When Will This Be Over?

Chapter Ten

'Morrigan? Where are you Mog?' Jack's voice cracked on the last word. He had been wondering the Nevermoor streets for hours trying to find his missing friend.

It had gotten dark but Jack was still searching well into the night. He needed to find her. Morrigan needed to come home. He was unsure how much longer he could last without her.

'Jack?' The voice was a whisper, coming from underneath a park bench. Although it was quiet, Jack could recognise that voice anywhere.

'Morrigan!' Jack suddenly became dizzy with relief as he stumbled over to where the younger girl lay on the ground. He collapsed next to her and helped her out from under the bench. Instantly, he threw his arms around her middle, and hers wrapped around his neck.

'You're safe. You're okay. You're going to come home.' This became a mantra that Jack repeatedly whispered into the crook of Morrigan's neck. They were crying together, tears flowing freely down both of their cheeks.

Jack had never experienced the amount of happiness he felt in that moment. The past week and a half had been the worst time of his life. His family had been broken, torn apart by evil. Morrigan had been ripped away and Jupiter hadn't been himself because of it. But now Morrigan was going to go home, and all would be resolved. It was finally over.

The pair pulled apart from one another and Jack ran his eyes over the younger girl to make sure that she was, in fact, safe and okay. Morrigan was pale, and skinner than usual, but she was alright. She really was going to come home. They made eye contact and both broke out into large smiles.

'I missed you,' they both said it at the same time and started laughing at their similar thinking.

However, Morrigan stopped laughing first and focused her gaze on Jack's eyepatch. 'You're wearing it again. Why?'

Jack quickly became embarrassed. He hasn't worn it in so long, but the Deucalion staff and residents had so many emotions since Morrigan's kidnapping that the colours became too distracting and he had to filter them out with the eyepatch. 'I-I couldn't control what I was seeing. I needed help.'

Morrigan nodded. Her face held some emotion, but Jack couldn't figure out what it was. Disappointment, maybe? That was the last thing he wanted her to feel towards him.

'I guess I could take it off. Just for right now, until we get back home.'

A smile stretched across Morrigan's lips, and she reached to remove the patch for him. When she did, bright colours danced in front of Jack's eyes.

He panicked. They had never been this bright before. Black and gold shot from Morrigan's body like lasers. Red, orange and yellow danced in the background. A sharp pain sparked in Jack's head and he groaned as he brought his hand up to it. He tried to breathe but his lungs wouldn't fill. His heart was beating so fast he was sure it was visible in his chest.

'Jack?' The word didn't come from in front of him. Instead, it was all around him, echoing in his ears.

'Morrigan...' That was all he could say before his vision turned white, and he collapsed.

{~~~}

'Morrigan!' Jack screamed as he sat upright in bed. These nightmares weren't rare for him. Each night he dreamt of finding Morrigan before she was taken away from him again. It broke his heart each and everytime. He just wanted his friend back.

Glancing at his clock, he saw that it was 2:30am. He knew that it would be impossible to get back to sleep, it always was, but he still tried nevertheless.

Jack tossed and turned, tangling himself in the blankets. He got himself unstuck and sat up again. He sighed, feeling the cool air enter his lungs and then leave. Unsure of what to do, he got out of bed and let his feet slip into his slippers, warming them.

He walked over to his desk, sunk down in the chair, and turned on his lamp. An orange glow filled the room, creating shadows on the walls from his furniture. His eyes travelled over the items on his desk. Paper. Pens. Black square sheets of paper: Black Mail.

'Speaking of blackmail. I've been meaning to give you this. If you ever need me, a proper emergency...I think it's best if you can reach me.'

That felt like lifetimes ago. Now Jack was the one to need Morrigan. He never thought he would admit that, but it was true. There was once a time where Morrigan wasn't in his life, but then all of a sudden she was and she made Jack the happiest he had ever been. Now, he felt extremely depressed and lonely without her.

Looking at the Black Mail sparked Jack's next idea. He was going to write Morrigan a letter. It was irrelevant whether or not he gave it to her upon her return home, but he hoped it helped get his emotions out.

So, he put pen to paper and wrote for forty minutes. It was difficult to get out what he wanted to say, and tear stains made the words bleed together, but Jack was glad he had written it.

Sleep came easy afterwards and it was the best he had slept since Morrigan had been taken.

{~~~}

Dear Morrigan,

I miss you. In this letter I will be unable to truly express how much I miss you, but you need to know that it is true.

I hope you come home soon, Mog. Jupiter is slipping away. He is truly heartbroken and unable to function without you at home. It is like his life has no purpose anymore. I am trying to show him that it does, but you know how he is. He is so protective over you and he feels he has failed you. Sometimes I walk through the halls of the Deucalion at night and I can hear him crying in his study. Not just lightly crying. He sobs, Morrigan. He is also skipping meals. He claims he is too busy to eat, so Martha brings food to his study. It turns cold and remains uneaten. I woke up to nightmares one night and went to sleep in his room, but Jupiter just kept repeating your name over and over again. He is losing himself. I don't know what to do anymore. I need you home to help me.

I tried to go back to school a few days after you were taken away. I returned home halfway through the day. I couldn't stand to think that something could happen while I wasn't at home. I am also sure that if I did stay, I would eventually be sent home because of my nightmares. I seem to be unable to sleep without dreaming of your return. But as all nightmares do, my dreams end awfully with you being ripped away from me again.

My deepest regret is going to the bathroom at the snow cone shop. If I hadn't, you would still be here and none of us would be so upset. I am truly sorry for this, Morrigan. I hope one day you can find it in yourself to forgive me.

I love you, Mog, and I await your return home. I hope you aren't too far away and Jupiter can find you easily. But then again, he's Jupiter. There isn't any job he can't do.

Until then, Morrigan, I will continue to wonder, when will this be over?

Much love,
Jack

1272 words