The drive to freedom felt endless. The hours were long, boring, and painful for the two men. Pain from their injuries, one having mental torture, combating it and overcoming the battles being fought, the other having the urge to rip his own arm off. Jack felt like passing out in the middle of the drive, but kept his eyes open to stay awake from the torturing pained bordom. Eric’s been on and off on his napping, mainly from his injuries disturbing his recovery, but more notably, that man who stood back on his feet after getting shot. It kept giving him sudden nightmares, ones in which he took his life or tortured Angela. No matter what the uncle did to help himself or her, he’d always rise from the dead and enact utter silent violence.

Eric felt irritated and expressed it by slamming his fist on the already cracked dash, breaking it. “Damn man, are we almost there? I can’t keep this boring ass drive no more. I don’t remember it ever being this long of a drive, tch.”

Jack glimpsed at the gas gauge and saw it was nearing its end. “Yeah, me neither, but if we don’t get there sooner; We’re going to be walking at this rate.”

“Ah, that’s just great. More bullshit, whatever, I just want to get away from all this nonsense—my simple mind can’t keep this up the longer we stay behind these walls.”

Jack’s chest bursted in pain and the young man’s vision became engulfed in swirling purple darkness momentarily. Eric saw that the truck was starting to sway to the left, going off the road. He looked at Jack who had his mouth open, drooling and gasping for air. He slapped Jack’s back and that helped him come back to reality. Quickly Jack drove the truck back on the road before he almost lost control of the vehicle. Jack hung his head but kept the truck straight while his uncle twitched an eye at him, feeling annoyed.

“The hell's wrong with chu man?! Don’t die mid drive when I’m still kicking, dumby!”

Jack’s breathing felt heavy, he clutched his chest and closed an eye. No… not now, my che—wait a minute?!

The young man coughed black and then as he looked up again he saw it; The reminisce of his past. Clouds of black hovering the skies once afar were just miles ahead. His hand trembled on the steering wheel, he knew exactly what’s causing those clouds if he just coughed the same colour of the same fluff that’s fogging his mind. Jack wondered why he felt so afraid, it felt vexing. He takes a deep breath to relax himself so he can drive properly without causing an accident.

Relax Jack… you’ve got this, don’t worry or else it’ll just show that you’re weak.

They drove for thirty minutes that felt like an hour and night’s approaching close from the dropping sun over the horizon of the darkness. They were almost to their destination that even the colour from before was fading away. Jack stopped the truck at the border of black, he knew something wasn’t right, his chest felt heavy, the pores in his skin began leaking. He turns to Eric who’s on another nap. Jack slowly opens the door and gets out without making too much sound despite the creaking of the door.

At the moment, he’s staring straight at the depths of permanent nightfall, sensing the very being who’s made his life a living hell. She’s in there alright… the growing pain in my chest, feeling nostalgic, confirms it.

He walks in front of the truck. The headlights were barely denting the thick mass of black, but enough to let him see the road. Jack could barely see but he could make out the shapes of what made the town up ahead. He gazed up at the sky, watching the phenomena of completely dark clouds, pulsing veins of purple lighting within them. He reaches into his pocket and pulls the cross out which felt hot and glowed brightly.

Okay, so long as I have this I’ll be safe…

Jack clutches the cross, and lowers his arm to the side. With everything from the pain in his chest, the burden of guilt, and more notably, the glowing cross, all this confirmed that the girl in white is in the town. Jack tucks the cross back in the pocket of his coat and walks back in the truck, gently closing the door and crossing the border of faded darkness. He drives in, making his way to the town at a slow pace. It only took Jack five minutes to get to the entrance of the town, but the moment Jack’s closing in the town’s vicinity, the cross was getting hotter in his pocket.

Eric finally woke up and rubbed his eyes and saw the incredibly dark town in front of him. “Ey! When the hell?! Oh hell no!”

“Uncle, relax, we’re almost—”

Eric’s in shock and couldn’t help but bulge his eyes in terror. “Yo yo yo! Do not fucking move this truck! My guy, what’s going on in there?”

Jack nervously shook his head and turned to Eric with eyes filled with fear, “Well, we’re here and… she’s here, the girl in my dreams.”

Eric gasped in fear and looked back at the town then stuck his head out the window to look all around them. After reeling the mess they were in, he stuck his head back in without an expression on his face. For a moment he looked calm, confident, it even made Jack raise a brow towards his uncle. Then Eric couldn’t contain himself and let out his fear in a single yell that made Jack squirm away. He’s never seen his uncle this terrified before, it was almost comical to the young man that he silently snickered.

Releasing his fear, and emptying it, Eric slammed himself against the truck’s single chair and deeply sighs. “You mean to tell me, she can do shit like this?”

Jack nods and grins, but not in enjoyment but in scare.

Eric rolled his eyes and head, dragging his big hand across his face. “Oh hell no. What type of shit is this man!”

“Uncle, I told you that things we’re going to be complex. I thought you said you were ready to face this new truth?”

“Since when?! You’re fucking delusional, my guy!”

“Oh sweet, you’ve forgiven me now. Neat.”

“Forgive what fool! Turn this bitch around, we'll find another way out of these zones!”

When Eric turned to Jack, he couldn’t believe how afraid someone like Jack was, he’s never seen the young man this shook before.

“You alright my guy?” said Eric in a more calm tone.

