Disclaimer: Yeah... I own nothing, sorry.

Chapter 2

Jackie Estacado's Penthouse, NYC

Jackie Estacado leaned on his desk. "Perfect" he muttered. He'd just gotten word that two more of his men had been killed last night.

"Do we know what suicidal idiot has been messing with our collections" This had been the third reported attack today, and Jackie was getting frustrated. Even sending out people in pairs to collect money hadn't solved things. He'd already lost over $10,000 in the last week. It was starting to get to him.

"Sorry boss." Jimmy replied "We ain't got a single lead, this guy isn't even leaving bodies behind. It's like these guy are disappearing off the face of the earth. All we can find is guns and blood." The older man who was one of Jackie's best advisors had a hopeless look on his face. "It can't be one of the other families, there's no way they could make a move like this without us knowing about it.""But who would have the resources to do this on their own?" Jackie pondered. "I wish I could say," Jimmy said "but like I said, we got no leads."

Jackie couldn't believe this. It had been 2 years since he had taken down his backstabbing uncle Paulie. A year after that he had managed to get some... issues, sorted out. Suddenly he had a splitting headache, and a voice in his head whispered in a voice that ranged from deep guttural

Set us free Jackie.

We can destroy them together!

Speaking of issues, there was The Darkness. The very night Paulie tried to have Jackie killed, he'd inherited the darkness, a primordial being of pure, you guessed it, darkness. It ran in his family, ever since WWI, when his great grandfather had let it into their family line. He'd been keeping it under control for the past year, but when he got angry, it became difficult, and the recent strain on his temper had been a real challenge.

"Send the families some flowers, and my condolences" he told Jimmy, "I need some time to think." Jimmy nodded, and left the room. The Darkness wasn't really a secret, Jimmy knew that his boss still had trouble with it from time to time. When that happened, it was best to give him some space.

Jimmy shut the door and locked it. Almost as soon as the door closed, Jackie collapsed on the ground. The world flashed and spun, then went black.

Everything was black, he stood in the single point of light, like the spotlight on a stage. Something was moving just beyond his field of view.

You need us Jackie. Without us you are NOTHING!

"I DON'T NEED YOU!" Jackie screamed "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CONTROL ME!" his body was wracked with pain, he doubled over, as if punched.

Learn your place mortal. I am master here, and you will always be my puppet.

Jackie felt himself slipping, there was only one way he could think of to help him. He thought of Jenny.

Jenny had always been the one bright spot in his miserable existence. Not too long after Paulie started trying to kill him, he'd killed Jenny, thinking it would make Jackie lose hope. Instead it had hardened his resolve, and any mercy Paulie might have gotten was gone.

Since Paulie's death, thinking of her was the one thing that helped him keep The Darkness in check. His Aunt Sarah said it was unhealthy, but he wasn't going to just forget her.

The light in the dark room grew a bit brighter, and The Darkness screamed in pain. Jackie felt the dark become more oppressive, malevolent. The Darkness hissed at him.

You cannot hide behind her forever. One day I WILL be free again, and you will be the one to unleash me.

Jackie vision darkened once again.

Jackie woke up on the floor. He was drenched in sweat, and shaking. He managed to stumble out of his office, up the stairs, and into his room. He paused at a small drawer on the floor across from his bed. He Took a long sad look at the photos of Jenny on top of it, then lit a match, and relit the candle next to the pictures. Then he took a shower, got in bed, and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Location Unknown, NYC

The man in the jacket sat on a bench in an abandoned subway stop, sifting through his mind, searching for information. Suddenly, he smiled a chilling crocodile grin. He'd found what he was looking for.

He'd be paying Jackie Estacado a visit, very soon.

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