Outside of reality, in a dream world of white, clouds of pure snow, William and Archard were in a relaxed state, basking in this fresh sensation of calmness. Both gentlemen have been relieved, ever since William changed history and altered the current timeline; Peace has never felt so great for two men who have to confront dangerous predicaments at every path, turn, or corner of their lives. For William this is the best week he’s had in years, never has the man gotten a chance to fully lay back and relax. Meanwhile his comrade Archard, who’s feeling the same, can’t help but feel they’ve been slacking off, more notably killing time.

Standing next to his master, his arms relaxed to his sides, Archard lets out a sigh of relief. “Mmm, Sir William…”

William’s sitting on a chair made of clouds with his eyes closed. “Yes, Archard?”

“It’s been a week since you’ve altered history…”

William, who’s elegantly sitting on his own throne befitting for someone of his status inside the dimension of white he summoned Jack in, gripped his chin then crossed his arms.

“It seems it has, and I wasn’t a man of my word, oh my goodness gracious me!”

Archard chuckled. “Well, we’ve only just relaxed the entire week to be honest. This is the most peace we’ve had since the early 2000’s.”

William chuckles, and sets his feet on a desk made of puffy white clouds. “Yeah, I kinda welcome this new time I’ve created, granted it’ll all go back to normal once our boy Jack completes his trials, but that can wait. I think I’d rather surprise him, don’t you think so, my dear friend?”

Archard grips his chin, feeling intrigued. “Yeah, and what will you do to surprise the poor sinful soul?”

William scratches his head, and coughs. “Well first, let us take a breath and feel this cool breeze of sincerity, my dear friend.”

The two took deep breaths, and made sounds of relaxation. After doing so, Archard stretches and fails his arms around while William stands on his feet.

“There we are.” William said, “Now then, to get back to what I was saying. I’m going to surprise our boy Jack by making him go through the first trial without a notice, think of it as a blessing in disguise.”

“Sounds very plausible, though I can’t help but feel it’s very vague sir. Granted it could be fun to watch, at the very least he should have a hint, right? Lastly, what would happen if he made an error or completed the first trial?”

William grips his chin. “Simply put, it’s going to be a thrill watching him go through these acts of repenting, although as you said, what would happen if he did fail or pass?”

“Mmm, right, what would you do?” Archard replied.

William grins. “More will be explained when the trial starts—” William raised his hands of might, ready to clap them against each other. “Now!” William claps his hands twice and their world is engulfed in a flash of holy gold.

***

In his room, laying waste in a state of broken hood, Jack’s on his bed, laying on his side with crusty sandbags beneath his eyelids due to a lack of sleep. During the new week into a new life of changed reality, Jack has done nothing but have hallucinations about Mallory, Carolyn, and the two men who’ve made his life a hell for three years. Angela tried her best to help cope with her brother's broken statehood, but everytime she tried approaching him, he’d panic, scream even. It made Angela feel sad, detested, she too had a lack of sleep because of it, and all of this made Eric feel more angry towards his pathetic excuse of a nephew.

On the couch, deeply sighing and groaning, Eric drags his hand across his face. “Man what the fucks wrong with that fool? Fucker hasn’t spoken to anyone throughout the whole week, he’s barely eaten too!”

Coming down the stairs and walking in the living room looking quenched in sadness, Angela heard her uncle’s frustrations and sat next to him. “Hey… uncle…”

Eric patted her head. “Aww, princess… didn’t sleep well again last night?”

Angela sat there, her eyes darkened, and half open. “Mhm… Sorry for making you worried, but I can’t help it… I still feel that this is all my fault.”

Eric grabbed Angela, laying her head on his lap and sighing again. “Nothing’s your fault, it’s your brother who’s being a weirdo and causing such worry. I knew his mind wasn’t in the right place, but never would I think it would get this bad… Jesus.”

Angela too sighs, and her eyes start shutting. “Uncle… help him… please…” Angela then fell asleep on her uncle's lap, bringing a smile to his face.

“That’s it baby girl, get some rest. I’ll deal with your brother in a bit, for now just sleep and be the adorable baby girl that you are.” Eric rubs her head, easing her tension inside her mind, and takes a glimpse at Jack’s room across the hall.

Jack… what has gotten into you my guy, snap out of it… or else, you’ll truly kill yourself over nothing. Eric thought.

Over at the otherside of the city, inside her home, barely waking up to a new day, Sarah’s week on the other hand was that of confrontation, testing her patience, but more importantly, learning her new acceptance. Her feelings have been at war with each other throughout the whole week because of her father trying his best to talk, look, or get near her. Despite trying, everytime he did so, the poor guy couldn't bring himself to do it in the end. Her patience and acceptance have been tried by her mother who’s been training her inside her dreams, showing her what it means to be a Witch in today's society and hiding in the shadows of normality.

As all these events went, Sarah’s still the same she’s been, just more on edge. Huh… another day, another session of being more scared and shown just how out of place I am to society.

Sarah gets her clothes of goth and grunge, readies herself for a new day and walks out of the room. Going downstairs to the kitchen, she spots her beautiful mother cooking breakfast for everyone as usual. Taking a seat, and grabbing a black book meant for their clan that’s always set on the table, Sarah began to read.

Walking into the kitchen too, trying his best to ignore the two, her father sat across Sarah. Crap… not again, why am I putting myself through this hell… damn bitch… Sebastian thought.

Sarah’s mother sensed his presence without needing to look. “Good morning d-a-r-l-i-n-g!”

He smacked his lips, and twitched an eye. “Shut the hell up, bitch.”

“Hohoho! Still cold I see, nonetheless, enjoy this breakfast I made for you two! Oh and watch your mouth around our daughter please.”

Sebastian twitched his lip. “Tch…”

Her steaming breakfast of toast, eggs, jam, cooked veggies, and drinks, all hovered to the table, landing gently to each person's liking. Sarah got a plate of egg whites, cooked veggies, toast smeared by strawberry jam, and to finish her platter she had regular coffee.

She sets the book down, and claps her hands together to pray to mother earth. “Thank you mom.”

