Nighttime's just around the corner, the airs getting colder by the hour, and the two men determined to get Sarah back have arrived at Eric’s front porch. Jack reached into his pocket, and got his house key, but couldn’t stop himself from shaking due to the falling temperature.

“Fuck man, any reason why that weird dudes making everything cold?”

Leon didn’t mind the weather since he grew up in an already cold environment in his early days.

“The guys got an obsession with cold apocalyptic scenarios. He always rambled about them during breaks and such during my time at the academy.”

“Figures…”

Jack put the key in, and opened the door. He was blasted with a heatwave which made him relieve himself with a loud grunt.

“Warmth, now that’s my uncle alright.”

They were inside, Jack closed the door once Leon hung up his jacket. He took a glance around Jack’s home, and couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

“Pretty homey for a place in the ghetto.”

“Of course. My uncle is the leader of our gang. Why wouldn’t he give himself the best home in the hood?”

“Surprising since the outside looks no different than the rest of the neighborhood other than its size.”

Jack nodded in agreement and walked into the living room. Leon followed behind him, and took a seat on the couch.

“Thirsty?” Jack asked.

When Leon was about to respond, his uncle walked in from the kitchen, and paused with a nice hot cup of coffee. Eric raised a brow at the strange, very pale man sitting in his home.

“Ey? Who the fucks this white, vampire looking man? Dudes paler than my air forces.”

Jack chuckled.

“My bad uncle. I'd like to introduce you to Leon, he’s Sarah’s father.”

“Say what?! That’s her dad?”

Eric grabbed his chin, and observed Leon as he sipped his coffee loudly.

“Shit, I’ma be real with chu, I can’t see the resemblance.”

Leon groaned while Jack also observed Leon with his uncle.

“You know what? You, right uncle! They don’t have anything in common.”

“Took you this long to realise, young man?” Leon said with an annoyed tone.

“My-my bad…” Jack replied.

Eric laughed and pushed Jack.

“My boy! You and Sarah got so close that you got her dad coming into my home.”

“Wh-what do you mean by that?”

Leon shook his head to Eric.

“It’s not what you think, sir—”

“Just call me Eric, no need for the formalities, my guy.”

Leon grinned.

“Heh, alright, Eric. And don’t overthink their relationship, that dense fool wouldn’t even know how to confess such emotions even if it got to that point.”

The two grown men laughed while poor Jack was left confused yet annoyed.

“Jokes aside, even though the laugh was needed, it’s time we get serious.”

Eric took another sip.

“What’s up? Something happened?”

Leon squinted his eyes at Jack, and the young man grabbed his uncle's attention by grabbing his shoulder.

“Eric, the reason Sarah’s fathers with me is because—”

“—My daughter’s gone missing, and we’re trying to get a hint to where she might’ve run off to.”

Eric’s expression quickly changed when he heard that Sarah’s disappearance might be because she was a runaway.

“Shit, what could’ve caused her to run away? Didn’t think she’d be that type of girl.”

Leon didn’t know how to respond, but Jack nodded at him with a grin.

“It’s okay, Leon, my uncle’s aware of the supernatural.”

“Really now?”

Leon’s the one who began observing Eric.

“I find that odd coming from someone like him who’s just a mere thug.”

“Ey! Yo, the stereotypes man, chill. Fyi, it was your daughter who revealed that supernatural spooky shit to me, aight.”

“My daughter? How so?”

Eric shrugged.

“I don’t know, I thought I was just a typical thug to you.”

Leon smacked his lips.

“Aight mean vampire man, chill, I’ll tell you. If you’re supernatural just like her then I ain’t messing with Chu either.”

Eric demonstrated how he stumbled on her doing some sort of Witchcraft in his backyard to Jack. Leon found that strange and out of character for his daughter to do, even for doing it for someone like Jack. But, he’s well aware that the flow of time they’re in isn’t the same and altered in a way for Jack to undergo some sort of trials for the great William H. Christ.

“I see, I guess that gives a breath of fresh air. It makes it a lot easier to explain our situation.”

Eric put his hand up for a moment.

“Before shit gets all wacky, goofy and confusing as all hell, you want something to drink, my guy?”

“I see you sipping on some coffee, perhaps some liquor might help warm us up too.” Leon said.

Eric snapped his fingers and pointed in joy.

“My guy!”

He happily walked back into the kitchen. Jack went to go sit again, and couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“What’s funny, young man?” Leon asked.

Jack blew into his hands, and rubbed them.

“Strange is all.”

“In what way?”

The young man stroked his chin, and chuckled again.

“The fact you’re here, in my house speaking with someone who at first sight would have no problem pointing a gun at your face, is what I find laughable.”

“Really? Your uncle’s that paranoid?”

“No, not really. It’s just the supernatural stuff that has him on edge, which is understandable.”

Meanwhile, while the two continued with their conversation, Angela was also coming down from the stairs because of all the commotion. Rubbing an eye, yawning, the young teen made her way down the steps slowly but groaning with each step. She reached the last step and almost lost her footing, catching herself on the stairway wood rail. She sighed and stretched again, letting out a loud yawn but no one heard it because of how soft her voice is. She rubbed her arm, walked halfway in the living room and rubbed her eye.

“Jeez, you guys sure are loud, can’t a girl enjoy her shows and her nap without grown men making such a ruckus!”

Jack and Leon stopped and panned their attention to the grouchy young teen. Leon’s jaw dropped upon first glance, not believing his eyes.

“Wow, they really do look identical, don’t they?” Leon said.

Jack nodded, and knew what Leon was speaking of.

