- Two Days Later-

Jack sat at his teak table in just his underwear, he took a drink of cold coffee, his favorite morning beverage, and looked out the window with the sun that shone down onto the dark wood. Taking another drink, he closed his eyes and decided that today he would call Aster. Normally three days is the general rule. But, I'm sure he won't mind a day earlier. My hand is healed after all. He got up and put his coffee on the counter next to the sink.

He made his way to his bedroom to change. He picked out a dark pair of almost too tight jeans and a light blue long sleeved shirt. He quickly slipped his clothes on went back to the kitchen, thankfully uninterrupted.
He grabbed his coffee and sat back down and thought out loud to himself.

"Ugh, I have to go back to work tomorrow. Maybe I could just call in sick. That sounds like a good idea, in case Aster wants to go out tomorrow."

A multitude of voices broke Jack from his happy thoughts, "I wouldn't get too attached."

Jack shrugged his shoulders as if expecting a response but, in truth the sudden voice scared him paler if possible. Hoping his nonchalance would make them go away, he took another drink of his coffee.
He set his cup down to see a beast sitting across the table. This one looks more malicious than that of the other ones. I'm just meeting new one's so often lately, how joyous for me. Hooray.

"You wouldn't want us to have to get…involved, now would you? A sad pick is a distasteful one, you know." A mouth that had a mix of jagged and smooth teeth smiled at him. This one dripped blood from the corners of its mouth down its chin and onto his new teak table.

Jack was staring at the small puddle of blood forming on his table, "I have to clean that up you know." He pointed at the blood.

It smiled wider, and brought a mostly clawed hand to his cold cup of coffee. Steam began to rise from the cup. Jack being curious, stuck a finger into the cup.

He quickly pulled his hand back and glared at the creature, "Thanks. I just love hot coffee in the morning. Really brightens my day." Sarcasm was heavy in his voice.

The creature just smiled wider and gripped the coffee cup noticeably tighter. It began to boil. Jack was mentally thankful that the cup wasn't full otherwise it would have bubbled over. Jack heard cracks in the air. He slid his chair out in a flash and backed away. Just in time as well, as the cup then exploded into shards and boiling liquid blasted out all over the table.

Jack crossed his arms from across the room and began to feel anger rise, "Why!?" He shouted at the creature.

The creature's hand was balled in a fist where the cup of coffee had been a few moments ago. It didn't speak, only smiled at him. It raised its hand high above its head. And slammed it down on to the table. A frown immediately appearing on its face.

Jack smiled wide at the monster, "It's made of teak. Good luck breaking it with just your fist you bony bastard." Jack's smile faltered slightly at the feeling of breathing in his ear. He turned his head slowly.

And was met with a loud demonic, "Boo!"

Jack yelped and fell down onto the white tiled floor of his kitchen. He felt a controlling foot weigh down on his chest as he looked up to see a hand delicately holding a long knife above his face. His eyes went wide with terror. He heard a short lived laugh as the blade began to descend toward his face. Time seemed to moved in slow motion as the blade cut through the air.

Jack went to shield his face with his forearm. As he brought his arm to his face, the motion caught the blade in his palm, the momentum turned the blade to cut a gash in the side of his arm. The blade stayed in his forearm. It bled profusely as he felt the foot lift of his chest.

He looked at his forearm as he took the chance to sit up, "Ahh! What the hell! He stood quickly and removed the blade from his arm. And threw it in the sink. He quickly opened the drawers in his kitchen around the sink and grabbed a dish towel. He wrapped his arm crudely and ran to the bathroom. He opened the linen closet and grabbed a roll a gauze and medical tape. He unwrapped his arm to find it almost closed. He noticed the black veins reappear as the blood dried. He continued to wrap his arm in the gauze and tape it down with the medical tape.

He left the bathroom in with a fury in his chest, and went into the kitchen to clean up the mess that he thought would be waiting for him. To his happy surprise there was no mess. And his coffee was waiting on the table for him. The large knife that cut his arm just seconds before was back in the knife block. He looked down at the dish towel he had used to find that there was no blood. I swear They want me to think I'm crazy. He paused and looked at his coffee. At least I still have my nice, cold, cup of coffee still in its cup.

Jack walked over to the table and sat down, grabbing his coffee, took a sip. He spit it out as the temperature of the liquid was rather hot. Thankfully he still had the dish towel in his hands. He quickly cleaned up his mess and went to put his coffee in the freezer for a few minutes. He walked back over to the table and saw what he was looking for. He picked up the business card and looked at the clock above the sink. Ten-seventeen. Seems like a reasonable enough time to call him.

He walked half-jogged to his room to get his cell phone. He unplugged it from its charger. He looked at the card and dialed the number.

Monotonously on the other line, "Hello?"

Jack smiled at the sound of Aster's voice, "Hey, Aster, its me, Jack."

Jack could hear the smile in Aster's voice as he responded, "'Ey, I didn't expect ya' ta' call so soon."

Jack blushed in embarrassment, "Heh, Sorry. I just thought I'd call to let you know my hand is fine," He heard Aster huff in disbelief, "So, when did you wanna go on that date?"

Aster laughed sheepishly, "We can go ta'day if ya' want?"

