Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I do not own the darkness.

Jayden walked up to the diner where Jenny worked and opened the door to find her swing her hips to some classic rock music while whipping down tables. He smiled and blushed when he realized he was staring at her butt. Damn, Jackie was a lucky son of a bitch.

Her hazel eyes locked lit up when she saw the young boy and rushed over to him. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tight as he did the same. He felt a shiver run down his spine when he felt her breast press against his chest.

"Hey Grumpy." She exclaimed as she pulled away.

"Hey Angel." Jayden chuckled as they sat down at the counter. "So, we on for Jackie's birthday?"

"Yeah, Giancarlo is even going to bake a cake for him." She smiled.

"That's nice of him, he better spell it right," I grunted. "It's Jackie not Jacky."

She let out a giggle and suddenly the jukebox started to play 'I Only Have Eyes For You' by the Flamingos. This was Jenny's favorite song. Her teeth shined through her smile and grabbed Jayden wrist and led him to the open area near the jukebox.

"C'mon champ you can do it." She grinned, Jayden was a little uneasy, but Jenny gave him the Bambi eyes. "Please?"

Jayden let out a heavy sigh and places his hands around her waist while Jenny grinned victoriously. They two stood eye to eye as they became lost in the music. Jenny was still smiling but started to frown when she saw how sad Jayden looked.

"What's wrong?" She whispered. Jayden looked at her for a moment before looking back down at the floor.

"It's just, I don't know." Jayden sighed. "I haven't been this happy since my mom, well I just don't know if I can truly accept being happy."

Jenny rested her head on his shoulder and hummed to the song.

'I only have eyes…for…you.'

"We'll always be with you Jayden." Jenny whispered in his ear. "You'll never be alone I promise."

"You know what my dad said before leaving me and my mom," He asked, Jenny leaned back looking concerned. "Never make promises you can't keep and expect the worse and then you'll be pleasantly surprised."

"Sounds like he wasn't much of a father figure." She sympathized. Jayden just snorted.

"Guy was a fucking bum. I was happy when he left." Jayden grunted.

"Hey, don't let the past change your view of life. Just learn from it and live it as happy as you can." Jenny muttered kissing his cheek. Jayden blushed and looked Jenny deep in her eyes.

"You'll always be with me?" Jayden asked.

"Always."

(Jayden's POV)

I awoke in my aunt Sarah's guest room in a cold sweat and tried to remember what had happen.

"Jenny?" I whispered looking around the room just to hear nothing but the noises of the city and the darkness snickering in my head.

"She's Gone." It voice slithered through my ears. I pressed my hands against my ear in a vain effort to block its voice out.

"LEAVE ME ALONE YOU FUCKING DEMON!" I screamed.

"You are alone."

"Jayden?"

Jayden snapped his head over to the doorway to see his Aunt Sarah. She was an elderly old woman in her mid-sixties who has been taking care of Jackie since his father died. He introduced Jayden to her when Jayden first joined Jackie and immediately took a liking to her. Many in the Franchetti family respected her, hell even the boys in Chicago had respect for her. It was the only reason she was still alive.

"Are you okay?" She asked sitting down next to me.

"Yeah, I just had a bad dream." He muttered.

She caressed my cheek and tilted my head to face her.

"You should go shower and I'll make some breakfast." She said. "We have Jenny's service today."

"Okay, and thanks." I muttered as she gave me a false smile.

"Don't mention it kiddo." She said as she got up and left my room.

I fell back on my bed and covered my eyes with my arm. I started sobbing quietly when I remembered what had happened. Jenny was murdered Jackie killed himself I failed to kill Paulie and that fucking worm Shrote.

Afterwards I was rescued by Jimmy and he took me to Sarah to lay low. I didn't do anything for the past few days except when I went to help Sarah clean out Jenny's apartment. That day was the worst. Sarah was packing things up with only the thought of never seeing Jenny again.

Me, I kept hearing the hollow laughs of her voice echo throughout the apartment and the darkness snickering in my god damn ear. Afterwards we just planned the funeral at the church me and Jackie ran through last week.

As for Jackie no one knew where he was. Some refused he was dead and was just laying low while others just assumed his ass was wasted. The only problem was his body was never recovered.

