~Fucking in the bushes by Oasis begins playing from cell phone~
A word of advice, never set your favorite song to your phone, or you will grow to hate it. Unfortunately, Jackson Darby wasn't given this advice and now it was forever associated with the pain of having to get up for school. He used to really like that song. Jack sat up on his bed, wearing nothing but his boxers and a white t-shirt, and attempted to stretch the feeling into his still sleeping limbs. After letting out an exhausted groan, he took a minute to gather the strength to keep his eyes open for more than a few seconds.
"Alright, I'm up." The teen barely said.
Jack rubbed his face and got up to turn on the small t.v. in his room. It was an old box that had been left to gather dust in his garage. He decided to bring it into his room and hook it up to the cable line so he could at least get local channels. Getting ready in the mornings were made a little more bearable when he had the local news playing in the background. Every so often, he would learn something interesting while he got dressed.
Jack did his usual thing, brushed his teeth, washed his face, clean his ears, and got dressed. He once again wore his favored ensemble, black and white canvas shoes, blue jeans, and of course, his dual gray shirts. This often drew the mockery of his fellow students who claimed that he looked like the lead singer of a 90's grunge band.
'Whatever.' He thought.
Jack never cared much what others thought, especially since he had met Arcee and the Autobots. Jack was a Prime after all. He had nothing to prove to a bunch of high school kids who had no idea what they wanted in life.
Jack was more or less ready to head out, but it was still a bit early to leave just yet, so he decided to soak up some more news. He sat back down and observed the topic they were covering at the moment. The scene was somewhere in New York, with shots of several candles, flowers, and photos of various children were being left outside of an alleyway in what looked to be in the seedier part of the city. Jack recognized the alley almost right away. He quickly got up and shut off the television, not wanting to hear anymore about it. He took a slightly deeper breath before letting it out. Then he looked at his calendar.
March 13th
'That's why.' He thought to himself. 'Today makes six years.'
Jack let himself remember that day for a moment. Try as he had for six years, he could never erase what happened back then. He was lucky, luckier than the rest, him and the girl. But even though he had gotten through that whole ordeal without a scratch, it left a mark on him and his mother. Jack never told anyone about it, not even Arcee. What was the point? It all came to end that night and though it still affects him today, it didn't hold him back with crippling fear. It was just a bad memory, everyone had one. But today was the six year anniversary of when it happened and he escaped with his life. He wondered what she was doing right now, if she was thinking about it like he was. He also thought about "Him", the "man" who had saved them both from that...monster.
Jack decided that he needed to ride to get his mind off of everything. Hopefully, Arcee wouldn't pick up that something was bothering him. What was he thinking? Of course she would. They were partners. They had both become really good at reading each other. She would know that something was up. But thankfully, she also knew when to give Jack some space. Arcee was never the type to push someone to talk when they didn't want to, at least not since Jack had known her.
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"Morning, Arcee." Jack said as came into the garage.
"Early morning, you mean, even for you." Arcee, still in her alt form, replied. "We heading out already?."
Jack played in off like it was just a random change in things.
"Got up earlier than I meant to. Figured I'd just head out right now and let you get back to base instead of just waiting in my room where I'll be tempted to go back to sleep."
Arcee paused, but Jack didn't get a sense of suspicion from her.
"Alright, if you say so. Hop on, partner."
Jack grabbed his helmet and climbed on top of the cobalt motorcycle. The garage door opened and the two were off before it started closing.
Jack was quiet most of the way, which he knew wasn't unnoticed by Arcee. Any minute now, she was going to ask what was wrong.
"Hey, Jack."
There we go.
"Yo?"
"Something was up with your mother this morning."
Okay, not about him. That was a good sign.
"What do you mean?"
"She came into the garage earlier to get to her car instead of leaving through the front door like she always does . She seemed...more worried than usual. I asked what was up and out of nowhere, she asked me to take care of you."
"She did?"
"Yeah...At first, I just chalked it up to June being June, but she looked like she had something heavy on her mind. Any idea what that was about?"
Jack knew what it was about, alright. But he wasn't going to relive the past, not this early in the morning anyway.
"I don't know...Maybe she had bad dream about me. That always gets her worried."
"Really glad that I don't get those. I'd hate to go into recharge and have my mind show me my worst fears. I'd never want to rest again."
"She watches the news in the morning, too. Maybe she saw something that freaked her out and put her in ultra-protective mode. This morning, she peeked into my room before she went off to work."
June did do that and now that Jack knew what day it was, he understood why.
"You know how she gets." He added.
"Well, I hope she knows that she doesn't have to worry. I'd never let anything happen to you."
Jack smiled underneath his helmet. Arcee probably didn't realize that what she said meant a lot to him. It reminded him that she cared about him, enough to want to protect him. This made him think of his first "savior". He wondered what he was like, if he and Jack could've been friends like he and Arcee were.
The pair came up to the school, which looked almost abandoned this early in the morning.
"Well, we're here. Have a good day, Jack."
"You too, 'Cee."
"Are you working today?"
Jack thought, for a moment, about his mother.
"I think I'm just gonna call in and head straight to base after school."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, my boss won't miss me over one day."
"Alright, then. See after school, partner."
"Later, Arcee."
Jack removed his helmet and put it in Arcee's subspace. He waved her as she activated Sadie and drove off, having her wave back.
'She really does look good in leather.' Jack thought.
Jack went inside of the school building, which barely had any people in it. He used the time he had before school actually started to call his boss and let him know that he wasn't coming in. This was the right thing to do, he felt. He would make sure that his mother knew he would be with the Autobots all day after school let out, as to make her less worried. Today was just a difficult day for them, but they'd get through it. They always did.
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"Hey, Jack."
Jack was in the middle of putting his chemistry book away so he could leave his class for the next one when Sierra walked up to him and said his name. True to the crush he still had on the red head, Jack's awkwardness level had risen with his urge to rub the back of his head.
"H-hey, Sierra."
"Another boring day in chemistry, huh?"
"Oh, yeah, really boring."
"So...you doing anything after school today?"
"What?"
This wasn't the first time Sierra had seemed to have taken an interest in him. Ever since Jack had offered her a ride on a motorcycle that wasn't his, which was not really smart when he looked back on it, she had suddenly begun to notice him more. But after Arcee's perfect timing the last time they talked to each other and Sierra thought that Sadie was Jack's girlfriend, he was sure that his chances with her were blown away like the Decepticon's first space bridge.
"If not, I was kinda wondering if...I can get another ride with you."
Jack was surprised that Sierra was still so interested in him, even after last time. The way she was blushing and shrinking around him showed that she still was. Maybe she did believe him when he told her that Sadie was his mother. Not his best cover up, he realized.
"Maybe, we could hang out for a while...ya'know, after the ride."
Wow, this was really happening, wasn't it? After two years of silently wishing for Sierra to notice him, here she was trying to get his attention. This was a dream come true for Jack and he knew that Arcee wouldn't mind being his wingman on this. She said she'd make it up for him after picking him up from K.O. that day. This was his chance to really hit it off with Sierra...except he couldn't.
"I-I'm sorry, Sierra. Today is just not a good day."
Sierra's hopeful expression fell into clear disappointment.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I...I can't."
"Oh, okay." The bummed out teen said as she looked down.
"Rain check?" Jack replied, hoping he didn't kill this in the crib.
"Uh, yeah, yeah." Sierra said back quickly.
Clearly, she was hoping this wouldn't be the last shot she had with Jack.
"Okay, I'll get back to you, then. Sorry, again."
"Don't be sorry, Jack. Dad wants me to come home early, anyway. You know, because of that thing in New York."
