This chapter is entirely on Jake's experience in the astral place. Why?
Because I like Jake ^o^
Also, after this chapter, Jake will make no further BIG appearances cuz he's dead. He'll appear once in the 26th chapter, and that's about it. Poor Jake. But anyway, enjoy Jake, and let's delve into Jake's mind!
Chapter 24
Jake woke up into a totally unknown world of endless gray scenery. Standing up, his brow furrowed as he felt a streak of pain shooting across his stomach.
"Where the hell am I?" Jake asked loudly as he walked around the box of gray, trying to find any helpful presence around him. Jake frowned as he continued to walk for another five minutes, after seeing nothing but endless roads of gray.
Suddenly, an odd angel with the hair of vivid tangerine and a tunic of pale yellow swooped down to Jake, carrying several parchments and a large staff. As his wings slowly decreased its flaps, the angel smiled brightly to Jake, who had raised his brow in confusion.
"Who are you? Where am I? What do you want?" Jake asked, his eyes turning angry in a matter of few seconds. The angel merely chuckled as he held out his hands to calm the angry man down.
"Now now, stay calm my friend. I'm Leisath, messenger of the astral space, also in charge of guiding those who have died recently. You are currently in the astral fields, where all the dead people go." Leisath smiled brightly again, flashing his pearly white teeth.
"So...I'm dead?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Fortunately, you have the chance to live again." Leisath zoomed around Jake, who had confusion written all over his face. Sitting down onto the floor, Jake looked down, running his hand through his brown hair.
"I can...live again?" Jake asked almost timidly, as if he was afraid of this fate. Leisath nodded, sitting down facing Jake.
"Of course, you can also go to Heaven from here. That is, if you choose to die. According to the information I have acquired..." Leisath opened one of his numerous scrolls and began reading it, as if to confirm any information.
"Ahh yes...according to the information I have acquired, you are Jake Hunter, age twenty-five. A graduate of a law school, your profession is a lawyer, and you were also very known throughout the cities of Augusta and September. You had a girlfriend named Elaine Carlson Hunter, age twenty- three when died due to a collapse of a building. You also had a daughter who was but around five months when she died along with your wife. After their deaths, you were an apprentice under a notorious master of speed named Hikari Kousoku. Now, you died protecting your wife Meryl Stryfe Hunter, age twenty-four.
"And...I also think that you'll feel better after you talk some of your history. As one of the laws in the astral field, I must get the information out of you. Might you start?" Leisath inquired, setting the parchment aside.
Jake heaved a long sigh before opening his mouth to speak his long and yet untold history. He never really wanted to talk about his history before, but after gazing into Leisath's face for a minute, he realized that he had to talk sooner or later.
"Meryl and I first met in high school. We really liked each other, not because we were both popular and smart, but because we had many similarities and many differences. We dated each other for the entire high school, and we also went to the same law school.
When I asked her to marry me, she accepted. So we got married. When we got married, Meryl quit her job as a lawyer and became a full-time housewife, while I became a successful lawyer. But after receiving many cases, I wasn't able to spend as much time with her, and we drifted further and further apart.
Of course, I loved her. But we fought many times, and each time we fought, it brought us further and further apart, until Meryl moved out one day.
I was really sad when she moved out, like a part of me left along with her. When time passed by, I thought that the wounds would heal, but it grew worse."
Jake sighed again, a single tear dropping out from his brown eyes. Wiping them with the back of his hand, he took a glance at Leisath, who seemed very interested in his history.
"I drowned myself with alcohol at a nearby saloon in Augusta, and that's where I met Elaine. She was a waitress who always served me the alcohol that I needed to get away from reality. Elaine always comforted me and listened to my worries, and before I knew it, I loved her.
And she loved me. That's when I really felt that my wound healed, and that I was going to be able to live in peace again. Elaine and I lived decently, had many wonderful memories together, and it was probably the best time of my life when I lived with her.
Being a lawyer, I had to handle many cases. When Vash the Stampede came into Augusta, I was in September handling a case. I found many newspapers reporting that Vash the Stampede destroyed the whole town, but no one was killed. I was relieved, thinking that Elaine was safe. Not to take any chances, though, I rushed back to Augusta where I found Elaine half dead.
