Chapter Forty-Seven
I Insist!
Back in Mutopia, Jake watched the TV in the Rec Room, he sighed as he flicked the channels.
After blowing off steam as well as bullets, and crying in Amber's arms in the Dojo, he decided to check the news to see if Diablo's actions were mentioned.
He hadn't been watching the news long before a report came up with just what he was hoping to hear:
"Good evening Chicago, I'm Holly Matthews, tonight, Police were tipped off to a white Honda where they found a beaten up man, yet what was most bizarre was that the man had teeth marks on his throat, police and paramedics were baffled to who or what caused this attack, but they believe it might be linked to the disappearance of a young woman, Aisyah Abdullah who went missing on the same night the man was found."
Jake turned up the volume and sat bolt upright as he listened.
"…So far, forensics are trying to gather evidence and the injured man is being interviewed by police, that's our daily news, now here's John with the Sports!"
Jake groaned and turned off the TV before walking out of the rec room frustrated, as he exited the room, he almost knocked over a couple of Mutopians who were walking in, Bill the Duck and a female Lynx.
"Hey, watch it!" the duck called out, but Jake didn't look back.
The Lynx just sighed sadly as she watched the human stride off, understanding his pain as she walked into the Rec Room.
Jake strode through the village, not caring other Mutopians were looking at him, he was fed up, fed up of just sitting in Mutopia and letting Tyroth and the Chicago Knights scour the city looking for his brother, he was fed up of hearing news reports of Diablo's attacks as well as him recruiting lost souls to build his own followers, he felt responsible for what had happened and he was sick of just standing on the side-lines.
"I just can't take it anymore!" he said to himself "I can't stand it! I will not stand and let the Chicago Knights continue their search for Callum…Diablo without me!"
He walked to the residential area and to his room, upon arriving, he searched in the chest of drawers and found his gun, as well as the holster and extra bullets.
He then looked towards the full-length mirror, he stared at his reflection and glowered.
Staring upon himself, Jake could see not just himself, but someone else.
He was a different person from months ago.
When he left Wisconsin with Callum, he was just an everyday man, a man with a family, and someone who felt he had a duty to protect his younger brother who needed him, someone to try and pull him back to reality.
He had sent years after Mona had vanished trying to keep the peace, trying to keep Callum out of trouble, then they had found their sister again, and found out about her new life, and the events that followed.
Jake felt his eyes sting as he remembered the Shredder injuring Callum to the point of death then having to resort to going to Mutopia and giving him the water to save his life.
"Mona and I wanted to save your life, yet we ended up creating a monster! A Monster who will not stop in his crusade!" he whispered.
Reaching out to touch the mirror, Jake studied himself.
He was no longer than Wisconsin boy, no longer an average everyday American man, he was now part of a secret community, a secret service to the human world above.
A Mutopian!
"I may not have drunk the Well's Magical water! Maybe not now, maybe never! But I am part of this community! And I have pledged my loyalty to them! I have a new life! A life better than when I was home! I am home here! This is my life now! This is my home! And I will protect it with my life and I will not just sit back and let the Chicago Knights do all the work! I have every right to get out there and help them! I don't care what Tyroth says! I don't care what everyone says! I will go out there and look for Diablo and his Disciples! I don't care what happens to me! I will go out there and help find my brother!"
He glared at his reflection.
"I am Jake! I am Jake Freeman! A Mutopian! A Chicago Knight! Hun's Killer! And I will join the crusade in finding Diablo! No matter what!"
Meanwhile, Tyroth was at the temple of the Magical Well, meditating.
He had been sitting there for hours, trying to gather his thoughts, especially after such a stressful night and encountering Regan.
So far, meditating had been one of the only things keeping him from going insane, that and being in the arms of Sephie or being in the company of his children.
The dragon soon heard someone entering the temple and he opened one eye and saw in the light from the tunnel that it was Jake.
"Jake, you cannot be in here!" he said without turning around, as he knew that it was dangerous for anyone who hadn't drunk the water of the well to enter without risking falling in.
"I don't give a fuck!" he heard Jake's furious voice.
"This is sacred ground!" Tyroth snapped turning to face the human and he stood up ready to push him back into the Village.
"I don't give a rats arse Dragon!" Jake snarled gripping his gun at his side.
"Jake!" Tyroth glowered "I swear, if you do not leave here in 5 seconds, I will drag you out myself!"
"Not until I have spoken my piece!" Jake snapped "I'm here to say something important and you better fucking listen!"
Tyroth glared yet he cocked his head on one side in curiosity.
"What do you want to speak about Jake?" he asked as he crossed his arms.
Jake took a deep breath.
"Tyroth." He said, "I've decided I cannot sit and just let you guys look for Diablo without me!"
"What?" Tyroth asked.
"You keep saying I need to learn more before joining you on your missions, but I have been training hard every spare minute, and I know I can help you!"
"Jake…" Tyroth began.
"No!" Jake snapped "Don't! Don't say I cannot join you! Since the day I arrived here in Mutopia, since the day Diablo turned on us, I have trained hard, both in hand-to-hand combat and with my gun, and I want to join you! I feel responsible for what happened, that your home is in jeopardy, and I will not stand back and let you do all the work!"
Tyroth stared at Jake, he opened his mouth then closed it again.
"I know you keep saying what happened isn't my fault, nor Mona's, but in a way, it is! And I want to be a part of helping you! I don't care what happens to me! I will stand with you all! As a Chicago Knight! I will fight for your home! Our home! I insist on helping you! Joining you! I swear on my life, my blood, my everything!" he almost shouted the last part.
Tyroth stared at the human before him, the young man who had been through much, so many trials and tribulations, one had suffered pain, frustration and had been betrayed in the worst way by his brother, as well as felt a personal responsibility at their home being discovered.
Jake fell on his knees.
"Tyroth…" he said softly "Please, I offer my services, and I insist you let me, this is my home, and I have a duty to protect it, as much as you, and your friends have sworn to do so…"
He lowered his head.
"Let me show you, let me prove myself, let me show you, my loyalty!"
Tyroth walked over to Jake and placed his large hand on his shoulder.
"Jake."
The human man looked up at the dragon.
"Please," Tyroth said "Come with me, and we shall talk more."
Jake nodded and stood up.
"Very well." He replied then followed the Dragon out of the temple.
So Jake has decided to confront Tyroth and insist in joining him and the Knights on finding Diablo.
What will be spoken between the two? And what will be the next move of Diablo and his Disciples?
Check back to find out!