A/N: Hello to those who are reading this, I thank you for taking the time to read my story. It's been a while since I've updated. The first chapter had just one review but that does not mean I will give up. I'm still keeping my hopes up that it will get more reviews!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants but I do own Jacqueline. I can proudly say that she is my own creation. My sincere apologies to Gruen for butchering her novel. It's not that I didn't like her book, I love and respect it …so you can say this was sort of life like a tribute to it?

Chapter 2

Jacob POV

The pale faces of my parents etched so vividly in my mind—my mother's lips no longer naturally red, my father's face no longer pink as usual when he's bothered. Who knew it would be the final time I would ever see them alive, and pride subtle on their faces as their son left to take his final exam and attain his vet license?

They would never see their son become Dr. Jacob Jankowski, and neither will I. My mind still struggle to face the reality of my world shattering abruptly- it's still too overwhelming.

How can one careless mistake of someone else take what I have?... my future? My motivation? My moral support?

Sometimes I feel as if I'm in a state of comatose who's been taken off life support and left to survive with inadequate necessities.

It was not until the final blow, I felt lifeless and completely killed off.

My family was not well off but we lived comfortably and happily without luxury. When they were gone, the bank took my last comfort place I had—our house, since my father had resorted to using our home to pay for my tuition at Cornell. With no rebuttal, I packed my few clothes and left.

I knew I could not look back. I walked heading to the horizon unsure of where it would take me. I wanted to be far away from here. With every step I took, I could feel pain but eventually it subsides and the numbing takes place.

After a two day journey to my unknown destination, my legs ceased to go on and I stupidly decided to take shelter in the middle of a railroad track.

Less than ten minutes, the sound of metal hitting the track became audible and the smell of burning coal marred the air. Light flickered amongst the thick trees and I knew that was a sign for me to get the hell away from the track. And so I did. However, before I could consciously process what I was doing, all I know was that I was clutching on to a handle of one of the moving cars with my dear life. Freeing my hand could ultimately mean being a vegetable for my entire life or better yet—dead.

I struggled to keep my balance with the speeding train. Fortunately, I managed to slip into an open door only to be unexpectedly attacked and bounded. It was certainly difficult to fight back in the darkness but I stubbornly retaliated with all my might.

My body stood rigidly when a pair calloused and muscular hands shackled my wrist behind me and the cold blade of a knife threatened at my throat. I could hear the voice in front of me echoed hostilely as it summoned for a light. Within moments, my threat was disclosed as the light from the lantern danced upon her flawless but dusty skin. And yes, let me reiterate that- HER. I have never been so ashamed in my life to be held captive and threatened by a girl. In my experience, I know I'm usually the one with the pants but in this situation- she claimed to have the pants- which I voluntarily gave up without a fight—unlike me at all.

For a moment, I felt as if my future harbored more malice but thankfully Camel, the old man who brought her the lantern, had calmed her down.

I let out a deep exhalation, casting my worry, about being slit by the throat or stabbed, away. When Camel implied my decent appearance, I caught her audaciously letting her vision scanned me completely. Just when I thought I couldn't, I let out a small chuckle. Bad timing, as her hostile yet soft brown eyes snapped back up to meet my vision.

Before long, she disappeared to another part of the car and Camel escorted to meet the rest of the inhabitants and my temporary bed for the night. The others, though quirky were very humorous and amiable compared to her.

The night was wild but by dawn the celebration ceased. By morning, I woke up to the musty and foul smell that invaded the already putrid car and within a minute, the train halted, dead at its track. This was followed by car doors slamming open and men getting off. We're here?

I pushed myself off my uncomfortable cot and made my way out of the car. Once my feet hit the earth, I was met with the sight of an empty, dry land. No signs of civilizations anywhere with the exception of us.

Men, young and old, worked diligently carrying blocks of wood while others hammered. I turned around and the big bold letters engraved on the car screamed to me: "BENZINI BROTHERS: The Most Extravagant Extravaganza"

"I'm in a circus?" I questioned myself unsure how to react to my new fate. My train of thoughts suddenly dissolved as I hear a mix of rambunctious animal noises. Eagerly, I made my way to the clutter of enormous cages confining variety of animals from lions to hyenas to monkeys. Standing in between all these had made me feel very nostalgic; the thought of my first examination with animals as a vet student—sweet memory indeed.

Amongst the conversations between the animals, I could clearly distinguish the utters of a human being. I followed this voice and ended up running into this anonymous girl… again. Apparently, I had caught her off guard as she stuttered and acted defensively. "What the fuck? You aren't supposed to be here!" She scolded which I merely responded with a bewildered expression on my face. I wasn't curious as to why she was surprised but it was the fact I found her caressing a white mare so delicately and seemed to be comforting it.

I disregarded her question and approached her slowly. My sight suddenly dropped to the horse that was lying down on the ground. "May I see her?" I asked still focusing my eyes on the horse. "Uh…." I could hear the insecurity in her voice and less hostile. "Sure." She hesitated.

I immediately sensed something wrong with the horse as my vet instincts kicked in and started to examine it.

"He has laminitis…on his hoof. It's infected and exacerbating" She broke out suddenly. The tone in her voice changed dramatically; gentle and melancholic.

I immediately rushed to see the hoof- she was right. How did she know this? I fought the urge to ask, fearing she might be offended and politely kept it to myself instead.

"You're right" I murmured resting the hoof back to its original place. "Do you think he has the possibility of healing?" She asked with full of concern and a hint of optimism. I looked at her countenance- soft, worried, tainted with dust yet still flawless. For a moment, she was not the same girl who had held me at knife point last night.

I got up and approached her with my hand out gesturing for a hand shake in an attempt to dodge the question and distract her. "Jacob" I articulately stated my name. Her lips quivered with hesitation but stopped suddenly stopped suddenly with determination. "Jack." She spoke indifferent which I stared at her questioningly in response.

"Really now…" I laughed softly assuming she might be joking but judging by her solemn face—she was not. "Jack it is" I nodded quietly and gave in.

Once again, before my mind could choose another topic to continue our conversation, she made her way back to the men who were now raising the tent. I saw her tiny figure running amongst the crowd and grabbed one of the ropes, pulling on it with all her might. I laughed seeing how humorous the situation looked.

But then the sight of 'Jack' and the others blurred.

My body felt as if it stopped functioning, the oxygen stopped circulating and my breathing ceased.

A/N: Hopefully with this lengthy chapter, it will give you an opportunity to give me some reviews on this chapter. Constructive criticisms are welcomed.