Jack

So… I suppose you wanna know what happened that day? Many people do, most of 'em cops. Well let me tell you about it. It's a day that left a lot of people talking after it happened like they knew anything about what had gone on. Like they knew anything about either of us. It seems to be a day that everyone seems to get all mixed up about. It's the day I committed my first murder, y'see. Or, at least, that's how they see it, but the way I see it… it's far more tragic than they give it credit for.

I left Alice sleeping. She looked too peaceful, too still to wake up so I didn't. Instead I got up and put my clothes on quietly, real quietly, so that I wouldn't disturb my Alice. When I was dressed I looked around for something to leave a note on, to let her know I'd be back soon so she wouldn't worry, y'know? I dragged my fingernail along the grime on the window and scratched out the words 'BACK SOON'. I didn't want her panicking if I wasn't back by the time she woke up. I could have waited till she woke up, but I just had to know. I needed to know if our plan had worked or not. If it had then Alice and I would be safer. We could get on the move, get out of this shithole. As long as nobody was looking for us… we'd be fine.

I put my hood up before I left to hide my face from anyone who might be passing by and recognise me. Just in case there were people on the lookout for us. I kept my head down and walked fast. I didn't want to look anyone in the eye, just in case. I chose a shop a few blocks away from where we were hidden, so that if I went down I wouldn't take Alice with me. I needed to keep my Ace safe, keep her hidden. It was a lot like playing a game of cards with the people of Gotham. I had to keep my Ace close to my chest, if anyone knew that I had her they'd surely try and take her off me. The stakes were high, I just couldn't know how high until I got my hands on a newspaper.

There were other people in the shop when I got there. People are less likely to pay attention to you if there's a crowd to blend into. They're too busy getting annoyed by other people getting in their way and fucking up their day than what a tall, lanky, skinny teenage boy is doing by the newspaper stand. The top copy of the Gotham Gazette has a picture of our burning school on it. I remember I had to bite back my laughter as I picked it up. It was just nice to see the outside of the school building looking as shitty as the insides of the people who were inside it. It was what they all deserved really. And why wouldn't that bring a smile to someone's face? I unfolded the paper to see the photo in full, just to the side of it there were two tiny pictures of me and Alice. The headline read; "Two teens dead in school blaze", with a subtitle announcing that our bodies were unaccounted for. A quick scan of the text told me that it was assumed that we were too charred to be recognisable. The head teacher had issued a statement saying how much we'd be missed. Apparently we'd been "well-liked among our peers, who were all shocked and deeply distressed by the events of yesterday". Just goes to show you how little the school knows about their pupils and the lives they lead. There were also quotes from our supposed "friends", most of whom I'd never ever heard of or spoken to, saying how much they missed us and wanted us back. It's strange how death can make everyone your best friend. It's funny really. Either that or they just wanted to get their names in the papers. Probably that.

"You gonna buy that?" the shopkeeper called over to me from behind the counter. I thought about it, and then I nodded without looking directly at him. I hadn't planned on it, but seeing how well everything had gone I felt kinda proud of me and Ace. She'd want to read it. It'd give her a laugh. I folded it up again and took it as I walked away from the rest of the papers. I picked up a little bit of food too, to keep us going.

When I got out of the shop I opened the paper back up and couldn't hold back my laughter any longer. "We did it, Ace," I grinned. "We did it."

Alice

I'm so cold. My face is so cold. Although my eyes are still shut I can tell that it's light outside, but because there are no curtains on the grubby windows, so I'm aware that it could have been light for some time. I have no idea what time it is. It smells musty in here… it's unfamiliar. I remember where I am and reach for Jack. When all my fingers meet is air I open my eyes. He's not there. I sit up and look around; the apartment seems to be empty.

"Jack," I call, but there is no reply. I turn to look at the emptiness behind me. "Jack," I say again, even though it's evident he's not here. I just don't like the silence. Where is he? I stand up and wrap the sheet around me. Maybe he's just out in the hallway. I call for him again, louder, but there is still no reply. Feeling genuinely scared and alone I pull on my clothes as quickly as I can, but it's difficult because I can feel my hands shaking as I do it. I keep looking at the door, hoping that he'll come through it. When I'm dressed I cross over to the door and open it slowly, peering out into the dark hallway to see if he's there. He's not. I shut the door and turn back to room. I keep expecting him to appear. The apartment feels bigger that it did before. And colder. I sit back down, cross-legged on the mattress and pull a blanket around my shoulders. I don't know what to do with myself. I look to the window and see a message scratched in the filth- "BACK SOON". Jack. Thank God.

Feeling much more relaxed, I stand up and decide to make myself busy. I feel nervous without Jack here, I need something to do. The dust scatters beneath my feet as I walk into previously unexplored parts of the apartment. It doesn't exactly take long to wander around it. It's basically one filthy room with a filthy kitchen and a bathroom we've not had cause to use yet. I hope we don't have to. How long are we staying here for? He never said. I wander into the kitchen area and have a look around. I'm hungry, Jack will be too but I doubt there's anything in here we can eat. I look in a few of the drawers. Most of them are empty. There are a few knives, a spoon and a couple of forks in one of them. I take out the sharpest knife in there and lay it down on the counter near me. It just makes me feel slightly safer.

I move onto the cupboards, there's only three and the first two are empty save for a spider's web and a few dusty crumbs. There's a dodgy looking tin in the third one. It's not labelled, but it is unopened. I take it out. It's heavier than I thought it would be. I weigh it up in each hand. I don't trust it in the slightest, but if we get desperate it will do. I wonder if Jack's planned for this at all. He probably has. I'd be lost without him. I set it down next to the knife and turn away from the kitchen to wait for Jack. I walk over to the window and look down onto the street. There's a few people walking there, but I don't think any of them are Jack. I lean my forehead against the windowpane and watch them go by.

A door slams behind me. It sounds like it's coming from downstairs. The sudden noise makes me jump and turn to face the apartment door. Jack's back. I feel my smile as I hear footsteps on the stairs. "Jack!" I call, walking to the door to greet him. He doesn't answer, but I can hear the echoes of his footsteps getting closer. "I found some food," I continue. "I'm not sure what it is. Or how old it is, but if you're hungry we can always take a look." I pause and wait for him to answer. He doesn't. "Jack?" Nothing. "Jack?" The footsteps stop right outside the door. My hand is on the handle, but suddenly I don't want to open it anymore.

Why hasn't he said anything yet?

Quietly, I slide the bolt across and back away from the door. There is still no sound from the other side. Then, the handle turns and the door moves as someone tries to open it. Then the handle rattles again and the person on the other side pushes harder to get it. The door shakes a little.

"Alice," a voice calls, but it's not Jack.

"Dad?" I whimper, feeling my body go numb.

Jack… where are you?

My back hits the window and I glance sideways. The words 'BACK SOON' are beginning to look less and less likely.


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