Aster couldn't stop what had happened; Amari had grabbed his arm and the world around them dropped away. In an instant, they were standing in the middle of a desert. Aster stepped back from the woman and looked around confused.

"I like to settle most of disputes away from witnesses," Amari said with a smirk.

Aster stepped toward Amari and went to grab her, "The fuck?!"

Amari stepped to the side and away, "No, The desert."

Aster growled at her, "How are we going to settle this dispute you say we have?"

Amari smiled, "Well," she cracked her knuckles and her neck, "I assume we're going to fight."

Aster huffed, "You can teleport, how can I," he paused and smiled, "a human, win against a fight?"

Amari glowered, "I know you're definitely not human," she stepped toward Aster slowly, "I don't know who you are, and now I'm unsure whether or not I was right," she was a foot from Aster's face, "because I believe you work like a ventriloquist."

Aster tilted his head, "A ventriloquist?"

Amari nodded, "Yes, throwing your presence, so to speak."

Aster laughed at her, "Jesus lady, this is fucked up already," Aster's laughter died down, "Did you slip something in the air when I opened the door?"

Amari shook her head, "Don't try to play me," She stepped back, "I know better now."

Aster cleared his throat, "Very well." Aster raised his fists, "Should we fight in these forms?"

Amari nodded, "Only way to make it fair."

Aster smirked, "Could you even guess my name?"

Amari shook her head, "I was never as good at that as my brother Anzan, or tracking things from your realm."

Aster nodded, "Good."

Amari pinched her brow, "How about we don't fight to the death?"

Aster cocked his head, "What do you mean?"

Amari smirked, "Whichever one of us can't get up anymore, loses and leaves Jack alone."

Aster smiled, "So, I can still kill you. That'll stop you from getting up and you'll leave Jack alone."

Amari shook her head, "Your kind are all the same."

Aster started to walk circles around Amari, "Quite the contrary. Though we all have an aggressive side, I don't really like killing your kind," Aster shook his head with a smirk, "I do think it's funny though, you still believe you're the good guys."

Amari held a perplexed expression, "That's because we are."

Aster scoffed and crossed his arms, "If it makes you feel better about your miserable existence."

Aster stopped walking in front of Amari. Aster smirked at her before he lunged at Amari with his fist. Amari sidestepped and swung her leg toward Aster's skull. Aster ducked his head and leaned back. Aster raised his hands with open palms, ready to defend. Amari widened her stance and went for Aster's sternum with a straight punch. Aster turned his body, barely dodging her attack. He reached forward and captured her wrist. He gripped it tight and used her momentum to swing her over and onto her to feet. When her back touched the ground he pressed his foot on to her neck and jerked her arm up.

A loud pop was heard as her shoulder disconnected. Aster ignored her cry of pain as twisted the limb and bent her wrist back to her elbow. Aster discarded the woman from his grip and rolled her away with his foot. Amari quickly stood with help from her good arm. She snarled at Aster and pushed her arm back into place with a snap. She grabbed her wrist and shoved it back in place as well. She clenched and unclenched her hand a few times before feeling satisfied.

She looked to Aster with a glaring smirk, "I underestimated you." Aster scoffed, "A mistake."

Aster smirked, "I over estimated you."

Amari practically glided to Aster and aimed a kick for Aster's knee. Aster raised his leg and stepped on Amari's ankle. Amari lifted her another leg and balanced on her hand as she swung her foot at Aster's jaw. Aster stepped back off her ankle and waited for her to get up.

"Honorable that you'd let me stand," Amari said as she got to her feet.

Aster gave a slight bow, "I do my best."

Amari curtsied in return. She moved to Aster and went to jab her elbow in his throat. Aster bent backwards and lifted his knee quickly to Amari's chest. Amari spun on her heel and swung her arm toward Aster. Aster went to block it when she disappeared abruptly. Aster was thrown off balance, Amari reappeared behind him and her arm connected with the back of Aster's neck. Aster was shoved forward a few strides. He quickly turned back around and went to punch Amari's throat. As his fist came from the side she was gone again. Aster continued his swing and turned with his force. When he had reached 180 degrees in spin, Amari reappeared just in time to receive the blow.

Amari gagged after the powerful hit from her throat. She struggled to get air in her lungs and fell to her knees. She gasped and toppled to her side, her hands holding her throat in hopes to coerce it to work again.

