Disclaimer: I assure you I do not own any of the characters, except for a rambunctious teenager named Lillian who might suffer from mood swings.

Rant: Howdy, so just to clear any confusion up, Lillian is simply a supporting character. She will never become a love interest for Jack; her only wish is to help him. The love story is centered-around Jack and Lacie, now I know people want them to find each other already. Just remember- Patience is key they will meet again soon enough. Also the story is following certain events occurring within the canon manga, but I'm changing things up to flow to my own ideas.

Chapter 8- A need for humility

Jiri was awoken by a bloodcurdling scream. The old woman sprang into a defensive stance for whatever intruder was causing the mayhem. However, upon glancing around she released a happy sigh that it was only one of Lacie's numerous nightmare fits.

The girl had so many that Jiri wasn't bothered by them much anymore…except now.

Whatever demons plagued the sleeping Lacie's mind was causing her physical torment, Jiri could see from her small perch between two Greco styled pillars the squirming body of the young woman below. Lacie kept kicking at some unseen enemy and was clawing at her face.

If she continued these actions she was going to either draw blood or rip her face off.

Despite wishing to fall back to sleep Jiri decided she needed to carry out her duties in assisting the Baskervilles. Even when she wanted to personally crucify a few members for annoying her.

Floating down to the sleeping girl below she could that Lacie had scratched her arms up. The girl released another terrified scream that had Jiri covering her ears. She kept them covered and closed her eyes trying to imagine a world of silence to help her not lose patience. She continued making wishful thoughts when the screaming ended.

Jiri opened her vacant eyes to see a catatonic Lacie lying on the invisible ground staring up at the ceiling lethargically. The old woman debated over leaving her there until she noticed the girl's mouth silently whispering something.

Was it a chant? Or something else entirely? Curiosity won in the end and Jiri hobbled over to place her ear within hearing reach.

At first she couldn't understand what the girl was saying, but she was about to catch some pieces.

"Beware of the one who brings destruction…"

"Watch the chains swallow you whole…"

"Correct the wrongs of the past…"

"Or else fade away into nothingness…"

"These are the decrees of the Abyss…"

Jiri lifted her wrinkly face to stare into the lifeless woman's red eyes in confusion. What in the hell was this gibberish she was spouting? Although it sounded as though it was a prediction for the future.

And what did she mean by decrees of the Abyss? Was the dark realm speaking to her through visions or some other unknown method?

As she meditated on these thoughts she wasn't prepared for the hand that clutched her throat. Small fingers began to tighten their grasp around the elderly woman's throat and Jiri felt a small tinge of terror as Lacie sat up to stare at her with expressionless eyes that didn't match the deranged smile as she giggled over the woman's fear.

Jiri fought against the girl but to no prevail, no matter how much she yanked on the girl's hand it didn't budged. The more she struggled the firmer the hold grew.

This strength wasn't Lacie's though, Jiri watched as a dark shadow crept over Lacie until it practically seeped from the young woman's skin.

"Girl, "Jiri choked, "snap out of it."

All her plead did was widen that monstrous grin. By this point Jiri had had enough of dealing with this craziness. A faint glow enveloped her hand as she clutched Lacie's face. The heat flowing from her palm caused the girl to cry out in pain and she loosen her grip long enough for Jiri to scramble away.

When she was within a good distance from the girl she massaged her aching throat as she gulped down precious air. She shot Lacie a vehement glare that was returned by a distressed girl who was shaking.

Lacie stared at her hands in horror and began stammering out, "Jiri, I'm…so sorry, I don't know what came over me…it was like I became someone else entirely."

The woman released a small snort that went unnoticed by the shaking girl as she continued staring at her hands as though they had committed the gravest sin.

Jiri wasn't one to forgive easily but she was the overly curious type, "Mind telling me what dream you had that resulted in choking me to death?"

Lacie stared at her blankly before running a hand through her dark locks she released a timid giggle that sounded fake even from Jiri's distance.

"I'll tell you but I don't think you'll understand," Lacie was avoiding meeting Jiri's cryptic eyes.

"I'll be the judge of that," the old woman said in a scolding tone.

Lacie began tracing a circle in the invisible Abyss floor, she began, and "I keep having these dreams lately, strange ones In these dreams I'm always surrounded by darkness and no matter how far I run there is no escape."

Jiri nodded along and encouraged the girl to continue when she paused to see if Jiri was paying attention.

"Usually I'm alone and despite my screams nobody ever comes. I yell and yell until my lungs feel like they'll burst but nobody comes. But as of a few days ago I see people in my dreams, more like shadows in the shape of humans. Whenever I approach them they begin whispering among themselves and point at me accusingly. When I ask why they display such hostility towards me a figure walks away from the crowd and approaches me. We always face one another as though sizing each other up before a confrontation, but…" Lacie paused and reached out a hand to the shadow man in her dreams, "whenever I extend a hand towards him in friendship he jerks away in revulsion. The shadows become angry at my actions and then they begin circling me. When I ask them to stop, they halt in their actions before the lone figure who approached me earlier walks up to me and says 'You have been sentenced' and then chains appear beneath me and drag me down into nothingness."

