Several hours later, in the same town at a different location where the pursuit of happiness coated an entire area frequently on the weekends, that being the park. A loving, striving one full of trees, empty grass fields for family picnics, activities of bonding, and spring is closing in just days away. Feeling much happier since her binding spell, Sarah’s currently walking through the park with a half smile on her face. With her arms behind her back, humming a song, the goth girl has felt relieved since Danny’s cleansing. Just yesterday he only waved and didn’t bother her nor Veronica, plus that negativity inside him had completely vanished.

I knew my spell would work! Mom, thanks for showing me, you’re awesome! Sarah thought.

Sarah hopped over flowers, onto ledges, and jumped on the huge fountain located in the middle with her arms out. She hops down with her hands behind her back, she takes every moment to bask in everything on this grand day of winters nearing end. The trees, the sound of happiness, the chilling winds of nature herself brushing against her skin and clothes, this was Sarah’s day. Feeling her mouth dry, Sarah decided to stop by a nearby water fountain to drink some water to quench her thirst. Walking to one located near a lone tree and the bathroom building, as she bent down and sipped, she felt that awful presence again. The one similar to the girl in the dress and the guy.

This feeling, absolute darkness, hollowness, and sorrow! Don’t tell me… they’re both here!”

Sarah stopped and quickly looked around to see where it was coming from. She follows the scent to find the source, this time, she felt both negatives right next to each other. The goth girl hurried through the area, wandering around, checking behind food trucks, food stands, trees, and also outside of the edge of the park.

Where, where are they! I have to find them and end this aura or whatever. This way I can truly be at peace.

Sarah kept chasing this feeling, growing in a blind state of rage to put an end to the silent madness that not only almost ended her life but harmed her friend Anna as well. Feeling hopeless and losing focus, Sarah thought she’d never find them at the pace she was going. She even thought about using her abnormal powers to grow a shortcut, but she must oblige to her mother’s teachings otherwise she’ll be exposed to the public and fail her mother. Sarah sat down on a bench, letting out a loud groan and dragging both hands down her face.

Sarah can’t help but feel played, “Just when I thought this day would be normal, gosh darn it. Where could the feeling come from, where!”

Letting out a deep sigh, her senses stabbed her, alerting Sarah that the sensation of horrificness was approaching her area. She sprung up out of the bench, dashed to the source and halted to the entrance of the public bathroom building. The moment she got close to the public bathrooms, the area was consumed by an invisible cloud of black sadness. She leaned against the wall on the side of the building and sneaked her way behind the building, peaking around. There, the goth girl spots a crowd of normal people walking past the building and the source amongst the crowd. She kept her gaze locked until finally, Sarah saw the main cause of the seanstion. It’s that guy again, looking suspicious and alert.

“There you are. I knew it, you trouble maker.” muttered Sarah.

Her gaze turned into a glare and Sarah was ready to attack him until she saw her best friend Anna walk next to him. She too had that aura of misty black around her.

Anna?! Wh-What are you—?!

Then, Sarah saw the unthinkable. Anna grabbed and held the guy's hand and seemed so happy; the happiest she’s ever seen Anna.

“What’s the meaning of this? Don’t tell me that he-he—!”

Sarah felt like the guy put some love curse on her friend, fueling her madness into chaos. But Sarah’s assumption couldn’t come into fruition, Sarah saw no curse symbols, no signs of manipulation from her friends emotions, they were all genuine.

Anna, why are you with him, what’s going on? No… I can’t allow this! He’s definitely up to no good.

But the more she watched the two, the more Sarah couldn’t believe how happy her friend looked. Anna was laughing, being tickled, poking, grabbing his arm, it appeared as if the two were dating from the looks of it. Sarah’s anger dimmed, but the assumption of him being the cause of the darkness around them stayed permanent no matter how normal the two looked. Sarah closed her eyes momentarily and went into a thinking phase, and quickly, she thought of something.

“I’m still new to all these abnormalities, these—powers. So I have to be careful with this next move. Or else it’ll mean an end to the entire city of Detroit.”

Sarah’s decision was one in which she’ll do something to put an end to this dark energy to not only to her friend but to harm the guy in a way that won’t harm others.

Sarah raised her palm to her face, “This’ll be my first time ever doing this… but my mother told me to be extra careful. If I’m not, this city will cease, then I’ll be stuck in my own parallel world forever, so here goes nothing…”

Sarah continues her spying and waits for him to get close enough to cast her hidden secret.

Anna punched Jack’s arm and giggled, “Come on Jack, don’t be like that! Cheer up, time to put all that negativity behind you and time to follow a new path of joy!”

Jack sighed and caught a glance of a crow landing on a branch, “Sounds like newfound torture to me. I’d rather die, again.”

“Again? Pfft, someone’s grown a little edgy over the years, huh?”