Jack's mood changed again, though Sierra didn't notice. As Jack left the classroom, Sierra walked out with him.
"He always gets freaked out every year when everyone remembers what happened and then he gets really protective of me and my little brother. He was really freaked out six years ago when it happened. Not that I blame him. I mean, how horrible was that, all those little kids?"
Jack was silent now, trying his best not to go back to that day.
"Ya know, maybe I should spend time with my brother. You think?"
Sierra looked to Jack who didn't look well.
"Jack?"
Jack snapped out of it.
"Huh?"
"Are you alright?"
"Uh...Yeah, yeah. Just tired. I got here really early this morning."
"Oh."
"Yeah, you should spend time with your brother."
"Maybe you're right. He may be an annoying little monster, but I still love him. Thanks, Jack."
"Don't mention, Sierra. See you after class."
"Uh, Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"That was our last class."
Jack was out of it worse than he thought. He forgot that his day ended with chemistry.
"Right." He said embarrassed.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Sierra asked, touching his arm.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I gotta go. Rain check, okay?"
"Alright. Bye, Jack."
"Bye, Sierra."
Jack and Sierra parted ways and made it outside of the building. Arcee was waiting for Jack by the sidewalk. Before he went to her, Jack sent his mother a quick message.
"Called in sick today. Heading straight to base with Autobots. Don't worry."
Hopefully, his mother wouldn't be too worried about him now. Jack mounted Arcee's alt and she turned her mirrors to look at him.
"You all good, partner?"
"All good, Arcee."
"Alright."
The two rode off to base, though Arcee noticed that Jack was still very quiet as he was this morning. When they arrived at Outpost Omega One, everyone else had already beaten them there. Arcee deliberately took the longer route to enjoy the ride with Jack, but was slightly disappointed that he wasn't as responsive as he normally was. There was something up with him today.
Jack received a text from his mother, responding to his earlier message.
"Thank God. I feel better knowing you're with them. Remember, straight home before curfew. I love you, Jack."
"Text from your Mom?" Arcee said from behind Jack.
Jack closed the message and put his phone away.
"Yeah, just checking in on me."
"She is really protective today, isn't she?"
"You know my Mom."
Jack quickly walked up to the living area with Miko and Raf while Arcee watched him. June wasn't the only one acting strange. Miko was talking to Bulkhead by the railing while Raf was watching something on the television. Odd, since he was never big on TV. Jack sat down next to Raf, feeling a slight urge to hug the little guy, considering today. But that would be a bit out of character and would set off some alarms with the others. He decided to take his mind of everything with math homework. Miko was behind the couch, soon after.
"You two are officially the biggest dorks in the world."
"What?" They both responded.
"Jack, you get a day off from 'Fatality Burger' and you decide to spend it doing your homework. Meanwhile, with all the cool cartoons we could be watching, Raf is watching the news? Ungh, what are you, 100?"
"I was just watching this thing I saw this morning before 'Bee picked me up. They're still talking about it."
Rafael increased the volume of the television so Jack and Miko could hear it better, though Jack remained focused on his homework. The female reporter began detailing where she was and what she was reporting.
"I'm here in Central Park where as you can see, mourners and well wishers are already gathering to remember the tragic murders that occurred over the summer six years ago before coming to an end on this very day."
Jack looked up suddenly, realizing what Rafael was watching.
"Dozens have already shown up to pay their respects to the 28 known victims, all them children, of one of America's most sadistic serial killers..."
"Whoah, 28!" Miko shouted, drowning out the reporter as she said the aforementioned killer's name. "This actually happened?"
"I was only six and I remember hearing about it on the news." Raf said. "I didn't know it was 28 victims though."
Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee had heard the commotion and decided to see what all the fuss was about.
"It all came to an end in the alley where the killer would dump his victim's bodies. He was found beaten and dead, having been shot in the head, before he could be apprehended. Police were not able to determine who was behind this vigilante murder. The night was not without good news, however, as the police were able to prevent the murders of two more children which would've brought the death toll to an even 30. The little girl and boy that were rescued, one Ja-"
Jack had quickly gotten the remote and changed the channel before anything else could be said.
"Hey, we were watching that!" Bulkhead complained.
"You guys don't wanna see that." Jack responded.
"Seriously." Miko agreed. "What a downer."
"I don't know." Arcee, suddenly concerned, said. "Maybe we should get you kids home early today."
Arcee was watching Jack closely, noticing how tense he was becoming. It didn't escape her how quickly he switched away from the news.
"Don't go all 'Ms. Darby' on us Arcee." Miko said. "You turn into a motorcycle, not a helicopter. Besides, what's safer than being here with you guys?"
"Ah, Miko's right." Bulkhead agree. "Besides, nothing happens in this rinky dink town anyway."
"Yeah" Miko said back. "So let's forget about serial killers and all that. We've got the internet hooked up to the games, I just downloaded the Rooster Teeth app, and RWBY Volume 4 starts today."
"I'm not sure I'm ready for that." Raf said.
"C'mon, all aboard the Lancaster Ship!" Miko shouted as she set the game system.
"I still ship Arkos." Raf said under his breath.
Jack, however, kept doing his homework. Arcee could see that he was trying to keep himself distracted. Was that whole thing on the news what got June so worried this morning? Was Jack worried about it too? If so, why? It happened in New York, at least two thousand miles away. Now Arcee was getting worried, but she didn't press Jack on what was going on. Her partner was allowed to have his secrets, as she did. If he didn't share them with her, there was a good reason. But she kept watch over him. If he needed help, she wouldn't be far.
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If Arcee thought Jack was acting strange earlier, she was sure he was when he asked to be taken home earlier than usual. Once again, he was quiet. Arcee wanted to ask what was wrong with him, but she knew she wouldn't get a straight answer. Jack wasn't to proud or anything to ask for help, but he was self conscious. He had a thing about being someone elses burden so he tended not to ask for help if it was something he could handle on his own. Arcee admired that about him, but it also meant having to step in if he ended up taking too much on his plate. She was beginning to wonder if this was one of those time.
Arcee and Jack pulled up and saw that June's car in the driveway, meaning she was already home. When they entered the garage, June was waiting for them.
"Jack."
"Mom?"
Jack removed his helmet and allowed his mother to hug him.
"You're home early." He said.
"So are you. I asked to leave early today."
"Same."
Jack shut the garage door and placed his helmet on the table against the wall.
"You okay, Mom?"
"Better now."
"Good, I'm glad. Anyway, I'll be in my room. Good night, guys." He said as he walked to the door.
"Night Jack." They both said.
"Jack?" June called.
"Mom?"
"I love you."
Jack walked back from the door and hugged her again.
"I love you, too."
Jack went inside, leaving June with a relieved, yet concerned look on her face.
"Okay, what's going on?" Arcee asked.
"What?" June responded as she looked at the blue motorcycle behind her.
"You and Jack, you've both been acting weird all day. First this morning, then Jack not going to work, and you both decided to come home early? What's wrong, June? What's got you botj so worried?"
"It's nothing, Arcee."
"Does this have anything to do with what happened in New York six years ago?"
June looked surprised.
"How do you know about that?"
"I heard about it on news back at base, or at least, I would've if Jack hadn't rushed to change the channel. Is that why you two are so worried...because of those kids."
June's face became saddened suddenly. Arcee transformed, looking to comfort the single mother.
"Look, June, I understand. Hearing about something that awful would make any mother worry. Believe me, when I found out what happened, a part of wanted to never let the three of them leave the base again. For someone to actually do all that..."