Jack leaned his head against the steering wheel, contemplating this choice the two made. “This may be our only chance to get out of here and escape Dr. Cato’s sight, we have no other choice… uncle Eric.”

Jack puts the truck in drive and gently presses the gas pedal. He drove the truck slowly into the dark town, the headlights could barely penetrate the foggy darkness.

“And yes, I’m cool man… I’m cool, for now…” replied Jack.

Driving slowly and observing the surroundings, noticing how eerily quiet the entire town was, Eric clenched his pants as he trembled with fear. Jack stayed cool but truthfully the young man was ready to shit his britches.

Eric pulled his gun out and glanced all around as Jack drove the truck as slow as possible. “Just take it steady and slow, alright. We shouldn’t be too far from that spot. Damn man, I hate spooky shit like this.”

As they drove through the darkness, they could hear faint giggling from every corner along with cries of sorrow mixing in with those giggles of broken innocence. Eric felt petrified and had no clue Jack knew about stuff like this and wondered if this was what he’s seen, experience throughout his entire life. Jack kept taking deep breaths to steady his breathing so he wouldn’t allow her to detect his fear and heartbeat since she knew his heart very well from all the lucid/vivid nightmares she’s created. Eric helped Jack out to the spot by pointing directions to its location, when to turn or to keep going straight. Eric did his best to remember that spot he saw a couple of months ago. He hoped that it wasn’t blocked off or patched up so they could finally get the hell out of this mess.

“Man, I fucking hate this shit. Hopefully we’ll get closer or else I’ll actually piss my pants, my guy!” Eric took a cigarette out and lit it up, smoking his fear away. “Damn that hits the spot.”

The giggling, the crying got louder little by little the closer they got to their supposed destination. Eric, feeling worried and Jack filled with fear, knew if they screwed up, they won’t know what’ll happen to them or any possibilities to that degree. They were gaining close by the looks of Eric’s description and directing. Eric orders Jack to stop the truck and to turn it off.

Eric pointed down the street to the pizza shop Angela liked. “What now? Why’d you make me stop the truck? For pizza.” said Jack.

“No dumbass. You see that? Shine high beams at it and you’ll see that hole in the wall.”

Jack shook his head and did what his uncle told him and the moment Jack shined the high beams on the spot, a smoky girly figure appeared right in front of the store, scaring the life out of the two. Jack immediately turned off the headlights of the truck and the two ducked as soon as he turned them off. Both their bodies trembled uncontrollably from the spooky sight. They wondered if they were spotted and had no idea if she’s going to approach them or in Jack’s case, punish him if it was the girl in white that they saw.

Fuck, was that her? If it was, did she find me?! Jack wondered.

Jack peaks up and turns the lights on again and it’s gone. The young man places his palm over his face out of relief. Eric peaked too and his eyes bounced abruptly, seeing if the coast’s truly clear. Seeing the pure colour of black being the present thing in front of them felt relieving and the two opened their doors and stepped out. Eric was more cautious when he opened his and gently closed his door while Jack casually slammed it shut, making Eric shush his nephew. Eric looked around and gazed up at the sky, noticing there were no stars or any sight of the moon.

“Yo, where the fucks the sky?!”

Jack shushes Eric now, getting back at him for shushing him. “You just noticed now?”

“Don’t you shush me you lil—!”

“Keep it down will you? Whatever it was, if it was the girl, she still might be around. To answer your question, it’s those clouds, remember?” Jack began sneaking forward and Eric quickly followed to step in front of him.

“Nu uh bitch. You follow me, remember.” Jack shrugs and follows behind with his uncle instead and both sneak to their destination.

Walking through the black streets, corner to corner, tipping toeing to their destination on edge. Both men were so alert even the slightest sound, scratch, bristling made them go into a silent panic. After a small walk session of nerve racking endurances, they were just a couple feet from that spot. The taste of freedom never felt so good to the two. Eric reaches into his bag and pulls out a flashlight and shines it at the pizza place and sees blood writing of Jack’s name all over the inside of it, freaking Eric out.

Eric looks back at Jack with widened eyes and a grimace. “You weren’t kidding… she’s obsessed with you, my guy!”

Jack moans, seeing the creepy sight unfold as his uncle shined at every bloodied writing. “Yeah I know… I’m freaked out about it as well.”

His uncle shivers himself and stops shining at the dreadful sight that fills a stalked person's nightmares.

Jack spots the hole just to the right of the building that Eric talked about and feels relieved, bringing out a grin. “Look, there it is!”

Eric shines the light and spots the broken, cracked hole big enough for a single person to walk through. “That’s it!” Eric can also see the moon's light through that hole shining on the ground just behind it. “We’re finally free from this freak show, my guy!”

Eric quickly went to the escape to freedom, he couldn’t resist on leaving this whole craziness. Jack watched his uncle power walk his way to the hole, but he on the other hand took a look back at the blacked empty town, feeling sad. As Eric observed the hole, the smile on his face told the world around them he’s ready to leave this shit show and fill a glass full of happiness to drink.

“Well Jack, this is it, freedom. What do you say we take you to a good hospital and—”

When Eric looked back to his nephew, he saw Jack standing still with a subtle smile in the midst of darkness. Eric couldn’t understand why Jack was smiling of all times when the boy’s gone through continuous torture throughout his early life and especially the three years that have passed.