Aster sat at the balls of his feet and smirked, "I win. At least I think so, I collapsed your windpipe after all." Amari struggled for breath as Aster mocked her with a smile, "Now, I don't think I will kill you, but if I ever see you again or Jack speaks of seeing you, I will." Amari grabbed at Aster's shirt collar, "What? You want to tell me something?" Amari nodded her head in response so Aster leaned in really close.

In a wheezy and hushed tone, "I don't want my husband to win."

Aster smiled, "He won't. And neither will you," Aster stood, "Now take me back," He said sternly.

P/A/G/E/B/R/E/A/K

Rick sat out of the way in the back of the ambulance, a distressed look rested on his face as he stared at Jack. The EMTs appeared to be doing all that they could to keep Jack alive. Rick couldn't understand what they were all saying, it sounded like a jumbled mess of sloppy words to him, but he knew that Jack would live because one of the EMTs praised him for wrapping Jack's wound and keeping pressure on it.

The ride to the ER was far too long for Rick's comfort. Rick maintained pace behind the EMTs as they ran Jack to an operating room. Tears slowly fell down Rick's face as he saw Jack pushed through the doors on the gurney. He was held back by one of the nurses that got collected on the way to the OR.

"Sorry, Sir. You have to wait outside," the nurse said firmly before disappearing behind the doors.

Rick's jaw dropped as stood in front of the double doors, frozen in his position. Rick shook the shock off and walked through the doors. He saw Jack covered with a blue paper-like cloth. The covering had a small square cut open, around Jack's side and back. Rick was spotted by one of the nurses.

"Sir, you need to leave now," the nurse put his hands on Rick's chest and started to usher him out of the room.

Rick tried to push back, "He's my son," Rick's voice was small and went almost unheard by the nurse.

"Sir, you need to go and wait in the hall." The nurse's voice was stern.

Another tear rolled down Rick's cheek as he let the nurse move him in to the hallway. Rick paced the cramped hallway that was lined with long cushioned benches. Rick wiped the tear off his face and rubbed his eyes. Rick let himself fall to a sitting position on the bench across from the door and held his head in his hands. Rick opened the flood gate of tears that had been straining to spill forth since the ambulance arrived.

P/A/G/E/B/R/E/A/K

Eathan was sulking on his bed when he heard the front door open and close. Eathan huffed out a breath and rolled out of his bed to his feet.

Eathan walked with a slouch, he looked around the living room and saw Aster leaning against the kitchen threshold. Eathan eyed Aster as he slowly stepped up to him. Eathan raised an eyebrow when he saw that as very sweaty.

"What'd you do?" Eathan asked.

Aster took a deep breath, "Just got in ta a bit of scrape. No worries."

Eathan nodded, "With who?"

Aster shrugged, "Just a guy who didn't want to pay for his commission."

Eathan stepped back, "You fought a guy for not wanting to pay?" Aster nodded, "Why not just withhold the art?"

Aster smirked, "Tried that. Didn't work."

Eathan frowned and solemnly went back into his room. When he flopped himself down onto his bed his cellphone rang. Eathan groaned and pulled his phone from his pocket. Eathan stared at the number while his phone rang. I have no idea who this is. Eathan silenced his phone and put it next to his head.

It had only been ten minutes since the first call, Eathan was on the verge of falling asleep when his phone rang a second time. Eathan lethargically grabbed his phone and looked at the number. Oh hey, it's Mom.

Eathan perked up prior to answering the call, "Hey, Mom. How are you?"

His mother was crying on the other end, "Eathan…It's about your brother, Jack."

Eathan was hesitant to respond, "What about him?"

"He's in the hospital. A stab wound," Mary took a shuddered breath before speaking in quiet sobs, "From what the doctor told me on the phone it's…" Eathan could hear his mother cry.

"Mom…Where is he?" Eathan asked restlessly.

"He's um…He's um…" Mary took a few moments before she continued, "He's at Cheshire Hospital. In the OR right now…" Mary's voice got quieter and softer.

"It's okay mom, I'm going there now. I'll call you when I know more about the situation." Eathan said quickly, already standing in his doorway.

"Okay…be safe, honey. I love you." Mary said shakily.

"I love you, too." Eathan said and then hung up the phone.

Eathan ran to the living room, "Aster, we need to go to Cheshire Hospital. You know where that is?" His words came out almost too quick for Aster to comprehend.

Aster shrugged, "Doesn't matter, the cab driver will."