Jack began to beam in excitement, "I'd like that. Where you wanna meet?"

Aster hummed thoughtfully, "How 'bout we meet at that…uhh…what's the name of that café on 9th street?"

Jack thought for a moment, then it popped in his head, "The one right across the street from 'CIC FOX PRODUCTIONS'?"

Aster relieved the kid knew what he was talking, "Yeah, that one. So how 'bout it? Sound alright to ya'?"

Jack was mentally jumping for joy, "Yeah, when? An hour from now sound good?"

"Yeah, Sounds good ta' me. So…I'll see you then I guess?"

Jack snickered at Aster's awkwardness, "Yup! Bye hot stuff!"

Jack clicked the red button and put his phone in his pocket. He laughed at how awkward his last statement must have made Aster feel.

His strides had a sense of joy about them as he made his way to the bathroom to take a quick shower. He merrily turned the water on, not paying attention to the temperature. He stripped down, and stepped in the shower. Only to fall out hastily. He Watched as the water rolled steam out in heaps into the bathroom. He went to shut off the water. The knob of the shower hissed as he touched it. He pulled his had back rapidly. He reached into the linen closet next to him and pulled out a bath towel. He wrapped his already burnt hand in it, and reached in quickly. The knob felt stuck. The heat from the knob started to make its way through the thickly wrapped towel. He tried to pull his hand out but, a very thick hand held his to the burning metal. He yelled silently as the towel started to smoke. The water droplets from the shower head slightly burning his face and torso. He pulled his feet up to the side of the tub and pushed with all his strength. The towel caught fire from the heat exposure and started to burn the skin on Jack's hand. Adrenaline suddenly coursed through his blood, the pain subsided momentarily and he turned the knob with surprising ease. He ripped his hand away from the beast, throwing the burning towel into the shower and off his hand. He shot out of the bathroom as if he was being chased. He made it to the living room and turned sharply to stare at the bathroom. Steam rolled out like a waterfall into the hallway. He looked down at his burnt hand. Adrenaline still ran in his veins so the burns didn't hurt as bad as they should. He looked down at his body, it was red. He looked back to the bathroom door.
A beast with murderous intent in its eyes stared at Jack as it licked its teeth over and over. Jack just stared right back. Adrenaline kicked fear out the metaphorical window and replaced it with blind hatred for the monster that just harmed him. He walked pointedly towards the creature. The creature moved towards Jack. Jack didn't even care as they met face to face.

Jack poked his finger to the monster's overly exposed ribcage, "Listen here you merciless, God-forsaken, ugly thing you! Knock it the hell off!"

Jack felt a hand grip at his throat. Jack reached his gauzed hand at the beast's throat. He gripped it tighter than the creature had his own. Most likely because the thing had not expected Jack to react like he did. Jack squeezed tighter around the throat of the beast. Its mouth opened as if to catch its breath. The grip on Jack's own throat constricted like vice.

They both were standing there, this monster being the same height as Jack had no leverage. Jack reached his burnt hand to the being's rib-cage. He pushed his hand up and under the ribs and grabbed them. He pulled them towards himself. The beast's eye's went wide.

Jack was released by the creature, so Jack released his grip as well. Jack held his composure as the beast melted in to the floor, into nothing. Jack finally broke his composure and inhaled deeply, he caught his breath, and the adrenaline left his system. Jack was immediately scared and ran to the bathroom to get his clothes. He slipped them on. And looked into the mirror. Holy shit. Why did I do that. How did I do that? I shouldn't have done that.

He rolled up his sleeve and removed the gauze, a scar was the only thing that reminded him of what happened this morning. He looked at his other hand. There were no burns but, Black veins instead.

He smiled, "Thanks. You're the only one not out to kill me."

He went to the kitchen and looked at the mirror above the sink. Awesome, Time to go. I hope these black veins are gone by the time I get the café.

Jack slipped his shoes and walked out the front door, being sure to lock it behind him. Hopefully they'll leave me alone on my date.

Jack began his walk to café. An arm was felt around his shoulder, and he looked to his side.

The voice that never changes, "Hope you're ready for your date, Jack. I know I'm ready." A grin was plastered on its face as it disappeared into the wind leaving Jack alone to walk alone.

Jack wasn't so sure he wanted to go on this date anymore.

I hope you enjoyed this Chapter. I thought I would Wait to put their Date in the Next Chapter. Teak is a mostly outside furniture wood. But it symbolizes status. And if you own teak furniture you're obviously doing very well for yourself. Suede is also very expensive. SO I hope by me describing those few things helps you understand how well Jack is off alone. In the next chapter their date, will consist of telling one another of a bit of their own pasts. And I hope you understand that by conveying how gruesome the creatures are helps tell you how they are still able to instill fear into Jack. He plays it off very well though don't you think? This chapter Jack had an enormous help from adrenaline. If His mind didn't think he was about to die, he probably would have been a shit ton more scared then he was. And I'll get to Jack's yard when he invites Aster over(Which will happen eventually, but not the next chapter. I might touch base on it. And the several doorways in the hallway as well. The idea that there are more than just the bathroom and bedroom in the hallway should also help you understand how well Jack is doing for himself. I've neglected to tell you of the work he does because I still Have to think of it. Well! Enjoy this Chapter!