Jack saw the crows eyes glow and let go of Anna’s hand, “I’m going to use the restroom, I’ll be back.”

Anna sighs and smiles, “Okay, I’ll just wait for you over there!” She points at a bench beneath a tree, one where that crow was watching the two.

Jack knew right away who was watching them, and felt annoyed, “Alright, just be careful, keep your eyes out for anything.”

“Relax, we’re in the good areas, remember?” shouted Anna.

Jack walks inside the restroom and smacks his lips, “That’s what I used to think, until my parents were taken away from me.”

Anna walks over to the benches and sits down, waiting for Jack. “Poor Jack, guess that hood mentality stays with you no matter where you go. Always on guard and keep an eye out for anything, my poor friend.”

While Jack’s using the restroom, he felt something off. He looked around his urinal and everything seemed normal, except he was alone. Jack shrugs and zips his pants up. He washes his hands and dries them off. As soon as the young man was about to open the door, he heard giggling inside his head.

“There you are, Mallory.” Jack looks up at the ceiling, “You wanna answer why you’ve been watching us?”

“Why yes it’s me and just for safety measures.” Mallory replied.

Jack sighs, “What’s up? I thought after that dramatic goodbye you’d wait for my visit?” He slowly opens the door as the light begins shining at his face.

“Well… sorry to be a drag, but I thought you might need my help! That’s why I’ve come.”

Jack had one of his hands over his eyes, opened the door and walked outside, “What are you talking about?”

The moment Jack dropped his hand, getting his vision back, he’s standing in the middle of a grassy open field surrounded by trees. He drops his jaw and frantically looks around. He’s no longer in the park, there were no people in sight, no human made structure, nothing. Even the restroom building’s gone too.

Jack’s eyes grew wide and the young man began to panic, “Wh-What’s going on?! Mallory, where the hell am I?!”

“Yeah, about that… like I said, I think you might need my help.”

With his hand over his face in frustration, Jack grew agitated, “Was this your doing?! Goddamn it!” Jack dropped his hand and looked straight ahead, seeing someone walking out of the forest. “Who in the hell?”

Mallory groaned, “Well, this should be exciting, but rather, annoying.”

Jack groans as well, “I can’t get a fucking break no matter where I go!”

Jack drops to his knees, frustrated, and slams his fist on the ground. He ground his teeth, started at the ground, gripped the grass, and shook his head in anger. It seemed like no matter where the young man went or what obstacles he had conquered, there was always something abnormal, willing to introduce itself in the most confusing or worse way possible.

“Damn it all! Why can’t I have just a normal day like everyone else?”

Once Jack brought his eyes to the figure walking in his direction, the person’s identity was being revealed by the fading shadow that lingered over them.

“Wait… no, it can’t be?! You-You mean to tell me—?!”

The figure walked out of the forest, exposed to broad daylight with shining black hair, pale skin, and glared at Jack with crimson eyes.

“She can do stuff; like this?! Is this what she meant by retaliating that day?!”

The person who glared at Jack was none other than Sarah. This made the young man aggressively facepalm as sweat dripped down his face.

“This just gets crazier and crazier the longer I live doesn’t it?” chuckled Jack, manicaly. “No matter where I go, dumb shit like this! Has to be thrown into my face… I’m so done!” shouted Jack, making Sarah stop for a moment.

Sarah was watching the guy have his breakdown but returned her approach and stopped ten feet from him. The goth girl lifts her hand, aiming her palm at his direction.

Sarah narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath, “Now that we’re alone, I can finally get some answers from you!”

Jack’s chuckling like crazy. He looked at Sarah with eyes smeared in maddened confusion and annoyance. Jack went as far as to punch himself so hard that he drew his own blood from his mouth.

“I’m so sick of this! I can’t comprehend any of this-this stupidity that defies everything we know that can exist. I’m done!”

Sarah squints her eyes in annoyance and grits her teeth, she feels bad for the guy all of a sudden. But the goth girl can’t risk dropping her guard and returning her poker face.

“Are you a Witch as well?!” said Sarah.

“A Witch?! Uh—Witch! Are you fucking kidding me? Holy moly, this-this is too much!” Jack rolled on the ground laughing like a man who lost all comprehension.

She couldn’t take it and finally closed her palm, “If you won’t answer my question and rather laugh! Then that’s it, you’re dead!”

Jack brought his laughter to a stop. The tone in her voice, it was serious and the words that came out of her mouth were felt piercing his eardrums.

Jack got a knee and stared at Sarah, his eyes shaking, “Wait what-what do you mean, dead?” Suddenly, he felt the ground beneath him shake violently, “Wait, wait wait wait!”

The ground beneath Jack cracked, spreading all across the area and stopped at her feet.

“Oh… shit…” muttered Jack.