Her father got his usual plate of eggs and bacon, coffee that he likes, plenty of toast, and a glass of wine. He stared at his hot platter of deliciousness with a grimace.

She’s really trying her best to make me teach her daughter huh? Why can’t she do it… she’d be better off learning from you and not someone who’s lost all value like me…

Her mother had the same as her daughter but with black coffee and a glass of wine too. “So family, what’s the plan today? Will you, Sebastian, finally teach our daughter?”

He ignored her words, and started eating. Sarah’s mother giggles, while Sarah herself ate while trying her best to not stare at her father. Sarah couldn’t help it though, the entire week’s been the most she’s seen her father, never would’ve she imagined this occasion ever happening, only in her dreams. Awkwardly, the two ate, feeling the need to look at one another, but her father had a reason to not look at his daughter, a very personal reason that’ll rile up his soul in rage.

Sarah’s mother sipped her coffee, and spoke. “My dearest daughter, would you mind asking your father what he’ll be teaching you?”

Sarah’s father’s eyes bug out. “Eh…?”

Sarah gasps. “Hu-Huh…?”

Sarah’s father slowly turned to his right, glaring at her mother in disbelief and anger. “Why… you-you wretched—!”

“Fa-father…” Sarah said in a soft respectful tone.

Her father softly gasps, and hearing her timid voice strike his eardrums felt nervously relaxing, but at the sametime, reminded him of his hatred past. “Y...es… Sarah?” he replied, gulping afterwards.

Sarah tilted her head upwards, looking at her father, but as her gaze set on him, he quickly turned away. “Never mind… I guess, you-you do, hate… me…” Sarah said, her eyes quivering with regret.

Sarah’s father’s eyes widened, hearing his daughter say words like that engraved guilt into his damned soul. Her voice alone, when she said it in her soft timid voice felt like acupuncture needles sticking all over his body, relaxing its tension. He hated that he couldn't look into her eyes, he hated this assumption, so he mustered the courage to speak properly to his only daughter.

“No… I-I don’t… I don’t hate you, Sa-Sarah.”

Sarah made a sound of shock, and she held a closed fist to her chest. “Re-Really…? But why-why won’t you look at me then? And talk to me…”

Sebastian grit his teeth and balled a fist. “It’s not that I don’t want to, I just… just…”

“What your father meant to say is he’s a hard nut to crack, hehe!”

He slammed his closed fist on the table, startling Sarah but not Samantha. “Could you not interrupt me, you damned woman!”

“What? I’m just trying to help, that’s all!” Samantha replied, giggling afterwards.

Sarah cut in, clearing her throat to muster her nervousness. “Then father, could you answer my question… please.”

Her father lets out a long breath. “Because… I-I have my reasons about not looking into your eyes. As for speaking, I do, I really do want to… but this villain over here just makes it worse.”

Samantha smiles and waves to her husband. “Aww, I love you too honey!”

He smacked his lips, and crushed his eyes. “Shut up…”

Sarah couldn't help but bring out a giggle when she saw them reply to each other like that. Her father felt his heart melt away, never has he heard his daughter produce a sound to that of happiness around him. It even made a grin come out for a second until he wiped it away so he doesn’t give any knowledge of happiness to the person he hates next to him.

Sebastian shook his head and relaxed his shoulders. “Sarah, I know I haven’t been the greatest parent, but… I’ll-I’ll make it up to you, so, I’ll—”

Sarah’s phone rang, interrupting her fathers statement. Sarah reached into her pocket, and answered it. “Sorry, one moment. Hello, who’s this?”

Sarah’s father lets out a sigh of relief, laying back on the chair and staring at the ceiling, feeling a giant boulder being lifted off his chest. Holy crap… Why is it so hard to talk to her? I need more than therapy at this point.

It was Eric who’s called Sarah strangely enough, he’s on the couch with Jack’s phone on his other hand. “Hey it’s Eric if you remembered me?”

“Oh! You’re Jack’s caretaker, correct?”

Sebastian’s inner father made his eyes pop when he heard a boy's name, making him groan in the process. Jack, who’s Jack?!

Sarah’s mother caught notice of her husband's surprised and confused face. Oh, this should be interesting! Let's see if he reacts like a father would do if they heard their beautiful daughter talk about another boy.

“Yeah that’s me, listen, could you come over and speak and do your weird supernatural shit to this pathetic excuse of a man… all week he’s been a sore lunatic shut in loser.” Eric said.

“Wait, so that’s what Jack’s been doing? And how do you—?”

“The other part of you, yeah I found out one day when you two were talking about it a couple of months ago.”

Sarah grips her chin, raising a brow. So in this altered history he knows about my abilities but not my status, strange.

She lets out a sigh, and nods. “Okay, I’ll come over and have a word with him. Thank you for calling me, though can I ask why me then the other girls?”

Eric scratches the back of his head, laying back on the couch. “Well, I have a hunch you’ll be a better help to him than the others coming from that whole supernatural shit I still can’t believe is real. Oh and because you one of those emo types right? So you might know more about the sad shit than the other two girls, no offence.”

Sarah’s raised eyebrow twitched, and both parents sensed their daughters' aggravation. “I’m not an emo… I'm goth, goth!”

“Ey ey, chill, same shit to me anyways haha, anyways, appreciate it, see you then.”

Eric hangs up, and Sarah can’t help but feel insulted. She lets out a sigh, and looks at her mother who’s smiling away. “Mom, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be leaving now, I have to check Jack’s mental state, it’s getting worse.”

Sarah’s mother giggles. “Please do, he needs it more than anything. And I’m sure your presence alone will heal his wounds of deception.”

Sarah’s father slams his fists on the table, surprising the two. “Sa-Sarah… I have no right in asking this, but… would you mind telling me, who’s this—Jack fellow?”

Sarah blinks erratically at first, trying to wrap his reaction, this is the first time she’s seen him this tense about someone else. “Oh, he’s just a friend, someone I’ve known since childhood.”

