So...
The batch of comments I got on last chapter was just amazing and you all seemed super panicked which low-key made me laugh, so I decided to give you another chapter today lol.
(In case you were wondering, I tend not to post until I get 5 comments on Ao3 and they came in really fast today.)
This one is pretty short, but it's still another chapter.
Enjoy!
TW: If you're not okay with some things by now you probably shouldn't be reading this story in general.
~TH~
He couldn't breathe. His chest hurt. He couldn't get the taste of blood out of his mouth. Above all, he was terrified. Absolutely terrified.
Jack could barely support himself as he was dragged down the fire escape. Snyder might have been talking, but words weren't getting through. All he could hear was the rattling of his chest and the pounding of his own head.
Snyder stopped, pulling Jack close to his chest. The boys choked, feeling the arms tighten around him.
The blur of the world settled and he heard shouting. He blinked.
"Release the boy, now!" He heard a shout from in front of him.
Jack was being pulled backwards, held tightly in front of his foster father. The knife was placed back at his neck. He didn't care. Maybe Snyder would just finally finish him off.
"Stop!" This time the voice came from behind him.
Jack couldn't seem to keep up. Was he crying? Why was he crying?
"He is mine and I will keep him." Snyder growled moving the knife closer. The boy gasped, trying to breathe.
"Jack," the officer was talking to him. "It's going to be okay."
He wanted to believe it, but he wasn't sure that he could. The world was so fuzzy. Just sound and lights. And he hurt. He hurt worse than he ever had in life, and that was saying something. He couldn't stop the tears streaming down his face as the voices argued for him. He almost longed for the darkness. It wasn't like he could control anything. He never could. He had no control as his world spun out of control.
"Sir, release the boy!" the words broke through his haze. He looked at the man speaking. He looked familiar. Why did he look so familiar?
Snyder had pressed his back against the wall, Jack against him. There were officers on both sides of the fire escape. Jack didn't know if he should be relieved or scared. His eyes were closed now. He was just so… tired.
Race told him to stay awake, but Race wasn't here. And everyone was so loud and everything was blurry. There was no point in trying to stay awake.
"Sir, the boy is nearly unconscious. Please, let him go."
"Fine!" Snyder yelled.
Jack was shoved forward and felt himself collide with something. He should probably open his eyes to see what it was, but there was more shouting. Someone touched him. He could just let go and let him do whatever with him. Was there even a point of fighting anymore?
It didn't matter, his body reacted without him commanding to. He lashed out. "D-don' touch me!"
"Jack, come on son, open your eyes." It wasn't Snyder. He knew that.
It took too much effort, but he was able to blink his eyes open. There was only one officer now and he was crouched down beside him. Where was he? Oh, on the landing.
A gentle hand touched him, that didn't stop Jack from flinching away. He let out a soft whimper.
"I'm not going to hurt you, son."
"W-where's Mr Snyder?"
The man sighed, "He took off, but we have people after him, okay?"
"Mhmm," He murmured.
"Hey, Jack, I need you to keep your eyes open, okay?"
"'S' hard."
"I know, I know, we're going to get you help though, okay?"
"He-he'll come afta' me again. I know he will." Jack was just scared. Scared for himself, scared for his friends. Just scared.
"We won't let him. No one is going to hurt you." his radio went off and he was distracted for a moment, before his attention returned to him. "Jack, is it okay if I carry you down?"
"I don' need no one ta carry me." He mumbled. That was probbly a stupid thing to say. He wasn't even sure if he could stand at the moment.
"Then can I at least help you down?"
Jack closed his eyes for a moment. "Yeah."
The officer helped him to his feet. Jack's legs nearly gave out under him. "Hey," the officer said, wrapping his arm around him. "You sure you don't want me to carry you?"
"'M sure." He let his eyes slide shut. When he opened them again, he let out a cough. Blood spewed from his mouth. "Sorry,"
The man beside him looked concerned, "No, no don't apologize. We're going to get you help okay?"
It was slow. They spent most of it in silence, Jack just trying to breathe. "Who, who are ya anyway?"
"Mayer Jacobs."
Jack raised his eyebrows, "Davey's dad?"
"Yeah. You know him?"
"Mhm, we're doin' a project together."
Mayer stopped. Jack blinked up at him. "What'sa matter?"
"Nothing," They kept walking.
Jack let out a weak laugh, "He said you was a good one."
"Good one?"
"Cop. He said you was a good cop. Di'n think there was such a thing." He took a breath, "Sorry, porb'ly shouldn've said that."
"I've heard worse." Mayer smiled.
They were at the bottom. Jack felt himself slipping. Maybe he should have let the guy carry him.
"The ambulance is around front, okay?"
"'Kay," he mumbled, leaning further into the officer.
"Jack!" Race was running towards him, "Are you okay? What happened?"
"I-I don' actually know." that probably wasn't a good thing. He turned to the officer, "This is Race, he-he called the police." They made their way to the front of the building. Mayer dropped him off at the ambulance.
The EMTs started talking to him. He answered the questions the best that he could. Race stood anxiously beside him.
"I think that you may have punctured your lung, you'll be okay, but we need to take you to the hospital. Just wait here."
Jack closed his eyes.
"How ya feelin'?"
Jack grunted in response. He looked up and saw two officers walking towards him, Snyder between him.
His heart seemed to stop. "They got him." he breathed. Race looked up and breathed a sigh of relief.
Snyder had an angry glare on his face. He wasn't fighting, but he looked like he wanted to be. He was in handcuffs, being led towards the car. The world seemed to slow as he watched the scene. They were almost to the car. Then the man looked up and made eye contact with Jack.
The world seemed to speed back up, almost at double speed.
Snyder ripped himself away, he was coming towards him. Jack screamed before the man even reached him. Race looked up just as Snyder grabbed Jack by the front of the shirt. He pulled him to his ear, "If I can't have you, then no one can. "
A searing pain came through his middle and he screamed. He was released and saw himself falling towards Race. There were shouts and hands and then darkness as he was forced back into oblivion.
~TH~
Y'know, I don't think I made it any better...
Oh well, I already have the next chapter written, so, like I said, I'll post it tomorrow after five comments.
Let me know what you thought!
Until tomorrow!
Stay safe *hugs*
God bless,
Jamie
