The knocking continued as Jack laid in his depression. He wanted to scream for it stop. He'd had enough noise. After what like an eternity, Jack's tears had stopped. He looked around the room. The knocking had stopped. He looked to where he had fallen. The rope was gone. The chair no longer fallen over.

He looked confusedly as he saw a candle had been lit. It was strange to Jack considering he hadn't placed a candle in his room in a very long time. He stood to go and blow it out.

Jack was shoved onto the bed harshly by an unseen force. I guess it's going to stay lit. He crawled into his bed and rested his head onto his pillow. He didn't want to move or talk. His mind had already begun to block out the world when gas fumes began to fill the room.

Jack's mind was so lost within itself he hadn't felt the drenching stench of gasoline pour over his body. The candle had fallen and its faint sound of hitting the ground fell on deaf ears as it ignited the gasoline.

The flames immediately crawled around the floor to the walls. It reached up towards the ceiling, the heat had scorched the bed sheets, lighting up the entire bed quickly.

Jack's mind started to reel itself back to reality, but Jack's will to not acknowledge the living world prevailed.
The flames curled around his body in a flash. His mind tried desperately to get Jack to move, to do anything. Jack's will had started to diminish as pain began to well up. An overwhelming sense of heat was licking at the tip of his mind.

Jack's eyes burst open and he let out a shrill scream. He bolted out of bed and ran towards the door, his body ablaze. He heard someone yelling, then a loud crash. Jack ran for the front door. He crashed into someone. And fell to the floor. He began to roll back and forth on the carpet. Then he felt something heavy cover his body. He stopped rolling when he heard them speaking. His lungs had once again reached a point of deprivation of air. His skin felt tight and torn apart. He was crying underneath the heavy weight that had put out his body. He felt arms quickly pick him and carry him somewhere he was unsure of.

He felt a slightly chilly wind, telling him that he was outside. He heard sirens in the distance. It sounded like a fire truck that was getting closer. He heard a voice calling his name. He responded with grumbles.
The heavy weight was lifted away from him. It took several moments for his dry eyes to adjust to the bright light of the sun.

He was staring into the face of his boss. Not who he wanted it to be that had saved him. Still, Jack was thankful someone had came at all. After several moments of an awkward staring at his boss, he looked around. He saw his boss's daughter. He hadn't met her before, but he had seen pictures before.
Jack looked back to his boss and immediately broke down into tears. And hugged him even though he felt searing pain in his movements.

Jack had finished talking to the paramedics and fire department when his boss walked up to him with a rather sad smile on his face.

"Jack, are you going to be alright?" He questioned with concern in his voice.

Jack nodded, "Yeah, Mr. F., I will be."

Unconvinced, "How bout you stay with me and family for a few days while your room gets repaired?"

Jack looked surprised by the offer, "I don't want to impose."

"Nonsense," Mr. F. said enthusiastically, "you're my favorite employee!"

Jack smiled and thought for a moment, "Let me call up a few people first. I'd rather view options before I just move in to your house for a few days."

He nodded, "Understandable." Silence fell between them for a few moments before Mr. F. spoke again, "Oh, you haven't met my daughter yet have you?"

Jack shook his head, "Only pictures." Mr. F. nodded in response.

"Sadie! Come over here and meet Jack!" He beckoned his daughter who was presently awaiting her father to finish talking with police who had shown up shortly after the fire department.
Jack watched as a girl who looked to be around twelve ran over to them. She had a rose colored hair and freckled scattered around her face. As she approached Jack noticed her eyes were a light brown that accented her featured nicely.

"Jack, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Sadie." Mr. F. gestured to his daughter.

Jack waved his bandaged burnt hand to himself, "Hello, Sadie." He waved with a small smile.

"Hi, Jack!" She stated excitedly. "Sorry about your house!"

Jack waved a hand dismissively, "Don't be, insurance'll cover it."

She nodded, "Good! Okay, Well my dad has something to ask you!" She said loudly and ran back to the car.

Jack looked quizzically to his boss, "A question? Non-work related?"

Mr. F. Nodded his head curtly, "Yes. I almost forgot after all the commotion. I came by to ask whether or not you could tutor my daughter."

"On what subject?" Jack titled his head to the side.

"Computers."

"They teach that in school? What grade is she in?" Jack asked.

"They do actually. I was quite surprised myself when She came back with homework for it." He paused and looked back to his daughter before speaking, "She's struggling with writing programs."

Jack leaned back shocked, "Isn't that stuff like a college curriculum?" Jack paused and looked back to his house, "I mean I can. I'm just shocked that she's learning that."

Mr. F. let out a hearty laugh, "Me too! Especially since she's in the 7th grade!" He finished his sentence in a slight chuckle.

"Seventh grade huh? Well, I can tutor her anytime."

"Okay, good to know. Give me a call if you need to stay with me and my family." He waved goodbye and walked to the car his daughter was waiting for.

Jack stood from the back of the ambulance and pulled out his phone. He flipped through his contacts. Hmmm…I wonder if Aster would take me in for a few days.