Turns out she was crushed by the collapsing building, and I couldn't do anything because the doctor had already fled. I tried getting her to the doctor in September, but Elaine died before we got there.
I was angry. Vash the Stampede did hurt someone in the incident, even though the newspapers didn't say anything about Elaine getting hurt. And before she died, Elaine told me that she was pregnant. My future child was killed because of a bastard that didn't even know how to control his own weapon."
More tears fell out of Jake's eyes as he remembered the bitter memories of the past. Gripping his hands in fury, it took Jake a few seconds until he was able to continue.
"Elaine died. My child died. And it was all HIS fault.
I was devastated when she died. I mean, Elaine was gone. I wasn't going to be able to see her anymore.
One day, a master of Japanese arts named Hikari Kousoku came over to Augusta to see the damage Vash the Stampede had done. We talked briefly, and I found out that Vash had killed his own wife and that he also sought revenge on him. Master Kousoku taught me how to move at the Speed of Light, which made me pretty much invulnerable to my enemies.
With my new techniques, I was ready to face Vash. And I was also ready to beat him up until he cried with mercy.
After getting some information that he was in October, I rushed over there to find an idiot wearing a red coat. And I also found Meryl...
I did the worst thing to Meryl: I kidnapped her, I hurt her, and I tried to kill her in my blind fury to Vash the Stampede. But no matter what I did, Meryl still cared for me. Meryl cared for me, even if I tried to kill her."
Jake sobbed, hiding his face in his arms. Memories of Meryl overflowed his mind, and remembering Meryl made him want to live again, and to see her once more.
"So...when the building that we were under collapsed, I tried to protect her...that was the only thing I could do for her...
As much as I loved Elaine, Meryl's still important to me...I promised God that I would protect her when we got married. If I kept that promise, I don't know...but...I hope I did."
Looking back up Leisath, he smiled weakly. "So...is she fine?"
"She's alive, thanks to you Mr. Hunter. And although I'm forbidden to talk about my previous visitors, I shall tell you that Ms. Stryfe had been once a visitor in the astral space. She had great concern for you, Mr. Hunter." Leisath smiled as he stood up, scooping up the parchments with great care.
Turning back, the angel smiled once more as he picked up his staff and pointed it at Jake. A strange orange glow glistened from the staff and surrounded Jake like a cloud. The cloud-like mist levitated Jake off his feet, and started to levitate him towards the sky.
"Mr. Hunter, I'm taking you to Heaven where you'll be able to see Ms. Carlson and your daughter...you have proven to me that you truly loved her, and I believe that you deserve to see her."
Jake opened his mouth widely, shocked at what Leisath had said. "You mean.I can see Elaine?"
"Yes. Now stay calm; I shall teleport you over to Heaven."
Jake nodded, closing his eyes. As soon as he did, a cool mist surrounded his whole body, and when he opened his eyes a few seconds later, he was in a world of white.
Heaven was a beautiful place; it was purely white, with golden gates and beautiful fountains. Nothing like what the astral fields had been. Glancing this way and that way, he scanned the area in search of one person: Elaine.
After looking for her for about a minute or two, he spotted a woman with long, blond hair carrying a small child with brown hair that resembled his own. Realizing that it was her, he rushed over, his brown eyes finally twinkling with real happiness in a long time.
Each step he took seemed to weigh so heavily, yet when Jake rushed over, his feet felt ever so light; as if he had wings on his feet.
"ELAINE!" Jake shouted, smiling brightly as he had done so long ago. If it took a thousand deaths to see Elaine, he would gladly die a thousand times; just to see her.
"Jake!" Elaine smiled happily as she set the child down and hugged her boyfriend tightly. Jake inhaled her scent deeply, remembering the past which seemed so long ago. Elaine smelled of fresh rain: airy, misty, and light. When he hugged her, every minute of pain he had endured seemed to slip away; as if it never happened. Every minute of pain, regret, fury, and sorrow just melted away, and every minute of happiness seemed to pour inside him.