Lacie stopped and turned towards Jiri smiling with a sadden expression, "Strange dream, huh?" Jiri just stared at her quietly and a pregnant silence soon formed between the two women.

Another side of the Abyss

Jack watched as the two bumbling idiots Gil and Oscar stared at the figure of Oz in horror. While this was truly his body he still felt like he was seeing through another's eyes. Oz fought him every step of the way, but his actions were meaningless Jack was the one who held the power.

Or so he thought. From out of nowhere Oz used his pure strength to cast the spirit of Jack out of his true body to revert back to the being known as Oz.

At first Jack was angered by the boy's cleverness in casting him out. The boy was simply a stuffed toy that became a chain he should not act so prideful. He was about to repossess the chain and teach him a lesson when he felt another presence enter the realm from behind him.

He growled in annoyance because it was probably that irritating old bat Jiri… but this presence felt different. It held the same power as Jiri but was far more ominous than the old woman would ever be.

Cautiously Jack turned around to come face to face with none other than Oswald. The Glen stared at him with that infamous scowl and those reproachful eyes. Guess he hadn't heard of the expression let bygones be bygones.

"Even after a hundred years past you still attempt to get in my way, Oswald," Jack replied callously.

Oswald's violet eyes narrowed, "And I see you haven't changed in the slightest Jack, still a foolish idiot who chases after something he can never have."

"How right you are Oswald since you were the one who sent her away," Jack replied heatedly, he knew Oswald was referencing to Lacie. Once again Jack was quick to anger whenever Oswald spoke of her in such a cold, detached manner. Oswald spoke of his sister as though she was some dead fish ready to be served for dinner. Blood ties only went so far now.

"It was needed Jack why can't you just let go of the past?" Oswald asked in a sullen voice.

Jack scoffed, "Don't play the victim Oswald, you were never a good actor. Now the part of the fiend would fit you perfectly you lying scumbag."

A black eyebrow quirked up, "What are you talking about Jack? I have told no lies right now."

Jack laughed acidly, "Why Oswald you just told a lie right now!" He pointed a finger at Oswald who glanced at the digit with slight interest, Jack continued, "Don't play games with me because trust me it never ends well for either of us."

"Oh really and what game are we playing now Jack? Are you going to destroy another city because we've already played the lead actors in that game and look where it wound us up, "Oswald spread his arms out implicating he was talking about the Abyss.

"Quit trying to make me the bad guy when you gave the order to commit the massacre at Sablier," Jack retorted.

"Only because I refused to allow innocent lives to suffer because of your foolishness."

"And what about their wishes? Living in the Abyss would have been far more preferable than dying an untimely death."

Oswald placed a hand over his face as though he was weary of this discussion. "And now we're right back where we started all those years ago."

"Yes, but there's a slight difference now," Jack replied in a nefarious tone, as though he was the mastermind of some diabolical plan that was far more wretched than his first scheme of casting the world into the Abyss.

Oswald coolly replied, "Enlighten me."

"For once I'm doing the right thing while you are continuing this dark empty path laid out by previous Glens which ends in sadness for everyone, "Jack replied sadly, "Oswald, Lacie is alive."

At this verdict the darken man's eyes bulged. His mouth dropped and he stared at the golden hair man with surprise. "You still make this claim despite knowing that the children of misfortune are severed by the Abyss once they are cast?"

Though Oswald was shock, he was secretly stuck between accusation over Jack's madness and wishful thinking of his little sister. He clenched his hand in annoyance, he had a duty as Glen to carry out and a million lives were more important than the memory of one dead girl. She was dead and that was that.

"Oswald, I know you plan to return to the past to assassinate Lacie," Jack stared upwards where a faint light glowed, "how many more times will you kill your sister?"

Silence followed his question, and Jack released a tired sigh since obviously his question had meant deaf ears. He wasn't prepared for the earsplitting roar released from the normally quiet Oswald. Jack watched as the man called forth a sword from the outside realm. The handle was black and the sword gleamed, it looked like it had never been used.

Jack clenched his teeth as Oswald trained his eyes on the younger man; he called forth energy from the Black Rabbit to assist him in battle. If Oswald wanted a battle to the death then so be it.

"I'm tired of listening to you preach your traitorous lies to sway my heart Jack, quit playing games with me, "Oswald pointed the sword's tip towards Jack.

"Don't worry Oswald soon enough you'll never have to listen to me divulge the truth again because you won't be around to hear it!" the red glow swept over Jack and his palms lit up in an eerily glow that resembled fire.

Both men race towards one another, Oswald raised his arm back to swing the sword down on Jack's skull the same instant Jack called forth black rabbit's powers to shoot out energy through Oswald's torso. They were within each other's boundaries and whoever landed the strike first would have been the victor.

Strange enough their blows never met as a dazzling light blinded the two men. The white light formed from a dimension cut between both men. Jack was barely able to open his eyes when a hand reached out to clutch at his wrist.

