Jack’s mind was foggy, engulfed by a mist that was so black and felt so sad. The everlasting darkness wouldn’t come to an end. Every single moment, every sound… was her.

Her voice was so soothing to his ear, yet it had that evil intention which haunted Jack’s innocence. Every direction, every door, every pathway… it was another entrance to her existence. No matter how hard he tried, or how much he ran she was always there.

Did he deserve such punishment? If so… then what did he do wrong? She wouldn’t tell Jack. Instead, she raped his feelings and violated his mind with blackened, tormenting punishment.

He guessed it was best if he did something wrong to her. He preferred to stay floating in the black void for now… within his own punishment of nothingness.

The sound of her giggles erupted in the dark misty void where Jack floated. She continued to rape his innocence with her wickedness by saying one thing over and over again… It left poor Jack wondering about the promise she kept repeating. “You were meant to be mine… like you said before… because you promised me on the night we first met, Jack.”

Everytime Jack heard that damned statement his fingers twitched out of annoyance in the void of darkness. The aggravation he was experiencing was monumental, the poor kid wanted to retaliate against this girl's self proclaimed false promise apparently he’s devoted to her. But instead, all Jack could do was float, and let these smokey vines of purple violate his body, along with her soft tormenting voice to haunt his current slumber.

***

Alexandria and Angela were warming themselves as they looked over Jack’s unconscious body. He hadn’t woken in five days, which left the girls feeling worried day after day. Angela had been way too clingy with his motionless body, so much so it even creeped Alexandria out. The little girl wouldn’t even allow her to come even an inch to check on him. It left Alexandria wondering more about his strange condition.

As Alexandria threw more wood into the fire, she looked over at Angela and saw her patting his head, humming an eerie song filled with her childish innocence. Then she noticed how foggy Angela’s eyes of hopelessness were.

“Angela?” Alexandria asked. “How’s Jack doing?” Angela ignored her, drifting her hands across Jack’s unconscious body. “Answer me darn it! Why do you hate me? At least tell me if he’s alright?”

She continued to ignore Alexandria and talked to Jack in a very soft, pampering voice. She dragged her cold hand across his cheek. “You’re going to be alright, because your sis is here to take care of you.”

Alexandria grew frustrated. She walked behind Angela and clenched her fists. “Angela! If you don’t respond to me in the next five seconds… I swear, I’ll-I’ll hit you!”

Angela jumped up and gasped loudly, surprising Alexandria. “Brother! You’re feeling cold huh? Don’t worry, you can have my blanket!” She grabbed her blanket and dragged it over him.

Alexandria had had enough. She grabbed Angela and tossed her aside and away from Jack. “I’m sorry, I just have to check if he isn’t sick. Besides, you’re only a kid.”

Angela freaked out and screamed horrifically at Alexandria, which frightened her. “Don’t take me away from my brother!”

Angela rushed to Alexandria, grabbed her leg, and then bit it. Alexandria fell back, grabbing her leg which throbbed in pain. She felt disgusted and looked at Angela as if she were a sociopath.

“You’re crazy!” She took a closer look and spotted the bite marks. She slammed her fist on the ground and stood back up. “Angela please, I beg of you. I need to check him for illnesses for Pete’s sake. He hasn’t woken in five days!”

Angela turned around and stared blankly at Alexandria with eyes as cold and lifeless as a cube of ice. “Then don’t push me away from him. You can check him while I’m singing to him,” she said as she lay down beside Jack, and then began singing a lullaby so creepy it was enough to haunt Alexandria’s dreams.

Even though Alexandria was a little creeped out by the singing, she had to check if he wasn’t sick or worse, dead. She slowly walked beside his body and sat next to him. Angela ignored her and continued singing that creepy lullaby with her soft voice of innocence.

She checked his pulse and temperature with a thermometer that she’d grabbed from her own bag. “It looks like he’s still alive, but he may be sick from what I can tell… I’m afraid that’s all I know about medical science.”

Angela didn’t believe Alexandria, but she proved herself by showing her the thermometer. Angela then finally realized the situation and tossed aside her selfishness.

“What are we gonna do? I don’t want him to die! I can’t live without him!” Angela began freaking out again and started acting delusional. “It’s alright, brother. It’s alright. Everything is all just a dream.”

Alexandria grabbed Angela and slapped some sense into her, leaving the little girl stunned. “Calm down! It’s going to be fine. He might have the flu, but I’m just assuming.”

Alexandria then stood up and set her bag down to put on Jack’s bag. She opened the door and looked back at the two as cold air blew inside.

“I’ll be back Angela, I won’t let my future hubby die!” Alexandria quickly blushed and blew a kiss to Jack. “It’s time we take care of him like he has for us.” She left and closed the door.

Angela was alone with Jack and felt less stressed after hearing what Alexandria had said. She wasn’t too sure how she could be of any help. When she was about to add more wood to the fire, she heard Jack mumble some words.

“No… please… stop!”

Angela still has no clue about Jack’s past, but hearing him mumble those words saddened her. Still, she wondered how he’d gotten into his horrible situation in the first place. All of a sudden, Angela remembered something important. She put a wet rag on Jack’s forehead and opened the door.

She took one huge deep breath to ease herself and built up some confidence. “Brother, I’ll be back. Please wait for me.”

She ran out the door and as soon as she stepped out, she felt the cold Michigan breeze go through her body. It was freezing, even though it wasn’t winter yet, the cold was already brutal.