"Elaine...I missed you..." Jake said softly, looking into Elaine's deep green eyes. As he saw his own reflection in Elaine's mirror-like eyes, tears poured out of his eyes. He didn't know why; it just happened. If it was from sorrow, happiness, or relief, Jake didn't know.
Elaine brushed away the tears with her finger, smiling gently like she always had in Jake's memory. It had been long since he saw a smile that was so beautiful. Nostalgic feelings welled up in Jake's mind as he hugged Elaine once again, never wanting to let go.
Leisath, who had been gone for quite a while, came back suddenly like he had done when he first met Jake. Grinning, no parchments were carried in his hand, but rather a great staff.
"So Mr. Hunter...shall you remain in Heaven?"
"Yes...please..." The answer came immediately to Jake's mind. He didn't even need a split second to whether he was to remain her or go back. Leisath seemed to know the answer all the time, judging by the big grin on his face.
"Well then...I'd leave you two lovebirds here, eh?" Leisath grinned, flapping his wings in preparation to take flight.
Something happened in Jake's mind.
Some thing told him to go back to life just once, to say a proper farewell to her.
After all...she is Meryl Stryfe.
"Wait! I have a favor!"
*~*~*~*~
"So...this is our daughter?"
"Yes Jake...our daughter...she looks exactly like you..."
"...What's her...name?"
"Well...I wanted to choose her name with you, Jake..."
"Really?"
"Yes...she resembles you so much...she has a bright smile like you. I always called her my little hikari."
"How about naming her...Hikari?"
"That's suits her...Hikari-chan..."
"Yeah...it does...Hikari Meryl Hunter..."
*~*~*~*~
Hi! Sorry for not updating sooner ;_; I had writer's block, and I'm still not pleased with this chapter. Jake decided to stay in Heaven, and I'm glad he finally caught up to his happiness.
Btw, hikari means light. It sort of makes sense, because Jake knows how to control the Speed of Light. More of that will be explained in the next chapter! Well then, I'm going to update TWO chapters tomorrow, because of the lack of chapters I updated this week. Sorry, and please review!
-Adrian Wynd
Also, after this chapter, Jake will make no further BIG appearances cuz he's dead. He'll appear once in the 26th chapter, and that's about it. Poor Jake. But anyway, enjoy Jake, and let's delve into Jake's mind!
Chapter 24
Jake woke up into a totally unknown world of endless gray scenery. Standing up, his brow furrowed as he felt a streak of pain shooting across his stomach.
"Where the hell am I?" Jake asked loudly as he walked around the box of gray, trying to find any helpful presence around him. Jake frowned as he continued to walk for another five minutes, after seeing nothing but endless roads of gray.
Suddenly, an odd angel with the hair of vivid tangerine and a tunic of pale yellow swooped down to Jake, carrying several parchments and a large staff. As his wings slowly decreased its flaps, the angel smiled brightly to Jake, who had raised his brow in confusion.
"Who are you? Where am I? What do you want?" Jake asked, his eyes turning angry in a matter of few seconds. The angel merely chuckled as he held out his hands to calm the angry man down.
"Now now, stay calm my friend. I'm Leisath, messenger of the astral space, also in charge of guiding those who have died recently. You are currently in the astral fields, where all the dead people go." Leisath smiled brightly again, flashing his pearly white teeth.
"So...I'm dead?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Fortunately, you have the chance to live again." Leisath zoomed around Jake, who had confusion written all over his face. Sitting down onto the floor, Jake looked down, running his hand through his brown hair.
"I can...live again?" Jake asked almost timidly, as if he was afraid of this fate. Leisath nodded, sitting down facing Jake.
"Of course, you can also go to Heaven from here. That is, if you choose to die. According to the information I have acquired..." Leisath opened one of his numerous scrolls and began reading it, as if to confirm any information.
"Ahh yes...according to the information I have acquired, you are Jake Hunter, age twenty-five. A graduate of a law school, your profession is a lawyer, and you were also very known throughout the cities of Augusta and September. You had a girlfriend named Elaine Carlson Hunter, age twenty- three when died due to a collapse of a building. You also had a daughter who was but around five months when she died along with your wife. After their deaths, you were an apprentice under a notorious master of speed named Hikari Kousoku. Now, you died protecting your wife Meryl Stryfe Hunter, age twenty-four.