“Yo Jack, what’s up?”

Jack steps backwards into the misty darkened road. “You forgot about something else, boss man.”

Eric at first didn’t catch what Jack meant by that, but soon realised the other plan his nephew had in mind. The plan to confront the entity that’s causing this bizarreness of black and the plague of sleeping death that’s been sweeping across the city.

Eric turned serious and frowned. “Wait Jack, you don’t mean?”

Jackmidly nods, releasing a scared breath. “I have to resolve the issue of the people dying in their sleep and this permanent nightfall that’s been wiping out towns over the years.”

Eric looked sad, but couldn’t help but smile afterwards, feeling proud for Jack to help others in need. “Yeah, you right. So I’m assuming you’re going to go see her after all, huh?”

Jack’s grin faded and the young man turned around in the opposite direction. “If I don’t make it out alive, tell Candy; he’s still a weird funny guy.”

Eric chuckles, turning away as well to his escape. “Oh I’ll tell him more than weird, my guy!” Eric proceeds to walk, and doesn’t turn back. “Don’t you die on me though, nephew!”

Jack turns around once he hears nephew, watching Eric walk away until disappearing out of his sight through the hole. “Yeah, I’ll try, uncle.”

The young man felt determined, balling a fist and turning back to the deserted town with his eyes turning sharp. Staring into the darkness and clenching his fists, her reaping echoes of sorrow came back, rubbing against his eardrums like needles, stabbing them to remind his corrupted mind that all of this was caused by him.

“As for you, I’ll make sure you’ll pay in a way you’ll never hurt another soul again. Even if it means to give up my entire leftovers of what makes me human currently to satisfy your needs; In that way, you’ll never dream of doing something this heinous again.”

Jack hated hearing her cries and having them reach his soul to remind him how much of a selfish, consequential idiot he is. Swallowing his guilt, and some of the fear he had left, he ground his teeth, determined to solve this issue.

“You better apologise for everything you’ve done, and the same saying can go to me. If not, then I’ll find a way to end both of our miserable lifes; it’s the least I can do for humanity.” Jack began walking into the darkness towards the direction of her cries; it was time to return to her, and stop this madness.

As Jack walked through the empty treacherous streets, leading him deeper into absolute foggy darkness, he saw black and bloodied writings of his name all over the buildings walls, and street pavements.

Jack can feel the cross get even heavier, hotter, meaning that he’s getting close to her location. What do I tell her when I see her… it’s been three years, damn it. All of this is my fault…

Self monologuing, oblivious to his surroundings, Jack almost tripped over something, but being the person that he is, he ignored it. Yet his gut told him to turn round and look back at what almost made him lose his footing. Jack trusted his gut and looked back, but saw nothing but black. He shook his head and looked straight forward, unexpectedly spotting something from around the corner. Jack scuttled up to what he saw and once laying eyes on what he had seen, it was the skeletal remains of a person covered in a black substance.

“Ho… holy…!” Jack felt sick to his stomach, shaking his head rapidly to erase the image and continued walking. “I-I didn’t know… she would…”

Walking further upward, the image became a giant painting, one he couldn’t glimpse or glance by. He’s forced to see this horrific painting crafted by selfish obsession. There were remains of tarred, charred, people throughout the street, dangling off buildings, and attempting to escape.

What has she done to all of these people, they’re all remains… Yet, I feel the guiltiest and part of the reasoning behind their demise.

Taking deep observations at each dead person, every skeleton, their pose, the way they were just living life at one point to then be killed like this, it made Jack feel so at fault for all of this. Walking through a street full of bones, and as he glanced around, his eyes caught a sight so shocking and to Jack it flashed haunting memories of his past. It was a family of three all huddled up together, and from how their parents died, they were protecting their child from whatever turned them into blackened bones.

“This is—all of my… fault.” Jack felt anger building up inside him, just the sight of two parents protecting their child to then meet their doom made his blood boil.

If I never repelled her out of me… none of this would’ve ever happened.

Jack clenches his fist, enough to pierce his palm, dripping his self hatred blood onto the black stained pavement. The young man has had enough and continues walking towards those faint cries and screams. A shameful shadow hovered over his eyes as he forced himself to not look at anymore carnage, Jack has never felt more irresponsible than ever in his miserable life. As he stumped through the town streets of a new claimed boneyard, a mysterious light was seen not too far from his view. Quickly pacing further down the street, he saw the light clearly. It was an opening in the sky letting the moonlight gleam into a part of the town that never got violated by the black death that consumed this town.

“Could it be her that’s there?!” Jack rushes towards the safe haven and amongst getting closer, he can see the light shining like a spotlight on something beneath it.

Jack got close enough to tell where it was shining. It seemed to be the town hall where this mysterious spotlight shimmered on. From Jack’s observation, it’s shining directly at something beyond the walls of the hall.

“I gotta get in there.” said Jack in a relaxed tone.

Jack looked around to see how or where he could get in. The young man found a way of getting in, the main entrance gate to this giant symbol of this town’s once thriving richness now is nothing but a barren wasteland of plagued death.

Jack slightly jerks his head in obviousness, “What a fucking concidence.''

The young man prances his way up to the huge steel gate not before taking one last glimpse at the scorched town full of death. This madness had to be put to a stop, and Jack’s the only one capable of doing such a thing, that’s why the young man feels confident, knowing he’s about to end it.