Arcee stopped herself. She didn't even want to picture what might've been done to those kids. Such a thing never happened on Cybertron. Megatron did a lot of fragged up things, but he still had standards and lines he wouldn't cross. Even Airachnid had never hunted sparklings on Cybertron, though Arcee felt it was more about being less of a sport than anything. Still, the idea of a human targeting helpless children for his own sick thrills, it angered her.
"I won't let that happen to Jack. Bulkhead and Bumblebee wouldn't let that happen to Raf or Miko either. And I know you trust Optimus more than anyone. He'd break his harm no human rule before he'd let someone like that get his hands on any one of them. You don't ever have to worry June, not about this. As long as I'm here, I'd never let anyone hurt either of you."
June looked up and smiled at Arcee, but looked as if she had something to say.
"Sit down, Arcee. I have to tell you something."
Arcee looked confused, but she adjusted herself and took a seat against the wall opposite of the garage door.
"What is it, June?"
"Jack wouldn't want me to tell you this, but you have a right to know."
Arcee didn't like how that sounded. If Jack was keeping something from her, it must've been bad.
"So, you've heard it on the news. The child killer and the 28 victims...and I'm sure you've already heard of the two that were rescued."
"Yeah...Jack changed the channel before they could talk about them. One girl and one boy, right?"
June took a deep breath, bracing herself for something.
"The boy that was rescued...that was Jack."
Arcee's optics went wider than June had ever seen them. As hard and fierce as the femme was, June never expected her capable of such an expression of fear.
"What?" Arcee said with a weak voice.
June took another breath.
"He drove an ice cream truck to attract all the kids. Then he'd pick one for his next victim, lure him or her into the truck, and..."
She looked down, not wanting to say what happened to them out loud. Jack was almost one of these victims, saying it would make it easier to picture it happening to him.
"28 children...that they know of. There could've been 100 for all anyone knew. That monster...He kidnapped Jack."
June was getting emotional and Arcee saw the tears in her eyes.
"June."
"Thank God the police got to him in time, him and the little girl."
"Who was this guy?"
June's face became hardened, as thinking of this twisted man had always made her angry.
"His name was Billy Kincaid."
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Six years ago
Every child on the block stopped what they were doing when they heard the delightful jingle of the ice cream truck approaching. Once the white and pink vehicle pulled up, all the children gathered around with their dollar bills and coins to ask the kindly ice cream man for their favorite treat. Most of them got their snacks and ran off back inside their homes. Others thanked the ice cream man, earning them a genuine smile in return. Eventually, all of them were served and they departed back to their front yards or inside their houses. None of them were paying attention to anything else and there was not a single adult in sight. The kindly ice cream man looked around and saw a young boy with no ice cream in his hand. The boy looked up and saw the man motioning him to his truck. He walked over, wondering what the man wanted.
"What's the matter, little one? Don'tcha like ice cream?"
The shy, little, ebony haired boy nodded his head.
"How come you didn't get any with all the other kids?"
"I didn't ask my Mom for any money."
"Aw, that's no good. It just ain't fair that all the kids get to eat ice cream except you. Well, I'll tell you what. Just this once, I'll let you have any ice cream you want."
The young boy visibly perked up when the ice cream man told him that.
"You would?"
"Of course. All the little girls and boys are my friends and that's what friends do. So what'll be, drumstick, icee, ice cream sandwich?"
"Do you have a...cookie dough cone?" The boy bashfully asked.
"That's my favorite, too." The ice cream man cheerfully said. "We have a lot in common."
The man was about to grab the ice cream, but stopped to tell the boy something.
"Hey, why don't come to the back of the truck."
"Huh?"
"All the other kids had to pay and I don't want them getting jealous. Come around the back and I'll hand it to you through the door."
"Oh, okay."
The boy walked around to the back of the truck and waited for the ice cream man to give him his cookie dough cone. The door opened and the ice cream man held out the cone for the boy to take.
"Here ya' go." He playfully said.
But just as the boy went to take it, the man's other hand jumped out and before he knew what was where, he was pulled inside the truck without anyone noticing. The boy was thrown on the truck floor and the ice cream man pinned him down hard. Before he could scream, the man held a funny smelling clothe over his mouth.
"Shshshshsh, it's okay. Juuust a little nap."
The boy felt himself become sleepy all of a sudden and then everything went black.
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Arcee sat there with her mouth opened slightly. She felt a cold shudder go up her frame.
"Primus." She said to herself.
"I came out and he was gone. None of the other children saw what happened." June explained.
"But why? Why would this Billy Kincaid choose Jack out of everyone?"
"He probably saw how shy Jack was. Maybe he thought he wouldn't be so quick to scream. I don't know...All I know is that when me and Joseph..."
"Joseph?" Arcee interrupted.
"Oh, Jack's father."
Arcee was surprised by that.
"Wait, this happened while you were still married?"
"Yes."
"So, Jack gets kidnapped by a child killer and he decides to abandon you both?"
"Joseph was a selfish child who didn't know how to be there for his traumatized son. The point is...that monster had my baby and he was going to kill him."
Arcee could hear the slight cracks in June's voice. Just listening to the story that had already happened filled Arcee's spark with fear. She couldn't even imagine what it was like for June when it happened. Now she understood why she was so protective of Jack.
"So what happened? How did you get Jackson back?"
"Well...We did the only thing we could do, call the police and pray to God that our son was okay. There was another couple there, the Fitzgeralds. They're daughter had gone missing the day before. We didn't realize at the time that the same killer had also gotten to her but didn't harm her yet. But as for how they were rescued...that's a different story altogether."
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When Jack regained consciousness, he found himself tied up and blindfolded. The poor boy was scared out of his mind, not knowing what was going on or where he was. Within a few seconds, he remembered what happened. The ice cream man had taken him and put him to sleep.
"Hello?" The scared boy called.
He heard the sounds of shuffling only a few feet away from him.
"Who's that?" He asked.
They did not answer. But Jack listened closely and could tell that it was another child who was crying.
"Are you okay?"
The child answered back.
"No, I'm scared."
Jack could tell from her voice that she was a girl and probably younger than him.
"Me too."
"I want my Mommy."
"I do, too...My name's Jack."
"I'm Cyan."
"It'll be okay. Our Moms will find us. I know they will."
But Jack was just as afraid as Cyan was. Suddenly, they both heard the door open and heavy footsteps enter the room. Jack knew it was the ice cream man. Suddenly, he felt himself shaking uncontrollably. He heard the sound of a match being struck and from the small bit of clothe that bridged between his nose and face, he saw a flickering light appear. A candle, he wondered. As he lit more, he could hear the frightened whimpers of his fellow captive. Jack wanted to do something the help her, but he couldn't even help himself.
The sound of music filled the room. Jack didn't know what it was, but it sounded old, like the music his grandparents listened to. He heard the footsteps of his captor approaching.
"Time to have that ice cream." He said. But to who, Jack didn't know. "Mm, such a pretty one."
Again, Jack wasn't sure who he was talking to, him or Cyan.
"Do you like the music? I like the music very much?"
He must've been talking to Cyan.
"Would you like to dance? Just you and me."
As young as Jack was, somehow, he knew that the ice cream man didn't just want a dance. He wasn't sure what he really wanted, nor did he wish to find out.
"But first...I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream...Oh, very good."
"Leave her alone!" Jack shouted.
Jack could almost feel the man turn towards him and he quickly regretted his sudden bravery.
"What?...Oh...I haven't forgotten about you, little boy."
Jack managed to get him away from Cyan, but now he had the man's attention. He heard the foot steps stop in front of him. His blindfold was pulled away.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you out."
