Disclaimer: I do not own Jackie, The Darkness and Darklings. They all belong to their respective owners, Top Cow. Though I want to own Estacado, but oh well... I own Vlada instead. Forgive me the grammar. I am too shby to ask anyone for proofreading. Reviews and constructive critisism are always welcomed. Enjoy the story(smile)

Some Forum Post. 3.40 AM

Let me introduce myself. So after I finish my story you can report to a nearby asylum for a new patient upcoming. I know, it sounds freaky. That's why I never told this story to anyone. Perhaps the time had come. So, my name is Vlada Volkova and I am twenty four years old. I earn for living by designing the websites and drawing concept art. People tend to classify me as a dumb blond, because of the hair and several other remarkable… features. They, however, ignore the fact of me knowing computer better then own flat, as also being walking encyclopaedia for computer games, software, technical support and dozens of other stuff average uninterested people refuse to understand. I wake up at eleven; I go to sleep at five. The night hours are … or should I say were my favourite until one day…

What's The Hell?

The night was young and that was making me happy as the serenity of the darkness was bringing peace and clear mind to my so stressful work. Some of you can exclaim, while twitching eyes to the side: "Girl, you are drawing concepts! What can be easier then that?!" Mind me doing the angry face, while adjusting thick owl – like glasses and pressing lips together in an arrogant yet poor manner? Remember people, drawing concepts is your personal crucifix you have to carry from the moment you graduate the peaceful walls of Art Academy and till the time you decide to quit. But even then you will not be free. Never. That is fate, destiny… A curse, perhaps. Yet the curse I love.

The stomach made growling noise, persistently asking to eat something. I grunted something, stretched out and slid feet in my two favourite slippers in a shape of two white fluffy bunnies. Even genius is allowed to be infantile. Remember Einstein? I threw the block note with unfinished sketch on the bed and made my way to the small kitchen. I did not live as The Queen. My income was rather descent to have a big flat but it was enough to fulfil own little needs. Like going to the cinema. Or buying new memory card… You know, this kind of stuff. As I turned around the corner I possibly could not have noticed that for a split second my table lamp flickered, making one of the figures on a paper smirk in a play of a shadow. While making myself a poor version of Chef Salad, I was thinking about my latest assignment. Have you ever heard of The Darkness? Famous Top Cow comic series? It is about a Mafia hitman, who, on his twenty first birthday, discovers he is a new wielder of a power as old as the Time itself. Strange, huh? I received a commission from half – official Darkness website, asking to draw some sort of concepts for the upcoming 10th Anniversary of the comics. They saw my portfolio, they were impressed… That's how it goes. I agreed. Money is always heartily welcomed in this house. I heard of The Darkness series before. But never closely studied. This time I had to. I cannot draw just out of the thin air.

The issues were… terrifying. I am not a highly demanding person, but the comics so shallow and cheap, with dozens of toilet humour masterpieces and unnecessary violence in thousands of ways just made me feel disgusted. And the main character? This… Jackie Estacado? I know this type of men. I happen to be always around them. They love themselves, threat women like toys, dress in Armani suits and live in penthouses. And they are always, always good looking! There is no justice in the world.

With the Salad bowl in my hands I shuffled back to the sofa. Before I reached the desired rest place, thunder sounded and a second later the room got illuminated by the lightning. I slightly frowned as the whole evening there was a clear sky without even a single cloud. Carefully I put my dinner aside and pulled the curtain. Nothing. The sky was twinkling with myriads of stars. Was my good old physics teacher wrong, while brainwashing about the electricity processes taking place during the storm? I took glasses off, blinked, put them on again. The same.

"I really need some rest." I muffled while grabbing the paper with unfinished drawing. My schedule was tight and every two days I had to show completed concept. Two were done. This one was the third. Estacado and his Darklings around the cake with ten candles… Who could ever imagine that? But orders are orders. I am not the one to question. As my pencil touched the paper and made a stripe under one of Estacado's eyes, I felt a wind blowing from the window that I remember was closed. Yet it wasn't. To my feeling – I was going crazy. Like in a cheap horror movie. Any second I was expecting a maniac with the hook/gun/knife jump from behind the curtain. My precious future salary I was pressing to my chest, as it actually could protect me.

"Hello? Is… Anybody here?"
Now someone supposed to jump out and stab me with something. Ok… Second try.

"I have a pen and I do not afraid to use it!"

Presumably now the killer is supposed to laugh. I proceeded and stepped into the hall. In the darkness. Carefully I let my hand travel across the wall, searching for the switch.

A hundreds of little giggles were all of a sudden heard from all the corners and one after another I saw little eyes lighting up in pitch black shadows. I squeaked. Or snorted. I do remember that I wanted to ran out of the flat and scream till someone will come out and help me. However, I did not manage even that little effort as next second I felt nothing beneath my feet. Like I would step in the open mouth of a garbage collector. Wind hit me in the face and gagged my mouth as I tried to scream. There was nothing around me. Literary. Even now, trying to understand and replaying those minutes of a 'free fall' I experienced I cannot say where was I. Darkness and ice-cold wind. And whistling in my ears. The horrible pictures of my so young and not unattractive person lying with broken spine, legs and arms on some cold stone floor and being mummified before someone will find me, made me quite sad. Just a moment later, when I already was saying goodbye to all my multiple and not so friendly relatives, the fall was over.

My body landed on something soft and jumpy. And it was making splashing sounds… before you will say something… it was a waterbed. Unless they have waterbeds in heaven, I am alive. But if I am alive, then where am I?

Giant room with the glass wall, overlooking the city. Empire State Building and Liberty. New York. This is absolutely impossible as I live in rainy London. The second thing I noticed –minimalistic design. Light relaxing colours, glass tables, shelves… HD Video system on the wall… And posters of naked women around the walls. My lips curled up in disdain. Cheap design for a banal Casanova. As I tried to stand up, there was a sound heard and a door from behind my back that I supposed to be a bathroom opened. I turned around, gasped. He raised his head.

"What the fu-"

That was Jackie Estacado.