Eathan nodded, "Good point," Eathan said as he quickly pulled his phone back out from his pocket and dialed for a cab.

Eathan rushed out of the taxi and ran into the hospital ER entrance. Eathan dodged an oncoming patient and dashed to the receptionist's desk.

Eathan practically crashed in to the desk and leaned over the counter, "Where's Jack Frost?"

The receptionist typed a few things in her computer, "The OR now, sir," She pointed down the nearest hallway, "Down that hallway and take your third left. His father is waiting in the hall outside the room."

Eathan was gone before Aster showed up at the desk. Aster quickly walked up to the desk, "Hello, miss?" The receptionist looked to Aster, "Did a frantic boy just come in here?"

The receptionist nodded and pointed down the hall, "He ran down that hall and took the third left."

Aster tapped the counter, "Thank you," and he was off down the hall, chasing after Eathan.

Eathan stood, staring at the man who sat nervously on the bench. Eathan sat down next to the distraught man.

"What're you waiting on?" Eathan asked the man awkwardly.

The man pointed to the doors right across from them, "The boy in there," The man laughed gravely, "My unofficial son-by-choice."

Eathan gave the man a curt nod, "I'm here for my brother."

Rick leaned back against the hard wall, "What's your brother's name?"

Eathan half-smiled, "Jack. We had the same foster mother."

Rick raised an eyebrow, "That's interesting, my son's name is Jack."

Eathan heard fast footfalls echo down the hall, "Here comes his boyfriend," Eathan said as he watched Aster get closer.

"'Ey Eathan, what the hell, I thought ya were gonna wait for me at the desk?" Aster said as he approached Eathan.

Eathan shrugged, "Sorry, I wanted know what Jack was."

"Fair 'nough," Aster spotted the man Eathan was sitting next to, "Sorry for askin', but what's ya situation?"

The man waved his hand dismissedly, "No worries, I'm here to make sure my son survives a stab wound."

Eathan cocked his head to the side, "My brother was stabbed as well."

Rick hummed, "What's your brother's last name?"

"Frost," Eathan said.

Rick shook his head, "We're here for the same person. I'm Jack's old neighbor Rick," Rick reached his hand out for Eathan.

Eathan shook Rick's hand, "I'm his brother, Eathan."

Aster reached his hand to Rick's as well, "Aster. Jack's boyfriend."

Rick beamed at Aster, "Oh, so you're Aster? Well, I have heard quite some things about you." Rick's voice held a teasing tone.

"Oh? And do tell, what have you heard?" Aster asked genuinely intrigued.

Rick smiled, "Oh just this and that sort of thing," Rick shook his head dismissively, "and that you are the light of his life."

Aster was taken aback, "He feels that strongly for me?" Rick nodded in response. "I'm glad my feelings are reciprocated." Aster held a wide grin on his face.

Rick smiled back shortly before his grin turned to a sad frown, "I really hope he survives this so you can tell him that."

Aster sighed dejectedly, "Me too."

Eathan sat silently next to Rick as they all awaited the doctor to emerge from the operating room.

P/A/G/E/B/R/E/A/K

Eathan looked to his cellphone for the time. If I remember correctly, we got here almost three hours ago. Eathan slipped his phone back into his pocket. Eathan slouched forward and rested his chin in his hands. All three men startled when the double doors opened.

"Excuse me, which one of you is the father?" The doctor glanced over the three men.

"I am." Rick stood.

"I need you to come in here, now, please." The doctor said while he signaled Rick to walk through the doors.

"What do you need me for? I already filed all the papers." Rick asked.

The doctor brought up pictures of a young man's back, "Do you see this?" The doctor gestured to the nearly solid black ring, "We've pulled tests and results from previous data and according to each one," The doctor paused and brought up several more pictures, "These are x-rays of your son's back." The pictures were strange looking, each one was blotted out in the center, "I can tell by your expression you understand that enormous white blots like this aren't normal." Rick nodded his head, "The marks in these photos are the same color as the bones, and if you compare them side-by-side, you'll notice that," The doctor held the regular photo and the x-ray next to each other, "The spot lines up with black dot on your sons spine."

Rick cocked his head to the side, "Okay, I get it, but what does it mean?"

The doctor shook his head, "I don't know. We've done a biopsy and nothing abnormal showed in the results. We tried to see if there was some kind of fluid underneath the skin. We even sliced open a small section," The doctor laughed, "I apologize about my answer, but we have no idea what it is or how to get rid of it."

