It was a nightmare.
As Jack wandered the streets with his friends, people called out to him, called him names, ran in terror at his sight… What was so wrong with him? The worst was a little old lady.
"Hello there," she began before looking into Jack's face, "Carl?" her eyes widened.
"No," Jack said nervously, "My name's Jack…"
"Oh, Carl," the old woman shook.
She dropped her bowl of candy and stepped out of the house. Reaching out with her frail fingers, the old woman caressed Jack's face.
"It's been so long," she wept, "Why did you leave me?"
"I didn't! I mean…I'm not Carl! Whoever that is…"
"You left me for that hussy! You left me with our child!" she advanced on Jack, "How dare you show your face here again!"
Jack was full of fear. He looked to the dragons and then back at the old woman. He found it strange that she wasn't looking into his eyes, but rather, at his cheek.
"What do you want from me!" she yelled at the side of his face, "haven't I suffered enough!"
With that, the old woman slammed her fist into Jack's face. Jack reeled. As he did, he looked into a garden globe and saw his reflection. On his left side, there was a face where all his makeup had been. Jack screeched and began tearing at his own flesh.
"Go away!" the old woman cried, "Go away!"
Jack scratched harder and harder, but the mark didn't let up.
Instead, he covered that side of his face with his hand and approached the others who were still standing on the old woman's doorstep.
"Why, hello there, deary," she said kindly, "Would you like a candy?"
Jack just stared at her. Slowly, he removed his hand from his face.
"I told you to leave!" the woman shouted.
Jack covered the mark again.
"I've got all kinds of nice treats…"
"Dojo," he muttered, "I have to get out of here…"
"Sure thing," Dojo cringed, "The rest of you hang out, I'll come back for you later."
"No," Kimiko sighed, "I think we're all ready to go home."
"You sure?" Jack's voice wavered.
"Yeah," Rai said stiffly, "We've seen our share of creeps this evening."
As they took off, Jack looked down at the little old lady. She was offering some candy to a little kid. She was smiling as if nothing had happened…