"Jack Marwood speaking," I spoke into the phone with a perfectly composed voice.
My posture was serious, composed, and attentive, though with a hint of unease.
I'm sure my father was watching me through his shadow, looking for every bit of weakness coming from me so he could use it against me.
I… I need to negotiate. Even though it's hopeless. I… I need to try! I need to save my friends!
With that last prayer, I awaited.
Until I heard my father's voice again for the first time in two years.
"Jack," a cold, deep, and confident voice spoke across the phone.
I stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.
"I don't have much time, we can speak more later. I need your help."
…What? Help? I got confused by something I never expected to hear from him.
"Help?" I asked for clarification.
"Yes. Have you kept up with the news?"
"…Philadelphia?"
"Good. James is stuck there and we can't contact him. I need you to go there and bring him back to me. Together with his girlfriend, her name is Willow Frye."
My mind went completely blank. I was right about my brother being in trouble. Didn't my father know anything then? I… I needed to know for sure. I had to drag more information out of him.
"…Why me? I… I don't think I'm capable of…"
"Don't lie to me. I heard you're perfectly capable."
"And I need to stay here in case my mother gets back."
"…"
His voice grew silent. My very being waited in anticipation.
For the next words that would come out of him.
"Jack..., we both know your mother won't be coming back."
!!!
My heart shattered. He confirmed it. My breath caught in my throat.
"You don't…"
"I don't have the time to argue with you, and James doesn't either. The president's going to send troops to quell the riot tomorrow. He needs to be out of there and you two back to Washington before it goes into lockdown."
My mouth opened, but no words came out. I was completely overwhelmed.
But my father kept tightening my screws.
"I let you be these past years, and I'm satisfied with the results. What the police told me was intriguing, but your rebellious streak is now over. This world needs us now. It's time for you to rejoin your real family."
…No no no deny it deny it DENY IT!!!
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"We'll talk about it later. I think you're still useful to me, so prove it to me. You'll choose to do the right thing."
I gripped the table edge hard with my left hand.
But the devil sealed my fate.
"Otherwise, I'll make sure you'll have no choice left."
"…"
Everything in me shattered.
My hand let go of the table and fell limply down my side.
My head moved on its own. I couldn't control myself anymore.
I looked at Elise. She was staring at me full of worry.
Then I looked at Ken. He was also worried.
And both of their expressions were also full of fear.
"Are we clear?"
I looked down at the table, and spoke the only words that could save my friends.
"…Yes, Sir."
"…Good. I'll text you what you need."
*Beep*
My father hung up the call.
…I slowly put my phone in my pocket, and then stared blankly in front of me.
"Jack?"
Yet…, no thoughts came to me. I… I didn't know anymore.
Someone grabbed my hand.
!!!
My head snapped to the culprit.
"Jack, it's okay. We'll figure it out together," Elise said to me softly.
And I… I…
I pulled my hand back, and stood up from the table.
"J… Jack. Wait!"
"I'm sorry. I… I need some time alone. I need to think."
I turned around and walked away from them, before they could say anything else.
I ran away from the people I failed, whose voices I could only vaguely hear calling my name behind me.
My body walked on its own. Out of the living room and up the stairs.
Please make it. If they see me break down…
It will really be all over.
I opened my bedroom door and closed it behind me.
I moved my hand, but then I froze.
It… it had no lock. WHERE'S THE GODDAMN LOCK!!!
…Shit, shit, shit. I… I can't right now.
I turned around, and walked to the desk.
I pulled the chair from under it and sat down roughly, with the sound of a creak filling my ears shortly after.
And I stared… at the vase with the amaryllis plant standing in the middle of the desk.
The plant that was my mother's favorite.
…I lost focus. My… my vision was blurry?
I… I felt faint. Could… could I not breathe?
My hand moved to my eyes, and I felt something wet.
…I was crying?
Of course I was.
Agony and terror were the only feelings left in me.
I buried my head in my hands. I didn't want to see anything anymore.
Because I didn't understand, didn't understand, DIDN'T UNDERSTAND!!!
How my father knew everything.
I couldn't believe it. It made no sense! But that phone call, he spoke so vaguely, but the undertone was there.