Rick sighed, "Don't then. I've never seen him complain about it. It doesn't seem to bother him or to be cancerous?" The doctor shook his head, "Very well. If it does get worse or it starts to bother him, we'll bring him back in."

The doctor sighed, "I'm sorry to say this, but your son will need to stay here for at least a four more days."

Rick nodded in compliance, "I understand. How is his wound, you never mentioned it."

The doctor smiled, "It's doing very well. The reason we're keeping him for at least four more days is because we had to reconnect his lower intestine and remove his appendix."

Rick tilted his head, "Why his appendix?"

The doctor gave a short laugh, "He had the very early stages of appendix rupture, but don't worry, we got it and he'll be alright."

Rick sighed with relief, "So," Rick gestured toward the hallway, "Can I go tell them?" the doctor nodded and Rick was already out the door.

P/A/G/E/B/R/E/A/K

Jack huffed out breaths while he ascended the steep stair case. He tried on several occasions to bring him self back to consciousness, and failed each time. Jack shrugged off each moment. He continued to use the walking stick to climb the stairs that felt akin to scaling the face of the mountain anyway. The stairs weren't smooth and didn't line up on the edges, some of the steps were taller or shorter than the previous one and Jack had almost lost his balance more than a few times. Jack thanked Rick silently for giving him the walking stick. Thank you Rick, I'd be dead without you.

Jack looked up the crag. Jack took a moment to judge how far up he was. Maybe halfway. Shortly after Jack treaded up several more steps, he came to a landing, just long and wide enough to lay down. Jack took full responsibility of using the landing to utmost potential.

"Resting, are we?" came a gruff deep voice.

Jack nodded, "I'd say I deserve it. Wouldn't you?" Jack's eyes were closed and he couldn't tell if the voice had nodded or shaken its head.

"Yes, I suppose you have." Jack heard the figure sit down beside him.

Jack chanced a glance to see who was sitting next to him, "Liam?"

"Yes?" he asked Jack.

Jack sat up, "Well, I don't know. I'm honestly surprised I didn't see you earlier."

Liam sighed, "I had quite a few things to deal with."

Jack laughed, "You got them handled didn't you?"

Liam shook his head, "No. I didn't. I had a fight with someone I thought was bad." Liam exhaled slowly, "I lost. And now I'm able to visit you here." Liam gestured to the landing.

Jack smiled, "Well I'm glad you're here," Jack titled his head to the side, "It's strange though, you answered with something I wouldn't already know…subconscious or awake."

Liam gave a sad smile, "I said I lost, Jack. When I lost in this body I lost in every body."

Jack put a hand to Liam's shoulder and raised an eyebrow, "What does that mean?"

Liam smiled, "I'm dead Jack, in my human existence and my other existence. That's how it works."

Jack hummed before speaking, "So, you're really dead then…I'm talking to your ghost?"

Liam shook his head, "No, my soul. And since this is your subconscious I look like how you remember me."

Jack smiled, "Good, I feel as though your other form is frightening."

Liam nodded, "Yeah, it is to some." Liam looked to the sky, "Nice weather here."

Jack nodded, "Thank you."

Liam smiled, "You're welcome," Liam paused for thought, "Want to get to the top quicker?"

Jack nodded, "Of course!"

Liam beamed a grin at Jack, "Okay, start running!"

Jack was pumped, he didn't even see Liam's shocked expression when he bolted off in a sprint up the stairs. Jack's decision to run up the stairs was not one of his best moments. He continually tripped and stumbled, he's feet lost grip on every other step. Jack held firm in his resolve to make it to the top before he woke up.

P/A/G/E/B/R/E/A/K

"So, we go home for the day?" Eathan asked Rick after Rick had just explained Jack's current condition.

"Seems so," Rick glanced to both Aster and Eathan, "I'll stay until they move him into ICU. Once I'm sure he's okay, I'll be heading home as well."

Aster nodded in concurrence, "That sounds alright. We'll come by tomorrow to see what's going on then." Aster looked to Eathan then back to Rick, "Do you want one of our numbers so you can reach us?"

Rick smiled, "That'd be great, thank you."

After exchanging numbers, Aster and Eathan both left the hospital. Rick sat back down on the bench and looked at the time. Eight-thirty, not too late. Good.

When Rick put his phone back in his pocket the same doctor as before walked out into the hall.