Carefully approaching the gate, Jack finally noticed that the crying had stopped minutes ago. “Huh? I wonder if she knows that I’m here…” His arms trembled, his knees felt heavy, Jack’s fear started showing again.

The confidence he showed moments ago had completely vanished faster than it stayed. The young man wondered why he’s so nervous and afraid of confronting her, but he came to a conclusion on why he’s so scared, and that being the thought of a punishment she might lay on him.

Calm down Jack, calm down… she doesn’t know you’re here, yet… Or— does she?

Jack quickly stops his next action, and instead hugs the wall. He tried peaking a bit but quickly retracted out of nervousness. His chest felt so heavy he thought the rapid beating would burst open his ribcage and dangle his heart on his chest, tumbling him down on his face. His own heart skipped beats, making Jack cough out of breath.

“Why-Why am I so nervous?! Fuck man…” Jack turned his attention to his raising hands as they shook.

I shouldn’t be this nervous to see someone who was once inside me… so why am I so nervous? No, this has to be fear, right?!

Jack paused, staring at his trembling palms. His teeth showing, his dead eyes widening, the young man started to regret this decision. But remembering the people who’ve succumbed to her anger, his dearest sister Angela’s face brought sense back to Jack. He slaps his hands against his face and grunts, saying “Let's do this!” Starting to walk in front of the gate and closing his eyes.

It’s now or never, Jack!

Jack opens his eyes and takes a huge deep breath and gently places his hands on the gate. Swallowing the last of his nerves, the heavy burden of guilt and fear down to his intestines, Jack pushes the gate open with both hands, letting the weight of the metal open itself. The gate loudly opened in a way that made sure whoever was inside knew Jack was coming in. Bringing a huge pause of anticipation for Jack, the gate almost wide open, once it did, he walked in, stopped, and his eyes were immediately locked onto the personification of beauty.

Jack’s eyes shaking, his mouth slightly open, gasping beneath his breath, he’s found her. “It’s… her…”

Jack’s eyes stayed locked onto the very being who’s not only brought suffering onto him, but others as well. His heart pounded immensely, staring at her calm moonlight glazing beauty. A soft breeze fluttered her white dress as she stood on top of the fountain statue located in the middle of the town hall. Her gaze seemed to be on the moon, lost in a trance. The moonlight shone on her pale white skin, creating a shine of purity, her purple mesmerising eyes were glistening, and she’s as dashing as ever.

“The girl in the white dress, the very being who’s made my life a hell but blessed me in certain circumstances.” muttered Jack.

Seeing her in this calm state of beauty refined Jack’s memories to just how beautiful this being is. Yet something caught Jack’s analysis of her, a change in her appearance once again.

Jack squinted his eyes and leaned his head forward. “She’s changed slightly, hasn’t she?” From Jack’s observation, she’s grown a little taller and her hair’s grown longer with more volume.

The embodiment of beauty elegantly stood there, tip toed while Jack stared without her knowing. Jack couldn’t move a single muscle out of both nervousness and amazement from this glorifying haunting sight of this sad girl who’s madly obsessed with him. Something else caught Jack’s attention, and it bothered him to the fullest, a stream of clear innocence trickling down the side of her cheek.

“She’s… still—crying?” Jack also saw her black tear stains faded out on her pale cheeks and felt guilty yet again.

Jack simmered his emotions, and started approaching her as sweat dripped off his head. Not knowing he’s here yet, she continues to stare at the moon with her arms relaxed to her sides. Unexpectedly, she balled a single fist, bringing Jack to stop any further movements. He silently panicked, clutching his chest, feeling the regrettable pain in his heart starting to stir up. For a second he thought she felt his presence but unballed her hand and made the young man softly blow out air.

Jack shook it off and continued walking towards her. “Steady, don’t rush or else who knows what she might do to you, Jack.” said Jack beneath his breath.

Jack got close enough where he felt comfortable to stop and let go of his chest to clear his throat. Okay… here goes—nothing!

The young man takes a long deep breath, and brings out a still face. “Uh… Hi.”

The girl in white paid no mind to his greeting at first as her eyes stayed locked onto the moon. Again, Jack repeated the same sentence and it struck her eardrums, enough to bring a small reaction of her twitching her cheek.

“Who… goes there? If you want to live then leave me be…”

“You-You don’t recognise my voice? Heh, I guess it’s no surprise since it’s been two years, huh?”

She squints her eyes and blinks slowly. “Your voice does sound familiar, but it’s probably me just being the crazy hopeless girl that I am. A girl deeply in love with a sick individual who treats her cruelly—or has been; for awhile.”

Jack scratches the back of his head, not understanding what she means by that ending statement. “Hm, well… hey. You know it has been awhile so I can’t blame you, my voice got deeper so…”

She seemed confused now and hung her head as her eyes rattled. “Why does my mind keep playing games with me… why torture me like this!” She started getting teary eyed, “I should have known, I’m such a fool… He hates me and abandoned me yet again, but in the worst way possible…”

The girl in white slapped her hands against her face and whimpered. Jack creeps closer, feeling the urge to comfort her strangely enough. Seeing her sad made him more regretful of his action of riding her, but his mind reminded him that she’s still an evil entity.