I just let out a heavy sigh and got out of bed and got ready for the day. I took a quick shower and ate Sarah really knew how to cook and got dressed. Sarah loaned me one of her late husband's suits and a rain coat for the service.

Sarah wore a black blouse and those satin laced hats. I put on my black gloves a fedora to hide my face and walk Sarah to her car. Neither of us said a word as I helped her in the passenger's seat and I got in the driver's seat and took off for the church.

The ceremony went nice. Everyone who knew Jenny came and was each shedding tears. The children at the orphanage, Giancarlo and many others were grieving for their dear friend. We all stood outside as they lowered her casket into the ground, rain started to pour down from the skies soaking us all.

Once the casket was settled everyone said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. I saw Jimmy and Sarah talking and went over to see them.

"Jayden," Jimmy greeted. "This is a terrible loss for you I know. Jenny is here now and she's resting peacefully."

"She's always with me." I deadpanned. "But, Paulie isn't and I want him dead Jimmy." Jimmy and Sarah both had solemn looks on their faces.

"We can't kid, we don't have the okay." Jimmy muttered. This pissed me off.

I grabbed Jimmy by the collar of his suit and slammed him against his car. He let out a grunt while Sarah pleaded me to stop.

"The only people I ever loved are dead over two grand and that fat fucks short fuse." I snarled. "Paulie thinks he's untouchable well I'm not gonna touch him. I'm gonna torture him then rip his fucking heart out of his chest and then I'm gonna fucking eat it!"

"I know kid, I know!" Jimmy snapped. "But we can't just kill him. Everyone who had suspicions about Paulie are dead and Jackie isn't around to help."

"I'm here and I'm gonna slaughter him." I snarled.

"If you do that, you'll bring a lot of bad heat down on us." Jimmy warned. Jayden let go of Jimmy and stepped back as he straightened his suit out. "Look, we need to show the boy's down in Chicago that Paulie is unfit to lead. As much as they hate Paulie he's still their best earner, but if we cut his funds and destroy his political protection then maybe we've got a chance."

"Just give me whatever it is that I need and I'll do it." I grunted eager to take down Shrote and Paulie. Jimmy was thrilled to hear this and gave me a brown paper bag filled with something heavy.

"There's a list inside with four names and descriptions." Jimmy whispered. "You know what to do."

I nodded and Sarah walked up to me.

"You be careful now, I don't want to lose you too." Sarah said in a worried tone. I hugged her to reassure her that I would be fine.

"You won't, Paulie must pay for what he has done." I said in a stern voice.

"I know child now go and make him pay." She said with determination.

I nodded my head and walked off into the storm.

(!)

I checked the bag and found a fully loaded Beretta 9mm with two clips and a silencer. Along with that there was the list with the names Jimmy mentioned. There was also a description of who they were and where they hung out.

I holstered the gun and pocketed everything else. As I walked down the streets I felt someone following me, even the darkness was on edge.

"Eyes are on us." It whispered.

I walked around a corner of an alleyway and waited for whoever it was to walk over. The streets were empty cause of the rain and I could feel this person's presence getting closer. When I saw his reflection in a puddle I pulled him around and slammed him against the wall. The man was dressed in a tattered coat and jeans and was pale and frail. He let out a yelp when I held him against the wall.

"Who sent you Paulie or Shrote?" I snarled.

"N-Nobody, I-I came because you have…the thing." He whispered. I pushed him against the wall and he let out another shriek.

"What do you know about the Darkness?" I asked as he started freaking out.

"Shh, you do not want to let people know you have it, trust me you will be killed." He snarled but it was hard to tell if he was protecting me or it.

"Who are you?" I asked loosening my grip.

"My name is Johnny, Johnny Powell." He muttered.

(!)

I took Johnny out of the rain and into the diner and bought him lunch. We had burgers and fries as he told me about the Darkness.

"You see, the darkness is well…dark, and it likes dark things. You know killing, torturing, raping and it chooses its host to spread its evil." He explained. "Whether it's innocent or evil the darkness doesn't care it will cause any kind of torment just for laughs."

"Yeah I noticed." I muttered, remembering Jenny dying how Jackie killing himself. "But it's over right Jackie, killed himself and the darkness with him."

"No, no, no, no, no Jackie did die, but the Darkness won't let him die." He stated. "I mean, how is it supposed to you know kill people when it's shell is dead. It takes time but Jackie will be back soon enough."