“Frightening, isn’t it?”

Leon squinted his eyes at Angela, and nodded too.

“Only difference is the darkness that dormant within you, isn’t that apparent in her, which is odd.”

Angela’s eyes were still half closed as she finally blinked rapidly to open them again. She blinked some more, and the first person she saw was her brother, which he happily waved to her. She smiled, and once she shifted her head to the older blonde blue eyed gentleman sitting on their couch, Angela froze. At first, she only blinked, then tilted her head, then suddenly…

“Oh… my… god…” she said.

Both men looked at each other, and shrugged.

Angela’s eyes sparkled and grew ten times.

“He’s-he’s—!”

Jack raised a brow and wondered what his sister’s freaking out about. Leon was curious as to why she’s looking at him all googly eyed.

Angela leaped into the living room, and dramatically pointed at Leon.

“He’s like, totally out of a freaking anime man! He’s a hunk!”

Both men gave Angela cold stares, and groaned.

“What?! He’s so not real! I mean, look at him!”

Angela ran up to him, which forced him to back up a little in his seat.

“This is so surreal!”

“Angela, what’s this all about?” Jack asked, giving her a funny face.

Angela crept up to Leon while he forced his pupils to erratically bounce around.

“If you continued watching the silly cartoons you keep calling them, then you’d understand. But to me, this is a moment in which I have to investigate realism.”

She slowly raised a hand, shot out her index finger, and slowly crept it to Leon’s face.

“Must see if he’s real and isn’t artificially made by the goth girls magic.”

She poked Leon’s cheek, and he groaned in response as she repeatadly poked his cheeks.

“He’s real alright.”

She suddenly grabbed his cheeks, and began pulling them. He forced a grin, but the young man could see he was beginning to grow annoyed.

“He’s definitely out of the anime I’m currently watching. He’s got gorgeous yet saddened blue eyes, perfect hair, and he has a face that screams bad boy: Yet that isn’t true from his personality, I know he’s a gentle soul deep down.”

Hearing Angela say that about Leon made him quietly gasp. He couldn’t believe her words and thought she was just being nice because of his good looks. Yet, seeing how his recent actions towards Sarah and even Samantha was beginning to prove her point. His past came back to flash a memory he had stored away, one he remembered with John, the others, and Samantha.

“Am I really, gentle?” he muttered.

It was a clear day at the academy, everyone was sitting at the table, gathering to discuss the tournament when Leon finally arrived at the scene, and with a large pizza box in hand. Everyone was surprised to see the quiet, angry looking shy guy bring them a pizza. Ravana thought it was a trap and tried to secretly blast the box open, but Samantha stood up, and approached the grinning quiet young man. She carefully grabbed the lip of the box, and flipped it open, and everyone applauded.

“Yeah Leon! That’s my buddy!” John shouted.

Samantha smiled, and grabbed a slice. She put the pizza towards his face, and he took a bite of it. She retracted it back and also took a bite, which made the group create embarrassing sounds towards them. But, all that changed when Mandy came into the picture, walking out from behind Leon, and grabbing his hand.

“We both bought it together.”

Samantha froze, and for a brief moment, glared at her, but quickly brought back her adoring nature.

“That’s awfully kind of you two.” Samantha said.

Leon remembered this was before her and Samantha became a thing, before Mandy’s confession and to then mysteriously not remember the month of November entirely during that time. Thinking back at that moment, and with everything that’s happened, how he treated everyone, friends, lover, daughter, Leon could never see himself as a good soul nor being. His actions have spoken louder, and he’s afraid to even think of the heinous human extinction crimes he’s enacted.

It made him squint his eyes for a moment, which Angela knew all too well from Jack’s perspective.

“Well well, we have another troubled mind man in the house.” Angela said.

Leon’s eyes exploded open.

“Hehe, even you make the same confused expressions as my scary brother, how adorable.”

Jack squinted his eyes in annoyance as well as smearing his lips.

Leon blinked, and smiled for Angela.

“Oh wow, you at least have an awesome calm smile any lady would be swooned by! You are straight, not real, stranger.”

Leon shifted his head to Jack.

“You have an amazing, smart sister on your hand.”

Angela blushed, and playfully pushed Leon.

“Stop!”

Jack smiled.

“Hm, I guess you can say that, for now.”

Leon knew what Jack meant by. Angela on the other hand didn’t and glanced at the two, scratching her head.

“Weird, but uh, who’s this guy, bro?”

“Oh, my bad for not introducing him before you fangirled over him.

Angela growled, and crossed her arms.

Leon put his hand up to get Angela’s attention.

“I’ll introduce myself. My name’s Leon Bolverkr, I am Sarah’s father.”

Angela became frozen for a second, then burst into a frenzy, jumping away, and blinking erratically as her eyes grew humongous.

“WHAT?! You’re-you’re the goth girl's dad?!”

Leon laughed seeing her reaction.

“Yes, I am.”

Angela couldn't help but be intrigued when the revelation unfolded before her. She tapped her chin, went up to Leon again to analyze him some more. Leon raised a brow, and Angela began her analysis. She grabbed his hair, ruffled it, gripped his cheeks again, grabbed his face, looked deep into his eyes, which led to Leon to read her past and saw how she was raised in this timeline. Her parents weren’t there from the beginning, instead in their place, she was raised by adoptees since birth. Her childhood was filled with joy, being spoiled until her adopted parents were killed in a car accident, leaving her alone. The shock of seeing them dead had her run away from the scene, and whine up on the streets. Eventually, over time, she was able to be self adopted by a girl named Alexandria who guided her to a new life of extreme danger, yet making it as less frightening as possible. Their actions guided them to Jack Samr, a young troubled teen who happened to bump into them as they both were stealing from the same convenient store.