His face straightened and serious, staring at nothing, his tone changes more fiercely. “Sarah… I’m sorry to tell you this, but boys and girls can’t be friends. It’s naturally impossible without the thought of—”

Sarah’s mother slaps a piece of bacon on his face using her Witch powers. “Okay! I think that’s enough, and don’t take too long my daughter, you still have to be taught by this foolish man here.”

Sarah laughs, watching the piece of bacon slide off his face. “Okay okay, bye guys, I’ll see you in a bit, and father…”

Sebastian was wiping his face when she called him, which made him gasp beneath his breath.”

“...I’m… looking forward to it.” Sarah smiles and bows to her father.

Sarah’s father sighs, and looks away. “Likewise, please do be careful.”

Sarah waves to the two, and leaves the dining room out the front door. When his daughter did leave, he reacted in surprise, never had he thought that he would react like that. It made him scratch his head erratically, but inside, he’s dying of embarrassment. Sarah’s mother loved watching this, she hasn’t seen him react this way in over eighteen tears, so she’s taking her time to print this scene into her never ending hall of memories.

“This is so wonderful isn’t it? Well, I’ll be cleaning up now, thank you for taking my offer, d—”

“Shut up… I’m going to the backyard for a moment, I gotta get some air.” Sebastian got up and threw the napkin on the table.

Sarah’s mother giggles away, and it only brought back the hatred in him, but he pushed his rage away because he’s feeling quite happy about speaking to his daughter, even if it was short lived by a phone call.

Walking outside to the clear skies of blue, clouds of pure white, Sebastian closed his eyes to bask in the day of ease. Man, what has gotten into me as of lately… is it because I really want to be with my daughter… or is it something more?

Looking back at the house, he sees his wife who loves tormenting him washing dishes. “I still don’t trust her, my senses are telling me there’s something more to this than just teaching her daughter how to be a proper Witch with morals…”

Seeing her causally wash the dishes made him knit his brows and clench his fists.

“You’ve fooled me once, but I’ll never allow myself to be fooled again by your trickery, you evil bitch of Envy.”

Washing the dishes peacefully, and brewing that hate inside of him, Sarah’s mother seemed to act as if nothing strange was going on. Sebastian can’t risk letting his guard down because of their past, he watched her casually living life a norm, but to him it all seems an act.

“I can’t risk letting my guard down, whatever she has in mind, whatever she’s hiding, her true intentions, whatever they are, eventually will come out. And I’ll keep my senses sharper than ever. Whatever you’re planning with your daughter and me, I’ll be sure to retaliate and finally, be free from our contract.”

***

Inside his room, laying on his side on his bed, basking in a cloud of his own depression, Jack stared at the photo of him and Angela for hours on end. In his mind, he kept repeating if this was all just a dream, reflecting this wasted week. He can’t help this urge swelling up, a feeling of hopelessness and utter confusion, Jack’s had enough of this life of complexity. He’d rather go back to the times when he was just a simple gang banger, at least then he would’ve never gone through these tormenting hardships that’s killing the last bits of his sanity.

Why am I living through this… how can I continue going through this life when no matter the decisions I make just make things harder for me.

Reaching for the photo, not being anywhere in reach of it, Jack’s eyes turned bloodshot in anger. “To hell with all this… to hell with my life, I’m tired of living!”

He abruptly got up and briefly clutched his head. But something is off, something is missing… someone—rather…

Jack groaned and moaned. He sounded tired and dead.

Yeah, someone, and whenever I’m in this state… they’d normally show up to help me, but at the same time, tease, torment me… and that person is—

The young man's eyes turned vile as a deep wrinkle formed between his eyes. “Mallory… why haven’t you come, where are you, I-I…I!”

Though the young felt angry, Jack for once missed her. Yet it’s strange that she hasn’t appeared in awhile, more than a week at that. Normally whenever Jack’s in a state this broken, she’s always there to comfort and pamper his needs, even if she does anger him to the fullest. Sadly though, Jack can’t think of his anger, he just wanted her to come to take these burdens off of him, and the fact that she hasn’t appeared in person, even in his dreams, it raised concerns in him.

Jack dropped to his knees for a moment. “Mallory… Mallory, where are you… you normally come to me when I’m in this state, but why aren’t you here?!” Jack rose up, and his breathing grew erratic. “I need you… please, where are you girl! Mallory, answer me!”

Jack’s starting to feel the last bits of his sanity breaking, he clutches his head, gripping the hell out of his hair.

“Mallory… Mallory, you damned teasing bitch…! Where the fuck are you?! I fucking need you more than ever! I don’t understand why, but I need you now!”

Jack approached his mirror, and glared at himself. “You!” He shouted, pointing at his own reflection. “You’re at fault for driving her away! You son of a bitch!” He punched his mirror, shattering it to pieces.

Jack’s fist trembled, he lifted it to his face, staring at his bloody knuckles.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“To hell with this, all of this!”

Knocking on his door, and hearing his anger shouting clear as day, Sarah heard a loud bang, “Jack!” She opened her door and saw Jack punch his shattered mirror again. “Oh my god, stop Jack!”

Jack’s ears were ringing, and he didn’t hear Sarah’s voice, instead he diverted his attention to the wall, punching it in a fury. Sarah called for Eric who came rushing in and immediately grabbed Jack.

“Yo man chill yo!” Eric said as he stopped Jack punching his wall.

Jack pants, and as Eric lets go, Jack turns around and sees Sarah. “Sa-Sarah…? Wha-what are you doing here?”

Eric shakes his head, walks over to Sarah and pats her head. “I’ll leave it to you then, can you handle him now?”

Sarah nods. “Yes, thank you.”

Eric leaves, but not without taking one last look at Jack and shaking his head one last time in disappointment. He leaves and the two are alone now. Jack stands there, staring at Sarah in silence, making it very awkward. Sarah blinks a couple of times, and glances around his room, spotting holes in the wall, his gun laying on the desk, and signs of blood on the floor.

“Jack, what have you done this whole week besides laying waste?”

Jack raised his bloody knuckles, and stared at them. “I-I don’t know. Perhaps, waiting—for someone to free me from my prison of darkness.”

Sarah sighs, and puts her tiny white hand out. “Hand please.”

