulled his gun out, firing it into the air yet it still wasn’t enough! The ruthless noise continued, rupturing his ears, even going as far as tormenting his brain. He fired more shots to erase the torture, but not even the sonic booms going off multiple times were enough to dent the noisy torture.
The boss runs out of ammo, he covers his ears, dropping his gun from all the relentless noise. William was laughing now, the kids all sang loudly, singing another horrifically haunting song of the church, even scaring the rest of his men inside his car. The boss's vision went foggy, everything was spiralling, the children's haunting voices, William’s laughter, it was so much, so overbearing; there was nothing he could do but stay there on his knees and embrace the torture. The boss couldn’t take it any more and with all his might and lung capacity, he inhaled as much air they could hold and let out the loudest, “SHUT UP!!” in his life and at last, his voice was heard by William.
The boss's face was sweating, he’s looking down on the ground, on all fours and exhausted. He repeatedly said, “Shut up…” over and over again, quietly, and afraid. As he finally looked up, William was standing over him, with his cane on one hand, and a face of malevolence. William came down and laid a hand on his bald head, saying a prayer and thanked him for his cooperation. The singing stopped, the bell's songs halted, and the ambience of silence returned. Shortly after, nature took over and the birds chirped, winds whooshed, bringing peace back to the community. William waves goodbye to the children as if nothing happened and they seemed to be confused on why they were there.
William sets the tip of his cane down with one hand while the other is closed, he taps it twice. “Thank you my good man, I’ll be taking my leave, and also take the man responsible for taking the girl's life.” Something went off, but the boss couldn’t figure it out, or was he just too spooked?
The boss didn’t know that Williams' palm was closed, and then he opened it and a spec of beautifully enchanted dust swept away from it, flying away into an exposed opening in the sky, like it was climbing the ladder to heaven. The boss noticed the girl gone, the kid that was shot healed, and one of his boys had disappeared. He panicked and glimpsed around, he analysed everything and saw the glory that this man had embedded onto the town. At this very moment, he freaked out and stood up, running away as William stood there, gazing at the sky as he watched that spec finally reach the light.
William smiles again, and speaks inside the boss's mind, freaking him out even more. “Let this be a lesson to you, as a leader of a group, and hopefully, you’ll learn to be a better one. This isn’t over with your devious goons, I’ll visit more tonight, and bring an end to an era of violence in this town!”
William basked in the light that’s shining down on him and from out of nowhere, white doves land on his shoulders. “Farewell, and also, tell Jack, I’ll be seeing him soon… ha-ha-ha!”
The boss freaks out as he continues running away without looking back as Wlliam stood like a God from the holy spotlight that was shimmering down on him. His white tux, printed with holy gold prints sparkled, glistening profusely like an Angel who’d just arrived from the very heavens, and purified the town of the wretched goons who were a burden to it’s untapped beauty, until he finally came down and cleansed it.
William pets a single dove. “Very soon… Jacqueline, we’ll be seeing each other, very soon.” He lets it fly away, along with the others, disappearing and wiping the memories of the townsfolk, as if he never existed in the first place.
***
At the hospital, Jack and Candy were outside of Angela’s room, anxiously waiting. She’s getting her examination routine. As the two waited patiently in the hall, Candy saw Jack looking rather upset? Sad? Nervous? He couldn’t figure out his current mood because his expression was quite hard to read. The young man’s brows were knitted, he’s tapping his finger, but changed his facial movement to stillness or annoyance, it vexed Candy. So, in order to bring relief to the young man of whatever burdens he was enduring, notably to bring out a smile out of him; Candy decided to poke him. Jack reacted to nothing, and it made Candy stick his lips out, sassy-like.
“Oh, so that’s how he’s going to play, huh?” Candy muttered.
Candy thought of a better tactic, a weapon in fact, that was his hand. Candy rubbed his hands and caresses Jack’s arm, sexually and uncomfortabley. Despite doing it gently and enough for anyone to react to such molestation, Jack still didn’t react. In fact, Candy’s the only one reacting because he was loving it. Jack instead leaned against the wall, crossed arms and mildly shook his head. Candy moaned but brought himself together to stop his assault. At this point, he’s running out of ideas to get a reaction out of his friend who looked so trivial.
Candy backed off, grabbed his chin then snapped his fingers. “It’s time for drastic measures, hehe.” he whispered.
Candy walks beside Jack, leaning against the same wall and moans. “Sorry sweety!” He said quietly, “I just need to know what's in your—”
Candy drags his hand close to Jack, appearing to attempt to grab his butt.