What a turn of events. These scenarios are almost identical to how the original flow of time went for those two. Leon thought.

Seeing how all three survived together, and eventually leading to the two young teens growing a romance for each other and having Angela jealous really showed just how the two troubled individuals would meet each other regardless of what time or universes they’d end up in.

It’s set by whatever higher power is in place, for them to always be together. It’s imminent yet sad since the two will always have a troubled and saddened past. Leon thought.

Angela pulled away, but decided to touch him one last time by squeezing his arms and chest.

“It’s strange. I still don’t believe it.” she said.

“Is it because of what I think you’re about to say, sis?” Jack asked.

Angela smiled.

“Oh yeah, they have no resemblance whatsoever. She looks so much like her mother that I can’t point out exactly what makes him the father of the supernatural goth girl.”

Leon frowned, feeling a little hurt by Angela’s words.

“But, I did find one thing the two do share in common.”

Leon was eager to hear the answer, and it definitely showed by his big gaze that grew.

“They have the same facial structure beneath that skin. Their smiles are subtle yet gentle, but their gaze is both sorrowed and extremely gentle to stare into.”

Leon’s jaw mildly dropped and briefly averted his gaze.

Who-who is this girl? Leon wondered.

Once he brought his gaze back to Angela, she was smiling ear to ear, and he couldn’t help but return the favour. He patted Angela, which made her blush.

“Thank you.” he said.

His soothing gentle deep tone gave Angela butterflies and wondered how she felt such feelings for a man like him.

“I don’t know what I did, but you almost turned me back straight, sir!” Angela said.

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Leon laughed and Eric just came back in with a platter of coffee cups.

“Ey, whitey can express emotions more than dumbass over there.”

All three laughed while Jack remained annoyed, and expressed an even deeper stillness.

The three enjoyed coffee, chatting, laughing, mentioning more of how dense the young man is, which made him roll his eyes. During their conversation, Angela mentioned more of how she grew up in the streets which also surprised Jack as he heard that Alexandria was closer to her than what he was told. The young man again was beginning to think that it would be better off for him to stay in this timeline than going back to the original flow. Just thinking of how soulless and doll-like his original adopted sister has become. Whatever happens, Jack just hopes that everything will be better off once everything’s resolved. Once the conversation went off the goal post, it was time to get serious, and Angela was the one to bring it back to topic.

“So, Sarah’s been kidnapped, ey?”

All three men got quiet, and Leon deeply sighed.

“Yeah, and I have to find at least one clue as to where they might have her. Your brother has already suffered a lot, but it’s my time and responsibility as a parent to get my precious girl.”

“Oh?” Jack said.

“What?” Leon replied.

Jack grinned.

“About time you show more affection towards Sarah.”

Leon shrugged.

“Mm, lets just keep what I said between us, can we?”

Eric chuckled.

“It’s aight man. Trust me, to get this dumbass over here to show more emotions was tougher than getting hints to a rival’s whereabouts.”

“Ey…”

“He has a point, brother.” Angela exclaimed.

“Alright alright, I get it! Back to the original topic, what can we do to get her location besides the mana you detected, Leon?”

Leon began to think, and lay back on the couch.

“I do have another idea in mind.”

Angela raised her hand.

“Could I assist in your guy’s search?”

Eric exploded out of his seat, and waved his index finger at Angela.

“Like hell you are! You are forbidden to even get involved, lil momma!”

“But uncle?!”

“No buts! Booty! Whatever! Let the grown ups and the irresponsible boyfriend deal with the situation.”

Angela pouted, and crossed her arms in a sassy manner.

“Pueh…”

“Eric’s right, Angela. It’s my duty as her closest friend to get her back, no matter what. And with the help of her dad, I’m damn sure we’ll get her back to safety.”

Angela frowned.

“I get it, I get it, but don’t knock me over for wanting to help out. Even though I pick on her, I don’t really hate her.”

Angela grinned.

“Throughout the years, I’ve really grown to admire her. She’s not only just a goth girl, she’s my friend. And as much as I hate to admit this, but if I had to choose all the gosh darn girls around you, although I question if they’re your actual friends or a harem you’re ignorantly building, Sarah’s the only one I would rather ship with you.”

Eric side nodded with a smug grin.

“Lil mommas got a point. If I’d approve of any of the females you’re around with, it’d be her.”

Leon looked away, but grinned in agreement.

“Lets not divert from the goal post here, guys. We gotta figure out my daughter's situation. Eric, was it? From the west side of where your home is currently set, what information do you have of that area?”

Eric reached for his coffee, and casually sipped it.

“Ahh, the west side of where we are huh?”

He smacked his lips, and grabbed his chin.

“Shit, it's been a minute since I’ve been westside of Michigan. But, the last I remember from one of my new recruits was that the area was bought off by some rich dude, and they had to force people to sell their homes.”

“Bought by some rich dude? Hmm.”

Jack chimed in, and raised his hand.

“When you mean bought out and forced, do you mean a neighborhood or an entire area?”

“He probably means the whole damn area if whoever’s behind the purchase happens to be who I think it is.”

“Yeah, you’re on the money, my guy. Anyways, the last bit he gave me was that it was bought out two years ago, and when he wanted to revisit the area, it became nothing but long roads and grasslands.”

“So, it was him Afterall.” Leon murmured.

