Zill looks at Jack a little confused, Jack didn't act like that, he was kind, worried and shy and not mocking and arrogant, Zill holds the bars and looks at Jack who was lying on the floor of the cage in a relaxed way.
Zill: "what's the problem with that??!" Bro, are you listening to what you're saying??!
Jack sighs and sneers at Zill
Jack: hello, for you this might be a bad thing, but for me it's not, I actually feel really good!
He chuckles, Carrie goes to Zill's side
Carrie: he's acting like an asshole huh?
Zill: yeah... I don't understand, he's not like that...
Carrie: look, usually these transformations don't affect the personality of the person, but how Venganza herself transformed him in a crude way without ceremony, I think that changed him...
Zill: I realized...
Zill takes a deep breath and tries to calm down a bit.
Zill: Jack look, I know you don't mind being a vampire and all, but you know you can't leave if you don't cooperate, right?
Jack stands up and takes a deep breath.
Jack: I know... Look, I'm sorry for acting like this, I can't help it... It's like instinct...
Jack makes his usual pissed-off face and Zill smiles sympathetically.
Zill: I know, you think you can control yourself?
Zechariah approaches them
Zechariah: Mr Wells, you seem aware enough, we can release you, but for that we need to make sure you don't attack anyone...
Carrie sits at the table and watches closely to make sure Jack doesn't do anything suspicious.
Jack: look Zech I'll be honest, I think I can control myself, but I don't guarantee anything...
Zechariah: well about that, Zill will keep an eye on you to make sure you don't get out of hand...
Zil smiles confidently as usual and Jack sighs in relief, and then Carrie huffs and takes the Cage key and opens it.
Carrie: no sudden movements, got it?
Jack: relax Carrie, I'm not going to do anything
He smirks causing Carrie to snort irritably, Jack gets out of the cage and stretches
Jack: man it's so good to be free, that cell is tight-
Jack was saying in a playful way and then he stops and gets serious and starts looking at the floor
Zill: hum... Jack? Are you okay?
They see that Jack was sniffing something, his ears pricked up like he was looking for something, Carrie takes her rope just in case, Zechariah stays a little ahead while Zill is nervous and worried.
Jack: that smell... and so... tempting...
Zill, Zechariah and Carrie stare at each other.
Zill: what smell...?
Jack: the nurse isn't that far from here... The smell of human blood is so tempting...
Zechariah and Carrie are shocked, during the attack Cameron had injured his arm a little, it was a small cut so she went to the infirmary to treat it, they were amazed that Jack could smell this blood even though it was so little and in a closed room.
Por precaução Zechariah e Carrie ficam na frente da porta assumindo uma posição defensiva, Zill estava confuso e irritado com eles, ele estava botando muita fé que Jack podia se controlar.
Zill: Jack? Buddy? Are you okay?
Jack takes a deep breath and rubs the back of his neck.
Jack: Y-Yes, I'm fine... And everything is so strange... All my senses are in full swing...
He says with a chuckle and it was noticeable that he was trying to fit in, he seemed collected enough, Zechariah and Carrie remain alert but come out of their defensive position.
Zechariah: I believe you're readjusting, isn't it Mr Wells?
Jack: yeah... What's gonna happen to me now Zech?
Zechariah was surprised by the question, he still wasn't expecting that question.
Zechariah: well... We'll watch you for a while, when we're sure you're under control you can go back to your normal life
Jack takes a deep breath and becomes thoughtful, his life that was no longer normal just got worse.
Jack(POV):
It will be difficult but... I can live with it...
2 Weeks Later...
Jack's readaptation to the city of Safe Haven was more difficult than expected, many were against the idea of a vampire living peacefully in the city, Zechariah and Carrie needed to ensure that Jack wouldn't cause problems and if he did something, the two would receive punishment.
Things in the city weren't good and at school even worse, if before he was a freak now he was a monster, he walked in the hallway and received looks of disgust and fear, Bully stopped because everyone was afraid of him attacking them just because he got angry, his grades deteriorated because some teachers who didn't have a good record with Vampires refused to teach with a vampire in the classroom, in short, everything that was bad got worse.
Jack was walking down the hall, as usual everyone was looking at him with scared or disgusted looks, he takes a deep breath and continues his way to the cafeteria, getting there he takes his special tray and sits at a table, as soon as he sits down everyone around moves away and go to other tables.
"Why do they treat me like this? What did I do that was so bad to be treated like this?"
He takes a little upset breath and starts to eat, because of Zechariah's agreement with the mayor, Jack was forbidden to drink blood or eat meat, instead he ate fruits and other things, it has been proven that a vampire can survive without consuming blood, but the problem was that the vampire would be very weak which for everyone was an advantage.
Jack bites into an apple and grimaces in disgust
"Why is the food so... disgusting? How could I bear to eat this since I was little?"
He makes a disgusted face and still continues eating, after all it was his only food there, he watches the table with his friends, he decided to stay away so as not to cause them any trouble, and also Kayla was now a little afraid of him, his situation was very bad and to make it worse he was alone in it, Zill still spoke to him but much less than before, his lonely life just got worse.
