A/N: Chapter two of Cruel World. In this chapter, the hate that Jack and Chase have for each other is more explicitly described. Hope you all enjoy the latest installment.

. . .

Cruel World

Chapter two: Dark Paradise

As the sirens blared and his head pounded from all of the noise roaring in his ears, Jack Spicer felt to an extent, that his anger was at the highest peak it could possibly be.

He watched, resting on his knees, as his entire mansion was destroyed before his eyes, with the possibility that he lost everying. As the fire was contained, authorities told him that close to everything was tarnished and no longer valuable. Jack Spicer did not care that he could easily replace everything that was destroyed in less than a heartbeat for he was one of the richest currently in the XiaoHey circles. No, he did not care about that. He cared more about who did it.

And it was none other than that rotten disease who pissed him off to no extext, Chase Young.

The thoughts of what he wanted to do in retaliation was so wicked and filled with horrifying visuals it even scared himself. He wanted to make the bastard pay, make him regret taking him for granted, for underestimating him and doing this to him and most of all, taking Raimundo away. He didn't deserve Raimundo—even if the whole feat was an elaborate plan by the both of them. Jack knew what would happen and he didn't Raimundo to experience it. The feeling of betrayal by someone whom he once respected and wanted… That feeling of hope risen only to have it crashing down.

The feeling of being taken for a fool!

Jack Spicer kept watching as smoke diminished from the air and the lingering smell made his nose and his lungs burn in agony. He watched, with one thing in mind—

Revenge.

. . .

"Where were you…?"

Raimundo looked up as Chase returned, having been lounging by one of his nearby fountains. He'd been told shortly after Chase took him in that he would be leaving for a bit to do some sort of "work" but was never given the details. Raimundo could only hope that the work the warlord had to do did not involve hurting Jack in any manor, as he was already made it undeniably clear that he loathed Jack with every fibre in his body and would only continue to do so with no hope of any ceasefire in the little war the two had with each other.

"Doing work, nothing more," He replied. "It is none of your concern."

Don't reply rudly, Raimundo… No matter how much you want to.

"Alright," he mumbled.

"I still wish for you to stay away from Spicer. He can and he will use you. I'm only trying to prevent that," Chase said, staring at the other intensely.

"Whatever you think he's planning, it must be still in development, because he hasn't done anything to me since we became partners, and that was over a year ago," Raimundo returned the intense stare, seemingly to challenge the warlord.

"And as I have said, you do not need him. Do you not think I am better than him? I can give you whatever he has given you in ways that it will be better than any materialistic object he could ever give you."

Raimundo didn't want to respond. He turned his head and averted his eyes from Chase's, looking at his reflection in the water. This was a wrong move as it angered Chase and Raimundo was grabbed by the arm and made to stand by force.

"I expect those whom I dare to entertain to listen. It seems you still retain your foolishness and obnoxious attitude. Allow me to change that," Chase growled.

Raimundo has never felt such fear vibrating in all parts of his body before.

He is thrown into Chase's sparring ring and is beaten as if he's done some terrible crime against humanity when all he did was keep his mouth shut. He is kicked and he is punched and he feels as if his arms should not be able to bend like that and that Chase brings new meaning to the concept of one hating to be ignored. And when he is done—Raimundo isn't religious, but he thanks every deity he can name off of the top of his head that Chase is done and leaves him there lying on the floor like rot to bite his lip and try not to make a sound in pain as he fears it'll be worse for him. And he lies there with his body shaken, and brused and fucked up in what he believes is beyond repair and he wants to scream so loudly but he can't, so he lies there wishing that Jack was here.

What the hell did he see in such a man? Why did his desire reap the reward of unjustified torture?

Damn it all, he was blind. Blind as a bat, blind as an ignorant person.

So he lied there, whispering Jack's name in his mind.

And not a single tear left his eyes.

. . .

He had to stay in the very home he gave to Raimundo.