“Shits kinda freaky and sad if you ask me. Whoever bought it has no heart because he put a lot of good people out in the streets.”

“That damn Ravana, why would he wipe out an entire area off the map for? Unless that’s where he’s hiding in secresty.”

Yet, I can’t be bothered by thinking of it making it that noticeable. He wouldn’t do something like that unless he’s doing something huge, and knowing his fragile ego, it’s gotta be something big.

“That fool has to be doing something cataclysmic.” Leon said.

“Well, whatever it is, for him to wipe out an entire area like that?! I ain’t messing with that, no way. And Jack, don’t even think I’m lending you the poor bastards that are already in our group to help ya.”

Leon chuckled.

“Wouldn’t do them no good anyways. We’re up against an army.”

“Say what?” Angela said.

“Hold hold, hold up! Whatchu mean by army?! Like they got lots of folks with weapons? Or are you guys dealing with an army of spooky ass folks like his family?!” Eric said by pointing at Leon.

Jack didn’t answer since he knew the repercussions. Leon shook his head.

“We’re dealing with at least no more than thirteen thousand of these people. And from the ones I’ve encountered, they’re stronger than Ravana was when I was just a young adult.”

Eric turned pale, and put his hands out.

“Yeah… I’m out of this conversation now. You guys deal with it on ya own, no offence.”

“Non taken, friend.” Leon replied.

“It’s not like I want to help ya, but I can’t risk putting up lives like that when they can be just as easily disaposed of than they already are by the crime drenched streets.”

Angela clutched her head.

“Ooo, what do we do, what do we do to get her back? It almost seems impossible to get her back if you two are going alone.”

Jack got up from his seating to go sit next to his sister to comfort her.

“Angela, don’t worry about it. Leon and I will figure a way through this.”

“It’s not like I don’t have faith in you two, but it’s hard to believe when you’re up against an army like that! Jeez, and from the anime I've watched it always ends up with someone dying.”

Seeing Angela’s disgruntled face hit home for Leon. He’s seen the same expression during dire times when he was mentioned in meetings or by the academy boards when it came to his destructive nature. Hearing the fear, seeing the scare, all because he was deemed an impossible force of nature that no man or being can contain almost made him want to flee the world and its complexities. But, two people were there to tell everyone that Leon was not impossible to contain nor defeat, rather they could find possibilities to control his power. The two in question were John, and Mandy who did everything to convince the world around them that Leon wasn’t a demon, a God of destruction sent from the sky to punish reality of its Sins. Yet not even they could contain his anger and power. Yet, one being did by her action, and as much as he hates to admit it, Samantha proved everyone wrong by subduing Leon to a soft and gentle state. Remembering her crimson eyes glistening at him at the end of the tournament almost made him explode in anger for a moment.

He took a deep breath, and stood up.

“Angela, is it?”

Angela lowered her hands, and brought her gaze up to Leon. Despite his eyes being empty earlier, she saw a small hint of life in them shine.

“I also forgot to mention that they’re not going up against just Leon Bolverkr…”

Leon’s eyes flickered for a moment, and their entire living room was transverse into a floating paradox of his dwelling mana.

“... they’re going up against bolverkr, the destroyer. And I will show them the hell that awaits me.”

Eric tried controlling his fear, but it quickly overtook him, and he drew his gun. Jack held Angela, but her eyes glistened, and she slowly smiled for Leon. Leon controlled his mana, and their living room returned back to normal. Angela leaped out of Jack’s clutch, and stood in front of Leon. She grabbed his hands, and held their rough nature.

“I don’t think they’re going up against this destroyer you and everyone else labels. They’re about to be up against a father who cares deeply about his daughter, and there's no greater threat than a dad in search of the kidnappee.”

Leon gasped, and averted his gaze to whip his eye before any liquid could decide to come out. For the first time in his life, Leon wasn’t labeled by the very name that would freeze the bone marrow in people's limbs. Instead he was told that he’s just a dad finding the person who kidnapped his daughter. Hearing it made him feel so emotional that he wanted to deliberately teleport out of the home to go cry his eyes out. He resisted and felt that it was better to accept the compliment and play it cool as he always did.

He patted Angela, and looked over to Jack.

“Strange, isn’t it?”

The young man at first didn’t understand what he meant, until he saw Leon’s eyes shift to his sister who also looked confused. Jack’s face turned still and he nodded in agreement to Leon.

“I know, but it’s better this way.”

“Indeed, indeed it is, young man.”

Angela looked at both, and shrugged.

“What in the heck are you guys talking about?”

The two only grinned and Jack got up.

“Eric, where’s the long gun at?”

Eric jolted his head over his shoulder.

“In the shed, top attic. What? About to leave already?”

“Yeah, we don’t have much time. We gotta resolve this before that crazy red eyed asshole decides to do something the world hasn’t seen since the year 2000.” Leon said.

Eric tilted his head.

“Shit, what would that be?”

Leon brought his hand up, and clutched it.

“Resurrect the most vile being alive…”

The three waited in response. Jack knew who he was about to say, Angela wondered who he was about to mention, Eric looked nervous and afraid. Leon unballed his hand, and reached into his pocket, pulling out his wedding ring. He lightly threw it on the table, it rolled, and settled on the wooden table.

“My now ex wife, and once a foe feared by man…”

Leon closed his eyes, and the image of Abyzou being born from the darkened skies through a blackhole, emerging like a goddess but was humanities unfathomable doom: Just seeing her ghostly body and platinum hair flutter as she decended from darkness and her skin being the source of light to the universe once again, sent Leon into a trance of fear. Her glowing crimson eyes, her still face, yet the gentle thin manical smile on her face as she glared at the world that took the one thing she cared for most in life, her ultimate achievement made her produce a laugh that still haunts Leon’s dreams.