“This is no time to wuss out. I have to save my bro-brother!”

Angela headed directly into the middle of the homeless camp that was full of tents. She rushed in, but quickly stopped to look around, observing the detestable surroundings around her. The smell and the look of lost hope made her feel grossly uncomfortable.

“How awful,” Angela said to herself. “How can people live like this? It’s nasty!” She pinched her nose from the strong smell and slowly walked through the small homeless utopia.

She couldn’t help but observe every single detail her curious mind wanted to seek. She spotted two people smoking something with a big pipe, then someone puked beside her, and in front of her were a couple injecting something into their arms. It gave her the heebie-jeebies.

Angela rubbed her arms and felt something similar had happened to her but she couldn’t remember. Without a second glance at the people with a needle, Angela continued walking but stopped again to see people fighting over a clear white plastic bag. She began shaking and wondered if this was the right place to come.

Snapping out of it, she continued walking until she spotted some children. They too seemed hopeless and had the look of failure and death. It was evident in their defiled eyes. She felt terrible but also relieved, knowing that herself and Jack weren’t the only ones having it rough.

At last, she arrived at the place she remembered. It was a big blue tent near one of the highway pillars.

“Hello?” she whispered. “Good, no one’s inside it seems.”

Angela walked into the tent and looked around. The inside was neat and organized. She looked around and finally found what she was looking for.

“Well, at least some people can still appreciate life. I think these will help Jack get rid of his sickness.”

She grabbed the pills and placed them inside her pocket. Footsteps approached the tent. She had no time to react and instead, she sprinted out of the tent.

“What the?… What the hell are you doing inside my house?!” an old man shouted. He went inside and noticed his medication was gone. “Get yo ass back here, you little bitch!”

Angela was so focused on getting back to her brother that she didn’t bother looking back for one second, and ran as fast as her little legs could handle. She was determined to give Jack the medication that would hopefully help him recover. However, the old man was on her tail, and she was completely oblivious, not knowing he was gaining on her.

“When I get chu! Ooooo! I’m giving you an ass whooping you deserve!” he shouted furiously at Angela.

Angela managed to slow him down by knocking over some stacked boxes, they pummeled and out came a mess of random objects stored inside them. He tried hopping over most of the avalanche, but tripped over one of the boxes and fell pretty hard on the chest. He was angry and slammed a fist on the dirty brown ground and shouted “Damn you!” at Angela. as she ran off and disappeared from his line of sight.

She finally arrived home and caught her breath, then took off her bag to pull out the medication. Grabbing a bottle of water, she poured at least three pills into her hand, then carefully inserted them into Jack’s mouth, then poured the water afterwards so it would go down smoothly for him. Jack swallowed all of it and Angela was relieved to see that he took to the medication.

The old man barged in and as soon as he could shout at Angela, he saw her hold Jack’s hand. The old man quickly changed his mind and tone since he was touched by the scene.

“Hey girl?” the man asked.

“I’m sorry for stealing your me-medicine.” Angela stood up and walked up to him, handing back his medicine. “I ju-just didn’t wa-want my bro-brother to die,” she whimpered and bowed her head.

The man smiled and patted Angela on the head. “It’s okay little girl. You’re pretty mature and tough for your age. And what’s with the bowing? You’re a strange one, aren’t cha!” He chuckled and walked over to Jack’s body. “He’s in rough shape, but he definitely has the flu. But that’s fine, he’ll wake up in no time.”

“But he’s been unconscious for five days. He just freaked out and fell,” Angela said, then pouted.

“Hmm? That’s strange. He just freaked out and fell, huh?”

She nodded.

“Well, don’t worry. He’ll wake up. Those pills you fed him are painkillers, so I’m sure that’ll relieve some of the pain he’s had in his head.”

He sat next to Jack and continued to check for any more bad symptoms. Not long after, Alexandria came back from her trip and noticed the old man.

“Uhh… who are you?” she questioned, while closing the door.

“Well, your little pal here stole my medication and ran from me.” He looked at Angela as she lowered her head in shame. He smiled and checked Jack’s pulse. “But seeing the situation she’s in, I’m not angry anymore.”

Alexandria sighed out of disappointment and relief. “Angela, please don’t do anything reckless again. What would happen if something bad happened to you? What would I tell Jack, hmm?”

“Sorry,” Angela said.

“What’s your name girl? I know her name now since you said it.”

“You can just call me Snatch.”

“So you’re Snatch! No wonder why you look so familiar. Haha.”

Alexandria quickly approached the man and whispered into his ear, “Please don’t say anything in front of her. She’s much too young!”

“I know, don’t worry about that.” The old man chuckled. “So who’s this young man anyway? You all siblings?”

“They are, but I’m not.”

“Oh, so what type of relationship do you three share then?”

Alexandria blushed. “Well, I guess you can say he’s my future husband.” She laughed and appeared to be a little embarrassed, so she covered her face.

Angela stared at Alexandria with a cold look again. “They’re just friends,” she said angrily.

Alexandria gave Angela a smug look back. “It’ll happen someday.”

Angela giggled. “You’re good at jokes.”

They both rambled at each other until the old man made them both shut up. They looked at each other and laughed.

The old man got a little irritated. “You two better chill, I’m not playing. Keep laughing at me and you’ll get an ass whooping!”

Alexandria puffed her chest out and placed her fists on her hips. “Yeah, let me beat up some kids cause they’re laughing at me!” she said, imitating his voice.

Angela fell on the floor. “Ow… I tripped. Dang you girl.”