“Mind!” Candy grabbed Jack’s butt and it made the young man jump and slapped Candy on the back of the head. “Owww!” Candy whimpered, “You fucking asshole batchh! The fuck, oh my god!”
He rubs his head, and Jack chuckles. “Serves you right, you assaulter.” Jack said.
“Oh, so it’s funny now, huh? But boo boo; you’ve got a mighty fine ass to be honest! Mmm!” Candy made grabbing motions to Jack and it made the young man cringe.
Jack then changed his face to disgust, backing away from Candy. “You nasty ass weirdo son of a bitch! How dare you, how fucking dare you.”
He then attacks Candy with a knuckle rubbing against his dome, and Candy screams like a girl.
“Yeah! Don’t like that, don't chu? Huh fruit pebble?” Jack continued his relentless bullying tactic.
Candy repeatedly says, “Ow!” and Jack finally stops after another ten seconds as Candy’s eyes water.
The two continued their ridiculous act, starting to push each other when the doctor finally came out of Angrla’s room, looking rather upset. He saw the two act childish and it brought out a tiny grin out of the doctor. Sadly, it was momentarily because the doctor frowned for what he was about to tell Jack. The doctor cleared his throat loudly so the two can be heard and both young men stopped.
Jack looked to the doctor. “So, how did everything go? Did she bite anyone, freak out, or was she calm?”
The doctor answered all those questions with a forced chuckle, giving Jack the assumption that something wasn’t right.
Candy noticed because he was a master of body reading. “Boo, I’ma go check on Angela, okay.”
Jack nods and Candy walks to the room and closes the door to give the two some alone time.
Jack brings his attention back to the doctor with an angry look. “So doc? What's the matter, and don’t pull back on me too if you have something to tell me.”
The doctor sighs, walking next to Jack with the clipboard in his hand. “Mr. Jack, I don’t know how you’ll react to this news, but… just know that we did everything we could.”
Jack didn’t like hearing that, so he lowered his arms, showing more signs of anger towards him by clenching his fists. “What do you mean? Just spill it out already, I don’t have time to hear a dramatic build up and then be all down!”
He approaches the doctor aggressively, but the doctor stays calm and professional.
“So fucking say it and don’t be overally dramtic because this isn’t a soap opera doctor. I have to—” Jack pauses, realising his wrong doing and behaviour and backs away. “I’m sorry doc, I-I just had a rough night, I’m sorry.”
The doctor wasn’t scared or intimidated, he understood Jack’s feelings and the moment he was ranting, he allowed Jack to let it all out. “No need to apologise, but here, I’ll show you…” He brings his clipboard out in front of Jack, opening the first page and pointing a finger at the page’s image.
Jack walks back to his side, seeing what he was pointing at. “Alright, what’s up?”
The doctor gently sighed. “All her vital signs are great, she can control pretty much everything. That’s the good news.”
This was great news for Jack, which made him grin. But that quick excitement flushed away when he remembered that this was not the news the doctor wanted to explain to him.
Jack got serious. “So, what’s the actual news, doctor?”
The doctor dragged his fingers to her legs. “You see, her legs.”
“What about her legs?” Jack replied.
The doctor was about to flip the page, but hesitated. He really didn’t want to show the awful news he had for Jack. This was something related in his own life, so that’s why he was so hesitant to continue. Jack saw the doctor's fingers along with the paper shake, quickly catching on and asking why he was so afraid to tell him the news. The doctor shook his head and was about to mention something personal, but he stopped himself from doing so. He suddenly flipped the page, and pulled what appeared to be the same x-ray again of her that was familiar to Jack.
Jack analysed it, but saw nothing. “What? What are you trying to show me?”
The doctor pointed his finger, again to her legs but this time to her spine. “It may seem like the same x-ray, but—” He deely sighed, “Right here, on her spine, one of the bullets had severely damaged it, Jack.”
Jack still didn’t know what he was talking about, until the doctor’s eyes were beginning to slightly quiver. Jack finally realised what he was on about, and was losing his calm and cool nature.
Jack narrowed his brows. “What are you trying to say, doctor?” Jack said with a worried tone.
The doctor looked away briefly. Once he looked back to Jack he had erased his personal emotions and brought back his professionalism.
