Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I do not own the darkness.

My head was throbbing badly from where that bastard smacked me. I tried to move but I felt that my hands were restrained by some duct tape. My vision was blurred for a minute but started to clear when I saw Jenny being held at gun point by Paulie. I glared at him as he looked down at me. His pick face broke out in a scowl and he motioned to someone standing behind me.

"Shrote, the kids coming to." Paulie snapped.

I was then lifted up off the ground and was now face to face with Eddie Shrote.

"Hey there ya little shit." He snickered. "You and your friend Jackie sure caused us some trouble tonight and now it's time to pay."

"You brought this upon yourself Shrote." I snarled in his face. "You and that fat cocksucker Paulie."

That remark earned me a smack across the face. The burning sensation sunk into my cheek as he slammed me up against the wall.

"You listen to me ya little shit and listen well." Shrote snarled his breath reeking of nicotine. "As far as Jackie knows you two are kidnapped, which you are. If I had my way you two would already be dead."

"Yeah how, you gonna stab another knife in my back?" I snickered earning another smack.

"Leave him alone!" Another voice shouted. My blood turned to ice when I looked over to see Jenny with her hand bound behind her back and Paulie pointing a gun at her head. A sick grin grew on Shrotes ugly fucking face when he saw my scared expression.

He slammed my head against the wall and I slumped down in the corner of the room. That reminds me, where the hell am I?

I took a quick look around the room to see that I was in what looked like a doctors examining room. It reminded me of the office my mother took me to for my physicals. I looked over to Jenny who was still struggling with Paulie.

"Hey fuck face." I snapped. Paulie whipped his head around and his fat face broke out in a scowl. "Yeah you, fuck face. Where the hell are we?"

"You're at the fucking orphanage." Paulie snapped. "The only part that didn't get blown to hell."

"Why did you take Jenny, she has nothing to do with this!" I shouted.

"You two are just bait." Shrote sneered. "I still think it's risky though." Paulie grabbed Jenny by the arm and tried to drag her to her feet. Jenny struggled as she tried to break free from his grasp.

"I said let me go you dick," Jenny snapped. "Jackie was so right about you!"

(Jackie's POV)

I just met with Jimmy down in the subway. Stupid, stupid, stupid I never should have left them. I burned down Paulie's warehouse and the money to the boys down in Chicago. Once they don't get their money they will actually see what Paulie is up to down here and then only time will tell. But none of that matters to me now. If I lose Jenny I…I don't even want to think about it.

I just capped the cops guarding the orphanage and grapped the Spas-12 one of them were holding. I don't need that many bullets to kill Shrote and that cocksucker Paulie. I approached the front door of the orphanage when I saw something familiar. It was me and Jenny when we were kids. We both wore our catholic uniforms and she had her hair in those stupid pig tails. The memory of Jenny pushed my younger self giggling all the way.

"I got you Jackie!" She squealed. "Now you're my boyfriend!" My younger self got to his feet with a blush on my cheeks and pushed back.

"I am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Forever!"

"Remembering something Jackie?" The Darkness chuckled.

"Shut up!" I snapped. I was already feeling like shit and this fucking thing wasn't helping. Especially when those heads popped up from my shoulders on their own.

"Eat all your food Jackie, be thankful." Sister Mary's stern voice echoed through my mind as I passed through my childhood home.

"Be thankful, Jackie." The Darkness snickered.

"I SAID SHUT UP!" I shouted as I stormed through the orphanage.

The place looked like hell after that bombing. There were tape outlines of the children's bodies and scorch marks all over the place. My heart was pounding harder while I went through the building and seeing memories from my past.

I finally made it to the second floor. Actually I didn't even know where Jenny was I think the Darkness was guiding me. My assumption was right when one of the black tentacles shot out from behind me and stuck into the ceiling over the railing overlooking the ground floor.

"This will be a night to remember." The Darkness chuckled again. Just then I was pulled over the rail and onto the other side of the room. I was really starting to lose it know as I rushed towards the old infirmary. I made it to the door where I heard Jenny and Jayden shouting. I was ready to storm the room and kill everyone in sight, but before I could open the doors The Darkness wrapped its small tentacles around my shotgun and yanked it out of my hands and threw it across the room. I went to grab it, but then the tentacles wrapped around my wrist and then my throat. It roughly pulled back restraining my wrist and choking my throat.

"To Late Jackie, Love Dies." It whimpered sarcastically. "Learn that you are my Puppet!" It then started to drag me into the small bathroom linked to the doctor's office and positioned me in front of the window of the door where Jenny and Jayden were being held hostage. "Now, watch this!"