Was he worried about being recorded? Did I give anything away he wasn't sure of yet?
But it didn't matter anymore. If he knew everything already or I gave it away.
I have no choice left but to obey him. Otherwise, he'll give me no choice.
He'd kill Elise and Ken, like he did to my mother.
And I could do nothing to stop it.
He exploded my house. He sent those stooges after Elise. And I couldn't do anything to prevent it.
Because there was only one reason he could have known everything. He was doing the same thing I had tried doing to him.
My father was predicting my behavior. He had been predicting my predictions.
That's why he avoided the trap I had set. That's why he knows where to strike where it most hurts. How to get the correct predictable reaction out of me. What to threaten me with.
He has always seen right through me. No acting could deceive him if he could predict my every thought and decisions.
And without my acting, I had nothing. And he had everything.
The shadow, the police, and… and my past in this town.
Those stooges, he could only have known about them and sent them after her if he kept tabs on me during my time here. Maybe one of them had family in the police. They had a police- issued firearm with them after all.
Maybe that's why there was no retaliation after they went after Elise the first time. My father buried it.
Goddamnit. It's all so obvious. I just never wanted to realize it. But I always knew deep down.
I would always be in the palm of his hand. He would always keep me broken. Always under his control.
By whatever means necessary.
I pulled my messy head from my wet hands, and stared at the vase again.
I could only apologize to her.
'I'm so sorry. It was all for nothing. And because of me…, you… you…'
"Jack?"
My body froze. The shock caught me out of my thoughts.
I looked slowly to my side…, to the woman who called my name.
"…Elise?"
She walked towards me, in front of me…
And she sat down on my lap, with a loud creak filling my ears.
She leaned forward, and put her arms around me.
Hugging me.
Cutting off all escape.
My arms were slack at my side. I didn't have the strength to resist.
I was completely at her mercy.
"Ken just used his power in this room while you were crying. Your father's not here, it's just us three. So please, you can let it all out."
"…I… I can't. I put you all in danger. I…"
"You told us it would be dangerous. We agreed to help you anyway."
"I can't win against him. He'll… he'll kill you all."
"We'll figure it out. All three of us."
"You can't. It's impossible. He knows everything. He…, those stooges, he already tried to hurt you."
"You saved us then. I believe in you, believe in us, that we'll get through this."
"You don't understand! He killed my mother! He… he… he would have always killed my mother."
Elise tightened her hug, and started stroking my head.
"That stalker…, he sent him. To get the police involved. To keep tabs on me and kill my mother at the right moment. That's why he did it immediately after he got his powers. He… he always planned to do so."
"I'm so sorry."
"M… my mother died because of me! He'll kill you because of me! I… I should have never rebelled. N… never got you involved…"
Elise pulled back, and stared straight into my eyes.
"Jack, you're a good person. It's your father's fault, not you. You helped your mother, and you helped us. So please believe that we want to help you back. No, we're going to, even if you don't want us to."
I looked away from her eyes. From the love and devotion that shone through them.
"You don't know anything about me. I… I'm not a good person."
"…That's not true. Even… even if you can't believe that yourself. Please believe in me."
I looked back into her eyes…, but I found no answer.
As to why she believed that.
"I don't understand. After… after last night. How can you say that?"
"…I know you can't remember. But you told me everything. Even the worst parts. And even despite all that, I still think you're a good person."
"…That can't be. I… everything I told you was a lie. If you really knew the truth…, you…"
"Try me."
My eyes went wide. And I looked into hers. There was no fear or hesitation in them.
It was like…, she really knew everything.
But if that's the case… and she still loved me.
Then she's just like my mother.
Who I got killed.
But she promised me that she would leave if I lied to her. If I did something she couldn't forgive. She promised me she wasn't like my mother.
Was… was her promise a lie.
If… if she lied to me…, then…
And if I told her everything last night…
Her behavior since then…, her composure and sharpness…, what I didn't understand.
Could… could it be that… that she had been lying to me the entire time since then!
!!!
My eyes and expression turned into horror and disbelief.
And Elise's eyes went wide.
She realized what I had.
It… it was true then.
"Get off me."