The old man sighed and laughed. “Well I’ll be damned.”

Suddenly, Jack started mumbling words again, which made Alexandria and Angela both get thrilled. They quickly went by his side and hoped he would wake, but it was no use.

“I used to be a doctor,” the old man said.

So that explained why he was so thorough with his observations on Jack, Angela thought.

“Say old man, what’s your name?” Alexandria asked.

He laughed and patted Alexandria’s back. “The name’s Joseph.” He stood up and took out another set of pills, then handed Angela two pills. “I’ll be back tomorrow. It’s getting late, so here, make sure to give him these two tonight. Oh, and one last thing, don’t let him get any colder. Alright girls, see ya tomorrow!”

He waved at them and left. Alexandria waved as well while he shut the door behind him.

“What a nice man. For a second I thought he was going to kill you.”

Angela sighed. “He probably would, if he didn’t see me catering to Jack.”

“Be glad he didn’t harm you. Let this be a lesson to learn from.”

Angela’s eyes widened with shock, almost as if she’d heard those words before. “Let this be a lesson and learn from it!” She laughed and stared at Alexandria with a disturbing look.

“Angela? Are you alright? You’re scaring me here.”

Angela kept laughing, but then immediately stopped. She fell over next to Jack and was sound asleep. Alexandria was quite disturbed at what she saw, so she sat next to Jack’s body and grabbed his hand. She kissed his forehead then slept soundlessly by his side.

Car horns echoed through the streets, as cats and dogs barked and meowed. Gunshots could be heard across the air. They all slept soundly, even though they knew the dangers of the city. However, they were all used to it. Alexandria opened her eyes once more to ruffle Jack’s hair and said goodnight with a soft ASMR kind of voice. She just couldn’t help herself.

She finally slept as every other sound was normal to them… But there was one sound that was off, and that was the sound of laughter. Innocent muffled laughter heard behind the other sounds that were normal to Flint, Michigan. In the corner of darkness was the one ensuing the laughter, and it was her, the girl in the white dress. From the corner she watched them sleep peacefully. She kept laughing until her laughter transitioned to silence. She stood there and stared for the entirety of the night.

***

Jack was still floating in the misty void of eternal darkness. His eyes were closed, his skin pale. He’d already given up on ever trying to awaken… but then, someone spoke.

“Jack. Jack… Wake up.”

His eyelids vibrated. The voice he could hear… it was ominous yet familiar to him.

“Who said that? Why do you call my name?”

“Jack, it’s okay. I’m here.”

He continued squinting until he managed to open his eyelids. Now that he was awake, he noticed his eyes were a bit blurry. He also felt like he was laying on someone’s lap and there was grass everywhere, because of the slight tickles that went throughout his back and arms.

He blinked a couple times to fully grasp the situation. His vision cleared and he looked up and saw a girl with blonde hair and gorgeous hazel eyes. He remembered who she was. She was from that strange dream he had two months ago at the facility.

She didn’t smile nor said anything, but only stared. His face turned red from her intense staring and he slowly reached for her hand. She noticed how he’d grabbed her hand and she turned red herself without changing her straight face.

“Who are you and where am I?” Jack asked.

She blinked softly and wanted to ruffle his hair, but resisted herself from doing so. She turned her attention to the endless grass field in front of them. “Well, I can’t tell you to be honest. I’m not sure how you even got here. This is the second time we’ve been connected, isn’t it?”

“Alright…? How do you know my name?”

The sun shining on her blonde hair was like gold as her eyes gleamed of holiness and purity. “I don’t know either? I just know… for some strange reason,” she said, her voice very soft, yet also had a pinch of sadness.

Jack couldn’t stop staring at her beauty. He felt fuzzy and calm for some odd reason. “What’s your name?” he asked nervously.

She looked down on him again with her golden eyes of beauty. “My name?” He noticed she shook slightly, like she seemed surprised. “My-My name’s…”

Suddenly, the entire field erupted into flames. The grass burned to a crisp and the sky turned orange. They both looked around and Jack panicked, but she seemed too calm for his liking. Jack tightened his hold on her hand, however, she faded away as golden ash.

Jack screamed in horror and freaked out, then he heard the giggling again. As he turned around, the faceless girl was right in front of him. She extended her arms out and hurtled towards his vision, transforming herself into black.

Jack opened his eyes wide and sat up, violently screaming “No!”

Angela and Alexandria were awakened from his horrified screams of terror. He frantically breathed, as sweat dripped down all over his face. His vision became fuzzy. He looked around and noticed he was back in the shack.

Both girls were moved with excitement. Tears of joy and relief drowned their faces as they both clung onto Jack. They were both trying to communicate with him, but Jack’s ears were ringing so much that he couldn’t hear what they were saying.

“What’s with these bizarre dreams? Why do they keep happening?!”

He got up and walked out of the shack to get some fresh air. Angela and Alexandria were rather confused, but they slowly followed behind him. They were still cautious and made sure he wouldn’t do anything to harm himself any further.

“Jack? Are you alright?” Alexandria tried grabbing his hand, but Jack seemed too focused at the moment, almost like he had tunnel vision.

Angela stepped in front of Jack’s view to get his attention. “Brother… say something. Please!”

He heard Angela’s plea, but shortly afterward, he spotted something bizarre in front of his fuzzy vision. He wasn’t sure if it was Angela. No… he knew the figure was too tall to be her. The hair was too long and that outfit… that outfit. He walked closer and confronted it.