Ah, so many contradictions inside my body! My heart tells me to go to her, but my mind’s yelling at me, begging me to scold, and damn her to hell!

Again the young man shakes his head rapidly, smacking both hands against his head to stop his mind that’s playing games with him. “Don’t-Don’t cry now, our reunions just started. I’m here now, so… I’m sorry!”

She kept crying in silence, and her tears crept between the cracks of her fingers, falling off her hands, blown away, drifting at Jack. Her tears, some splashed on his face, and immediately smoked away upon impact on his flesh. It made Jack feel uncanny about the situation, he couldn’t or fathom why. In spite of his mind beating rational senses at him, his heart overwhelmed his emotions and won the battle. Jack rubbed his fingers where her tears landed and vanished, and the first thing that came to mind was to pull out the cross in his pocket.

Jack brought it up to his face and stared at it for a moment until he dropped it on the ground. It's probably this that’s making you think this way so I’ll just—

The young man stomps on the glassy stonish structure and it shatters into a million pieces. It interrupted her crying and the girl in white could finally sense who’s the one speaking to her. She takes her hands off her face, gently gasps with shock and turns her head abruptly to Jack's direction. It creeped him out on how it looked, and having her eyes staring directly into his soul made the young man quiver.

“You-You… You’re…!” she breathed heavily and clenched her teeth in sadness, “Ja-Ja…”

Jack stared deeply into those eyes of purple hypnotization, easing his true emotions. “It’s okay, I’m here now. You’re not crazy anymore, but enough of your madness and stop your senseless killing!” He took a step forward, raising his only good hand at her. “Come down here so I can give you a—”

Jack stopped himself for a moment. What am I saying… this is the very person who’s made my life a hell… yet I feel responsible for all of this, including her suffering!

Jack shakes his head, stepping closer and eventually getting into the fountain, “I’m going to give you a welcoming hug, one that you deserve.” Jack opened his arms and reached out to her. “Like I said before, I’m sorry for abandoning you.”

She couldn't believe it was him, she felt like her mind and eyes were deceiving her. She stayed hesitant and looked down on him with eyes ready to burst in pure sadness.

“No! It can't be you. Your hair was shorter and you were healthy and not covered in…” She saw his bruises, stitches, and the cast he had on, making her shed real tears.

Jack checked himself and sighed. “A lot can happen in two years, but it’s me, honestly.”

She still wasn’t sure and seemed more annoyed, looking away briefly. “It’s just my mind playing games with me… right?”

But the further her gaze set on him, the more she noticed his dead eyes, eyes that were cold and filled with hopelessness. She realises that no one else could have eyes that are as lifeless as his. The distant features on his face that made Jack special to her were all there, more notably his scar located on his right cheek. The very scar she dug her nail into his skin that night of her reveal three years ago, her embarking on owning him. She cried tears of saddened joy, and slowly descended down to him with her arms out, coming to him like an angel.

Approaching Jack from the light shining behind her, Jack’s eyes came back to life momentarily. This was a sight worth printing into his darkened mind. It brought some sort of weird joy to him, even though he still has some stored hatred for her.

Jack spread his arms out so she could be welcomed back to his warmth. “Come back to me, and I promise to never leave your side again.”

She gently flew into his arms and embraced him, pressing her head against his chest and felt his beating heart. The very heart she violated and proclaimed hers was thumping before her. She knew at this point, she’s no longer going crazy.

Jack calmly brushed one of his hands on her long pitch black hair, feeling soft to the touch. Is it me… or does she feel real as ever?

Whimpering away years of absolute solitude, she let off of him for a bit to look up at Jack to stare into his lifeless eyes. The two stared deeply into each other's souls, and Jack turned red without his knowing, he only felt his face hot. The longer the two stared, the more she shed actual tears instead of blackness. Jack held her tightly again as she whimpered, feeling yet again completely at fault for everything. Jack rubbed her head and closed his eyes, embracing the moment as she continued to cry on his chest.

I gotta keep this up, and maybe… she’ll reverse this horrid massacre she’s ensued.

“Shh, everything will be alright. Let's put an end to this madness and go back to our normal lives.”

She wraps her arms around his neck and locks face to face with the young man who made her go insane. “Jack…?” she said in a gentle tone.

Jack kept his straight face, mustering his emotions the best he could. “Believe me now? I told you that I’m here.” He wipes her tears and pokes her nose, “You have no idea how nervous I was, but that’s probably because I forgot how beautiful you were.”

She blushes, looks down and whimpers. “Why…? Why did you leave me, jerk, you big jerk! Unforgivable, ungrateful!”

Jack’s mind triggered another battle with his heart, an intense one. One in which made the young man momentarily bite his lip, twitch an eye, scrunch his face in confusion. She couldn’t tell because she was looking down but Jack’s face grew more in confusion. After letting the battle go on for another second, again, his heart won and made Jack express guilt.

“I had my reasons, I’m sorry! It’ll never happen again, I swear on it.”

She shakes her head and lets go of him, pushing him away but not aggressively. “I-I can’t allow this to slide, you’ll pay… you caused me so much pain, you broke my heart and not only that—you used that cross on me. You truly are scum!”

She made sure those words would impact Jack. From the tone in her voice, to her watery eyes that showed genuine sadness, the young man did feel it, and it made him feel differently now. His mind came for a sneak attack, overcoming his heart to finally tell her a piece of her own selfish medicine.