"I said let me go you dick," Jenny snarled as Paulie dragged her to her feet. "Jackie was so right about you."

"Aw, shut up, you dumb broad." Paulie snapped, holding his Bull Revolver to her head. "You're giving me a fucking headache!"

"This was your idea, Franchetti. If it was up to me, I'd blown their brains out already." Shrote stated earning a glare from Paulie.

"Yeah, well it's not up to you." Paulie shot back.

"Fuck you! Why are you doing this?" Jenny shouted.

"Paulie get that gun away from Jenny!" Jayden snapped.

"Shut the fuck up Jayden!" Paulie snapped.

"Maybe you should ask your boyfriend when he gets here. Or you should ask Jayden here." Shrote chuckled while leaning down next to him. "How you two cost us a lot of men and money."

"You brought it on yourself you fuck!" Jayden snapped.

"Why didn't you two fuck them over enough already?" Jenny asked rhetorically.

"Aw, shut your fucking mouth bitch!" Paulie snapped. He brought the butt of his gun down on the side of Jenny's face knocking her on the ground. My eyes widened as I started to pound on the glass. I wanted so badly to kill them but the Darkness wasn't letting me. God dammit why was this happening?

"Jenny!" Jayden snapped as he got up from the corner he was slumped in. He tried to help her but Shrote planted his fist into Jayden's stomach knocking the wind out of him. Shrote then grabbed the collar of his coat and lifted him up. Shrote stood him up straight and pulled his glock out his jacket and pressed the barrel under Jayden's head. Jackie really started to panic and the Darkness tightened its hold on him.

"Be Still And Watch!" It sneered. Jenny let out a few whimpers on the ground as she looked up at Jayden who was being held at gunpoint.

"Okay, please don't kill us." She begged. Paulie paid no attention and grabbed her by the back of her hair. "NO!" Jenny smacked the back of her head into Paulie's face broke his nose.

"Aw God!" Paulie shouted, falling onto the ground. Shrote smacked the butt of his glock on the back of Jayden's head before landing a punch to the side of Jenny's face knocking her down along with Jayden. Jackie was pissed at both of them and started to really pound on the door trying to get their attention. He wanted to tear both of them to pieces. He wanted to save Jenny. So why was the Darkness helping them and not him?

"Your Flesh Is Mine, Your Will Is Mine!" The Darkness snarled. Shrote looked over at me at the doorway and grinned while Paulie tented to his nose.

"Well, well, well, just in time." Shrote chuckled. "I heard you and your girlfriend grew up here, Estacado." He looked around the room in disgust. "What a shithole. And now the place looks like it was hit by a bomb." Paulie let out a grunt and grabbed Jenny, pulling her to her feet. Shrote examined the tentacles wrapped around my neck and wrist and started to fucking laugh at me. "Oh, what's the matter? Don't know your head from your ass with all that demon shit?"

"You know why we're here?" Paulie asked while using is free hand to wipe the blood from his nose. ""Cause you hurt me, Jackie. You and your friend. I took you in for my own! I trusted you so now all this blood is on your hands."

"Jackie, what's going on? Get us out of here." Jenny whimpered.

"Jackie, what are you doing?" Jayden asked. "Kill them, tear them to pieces!"

I wanted too but the damn thing wasn't responding to me!

"Aw, shut the fuck up!" Paulie shouted while pressing the barrel of his gun into her temple. Paulie then looked over to me and gave me a questionable look. "You see a happy ending here, Jackie? You figure you got something to bargain with me? So's that I don't blow her fucking brains out her fucking nose?" I started to panic even more and pounded the glass. I saw Jayden working on his binds as he looked up at me. I could see that he was wondering what was gonna happen and I couldn't answer.

"Cause the way I see it, you got nothing!" Paulie snarled. Shrote nodded in agreement and smirked at me. I glared at him while he walked over to Jenny.

"It just gets bigger and bigger don't it boys?" He said to me and Jayden. "You hurt us we hurt you. It's like some fucking game we're playing here." He looked over at Jayden then back at me. "You both caused me a lot of trouble, boys."

"She's mine." The darkness whispered menacingly.

"You were my blood, Jackie." Paulie said as he walked with jenny towards the door I was standing at. "I loved you like a son, an' you took from me. You stole my respect and you stole my trust. And when blood takes from blood, someone always pays. So now, I take from you."

"Paulie, you mother fucker, don't you do it!" Jayden shouted. He was angry but he was hiding his fear with his anger. "If you do it, I swear on my mother's grave I will fucking tear you to pieces!"