In the flickering light of the candles, the man looked far scarier than he did in the daytime. The man stepped back, observing his two prized captives, allowing Jack to observe his surroundings. It looked like a basement, like the one in his home. It was tidier than his own, with a few shelves and desks that held books lined up together. On the far wall, Jack saw a picture of a man in a suit, standing in front of the American flag. He'd seen him on t.v. before, on the news his father liked to watch. Cyan's weak noises made Jack look to her. She was a little black girl. Though Jack couldn't know for sure, she certainly looked younger than him.
"Such a cute pair, like little scoops of chocolate and vanilla. I think you two make a cute couple."
He sounded scary, but spoke almost like a child. Somehow, that made him even scarier.
"Please...Let us go." Jack barely said.
"You can't go. What about the dance? You and you...together."
How can someone make something so innocent sound so...wrong? He approached them both, ill intent in his eyes. Jack's chest tightened. Fear was gripping him by the heart, not just for him, but for Cyan as well.
He walked up to Cyan first, picking her up and holding her under his arm. Jack saw that they were bound together by a short length of rope, which meant that wherever they were going, he was meant to follow. Jack searched for that inner bravery from earlier, but found nothing. Feeble as it would've been, he couldn't even yell for the man to leave them alone. Whatever he had in store for them, he was powerless to stop it.
And then, he felt something. Jack couldn't explain it, but he felt another presence in the room. Cyan must've felt it to, because she looked off into one of the dark corners of the room. When Jack followed her sight, he saw something...moving. Whatever it was, it was too dark to make it out. But it felt different from anything Jack had seen. It felt...not human.
"Move away from the children." A dark and cold voice demanded ever too calmly. "Now."
Suddenly, Jack saw them. Two eyes, green and glowing, and most certainly not human. Then, the light cast upon him and Jack saw something...or someone that would follow him all the way into his teens. Even with the light, he couldn't tell what this misshapen person looked like. All he saw was...red.
The man suddenly swiped the candles and jars full of liquid off of a nearby table. Cyan immediately began crying because of the sudden reaction and loud sound of glass breaking. The candles and jars hit the shadowy being, breaking the glass on impact. The candles ignited the liquid, setting the being ablaze, causing him to fall back onto another table of candles. As the fire began to take him, Jack saw that the red was some kind of cloak that shrouded the entire being.
The man with the cloak began writhing in pain, desperately trying to put the fire out. As Cyan cried even louder, the ice cream man began laughing like a madman.
"You're on fire!" He said as he continued laugh almost demonically.
Everything after that happened too fast for Jack to follow. Somehow, he and Cyan were pulled back upstairs in into the garage, where they were thrown in the back of what had to be the ice cream truck. Neither could tell, as both of their blindfolds were put back on.
Jack could hear the sounds of sirens in the distance. They had to be there because of the fire. There was hope for him and Cyan. The ice cream man started the truck and just as Jack worked his blindfold down, he saw him drive right through the garage door. From the back window, Jack saw a dozen or so police vehicles giving chase, but the man was somehow outrunning them. Even with the police behind them, Jack was still scared. He had no idea what this man was going to do or if and when he would crash the truck into a wall or another vehicle. With every sharp turn, every narrow miss of another vehicle, Jack braced himself for the end. He didn't want to die, but he didn't know what to do. All he could do was huddle up close to Cyan and hope that he at least made her less scared than he was. The truck swerved a little and Jack saw a smaller car spinning out of control behind them and collide head on with an oil truck. By this point, helicopters could be heard from above, but that did nothing to slow the truck down.
Just when Jack was about to give up hope, something ripped through the roof over the drivers seat. It was a clawed hand, clad in red with spikes on the fist. It aimlessly tried to grab at the ice cream man, causing him to stir in the drivers seat, moving the wheel every time he did. Suddenly, the truck collided with something and Jack swore he saw bits of fire through the windshield. The man lost control and the truck tipped over on its side. Jack and Cyan were thrown around a bit and then everything went black.
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Jack drifted in an out for a bit. When he finally came to, he was being dragged by the rope as the ice cream man carried Cyan under his arm though some dark back alley. He could still hear the sirens and could see the red and blue lights from where there had just came. The ice cream man moved cautiously as Jack was forced to follow closely by the shortness of the rope. If he were only a little stronger, he could try and pull Cyan away and they could make a run for it together. But when the man pulled out a sinister looking blade from his belt, Jack considered it no further, afraid that he would hurt Cyan if he did.
As they moved deeper into the alley, they saw the figure from the basement again, his eyes still glowing threateningly.
"Let them go." He ordered with much more power in his voice.
Jack couldn't see him anymore clearly than in the basement. That only added to how frightening he was. The way his caped moved despite the lack of wind, it looked as if it was almost...alive. The ice cream man put the knife under Cyan's throat, causing Jack to freeze where he stood. Perhaps this strange person could save him, but he couldn't save Cyan. Thankfully, he pulled the blade away to address this person.
"You...don't...belong here." He said softly, yet still threatening.
What happened next was something he would never forget, even after his death.
His eyes began glowing again, sinister green. But suddenly, his body gave off a similar, but far greater light. It was the same green of his eyes and that eerily illuminated the alley. It wasn't warm or comforting like the sun. Jack felt something dark about it, but still, he wasn't threatened by it. His cloak had opened up, showing that he had an appearance of a human. As the light got brighter, the ice cream man began to groan in fear. That's when they struck.
To this day, Jack will never be convinced that it had happened any differently. The way the cloak shot forward, wrapping around the man's throat, his ankles, and lifted him off the ground, they were alive. They moved as if part of the beings body, like he was controlling them. One corner whipped between the man and Jack, cutting the rope that bounded him and Cyan. Then it wrapped around him, another around Cyan as the man dropped his knife. They were pulled closed to the cloaked being, while the man was lifted higher off the ground. They were gently placed by the side and the being glowed even brighter.
Jack saw the fear in the man's face, choking as the cloak tightened. They began pulling him closer, fear rising with every inch. He looked as if ready to scream at any moment as he pitifully tried to pull the cloak from his throat.
"HELP DADDDDDYYYYYYYYY!" He cried suddenly.
The being began walking closer now, leaving Cyan and Jack to run away. But they didn't, both were too scared to make a move, hypnotized by the light of the man in the red cloak. A small hand gabbed at Jack's sleeve. He looked and saw Cyan growing more frightened. Jack grabbed the little girl and hugged her, shielding her from what was to come as he shut his own eyes tightly as he could.
As he held the little girl close, Jack heard another voice. He wasn't sure if Cyan could hear it, or the man in the cloak, most certainly not the ice cream man, who could still be heard choking. But Jack heard it, another sinister voice coming from somewhere above them, as if watching them.
"Kill'em. Kill Him. Kill'em! Kill'em, Kill'em, Kill Him, Kill'em, Kill. Him. Kill Him! Kill Him! KILL'EM!"
But as if the man in the red cloak heard the voice himself...
"NNNNNNOOOOOOOO!" He yelled.
When he screamed, Jack looked up and saw him throw the ice cream man back into several garbage cans. The man hit them and landed on his head, hitting the ground hard and left unmoving. Jack watched as the ice cream man remained still as the dead, but exhaled his held breath when he saw him releasing breaths of his own. The light had gone away and the now shadowy figure led the two children away from the man who had taken them. As they left him behind, far enough that he was out of their view, they a heard a gunshot and paused suddenly. Jack wondered if it was the ice cream man or a policeman. But then he saw the red and blue lights around the corner and thought about it no further.
