Chapter 11
I didn't notice that I'd gotten lost on the way back to the palace. I guess I was just so busy thinking about what had just happened that I didn't give much thought to where I was going. Well, wherever I was, I could hear Thunder roaring overhead, and I was nowhere near where I should've been.
'And where is that, exactly, Jakie? At the palace, getting your ass kicked by Erol again?' I jumped. This had never happened before…
'Who are you?'
'Me? I've been here since day one, Jak-o. I just never made my presence known to you until now.'
'May I ask why?'
'I never had a reason to. Until now, of course. I was going to just keep sitting back, but I now have reason to believe that you need my help.'
'…What?' There was a moment of silence.
'Forgive me, Jakie. I forgot that you're blonde.'
'And what's that supposed to mean?'
'Forget it. Look, do you want my help finding what you're looking for, or not? I can't wait for you all night.'
'What can you do to help?'
'I can sense eco.'
'Oh… well, ok, then.'
'Alright then. See that ally just over there by that parked zoomer? Follow it.'
'Now?'
'Yes, now! Hurry it up, will you?' I found the ally the voice was talking about and followed it cautiously. 'When you get to the end, turn left. Then find a way to get on the roof of the building on the right.' Lucky for me, there was a ladder, so that was an easy task. But question after question was springing up in my mind. I knew whom it was… it was my darker side, born out of the dark eco in my blood. But why had it stayed quiet all this time? How did it know where to go? And why was it helping me?
Well, all that aside, I followed its directions to the tee and eventually ended up somewhere on the first floor of the building. It was dark, for the exception of the small beams of light coming through cracks in the door. It was cold inside, too. I hugged myself and rubbed my arms, trying to get rid of the goose bumps that were now there. I could hear noises coming from everywhere, but I was pretty sure that it was just my imagination trying to run away with me. But if it was only in my head… why were the hairs on the back of my neck standing? No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that something just seemed… off.
Suddenly, an ear piercing shot shattered the silence. I jumped back, startled and covered my ears. Just as I started to look around for what had caused it, another one rang out and a sharp pain shot through my arm. I staggered backward, clutching my arm, now aware that I was in danger…
'Jakie! Behind you! Move!' I leapt to the side, more out of reflex than anything else, and looked just in time to see a flash of steel slice through the air where my chest would've been if I hadn't moved.
"Now this is getting crazy!" I exclaimed. I dodged under several more swings and nervously backed up. I bit the inside of my cheek, waiting for the next swing, and it came from right behind me. But I was too slow to dodge and it cut into the back of my shoulder, and severed my dress strap. I felt the wound bleed, but I was too preoccupied with staying in one piece to tend to it.
'This is getting too risky… you better get us out of here, pronto!'
'Good idea!' I forced my limbs into action and sprinted toward the front door. When I was within jumping distance, I threw the full weight of my body against it, expecting it to splinter, but it didn't even budge. It turns out that there were heavy planks bolted over it. I panicked.
'Any more bright ideas?'
'You're turn!' I darted away from the door and looked frantically for the stairs I'd come down, but it was too dark and I was becoming too frantic to take my time and look. Once again, I hesitated too long and the steel object cut into me, this time going deeper into my lower back. Again, I started looking around the stairs, until I happened to trip on them, getting me a nice big bruise on my hip and another gash on my calf. I scrambled to get to the top and I quickly started backtracking my way out, until I was on the roof again…
I managed to make my way through the city to the Underground hideout. I didn't want to go back to the palace, because Erol was more than likely waiting for me to come back so he could rape me again, or something along those lines. Rather than going inside, however, I waited outside. There was really only one person I wanted to see right now and that was Dawn. I knew she'd no doubt be with Jak and Daxter, so I decided to just stay outside and wait.
I didn't have to wait long before I could hear heavy footsteps. I was relieved, but also very nervous. After all, I hadn't seen anyone in weeks.
"Well, well," I looked up, recognizing Daxter's annoying voice.
"If it isn't the good Commander's wife," Jak added.
"JAKIE!" Dawn squealed right after and leapt onto my arm. I stood up, patting Dawn on the head.
"Yeah, it's… good to see you, too, Jak. And you too, Daxter."
"What in Precursor's name happened to you? Sheesh! You look like you've been run over by a herd of Yakkows!" Daxter commented. Jak unfolded his arms.
"So… how's your… 'marriage' going?" he asked reluctantly.
"It… could be better. Erol… he's… he's very possessive. And he doesn't hesitate to show me how much he wants me to spill everything I know about the Underground." To get my point across, I pointed to the fading dark mark around my eye. He raised his eyebrows.
"Erol did all this to you?"
"Not all of it… these gashes I just got not too long ago in some abandoned building… but everything else is his work."
"I see… how long has this been happening?"
"Almost every night since the wedding. I'm… kind of used to it by now."
"Well, you are not going back there," Dawn declared, "I've spent way too long worrying myself to death over you!"
"Sorry…" I uttered, "I have to return some time, though. If I don't… he'll wonder where I am." I looked up at Jak. "I just came to tell you… Good luck at the race tomorrow. I want you to win so I can see the look of utter defeat on my 'darling' husband's face."
"Oh… um… thanks."
"I'll be cheering for you." After a short goodbye, Jak and Daxter went in the hideout, but Dawn remained with me. She was really happy to see me, and I was happy to see her, but there was also something in my mind that I had to tell to no one but her.
"Dawn, I did come here for a reason…" I began, not really sure how to tell her.
"You're really torn up, Jakie… you should really go inside and get some sleep."
"That sounds good, but I need to tell you something."
"All in good time."
"No, this is really important… at least, for me," I sighed. "Dawn… you're my best friend, and you have been since day one… no matter what, you've always been there for me."
"Well, what are friends for? You'd have done the same for me."
"Thanks… for everything." There was a long, uneasy silence. She leaned forwards from my shoulder to look at my eyes.
"Ok, Jakie, you're starting to scare me."
"I've reached a crossroad, and it's a decision that I don't want to be alone in. You're the only one I have to turn to."
"What's on your mind?" I took in a shaky breath.
"It's something that I just found out a couple days ago."
"Well, what's the matter?" I hesitated a long time and lightly pressed my hands against the stomach nervously.
"I'm pregnant."
Kiri: Ok, before you all gather around my house with your torches and pitchforks, I'm gonna ask you all if she should want to keep the child or not... I have ideas for both, so I leave it up to you. just... please don't kill me.