Okay, again, it's 1am, but I didn't sleep. So it counts.
Day 7!
I made it a week!
Just be glad you aren't following me for Marvel stuff... I haven't updated DKoT since... forever.

Anyway...

This chapter is a bit different in style. You may hate it, and if you do I'm sorry, but it's necessary.

This is probably the only chapter like this, so just bear with me.

TW: Minor suicidal thoughts

~TH~

He awoke with a strangled gasp, trying to curl in on himself from a sudden pain in his side. The burning in his back caused him to stop moving and just breathe through the pain.

"I've been talking to you, boy, but I don't think you've been listening." Jack blinked his eyes open. All he could see was Snyder's shoes.

"I-I'm sorry sir." He managed to stutter out.

Snyder let out a low chuckle, "It's been a while since I've seen you this afraid of me, Kelly. Maybe we should do that more often."

Oh please no.

Jack let out an involuntary whimper causing Snyder to laugh harder.

"Anyway, boy, I'm going to work."

Work? But it was only-

"Don't look at me like that, it's Monday morning. I've called you in sick until Wednesday. You are not to leave this room until I get back. If I find out any differently I will not hesitate to lock you in the closet. I'm done being easy on you, Kelly." A rag was dropped in front of his face. "Clean yourself up."

The shoes walked away and the door was shut. Jack closed his eyes, and took a shallow breath. Even breathing hurt. Had he really slept all of Sunday? He had a vague recollection of darkness and pain, maybe he had woken up at some point.

Gathering all the willpower he had, he pushed himself up on all fours. He bit his lips to keep from calling out. He held that position, panting. Jack reached out with a shaky hand and grabbed the rag. Clutching it tightly in his hand, he worked his way to his feet. He stumbled, catching hold of the edge of the dresser. A small amount of water sloshed on his hand and he noticed for the first time that there was a bowl of water sitting on the top of the dresser. Snyder hadn't been kidding in when he said not to leave his room.

Jack wasn't stupid and he knew what his body could and couldn't take. If he tried to clean his back, he was going to pass out. He wasn't exactly sure how to clean it completly, but the lashes getting infected was an outcome no one wanted. Then again it might kill him. That would be a plus.

He shook away the thought. He couldn't go there now.

Picking up the bowl, he dropped the rag in the water, realizing that the simple task of carrying it would take both hands in his current state. Jack sat on the edge of his bed, placing the bowl on the small nightstand.

His back hurt. No. That was an understatement. His back was in agonoy. Even the smallest movement, the smallest breath, stretched the broken skin. It had never been this bad. Jack had never feared for his life more than in the moments in Snyder's room.

He wondered if his back was still bleeding, but wasn't going to reach back and touch it. The lashes would have dried by now, right? It had been what, twenty-four, thirty-six, hours? His phone seemed so far away sitting on the other side of the stand. He'd have to lean over and reach and… and it just wasn't worth it.

Grabbing the rag, he prepared himself for what he was about to do.

~N~

He woke up on his side, not exactly sure how he'd managed to pass out that way or how long he'd been unconscious. Snyder hadn't come in to yell at him, so it couldn't have been too long. Not like the previous day at least.

Jack forced himself to sit up. However clean his back currently was, was as good as it was going to get. He groaned as he reached for his phone. Before he even looked at it, he laid back down, now on his stomach.

When he turned on the phone he was greeted with dozens of messages.

Race

Where r u?

U coming today?

.

Spot

Haven't seen you today just checking in

Jack seriously

Where are you

.

Katherine

Hey, Jack, sorry to bother you, I was just wondering if you were going to be here today.

It's not because of what I said the other day, right?

I really am sorry about that.

Come on Jack, answer me.

Please?

.

Davey

Kath wanted me to text you

She said you're ignoring her

Anyway, you don't have to worry about the project. We got an extension on it. Because there are so many projects and you're not here today we're going next Tuesday.

