Cracker Jack

Author's Note- Woah. I was not expecting that many reviews in one day. Thank you all very much. I really don't know where I'm going with this story (I promise Jack wont bang the therapist though), I didn't think anyone would like it. Never the less, I hope you all continue enjoying the story.

Also, in the movie, Jack's age is never stated (just that he's the youngest), however the tombstones did say that it was 2004, therefore this story will take place in early 2005. Therefore, even though he was drinking, he's twenty. Thank you (haha).

Chapter Two

Lansing, Michigan- 1990

A shadow trickled over the spiky green grass, fairly rare when it was a sunny August day. The view from the kitchen window revealed the little boy bent over at the waist. His blonde hair hung down in front of his eyes, but it didn't break his concentration.

A water glass under one arm, and his teddy bear under the other, a sharp eye keeping watch for even the smallest insect that may move in the grass below. Nothing, it was silent. After the entire summer, they were probably beginning to catch on to him. The little boy straightened his back, oh well, there was always spring time.

" JACK!" the woman's voice screamed from inside the house. It was across the yard, and even the neighbors could perfectly hear that scream. And it was always his name.

His tiny feet froze to the ground, terrified. He had the option of returning to his house, or running away. Far away, anywhere, just as long as it was in the other direction. He felt his throat expanding. There were always those two choices, and whenever he heard his name, they'd cross his mind. But he never ran away, he didn't have the nerve, at least not at six years old. His legs were moving him towards the back porch, his skin forming into goosebumps, his eyes beginning to water.

Jack gently closed the back door, maybe if she didn't hear it, it could save him a few minutes. His little sister was kneeling at the kitchen table, hardly being old enough to see over the edge. Her big blue eyes, wider, as they usually were in this situation. She didn't speak, two years old, and the girl was yet to say one word yet. He handed over the bear, which she clutched in her small hands. Her eyes followed him as he disappeared out the kitchen doorway, and those same hands, went to block out the upcoming noises from her ears.

Detroit, Michigan- 2005

Evelyn quietly twirled her pen over the folder. He wasn't looking at her again, but at least he was talking. She couldn't get over the base thought that the turmoil of a young mans life began when he was only six, over fourteen years ago. But if she let him onto that, it wasn't going to help him.

" Is that when your mom started hurting you?"

He nodded, " yeah, but please, don't refer to her as my mom. She wasn't my mom".

" I'm sorry, but Jack, that happened to a lot of kids, you're not alone".

He cracked his thumb, " I can narrow it down" he muttered.

She paused, " was your sister put in a foster home?"

" Yeah, she was only four, they couldn't find enough homes for us to switch into that wanted two kids, so we were separated about a year later. They promised we'd always be able to get a hold of each other, but that didn't last. Evelyn…my mom Evelyn, spent a long time down at the center trying to find her. I have no idea where she is, or if she's even still alive".

That was the longest he had spoken to her in half an hour, maybe she was getting somewhere. " I'm sure she's alive, if she's anything like you, then she's fine. I can give you the number of an agency who helps reunite…"

" No" he interrupted quickly, " don't bother".

Evelyn's hope expired, " why not? She's your sister".

Jack shrugged, " I don't think it'd be a good idea for us to see each other again. She's probably in school and busy. Besides, as her older brother, I have nothing to show for her".

" You're her older brother Jack, your image doesn't matter".

" Well the fact that I killed someone does".

She waited a few moments. With past clients, it'd take several sessions for them to verbally admit why they were there. For Jack Mercer, it took an hour. Perhaps it slipped out, that he didn't mean to say it, because he seemed to curl up a bit more immediately. Both of them were silent for a few minutes.

He held his breath, " there, I admitted it. So now you can take off the wire and have them lock me up".

It was now crossing her mind that he was slowly becoming scared of his presence. " I don't tape record my sessions. You were convicted for murder, but not sentenced, which is why you're here. And even though you admitted it, that doesn't make you a criminal".

" It just makes me insane".

" No. You weren't mentally stable at the time, that doesn't make you insane. Someone who went through even have the things you've been through can't be held against such an action".

His eyes seemed to have turned a darker shade of blue as they returned into her glare. " You don't even know half of what I've been through. I told you my mom beat me up, big deal, you said it yourself, it happens".

" Okay, you're right. Go on…".

Authors Note- Yeah…I'm still trying to figure out a plot