"Sir, we're going to be moving your son to the ICU," The doctor motioned for Rick to follow, "If you'll follow me, there are some more papers I'll need you to fill out."

P/A/G/E/B/R/E/A/K

-Two Days Left-

Jack felt as if he'd been climbing the same few steps for hours. Each foot hold seemed to repeat itself every so often. Jack grumbled and leaned down onto the steps. I don't feel like going anymore.

"Jack, you have to." He could hear Liam from above him.

Jack turned and saw Liam standing quite a few steps above himself, "Ya know, usually when someone comes and visits me, I learn something." Jack chuckled.

Liam bowed, "My apologies," Liam carefully stepped down to just above Jack's level, "I'll tell you what I know, would that suffice?"

Jack waved his hand for Liam to continue, "Yes, it would."

"Well, I won't start at the beginning, but somewhere close," Liam paused for breath, "Several thousand years after each plane had been created-"

Jack interrupted Liam, "Created how?"

Liam smirked, "No idea, that knowledge has long been forgotten or was never known at all. Back to my story." Jack nodded, "The Grand Elder of Tribes was sent to negotiate a truce with the Focus Earth Queen. How they came to be, again, no one knows or remembers. When the Grand Elder came to the earthly realm, ruled by humans, he could see the souls of the wandering people. Unfortunately for all humans now, what he did has forever altered their fate."

"What'd he do?" Jack asked intrigued.

"He consumed their souls, using them to gain more power. It wasn't long, and by long I mean a day on earth, before the Queen realized that the Grand Elder was taking her work force and her life force," Liam paused to ensure he had Jack's attention, "So the queen devised a plan to rid her realm of the Grand Elder. She traveled to the realm of…we'll call this new place Stream. She spoke with their ruler, and asked for sanctuary for her people," Liam looked over the far off landscape as he spoke, "He agreed, as long as he got to keep them and shape them as his own. With much reluctance she accepted his terms if it meant her people lived."

Jack piped up quickly, "Can people live without a soul?"

Liam shook his head, "No, once the soul is gone, the body is left to whither away. And so the Queen, using swiftness only she had, gathered all the humans that were left. She escorted them to Stream When she returned, the world she ruled that was once a blooming utopia, was now a barren wasteland."

Jack titled his head, "Okay, so…what does that have to do with anything?"

Liam smiled, "It has to do with a lot of things, for one, the Queen created the one you call Amari. She did that after she left the humans to their own devices. One of the Stream's ruler's charge created me." Jack indicated for Liam to continue, "Unfortunately though, the Grand Elder also created tribes, and with each tribe came an Elder, a leader of lost and forgotten souls with one sole purpose."

Jack tilted forward, curious, "What purpose?"

Liam weaved his hands about while he explained, "It's complicated, because each Elder has a different task. I know one and only one and their job involves something about time, that's all I know about the Elder I've spoken to."

Jack pointed a finger at Liam, "So you work for holy beings, in a gist, and you go talk to demons?"

Liam swatted Jack's arm, "They aren't demons, Jack. They're more righteous than my kind, so to speak." Liam looked to Jack with a slight sullen expression, "Though I do one of the Elder's charges, in fact, they're the ones who killed me."

Jack's eyes went wide, "I mean, I knew you died, you said that earlier, I just never expected it to be from a lesser being."

Liam t'skd Jack, "Jack, my entire plane has been corrupted with greed and I didn't figure that out until it was too late," Liam looked towards the peak of the mountain, "I need you to get higher up this damn mountain."

Jack smiled, "You got it," Jack began his steady paced trek up the steps, smiling the entire time.

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAWN/MORNING/AFTERNOON/DAY/EVENING/DUSK/TWILIGHT OR NIGHT! I LOVE ALL OF YOU AND YOU ARE AN AMAZING BUNCH TO GET TO KNOW. ALSO TO THE GUEST THAT REVIEWED CHAPTER 11...IF YOU MAKE IT THIS FAR, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. I HOPE SOME OF YOU REVIEW THIS CHAPTER BECAUSE IT IS ALMOST THE FINAL ONE. NEXT ONE WILL BE THE END AND THEN AN EPILOGUE.

I REPEAT THIS IS THE SECOND TO LAST CHAPTER. ONLY ONE MORE THAN AN EPILOGUE. SO PLEASE REVIEW, I LIKE THAT STUFF.