Jack, if this is you just ignoring us then tell Spot or someone else to tell us because Kath is starting to get worried.

.

Katherine

I just want to make sure you're not dead.

You're not, right?

You're not answering anyone's texts…

.

Race

If u dont answer me im asking those two kids your doing a project with

Im serios

Answer me so i dont have to go talk to strangers

Srsly jack

.

Katherine

A kid named Tyler just came up and asked if we knew where you were at.

He looked worried.

Are you okay?

.

Race

Srsly where r u?

.

Spot

Kelly if you dont answer me ill find your apartment and knock the door in. Dont think i wont. Ask race. Id do it.

.

Katherine

Okay, I'll leave you alone, but just, please let me know you're okay.

.

Spot

You better be at home or something and not dead in some alley near my house.

.

Race

Spot said if u didnt answer b4 schools out to find ur adress in the office and i plan on doing it.

If this is some sick joke id bale out now

.

Jack blinked at the texts. He felt a wave of emotions that he didn't quite understand. People actually cared? He'd never… No one had ever checked on him before. He'd missed school before. No one ever seemed worried. He didn't even think about telling anyone that he was staying home.

His eyes glanced up to the time. It was almost 3:00. The first text was from 9:07. School ended at 3:30.

He opened the text from Race.

Race

...Hey im fine

...Sorry

...I was asleep

Where r u?

...Home

...I wasnt feeling well

...Sry

...Should have let someone know

While waiting for an answer he moved on. He honestly didn't know what to think of all the messages he had received.

Spot

...Im fine

...At home

...Not dead lol

A series of texts came through, but Jack only read them before messaging back David and Katherine.

Race

In class rn

Will tlk after school

Katherine

...I wasnt ignoring u

...I was asleep

...Not feeling well

...Sorry i worried you

...Really wasnt trying to ignore you

Good lol

Sorry that you're sick

Hope you feel better *heart*

Davey

...Sorry I was asleep

...I txted Kath

...That good about the project

...Will try to bring in my part by friday

...Got to work on it some this weekend

Sounds good :)

Spot

Dont just disappear

Let someone know if your going to be gone

...Will do

...Sorry

Its fine

Just dont do it again

...Ok

Why ru home

...Not feeling well

...Nothing serious

...Just not feeling great

Ok

...U be back tomorow?

...No

...Gonna take another day

...Should be there wed

K, let me know if u need anything

...I will

Jack waited for a few minutes, leaving Race's message up. He was struggling to understand why people seemed to care so much about him. He'd known these people for less than two weeks. And even then, Katherine and David only tolerated him right? For Race it kind of made sense. After all, he'd invited him over. And Spot seemed oddly protective of him, but even then. It was one day of school. He hadn't expected anyone to get this worked up about it.

Part of him felt bad, but Jack couldn't help but smile at it. People had gotten this worried about him.

Race

u still there?

...Yup

You cant do that. You gotta let someone know when your gonna be gone.

...I know

...Spot already yelled at me lol

Im serios jack.

...I will race

...Im sorry

...Wont do it again

But u r ok?

...Yeah

...Just tired

...Ill be back wed

...Gonna give it another day

What's wrong?

...Nothing too bad

...Just the basic

Ok

Just be careful k?

Lemme know if u need something

...Ok

...Thx

K

Ill let u get rest now

Night

Even tho its only 4 lol

...Night lol

Jack read back through all of the texts, smiling. The smile stayed even as he deleted the messages.

~TH~

Like I said, different.
Yes, the spelling errors are intentional lol.

Let me know what you thought!

Did you hate this style, like it, tolerate it, just let me know!

Just for the record ff. net does not like the way I formatted that. If you wanna see what it's supposed to look like, check out Ao3.

Let's see if we can keep this update schedule for the next week...
I'll try...

Keep motivating me with comment and I'll do my very best to get a chapter every day.

Stay safe everybody!

God bless,
Jamie...