Hey everyone! Sorry about not updating in so long! To be very honest... I totally forgot I posted this on FanFiction until I got a notification about it.

Anyhow! I'll be uploading chapters 11-13 in one go, so you don't have to expect notes for the next two chapters. :)

Enjoy!

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Cory blinked at me in confusion before turning to LJ. I stood quietly and waited for the entity to respond when the colors around me suddenly began to fade until the world was a dull monochrome. It was almost as if time had stopped. I blinked and looked around in confusion before nearly jumping out of my skin at a familiar voice.

" What do you mean, 'what happened six years ago?'" LJ asked lowly, narrowing his silver eyes at me. I narrowed my eyes in return and stood my ground. Time really had stopped as there was nothing moving. Not even Cory, who was still as a stone statue.

" You know what I mean." I countered. " You said you met Cory when he was about two, and around that time his father 'committed suicide'. He didn't, did he?"

In a flash, LJ surged forward, clawed hand wrapping tightly around my throat and hoisting me into the air like a ragdoll. I wheezed and instantly threw my hands up to try and pry away his.

" Just what are you trying to say, kiddo." LJ sneered as he tightened his hold.

" Kinda… hard to talk…" I managed, glaring at him evenly as I struggled for air. He studied me for a moment before releasing his hold and letting me fall to the ground. I groaned at the impact and rubbed my throat.

" Thanks." I muttered sarcastically. " Now, tell me what happened."

" The asshole shot himself." LJ snarled. " There's nothing else to tell."

" The gun wasn't positioned that way, LJ!" I snapped. " It would've fallen by his side as soon as he shot himself, not only that the wound would be smaller because of close range. But it was in his hand like he was trying to defend himself from something. What did you do?!"

And just like that, I was tackled to the ground and being strangled once again, LJ growling like an animal.

" I. Didn't. Do. ANYTHING!" He roared.

" You did something, you asshole!" I retorted before slamming my forehead into his, causing him to loosen his grip and rear back in pain. Using the advantage, I curled my legs up and shoved him off, sitting up on the ground and panting.

" I didn't come here to fight, you dick!" I shouted. " I just want to know what happened! You had something to do with it, I just want to know what." LJ sat up and glared, shoulders hunched angrily.

" I didn't have a choice." He ground out.

" Why? What'd he do?" I pressed. " I already know Cory's father was a no good, lousy excuse for a dad that more than likely beat his kid. Just tell me what you did." The entity was silent before looking down, his angry gaze burning into the frozen grass below.

" …he was beating the kid." LJ muttered. " He occasionally slapped him around from time to time and I loathed it… but this time he was going to kill him. I couldn't let that happen. Not to Cory. So I showed myself to the bastard. He panicked and ran from me like the fucking coward he was." I blinked and nodded fitting the pieces together.

" You told Cory to hide." I continued. " And then you went to look for his father." LJ nodded and looked up at me.

" Yeah. Found him easily, hiding in one of the hallway closets." LJ explained. " He shot at me… and I made it bounce back and hit him. He bled out in a few minutes. After that I could hear the sirens from the police, so I went to check on Cory and told him that he couldn't tell anyone about me." I looked at Cory, frozen in time.

" So, you were defending yourself." I murmured. "… and protecting Cory." LJ nodded and looked away, glaring at the sky.

" Yeah. Happy now?" He scowled and I laughed lightly.

" Could've gone without the near-death experience, but yeah." I grinned and LJ snorted and crossed his arms.

" Hey, you were accusing me of murder." He retorted.

" Well, technically you did murder." I pointed out playfully, which caused the entity to glare at me again. " But it was for a good cause. If anyone tried hurting me or my siblings, my mom would sure as hell make them suffer." LJ shrugged and leaned back.

" Great, that all you need from me?" He deadpanned and I nodded.

" Yep, now I just gotta calm my aunt down somehow…" I muttered and rubbed the back of my neck.

" What do you mean, 'somehow'. She's your aunt, just tell her that I'm not a goddamn psychopath that's gonna murder everyone." LJ argued.

" Easier said than done, man." I countered. " Besides, they've never seen you, she's gonna be suspicious." LJ shrugged again and stood to his feet. I followed suit and brushed my pants off.

" Eh, you'll think of something, kid." He assured and I looked at him. " I'm sure of it. Gotta go." With that, he transitioned out of existence and color once again filled the world.

Cory blinked a few times before looking at me with confusion, but the confusion quickly melted to panic and shock.

" Allie!" He gasped and ran over to me. " What happened to your neck?!" I blinked and lightly touched my throat, wincing a bit. Dammit LJ. I thought glumly as I waved him off.

" It's fine-" I tried but Cory shook his head.

" No! It looks like someone was trying to strangle you!" He protested as he grabbed me by the hand and started dragging me back to the house. " We gotta get you looked at!" I sighed and let him pull me, frowning in irritation. Not at Cory, but at LJ… and possibly my aunt when she sees my throat. She's going to have a cow about that.

0o0o0o0o0o

" What in the heavens happened to you?!" Ms. McOlsen screeched as Cory brought me inside. I groaned internally and rolled my eyes at the woman.

" Nothing." I replied tartly. " Where's my aunt?"

" Young lady, you've been wounded-"

" Look, lady, I can take care of myself." I snapped, glaring at her. " I need to talk with my aunt!"