Jack blinks, and lends his bloody bruised hand. She takes it, and did the same thing before the change of history, healing his hand back to normal.

After it healed, Jack retracted it to himself, and stared at his palm. “It still gives me chills that you can do that, Sarah.”

Sarah placed her hand on her hip. “Well, good then. I’ll take the compliment again, but I can’t keep doing this you know? I don’t know what my mother would do to me if she found out I’ve been using my powers outside of our worlds into reality.”

Jack nods, and lowers his hand. “No kidding, your mother scares me slightly… So I’m on the same boat about that, I don’t want to be involved in your punishment.”

“Eh, I don’t know about that, I think it’ll be funny to watch someone as scary as you cower in fear over my gentle mother.”

Jack lets out a deep sigh, sitting back on his bed. “I guess so, but Sarah… Why are you so nice to me? We barely know each other. No disrespect, but it just confuses me… sorry for acting this way, again.”

Sarah sat next to Jack, crossing her arms. “Oh you big idiot, there’s more to that than meets our eyes. But to make it simple, it’s mostly on the fact that we both can share something emotionally. As a Witch, that’s a big reason why I’ve been so nice to you…” Sarah then crossed her legs. “It’s a good feeling, knowing you’re not the only one just as confused and sad as the other party.”

Jack’s dead eyes brightened a bit, feeling their bond grow. “Really, what a strange way of putting it… sorry for—”

“Jack, spare the apologies please, you’re too apologetic.” Sarah stood up and flung her hair. “Now get up, get out to the sun and feel mother earth's breath blow away your sins.”

Jack stands up, and breaths in, letting out a heavy amount of air out of him. “Alright, say Sarah, why don’t we hang out for a bit. I could use your company for a bit.”

Sarah obliges to Jack's request and grins. “Okay, but it’ll be short lived, I’ve gotta get back to my parents about something important.”

“Cool, but before we leave, what have you been doing this whole week?”

“Me?” Sarah for a moment went quiet and looked up at the ceiling. The goth girl moaned and looked back at Jack with a tilt. “Eh, well, it’s complicated, but overall it’s been a very, how should I say, interesting experience.”

Jack tilts his head. “I see, so I assume you’re learning more about the supernatural I take?”

Sarah scratched her head and shrugged. “You can say that. Regardless of what’s happened, I can’t help but see how much has changed in terms of how this time flowed.

“What do you mean by that, Sarah?” Jack asked.

Sarah walks around Jack’s room and her eyes set on the group picture of him, his sister, and his uncles. “From what I’ve seen and been told by Anna, most of the events that occurred previously have happened but in a totally different perspective/scenario.”

Jack didn’t like hearing that, it made his mind get more perplexed. “Damn, then if that’s the case I have to ask Eric and Angela what’s happened during all these times in this new history without sounding like a clueless idiot.”

Sarah crosses her arms and begins walking, to and out his room. “Well you are an idiot in your own way, but my advice will be just to play it off as if you have amnesia.”

Jack follows behind her, scratching his temple. “Amnesia? What does that mean again? You’re speaking to someone who hasn’t gone to school since fifth grade.”

Sarah shakes her head as the two stepped into the living room. “You really are an idiot then, but I can’t really blame you, wait!” Sarah abruptly turned around to Jack with a scrunched face. “How do you know other big words yet not amnesia?”

Eric’s on the couch watching television when he heard them speak about Jack’s intelligence. “Because he’s a big dumbass who makes quick judgement.”

Jack looked at Eric. “Hey… you didn’t even try to teach me anything or recommend homeschool for me.”

Eric’s head pokes out of the couch's headrest. “What?! Are you kidding me! I tried but yo goofy ass didn’t want to because you wanted to get tougher and learn how to survive.”

Sarah’s gazing look of disappointment locked onto Eric. “But who’s fault is it for showing him this way of living and not being a responsible guardian?”

Eric’s face squints, and his head slowly disappears from their eyesights. “Oh fuck… you right, but did you have to say it in that voice of yours, that shits so soft yet sounds cold ass fuck!”

Jack chuckles. “Yeah, it’s hard to tell if she’s being nice, mean, or sarcastic, either way I think it’s cool.”

Sarah’s eyes got big hearing his compliment, and she started walking again with raised shoulders. “Let's go Jack before you make this girl angrier than she is.”

Jack grins, he felt that cloud over his head slowly being blown away. He waved at Eric and told him he’ll be back later, Eric being the guy that he is, teased the two telling them not to have too much fun. Sarah sighs, Jack chuckles, the two leave and are now casually walking down the steps and into the murderous streets of their neighborhood.

While they were walking, getting by a dangerous trap house Sarah was oblivious about, Jack grabbed her suddenly, pushing her to his other side.

“Goodness Jack, could you warn a girl before you just casually grab her!” she said as she pats herself.

“Sorry, but I would rather have you walk over here than next to me close to the yards of danger.”

Sarah lets out air, placing her small hand on her chest. “You spooked me there, I thought something else was about to happen, don’t mislead me.”

“Ha, sorry, oh, I got something else I wanted to ask you.”

“Alright, go on ahead sad man.”

“It’s something that’s been bothering me, and I was hoping you can have a better explanation about it.”

Sarah’s intrigued, rather she’s feeling an old suspicion she had on him when they first reunited. “Please tell Jack, I’ll try my best to answer it.”

Jack’s about to ask her this question when his chest felt sharp, and had the sensation of being pressed down by a crusher. He coughed, and felt short on breath.

Sarah grabbed his arm in worry. “Damn, are you alright?! Goodness, you’re too young to be sounding like you’re dying of old age.”

Jack nodded but hunched a bit. “Yeah, I’m-I’m alright.” Coughing more, feeling the inner darkness inside of him crushing his veins, grabbing his heart, he felt ready to scream it out. “Damn… not again…”

Whatever's inside of Jack, it didn’t want him to reveal the problem he’s had inside of him since the first nightmare made by her, that being the being known as Mallory.