The phone rang on the other end a few times before Jack heard an Australian answer. Jack shortly explained that there was a small fire in his house and he needed a place to crash for a few days while it was repaired. Aster had asked several questions about the situation, but stopped as he noticed Jack was giving him very short and vague answers. He happily agreed to let Jack stay with him for a few days. Giving him the option to either sleep on the couch or in the bed.

Jack laughed slightly. His throat burned from the smoke he had inhaled. Aster winced for Jack on the other side of the phone. Jack ended the conversation telling Aster he would drive over there after he had grabbed a few things.

The paramedics had left after asking again if Jack was feeling alright. Jack went to walk into his house, but was stopped by a fireman. He told Jack that the roof was structurally unstable and that he shouldn't go inside. Jack waved him off and proceeded to step into his home. The ceiling and walls of the hallway were etched in black from the smoke and heat. As he walked down the dark hallway he was stopped just short of his door. He looked up and saw a monster staring down at him solemnly.

"What?" Jack asked rather angrily at the beast.

It bowed its head in noticeable shame, "This was not meant to happen."

Jack cringed inwardly at all the voices in spoke with, "What? I wasn't supposed to be set on fire? My house wasn't supposed to go up in flames? I wasn't supposed to be brought to suicide from the…" Jack paused, remembering the noise and his mother's face, "Anyway," Jack changed the subject after the vision of his mother's mutilated face was forever going to be how he remembered her, "I have to get clothes."

Jack went to step by the monster. It put a hand on Jack's chest to stop him. Jack shoved it away and walked into his bedroom. He walked across the room to his scorched dresser and opened the top drawer. He pulled out a t-shirt and jeans. He held them close and proceeded to walk out of the room. He stopped when he heard a creak behind him.

He looked to his doorway, he was actually quite relieved to see the beast he had just spoken at to be there. He whipped around and saw a large black mass becoming more tangible as he stared at it.
He gasped as the mass turned into an overly tall malevolent creature crouching to fit into the room. As it formed several pairs of thick horns jutted from its head. One of its arms was exponentially thicker than the other, and moved as if it had a separate mind from its owner. Its thinner arm was long and could reach the wall behind Jack with a bend still in its arm. Its legs were fully bent in as it attempted to fit in Jack's room-which was large by most standards.

Jack started to step back towards his wide open door. The beast's thin arm swiftly slammed the door shut. Its charred frame making the slam of the door become quieted. Jack's heart began to race as he panicked.
The beast raised its head to look at Jack. Its several pairs of eyes were glowing red. Its face held no emotions. Its skin was straining under the tension put on by the massive body. The thin arm of the creature grasped Jack fully and pulled it closer towards its face. Its mouth still closed. Jack was not sure if this monster even had a mouth.

"Prey, can you hear me?" Jack heard a voice inside his head that wasn't his own. He just nodded his head at the question from the resonating voice. "Good."

"Is that your voice?" Jack asked aloud staring at the beast that held him so close.

"Yes." its voice was deep and archaic.

"What's happening?" Jack asked it slightly afraid.

"You are being visited."

"By whom?"

"I am the Elder."

"Should I be afraid?" Jack asked hoping for a good answer.

"Yes." Its eyes glowed slightly brighter.

"Oh. What do you want?"

"Your time is running short, Prey."

"I know. Answer my question." Jack said a bit annoyed it was beating around the bush.

"You will not," Its voice became extremely loud inside Jack's mind, "Speak to me in such a tone, Prey!"

"Answer my question then. What do you want?" Jack said, holding back his fear rather well in the face of such an atrocity.

"You are being visited by others that I do not control."

"How do you know that?" Jack asked pointedly.

"This fire was not us. The screams yes. But we do not wish to cause an early death for a well aged prey." Jack was about to say something, "Now leave this home. And remember: We are always watching."

Then it vanished and Jack was left speechless. He still felt the slight grip of the beast as he opened his door. Standing there still was the beast. Jack looked it up and down and walked past it.

He walked out his front door and told the firemen they could go and that insurance would be by to take a look. He walked to his truck parked in the driveway. Hmmm…I don't remember parking in the driveway. He brushed it off and hopped into the driver side. He started it up and glanced to the passenger side. It was void of existence. He smiled to himself and began his drive to Aster's.

Hi! This sucks because I definitely planned on putting this up last night. But then my friend came over and then it was suddenly two in the morning. Then I woke up and more friend stuff went down and then it was suddenly nine at night. And now its one in the morning. So! Yeah. You should all be thankful to: God of Spirits-Spirit Black. They definitely gave the idea for the beginning. Not as much detail and I'll admit I took a different approach than the original idea but, I think it turned out great! I hope you all enjoy this! And I shall say this now! Whether Jack sleeps in Aster's bed or the couch...Is up to you guys! I don't care either way! So..if no one votes(in a review or PM) He's gonna sleep on the floor...You don't want that do you? the hard wooden floor? So vote! Okay! Imma have a smoke and head to bed! Goodnight! and happy reading! Oh! and if anything is wrong-jumpy or grammar let me know.