"So Jackie can still come back?" I asked. He nodded.

"Yes, the Darkness is bound to its host till his time it's kind of an unwritten code." Johnny explained.

"But why Jackie, I mean we've killed people but that was just business we don't slaughter people for fun, hell that fucking this should have chosen Paulie. That crazy fuck would be best friends with the thing."

"No, I mean yes him and the Darkness would get along like peas in a pod." Johnny muttered sarcastically, I gave him a glare and he quickly changed his expression. "Okay, well you see don't take it personally, but the darkness doesn't want someone who's already evil it want someone good or at least not so willing to use the darkness. That way that person can be broken down and eventually turned into the Darkness's personal shell. Paulie as crazy as he is would probably risk being in control of the Darkness."

"Okay, so an innocent soul can be turned an evil soul can't." I stated. "So what about me?"

"You, oh well you are a…tool." Johnny said. "You see there are some people who can contain Darkness essence, but without a proper conductor you'll quickly run out of Darkness essence."

"You saying I need to keep feeding the dark essence inside me?" I asked.

"Yes, but here's the strangest thing most people either use ancient artifacts to transfer dark essence to themselves, how did you manage to retrieve its power?"

"I don't know some essence poured out of Jackie and onto me." I shrugged.

"Hmm, that's a mystery alright." Johnny mused. "Maybe-"

We were interrupted when a man slapped his hand on the table. Johnny and I both looked up to see a young man with black hair which he kept slick back and brown eyes. His face had the physical features of an arrogant prick as he stared at me.

"You Jayden?" He asked.

"Yeah?" I asked seeing that he was dressed in a leather jacket and a black shirt and pants. Oh yeah defiantly a hitman.

"Well my name is Nicky Demarco, and Paulie sent me to find you." He stated.

Demarco that was one of the names on my list, I grinned viciously as I looked him in the eyes.

"We'll you're here, where's your brother?" I asked.

"Vito is right out…wait how did you know I had a brother?" He asked defensively as he slowly reached for his gun.

"Because, I am going to kill you and him and a couple of crooked cops." I mused. "Pretty stupid of you to come in here alone?"

"You think I'm stupid, you lay one finger on me and those guys out side will tear you to pieces." He snapped.

"You're losing your cool Nicky." I chuckled. "You scared?"

He pulled his gun out as a couple of thugs came up behind him. Everyone started to panic and leave as Johnny and I we're boxed in.

"Do I look scared?" He asked pointing a .45 at me.

"Yes." I chuckled as I saw one thug with another colt and the other thug holding a shot gun.

"You little, I can't concentrate with that fucking smell, you bum get out of here!" He shouted at Johnny who quickly got up.

"Y-You want me to get the lights on my way out?" He asked.

"What the fuck do I care about lights, get out of here!" He shouted pushing Johnny down the row of chairs.

"Wasn't talking to you." Johnny said as he made it to the door and flicked the light off. He quickly ducked behind the counter as my eyes glowed yellow.

Nicky's eyes widened as my right hand turned into a black armored claw. I quickly ripped his man's heart out and shot a spike into the other thugs head before blowing it up. Nicky panicked as he should've and emptied his gun at me only for his rounds to bounce of my armor.

When he ran out of bullets he threw his gun away and tried to run away, but I whipped a few of my tentacles around him and in an instant I plunged them all in his body and ripped him half before throwing him outside towards his brother.

I grabbed the shotgun on the floor and quickly jumped out and was immediately fired upon. I aimed my shotgun at a few thugs and blew them away. I tore through every last one of those bastards before standing before Vito Demarco who was now shakinging in fear and covered in blood.

"W-What are you?" He asked. "The devil?"

"No, I said as I took my armor off and pulled out my nine mill. "Just the last person you shouldn't have fucked with."

With that said I aimed down the sights and pulled the trigger blowing his brains out. I just took out two people on my list and I hadn't even finished lunch.

"Johnny?" I asked as he was nowhere to be seen, but I knew I would see him again.

Or at least I would find him soon enough.

All I know now is that Paulie is powerless to stop me. He can't hurt me and he can't kill Jackie. He will pay for what he did to us and to Jenny.

I will have my revenge.