“NO!” he screamed as she was reaching for his frozen body while everyone else behind him was a statue.

Abyzou grabbed his face, and gave him a kiss that put him out of the entire catacalsmic event. Jack saw a tear slip through his eyelid, and Eric could see his eyes quiver. Leon took a quick breath, and opened his reddened eyes that made Angela feel bad for his unkown trauma.

“... Abyzou.”

Jack frowned and began walking towards the kitchen.

“Eric, think you can lend us your car?”

Eric was frozen with fear for a moment. He quickly snapped out of it and shook his head to Jack.

“Absolutely no, my stupid ass nephew.”

“Why? I mean, there isn’t any other car besides the Escalade?”

“Actually, there is. I just bought it yesterday. You didn’t see it on the driveway on your way up?”

“Mm, no?”

Angela ran up to the window to see the car in question.

“Ooo, it’s all used and abused!”

“Wait wait, let me see.”

Jack went up to the window, and stood behind his sister. He saw an early 2000s Buick lasabre and cringed.

“Ahh, are you fucking kidding me?”

“Haha, I’m not. Like what you see?”

“Eric, what the hell did you buy that for?”

Eric got up from his seating and winked at Leon.

“What else for? It’s the new daily driver/beater.”

Jack couldn’t help but express his disappointment by heavily walking away and walking past his uncle without saying another word.

“Ahh, you guys will be aight! The car may look rough, but I can guarantee that it’ll make it to your goal.”

“Hopefully, but if it can’t, then I’ll be forced to use my powers.”

“Fair enough.” Eric replied.

Angela turned around to the two who were smiling at her.

“Eh, I don’t think it’s that bad.”

Eric covered his eyes with his giant forearm.

“Man, I don’t deserve such an amazing niece like her! She’s perfect.”

“Uncle, you’re embarrassing me…”

Leon couldn’t help but smile more. Seeing Angela in front of the window made his broken mind flash a scene he hadn’t seen since Sarah’s early days. Standing in the same pose, but gripping the curtain was his six year old daughter, curiously staring at him. He had his coat over his shoulder, and he could feel her curious gaze scan him. She gently let go of the curtain and bowed to him without saying a word. At that moment, for the first time he made the first move on her and raised his hand.

“Hi,” he said.

She quickly raised up, and expressed a smile only seen by Samantha.

“H-hi!”

Her adorable smile and soft giggling faded out and Angela was once again present. Leon reached into his pants pocket and pulled his wallet out, opening it to find a small cut photo of Sarah he secretly had hidden from Samantha.

“Don’t worry Sarah, I’m coming for you.”

***

A couple of hours have passed, and the two determined men were on their way to find Sarah’s location. Heading deep into both enemy territories for equal sides, at this point, there’s nothing that can stop them. Driving a beat up car in the condition Jack feared is showing its weaknesses already from a long trip like this. The car rattles over bumps, it has a bad vibration going near a hundred miles an hour, and it tends to overheat every hour. They had to make stops and let the car rest for a minimum of thirty minutes which slowed down their trip significantly. Again, the car was overheating, and the two decided to make a pit stop to a gas station.

“Piece of shit car, damn it Eric.” Jack said.

Leon chuckled.

“I guess we didn’t have a choice since we need to make an element of surprise.”

“Yeah, but he should’ve at least lent me the regular car, not this hunk of junk shitbox.”

“Hey, give the ol gal a break. She’s probably sensitive and felt your negative emotions about her.”

“Heh, whatever. Let's chill I guess.”

They parked the car at a gas pump, and got out. Leon observed their surroundings and let out his frustrations through the gap of his mouth. His breath was shown, meanwhile, Jack went inside the gas station to give money to the clerk so they could put gas. While he was inside, he wanted to grab a bite to eat, and thought that Leon would like something as well. Outside, Leon leaned against the car, his hands tucked into his pockets, and his eyes gazed upon the grey sky.

“Hmph, this is a strange feeling indeed.”

Leon became fascinated by the sad sky, enough for him to remember what it was like to be loved by his deceased parents he hardly remembers. Yet remembering their joy, yet strict nature overcome their generosity made him grunt for a moment. As far as remembering them, at least those memories remained. But, he knew everything that they did was to teach him to become the man he had potential to be. The same feeling of love and care was felt the same, but more potent when he thought Samantha and him were an actual thing. That’s until he found out he was nothing more than a vessel to her greedy ambition.

“Samantha…” he muttered.

Hearing her soft giggles again, her soothing gentle voice brushing his ear drums, it almost made him burst with anger as usual. Yet, his mind, his emotions didn’t fight him, it was his heart that screech at Leon to stop but reminisce everything that she's done for him, as of recently. Leon did, and everything she's done the past year had him bang the side of the car, gently. Although, people nearby that were also getting gas could tell that he was going through something.

A black woman who was parked at the pump next to them heard, and decided to confront Leon’s scowled expression.

“Hey, you okay honey?” she asked.

Leon stopped, and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Yeah, I’m okay, thanks for asking.”

She observed Leon’s build, and grew intrigued by his timid yet strong appearance.

“Ooo, you fine as hell for a white boy.”

Leon rolled his eyes, but a small smirk appeared at the edge of his lips.

“Ahhh, you shy too?! Man, that’s so cute! What’s yo name, honey?”