"Don't worry ya little shit, I'll do you right after her." Paulie sneered with malice in his voice. "You were nothing and I made you into something and now you will learn that actions have consequences." He pressed Jenny up against the window and I was losing it. God this couldn't happen, not her. NOT HER!

"Jackie, this is not your fault." Jenny reassured. The right side of her face was pressed up against the glass and her bangs were covering a majority of her face so I couldn't even look into her eyes.

Then it happened.

The gun went off and Jenny's brains splattered all over the glass. My heart stopped, my blood froze and my hearing was gone. Jayden and I stared in horror at what just happened as her body slumped to the ground. I saw Jayden break free from his restraints and gave me a nod. Paulie passed it off as nothing and pointed his gun at my head.

"Clean that mess up." Paulie chuckled.

But before he could fire the right demon head snapped at Paulie and took a bite at him. Those two pussies jumped causing Paulie to drop his gun. Shrote took off like a bat out of hell, but Jayden tackled him causing him to drop his gun. The two scuffled for a bit before Paulie kicked him off and the two took off out of the orphanage.

Jayden just laid there on the ground and started sobbing uncontrollably. I felt his pain as the tentacle loosened their grip and let me go. I was crying as well. I tried to walk in but I had lost the feeling in my legs and slumped to my knees in front of Jenny's body. I couldn't believe it when I saw her lying on the ground lifeless.

"Aw, What Did They Do to Jenny?" The Darkness teased. I didn't have anything to say to it. I didn't have anything to say to anyone.

"Jackie, oh Christ, Jackie I'm so sorry." Jayden continued crying while still lying on the floor. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

It wasn't his fault, it was mine. I got her killed. The only person who showed a monster like me any kindness was dead. I never deserved her, but she didn't see it like that. It was my fault but it was also it's fault as well. I could have saved her if it wasn't for this fucking curse!

I looked down and saw Paulie's revolver. With my left hand I slowly reached for it and picked it up. If I couldn't have Jenny then this thing wouldn't have me. It's thinks it's in control of me then it's in for a rude awakening.

"She was a burden this is freedom." It told me. Freedom, no this was my freedom, of you. I ran my hand down the side of Jenny's face one last time before getting up and walking into the small bathroom. "Where are you going?"

I stood in front of the mirror and at the monster I had finally become. The tentacles and heads had completely spread out giving me a demonic look. I slowly lifted the barrel of the gun to my lips and the Darkness started to panic.

"No, Jackie! This is not your time!" It snapped. Now I got you by the balls you sick fuck. I smirked devilishly and pulled back the hammer. The demon head bit down on my wrist trying to pry the gun away. The teeth pierced my skin like blades, but I didn't care. This ends now.

"NO, YOU CAN NOT…MUST NOT!"

"Jackie, NO!" Jayden screamed, but it was too late. The gun went off and that…that was the first time I died.

(Jayden's POV)

I couldn't believe it. I couldn't fucking believe it. Jenny, poor sweet Jenny. I wish it were me, it should have been me. Fuck, I'm gonna make him pay. Me and Jackie, we'll make them all pay. I rolled over to my hands and feet to get a look at Jenny but to my surprise he was gone.

I then looked over at the door where he was standing and saw the tentacles from the Darkness were all clutching at Jackie. I walked over to the doorway and my eyes widened in horror to see Jackie holding Paulie's gun to his mouth.

"NO, YOU CAN NOT…MUST NOT!"

"Jackie, NO!" I screamed, but it was too late. Jackie's brains splattered all over me as he fell to the ground.

I was horrified. I couldn't believe it my whole life was completely turned upside down again. I was scared, sad and most of all furious. God dammit Jackie why did you do it!

Then it hit me.

"The Darkness!" I snarled.

Just then out of the hole in Jackie's head some dark essence started to poor out. It looked weird but I think it was…healing the wound.

"How is this possible?" I asked myself.

I hesitantly reached over and touched some of the essence and suddenly it started to form over my hand.

"Hmm, Yess!" The Darkness moaned. "You will serve me!"

"What?" I asked.

Just then the lights started to blow up one by one and the dark essence started to consume my entire body. I didn't feel scared or nervous I felt alive. I felt the power of the Darkness coursing through my veins and then through my very soul. In a matter of seconds the essence started to form perfectly to my skin and started to take a more physical form. I was now covered head to toe in black armor. It didn't have any unique design it was just molded to my skin and a mouth piece formed over my jaw. My eyes glowed yellow as I looked at myself in the mirror. Around my arms and torso little lights similar to the ones on those demon heads, glowed a dark blue.