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They were taken to the end of an alleyway, where several police officers had surrounded the area. The figure knelt before the two children, his green eyes no longer threatening, but gentler...sad even.
"Hello." He said to the them. "Are you alright?"
Jack could see now that the figure wore a mask. It was black with white arches around the eyes from top to bottom. Even though he wasn't afraid, Jack wasn't able to speak. Cyan spoke first.
"I want my Mommy."
The solemn masked man seemed more focused on Cyan for some reason, but Jack didn't ask why.
"You...you go to your mommies now. They'll take care of you. You're going to be alright now."
As he said that, he placed something in Cyan's hand that Jack couldn't see. The little girl wiped her teary eyes and walked down the alley, taking Jack's hand as she did.
"Thank you." She said innocently.
As she pulled him away, Jack looked back at the sad looking masked man. He lifted his clawed hand, waving goodbye to him, before he turned around and disappeared into the dark alley.
"Thank you." Jack said lowly, hoping that somehow he heard him.
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As they walked into the light, hand in hand, the police didn't notice them. They had their weapons drawn, aimed at the alley entrance where the truck had drove through. One of the female officers noticed them.
"Oh my God, look. There they are." She said to another officer as she padded his back.
The officer, a heavyset man wearing a long coat, looked at them.
"Hold your fire, it's the kids." He said as they all withdrew their weapons.
He walked out of the pack, approaching them carefully.
"Are you two alright?" He asked kindly.
Again, Jack didn't speak but Cyan did.
"I just...I want my Mommy."
She sounded so exhausted from all of it. Jack felt the same way.
"Cyan!" A black woman cried as she ran through the crowd.
"Mommy!" Cyan called back.
As they ran to each other, Jack saw his mother.
"Jack!"
She followed the woman's path and ran up to Jackson, embracing him tightly as she cried herself into his shoulder.
"My baby." She said as Jack hugged her back.
Jack opened his eyes and saw that Cyan was also in the arms of her mother.
"Thank you. Thank you, God. Thank you." The woman said.
Jack's father and a black man, Cyan's father, came from the crowd and took their place with their families. Joseph took the sides of his son's head and pressed his own against him. He had been crying too, Jack could see. But now, he was safe. Cyan was safe and with her family. All four parents looked at each other, sharing the happiness of their children's return.
The woman saw that Cyan was holding something. She opened her hand and Jack saw that it was a ring. It was a gold ring, like the ones his Mom and Dad wore. The sight of it seemed to shock the woman.
"Honey...where'd you get this?" She asked.
"Hey gave it to me, Mommy? He did." Cyan innocently said.
"Who, sweetheart?"
Cyan looked back and pointed down the alley.
"The sad man." She said.
The woman looked at the ring, almost longingly.
"Al." She said to no one in particular, looking up at nothing.
Jack was released from June's embrace and looked down the alley too, wondering who the masked man in the red cloak was. Cyan's mother lifted her up and held her in her arms, whole her father hugged them both. Jack saw the mother glance down the alley again, as if looking for something. Did she know who he was, the "sad man"?
Joseph took off his jacket and put it around Jack. He lifted him to his chest, letting Jack wrap his arms around his neck. With his free arm, he took June, kissing his wife on the forehead, who stroked Jackson's back gently.
"Let's get you home, Jackie." He said, his voice stressed from worry.
"Okay." He tiredly said.
As they walked to the car, Jacked looked up again, hoping to see the sad man. His eyes fell upon a large chapel, topped with a crossed that stood in front of the moon. Before he was put in the back seat, Jack saw something at the base of the cross. It looked ripped and tattered, swaying in the breeze. Jack saw it and smiled. It was him. He knew it was him...still watching them.
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Arcee was silent, still trying to fathom everything that June had told her. Even though most of it June heard from Jack who was ten years old at the time, Arcee believed every word. She didn't know what to say. But after hearing that story, she knew how she felt, grateful. She was grateful to this "sad man" that Jack had spoke of. If it weren't for him, Jack wouldn't be here today...and she'd be without her partner. But who was he?
"Did you ever try to find out about him?" Arcee asked.
June was still back in the alley, remembering everything that happened after Jack was rescued.
"What?" She replied.
"The sad man, did you ever find out who it was?"
"No...I didn't want to. Where they found Jack and Cyan, it was where Billy Kincaid would dump the bodies. I never wanted to see that place again."
June suddenly grabbed herself by the shoulders, letting a shudder pass through her.
"And I didn't question it. I didn't care who he was or why he saved them. There were reports of murders happening in that alley, mafia guys mostly. I didn't want to know anymore than that. This man saved my son. I was grateful to him and I didn't want to diminish it by finding out anymore about him."
Arcee couldn't help but agree. It sounded like this person was as dangerous as he was mysterious. But if he saved Jack, she didn't need to know anything else. Even the glowing and the cape didn't concern her, though, it did intrigue her slightly.
"The little girl?"
"I don't know. We never reached out to her family. We thought it best to just put it all behind us."
"I see."
Arcee's face hardened.
"And Billy Kincaid?"
June's face became stern as she thought of that deranged man-child.
"He was found with a bullet in his head. Police didn't know who the shooter was."
"Good." Arcee said coldly.
June stood up, collecting herself after telling such an exhausting story.
"I'm going inside."
"June."
June paused to listen to Arcee.
"Jack's safe with me. I'll never let another Bill Kincaid come and try and take him away from you. You have my word."
June smiled, knowing that Arcee meant her vow.
"Thank you, Arcee."
Arcee transformed and moved to the center of the garage.
"Goodnight, June."
"Goodnight, Arcee."
June left Arcee with a lot to think about. A part of her was still shaken up by the thought of Jack not being there. She was more than thankful for not being able to dream, knowing that this would be the subject of her next one. This also made her sympathize with June. Primus knows what it must've been like in the months after it all happened. It seemed that humans had Decepticons of their own on Earth. Arcee once thought that Silas was the worst human she had ever known. That changed with this revelation.
She decided not to tell Jack that she knew what happened to him. He could tell her when he was ready, if he ever will be. But after tonight, she was going to make sure to enjoy every moment she spent with him, knowing that it almost didn't happen. And she was not going to let anyone, not the Airachnid, not Silas, not the Decepticons, and not people like Billy Kincaid ever bring harm to him. She was his guardian, just like the sad man. One day, she might search for this person and thank him for what he did.
Then she began thinking about what June told her. She did believe what Jack had told his mother, about the glowing, the cloak that moved on its own, even the voice he heard just before he threw Billy away. But if all that was true, Arcee had to wonder. This sad man, was he human...or something else?
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June entered the house and saw Jack leaving the kitchen with a glass of water in his hand. She stopped to take a good look at him. He was sixteen now, almost a man. He'd gotten taller, just an inch or two above her. His voice was deeper, more like his fathers. But he was all her when it came to the looks, right down to their blue eyes. She was happy that he reached this point, despite the actions of one man.
"Mom?"
She didn't realize that she was staring. June walked up to her son and took him in both her arms. It didn't matter how old he was, she would never stop hugging him as long as he was her son.
"I love you, Jackson."
Pausing, no doubt in confusion, Jack hugged her back with his free hand.
"I love you too, Mom."
"My Jack." She said as she held him tighter. "She loves you too, you know, Arcee. We love you more than you can ever know."
"Mom?"
June pulled away with tears in her eyes but also smiling. She put her hand to Jack's face, caressing it gently. Jack understood where this was coming from and he had a feeling what she and Arcee were talking about in the garage. June kissed Jack on the forehead and went into her room without saying anything else. Nothing else needed to be said.