Jack groans with frustration, arching his eyebrows. Huh? Is-Is she really bullshiting now? You’re ungrateful, not me!

Jack clenched his jaw, and balled his fists. “You’re in pain? You?! You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”

His mild shout made her hurtle in freight. “Jack, stop!”

“What about all the people you killed? All the lives you’ve taken over your own petty selfishness!”

“I said—!”

“No! Enough! You’ve taken things way out of line, going as far as taking the lives of innocence because I; Me, Jack Samr decided one day that he’s had enough because he lost the last thing he held dearest too—ultimately choosing to rid of the being who made his life a living hell! I will—!”

Jack saw her tremble, her eyes quake, growing bigger in freight. His heart again overcame and took control, calming the young man before he took things too far.

Jack sighs deeply, quickly regretting his wording because of the potential punishment he still has embedded into his thought process.

“Sorry I’m sorry, this isn’t the time to argue. You’re hurt and I completely understand, so let's just get out of here before he finds us and then we can both be happy. What do you say?”

She grabbed her dress, and gripped it in anger. “Idiot… Idiot, how could… How could you say such horrid things? You can’t just make up with someone like that, idiot…”

Jack’s beginning to get more impatient and his mind bursted with anger, giving him a boost of adrenaline. In a blind state, he grabbed her arm with aggression, tugging her towards him as she looked absolutely afraid.

“Why you little, inconsiderate!”

“Jack, you’re hurting—!”

“Shut your mouth about you being hurt! I don’t want to hear another word out of that pipehole of yours! So how about you just go back inside me and we can discuss this outside the—!”

Something made Jack cut himself off from finishing his sentence. A sensation in which stopped his aggressive behaviour and gasped beneath his breath. He felt a sharp pain near his abdomen, and something wet beneath his shirt expanding around his belly.

Wha-What’s this…?

Jack looked down and saw red spreading around on his shirt and ripped open, flapping, and exposing a massive cut. Blood poured onto the ground like a red waterfall and made him bulge his eyes out. He lets go of the girl in white, touches the red, finally realising that he was cut open.

“Huh…?” Jack gazed at the girl and felt something’s about to burst out of his mouth.

The moment he covered his mouth blood gushed out, leaking through the cracks of his fingers. He fell on his side as he grabbed his stomach. Jack even felt his own insides trying to pour out of his wound from the steam coming out.

It hurts… it hurts… It hurts!

Jack gritted his blood stained teeth and tucked his arms around his stomach as blood dripped between his teeth.

It burns, the pain it hurts, what did she do to me?!

She didn't notice his painful experience and continued crying. “You jerk! I’ll punish you for making me suffer!”

Jack glimpsed all around her to see what she used to cut him open, and spotted her nails, noticing they were freakishly long and assumed it was the cause of his wound.

I’m losing blood fast. I feel cold, but what’s this?

Jack brought one of his hands to his eyes and saw black on them now, making him groan loudly.

My blood’s turning… black?! I’m feeling colder by the second, and all I can hear is her muffled cries, my vision’s blurring…

“I-I I’m…” Jack tried reaching up to her, “Sorry…” Jack coughed up more blood, his eyes turned white and his arm collapsed to the ground.

The last of his blood poured out, his guts exploded out of his abdomen, splashing on the ground and turning black. Jack’s body lay lifeless, cold, and pale. Jack was dead.

Throughout her crying, she had her eyes closed, looking away from the young man as he died a painful slow death. Finally snapping out of it and noticing Jack wasn’t standing in front of her anymore, the girl in white began to get worried. She felt fearful again that he abandoned her and felt once again the need to wreak havoc upon the world.

“Ja-Jack? Where’d you go!” She glanced around to see if Jack truly left her yet again.

The moment she took a step, she heard something make a squish sound and felt it on the tip of her heel. Looking down on what she stepped on, made her eyes quiver, explode with shock and regret. Her mouth was wide open, gasping incoherently, the moment her mind realised the status of his being, she broke.

“Jack!” Her scream made all the windows in town shatter, creating flashing lights of purple in the skies.

Crows came out from the depths of darkness, swarming the skies all around her. She drops to her knees and turns his body to face upwards. His eyes still open and completely lifeless as she stared into their empty nature. She touches the blood on the ground and rubs it on her pale fingertips. She screams in horror, letting it reach the chaotic skies so the heavens can hear her agony. She drags her nails across her face, grabbing her hair and shaking her head violently. The first thing that came into mind was for her to put his guts back into his abdomen, which she did.

The girl in whtie grabbed his intestines, quickly putting, pushing it back in as the black and redness squished onto her face. She’s covered in Jack’s last essence as she desperately tried fitting his guts into his corpse. Feeling frustrated she smacked her hands on his now as it splashed red all over her elegant dress. His hanging intestines on his stomach area were flung off, dropping back to the ground as she cried loudly.

“No! No, no no! I’m sorry sorry sorry, I’m sorry! Ple-Please don’t-don’t leave m-me again! Don’t go-go away, Ja-Jack!”

She grabbed his lifeless head and held it against her chest, crying horribly from her regrettable unknown action.

“Jack! I’m sorry… I’m sorry, sorry, sorry… I-I didn’t mean to—no!”