He closed his eyes—and everytime he did, he saw Raimundo.

However he could not keep his eyes closed for too long. He had business to do.

This business involved Wuya and Hannibal sitting across from him.

"So, boy, that rotten lowlife burned your home to the ground?" Hannibal asked, choosing to take on the appearance of an older man. He looked presentable to an extent, the only thing questionable is his copper red skin.

"Yes," Jack opened his eyes and looked at him. "So therefore, I'm at the verge of wanting him dead, or just doing something so badly that he'll be left crawling on the ground trying to eat out of the dirt whatever pride he has left."

"Hmm. Interesting. Now you understand why I hated dragonbreath so much," Wuya said to him. "But you should know that he will use every tactic against you should you try to retaliate—including your little Heylin Wind Dragon."

"I know that," Jack told her. "He knows about him, trust me. All I want… is to get him away from that disease and bring him back to me, where he belongs."

"Hmph. That is easier said than done, boy," Hannibal responded. "He will not make it that easy. Warrented he has not done anything to Raimundo yet, he will come to do so, once you make it known that he is your only concern."

"So, Jack…" Wuya started. "I think you know exactly what we need in order to attack Chase."

Jack sighed. "The Lunar Locket is yours."

. . .

Chase Young laughed cruelly as he watched the conversation of the three plotting Heylin.

They were simply fools, especially that nitwit Spicer.

He waved his hand over his Eye-Spy-Orb thus ending his spying and thought of the next thing he'd do in his plot of revenge against Spicer. Since he knew at the moment his only weakness was Raimundo, he'd just have to do something involving him where it would hurt and make Spicer bend to his every will.

And he knew exactly just how to do that.

He created a potion of sorts that would appear to be a healing concoction but in actuality, it would slowly take away Raimundo's free will and turn him into nothing but a lifeless shell that did everything the warlord asked him to do. In a final feat, he would force Raimundo to fight Jack, beating the last of his strength out of him and would do the rest, making sure the worm never crossed him in such a way ever again.

Chase smirked, holding the goblet in his hand and simply teleporting himself over to his sparring ring, where Raimundo still lie. He sees the boy turn and gasp in fright which stroked his ego all too much, but he must compose himself. He kneeled down to him and handed him the goblet.

"What… what is that?" He asked weakly.

"I've… had a change of heart, so to say. It is a healing potion. Drink it, and your wounds will be no more."

Raimundo took the goblet, with shaky hands, and drank slowly, but surely until it was finished.

He felt weird afterwards. Lightheaded, as if his wounds were getting worse rather than better. He couldn't control his thoughts… felt like everything was out of his control.

"What… what is this?! This is not…" Raimundo breathed heavily, trying to shake off the feeling.

But Chase just knelt there and saw Raimundo's eyes turn from green to dark grey.

His concoction worked like a charm—Raimundo would not be a problem anymore.

Now it was time to visit a certain pest. He grabbed Raimundo's hand and teleported himself to where Jack was. Wuya and Hannibal had made their leave, probably with the Lunar Locket in their possession now. Jack turned once he saw the flash behind him, gritting his teeth.

"What…. Did you do to him…" The malevolence in his voice could have been enough to kill just about anyone.

"I simply took his free will… He has none now, Spicer. You see, people like him have to be beaten down in order to be used. I do hope you enjoy his new persona as my mindless warrior."

"He does not belong to you! Now you will let him go!" Jack practically screamed.

"Very well." Chase turned to the now emotionless Raimundo. "Kill him."

Raimundo looked up, eyes twitching and walked slowly towards Jack like a predator.

Jack took out a small metal pole the size of his hand and pressed a button, thus extending it to a staff.

His thoughts turned even more horrifying.

He has never wanted to kill anyone as much as he wanted to kill Chase Young.

. . .

A/N: Short, but if I wrote any more, I would have covered too much. Hope you all enjoy the second chapter. Reviews always appreciated!