Leon also scanned her from head to toe, and found her outfit provocative. Her revealing tank top with thin strings barely hanging on from her hung breasts, her short athletic shorts showing off her thick curves made Leon look away for a second to catch himself. She was a fairly attractive woman despite the wig she had on. When he looked back at her, her big dark eyes were eyeing him like a sexual predator and her genuine pearl white smile made Leon almost fall for her seductiveness. He composed himself, forced a cough and shrugged.

“Leon, what’s yours?”

She smiled ear to ear, and closed more distance between them.

“Ooo, I love your voice. My name is Michelle, like French, know what I’m saying?!”

Her accent and the way she spoke with her hands made Leon grin more.

“That’s a sweet name, sorry if I was showing my frustrations.”

She waved her hand, and decided to stand and lean against the car with Leon.

“You good honey, we all got problems. So, what’s a handsome man like you doing out here. You definitely ain’t from around here with the outfit you got on.”

Her scent hit Leon. It was both pleasant, and a nuisance to his nose. She smelled sweet, like honey and to that of early spring, yet you can depict the odor of marijuana beneath her perfume.

“No, I’m from the outer city limits, suburbs, mainly the eastside of Michigan.”

“Mm, you from the nice side, rich folks side.”

“I-I guess you can say that.”

“Now that we both made a nice introduction, how about I ask you again, why a man like you is all the way out here?”

Leon didn’t seem to mind sharing information with someone as confident yet strong as her. From the first words out of her mouth to who she acts, Leon knew that this woman has also gone through a lot in her early years.

“I don’t know if you’ll believe me if I told you the truth baby.”

She went ballistic when he called her baby and clung onto his arm.

“Don’t tease me! Goddamn, the way you said that sounded so mmm. And trust me honey, I’ve gone through more than enough to not judge anyone or what situations they’ve gone through. We’re in Michigan and that’s enough to say we are all brothers and sisters despite colour.”

“You’re right, heh. I’m out here because my daughter’s been kidnapped.”

She got serious and rubbed Leon’s arm.

“No, that can’t be true? A man like you, shit, who would dare take they kid from someone as strong, tough, sexy looking like you?”

“A dumbass guy who thinks he can one up me, a guy whom I thought we were at least pals, but soon I found out all he wanted to do was fuck my ex-wife and have her all to himself. Shit, he can have her, I don’t care, I just want my daughter back.”

“See?! And that’s the shit that pisses me off! It be the closest ones that stab you like that. Yeah, fuck her! Who would wanna divorce someone as fine as you?!”

Leon laughed.

“You got it wrong. I divorced her and for good reason.”

She bounced her eyebrows and caressed Leon’s chest.

“That means you single? Mm, which means I can have more than just a taste?”

Leon knew better to not be tempted by her advances and seduction. Although, he couldn’t help but get a little touch by grabbing her butt, which made her giggle.

“Well, more of an odd situation since I haven’t heard of my current lover, which does have me on edge.”

“Sweety, let's not talk about that, whoever you with, right now, we gots the hots for each other. So how about I take you back to my house, and show you a better time than your wife or current girl ever could.”

Leon squinted his eyes and smacked his teeth.

“I-I can’t right now, I’m on a mission and have to find my girl.”

“You right. Okay, how about we take it next door.”

Leon looked straight and saw her SUV. Her windows were tinted enough to not be seen by the outside world. Leon gave in to his temptations and the two began kissing, grabbing each other. They made out their way till they reached her SUV. She opened the rear passenger door and the two quickly leaped in, shutting the door behind them.

Twenty minutes had passed and Jack had just left the gas station. He had two bags of goodies with him and a drink in hand. During the entire time he was using the restroom and window shopping stupid things such as new knives or what souvenir Angela would enjoy.

“If we were going any longer, I would’ve definitely shat myself.”

He looked around, and saw the car still parked and saw the car's gas door flipped open, but Leon was vacant.

“Did he not fill up? Huh, I wonder where he could’ve gone off to?”

Jack walked to the pumps and on his way to the car, he saw the red SUV with dark tinted windows shaking and wobbling. Jack raised a brow and only rolled his eyes. He was next to his car and put the bags away by putting them through the open passenger window. He began pumping gas and the creaking and rattling of the SUV was beginning to get on his nerves.

“Whatever’s happening in there. Wait, I don’t wanna know.”

Once the car was filled up, and the handle clicked, the SUV stopped moving. Jack turned away as soon as the door opened with Leon coming out, casually putting his shirt back on. He brushed his hair with his finger tips, and sighed.

“Oh, Jack’s returned.” he said.

She came out behind him, heavily breathing.

“You… can’t just leave me hanging like this boo!”

She panted, and put her hand on her chest while adjusting the spaghetti string strap over her shoulder.

“My god… I ain’t never had it like that.”

“Apologies. But, I’m pretty rough when it comes to sex.”

She was biting her bottom lip, and gave Leon eyes any man would love to be looked at.

“Ain’t no way in hell I’m letting you go outta my life that easy baby.”

She grabbed Leon’s hand, put something in it and closed it. She grabbed his face and tongue kissed him.

“Call me whenever you feel lonely. Or maybe settle down with someone like me, a woman who can take care of you.”

She giggled and bounced her brows at him.

“Good luck finding your baby girl, I pray to God you’ll get her back safely.”

She adjusted her breasts and went into the driver seat of her vehicle. Leon stopped her from leaving. He pulled out his wallet, and gave her something. At first, she didn’t know what it was until she saw it was a check. The number on it almost made her pass out and she began hyperventilating.

“oh … my god.” she mumbled.

