Chapter seven: Learning to Fight
POV: Kim Crawford
I stared at him. "He... um." I scratched my forehead. "He got away, didn't he?" Jack asked, his eyes piercing into my heart. "He killed my mom, and they didn't take him!" He cried. "Just calm down, Jack. The police are looking for him now." I told him. He shook his head fiercely. "No!" he cried. "He's coming to get me!" He started shaking and sobbing. I grabbed his good arm and started begging him to calm down. I grabbed the little red button thing on the side of his bed and started frantically pushing it. Within seconds, a nurse was in the room.
She tried to calm Jack, after about a minute with no success, she grabbed something and put it over Jacks mouth and nose. After a few more moments, he stopped moving and lay calmly in the bed. I looked up at her, fear in my eyes. "What's wrong with him?" I cried. She shook her head, examining him. "Did he say anything?" She asked. I nodded and repeated wheat he said.
She made a face. "Hold on." She told me. I stared after her after she left, then back down at poor, sweet jack. I ran my hand softly up and down his arm, speaking softly to him. I sighed, crawling up beside him, careful of all the things they had him hooked up to as I wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his very gently, and my hand on his chest even more so. I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep.
POV: Jack Brewer
(sometime later)
I woke up, feeling something warm and light on my chest, and another on my head. Even though my chest and head were sore, they were so light and gentle, it didn't bother me. In fact, it seemed to have a soothing affect. I smiled softly, for the first time in who-knows-how-long. I moved my head slightly, looking to see what it was. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw that it was Kim.
I shifted uneasily, then let myself relax. I was fine. Everything was fine. I sighed, snuggling closer to her as I felt myself choke down a sob. I remembered snuggling up with my mother like this before. I felt a stab of pain in my heart from thinking of my mother. I felt fresh, hot tears welling in my eyes as my head began to burn. I swallowed hard, trying to make myself calm down. I felt my chest tighten, and it became difficult, even impossible to breath.
Kim suddenly was awake and aware of my condition. "Jack?" She cried as I thrashed around, gasping for air. "Here, here!" She had apparently fished through my pockets because she had mu inhaler. I grabbed it desperately and shoved it into my mouth. I closed my eyes in relief as air was re-introduced to my lungs.
I smiled and lay back letting the inhaler fall out of my mouth. Kim smiled and took it, setting it aside. She slid back next to me and hugged me, murmuring nonsense. I didn't mind, it comforted me and that all I cared about. I let her wrap herself around me. I snuggled next to her, laying my head on her chest under her chin. Soon, I fell asleep, still shaking a bit, but much calmer.
POV: Jackson Brewer Senior
That little son of a b… oh wait… he was my son. **** I shook my head, clenching my fists. How dare he escape! How dare his little girlfriend bust him out?! I was going to kill them both for that. Not that I wasn't going to kill them anyway. However, his little she-devil wasn't too hard on the eyes… I smiled, formulating a plan. They deserved so much more than death now. If they wanted to live, so be it. But I would make sure the rest of their living would be painful, very painful. To the point where they will fall on their knees, and beg me to kill them… yes… a good idea.
I smiled evilly as I stared up at a building, looking through the window to see a cute little blonde cradling and comforting a shaking brunette.
POV: Kim Crawford
(the next week)
"Come on, it's fine." I smiled gently at jack as I carefully clutched his hand. I was leading him into the Black Dragon, where my sensei had agreed to meet him today. "Hi sensei, this is Jack." I told him. Sensei Ty smiled. "Hello Jack, and welcome the Black Dragon, the best dojo in… ha, well, the world." He smiled cockily. I grinned, blushing when Jack gave me the 'OMG! Really?!' face.
"Well, maybe not the world, but it's the best dojo in Seaford, that's for sure." I told him. "What'dya say, Jack? You want to be a Black Dragon?"
POV: Jack Brewer
(same time)
I stared at the sensei, and then at Kim. Kim had promised me that I would be able to defend myself with karate, but I'd never fought in my life! How would I be able to protect myself with it? I shifted nervously, and Kim squeezed my hand. I had forgotten she was still holding it. It made me blush.
"I-I guess…" I told her quietly. She couldn't contain the grin that spread across her pretty face. I tried to offer her a smile, but it came out as a shy twitch of the corner of my mouth. "Great, you can start tomorrow. Kim, why don't you show him around today?" her sensei offered. "Yes, sensei." She bowed to him quickly, then grabbed my wrist and started excitedly showing me around. I allowed her to drag me around the room, and only half-heartedly listened to her jabberwocky. My mind was somewhere else entirely.
If I could learn this karate, and… possibly even be good at it, would I be able to defend myself from my father? The mere thought of it alone sent chills up my spine. Not the kind like that of which my father induced by way of intimidation, but chills of hope and anticipation. The thought of being able to protect myself from his wrath was more than welcoming, and I couldn't start soon enough.
…
I came with Kim to the Black Dragon every day after school. Truth be told, I was holding back, because every swing of my fists, every kick, I imagined my father on the other side of it, grabbing me and tearing me to shreds for fighting back.
It terrorized me, therefore, I only went in half-heartedly. Sensei Ty shook his head. "Jack, you'er not kicking with your full strength, you can do better than this, come on!" He yelled at me. I flinched, hating all manner of raised voices as it reminded me of my father.
I nodded, trying to kick harder. I couldn't do it. I stopped, panting. "I can't." I told him. He shook his head. "Kim, work with him, I need to get back to working with my actual karate students." He shot me a glare before turning and walking over to his other students. I stared after him, then let my gaze drop.
Kim sighed, crossing her arms. "What's up? I know you can do better than this." She told me. I stared at her. "I know." I mumbled. "It's just that…" I let out an exasperated breath. "Every time I try, I see my father, a-and… he, he's mad that I'm learning to fight." I whimpered, slumping down on the floor and hugging my knees to my chest.
Kim sighed and crouched down beside me. She put a hand on my shoulder. "Jack, learning to fight will help you to protect yourself against your dad." She told me. I looked up at her. "Come on, let's keep practicing." She smiled and stood up, offering her hand. I stared at her, then at her hand, then smiled and took it.