“Who are you?” he asked with a very mean tone.

Angela was shocked at what Jack asked her. “It’s me brother, Angela!”

The figure began laughing at him, mocking his current mood. He placed his hands on the figure’s shoulders and leaned in closer. “What’s so funny? Why don’t you show me your face. I can’t see it with all that damn hair covering it!”

Angela noticed how his pupils were so dilated from extreme anger and irritation. She began crying. “You’re squishing my tiny shoulders with your big hands, brother. Please stop! You’re hurting me.”

Alexandria was disturbed and tried getting Jack’s attention. “Jack, what’s going on? Why are you acting like this?! Snap out of it!”

Jack had lost it. He chuckled manically, expressing a smile so disgusting and vile that it haunted Angela’s sight. “Show me your damn face and quit laughing at me!”

He moved the figure’s hair out of her face and…

“Jack?” Alexandria said.

“Brother! What’s going on? Why won’t you let me go and why are you looking at me like that?”

Jack’s eyes widened out of disgust and fright. Angela thought he was about to run away from her.

He made strange noises filled with horror. “It’s you! The bitch who’s made my dreams a living hell!”

The girl kept laughing at him and started mocking his behavior.

“Shut the hell up!”

Jack was so delusional that he extended an arm back as far as he could to punch the thing that had corrupted his vision. The moment he was about to drive his angered fist into the faceless girl, a giant slap echoed off the pillars around them. He felt that mighty slap land on his face, enough for him to snap back into reality.

Alexandria had her hand up, palm red and eyes quivering with teary anger. “Jack! Snap out of it! For God’s sake, you almost hit your sister!”

Jack could hear her clearly. He looked at Alexandria, massaging his cheek as it pulsed and throbbed in pain. “What’s going on? Wha-What happened?” he asked calmly as if everything was normal.

"What’s going on? What’s going on?! Oh, I don’t know? You just woke up after being unconscious for five days and now you wake up, stand on your feet, walk like a zombie, looking afraid and psychopathic-like, then almost hit your sister!” She shot her arms out at Jack’s direction. “You’re scaring us Jack! Je-Jesus, now… I got-gotta… gi-give me a second here.”

“I-I did? I’m sorry, Alexandria.” Jack looked forward again and saw Angela on the ground, shaking with fear. “Angela… I’m!”

He reached out to comfort her, but she was so afraid that she immediately slapped his hand away. He looked back at Alexandria.“I’m sick… aren’t I?”

She sighed and grinned out of relief. “Well, you do have the flu, so that might be it.” Alexandria gave Jack some comfort by placing a hand on his cheek. “It’s okay Jack. I’ll be by your side to make sure you’re all better. But I’m sorry I slapped you. I had no choice.”

“But what?” Jack asked, still unsure what had happened.

She kissed his cheek to ease the pain. “Does that feel better?”

Jack blinked a couple times to check if he wasn’t in one of those dreams. “Yeah… I think so?” He looked back at Angela. “I’m sorry Angela. I’m a disgrace of a brother and as a caretaker. I won’t even blame you for hating me or worse, no longer claim me as your brother.”

Angela immediately changed her attitude and jumped onto Jack, rubbing her face on his stomach. “No please! I forgive you. Don’t leave me!”

Jack smiled and held her. “Words can’t describe how shameful I’m feeling, lil sis. Next time I do something like that I want you to slap me instead.”

Angela shook her head. “No!” she said adorably, bringing out a smile on Jack’s face.

Alexandria patted Jack’s back, they all looked at each other. As the heated atmosphere around them calmed down, the chilly air made its way back in to send shivers down their spines. They all decided to walk back inside to avoid the cold any further, but before walking in last, Jack looked back one last time and said beneath his breath, “What’s wrong with me?”

Even showing a smile to the two didn’t help him cope with his feeling of self judgment. He couldn’t help but feel as if his sanity was starting to crumble, and worse, without his acknowledgement. Was this the beginning of his insanity, or his downfall as a caretaker? To Jack it was only a reminder of the hindrance from that girl in his dreams, so for now he didn’t want to think of such a thing. He just wanted to make the other two happy.

He walked back inside, shut the door behind him and called himself a “stupid moronic idiot” for the actions he’d ensued.

As the day passed by, Angela reminded herself that she still needed to give Jack the pills the old man had given her. She reached into her pocket and took them out, then handed them to Jack.

“What are they for?” Jack asked.

She explained what had happened earlier that day and what she did.

Jack chuckled, then took the pills and swallowed them. He looked at Angela with a smile on his face. “Don’t do something irresponsible again.”

“How do you feel, Jack?” Alexandria asked.

“You know… after swallowing those pills, I don’t feel so go—” Jack began making coughing sounds and grabbed his neck, dramatically tilting his head back and forth.

Angela started getting worried. “Oh no! Brother, please!” Jack continued his dumb acting and now he was starting to make over the top expressions.

Alexandria wasn’t stupid, so she quickly figured out his joke. “Hey buddy, those pills that you just swallowed, its main ingredient is poop you know?”

Jack stopped his charade and started spitting. “Ahh! Is that true?”

“Brother, you’re okay?” Angela asked, clutching Jack’s arm.

Alexandria made a smug-like smile and crossed her arms. “Who knows? Maybe you should double check sir!” She laughed and Jack freaked out. He spat more and asked Angela for a bottle of water.

After everything was simmered down and no one was poking fun at one another, they all prepared for the night and made a small bonfire to celebrate Jack’s well-being.