The girl tapped her foot on the edge of a crack, and the ground beneath Jack collapsed, plunging him into darkness. Jack screamed as the light was fading but Mallory wasn’t going to allow her beloved to succumb to someone's darkness.

Mallory groaned, “Don’t worry, I got this.”

Jack felt his body light, the light springing back into his vision. He looked over his shoulder and saw the dark void going away and realised he’s flying back into broad daylight.

I’m-I’m going to live! Jack thought.

Sarah sighed with relief until she saw the guy sprung up out of the hole in which he fell. She’s left surprised, shocked, and watched as he landed back on the ground on his feet.

Jack sharpened his eyes towards Sarah and clenched his fists, “You need to chill the fuck out and listen to what I have to say!”

Sarah clenches her fists, growling, “So you are a Witch just like me and my mother?!” She extends her arm out and opens her palm, “O serpent one, hear my call and flash my enemy with your light of elegance!”

Her hand electrifies and spikes of purple electricity shoot around the area, piercing the ground and shooting into the sky.

Jack, left stunned, raised his fists with self worry, “Mallory!”

Sarah shoots a huge wave of electricity towards Jack. The young man didn’t have time to wait for Mallory’s reply and immediately blocked it with his forearms. The electricity was deflected, shooting out into the skies and turning the sky grey. There were burnt marks on his forearms and third degree burns on them.

The young man collapsed to his knees and moaned, “Who-Who knew you were the one Mallory mentioned… so, this is the real you, Sarah…”

Upon gazing at Sarah his flesh sizzled, Jack saw Sarah’s face stunned in horror. She looked regrettable in her action and was on the verge of crying.

“Sarah, who would’ve known huh? But, that face, that’s one someone who looked guilty of their actions.”

Jack realised the situation and thought of an idea to lower Sarah’s guard further. This way he can lower it enough to have her succumb to defeat and he can reveal who he is.

Sarah muttered, “I’m-I’m… sorry…” over and over. She didn’t realise the consequences of her actions against him. She thought if he were a Witch like she claimed him to be, then his injury wouldn’t be that severe.

Jack stood his ground though and got on his feet despite his arms frying to a crisp, burning severely. “Wow this hurts, but I can’t believe I blocked that? To think, Sarah, you were just a shy hopeless girl—!”

Sarah’s shocked state became undone when he said her name.

“Now, I understand why you were so quiet when we were kids…” Jack raises his fists again, but they were in so much pain that he can’t help but show how much they trembled.

Say, Mallory… you think if I’d get close enough, I can convince her that I’m me?

Mallory finally responded but with a growl, “Oh I’ll show her more than that, I’ll help you get to her, just tell me when you’ll become mine and I’ll land a hit hard enough to blow her mind for hurting you!”

Sarah grew weary and collapsed her hands and closed her eyes. She wanted to end this as soon as possible but now instead of taking his life, just enough to knock him unconscious.

“Hail to the guardians of the sky, Aid me in cleansing my victim with your glory.”

The skies above trembled with might, huge strikes of lightning struck near Jack while huge gusts of winds appeared and grew intense by the second. Jack used this opportunity to run towards her to catch her off guard. It works once she feels his presence coming, and quickly, she tries running away to grow some distance. In spite of doing that, Jack showed her just how athletic he was by catching up too fast for her liking. Jack’s almost in arms reach to her when she lifted her hands and the cracked ground below them started to rise off into the air. The ground rapidly tore apart, grew into giant pillars of dirt and rock. Jack stumbled down and quickly caught a root from one of the rising grounds.

“Damn! What now?!” shouted Jack.

Jack quickly climbs up and Sarah’s in the air, hovering. She raised her arms and collapsed them, dropping the lands back to normal. This caused Jack to fall on his back. The young man moaned in pain while rubbing his back and got back up on his feet again. She finished her prayer in silence and the clouds from above came twirling down towards Jack like a giant mouth of white gas.

Jack screams and once again covers himself, “No!”

“Jack, say it! And I can help you, just claim me as yours once again!” shouted Mallory.

Jack can feel his senses dwindling and his vision becoming impared, “Ma-Mallory! Be mine and aid me!”

Mallory answered his call with a scream of terror—of which was heard all across the land and even reaching back into reality to the people of Detroit Michigahn. Sarah heard that horrible scream inside that swirling cloud of white death, reminding her of her battle with the girl and bringing a panic to her.

Jack dangled his arms, snarled, his eyes turned black and the veins in his body turned black as well. Sarah hasn’t noticed his transformation from the focus of her prayer, and the terrifying scream echoing in her mind. Jack spread his arms around and twirled them around himself, enough to create his own pressure. Eventually, he created enough to gather and create a base tip to grab the twirling clouds and once touching it, they turn black.

Sarah stopped her prayer and saw her purified clouds become corrupted, “What’s happening?!”