Fortunately for Sarah, she sensed it, and she could feel that black vile stain inside his body torturing him. It made her frown and knit her brows. This is the same feeling I’ve felt from my encounters with that girl spirit bringing darkness to my friends, and that town… He must be one of her victims, he has to be! Jack, come on, spill it out so I can help you.

Jack couldn’t bring himself to do so, he’s had enough and stopped trying to fight it. “Sarah… I’ll-I’ll just ask you whe-when the times… right, fuck…”

Sarah sighs. “You had me worried there, I thought you were having a heart attack or something.”

Standing back straight, Jack spits, but he didn’t bother looking at the saliva that came out his mouth, landing on the grass and turning it black. “Fuck… it, lets-lets just change the subject.”

Sarah can’t help it, she wanted him to just spew out this secret that he’s been hiding, the strange connection between them, why they have the same darkness, the same energy, something wasn’t right. But for now, Sarah has to respect his wishes, and store this feeling for another time when he’s ready to tell her or anyone.

“Okay, you don’t need a doctor or something?”

Jack gripped his chest, and let out one last nasty cough. “Na-nah, I have you, remember?”

Sarah rolled her eyes and flung her hair, sassy-like. “How dare you, I’m not some easy scapegoat, don’t treat me as a tool, idiot.”

Jack couldn't help but chuckle. “Sorry, thought I could make this mood brighter, oh that reminds me…”

Still catching his breath, leaving a hidden worry in Sarah, Jack pulls out his flip phone, which makes Sarah giggle.

“What? What are you laughing about?” Jack asked.

Sarah raised her hands and shrugged. “I’m still baffled that you still own an ancient relic that is that phone of yours.”

Jack responds with a chuckle, and smacks one of her raised hands. “Everyone’s a critic.” Jack said.

Sarah shrugs again and proceeds forward, but Jack had one final burden on his shoulder, one he couldn't’ let slide.

“Before we continue, I have to apologise to Veronica, for everything.”

Sarah stopped and looked over her shoulder. “I don’t think that’s necessary, we’re in a different timeline, so perhaps your relationship with her is stronger here.”

Jack scrolled through his contacts, finding her number. “Yeah but, I’d rather just say it then be left to wonder. It’s strange that I have all your guys' numbers here, funny. And I hope what you said is true, I really don’t want to see her cry again.”

Sarah gripped her chin and stuck her hip out. “Hm, knowing her this should be a rather fun thing to watch.” Sarah crossed her arms as she watched Jack dial her number and wait for her answer.

When it rang, it quickly hung up on him. “Huh, that’s strange, it immediately went to voicemail.” Jack said, looking at his phone in confusion.

Sarah rolls her eyes, she has a feeling what’s about to happen. She went up to Jack, tugged on his sleeve, he turned to her, her arms crossed, she raised a finger, waiting for something.

Jack coughed and raised his eyebrow. “What are you do—?”

“Give it a minute.” Sarah replied.

Sarah’s phone rang. She reached into her pocket, pulled it out, and leaned it against her ear, sticking her hip out in sas. A loud screech made her push her phone away for a second from whoever answered.

Jack looked confused, and Sarah picked her ear. “Oh, hey Veronica, so nice of you to call and scream into my eardrum.”

Veronica’s laying on her bed, her face as red as a tomato. “Sa-Sa-Sa-Sarah!”

“Yes yes, go on you rude girl.”

Veronica screeches again, and Sarah’s face reacts in pain. “Ja-Ja-Ja-Jack called me! What do I do, what do I do?!”

Sarah places her hand on her wide hip, getting annoyed. “Relax, and yeah, what about him calling you?” She turned to Jack, and he raised both eyebrows.

“Uhh, Sa—” Sarah shushes him silently by aggressively slamming a finger against her lip. “Alright, jeez.” Jack replied.

Sarah crossed her arms as she continued talking to Veronica on the phone. “So what are you gonna do about it huh? More importantly, why didn’t you call Anna instead?”

“I-I did! But she laughed and said I should ask you since you can help me more than her.”

Sarah rubbed a set of fingers on her dome. “That damn Anna, I’ll get her for this, and what then? What did you do when he called? Did you answer or chicken out?”

Veronica grabbed her pillow, and slammed it against her face. “I hung up… and pretended it went to voicemail…”

Sarah groans and chuckles aggravatedly. “Of course you did. Now then, I wonder what would happen if Jack heard you did that?”

Veronica eases her face off her pillow. “I-I don’t know… how would I know?”

“Hmm, maybe you should, I don’t know, ask him yourself!” Sarah said while suddenly shooting the phone to Jack’s face, startling him.

Jack scratched his cheek, and shrugged his shoulders in confusion. Veronica could be heard sounding very confused over Sarah’s sentence and what she meant by that. She kept repeating “Hello?” over and over as Jack stared at the non-flip phone. Jack pointed at the phone then to himself, telling Sarah if he should talk now. She responds with a nod. Jack grabbed the phone, observed it and again, silently telling her if he should lean it against his ear like a normal phone. She slams her hand against his forehead, and nods with her arms stretched out.

Again Jack asked, she responded by stomping her foot. “Okay okay… sheesh… sheesh.” Jack muttered.

Slowly, Jack raised the phone with both hands, and carefully leaned his ear against it, but with enough distance so his skin won’t make contact.

Sarah let out a long sigh as she rubbed her head. “My goodness Jack, you’re like a man in his fifties…”

“Sorry, this crap is new to me, relax will ya? Okay, ahem… Ve-Veronica, hello?” As Jack’s left hanging for an answer, he only got silence.

Sarah groans, putting her face towards the phone. “Veronica if you can hear me! You better answer him!”

Veronica breathes heavily, and responds to Jack, screeching again and he’s the one who got the worst of it. “Ahh… Veronica, could you not kill my ears?”

“I’m… Im sor-sorry, it’s-it’s just that-that…”

Jack grins. “Don’t worry about it, look, I wanted to say something to you. So please listen closely.”

Veronica felt her heart racing even faster. “Okay… what is it?”

Jack lets out a shortened breath. “I’m-I’m sorry for all the things I’ve done, everything, Veronica.”