As the girl in white cried deeply, her emotions on the brink of exploding out further out to the world while it created chaos all around her. The more she cried, the louder it got, the deeper it felt, potentially she would spread more of this black plague to not only this town but perhaps the whole world if she couldn't control her emotions. But she had one thing in mind, and it’s the only way to save him.

She stopped crying for a second, controlled her frantic breathing and let off, gently laying his body down, and placing her hands on his stomach. “I’m not letting you die, you jerk… I won’t!” She sniffled, wiping her sorrow off her face, and concentrated.

While concentrating, Jack's blood began pouring back inside him along with a black substance coming out of her hands. It still wasn’t enough to bring him back, not even the colour of his skin changed back to its normal tan colour.

“Come back to me… Jack! Please don’t die!”

All the last bits of his blood, his guts being sucked back into its rightful place, whatever left was poured back into and finally, bringing his colour back. Something was working, and it made her more confident in reviving him.

“I didn’t mean to kill you… Come back, please Jack, I’m sorry, I forgive you!”

Even with all that effort, it still didn’t work. She broke again, but quietly as she fell on him, laying on his chest. Crying deeply onto it, she grabbed his cold hand, and felt horrible for all the pain he’s gone through.

“It’s my fault… everything is…! Nothing was yours Jack, wake up… wake up, for the love of… God! Please!” She wrapped her arms around his corpse and shut her eyes.

Please… I’ll do anything, anything to bring you back… wait!

Something, a possibility of bringing him back came into her thought, and it involved her soul. She sniffed, took a deep breath, wiped her eyes again, and laid on his chest. The girl in white inhaled, holding her breath until she let it all out in a smooth way. She begins to fade into smoke and then dissolves into a cloud of black mist covering Jack's body. It surrounds his corpse and slowly, it poured into him through his nose, mouth, and open wounds. Everything went silent. The skies continued pulsing purple, the crows cawed without a sound, and the area around them started to rumble.

The buildings shook, rocks and pebbles began bouncing, the black sky above them twirled around like a supercell. Jack’s body began to levitate off the ground. The body of Jack jitters as he begins to float up in the air, his arms spread out, lifting his head to the dark pulsing skies. His mouth opened wide and out came a haunting scream that sounded like her and someone else, a males. The scream reaped, echoed all over, spreading out beyond the two locked off towns into normal society so everyone can hear the call of selfish sorrow. All the darkness that hovered over the town came sailing towards his screaming.

Eventually, every last bit of darkness collected into a massive blackened purple supercell. Swirling above the spotlight once there, all that mass of blackened clouds flowed inside his mouth, sucking every bit of it into his body like a vacuum. The clouds from above twirled around so fast from this abnormal occurrence that it caused strong typhoon winds to blow out into the world around them. A minute later, the clouds couldn't contain such corruption, it formed clouds of black smokey tornadoes around them, lightning pulsing purple striking the earth. Finally, the clouds funnelled downwards and slid inside Jack’s body. With all this chaos ensuing around him, it seemed as if the world’s coming to an end.

Eric, who’s sitting against a tree waiting for Jack, saw the supernatural happen before his eyes. “What in the…?” He stood up and was in such awe from this horrible world ending view that he felt this was the end. “Jack my guy, what the hells going on over there?”

Eric stood there amazed as he continued watching as all the darkness started to disappear into one specific spot in town. Bringing normality back to the town and returning the night sky.

Did he? No, please, don’t tell me it’s over. Jack, come back, alive.

Jack’s body finally stopped acting on it’s own, closing his mouth. All the darkness vanished along with the clouds and slowly, Jack’s body fell back on the ground. Laying on his back to finally open his eyes with a gleam of life in them, Jack gasps for air and sits up. He breathed heavily and the first thing that came to mind was to touch his stomach to check if he’s alright.

“Huh, am-am I?” Jack glances around as he stands up, seeing crows land throughout the town halls walls.

Back on his feet, seeing everything back to normal, Jack felt his body acting normal. He felt his arms and the one badly damaged, seeing that he’s healed along with all his injuries he's taken in the most recent events. He wanders for a bit to see if everything is actually normal around and doesn’t see the girl. He wondered if he’s dreaming but once walking out through the gate, he saw only carnage and destruction.

“What… happened here?” muttered Jack.

Jack then clutched his head from a sudden burst of pain, similarly to the same feeling whenever he lost control and allowed the girl in white to take control of his body.

“Damn, my head. Wh-What happened? All I remembered was darkness, then a huge light coming towards me.” He looked at his broken arm that was now healed, “All my injuries have been healed, wait? Does that mean?!”

Jack grunts in shock, Is-Is she… inside me?

Still whimpering even inside his mind, the girl in white spoke in his subconscious. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry for hurting you…”

Jack drops his hand, and scowls. “Wh-What do you mean by that?”

“Please forgive me, I-I didn’t mean to hurt you!” she replied.

“Well, this isn’t the first time that you’ve made me experience this sort of pain. But this time, you did it outside of my dreams. So, what happened?”

“You… You-You died, by me.”

Jack’s jaw drops and he knits his brows, “Hu-Huh?! You mean to tell me that you—actually, killed me?!”

“Ye-Yes… that’s why I’m sorry. And it’s true that I’ve hurt you before but that’s a whole different world, we’re in the real world now.”

