Hush

Jack: A fall into darkness

Jack's lower lip trembled, his entire body shuddered under the grip of Ace who relished in the power he had over the boy, the shadows writhed around them both almost excitedly.

'I...' Jack's dark knuckles curled, preparing to swing up at Ace's nose, but before he could react, Ace let him go in an agonized howl. The darkness within him quickly bursting out through the top of his head like an upward stream of slick oil. Jack staggered backwards and peered down at Hush who still had Ace's calf muscle gripped tight in his now oversized jaws, blood quickly staining both the trouser leg and the bear's mouth as he wrapped his claws around his leg for an unrelenting grip.

'Let go of me.' Ace shrieked, his fingers trying hard to wrench the bear from his leg. 'I wasn't going to hurt him.' He pulled at Hush's head and only aggravated him further, feeling his sharp teeth sink deeper, as though he had stood in a bear trap.

'Call off your minion.' Ace cried pleaded desperately.

Jack who had stood frozen, nodded. He hadn't needed to speak, the bear had attuned himself to his energy and mind. Hush let go and Ace fell back, his face pale and gaunt as the slick oily darkness that had evacuated from his head was suddenly plugged shut. He gasped raggedly as though phlegm sat heavy in his throat.

'Well done Hush.' Jack praised, then said quietly, without emotion in his voice as he turned back to Ace, 'I said I didn't trust you, and now I have more reason not to.'

'I just wanted to get you back home.' Ace replied breathlessly.

That word again, Jack thought, allowing his eyes to dance back to the door once again before turning back to Ace.

'Why?' He asked sharply, 'why are you so invested in taking me back to an orphanage. A place where there is no love, no warmth, nothing.'

'You don't belong here.' Ace coughed, spitting something black and tar like to the ground.

Jack snorted. 'Yeah, and you think I belong in that decrepit shithole?' He shook his head in disbelief. 'You wasted your time coming for me.'

'Jack?' Hush said softly.

'I don't want to go back there,' Jack's voice broke. 'I don't want to be reminded that no matter where I go in the world, nobody will love me, nobody will want me.' He looked to Hush, his eyes holding unshed tears.

Hush shook his head, the blood around his mouth still damp and dripping, with an unpleasant smell. 'That's not true Jack, I feel your fear for this place, I know you want to go home, but you are scared.' Hush glanced to Ace who had lifted his trouser leg to inspect the damage, puncture holes round like nails split his flesh and blood leaked out steadily, the remaining dark tendrils he harbored slowly made their way to the wounds, like leeches they were hungry for his blood.

'Fuck.' He groaned, glaring at Hush, 'you really meant to hurt me didn't you?'

Hush growled, the fur on his back raised in confirmation. 'I protect Jack.'

Ace rolled his eyes and scoffed. 'Yeah? just an hour ago you were literally scrap material, remember who saved you.' He looked up at Jack, thoughtful now.

'So what's your beef?' He asked. 'Nobody comes to Requirden as a pure soul.' He eyed Jack up and down. 'What did you do?'

Jack's brows knitted together in discomfort as he glanced down. 'I don't remember.' He answered carefully, then lifting his head he asked, 'what about you?' Hoping to get insight into what one may have to do wrong to even end up here, wherever here was.

'Me?' Ace smiled easily, 'I guess you could say I indulge in my darkness to much.' He ran his hand over the leeching tendrils drinking from the wound on his leg as Jack watched. They flickered like tongues, and like magic sealed his wound closed, leaving nothing but pale skin.