A tree in the distance has a leaf blown off its branch. The wind carries it to the point until gravity placed it to the ground. The point was designated to a field. This field had no significant value to anyone, just a patch of grass for deer to graze and men to run. Feet traversing through the flat plain of semi-moist ground from the recent rainfall. The clouds covered the sun entirely leaving no supporting illumination for the runner. The clapping of thunder arose from the mountain side of the Catskills. Nobody around for miles, it's the perfect place to wallow in self reflection. However this wasn't the time for doubt, it was the time for survival.
A gunshot was heard only a couple hundred feet from his position. Sweat ran down his face as he tried to flee the area. The silence was discomforting to him. Being in a town with nothing but background noise was a part of his element, now it's evaded and replaced by his own heartbeat.
"Jack!" The tone of voice caused the young adult to run faster, now entering into the trees. He was being chased from some associates of the Maroni family from a deal that went anywhere but south, it was actually on the east side of the state. Gun shipments by train had an unscheduled stop. Jack had been hired to sabotage the train by Falcone's assistant to ensure one side would not gain an upper hand. Dynamite was placed in the cargo and well you can guess what happened, combustion.
The rattling of gunfire was ensuring Jack to plan a better exit strategy. An escape plan was agreed upon but unfortunately the vehicle was shot up (including the driver) by an armored vehicle, just in case things couldn't get any worse. Best he could hope for is head down the mountain valley to the direction of the Hudson River to get back Gotham, or just kill your way through all the trench coat bastards.
The clouds shadowed the sun keeping a shaded surrounding to Jack's mini marathon. He wasn't the fastest runner but he should could outpace men in their later thirties to early forties, bullets however could outpace anyone, no record of a person who could outrun a speeding bullet at the time.
This was a simpler time for Jack, well simple seems broad. There was no men with capes, guardians of lanterns, scarlet speedsters, or even the concept of multiple earths. There was just Earth, him, and his goal, survive. No family, no friends, no ties, completely expendable on paper but Jack had his own ambitions.
"What do you see?" A painting of just a few brush strokes containing black pastel on a white canvas.
"Social injustice," he said sarcastically.
"Well Jack it actually displays feministic outlash from manist mentalities." The woman sarcastically replied to his joking manner.
"So is the paint telling the canvas to make it's own sandwich?" The woman smacked him half assed on the arm. "Hey Genie I'm only trying to interpret the piece. You know me honey, always making jokes." She couldn't help but smile. "Yes Jack, how could I forget my handsome comedian and all his natural charisma. But you know this stuff is important to me."
"Of course Gene. I can't help myself sometimes. I can make it up to you to later tonight if you want." Her cheeks stayed rosy red for a couple seconds. "We'll see Jacky." The two walked across the gallery to view the multiple settings displayed. Glasses of champagne were shared to the point where they were kicked out for unmannerly behavior at the casing, such a waste of pottery to be used as a waste bucket.
"Wake up you bastard! We're gonna have some fun with you tonight." Water was splashed on Jack's face. His vision was becoming focused from a previous blow to the head. Maroni's men caught up to him but wasn't an easy task, the men called in backup with a couple grenade launchers.
"Boys c'mon you call this foreplay? I thought Sal preferred a thick slab of genoa salami to the face instead sadistic behavior or did you not swallowed up the ranks yet? The pejorative response from the other man was another punch across the jaw.
"You think you're quite funny huh?"
"I actually am a comedian on the side when I'm not making your people's lives a living hell. I can't imagine how much Sal lost in those cargo shipments, hehe." He was given a couple more punches in an attempt to wipe off his grin. It didn't work.
"Jack!" Screaming coming from another room. He was in the living room downstairs but could hear it and climbed up with velocity.
"Gene what's wrong!" Seeing her calmed him. She didn't appear to be dying or losing sanity any time soon. The room however looked like a jumbled mess that only a wild bobcat could replicate.
"I can't find my mother's earrings." She stated worryingly. "Can you help me honey?" You know that look your woman pulls to get what she desires, Gene was no different. But Jack was more than happy to help. He is a man of respect and gang violence.
"Of course Genie," said with a mischievous back tone. "Anything for you." He assisted her with a second look around of their bedroom. He placed a little box in the dresser when she was looking under their bed. Jack went to the walk-in-closet to look "busy".
