I know I don't write many author notes. I pump these out fast so I write notes are only when I feel they are important. I case anyone is wondering, all that has happened so far has been nothing by introduction. Now the true plot begins...

Chapter 5: Cold Kind Heart of Steel

Jack had found his way back home after several more hours of meaningless drifting. He tried to work with his crops, but his heart just wasn't into it. It made him sick to think that he was nurturing new life into the world, happy new life to mock his own dejected life. Besides, in the rain, there was no reason to water his crops.

Perhaps he should go cut wood. That was always a good way to vent his anger. Jack hefted his axe up on his shoulder and went south into the woods.

There was a good stump. Jack spit in his hands to get a better grip. He took hold of the axe, adjusting his fingers a bit on the handle, and let rip. "This is for Won! Taking all my money!" He emphasized each word with a swing of the axe. The mangled stump lay before him. Time for another. "This is for Mary! Delighting in my anguish!" He could just imagine that the stump was her head that he was splitting open. Ripping apart her head and letting the evil within her seep out. "This is for Carter! Useless bastard!" The third stump shattered quickly under his fierce swings. "This is for everyone who has ever wronged me!" The last stump was little more than splinters by the time he was down with it.

Jack wiped the sweat off of his forehead. He was exhausted and needed to take a break. A nice nap by the lake would be nice. Dragging the axe behind him, he walked down to the lake.

"What should I do, what should I do?" Jack knelt down by the lake and splashed some cool water on his face. He was getting a little hungry. "Oh right, the apple!" Even if that worm Won had stolen his money, at least he had something to eat right now. Jack sat down and fumbled around in his rucksack and pulled out the apple. It looked so juicy and sweet, his mouth was watering. Jack's stomach growled, well how could he say no? He took a nice big bite, and spit it out quickly.

"What is this! It's wax! That bastard sold me a worthless wax fruit! I hate him so much!" Jack flung the apple as hard as he could into the lake. What could he do... What could he do?

Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw a small rabbit. So innocent, with no fear at all. Could he? Jack reached into his rucksack and pulled out his scythe. It would be so easy. The rabbit hopped a bit closer and sniffed at a blade of grass. He would never see it coming. The rabbit chewed a bit on the grass.

Jack slowly raised the scythe over his head. Could he? Would he? There was a little brown spot on the back of the rabbit, calling to Jack. It was like a little target. If he just... The sunlight glinted off of the polished metal of the scythe. To skewer it wouldn't be hard at all. If he only just... Jack grunted as he swung the scythe as fast as he could over his head, point down at the rabbit. It just had enough time to look up and see the blade whizzing down towards it.

The blade stuck right through Jack's target and buried itself several inches into the ground. The handle still quivered slightly from the force of the blow. The once little brown patch of fur was quickly become red. Jack looked at it with curiosity. The rabbit's hide legs was still twitching. "Why are you still trying to run little rabbit? Don't you realize you aren't living anymore?"

It slowly dawn upon Jack, the words that Carter had said, "I have to do what I have to do... Only I can bring about what I want..." He looked back at the blade and pulled it loose. In a dreamlike daze, he washed it in the lake, removing the signs of blood. He could make himself happy. What was once his nightmare would become their nightmare.