Finally the bell rings and Jack Finally going to a place where he felt welcome, he and his friends were going to rehearse today, he was on his way to the auditorium, he ignored the stares, they couldn't mess that up, when he was going to enter the auditorium he was stopped by Zill.
Zill: H-hey Jack, how are you buddy?!
He was visibly nervous and Jack ignores it.
Jack: Hey Zill, is everyone there yet?
Zill: Y-yes they are but-
Jack: great then let's go!
Jack was about to open the door but Zill takes the lead again.
Jack: Any problem Zill?
Zill: Jack look... I didn't want to do this but... You can't participate this time...
Jack: What? Why??!
Zill: After you became a Vampire, Zech and the director received several complaints about us and we were given two options...
Jack: and what were they???!
Zill: Take you out of the band or be banned from us performing...
Zill says rubbing his arm and looking to the side, he didn't have the heart to say that and look into Jack's eyes, even though she didn't see his expression, Zill knew that Jack was completely shaken by this.
Jack: You... don't...
Zill: Sorry ok?! Believe us we tried to negotiate as much as possible but we got nothing, so we did an analysis on that and saw that taking you out was the best option...
Jack was in total shock about it all, his friends had kicked him out of the band, they prevented him from doing something that made him feel good and forget about his problems.
Zill: It was not an easy decision, but we needed to take everyone into account and not just one... But that doesn't mean you can't play, we can still play and-
Zill looks at Jack with a smile trying to lighten the situation, his expression is broken when he sees Jack from the back walking away.
Jack: It's okay... I understand... I think you'll be better off without me...
The weight of conscience starts to hit Zill hard when he sees a drop falling to the ground.
Zill: Jack hold on, look man this is not the end, we can still play together and have fun-
Zill stops when he sees Jack clenching his fists, the two are silent for a few seconds until Jack starts to walk away, Zill really wanted to follow him, the guilt was too big, he wanted so much to change all that but he couldn't, he takes a deep breath and enters the auditorium.
Time passes and Jack spends the rest of the class quiet and without looking at anyone, Zill tried to talk to him several times but Jack just ignored him and left, it was torturous for Zill and the others, they knew Jack was suffering and even though they wanted to help they made it worse.
The bell rings and everyone was leaving and going to their homes, Jack doesn't say goodbye to anyone and leaves alone, Zill tries to go after him but Kayla stops him and says he needed some time alone, Zill swallows this and goes home.
Jack arrives home, everything was quiet since his mother was working, he goes upstairs and the wood creaks a little, he goes into his room and throws his backpack on the floor, after several seconds of standing still he collapses at the foot of the bed, crying and screaming to himself.
"Why why why WHY?!"
"Why with me??!"
"Why always with me?!"
"Is this my fault?? And some punishment?!"
"They were going to suffer because of me and so it's just that they got rid of me, I'm to blame..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"FUCK!!"
"D-do I not have the Permission to have a good life???!"
He continues to break down in tears and curses until:
???: Poor thing... Things aren't easy, are they?
Jack's heart stops for a moment and he feels a chill run down his spine, he turns towards the direction of the voice and sees someone at the window.
Simon: It must be hard to bear that, isn't it?
He sees the Vampire wolf lying on his window looking at him with a smile and a mocking look.
Jack: Y-You... Fabian talked about you... Y-You were arrested!!!
Jack sits down and backs away as far as possible until he hits the wall
Simon: a cage like that wouldn't hold me for long, it's been a few days since I escaped and no one has noticed yet...
He chuckles, Jack was picking up and extremely nervous.
Simon: but anyway, I came here for you
Jack: for me? What do you want with me?
Simon: My queen wants you Presence tonight, just a friendly chat
Jack: and why should i believe in you, venganza Minion...
Jack knew it wasn't a good idea to tease him, but at the moment emotion was speaking louder than logic.
Simon: well... the choice is yours, we are willing to show you a new life Jackson...
Jack: H-how do you know my name???!
Simon: oh please, Everyone in this town knows the famous "Bad Luck Jack"
He jumps out of the window and calmly walks over to Jack.
Jack: don't call me that...
Simon: why not?
He chuckles and continues walking slowly towards Jack while Jack gets a little pushed and looks to the side.
Simon: Bad Luck Jack, the freak, the idiot, the monster, you are known in many ways...
Jack is even more frustrated, he deeply hated these nicknames, he looks forward and sees Simon looking at him with the same smile
Simon: me and my queen want to show you a new path, no more nicknames or insults, no more Curses and no more Bully... Would you be willing to give us a chance Jackson?
His tail curls around Jack slowly, it was a strange and comforting feeling, he was no longer afraid of Simon at that moment.
Jack: how can i be sure it's not a trick?
Simon: we are flour from the same bag Jackson, I would gain nothing by deceiving you and if you don't like our offer you can go back to your lonely life, full of traitors who turn their back on you, being treated like a monster by everyone...
His tail gently strokes Jack's face
Simon: And then? Do you accept, Jackson