Jack went into his room and took a seat at his computer. He opened the IM program and searched for someone he talked to every so often. When he found her, he sent her a message.
-Cyan, you there?
A minute or two had gone by before she responded back.
-Jack?
-It's been a while. We haven't talked in months.
-I've tried messaging you last week, but you weren't there.
-Things have been "busy" these last few months.
-Girlfriend?
-I wish.
-So what's up?
-How've you been?
-Alright, I guess. School, part time job, can't complain.
-Same, except I got a new motorcycle.
-Seriously?
-Cool, huh?
-What kind?
-Import.
-She fast?
-Like you wouldn't believe.
-What color is she?
-Blue and pink.
-Pink?
-She's used.
-Oh, I see.
Jack felt a little guilty talking about Arcee as if he owned her.
-Today's the six year anniversary.
-I know.
-Are you going to that thing in Central Park tonight?
-I live upstate now, remember?
-Can't you just take the train like your parents?
-Like they'd let me. I asked if we could all go to pay our respects, but they don't want me anywhere near the city again. I guess I can't blame them.
-My Mom's the same way.
-Still sucks up here, nothing to do.
-Oh, boo-hoo. Try living in the fraggin' desert.
-XD
Jack was about to respond with a quip but then he thought for a moment.
-Do you think about him at all?
-Who?
-The Sad Man.
There was another delay in response.
-Sometimes.
-Who do you think he was?
-I don't know.
Jack tried to think of something else to say.
-Do you think he's still out there, in the alleys.
-Maybe. I hope he is.
Again, Jack took a moment to think. After a few seconds, he had a question he wanted to ask.
-If you could go back to the alleys and find him, would you?
Another pause, this one longer than the rest.
-Honestly? I don't know. I don't think I ever want to go back to that place.
Jack stopped for a moment to think about everything that happened.
-I'll never forget that day, no matter how much I want to.
-Me neither, Jack.
-But I wish I could thank him.
-So do I.
-You okay?
- Are You?
-Yeah.
-Me too.
Jack took one more moment to think.
-Signing off now.
-Alright. Hit me up soon.
-I will. Later.
-Later.
By the time he signed off, Jack already knew what he wanted to do. It wasn't a good idea, he knew that. His mother would skin him alive if she found out. If Arcee really did know the truth, she would do to him what Airachnid wanted to do. But this was something he thought about for six years and now he had a way to do it. It would only be for a second, in and out. All he had to do was convince Ratchet without the others knowing. Arcee had patrol duty with Bumblebee tomorrow, that'd be his best bet.
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School, work, then it was off to base. But once again, it was a quiet ride. This time, Arcee was as silent as Jack was. Now that she knew what she knew, she found it difficult to talk without wanting to bring it up. Jack knew that she knew and was waiting for her to bring it up. But she was waiting for him to speak first. It was a verbal standoff, pretty much.
"Hey, Jack?"
Jack was surprised that Arcee spoke first.
"Yeah, Arcee?"
Arcee didn't really have anything to say, but the silence wasn't comfortable. She wasn't going to bring up Billy Kincaid or the Sad Man.
"Arcee?"
Arcee tried to think of something to tell him. Then, she decided to say something honest.
"I've got your back. You know that, don't you?"
"I know. That's what partners do, isn't it?"
"I mean it, though. You and your Mom, I'd do anything to protect you."
"You don't have to tell me that. You've already shown me."
"I know. I just wanted to make sure you knew."
"I do, Arcee. And trust me, I'm grateful."
Jack ran his hand across the Autobot sigil on the gas tank.
"You're my best friend."
Jack felt her frame get a little warmer. He amused himself by wondering is she was blushing. Probably not, she most likely just felt warm from hearing that.
As they pulled into base, Jack ran up to the living area with Miko and Raf. He noticed Arcee watching him closely. Yep, she definitely knew. At some point, they were going to have a talk about the whole thing. Jack just hoped it wouldn't happen for a while.
"Arcee." Ratchet called. "Optimus wants you and Bumblebee out on patrol as soon as possible."
Even though Jack was already out of her sight, she was still looking at the area where he was.
"Arcee." Ratchet called louder.
"What?" She responded.
"Patrol duty, you and Bumblebee, ASAP."
"Right. Bee, with me."
"Gotcha."
Raf walked up to the rails.
"Later, 'Bee." He called.
Bumblebee chirped back and waved at him. Meanwhile, Arcee walked up to Ratchet.
"Hey, Ratchet. Keep an eye on Jack for me?" She whispered.
Ratchet seemed surprised.
"Jack, what for?"
"Just...watch him, okay?"
"Uhm...Whatever you say, Arcee."
Arcee transformed along with Bumblebee and the two were gone. Miko ran up to rails to get her partner's attention.
"Yo, Bulk. You ready for some dune bashing?"
"Haha. You bet I do."
Bulkhead transformed and let Miko climb in the passenger seat. They cranked up the heavy metal and left for parts unknown, leaving Ratchet with Jack and Rafael. Jack was now sitting against the railings with Raf's computer. Ratchet could see that he was using a map application to get satellite views of some unknown location. This made him curious. Jack shut the laptop and walked over the Ratchet's console.
"Hey, Ratchet?"
"Yes, Jack?"
"Can I ask you a favor?"
"You can ask. Whether or not I say yes is a different story."
Good old Ratchet the grump.
"Can you open a ground bridge and send me to these coordinates." He said as he showed Ratchet his phone.
Ratchet examined the coordinates, figuring that this was what he was doing on Raf's computer.
"And why am I sending you to this location?"
"No reason." Jack lied.
Ratchet seemed skeptical.
"Jack, you realize that the ground bridge is essential to our missions."
"I know."
"It takes a large amount of energon every time I open a portal. And energon is not only a fuel source for our components, but for ourselves. Surely, you don't think the ground bridge should be used to send you somewhere for a short tour of the city?"
"No, that's not it at all, Ratchet."
"So why do you want to go to this 'Rat City' in New York?"
Jack didn't know how to answer that.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with those alleys where all those children's corpses were found?"
"What?" Jack said suddenly. "N-no, why would I go there?"
Jack took a quick glance at Rafael, who thankfully was too deep into his laptop to hear their conversation.
"You tell me? You've been there before, haven't you?"
Jack was like a deer in the headlights.
"How did you..."
"When you changed that channel yesterday, I sensed your heart rate go up, like you were panicked. After hearing what happened, I did some research on this 'Billy Kincaid' the news mentioned. Imagine my surprise when I saw the name Jackson Darby listed as one of the two children he had kidnapped."
Of course. Nothing ever got past Ratchet. If he saw all the Autobots gathered around something, he'd make it a point to know what was going on.
"Ratchet, I..."
"Jack, you're an adult, as far as I'm concerned. You certainly behave like one. Your past is your business to be told or be kept a secret. What concerns me is why you want to go back to Rat City where this child killer took you. And it better be good if you don't want me to inform Arcee or your mother."
Jack knew that Ratchet wouldn't believe him if he told him the truth. So he told him a half truth.
"I want to pay my respects."
Ratchet seemed surprised to hear that.
"Me and that little girl...we weren't the first kids who ended up in those alleys, but we were the only ones who got away. All the other kids...they weren't so lucky."
Ratchet's stern expression began to soften.
"Last night, they held a candlelight vigil for all 28 kids that died during that summer. I wanted to ask my Mom if we could go and ask you to send us there but..."
"But?"
"I was scared. When I saw what day it was, I just had flashbacks of that day and I didn't even want to leave the house."
"I'm guessing that's why you left early with Arcee?"
"It was...But now, I just want to light a candle for all the other kids who Billy Kincaid killed."