“You guys don’t have to do so much, you know? I don’t need a huge party.”

Alexandria punched Jack’s shoulder. “Come on now. We have to. We’re just glad you’re still breathing.”

“I think this celebration would be better without you, Snatch,” Angela said coldly.

“Just when I thought we were finally getting along.” Alexandria sighed. “Oh well, I like you better that way.”

Jack laughed. “The way you guys act reminds me of a cartoon I used to watch as a kid, well more of a comedic one at that.”

“What’s a cartoon?” Angela asked.

Both Alexandria and Jack looked at her in surprise.

“You don’t know what a cartoon is?” Alexandria asked, raising a brow.

Both Alexandria and Jack looked at each other and laughed, then they came up with the idea of acting out their favorite cartoon characters. Jack acted like Superman and Alexandria acted like a magical girl. However, Angela was more interested in the whole magical girl stuff.

Jack got a little bummed out and attacked Alexandria with the fierce might of tickling. Angela got a little jealous and she wanted him to tickle her, so he did as well. After all the excitement, they decided that it was time for bed.

“Goodnight Alexandria and Angela!” Jack said as he laid down.

Alexandria kissed his cheek. “Goodnight sweety!”

She then placed her sleeping bag close to Jack and fell asleep.

“That’s not fair!” Angela said. “I want a kiss goodnight!”

Jack leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Is that better?”

“Thank you,” Angela said, then smiled.

They were all sound asleep as the night was quiet. They were warm, yet the feeling of ease couldn’t have been more apparent. With the comfort of their makeshift home, decent sleeping bags to rest on, supplies to last them a week or two, and the remnants of the burning fire even after being put out, it felt as if it truly was a place of their own.

As Jack slept, he smelled something burning. He opened his eyes, sat up and rubbed them. The first thought he had was, Perhaps the fire was still burning? But no, it was dead.

He looked about, sniffing the air again. “Where’s that burning smell coming from?” He looked around and saw a small stream of smoke coming from Alexandria’s side. “Alexandria, are you burning something?”

She quickly sat up and turned around with her hands behind her back. “Oh! Sorry for waking you! It’s nothing… I’m umm just burning a match or two!”

Jack noticed her arms were shaking erratically and assumed she was being very suspicious. “Are you sure? You’re shaking a little bit. Feeling alright?”

“Yeah! Everything’s fine! No need to worry!” she said, her voice cracking and sounding extremely nervous.

“Okay I guess. Sorry for bothering you. Goodnight.” Jack laid down and went back to sleep.

Alexandria quietly sighed, with her head down and her eyes gleaming in disappointment. She got up and walked outside, then looked around to see if anyone was about. She went around back behind the shack and sat down. Revealing her hands, Alexandria had a lighter and spoon covered in some burnt foil.

“I’m sorry for lying to you Jack…”

She set it down and pulled her jacket sleeve, revealing past uses and some deteriorated veins. She wrapped a plastic string around her arm and bit the other end of the string to tighten the pressure. She sat there for a couple of minutes, waiting. After cutting off the blood flow to her arm, a nice vein bulged out. She threw the string aside and grabbed the spoon, unwrapping it to reveal some strange black substance. She hovered the spoon and ignited the lighter, then drifted the small flame below the spoon and cooked the substance, turning it into some black liquid of irresistible death.

Her eyes drooled over the substance. She couldn’t resist it any longer and pulled out a syringe. Staring at it, Alexandria rotated it continuously as memories of her past loved life tormented her mind, reminding her of how much she’d fallen. She was happy at one point in her existence. She had a loving family, great friends, and had an amazing life. However, there was something that always bothered her throughout her childhood. It was almost as if her body needed something else, an empty feeling that was hollow but needed to be fulfilled. She didn’t get to find that answer until she was ten. Before that, she started being homeless when she was eight years old, the same year her parents died of a drug overdose. She found out about that horrific secret her parents had kept from her; the horrible fact that she was born an addict.

Tears slowly flowed down her cheeks as she remembered her old life before those horrid events. She pointed the syringe towards the spoon. She hesitated at first with her hand shaking intensely, but the urge of using it, sticking it in, wanting to feel the urgency to experience the satisfaction, and the black death coursing through her screwed up veins just to bring enjoyment for her selfish needs.

The temptation made her eyes expand and mouth drool. She couldn’t hold it any longer, so she dipped the syringe into the liquid and pulled back the plunger until the tube was full. The sadness on her face finally caved in. She made sure there was a good spot to inject the liquid, then took a deep breath and slowly inserted the syringe into her arm, injecting the fluid into herself. After it emptied, Alexandria threw it away, then grabbed her hair in anger as she balled herself up and sobbed.

“Forgive me Mom and Dad,” she whimpered and took out a folded photo inside a secret pocket that was placed beneath her jacket. She unfolded it and stared at her family. She’d always had it stored away just to reminisce about her past. However, that feeling of sadness flew away as soon as the high kicked in.

Her emotions went on a rollercoaster ride from the feeling of regret and sadness to being amazed by such a feeling of pleasure. She laughed while looking at the photo and said, “I’m a failure! I’m a failure! I’m a failure! I’m a failure! I’m a failure!”

Alexandria finally relaxed and slowly fell to her side. Laying on the blankets, her confused crying came to a stop, then she slowly exhaled as her eyes closed. She fell asleep behind the shack, feeling ashamed of what she’d become.