Jack swings the clouds around and creates a giant tornado, pointing the opening at Sarah. The goth girl gasps in horror and tries casting another spell but she gets sucked into the cloud and twirls inside it. Jack focuses the clouds to shrink enough to tie Sarah around. It works and they shrunk enough to create a rope of black smoke all around Sarah. She felt nauseated. She’s on the brink of throwing up and does when she falls on the ground sideways.

Sarah’s own stench made her gag but when she got her senses back, the goth girl started having a panic attack. Being tied like this gave her ptsd from the fight with the girl. Sarah tried breaking free, but couldn’t but kept her struggle. Again, she gasped when she saw the guy approaching her with murderous intent. His fists clenched and his skin as pale as snow, she began panicking. Sarah grit her teeth and lets out an awful scratchy scream, causing the black ropes around her to explode and break her free.

Sarah quickly flies into the air and screams at Jack again, making the skies above her rupture into a beautiful veiny sky of lightning. “I’m not going to be toyed with again, I’ll have you beg for mercy!”

Sarah throws her arms around her to strike Jack’s location. Strike after strike, they all landed on him, creating explosions, and smoke expanding around his area. Sarah, who was in the air short on breath, felt relieved she landed those hits, but as soon as the smoke cleared around him he was standing there with no damage.

She’s beginning to get worried and scared, “No no no! Not again, please!”

Sarah raised her arms in the air and finally started to chant her ultimate spell, the one she used against the girl in the white dress. Mallory took notice and felt afraid for Jack’s safety. She pushed his body to its limit and set himself for a tackling position. Jack’s ready. Sarah’s still chanting as she sets a barrier around herself. Jack opens his mouth, a trail of black smoke drifts out of his mouth.

Sarah felt that awful pressure come out of his mouth, sensing a rise in strength, and grew more scared, “I invoke thee, I invoke thee, mother earth, lend me your—!”

Sarah had to stop, she felt the pressure gain closer and saw the guy come hurtling towards her with such speed she couldn’t come to finish her prayer. Once Jack came inches towards her barrier, it shattered from the pressure of his presence. Sarah’s left stunned and Jack grabs her, spinning the two around and plunging back to the ground. The two slammed their way back to the earth so furiously they left a crater big enough to engulf a football field.

Jack finally snaps back into normality. He sat up and looked around, spotting Sarah shaking from the sheer pain from the landing to the right. Jack, who’s covered in dirt and dust, brushed it off as he stood. He walked over to Sarah and extended his hand out to the goth girl to aid her, showing her he wasn’t here to bring her harm. Sarah opened her eyes and saw his gaze looking down on her, she’s angry and without warning shot a sharp wind out from her hand, cutting Jack’s cheek. A nice stripe of red exposed itself and blood dripped out of Jacks' new wound. Jack had enough, he reached into his coat but was met with a huge gust of wind blowing him back from Sarah’s palm.

“Enough of this!” shouted Sarah as she levitated back up and kept applying the winds on Jack, making him stumble down to his knees.

Jack was on his breaking point. He managed to grab his gun, pull it out, and pointed it at Sarah. She immediately stopped and everything around them calmed down. Sarah quivers in fear and drops to her knees, hands raised and her eyes ready to break; she’s ready to comply with any of Jack’s orders.

Jack’s short on breath and perplexed over this entire ordeal. He kept his aim on Sarah while approaching her. Jack wiped the blood off his cheek, took a deep breath and put the gun away to calm her down. Sarah’s still afraid and felt as if he was going to kill her in another way. To Sarah, a gun shouldn’t be a problem, but given the fact the goth girl’s still new to her new profound powers, she has no clue if she’s able to avoid bullets. Jack questioned that also, but since she’s now vulnerable enough to be questioned, it appears like his plan came to plan.

“Now you’re going to listen to me very carefully, Sarah. No more games, tricks, just listen, okay?” said Jack, stopping a foot from her.

Sarah’s bottom lip quivered, just looking into his cold eyes sent chills down her spine, “Wh-What do you want from me then? Why are you manipulating my friend? How do you know my name?!”

Jack didn’t express anymore emotions and reached into his pocket. He took out his wallet, pulled out a photo and tossed it at her. Sarah looks down at the photo and looks back at Jack with a confused look on her face. She slowly picks the photo up and turns it over, exposing the picture to herself when she was a kid. Sarah’s face scrunched in confusion at how someone like him got a photo of her, Anna, and Veronica. That’s when he threw another one to her, this time it was the three but the last person on it was none other than Jack himself.

Sarah gasps with shock and looks back at Jack, “Y-You… you mean—you’re?” Sarah lets the photo drift out of her hand, it glides away into the distance.

Jack mildly grinned and said in a really calm and polite tone, “Yup… it’s me Sarah… Long time no see, old friend.”