"Jack," she breathed heavily, almost near ecstatic.
He grinned, "Did you find your mom's earrings?" Turning around Gene jumped him and they both fell on the bed.
"Yes!"
Blackness was illuminated with the cream interior of a 49' Coupe de ville. "Yes, we're almost out of the woods Jack." He remembered that voice. What was shocking was how he wasn't dead yet.
"Tony is that you?"
"You know it Jack. I figured you could use a helping hand. Falcone sending you here alone would be a suicide mission."
"The real victim is your Cadillac old friend. New York forests with this suspension, I'm not religious but my lord."
"Yeah I wasn't thinking, when Harold told me about the current detail with the job I assumed Maroni would have heavy retaliation."
"You have no idea. You should have seen the armored vehicle. Luckily these "professionals" were clumsy with their inventory. Jack pulled out a M16 from his duffle bag. The grenade launcher attachment was handy to say the least in having Sal's men lose their trail heading back to Gotham. Hopping on an I-87 on ramp heading south Jack could see patches of smoke evading from the forest through the side mirror.
"Honey how was your day?"
"Exhausting. Even a job you love can drain you of all energy."
"You're telling me." Gene attempted to stand up but fell back down in her chair. "Dam, this baby is so heavy. I don't even wanna think about pushing it out." He lend her a hand.
"Only a couple more weeks Genie and we'll have our little one sleep in the room next to ours." She teared a little. "Oh Jack I'm so proud of us, so many obstacles but we prevailed and our family is coming to fruition. Nothing could go wrong from here I believe."
"Shhh, don't say that dear. Next thing you know the sonogram readings were wrong and you will have to pump out two."
"At least he or she would have someone to play with."
"One at a time my love, one at a time."
"Excellent work gentlemen, I am very pleased with your results in the Catskills. Sal will be hurting for the next couple of months."
"Thank you Mr. Falcone," said Tony.
"Yes, I appreciate your gratitude Falcone." He noticed Jack's distance.
"Jack is there something wrong, you don't seem like yourself today."
"Genie had a miscarriage two days ago. A still birth a week before the expected due date." Falcone shared a look of empathy with Tony.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Would you like some time off? Maybe a pre-bonus for an early vacation to clear your mind?" Jack didn't really care for either. Gene was the only thing on his mind and he wanted nothing more than to see her smile again.
"Sure, both will work I guess."
Driving home was gloomy that afternoon. The rain insisted on blinding the environment around him. All he could see was a foot of space in front of him. Clashes of deafening thunder could not be drowned out by Vertical Horizon. A sharp disturbed sense pulsed throughout his body. He speed home despite the weather conditions. He needed to see her, to make sure everything was okay.
"I don't want to set the world on fire."
"Genie!" He heard nothing but The Ink Spots from upstairs. A pit was forming in his stomach. Turning to see the kitchen, on the counter open bottles of wine were empty.
"I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim." Noticing what looked like a blood trail he raced to the top of the steps. The drips ended to the bathroom in their bedroom. Twisting the locked handle he budged till his angst overcame him. "GENIE, please honey stay calm. I promise I can help you just gimme a moment." He kicked the door down but what he saw after that, he wished it was welded shut. "I just want to start a flame in your heart."
In the bathtub Gene was consumed in a bathtub of her own blood. A bottle of wine and a couple bottles of drugs were on the window sill. Her right wrist was slight all the way to the end of her forearm. The lifelessness in her eyes caused Jack to become paralyzed. The force of will made him run to the tube. "Genie no no god dammit please don't go." He quickly checked her pulse. Unfortunately she passed a while before in the day. He began to cry into her after pulling her out of the tub. Covered in the bloody water of his dead wife, all he could do was hold her while the desire not to join her faded. He did love this woman. He blames himself for not knowing her pain. Some people can be pushed to the brink. We never truly know what is going on in people's minds. "I'm so sorry Gene." He was having flashbacks of when his mother was discovered and that caused him to vomit for reliving a similar deeply traumatic moment. He screamed but that pain didn't subside, it never did really. Eventually time prevailed, not in an orthodox manner but he became a man who could smile again, his sardonic smile.