"Jack, wait. Let me..."
"I SAID GET OFF ME!!!"
I put my hands on her hips and shoved her standing.
*CREAK*
I got off the chair and took a few steps back from her, the floor creaking loudly with each step.
"L… let me explain."
"YOU KNEW! YOU KNEW MY FATHER WAS ONTO ME, AND YOU KEPT IT TO YOURSELF!"
She was momentarily shocked and scared by my bolstered voice, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Yes…, I knew. And I hid it from you."
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING! YOU PUT US ALL IN DANGER! YOU LIED TO ME… YOU, how… how could you…"
I couldn't finish my sentence. I looked away from her.
My chest hurt. It…, it felt like I was dying.
I…, my love for her was dying? Was…, was what I was feeling now…,
Heartbreak?
No…, no…, please don't.
I looked at her again. But…
Elise was gone.
Only a puppet was still standing there.
No. Even worse.
It was only her form. No clothes, hair, color, or anything else unnecessary was still visible to me.
Only her disgustingly pretty face remained visible in minute detail, so that I could read everything from it.
Which I couldn't look away from anymore.
"I'm so sorry. But…, but I thought it was best if you figured it out yourself. If I told you…, I was scared that you didn't believe me or lost all confidence in yourself," the puppet said with hyperanimated facial movements.
It was speaking the truth. But even so…
"I guess your belief in me is kinda fickle, if you thought I couldn't handle the truth."
The puppet was shocked and sad at my words, but then started pleading again.
"May… maybe I was wrong in hiding it from you. But please believe me that I only had your best interests at heart. I… I'm sorry I hurt you by lying, but… but I did it to protect us all. Please… please believe me."
I was staring straight into its eyes. And the puppet's gaze didn't yield to mine.
"You hurt me. And I hurt you last night. I put us all in harm's way. I…, people only get hurt if I involve myself."
"That's not true. You're a good man. You cared for your mother. You helped me and Ken…"
"My mother died because of me! And you… you… did you know she would always die too?"
"No, I didn't. I'm so sorry. But… but I know you made her happy in the end. All the time you cared for her wasn't for nothing. So please…, I… I'm sure she would want you to forgive yourself."
…Forgive myself. I… I can't.
I looked again at that puppet's expression, full of love for a monster like me.
My mother's expression. I… I can't stand it anymore.
Just leave me alone already. Don't get hurt because of me.
F… fine then. I'll do it.
I'll break her heart.
"Elise. I spread those rumors about you last year. Those guys attacked you because of me."
The puppet's expression… didn't change? But before she could open her mouth.
"What!?" An astonished voice said behind me.
I turned around. Another puppet, Ken, was standing in front of the door. Its face was full of disbelief.
"I know."
!?
I turned around again in shock. Elise was still staring at me with love in her eyes.
Im… impossible. That's impossible!
"Then why!? Why do you still think I'm a good person!? After… after I…"
"Because you did it to help me."
"Please… please don't forgive me. You… you'll become just like my mother. I… I'll keep changing you, until there's nothing left. I don't want that. Please just leave me alone already… please…"
Elise heard it all. And then…
She took a deep breath and collected all her courage…
And the puppet slowly floated towards me.
The floor creaked loudly with every supposed step she took.
And my legs were locked. I couldn't run away.
"I didn't forgive you. I scolded you properly last night. And I'll do it again now. I think you should have asked someone else for help instead of that stupid idea of yours! But even so…, because of you, I could love myself again…, and because of that…"
The puppet was now in front of me.
Staring straight into my hazel eyes.
Looking straight into my soul.
And with another deep breath…
She finished with the words I was most scared to hear.
"I fell in love with you."
…It felt like my heart stopped.
"…I don't understand. After all I did to you…, why… why do you love me?"
"Last night, when you told me everything. You acting like your mother, lying to me all this time, spreading those rumors about me. You… you broke my heart. But then I realized, you did it to save your mother, you did it because you wanted the best for me. I don't want you to lie or do stuff like that again. "But even so, I… I know you have a good heart and that you're a good person. That's why I love you."
"…Elise…, I…, even if, even if you believe so…, I…, I can't."
"I know. I know. So please…, please believe me when I say this."