Leon nodded and grabbed her chin.

“It’s just a token of my gratitude. Thank you for putting a smile on my face today, sweetheart.”

Jack happened to be watching, and his face was scrunched up as he was watching them kiss and say goodbye. She waved happily to Leon as he made his way back to Jack’s car and jumped in. Jack's face scrunched, he squinted in disgust. The young man wiggled his lips and leaned towards Leon.

“Don’t tell me you were just?”

Leon put his hand up to Jack’s face, and Jack couldn’t help but reel away.

“Dude! I don’t know where those hands have been!”

“Don’t tell me you’re so dense that you don’t even know what sex is too?”

“I do know what sex is, thank you very much.”

“Yet you don’t know what love is?”

“N-n…o? Well, I think I’m starting to understand it.”

Leon made the same face back to Jack.

“If I didn’t take a look back at your past, then I would be calling you the biggest dumbass on God’s green earth.”

“Hey…”

“And my apologies for the dilemma. I had to relieve myself, I have to get some, you know what I mean?”

“I guess, but…”

“But what? Still a virgin? I mean it’s okay, save yourself for that special someone.”

“No no, of course not. My uncle made me lose it when I was sixteen. Then, it sorta became a casual occurrence whenever I had the urge to just fuck.”

Leon couldn’t help but laugh. Hearing how the young man is fully aware of intimacy yet has little knowledge of love made his funny bones ache.

“So, you’ve racked up a lot already I’m assuming.”

Jack shrugged.

“I guess. I mean, I’ve probably fucked more woman than you have since you’ve been trapped in a prisoned marriage.”

“Who said I wasn’t relieving myself during these dark ages I’ve experienced?”

Jack’s eyes grew big.

“No way! You still had sex even when married?”

“Oh yeah, and I’ve slept with hundreds. To be honest, I’ve lost count. Can you really blame me? A mans gotta get some, especially in my case when you’re married to Samantha, the most gorgeous woman on this planet. Of course I still got a hard on despite hating her guts.”

Jack’s surprised to hear that, but couldn’t hold his actions against him given his situation.

“Yeah, guess that’s fair. Ahh, enough of this nasty talk, we gotta get moving. Still the same direction?”

Leon stuck his head out the window and felt the mana surge growing in the same direction.

“Yeah, and we better hurry. Seems like they’re cooking up something already.”

“Got it.”

Jack gunned it and they skidded out of the gas station and were back on the freeway. They drove for miles on end and what seemed to be an eternity, especially with the frequent pauses of the car overheating in between. As time passed, they started seeing the sky grow greyer and Jack could finally feel something in the air, a hot and cold sensation coming from where they’re heading. It started to worry him about Sarah’s safety and he crossed his fingers that they weren’t harming or using Sarah in any sort of way. Unfortunately, the car’s motor started smoking and horribly misfire. Hearing the car slowly die made Jack panic and angrily slam his palm repeatedly on the steering wheel. Leon deeply sighed and dragged his hand across his face.

“Goddamn it!” Jack shouted.

They pulled over to the side of the road and the car finally died. It rolled on its own, forcing them off the road and stopping in a ditch.

“Shit… thanks a lot, uncle.”

In frustration, Jack got out of the car, and slammed the door shut. He went to the hood and opened the engine bay while Leon calmly got out of the passenger seat and gazed to the sky.

“We can still use my powers. I think at this point, the element of surprise won’t do us any good.”

Jack’s face was blown with steam and he grunted loudly and walked to Leon.

“I… guess. Let me just get my mini 14 and we can fly or whatever you have to do to get us over there.”

As Jack went into the car, reaching into the rear passenger seat to get his rifle, Leon sensed another presence of mana approaching them from where they were coming from. He curiously walked out of the hump of the side road and stood near the edge of the empty freeway. He looked deeper by squinting his eyes and hovering his hand over them. He saw a vehicle approaching their way, fast and once it was coming towards the hazy horizon, he knew what was approaching them.

“That damn SUV is coming.”

“What?!” Jack shouted.

Jack quickly ran up the hump with the rifle in hand and once he had a better visual of the black Tahoe coming to them, his blood began to boil.

“Alright, that’s it. Fuck that truck, I'm taking that bitch down!”

Jack aimed his rifle, but Leon quickly forced the barrel down, which made Jack furrowed his brows.

“No, let me handle it. I told you, this is my problem now. Plus, I want to talk to whoever is driving that thing.”

Jack’s furious but he backs away and Leon slowly walks into the road. He made his way to the middle, and began to menacingly walk towards the oncoming vehicle. Leon glared at the SUV and started to feel the mana inside it more and it brought back a feeling he hadn’t sensed in a while.

“No, it couldn’t be.”

Leon slowly raised the palm of his hand, and knitted his brows.

“But if it is, then I hope you have a prayer ready to say—”

Once Leon had his hand aimed at the SUV, Jack suddenly emerged from the edge of his picky tip, and began to take aim at the SUV.

“Jack, wait are you—what, no!”

Jack began firing at the SUV and his bullets made impact all over the front end of the vehicle until both front tires were shot out. The SUV lost control once the tires exploded and began swerving towards Leon. He jumped out of the way once the SUV skidded past him. It began rolling multiple times on and then off the road. Parts of the SUV flew into the air, glass shattered, parts of plastic and metal flunge everywhere as it kept rolling. Jack ran towards the tumbling SUV and it landed on its side towards some trees after rolling two more times.

Leon ran after Jack before he could do something stupid.

“Jack, wait!”