"And...I also think that you'll feel better after you talk some of your history. As one of the laws in the astral field, I must get the information out of you. Might you start?" Leisath inquired, setting the parchment aside.
Jake heaved a long sigh before opening his mouth to speak his long and yet untold history. He never really wanted to talk about his history before, but after gazing into Leisath's face for a minute, he realized that he had to talk sooner or later.
"Meryl and I first met in high school. We really liked each other, not because we were both popular and smart, but because we had many similarities and many differences. We dated each other for the entire high school, and we also went to the same law school.
When I asked her to marry me, she accepted. So we got married. When we got married, Meryl quit her job as a lawyer and became a full-time housewife, while I became a successful lawyer. But after receiving many cases, I wasn't able to spend as much time with her, and we drifted further and further apart.
Of course, I loved her. But we fought many times, and each time we fought, it brought us further and further apart, until Meryl moved out one day.
I was really sad when she moved out, like a part of me left along with her. When time passed by, I thought that the wounds would heal, but it grew worse."
Jake sighed again, a single tear dropping out from his brown eyes. Wiping them with the back of his hand, he took a glance at Leisath, who seemed very interested in his history.
"I drowned myself with alcohol at a nearby saloon in Augusta, and that's where I met Elaine. She was a waitress who always served me the alcohol that I needed to get away from reality. Elaine always comforted me and listened to my worries, and before I knew it, I loved her.
And she loved me. That's when I really felt that my wound healed, and that I was going to be able to live in peace again. Elaine and I lived decently, had many wonderful memories together, and it was probably the best time of my life when I lived with her.
Being a lawyer, I had to handle many cases. When Vash the Stampede came into Augusta, I was in September handling a case. I found many newspapers reporting that Vash the Stampede destroyed the whole town, but no one was killed. I was relieved, thinking that Elaine was safe. Not to take any chances, though, I rushed back to Augusta where I found Elaine half dead.
Turns out she was crushed by the collapsing building, and I couldn't do anything because the doctor had already fled. I tried getting her to the doctor in September, but Elaine died before we got there.
I was angry. Vash the Stampede did hurt someone in the incident, even though the newspapers didn't say anything about Elaine getting hurt. And before she died, Elaine told me that she was pregnant. My future child was killed because of a bastard that didn't even know how to control his own weapon."
More tears fell out of Jake's eyes as he remembered the bitter memories of the past. Gripping his hands in fury, it took Jake a few seconds until he was able to continue.
"Elaine died. My child died. And it was all HIS fault.
I was devastated when she died. I mean, Elaine was gone. I wasn't going to be able to see her anymore.
One day, a master of Japanese arts named Hikari Kousoku came over to Augusta to see the damage Vash the Stampede had done. We talked briefly, and I found out that Vash had killed his own wife and that he also sought revenge on him. Master Kousoku taught me how to move at the Speed of Light, which made me pretty much invulnerable to my enemies.
With my new techniques, I was ready to face Vash. And I was also ready to beat him up until he cried with mercy.
After getting some information that he was in October, I rushed over there to find an idiot wearing a red coat. And I also found Meryl...
I did the worst thing to Meryl: I kidnapped her, I hurt her, and I tried to kill her in my blind fury to Vash the Stampede. But no matter what I did, Meryl still cared for me. Meryl cared for me, even if I tried to kill her."
Jake sobbed, hiding his face in his arms. Memories of Meryl overflowed his mind, and remembering Meryl made him want to live again, and to see her once more.
"So...when the building that we were under collapsed, I tried to protect her...that was the only thing I could do for her...
As much as I loved Elaine, Meryl's still important to me...I promised God that I would protect her when we got married. If I kept that promise, I don't know...but...I hope I did."
Looking back up Leisath, he smiled weakly. "So...is she fine?"