Veronica’s flustered face has confusion on it. She sits up and hugs her knees. “What about Jack? What are you sorry for?”

Jack eases off the phone and groans. “You wouldn’t understand, for now, anyways.”

Hearing him being sorry over nothing blew away those feelings of nervousness and made her heart sink in worry from how meaningful his apology sounded from the tone of his voice. Veronica didn’t like how Jack sounded, so she wanted to cheer him up.

“Uh, Ja-Jack… would you actually be willing to… uh…” Veronica sadly couldn’t finish on what she was saying, it brought those damning feelings of love back into her heart.

Jack heard her make funny noises of embarrassment, making him chuckle. “You okay Veronica? You sound to be in some sort of—”

“Jack!” Veronica shouted abruptly.

“Huh, woah what?” she replied, her eyes exploding, startled.

Sarah’s loving this, not only from overhearing her reactions, but seeing Jack slowly come out of the dark aura making him feel hopeless. Come on Veronica, do it you stupid smart snobby prep girl!

Sucking in a breath of air, holding it in, Veronica blows it out and says, “Jack… do you want to, ah…”

“Ah…?” he replied.

Sarah heard her, and facepalms. “Veronica you really are hopeless…”

Jack shrugs. “Ah, I don’t know what you meant by that, but I want to make it up to you Veronica. How about we both go on… let me remember hmm.”

Sarah tilts her head, and grips her chin. “Oh, what is it that you’re trying to remember Jack?”

Jack’s memories sparked that thought he needed to resolve this funny issue that’s made Veronica hopeless and made him feel funny. “Yeah, how about we go on a date, what do you say?”

Sarah’s eyes widened, and she nodded in amusement. Damn… never mind, he just flat out said it like that. I guess that works haha!

Veronica’s on the brink of fainting, and her eyes twirled. “Da-Da-Da-Da….”

“Yeah, a date,” Jack said calmly. “Why does it sound so embarrassing everytime I say that to people like you?”

Sarah chimes in, bumping Jack with her hip. “Do you even know what you're saying, Jack? Or are you going to say the same thing like last time and make the situation worse?”

“Yeah I do, it’s like when we went on our date, right? Remember when we first ran into each—” Quickly Jack’s mouth was shut by Sarah’s hand.

Sarah’s eyes had the look of annoyed anger, and her teeth were ground. “You idiot! Be careful about what you—”

“Sarah…” Veronica’s voice was loud and clear even though she wasn’t on speaker. Her voice sounded cheerful yet freighting in an innocent tone. “What was this I heard about you two going on one already? Hehe…”

Both friends got nervous, and had the look of fear hearing this new scary tone of Veronica. Sarah grabbed her phone back from Jack and swallowed, and Jack looked around, confused.

“Veronica, he-he doesn’t know what he’s talking about okay? Le-Lets just take it nice and easy, okay?”

Veronica grins. “Oh, I wonder if you two did the same when you were on your d-a-t-e.”

Sarah scratched her head and forced a chuckle. “Veronica, hey… you’re scaring me here, we’re friends, remember?”

Veronica lets out a giggle, a scary one at that. “Of course we are, so be a good friend and tell Jack to come by my house. There we can discuss more about Our! Date, does that sound good to you, friend?”

Sarah forcefully laughs. “Ye-Yeah… sounds cool, and like I said he’s an idiotic dense fool Veronca, ha ha… ha…”

Veronica lets out one last giggle. “Of course he is, but he never lies, Sarah… bye.”

Veronica hung up the phone, and Sarah bent over dangling her arms in relief. “Oh thank goodness… but Jack!” She sprung up and went in his face, placing her hands on her hips. “Next time don’t just bluntly say things without the meaning behind them, and when you do go see Veronica, please, for the love of that is mother earth herself don’t make it worse than it is. Because when she asks about us hanging out that one time, don’t even try speaking about it, do something to make her forget about it, okay?”

Jack laughed, and placed both of his hands on her shoulders. “Alright alright, Sarah.”

Sarah felt awkward being in this position that they were in, but sighs it off. “Wh-What…?”

Looking into her bright eyes of red, enough to mesmerise any normal man and being swallowed by their mysterious beauty, Jack grins. “Thank you for cheering me up, and sorry, for last week.”

Sarah felt something, a new feeling she’s never felt before. It’s enough to make her look away, but keep a brow raised. “Apology accepted, now can you let me go. I have to get back to my parents.”

Jack does and steps back. “Cool, I’ll see you later then? Because I really am enjoying getting to know you better.”

Sarah crossed her arms and straightened her face. “Woah, slow down there cowboy, you’ve got to get to a date, this is no time to say those things.” She brings out half a grin, “But I am too, we have some things in common, I wonder how much more we do. I guess we can find out later, bye Jack.”

Sarah turned to her left, and began walking across the street while Jack watched her walk away. Alone now, Jack took the time to bask in this new moment of happiness, it’s been awhile since he’s lived normally like this.

“It’s just like old times, before the day my parents were taken by me…” Turning back to look forward, Jack walked, but the thought of Mallory came back again, and brought back that aura of black. “Yet despite these feelings… somehow, without you being in my life Mallory, I feel empty, and still lonely, despite Sarah and all of my friends' efforts.”

***

Coming back home, Sarah says she’s back but found no one in the comfortable living room fit for goths. She squinted her eyes and looked for her parents, they weren’t here, upstairs, nor in the kitchen. She wonders if there’s any hidden rooms in her home that she didn’t know about, but shrugs it off. Going through the kitchen, and to the backyard door, she did spot one of her parents, that being her mysterious father.

“Fa-Father…?” Sarah watched her dad stand below the tree, he seemed to be concentrating on something.

Feeling earth's winds, her calls, her father’s in a trance of inner mind training. He did this everyday to lower his uncontrollable hatred towards his wife, otherwise if he didn’t, he'd go into a state of rage like he did not too long ago. Letting out a huge breath of air, his lungs now empty, his mind at peace, when he turned around, opening his eyes, he almost had a heart attack at who he saw standing at the door.

“Eh… it’s—!” Quickly though, he calmed himself when he sensed it was just his daughter who spooked him. “I-I almost lost it… damn it.”