I looked down at my hands and then down at Jackie. That's when I remembered.

"PAULIE!" I shouted causing the glowing marks on my body to change from blue to red.

I picked up the magnum and glock and rushed out of the fire exit where Paulie and Shrote escaped to. I was going to murder them both. The armor wasn't the only thing I acquired when I realized I was moving at incredible speed. Dark essence glowed all around me when I finally caught up with those two scum bags. I saw Paulie's fat ass get into a limo and Shrote followed behind him.

"PAULIE!" I shouted and the limo speeded off in break neck speed.

So did I.

I pulled out the glock and fired at the car taking out the back window, but still missing Paulie. The gun clicked empty and I threw it away in frustration. I leaped towards the back of the limo and grabbed the bumper as the car was still driving. Lucky for me the armor was strong enough to keep my skin from meeting the road and kept me safe.

I saw Shrote aiming a snub nose at me, probably his back up piece, as he took a few shots at me. He missed a few times, but when he did hit me I felt nothing. I was fucking invincible!

Just then I saw someone come out of the sun roof with an M4 Carbine. The goon looked like one of Paulie's thugs. He aimed at me and fired blindly. The bullets weren't enough to kill me, but the force was enough to knock me down. It also didn't help when two police cruisers were chasing after me and firing at me.

I then thought if there was more to my power then armor and speed and I was right. I took my right hand off the bumper and fired a tentacle at the goon. It stabbed him through the chest and he let out a choked breath as I yanked back and threw him into one of the cruisers. Like a rag doll he bounced off the windshield and disappeared into the darkness of the night while the cruiser lost control and crashed into a nearby building.

I then let go of Paulie's limo and slid on the road allowing the cruiser to ride over me. I clung to the road as best as possible and avoided being ran over as I passed under it and grabbed their bumper. I then climbed to the top of the car and whipped out two tentacles and shot them into the driver and passenger windows. I felt the tentacles wrap around the crooked cops necks and pulled them out. They let out choked screams but not for long when these blades started to form on my tentacles and cut their heads off.

"YES…TAKE YOUR REVENGE!" The Darkness roared.

I quickly got into the driver's seat and took off after Paulie. He only weapon I had was a pump-action shot gun. Not very good for a high speed pursuit, but the tentacles wrapped around the pump and cocked if for me. I grinned in savage delight as I got alongside Paulie.

I fired at the driver but he was craftier then I thought and slammed on the brake. I missed my shot and he backed up and took off in another direction. I spun around and went after him as more of his boys started to shoot at me from his car. I fired a few more times and hit a few thugs but one of them got a lucky shot and hit the front tire. Just like that my armor disappeared and I was left with nothing.

I crashed into the pavement and everything went dark for a brief moment. I started to come too and saw that I was now upside down and the car was on fire. I quickly undid my belt and tried to open the door. It was stuck so I had to move my feet around and kick it open. Once it was open I quickly climbed out of the car and onto the road. Paulie's black limo cruised up next to me and sure enough the fat bastard steps out and walks up to me.

"You, I knew I made a mistake hiring you that day." Paulie snarled.

"And I knew I made a mistake working for you, you fucking joke of a hoodlum!" I spat.

"You know I need to know. How do you and Jackie do that shit in the dark?" He asked. "Did you two sell your souls or something?"

"No, but trust me when I say this." I growled as I looked him dead in the eyes. "When I'm through with you, you're gonna wish you never fucked me and Jackie over! You will die for Jenny!"

"Kid, the only one who's dead is you." He sneered. He pulled out a switchblade and slowly strutted towards me. I let out a dark chuckle and started to dig into my pants pocket.

"Isn't just like a wop who brings a knife to a gun fight." I snickered. I then pulled out Paulie's magnum and put a slug in his shoulder. I was aiming for his head but it's kind of hard to aim after crashing a car and getting debris in your eyes.

Paulie fell back and started swearing as his men got out of the car, but before they could kill me another car pulled up and started shooting at Paulie. Shrote got out while his men dealt with their shooters and dragged Paulie into the car before speeding off.

I crawled out of the spot where I was slumped in and looked up at my heroes. My eyes widened when I saw Jimmy the Grape and a few other trust worthy friends come up next to me.

"Kid, damn I thought you were dead." Jimmy said as him and his crew helped me to the car.

"No…but I wish I was." I said solemnly.

"Don't worry kid, we'll make them all pay." He reassured.

"Yeah, all of them will die. I swear it!" I snarled as I got into the car an we all sped off into the night.