He lowers his clipboard, looking dead into Jack’s shaking eyes. “What I’m trying to say is…” He clenches a fist, “...that Angela—”
Jack was listening carefully to his words, his eyes rattling out of worry, anticipating the awful news he was finally going to spill out. Jack’s mouth slightly opens, and the doctor deeply sighs, deeply, deeply sighs, trying his best to not bring his own emotions into this.
“Jack, Angela… may never walk…”
Jack’s narrowed brows raised from hearing that, his eyes now expanding, Jack was the one who looked sad now.
The doctor resumes his statement with a straight face. “...Again.”
Jack hung his head, his eyes quivered, his fingers twitching, he couldn’t believe what the doctor had just said. Jack thought that was it, until the doctor said another word to end his statement. That being the word, “Ever.” Jack couldn’t take it, he leaned his body against the wall, and slowly dragged to a knee, hiding his saddened face from the doctor who understood completely of Jack’s reaction.
“You-You…” Jack clenches his teeth, “...you’ve gotta be, shitting me, right? Doctor.”
The doctor replied with a deep and serious, “No.”
Jack raised his head to look at the doctor, who also had a sad look on his face. “No…?” Jack muttered.
The two hadn’t realised that Eric was also present. He heard everything that the doctor just said. Just when his day was already crazy enough, his heavy panting, face drenched in sweat, he had to hear something this sad when he approached the two. Jack heard his uncle's heavy tired footsteps and turned, seeing Eric exhausted and frightened.
Jack got up. “Why are you such a sweaty mess, Eric?”
Eric ignored his question because of what the doctor said about Angela’s legs and went up to the doctor. “Tell me that isn’t true, doctor…”
The doctor nodded again. “I’m sorry, to the both of you.”
Eric felt a bullet strike his heart, dropping on all fours and was on the verge of crying. He couldn’t believe it, a young girl like Angela not being able to walk ever again? Not only that, she’s been half dead for three years too? Eric couldn't bear it, he feels just as guilty as Jack for letting this happen to someone as innocent as her.
Jack helps Eric up, and he looks at the doctor with a saddened face. “So what now? You guys gonna cut off her legs next? Is that what’s next?”
The doctor waves his hands. “No no no! Not at all, she can still feel them, it’s just the damage is so severe that she’ll be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.”
Jack frowns. “Have you told her?”
“Yes I have.” The doctor replied.
Jack grits his teeth, feeling the guiltiest for all this. “Poor Angela, this-this is my fault.” Jack lets go of Eric, and grips his hair. “It’s my fucking fault for letting that happen to her.” He was beginning to have sudden flashbacks of that dreadful night again. “My fault…. All of this…. Is my—!”
Eric rubs his back, trying to ease his guilt. “No it’s not my guy… it’s both of ours for letting it get to this point.”
When Jack heard that, his mind fogged up. Images of Dr. Cato and Mathew flashed before his very eyes, reminding him who’s actual fault it is.
Jack lets go of his hair. “No, you’re half right, uncle. It’s half of mine, and half of those two bastards' who’ve made my life a living hell.”
Eric groans. “I still feel a part of the fault for it.”
Jack sighs. “We’ll continue this later, but going back to what you ignored; why are you in this state?”
Eric didn’t answer his question at first, but felt the need to. So he takes a deep breath, wipes whatever sweat he had left over on his face, and tells him everything that just happened moments before he came back to them.
After explaining in deep detail what occurred to Eric, Jack freaked out from everything Eric just told him. He started pacing back and forth and muttered words to himself. The young man paused every two seconds and scratched his head in frustration, and even chuckled beneath his breath. Even the doctor was growing uncomfortable on how Jack was reacting. Watching the young man react this way made the self adopted uncle raise more questions about Jack that Eric already had about him.
Once Jack finishes his paranoia episode, he quiets down and slams a fist against the hard white wall. “Damn it all.”
“The way you just reacted makes it sound like you might know the scary spooky dude I encountered, my guy. Is that right?” Eric said.
Jack moaned and balled a fist. “I might, but, I’m still not too sure, Eric.”
The situation was growing dire for everyone. All this madness and supernatural occurrences was too much for everyone to comprehend, let alone enough to make any sense. Jack wasn’t feeling too well now, he started coughing, and upon coughing onto his hand, there was black all over it. Jack’s hand trembled, and he showed his teeth out of annoyance.
“Somethings not right, and you might have an answer to it… Mallory.” Jack muttered.
Eric tilted his head, and looked serious. “You aight, my guy?”
Jack clenched his fist and hid his hand, and wiped the black off on his already dark pants. “Nothing, let's just go inside and see if Angela’s okay.”