"She's alive, thanks to you Mr. Hunter. And although I'm forbidden to talk about my previous visitors, I shall tell you that Ms. Stryfe had been once a visitor in the astral space. She had great concern for you, Mr. Hunter." Leisath smiled as he stood up, scooping up the parchments with great care.
Turning back, the angel smiled once more as he picked up his staff and pointed it at Jake. A strange orange glow glistened from the staff and surrounded Jake like a cloud. The cloud-like mist levitated Jake off his feet, and started to levitate him towards the sky.
"Mr. Hunter, I'm taking you to Heaven where you'll be able to see Ms. Carlson and your daughter...you have proven to me that you truly loved her, and I believe that you deserve to see her."
Jake opened his mouth widely, shocked at what Leisath had said. "You mean.I can see Elaine?"
"Yes. Now stay calm; I shall teleport you over to Heaven."
Jake nodded, closing his eyes. As soon as he did, a cool mist surrounded his whole body, and when he opened his eyes a few seconds later, he was in a world of white.
Heaven was a beautiful place; it was purely white, with golden gates and beautiful fountains. Nothing like what the astral fields had been. Glancing this way and that way, he scanned the area in search of one person: Elaine.
After looking for her for about a minute or two, he spotted a woman with long, blond hair carrying a small child with brown hair that resembled his own. Realizing that it was her, he rushed over, his brown eyes finally twinkling with real happiness in a long time.
Each step he took seemed to weigh so heavily, yet when Jake rushed over, his feet felt ever so light; as if he had wings on his feet.
"ELAINE!" Jake shouted, smiling brightly as he had done so long ago. If it took a thousand deaths to see Elaine, he would gladly die a thousand times; just to see her.
"Jake!" Elaine smiled happily as she set the child down and hugged her boyfriend tightly. Jake inhaled her scent deeply, remembering the past which seemed so long ago. Elaine smelled of fresh rain: airy, misty, and light. When he hugged her, every minute of pain he had endured seemed to slip away; as if it never happened. Every minute of pain, regret, fury, and sorrow just melted away, and every minute of happiness seemed to pour inside him.
"Elaine...I missed you..." Jake said softly, looking into Elaine's deep green eyes. As he saw his own reflection in Elaine's mirror-like eyes, tears poured out of his eyes. He didn't know why; it just happened. If it was from sorrow, happiness, or relief, Jake didn't know.
Elaine brushed away the tears with her finger, smiling gently like she always had in Jake's memory. It had been long since he saw a smile that was so beautiful. Nostalgic feelings welled up in Jake's mind as he hugged Elaine once again, never wanting to let go.
Leisath, who had been gone for quite a while, came back suddenly like he had done when he first met Jake. Grinning, no parchments were carried in his hand, but rather a great staff.
"So Mr. Hunter...shall you remain in Heaven?"
"Yes...please..." The answer came immediately to Jake's mind. He didn't even need a split second to whether he was to remain her or go back. Leisath seemed to know the answer all the time, judging by the big grin on his face.
"Well then...I'd leave you two lovebirds here, eh?" Leisath grinned, flapping his wings in preparation to take flight.
Something happened in Jake's mind.
Some thing told him to go back to life just once, to say a proper farewell to her.
After all...she is Meryl Stryfe.
"Wait! I have a favor!"
*~*~*~*~
"So...this is our daughter?"
"Yes Jake...our daughter...she looks exactly like you..."
"...What's her...name?"
"Well...I wanted to choose her name with you, Jake..."
"Really?"
"Yes...she resembles you so much...she has a bright smile like you. I always called her my little hikari."
"How about naming her...Hikari?"
"That's suits her...Hikari-chan..."
"Yeah...it does...Hikari Meryl Hunter..."
*~*~*~*~
Hi! Sorry for not updating sooner ;_; I had writer's block, and I'm still not pleased with this chapter. Jake decided to stay in Heaven, and I'm glad he finally caught up to his happiness.
Btw, hikari means light. It sort of makes sense, because Jake knows how to control the Speed of Light. More of that will be explained in the next chapter! Well then, I'm going to update TWO chapters tomorrow, because of the lack of chapters I updated this week. Sorry, and please review!
-Adrian Wynd