Sarah stood there, wondering why her father’s expressions changed so suddenly when he saw her. “Fa…ther?”

Her dad looked away, and didn’t respond at first. Wait… where is that wretched bitch? I don’t sense her… Hold up, did she plan this?!

Sarah saw her father clench a fist. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to anger you, I’ll leave.”

Sebastian broke out of his inner monologue to reply to his daughter. “No, I’m not angry at you… I was just thinking of something, that’s all.”

“Oh, alright. Well, where is mother?”

He closed his eyes again, concentrating on where she might be, bringing up a possibility of her maybe hiding. Where did she go? She was just…

His sense then told him the truth, and she left behind a small ball of mana in their house, one she would leave back in the days to tell him about something in secresty.

“So that’s where you went off to… after all these years, why? Whatever, but I know you were behind leaving the two of us alone, bitch.” he muttered.

“What was that, father?”

Hearing her call him father made him feel embarrassed. “No-Nothing, Sarah. So uh, how was that Jack fella? And who is he precisely?”

Sarah took careful steps approaching his direction, she can still sense anger emitting off of him. “He’s just a friend, that’s all, and he’s fine now since I was able to calm him down.”

The anger simmered, but aggravation swept into the aura of rage. “Hm, a friend, boy and girl, and you calmed him down, in what way?”

Sarah didn’t like his tone, but it felt comforting because it sounded overly protective. “Father, all I did was just talk to him and convince my friend Veronica to go out on a date with him.”

He then blew out air, feeling relieved hearing that. “Oh good, that’s a relief… Uh, sorry if I’m acting this way, it just felt instinctive and natural to do so since we’re getting to know each other.”

Sarah didn’t mind, she likes seeing her father act his role. “Fine by me, so uh, what did you two discuss about me and this—training?”

Sarah’s father crossed his arms, and gripped his chin. “Give me a second to reflect on my feelings, then I’ll come to a decision to answer your question.”

Sarah nodded to his request, standing there silently as he wrapped his mind about all these new ordeals and situations created by one man only, that being William H. Christ the sixth. He still wonders why his wife won’t allow herself to teach her daughter, the very thing she loves in this world, her ways, but as she said, she’s not the ideal person to teach her. Sarah’s father thought deeper into it, he knew he wasn’t ideal to teach her neither knowing his past and the countless people he’s put through suffering, killed even.

I don’t know what her goal is, but I’m a different man than I was before, yes she may have taken my dignity, my soul, but I won’t let her daughter become the very thing we Witches truly are, and that being a menace to society. I won’t allow her to become me, I won’t teach her ways of abusing her mana to bring suffering onto others, but most importantly, more notably, I won’t allow her to become like her damned mother of greedy Envy.

Sarah’s father finally came to a conclusion, and for the first time, he brought his gaze closer to her eyes, only for a moment. “Alright, I’ll teach you.”

Sarah swallows nervously from how serious he sounded. “Te-Teach me? Li-Like what?”

Sarah’s father snapped his fingers, and the environment around them started changing. “Everything, Sarah.”

The whole world around them swirled, spinning around faster than anything Sarah’s seen. The colours that made the world melted away from how fast the world spun. Sarah’s looking around in disbelief, her father standing there calmly, once it stopped circling, the world around them had completely changed. The skies flickered a haunting glow of purple, plasma striking hills miles away, the grass beneath them was the colour red, and the only thing left from their world was the tree, still blossoming with life.

But to Sarah, she felt amazed by it, which left her jaw dropped. “Fa-Father! Wh-where are we?!”

Her father relaxed his arms to his sides, and turned round to stare at the angry skies striking the ground. “I think you know the answer to that, Sarah.”

Sarah’s confused at first, but quickly she caught on what he meant by. I’m inside his world, and this is a reflection of how he’s feeling… Father…

She clenched her fists. “These are his emotions, at war…” Sarah muttered. She swallowed and took a deep breath before speaking again. “What will be my first lesson, father?”

He crossed his arms again, and blinked. “Before we do start, Sarah, I have one favour to ask you, and I stand by it.”

His tone grew fiercer, which sent chills down Sarah’s spine. “Yes father…?”

He briefly turned his face, only exposing a side view of it to his daughter. “Please don’t look into my eyes, for my sake, and yours… Don’t take it personally, okay, Sarah?”

Sarah’s eyes shook, and felt her father’s inner anger swirling all around her as he said that meaningful statement. “Father… may I ask you some questions before we start, if you don’t mind?”

Her father, still standing there with his back turned, watching the chaos ensue off in the distance, gave out air through his nose. “You’re only allowed to ask me three, and I’m obliged to give you the best answers I can possibly give you.”

“Three huh? Okay, my-my first question is… Who-Who are you really, your title and status in our community only mentioned by mother.”

He raised his head to the skies representing years of sorrow and anger. I hope she won’t be too angry at me for my status, I am different now, afterall… Sebastian thought.

“I’m known as the most chaotic, berserking Witch in modern history, the one who seeked destruction, suffrage upon those without meaning to nothing, just for my own amusement and pleasurement. My name is… Ahriman.”

Sarah felt shocked upon hearing not only who he was, but the fact she knew the meaning of his name’s origins, only made it clear what type of person her father is. She didn’t want to ask anymore of that, to keep this conversation healthy, she pushed this thought aside to ask her next question.

Clenching her skirt, resisting the urge to ask of his troubled past, Sarah bit her lip and went forward in asking her next question. “Father, my-my next question is… wh-why do you loathe mother so much? It seems as if she genuinely loves you, but you, you absolutely detest her entire being.”

He turned back to look at his daughter, but only to stare at her feet. “Your mother, loving me? It’s a false fallacy, an act she puts on to deceive you, Sarah!”

A huge bolt of lightning struck the ground between them, which split the earth. Rubble flew, rocks scattered, Sarah shielded herself from the intensity of the impact as everything fluttered around her.