The following morning Jack felt worried about Alexandria when he couldn’t find her. He spent countless hours searching for her, asking any of the other homeless if they’d seen her walk by. He looked almost in every place that he could think of, but the situation grew more tiresome for him, not to mention Angela, who needed his attention.

Jack decided to try one last place, which was behind the shack. It was really cramped back there so the thought of looking there never came to his mind. As he walked behind it, and to his surprise, there she was on the ground, passed out and sound asleep.

Jack rushed to her side and with all the feelings of worried frustration, he shook her to relieve the unbearing emotions he had. “Alexandria! Alexandria! Wake up!” He shook her over and over and at last, she woke up.

“Ja-Jack?” she mumbled. She rubbed her eyes and when she tried to stand up, she couldn’t for some odd reason. She started laughing and stumbled around. “I’m sorry… I wa-was just, you kn-know!”

“You’re not okay. Here, let me carry you.” Jack picked up Alexandria and swept her off her feet.

She turned red and continued laughing. “My pri-prince! Take me away, let us get married!”

“Uhh, you’re acting funny, Alexandria. I’ll place you down and get the old man to check on you,” Jack said, knowing that she was acting too strange for his liking.

He carried her back into the shack, then settled her down on his makeshift bed and hurried out the door. Angela watched on with her eyes filled with jealousy as Alexandria waved goodbye drunkenly.

“Don’t take too lo-long, sweety!” Alexandria exclaimed, then yawned and quickly fell back asleep.

Angela stood up and looked at Alexandria, giving her an ominous look of pity. “How pathetic!” she said, her pitch of voice changing, along with her demeanor. “You don’t deserve someone like my Jack taking care of the likes of you! This ought to wake you up.” She grabbed a pot and filled it with water, then poured the water onto Alexandria.

Alexandria immediately woke up and gasped. She spluttered and stood up, placing her hands on her hips. “What the hell was that for?! Explain, Angela! If that was your idea of a joke, it’s not funny!”

Angela grinned ominously. “Nah, it’s more like a punishment for you.”

“What for?” Alexandria asked, starting to feel uncomfortable. She noticed Angela’s tone, which seemed quite different.

Angela walked up to Alexandria and looked her dead in the eyes. “For what?” She giggled sadistically. “You should know that all too well, for being a druggy!”

Alexandria backed away from Angela, noticing something was off about her eyes. “Wha-What do you mean? I don’t do… drugs. How do you know what a druggy is? You’re like six, right?”

Angela sighed and smiled, looking at Alexandria in disgust. “Suit yourself, but I know Jack accepts you for who you are. Too bad it’s for the wrong idea and reason though. I don’t understand why he would be nice to someone so vile and nasty. It makes no sense to me.”

She walked over to Alexandria’s bag and reached into it. Alexandria got angrier, but more afraid.

“People like you are the scum of society, a waste of air and genes. Yet he doesn’t understand, but here’s all the proof I need.” She pulled out a syringe and a small black bag. “He still doesn’t understand there’s different types of addicts. He probably thinks you’re addicted to pills like he was back in the asyl—”

Angela stopped and stood still. Her eyes slowly expanded and she gasped.

Alexandria bit her lip out of anger. Tears trickled down her cheeks as her built up emotions flooded out. “Angela, why are you saying all these things? Why do you detest me so much? How are you speaking so formerly? And-And your eyes! They—”

Before Alexandria could finish her sentence, Jack walked back in with Joseph, the old man. Jack noticed the two having an intense stare down. “Umm what’s up guys?”

Angela lunged onto Jack, welcoming him with a heartwarming hug.

“I guess you missed me, huh?”

“Yes! I missed you brother!” she said, her voice returned to normal. She smiled as if the conversation between her and Alexandria had never happened.

“I see that you’re awake too Alexandria, but you’re all wet. What happened?” Jack asked.

Alexandria was still left stunned at what Angela had said about her. She just stood there in silence, remembering her hurtful words and nasty smile… but the thing that was haunting her was her eyes.

Jack walked up to Alexandria and shook her. She snapped out of it and shook her head. “Oh umm, Angela just pulled a friendly prank, that’s all! Ha, ha!”

Jack noticed how she was red and had fresh tears trickling down her face. He turned to Angela and gave her a look of disappointment. “Angela, you know better.” Jack then noticed Angela had something in her hand. “Say Angela, what’s that?”

Angela opened her hand and looked confused. “I don’t know? How did this get into my hand?”

Joseph immediately took it away from her. “Girl, why do you have such a dangerous drug in your possession? This is bad stuff! It can kill you. Don’t tell me that you shoot too?”

“What do you mean by shooting, Mr. Joseph?” Jack asked.

He held it up and showed it to Jack. “This… is heroin.” He turned to Angela, looking disappointed. “I don’t know where you got it from, but it’s bad news! Okay?”

She quickly bowed her head. “I’m sorry! I don’t remember how it got into my possession!” Angela began to whimper.

Alexandria slowly walked up to Joseph with a bowed head. Her face was empty and her eyes screamed of failure. “I’m sorry. It must have fallen… off of me.”

“Well Snatch, just be careful how you carry your stuff okay? But I’m disposing this demon filled bag.” Joseph patted her back and gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m just glad you’re okay. This boy here was worried sick about you. He wouldn’t shut up.”

Alexandria looked at Jack and smiled. “Is that true Jack?”

Jack scratched his head. “Well yeah. I mean, we are friends… right?” He walked up to Alexandria and looked at the small bag of heroin in Joseph’s grasp. “So, I’m guessing that’s the drug you’re addicted to, huh?”