Jack ran back to the couch and grabbed his backpack. He opened it and pulled out a small, white candle and a black hoodie. He went back to show it to Ratchet.
"Candles are how humans remember those they have lost?" He asked.
"Yeah, it's how we show that we haven't forgotten them...and that we hope they're at peace. Please, Ratchet. I just wanna light a candle and say a prayer."
He felt bad for lying, since he wanted to do more than that. Ratchet pondered about what Jack was telling him, wrestling with what he should do. The medic shut his optics and sighed.
"15 minutes and then you head straight back to where I send you. 16 and I send Arcee and Optimus out there looking for you."
Jack smiled at Ratchet. Deep down, he cared about humans, no matter how hard he pretended not to.
"Thanks, Ratchet."
"Don't mention it...to your mother, to Arcee, anyone. They will have my spark as a decorative piece if they found out."
Jack began putting on and zipping up the black hoodie he had.
"Don't worry. If they find out, I'm deader than you."
"As long as I get to see you go first."
Jack walked down to ground level while Ratchet entered the coordinates. He activated the ground bridge and waited for Jack to go through.
"15 minutes, Jack." He yelled as Jack stepped through the vortex.
Rafael walked over to the console.
"Where's Jack going?" He asked.
"Oh, just visiting some friends." He said as the vortex closed.
"Are you sure that was wise, old friend?"
Ratchet turned to see Optimus entering the area.
"Optimus."
"Rat City is not a safe place for a youngling like Jack, Billy Kincaid or not."
"Rat City?" Raf asked. "Why did Jack go to Rat City?"
"A question for when he returns, Rafael."
Optimus turned back to Ratchet.
"You know?" Ratchet asked.
"When our human companions first learned of our existence, I decided to learn as much as I could about them. So, I researched their history and what I learned about Jack was...troubling."
"That's putting it lightly."
"Indeed. But it is as you said. His past is not for us to know if he chooses not to tell us. But what concerns me are the details of what happened that night."
"What do you mean, Optimus?"
"Jackson had given a statement himself to the New York Police Department. He spoke of a being with...unusual abilities."
"Oh, you mean the glowing and the red cape. He was only a child. Scared children tend to see things that aren't really there."
"Yes, but does Jackson strike you as a person who cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is not, even at such a young age?"
Ratchet felt that Optimus had a good point. Jack was a sharp kid and June had said before that he always had been.
"I cannot help but wonder what it was that Jackson and Cyan Fitzgerald encountered that night in those alleys."
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From the GPS on his phone, Jack saw that the vacant alley he was in was about a block away from where he wanted to go. Pulling the hoodie of his jacket over his head, he began walking through Rat City. It didn't take long for him to come upon the alleys. He looked on from across the street and felt a chill up his spine as he remembered that night. Even during the day, the alleys looked eerie and dark. Jack couldn't help but feel something sinister residing there. He looked up and saw the chapel where he remembered seeing the sad man's cape. He crossed the street and came up to the alley. The entranced was decorated with candles, bouquets of flowers, roses, stuff animals, and photos of some of Billy Kincaid's victims.
They were all so young, smiling innocently, no idea of what kind of evil existed in the world. Jack reached down and picked up one of the photos. It was a young Latino boy, light hair with green eyes. He took one look at him and immediately thought of Rafael. A pain went through his heart at the mere thought of Raf being the clutches of that child killer. Jack shut his eyes tightly to force the image out of his head.
He put the photo back down and placed his candle beside it, lighting it with a disposable he had. Standing back up, Jack prayed silently for all 28 children that fell victim to sickness of a madman. He prayed for any victims that the police didn't know about, for any officers that were killed that day, for all the parents and siblings that were left to mourn their loved ones. He prayed for Cyan and her parents, for Rafael and Miko, and for his mother. He prayed to never lose them or be lost to them, so they would never feel that pain. With his final parting, he raised his head and walked into the alley, unknowing of the hell that he was entering. From above on the rooftop, a figure was watching him. He was a short man, a fat man, disgusting in more ways than one. His face was unusual, blue up to the edges, like a clown. He started cackling lowly to himself as he watched Jackson go deeper into the dark alley, which only got darker as the sun went down.
"Look at this, one of Billy's plaything's come back for more." He said as he started laughing again. "Looking for a party, kid? You've come to the right place. Shit's about to go down aaaany minute, now. And it's gonna be a fffffuckin' bloodbath."
Again, he kept on cackling, dancing on the rooftop like a lunatic.
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Jack was beginning to have second thoughts about being here. It wasn't the homeless he kept seeing that made him nervous, it was just the creeping feeling that wouldn't go away. Somehow, Jack knew that the dumped bodies weren't the only bad things that's happened in these alleys.
"You lost, young'n?"
Jack looked forward and saw a black man holding bottle in a brown paper bag.
"I'm just looking for my friend." He replied.
"Well, your friend ain't here unless he a bum like us." He said before taking a swig from his bottle. "Or a corpse."
"Shut up, Bobby." Another homeless man said.
This one was a white man, older by the looks of it.
"Kid, you really shouldn't be here. It ain't safe." He kindly said.
"Tried to tell'em, Gareb." Barry said. "But he's lookin' for his 'friend'."
"Yeah, well...I doubt you'll find him here." Gareb said. "If you did, he probably don't wanna be found."
"I just want to talk to him." Jack said.
"I'm tellin' you, kid, you don't wanna be here. Bad things happen in these alleys."
"Believe me, I know."
"Ya' hear that, Gareb? The boy knows." Bobby said.
"You don't know. You don't know half the shit that goes on down here." Gareb said grimly.
"Forget it, man. Kid don't wanna leave. Can't say we didn't warn'em."
Jack walked past the two, reconsidering what he was even doing there.
"You just remember that when they bring you back to mama wit'cho' head missin'!" Bobby called.
Jack got even further into the alleys and it felt like the sun had disappeared.
"They speak the truth, young one."
Jack looked to see another old man, but he didn't look like a vagrant. He wore a dirty black long coat and his beard was long and unkempt, but he carried himself like some sort of wise man.
"These alleys are plagued with darkness and death. This is not a place for one such as you."
"I'm looking for somebody."
"I can assure you, whatever it is you are looking for, you will not find it here."
"Do you know of a guy who wears a mask and a red cloak?"
The old man didn't react, not even a facial tic. That told Jackson enough.
"I need to see him."
He looked at Jack, observed him closely.
"Why?"
"To thank him. He saved my life."
The old man looked away.
"I see. That is all the more reason for you to leave."
"I want to see him."
"Billy Kincaid brought you here, you and the little girl, with intention to butcher you both like dogs."
Jack took a step back.
"You were rescued and returned to your families, never meant to come back. Now you foolishly come to these alleys, putting your very soul at risk, laying waste to what he has given you."
"You...you know me?"
"I was here the night that killer prowled these alleys with you and Cyan Fitzgerald in hand. If you truly wish to thank the one that saved you, turn around and go back from where you came. You do not belong here, Jackson Darby."
A sudden flashback came over Jack.
"You...don't...belong here."
"I see old scars remain. Go home, Jackson. Be with your family. There is no reason to be in a place such as this."
Jack's expression must've been giving him away. He was tempted to do as the old man said. There was something dark about these alleys and Jack didn't know what it was. It felt more real than the Decepticons, even Airachnid. But for some reason, Jack stayed.
"Please, just let me see him."
The old man observed Jackson again.
"Very well. But whatever expectations you've brought with you to this place, let them go now. I promise you that he is not what you remember."