Jack ran towards the front of the vehicle and saw someone crawling out of the front broken windshield, desperately trying to crawl away.

“You think you can keep following us and get away with it?!”

Jack quickly braked himself and aimed the rifle at the bloodied and bruised man who rolled on his backside.

“You’re time’s up, asshole!”

Leon leaped in front of Jack, slapping the barrel away and grabbed Jack’s arm.

“Jack, relax! I want to talk to him.”

Jack’s eyes were glinting and they were quaking.

“Talk?! Talk! But he’s been following your daughter for who knows how long? And now that we have the bastard, you want to talk to him?”

Leon was calm and nodded to Jack.

“I think I know this asshole. Just, relax and let me talk to him.”

Jack shut his mouth and forced a grin.

“Okay…” he weakly said.

Leon turned to the groaning familiar man. He approached him and lunged his hands, grabbing his cloak and forcing up to his feet. He slammed him against the SUV and grabbed his bloodied face.

“Sacramento, you piece of shit! Why?!”

He weakly coughed but laughed.

“Why… what?” he repeated.

“Why are you working with Ravana?!”

“Is… isn’t it-it obvious? What else for, Bolverkr.”

Leon slammed him again onto the roof of the SUV, denting it.

“You idiots think reviving the Sin Of Envy would cleanse the world and make it a paradise for sickos like all of you?! Are all of you that stupid?!”

He coughed out blood, and grabbed Leon’s wrist.

“All… hail Abyzou! Our mother of creation and destroyer of worlds.”

“Where’s my daughter, where are they keeping her, and if you don’t answer that, I’ll remind you who you’re dealing with.”

He let out one more chuckle before erasing his smile and grew serious.

“Da-daughter? Wh…at are you talking about? We have Samantha.”

“No, it’s my daughter Sarah that you’ve spied on, followed, and taken away!”

He looked genuinely confused and surprised by what Leon was telling him.

“N-no, it can’t be. You’re lying Leon! Its Samantha we have, you’re-you’re just fucking with me like you always have!”

“Damn it Sacramento! Listen to me! Where’s my daughter.”

He growled and averted his gaze for a moment.

“What’s the point in telling you? We’ll all end up dead anyways.”

Leon took a deep breath and let go of him. He also let go of Leon’s wrist.

“Because I can save you all before Ravana does something that’ll make all of you regret ever associating with him.”

His lips quivered, his legs trembled as he battled his mixed emotions.

“Even if I could… I can’t, Leon. He’d, he’d—”

“Sacramento, please, just tell me so I can teleport there now and end this all.”

He clenched his fists and shut his eyes for a moment before speaking again.

“I… I…”

Leon gently put his hand on his shoulder.

“Please, Sacramento. She needs me.”

He opened his eyes and looked at Leon’s quivering eyes.

“I’m sorry, I—”

A gunshot went off and his brain was splattered behind him. He collapsed to the side with blood gushing out his nostrils and headshot wound. Leon’s eyes were wide as he turned round to Jack and he clenched his teeth.

“No no no no!”

He angrily stomped up to Jack and pushed him.

“What the fuck is the matter with you?!”

Leon grabbed his shirt, and yanked him off his feet just an inch off the ground.

“I said I wanted to—talk to him!”

Leon’s bottom neck was stretched, his eyebrows deeply knitting as he glared at the young man who’s expression was as cold as Leon’s eyes.

“You talked…” Jack replied.

He pulled off of Leon’s grip and walked past him, starting to dig into the dead man's pockets.

Leon can’t believe that Jack would causally kill a man in front of him like that. The repercussions, potential findings for his daughter’s location: these were things Leon could’ve gotten even if still refused to expose the truth. Leon rushed to Jack, and stood in front of him, clenching his fists.

“Why, why would you do that?”

Jack continued trying to find anything that’ll help them in their search for Sarah.

“I saw that the conversation was going nowhere. And with time starting to dwindle, the air growing more intense by the passing minutes, I saw nothing more, something preventing us from advancing.”

“And that gives the right to kill him?”

“Leon, I’m sorry, but time’s running out.”

Jack got back on his feet, and scrunched his face. Leon tilted his head and pointed at his old aquitances body.

“What the fuck is the point when earlier you were all normal and grinning. Then, you suddenly turn into a stone cold killer and throw everything like that?! What the hell boy.”

Jack shook his head.

“Leon, you’ve seen into my mind, my memories. I’m a fucked up kid, one who doesn’t think too much of his actions. I always talk last because where I grew up, a majority of the time, it was just time wasted.”

Jack went up to Leon’s face.

“Your daughter is out there because of my carelessness. You were killed because of my failure to protect her.”

“Jack, I already told you that it isn’t—”

“Stop… Leon. No matter how many times you repeat it, the guilt that I have for what has happened these past two months is immeasurable to the amount of pain caused by my actions—alone! I’m a murdering, drug dealing, drug addicted, fucked up kid who just once, wants to ensure safety and prosperity for at least one person whom he deeply cares about.”

Leon stayed quiet and saw the hurt that was swelling in the young man's eyes.

“I already failed with my sister, I failed to keep my life a secret to my closest friends, but losing your daughter and seeing you killed… that was the tip of the straw that broke the camel's back.”

Leon groaned and put his hands on his hips, glancing around erratically to calm his anger.

“Please, Leon.”

Leon cooled down enough to look back at the young man.

“I hope getting my daughter back will solve that dumb guilt you’ve got going on.”

Jack frowned, but quickly regained a smile.

“I know it will. And on top of that, I hope I can also make you proud, Leon Bolverkr.”