Alexandria looked away in embarrassment and began to cry. “Yes… I know I’m a weak, pathetic excuse of a human being… I’m a nuisance to society.”

Jack comforted her with a gentle hug. “Don’t be so harsh on yourself. We all make mistakes in life.” He smiled and ruffled her hair. “Besides, I already told you that I’d accept you no matter what. Remember?”

She fully cried and embraced him, holding onto him tightly. “Jack, I don’t deserve someone as nice as you. I truly do… love you. Thanks for coming into my life.”

Jack’s head had a sudden sharp pain when he heard “I love you.” He placed a hand on his head and felt his knees weakened for a moment. It was so meaningful that it reminded him of something.

“What’s wrong, Jack? I’m worried about you.”

He smiled and patted her back. “It’s all right. I just have a little headache, that’s all. And that’s no problem, it’s who I am as a person. I’ll always protect you, no matter what.”

Joseph joined in the love and hugged them both. “Gosh darn it! You kids are gonna make me cry too!” They both looked at him and laughed. “Well, it seems like your high hasn’t worn off yet, seeing how your emotions are all over the place.”

“Ye-Yes they have. But as of today…” She did a heroic pose by placing her fists on her hips. “I’ll never use heroin again! All thanks to my future hubby!”

She jumped onto Jack and brushed her face against his. Jack, on the other hand, wasn’t enjoying it because of how hard she was ensuing her rubbing. Instead, he was growing rather annoyed. His eye was starting to twitch too.

Joseph knew she wasn’t being honest about her saying how her high had worn off. He could tell she was still high as a kite, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment the two were having.

“He’s a tough nut to crack though. He has no reactions to anything I do to him.”

“I’m so confused!” Jack said as Alexandria continued her senseless rubbing. His eye kept twitching.

Everyone laughed and huddled together. Angela however, wasn’t feeling too well. She looked confused and drowsy. Her eyes struggled to stay open and her knees were wobbling badly. It appeared she would collapse at any moment.

It brought worry onto everyone. Jack placed his hand on her forehead and held her, just in case she would fall. He noticed how warm she was. He assumed he’d accidentally given her his cold.

“Hey Jack, are you sure you’re alright?” Joseph asked.

“Ugh, it might be a little more serious than a cold, I think,” Jack said in a very worried tone.

“Angela, I think you should rest a while until I can find medication for you,” Joseph said.

Without a word, she obliged and lay down, then immediately fell asleep. Jack looked at her as he became more suspicious. Everyone else decided to walk outside and set up a bonfire.

They were about to sit down around a struggling bonfire. Joseph immediately sat, but the fire was too small for the other two’s liking. Alexandria threw some twigs to keep it alive, while Jack took off his jacket for a moment and waved it to make the flame bigger. Succeeding in saving the fire’s life, they both sat down and enjoyed the peaceful gray afternoon.

Joseph took out the bag of heroin and held it up high. He stared at it, then examined the bag closely. “You know, I’m an addict as well.”

Jack was surprised at hearing that. “Is that so? Well, we’re all the same I guess.” He smiled at Joseph, who smiled back.

“I guess you’re right kid. I didn’t know you were a heroin addict too?”

Jack’s smile disappeared. “I guess this is a good opportunity to tell you guys who I really am. Sorry if I lied to you Alexandria.”

“What do you mean, Jack?” she asked.

“I hope you guys have time because it’s going to be a long story. I’ll try my best to shorten it though.” Jack took a long deep breath and relaxed his mind.

“I have all the time in the world.” Alexandria scooted next to Jack.

He stared at the fire, watching the flames as they crackled. The whistles of fall breezed passed them as Jack continued staring at the flames that waved from side to side, reflecting on his hidden rage from that dreaded night that took his life away.

Jack lifted his head and looked to Joseph and then to Alexandria. he grinned softly. “My life wasn’t always this bad. To be quite frank, I had it all. A loving family, a big home, and everything a kid could’ve asked for.” He hesitated for a second.

He was tucking his lips, his eyes were slightly shaking, and his interlaced fingers tightened. Jack’s feelings were ready to break, but he held them in, trying his darndest not to go into a meltdown.

He leaned his head down as his hands started to slightly tremble. “I had amazing friends too, but all of that changed in one night.”

Alexandria noticed Jack was beginning to get more upset. He tightened his hands even further, and his eyes shook and his cheeks twitched. She placed her hand on his shoulder. “What happened…?”

Jack lifted his hands to his forehead and stared at the ground, staying eerily quiet for a moment. He turned to Alexandria and smiled. “I haven’t told you this, but you remind me so much of my best friend Anna.”

“Do I now?” she asked happily. “In what way do I remind you of her?”

“Well…? You’re both very outgoing, you both have beautiful eyes, and you’re both so positive.”

Alexandria blushed and rubbed his shoulder. “Is that so? Thank you for the compliment.”

Jack’s smile quickly faded and he continued. “That one night changed my entire life though. It was a night filled with terror and agonized suffering. It was nothing like anything I’d ever experienced before… It was a bloody massacre.”

Alexandria could feel his words reach her heart. The pain in his voice was too noticeable, which left her feeling really horrible. It brought about past memories of her own, when she lost her parents in a single night all those years ago. His story was starting to sound similar to that of her own.

“I lost my mother and my father. Th-They were killed…” He gritted his teeth and squinted. “Killed… in front of me, murdered by three men trying to rob our house.”