He heard a familiar feminine voice yell out, "Come on Jack, we need to get out of here now!"

Lillian stared up at him with pleading eyes and she continued yanking on his wrist as she pulled him towards the dimension opening. He followed the floating girl with slight aggravation because he wish to land the final blow on Oswald, speaking of Oswald…

Oswald was still shielding his eyes and seemed to be in the worst spot of the glow's rays. His entire body was washed over in the white light and Jack was thankful that Lillian blocked the beams slightly. He had just walked in the portal when he noticed a pocket watch dangling from a golden chain on Oswald's trousers. Jack halted; he remembered that pocket-watch even after all these years.

Jack bolted out of the portal with Lillian protesting the entire time. While Oswald was stuck trying to protect his eyes Jack grabbed a hold of the watch and jerked the thing off. Oswald felt the tug but when he opened his eyes Jack was racing back towards the portal where a young girl kept waving her hand forth in a frantic motion.

In confusion, Oswald stared down to see what had sidetracked Jack when he noticed the watch's absence. A pang of anger formed within the man since that was one item he held on he considered important. Racing forward he attempted to jump into the closing portal, but was a fraction too late. Instead the portal closed and Oswald fell into a heap beneath where it had stood only a moment beforehand.

He sat up and when the realization that he had once again lost Jack and that pocket-watch which was the only fond item he had left which would remind him of his little sister Lacie.

An angry scream echoed throughout the Abyss and the monsters dwelling within shivered in fear.

On the other side of the portal

"And just what were you thinking Jack!?" the teenage girl yelled stamping her foot as she placed both hands on her hips. "Does idiocracy come natural to you or are you just messing around with me? I assure you that I don't handle stupidity well!"

Jack was sitting cross-legged on the floor and rubbed his head wishing he had a means to block out the girl's voice.

"Answer me Jack!" she screeched.

Jack held his hands up in a gesture of surrender, "Look I'm sorry I stormed off after finding out that those damn Baskervilles plan to murder Lacie. But can you blame me?"

He tried giving her the most pitiful eyes, but the girl was having none of that. "Jack I told you that I already know of a way to save her. And this plan requires teamwork which means you need to stop running off like some damn idiot when we could be here forming a strategy!"

"Then tell me already! When I questioned you earlier you kept ignoring me so I'm all ears now my lady," Jack stood up promptly and did a sarcastic bow. He smirked at the red tint forming on her cheeks. He half expected her to blow up and start screaming profanities at him. He was pleasantly shocked when she released a tired sigh, muttering to herself that she wasn't going to allow some child to get the best of her.

Jack cocked his head to the side, child? She considered him the child? Just how freaking old was this actual girl then?

The girl ran fingers through her platinum hair the whole time muttering to herself to calm down and be rational. After a few seconds of giving herself a pep talk she shot him an expectant gaze that made Jack stiff with fright. He sat up straight and tried to ignore the creepy glare she sent him.

"As you are aware I'm a being of the Abyss, I was born and created here way before you came into existence, "she held up a hand when Jack tried to ask her a question, "save your questions for a later time."

Jack closed his mouth, she continued, "I have seen many humans come within this place and become monsters over gradual time. It is a never-ending cycle of death and recreation which grew quit boring. I was bored beyond comparison when I stumbled upon a girl speaking to the Abyss. I noticed how happy the place became whenever she visited and how things livened up."

Lillian smiled tenderly, "She truly was a fascinating girl and whenever she came to visit I snuck around to hear her talk about her world and adventures. On one visit she brought with her a stuffed rabbit doll and gave it to the Core which she didn't know was the presence she spoke to. I think she was unaware that nobody had ever given the Core a gift and thus it gave the doll life just to please the girl on her next visit, but… she didn't come back as much as before. She only came during certain intervals throughout the following years until she was taken away from the world of humans entirely."

"The Core suffered greatly and I did as well since we both valued the warmth that girl brought with her on each visit. She did leave a treasure to the two of us, her daughter- The Will of the Abyss. Such a lovely child who has her mother's looks and mannerisms at times. While I sometimes took small glances at the girl, she still did not close off the void her mother left behind. I fell into despair until I felt a presence one day."

Lillian stopped talking to look at Jack with a soften expression, "It held the same warmth as Lacie and such cheerfulness that I knew it was her. I traveled through many realms until I found her sleeping in a peaceful state of safety. Despite my wishes to awaken her I knew she was safe and that it wasn't my responsibility to save her."

She fixed Jack with a focused stare and he found himself swallowing a lump in his throat, "Are you saying that it's my job to come to her rescue?"

Lillian nodded, "Precisely."

She wiggled her nose and expressed annoyance, "Though I was hoping you would be the one to awaken her since I heard about your desire to find her by whispers throughout the Abyss."

"And who was the one to find her first?" Jack said in urgency, he had a feeling of dread wash over him.

Lillian stared at him wordlessly before saying in a remoteness tone, "Someone you meant awhile back, the old woman known as Jiri."

A/N- It's getting quite close to the reunion any followers I might still have so rejoice!