JAKKOSTEIN!

chapter 7 ; flip phone a friend.

With goggles and lab coats for the special occasion, Jakkostein and Basil stood at the operating table.

The lifeless, gaint body lay naked with nothing but a sheet to cover his torso and below.
For some strange reason, Jakko felt more alive than ever. Actually, I'm getting to help with Basil's projects? Getting a new friend in the process? It seemed beautiful. He'd invite his friend with open arms.

"If he hurts you, I'll stop this project immediately. Understood?" Basil asked, glancing down at the petite monster who stood so proud.

"He won't hurt me, Doctor. True love exists." Jakko smiled big, opening up the attic window, breeze making it's presence known with a whistling sound.

"Yes, true love does exist. But not for us. Not for you." The Doctor shook his head, watching the boy's hat flap around in the wind.

"True love will find me in the end, Doctor." The jester gave a nod to affirm his statement.
Basil decided not to comment this time.

Now ... it was time for life to be created once again.

"Oh my. I did shove a brain-damaged brain inside this man. I hope he can talk...."

Just like Basil hoped, lightning crashed through the attic and bounced from the window to the operating table. Electricity meshed with the big body, and then silence reigned over the room.

"Is ... he alive?" Jakkostein asked, peeking from behind his hands.

"I don't know." Basil hummed, striding over to the body. Jakkostein bounced towards the two, gently touching the body's chest.

"Hellloooo, in there! Is anybody home?" the jester asked before the body sat up and made a loud grunt.
This made Jakko stumble back, to which Basil caught the boy with his arm.

"He's alive." Basil nodded. For the first time in weeks, Basil's cracked and dry lips pulled into a pleased smile.

"Hello, Mister Monster Man!" Jakko squealed, hopping up on the body's stomach, simply sitting on him with the widest of smiles.

"Hngh...." the body stiffened, but Jakko stayed put.

"Well, I guess since he's your present... you can name him." The Doctor nodded, watching as the unnamed body stared Jakko down as if he was trying to figure the Dead Doll out.

"Gummy." Jakko squinted, papping the body's chest excitedly.

"Gummy, it is, I suppose." Basil shrugged, turning his back to the two. He was writing in his journal, in which he kept all his notes.

"Have fun with your new gift, Jakko."

The small, shrill jester felt ... a lot. He had so much love that he didn't know where to put it all. Basil wasn't much for touching or contact, but Jakko now had someone else to dance with. He hadn't talked to anyone in so long that ... Gummy was a miracle, despite what The Doctor said.
The clown's noggin almost overflowed with thoughts of friendship and affection. It had been so long since he had someone other than Basil to chat with.

"Gummy! My name's Jakkostein! I kinda' created you all by myself! Well... with some help from My Creator. I'm so glad I have somewhere to put all my love now! I'll store it in here, okay?" Jakko buzzed, putting his hand right on Gummy's still heart. "I'll put my love and dedication into your heart, and you can keep it safe there." he continued, his wild eyes looking into Gummy's.
If Jakko was reading this right ... Gummy's grunts and noises meant this was romantic for him, too! Hesitantly, Jakko leaned into Gummy's face and puckered his black painted lips. As he targeted his mouth with Gummy's.... the bigger creature began to roar, taking Jakkostein by his frail shoulders and throwing him off of the table. He landed on his stomach with a big THUD.

Just like Jakko suspected. Love was ALWAYS painful ... but at least it existed!

Hearing this commotion, Basil whipped around and drew his pistol he kept in case of emergency. Before Jakko could even think, Basil had clicked the gun and shot Gummy right in the head.
He was always prepared if something went amiss.

"D-Doctor...?" Jakko squeaked, bouncing back up and witnessing the hole in Gummy's poor skull.
The boy swallowed hard, putting his hand on Gummy's cold, stiff arm.

"Everyone I touch dies..." Jakko whined, standing still and just watching the unmoving body.

Basil Claude Frankenstein approached Jakko from behind, placing his bony hand on Jakko's back.

"Don't be sad, I know you will be." he spoke in a hushed tone. "We'll find another brain to put inside Gummy. But for now ... just know you will feel sad. But once you realize you will never experience love again, it gets easier to accept. The dead have no heartbeat. Humans don't understand that, and they're frightened by the living dead. Love doesn't exist for you, Jakko. It never will for as long as you walk this earth. Eat your alphabet soup."

"Doctor?" Jakkostein beckoned, reaching a hand out to His Creator.

"I think you're wrong. I think love does exist for me. I mean... I feel things so deeply! Sometimes, my heart breaks when I see characters die in the movies. I feel when my frogs and worms die in the jars I collect. I feel when you shot my new friend, and I certainly feel when you tell me love doesn't exist for me. I feel love ... so it must exist."

"Oh dear, ... My Creation is defective." Basil grimaced, though his expression softened when he stared down at his little monster.

"That gift I gave you. It's a flip phone.
It was supposed to be for Gummy to contact you. I guess when he gets another brain, we'll try again. For now... I guess you can play the free version of Pac-Man or maybe call for food to be delivered. I don't know. Go eat and sleep, Jakkostein. We'll try again soon."

"I love you, Doctor." Jakko turned and gave Basil those set of doll eyes.

"Don't say that. Goodnight, Jakkostein." Basil frowned, turning the knob and swinging the door open.

The stairs were extra creaky tonight.