The old man led Jack further into the alley. He checked his phone and saw that twenty minutes had already gone by. No doubt, he was in for it when he got home.
"Here."
Jack stopped and saw that they had come to a dead end. There was trash and rubble piled higher than anywhere else in the alleys.
"Up there."
Jack looked up at the archway of some metal gate that lead to nowhere. Sitting at the top with his back turned was the red cloak he remembered from that night. He could see it more clearly now, saw that it looked redder than he remembered, like blood. Just as it did six years ago, the cloak moved as if it had a mind of its own.
"Spawn." The old man called.
'Spawn?" Jack thought.
"What the hell do you want, old man?" He answered back harshly.
This was not the same gentle tone he remembered from back then.
"You have a visitor."
"A visitor?" He said. "Who in the right mind would come to see me?"
He turned to look at the old man and stopped when he saw Jack. His eyes were glowing again and he saw that same vicious look as when he began strangling Billy Kincaid. He narrowed his eyes at Jack, as if he didn't recognize him.
"Who the hell is this?"
"Look closer." The old man said.
Spawn, as the old man called him, studied Jack just as the old man did.
"You." He said with recognition.
His eyes went narrow again and he turned his back to Jackson.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Um...I..."
"Spit it out." He demanded.
"I came to find you...to thank you"
"Well, you've thanked me. Now, get the hell out of here."
Jack couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"You do know me, don't you."
"I remember you, boy. And if I'd known that you'd be stupid enough to come back here, I would've let you die back then."
This couldn't be the same person who saved him.
"Get out of here, now, while your legs can still carry you."
Jack stared up that this "Spawn" person, anger filling his heart. He felt the old man's hand on his shoulder.
"I told you to abandon your expectations of the hero from your childhood. There are no heroes in this place. Come now, you need to leave."
Jack jerked himself away the old man to confront Spawn.
"Why did you save me back then?"
"Because I felt sorry for you, boy. I won't make that mistake again."
"And Cyan?"
Jack felt something stir all of a sudden, a dark pulse coming from Spawn.
"The same reason. I should've just taken her and let fat boy have his way with you. If you don't leave here now, I'll feed you to one of those bums and let them fuck every hole you have."
"It's time to go, Jackson." The old man warned.
But Jack didn't leave.
"What are you? Are you even human?"
Spawn suddenly jumped down in front of Jack.
"You ask too many question!" Spawn angrily answered.
He stood tall before Jackson, casting a dark shadow over him. His cape came to life, opening and expanding. Jack saw his body clearly now. No parts of his flesh was exposed. He was covered in a black suit with a white M shape across his entire torso. He donned red gauntlets with spikes on them on each arm, his left bicep banded and spiked as well. A red pack wrapped around his right thigh and guarding his right shin was an oversized guard that was covered in spikes. His foot barely came out of the bottom of it. On the other leg, spike bands wrapped his ankle and upper half of his shin. And then there were the chains. Like the cloak, they too moved as if they were alive, long enough to wrap any human up from head to toe. They connected to the sides of a metal skull pendant that rested in the center of his waist. At his shoulders, connecting to his cloak were another pair of skulls that were linked with a smaller chain.
If Spawn was trying to intimidate Jack, he was succeeding. Even Arcee would take a few steps back from this being approaching.
"You want to know what I am, boy?" He said as he grabbed at the neck of his mask. "Let me show you what I really am."
He lifted the mask up, just enough to show a little flesh. But from what Jack saw, it didn't look like normal flesh. It looked...decayed.
"That's enough, Spawn!" The old man shouted.
Spawn stopped and let his mask go, his cloak and chains returning to shroud him.
"You heard the old man, there's nothing for you here. If you value your life, love the ones who love you, never come back here."
He turned away from Jack and jumped back up on the archway where he was before. Jack looked up at his savior, disappointment so very visible. How was this the same gentle being that sent him and Cyan off to their families? Jack turned away and began to leave, not caring about the trouble he was in when he returned home.
Cogliostro kept watch until the boy was gone, then looked back up at Spawn who was huddled over on his archway.
"Are you proud of yourself, Hellspawn?"
"I got the kid to leave, didn't I?"
"Yes...But to push him away so fiercely, threatening to expose yourself..."
"He shouldn't have been here!" Spawn shouted. "This place would've eaten him alive...Lots of people died here since I woke up in these alleys, some of them without reason. But I've yet to let a child die in this place."
"You cannot fight the inevitable, Spawn. The innocent are always the first blood to be shed."
"Not him...Not that one."
"So...You see it as well."
Spawn looked back at Cogliostro.
"What are you talking about?"
"The boy is not like others his age, not like any human being. He has a light inside of him, a pure light that makes him stronger than most."
Spawn bowed his head.
"Yes...I saw it."
"He cannot be allowed to come back here where death visits almost daily. I fear that he may attract the attention of Malebolgia...or even Heaven. Neither side would consider his age, they are so desperate to win. This is not his war to fight."
"No, old man, it isn't."
A silence came over the Hellspawn and former Hellspawn. But that silence was interrupted by the sound of dual automatic rifle fire.
"What now?!" Spawn angrily said as he climbed the firescapes to make it to where the sounds were coming from.
Cogliostro watched as Spawn disappeared, knowing that lives have already been snatched away.
"As I've said, death visits often." He said, praying that Jackson was not among those that were already killed.
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Jack was pulled underneath a wooden barrier over a doorway to an abandoned building. Gareb had been the one to grab him, while Bobby hid further in the same room. Jack peaked in between the wood panels to see a man standing at the entrance of the alleys, armed with two large assault rifles, still smoking from his earlier onslaught. As he moved closer, Jack could see his face. He was a large black man wearing a load bearing vest and military pants. His face was painted with a white skull, giving him a deathly appearance. He slung one of his rifles over his shoulder and began searching the alleys.
"Alright, now that I have everybody's attention..." He calmly said. "Let's get this over with real quick."
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Again, I'm late with the update. Also, this isn't Old Nightmare, so I'll explain. I got halfway through the next chapter of Old Nightmare when this idea came to me. Now, I have a bad habit of having ideas and forgetting them once I have time to work of them, so I decided to at least get started on this. But once I did, I couldn't stop. I just kept on writing until I was finished. And here were are. Now, I'm not about to take on three stories at once. No, I'm not putting Old Nightmare or A Shard of Glass on hiatus. This story is actually sort of a test story. I originally intended to just leave it on my computer until I knew what I wanted to do with it, but you guys deserve something for putting up with my unreliable schedule. This will be the chapter of this story for the foreseeable future. I won't continue it until after I finish both ASOG and Old Nightmare and only if I figure out where to go with the story, because right now, I'm writing blind.
This is another crossover fic. Like Old Nightmare, it's not listed as a crossover because I like leaving that up for a twist for you guys. I know that's going to get old soon and when it does, I'll have them properly labeled. If you're unfamiliar with the names I've mentioned and characters I've described, it's Todd McFarlane's Spawn. I've only found one crossover fic and it was only a single short chapter.
First thing, I'm sticking to the old "Jack has a secret." story line that so many others, including myself, seem to really enjoy. But more importantly, I'm way behind on my Spawn lore. The last issue I read was way back in the eight grade and I don't even know if the comic is still going. I only recently found out that Angela is with Marvel now. When I do return to this story, most of it is going to based around the HBO series with elements of the comic in it. Nothing from the movie will make it in this story because even my nostalgia couldn't save that mess.
I hope you guys enjoy this story and it holds you over until the next chapter of Old Nightmare which I'll get up as soon as possible. I will come back to this one day, but that won't be for a while. Thanks for putting up with me. Laters.