Hearing that made Joseph grimace. “How awful… to think, someone as young as you to witness that. It’s horrific.”

Jack ignored his words. His mind was engulfed by darkened images that were printed permanently into his mind. “Those vile wastes of breath… how dare you, how dare you take away everything,” Jack said quietly in a cold dead tone.

The other two didn’t hear what he was saying, but they saw his lips move.

“How did you make it out alive though?” Alexandria asked.

Jack slowly lowered his hands from his forehead and gave them a maniacal smirk. He shed a single tear and chuckled. “I don’t remember much, but I do remember that I killed them…”

Both of them gasped softly. Alexandria’s hand that was placed on his shoulder started to tremble.

“All three! And you know what the worst part about it was?” Jack’s vile smile grew wider, making his cheeks twitch.

Alexandria retreated her hand and scooted away a little. “Wha-What?”

Joseph looked a little scared too, but he was willing to hear the rest of the story. “I don’t know? What made it worse, if that wasn’t the case?”

Jack laughed a little more. “The damn police!” He got up and clenched his fists. “Blamed me…!”

His eye twitched, as the sinister look was on the brink of breaking him down. “They… They!” He dragged his fingers across his face. His eyes bulged as though they were ready to explode. “Blamed me for my parent’s deaths! They thought I killed them as well!”

Jack finally broke and gripped his hair in anger. He cackled maniacally, laughing out his broken emotion. He dropped to his knees and repeatedly slammed his fists down in anger as he whimpered, “They blamed me, they blamed me, they blamed me…”

Joseph and Alexandria were both shocked at how upset Jack had become.

Alexandria couldn’t bear to watch Jack suffer, so she got up and hugged him tightly to make him stop. “Everything will be alright, Jack.”

Joseph came along and placed his hand on his shoulder. Jack looked up and saw both their faces. Even though he continued to hide his rage and sadness from that night, he was relieved to have such caring friends like them.

He got up and massaged his knuckles, then brought out a small grin to not worry the two any further. “I’m sorry for losing my cool.”

Alexandria shook her head. “That doesn't matter. It’s okay to release your emotions every now and then.”

“Yeah kiddo, we don’t care because everyone has similar stories to tell.”

“Thanks you two. For everything. You’ve done a lot to help me and Angela.”

“It’s okay to cry Jack. Trust me, you’re not the only one who’s lost a family.” Joseph sat down and took out his own bag of heroin. “You know how I told you that this thing’s bad news?”

Jack wiped off his tears and sniffled. “Yeah? What about it?”

Joseph wiggled the bag. “This thing here… is the entire reason I lost my family.” He then stared into it deeply. “It’s the entire reason why someone as talented as I am, is rotting away in these wretched streets of our corrupt leaders who won’t do a single damn thing!”

Jack gasped. “I’m sorry to hear that Joseph.”

Alexandria looked at the bag as well and had flashbacks of her previous life. The moment he mentioned about his family brought back memories of her own… when they were still around. Her mouth slightly opened. Her sights were focused on the bag. She was lost in her flashbacks of happiness, love and care.

Jack noticed she was lost in thought, staring at that bag filled with torment and self satisfaction. “Alexandria, you alright?”

She blinked a couple times and panned over to Jack. “Oh huh? Yeah, I was just remembering something, that’s all.”

“This thing here. It takes away everything, your life, your career, but most importantly…” Joseph clenched the bag enough for his nails to pierce through and spill the demons trapped inside. He broke down and threw the bag on the ground. “It takes away the ones you love!”

Joseph cried and moaned as he fell to his knees, with his palms on his face. He dragged his hands off his face, saw the bag and slammed hammered fists on it, beating it relentlessly like a mad man. The two watched as he continued beating the bag into nothing. He slammed it one final time and finished by slamming his forehead on the cold dirty ground.

Jack walked over to him and patted his back. “I know someday you’ll see your family once again. As a clean person and as the person they once knew.”

Joseph looked up at Jack as if he were an angel. His eyes glistened with joy, then he stood up and embraced Jack. “Boy! You really know how to make someone feel better, you know that!” He wiped his tears and picked the bag up again, but this time he threw it into the fire, burning away his sins. “I’ll never touch a single baggie again! How about it?”

Jack chuckled. “As of today, this will be a new chapter in our lives!”

Alexandria’s face brightened with joy and she immediately embraced him, kissing him over and over again. “I knew you were the one for me. I know I said it once but I’ll say it again, I’m glad I met you Jack!”

She rubbed her face against his and Jack didn’t know how to react, but he enjoyed the feeling of being loved again, like what his parents did for him.

“I’ll make sure when we’re all sober in the future,” Joseph said. “I’ll come to your guy’s wedding. And of course, with my family.”

Jack smiled and they all gathered together and hugged. They were unaware Angela was listening the entire time, and she wasn’t too happy hearing the idea they all had.

Angela quickly went back inside and laid down. She stared at the ceiling with an expressionless face, being lost and confused.

Suddenly, Angela’s sight went dark. She had no idea what had happened and now she had no clue if she had control over herself. Being lost in thought, darkness succumbed her entire vision, yet she was unaware of what might happen to her outside of her mind.

A swift blur of purple drifted into the midst of her darkened mind, and hands of wretched white came out of it, reaching towards her supposed blackened vision. As those hands of white torment covered her vision, all she heard were giggles, ones that had always haunted her dreams, and now… total silence. Angela finally fell into a deep sleep.