Sebastian balled his fists and a vein grew out his forehead. “The truth to that is, quite simply, that damned woman is the entire reason why I haven’t spoken, looked, nor given any efforts on knowing the very thing she helped create…” He raised his finger to Sarah as the sky above them crackled. “...that being you, her daughter.”

Sarah gasped and dropped her arms. “Wha-What are you trying to imply, father?”

He brought his arms forward and stared at his trembling arms, and a heavy force was felt upon Sarah’s body, making her legs tremble. “Your mother is the sole reason why my lifes a living hell, her very existence has caused more suffering to others than I have… all to achieve the very thing she was so envious of, but I’d rather not tell you at this moment.”

He relaxed himself and regained his calm composure, which stopped the chaos momentarily.”

“To sum all this up, she’s the most evil, vile, manipulative being in this entire world.”

Sarah didn’t like hearing words that defiled her mothers sweet attitude she’s shown to her since birth. It brought anger to her, and hearing it be told by someone like her father felt insulting because they hardly talked to each other. Yet despite that, she knew her father wasn't lying which made her feel conflictions towards her mother. Though her questions were answered somewhat, more was brought untold rather than told. This force though, making her legs feel nimble, she wondered if this was her fathers power ready to explode, and Sarah, can’t help but feel afraid.

The force grew stronger by the second and as Sarah’s about to ask her last question, her father controlled himself even further, and the force faded away.

“Sorry, Sarah, I got a little carried away, it’s been awhile since I was allowed to let out my powers and relieve myself…”

Sarah hung her head, feeling bad for her father, throughout this entire conversation, he hasn’t told one lie, and that’s what made her feel just as bad for him. “Father… My last question is the same as I asked before… And it’s…” Sarah grit her teeth and felt like tearing up. “...why don’t you like looking into my eyes, rather why can’t I look into yours? Am I distasteful to you?! Or is it simply put, you have an ability that’ll turn me into stone like medusa?”

Sarah’s father didn’t like hearing that, the fact his own daughter thought he hated her existence as well brought out a face of sadness upon him.

“Sarah… No, that ain’t it. The reason why I can’t stare into your eyes, is-is, is—those red eyes of absolute beauty…”

The clouds above that were blending with the skies appeared, gleaming and pulsing the colour of sadness. The area around them blew flower petals that of dandelions, and the tree beside him blossomed garden roses.

He clenched his fists and did further, drawing blood from his own palms. “They remind me of your vile mother, the eyes of a woman who hypnotised others for her own selfish doings, and swallowed the world with her gaze…” He brought his gaze higher to Sarah, to that of her shoulders. “And everytime I would stare into them, it reminded me of all the hate that brews in me constantly for her… That’s why I can’t look into your eyes, Sarah.”

Sarah couldn’t believe his answer, it really hinged that feeling of detest, and released a tear out of those eyes that now glistened. “How could that be… when her eyes are silver, you-you do… hate—”

“No!” He shouted, causing an earthquake. “Sarah, she’s deceiving you, those aren’t her true colours… they’re all a ruse, those aren’t her eyes…”

The earthquake grew more intense, the garden roses started falling off the tree like feathers. He gripped his hair with intensity, and shook his head, then released a scream that shook the heavens. He screamed for a full minute until the chaos settled. The garden roses kept feathering down, and once they reached his personal space, they turned into burnt crips. He was breathing heavily and smacked himself on his forehead as his daughter stood there who withstood his chaos.

Sebastian caught his breath and briefly looked at Sarah’s eyes, which made him shed a tear. “You have them, Sarah!”

Sarah’s eyes watered and when their eyes met, she saw a sudden flash of memories, ones she wasn't aware of.

She looked away and gripped her chest. “Stop, father… I don’t like this, it hurts, it hurts hearing—”

Sebastian took a step forward, making the earth turn to blackened ash. “Sarah! What I’m saying is all actually—!”

“The truth…!” Sarah held herself, and started whimpering while her father stayed silent.

He felt those words not only reach and brush against the hairs in his ears, but felt them wrapping his soul in a cloak of brutal regret, it made him realise something far beyond his comprehension. Watching his daughter whimper, telling her painfully honest statements about her mother, this confirmed not only is she the daughter of the most vile woman alive, but his daughter as well. The only one in their family that can tell whether someones lying or being truthful was her father, it’s one of his abilities that he’s grateful for having, but only one person deceived him, that being one of the holders of Sin, The Holder Of Envy. But seeing how his daughter reacted to every answer, only made it more apparent just how related the two were.

All this though, it all ravaled back into bringing more hate towards the woman known as her mother, and her name being Samantha or most notably known as…

“Abyzou…” He said quietly.

Sarah stopped, and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry father… it’s just that, all of this is too much for me to take in, I-I don’t mean to be this emotional.”

Sarah’s father didn’t mind, it just showed how more humane Sarah was compared to himself and her mother. Feeling like a third of the past's burdens come off his broad shoulders made him feel at ease.

Sebastian took a long deep breath and his eyes turned sharp as he looked at his daughter without looking into her eyes. “Sarah… Our first lesson will be…”

An outline of fiery red grew around the edges of his body, steam blew out the bottom of his feet. Sarah’s dad’s eyes glowed fire, and an aura of corrupted molten black exploded out of him. The ground cratered away from the pressure of being released, and the dimension itself vibrated by its immense pressure and gusting forces that shot out of him. Sarah’s in utter shock, she’s never felt such force, it was close to that of the man in the holy hooded cloak.

Quickly covering her face from oncoming debris and dust, Sarah stood her ground. Father’s… Mana has been shown to me…

Her father’s aura continued getting more intense, and raising his head to the sky, closing his eyes momentarily, his aura reached higher, piercing the clouds.

Sarah’s eyes glistened in amazement as she watched him reveal his true self. Despite his Mana feeling terrifying and intense, she can’t but feel proud of who her parents are despite their flaws.

Sarah lowered her arms and one last tear came out, but quickly evaporated from the heat of his Aura. “Amazing…”

Sebastian looked back to his daughter and revealed his fiery eyes and said in the most menacing but softest tone she’s ever heard. “Allow me to show you how to control your Mana first, my dearest daughter, Sarah…”