Jack felt so mad yet dumbfounded that he could scream or shoot himself dead. Feeling exhausted from all of these abnormalities, Jack decided to just cool it for now so he won’t suffer anymore type of punishment from this selfish being.

“That doesn’t explain how I’m alive then. I guess you mean to tell me that you can revive the dead now besides healing me?”

“No, I can’t just go around bringing the dead back to life. Only the one that belongs to me could be brought to life. So long as it was me that was the cause of their demise… but that only works now, not before.”

Jack chuckles with nervousness, dragging his fingers across his face. “Holy crap… How ludacris is that, I can’t take another moment of these supernatural events.”

“I’m sorry… again…”

Jack let out one last broken chuckle. “Man does dying suck… The pain was so intense and my body felt as if it was becoming as light as air; but let me ask you something, girl!” Jack began walking, “So whoever belongs to you can be revived so long as you’re the one that kills them, if that’s the case… have you tried doing it—before?”

She didn't reply, only silence was Jack’s answer, angering him. Rather than answering his question she brushed it off and forced a giggle. “What a silly question, but I’m glad that we’re together again.”

“You gonna answer then? Or are you going to—? Never mind.”

“Mm, maybe some other time or how about you answer me. What took you so darn long to come back to me?”

Jack walked through the town that was finally exposed to the moonlight and stars twinkling above. “I had my reasons to go our separate ways… I just had to rethink and take my mind off a few things, that’s all.”

The girl let out a saddened sigh. “You didn’t have to hurt me badly when you forced me out of your body though, since, aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Oh and that is?” replied Jack, annoyed.

She sounded sad but kept her innocent gentle tone to not anger the young man anymore. “I was going to say something foolish, selfish, but instead, I’ll just say; You truly are scum you know that. Not only that, you're as dense as an iron door.”

Jack crosses his arms and finally reaches the opening to his freedom. “Hmph, well I don’t care what you think, especially when you just took my life away in a blind state of anger.”

“I said I was sorry, I promise to make it up to you… perhaps with my bo-body…?”

Staring at the opening with a frown, Jack smacked his lips in annoyance. “I don’t know what you mean by that, but if it means you helped me like before then fine.

She made a sound of extreme embarrassment, and sounded flustered. “Bo-Bo-Bo-Bold! I-I I'm not ready… for that type of commitmentment, what would I do when it happens?! How will I act, how do you do that… Oh blind me!”

Hearing her react this way brought out a soft grin on Jack’s scary face. It reminded him that she’s still somewhat human in a sense.

“Whatever happens, it’s going to take the both of us to recover over our greed.” Jack takes one last look at the town before looking straight. “Well, this is it, are you ready to start a new life and get away from that dreaded Dr. Cato? For now.”

She still sounded nervous and flustered. “Hmph, of course, and by your wording that means—So long as you’re mine again, I’ll follow you no matter where or what type of situation we’ll be in. Oh god, I’m just too nervous about what to do when we do… do—it!”

Jack walks through the opening to his new found freedom, reaching the other side and takes in a huge breath of air. “Freedom, at last…” He lets out all the last follicles of burden out with a deep sigh, this was an experience he’ll never forget.

Jack ran up the hill, and upon reaching the top, he spotted Eric standing, touching all over himself with confusion written all over his face.

I guess she healed him too, that’s a relief.

He waved as he approached Eric. “Yo! Eric, I'm back.”

Eric stopped patting and smiles and when Jack got to him, the two high fived. “Holy fuck! You’re still alive?! After what just happened in the town.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit complicated, but everything’s sorted out now.”

“Hmm, so fool, did you deal with the girl? Did you make her stop her crazy spooky shit? But check it, I’m healed my guy!”

“Yeah, so am I. Strange isn’t it?”

Eric shook his head. “Man whatever happened in there, and us being healed, don’t fucking tell me shit! I’m done with all this spooky, supernatural whatever, let's just go!”

She laughs in his subconscious. “I see that he’s finally found out about my wickedness! He’s still as funny as ever and that’s why he’s the only one I don’t mind letting you expose me about.”

Jack stared off into space. “What do you mean by that? The only one I’m allowed to talk about; your presence?”

Eric looked at Jack as he spoke to himself. “Man, you’re still sick in the head aren’t chu?”

The young man looked back to his uncle. “Uh yeah! Well, enough of anything abnormal for once, everything’s taken care of, so uh let's go and find us a new home shall we?” Jack walked and Eric followed behind.

“What now then stupid?” asked Eric.

“I may have an idea where we could spend the night, still got the money right?” replied Jack.

Eric takes off his bookbag and opens it. “Shit you know it fool!”

Jack grins, “Well, follow me, there’s a nearby hotel if I remember correctly.”

“I hope you’re right cause if you get us lost, I’ma beat yo ass!” Eric laughed, patting Jack's back.

As the two men walked off to their new freedom, they both couldn’t help themselves but take one last glance of the past. The town once covered in darkness, their loving home far away, and those tall walls separating both from society, it really made the two feel sad about the whole situation. So many people lost, killed, anticipating to kill Jack over one man’s crazy mind just to hide his tracks, it aggravated both men. Jack and Eric stood in silence, thinking of all the time they had to run, suffer, and were targeted by that dreaded Dr. Cato. But at this very moment, the two can finally relax for real now, knowing that they’ve finally escaped out of harm's way and most importantly, getting away from Dr. Cato’s knowledge.