" Allison!"

We all turned our attention to my aunt, who was looking at me sternly before her eyes widened.

" Allie, what happened?" She asked as she approached me.

" Long story. I need to talk to you." I paused as I looked at Ms. McOlsen. " Alone." The old woman narrowed her eyes before looking at my aunt, who nodded for the woman to leave. Ms. McOlsen huffed before guiding Cory out as well, leaving me and my aunt to ourselves.

" Allie, your neck…" My aunt whispered before narrowing her eyes. " The thing that followed Cory-"

" I know, Auntie." I interrupted. " He's not a thing. He's a cosmic entity." My aunt blinked at me in surprise, jaw dropping a bit. I sighed and motioned for her to follow me to the guest room I was staying at. Once inside, I shut the door and sat on the bed, rubbing my face.

" Allie…" My aunt started, sitting beside me. " How do you know… this entity?"

" Please, Aunt Valerie." I crooned playfully. " I read a ton of crap on the internet. You wouldn't believe what they have on there." She chuckled softly before looking at me expectantly.

" So, who is he?" She asked. I looked down to the floor, thinking over an explanation in my head.

" …He's Jack." I said. " Laughing Jack. He's a cosmic entity, so he can do almost anything he wants. His whole purpose was to be a little boy's best friend… but he was betrayed and abandoned." My aunt furrowed her brows and frowned, nodding as I explained to her.

" I see…" She murmured. " But I don't see what that has to do with this. He's dangerous."

" Auntie, you have to believe me, he's not." I said. " Sure, he can be, but he's only trying to protect Cory. He doesn't want to lose another friend again." My aunt pursed her lips, studying me as I looked at her with pleading eyes.

" Allie…" She sighed. " I don't know… after all he's done." She pointed to the marks on my neck. " How can you defend him after what he's done to you?"

" Because, you don't know him like I do." I replied. " You don't understand what he's been through."

" And you do?"

" Maybe not fully, but to a point, yes."

Silence enveloped the two of us as we stared at each other for a long moment. My aunt's brows knit together as she thought hard about my words.

" Alright, Allie." She decided. " You've had your fair share of paranormal experiences, so I'm going to trust you on this one." I grinned and nodded.

" Thanks auntie." I chirped and she smiled.

" Anytime." She returned. " But explaining this to Ms. McOlsen is not going to be an easy one." I rubbed the back of my neck, groaning lightly.

" She's gonna try and call a priest to 'exorcise' LJ," I laughed. " That'd be something." My aunt chuckled softly.

" I can see that happening." She agreed as she stood. " I should go find her and talk with her. Maybe you should talk with Cory. He seemed very worried about you." I nodded and stood as well, heading out of the room.

My aunt's on my side… but who knows what that crazy old witch McOlsen is gonna do. I had a sinking feeling that things might just take a turn for the worst soon enough. She was a religious woman and probably thought LJ was some sort of demon, so summoning a priest would probably be one of her responses to this. I just didn't know if the priest would have any effect on LJ or not. He wasn't really a demon, per say, but a powerful entity. Would he be affected by holy water and such? I could just see the look of irritation on LJ's face if a priest slapped holy water on him and I giggled at the thought. Boy, would that be priceless.

I heard a sudden shriek from across the hall and instinct made me instantly dart towards it, taking me into the den area where I saw Cory cowering from Ms. McOlsen. I ran over and shielded the boy from her and glared at the woman with suppressed rage.

" What the fuck are you doing!?" I screeched venomously and Ms. McOlsen's eyes widened at my language.

" This boy has brought the devil into this house!" She accused, pointing at Cory as he whimpered pitifully. I snarled at her, hate building up in my veins.

" If anyone's brought the devil in this house it's you." I shot back. " He's done nothing to deserve your accusation. He's bullied, alone, and you haven't lifted one single finger to help him. You turn a blind eye to the things that have been done to him and it's sickening. Some great caretaker you are." Her face molted with anger at my words, but I held my ground and glared back at the old crow.

" I have done everything for these children!" She protests.

" Done what!?" I pressed harshly. " Given them a home where they live in fear? Where they're too afraid to be who they are? Who they want to be? You're so blinded by your stupid religion that you didn't once think about how they might be feeling. Have you ever stopped to ask them what they want to do? What they want to be? No, you just take all your stupid Catholic bullshit and shove it down their throats, not caring what they want. You only care about what you want." Cory let out a soft sob and clung to me, reminding me of my little sister. I held him tightly, keeping my gaze on the woman before me as she slowly stepped back, looking conflicted.

" What's going on?" My aunt asked as she walked in, eyes wide with concern. " Cory? Allie?" I stayed silent, glaring at the old crow as she looked at my aunt with narrowed eyes.

" I am calling a priest to come and purge this house of any evil." She declared, looking back at me. " And to have that boy exorcised! He is possessed by a devil and I refuse to stand and let this happen."

" Ms. McOlsen," My aunt tried, but she was cut off by a hand.

" No, you and your niece have done enough." Ms. McOlsen snapped. " I have been patient with you but this," she pointed at me and I growled lowly at her. "This child has no respect for my rules and insults me! I will allow you to stay for a few more days, but then you must leave." With that, she stalked out of the room, leaving us in a tense silence and Cory's quiet sobs.