I looked into the puppet's blue eyes, staring straight into Elise's soul.
"That, just like you did for me, I want to help you too, so that you can also love yourself again."
…That can't be. I… I couldn't believe it.
But… but even so…
I…, what I saw was undeniable.
The puppet had spoken the truth.
*Badump* *badump* *badump*
I heard my heartbeat and felt warmth fill my body again.
If… she really wants to help. Then… then…
I… let my tongue move on its own.
It spoke words coming straight from my soul.
"Then…, please promise me. That you'll stop loving me if I do something unforgivable. That you won't become like my mother. That… that you won't let me become like my father."
Elise heard it all, and relief filled her face.
Without hesitation…, like she had already expected those words coming from me…,
She spoke the truth.
"I promise."
And at that moment, for the first time since I had known her.
I saw her. Everything about her.
I saw a person.
My whole world froze for a moment in vibrant colors. It was indescribable.
She was the most beautiful person I had ever seen.
All my self-control broke down. I let it happen. I didn't need to care anymore.
She had taken all my fear away.
I grabbed her and pulled her into a hug.
I… I spoke from my heart. Nothing was holding me back anymore.
The words I had always wanted to say most to her.
"Thank you…, thank you. I…, Elise…, I… I love you too. And I'll try… to… to love myself too. So… so please help me."
"Yes, of course! I'm so glad. We'll figure it out together. I promise," she said, full of love in her voice, head buried against my chest.
"Okay…, alright. I'm… I'm counting on you."
"Yeah…, I…, we always counted on you, so it's time for us to finally return the favor. We'll protect each other from now on…, okay?"
"Okay…, I… I love you, Elise."
"I love you too, Jack. I love you."
I tightened my hug. And she tightened hers.
She felt so warm. She felt so soft. Her smell put me at ease.
I could hold her like this forever and ever.
*Cough* *cough*
I stiffened at the noise behind me.
Oh no…, I completely forgot about him!
I slowly pulled away from Elise. Her cute face was turning red from embarrassment.
…Just like mine.
I turned around…
And Ken was staring at me with the biggest grin I had ever seen.
"Well, congratulations on finally becoming a couple. About time if you ask me. And Jack…, I want to ask you some things about all that you two just said to each other. But I think your father's the more pressing issue. How about we discuss first what we're going to do from now on about him?"
"…Yeah, you're right. But…, uh…, next time, can you be a bit less of a prick about it?"
"…What? Prick!? What do you mean!?" He asked in a disbelieving voice.
"Yeah, uh, never mind. And about my father…, I… I don't know. We'll need to discuss it. But first…"
I looked at Elise standing beside me for a moment, and then back at Ken to continue.
"I think we need to tell William everything first and include him. He'll have some good insight too."
"…Yeah, I agree. Let's do that first."
"Thank you. I'm sure dad will believe us," Elise said next to me.
I looked at her. She had regained her composure, and she was staring at me with the warmest smile she had ever given me.
My lips formed a natural smile too, and I gave her a nod.
"Although…, I'll have to deactivate my power in this room, bring William here and reactivate it again…, what a pain," Ken said while looking at the wooden floor.
I looked back at him. Oh…, of course, that's how he made this room shadow-proof.
"…That annoying creaking was your doing?"
"Yeah, it's a sound trap. Smart, eh?"
"It is… Good job. If he appears, I'll be fast enough to…"
…If he appears?
W… wait.
…No no no that can't be.
Because before Ken was here…, I… I already heard…
*Gasp*
Ken's breath got caught in his throat. He stared with terror towards the window, towards the desk with my mother's vase.
And all the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I started shaking. I was suddenly paralyzed with fear.
Ken's mouth opened, but he couldn't speak.
But he didn't need to. His face said enough.
Ken saw it now. It had made itself visible.
And I felt it. This terror in the air…, I had felt it once before.
Just before he murdered my mother.
The shadow had been standing on the desk this entire time, next to my mother's vase.
Listening in.
And he learned that I had regained new hope.
Elise and Ken.
The two people who still managed to refuel my rebellion.
The only ones keeping me free from him.
He… he was going to attack.
And ruin even that.