The Half-Blood Giant

Chapter 51: Aftermath

Milton was consumed by guilt. If he hadn't agreed to do a favor for Chester and enroll Hunter at the school, bypassing the standard formalities, none of the students would've been eaten. He never anticipated a half-human student would cannibalize his own kind. He was disgusted with himself as much as he was disgusted with Hunter. He should've intervened when he had the chance, before things got out of control. He was too soft on Hunter, too sympathetic, perhaps because of his own personal flaws. Due to his distress, he took a leave of absence from his position. His spirit had been crushed, and he needed time to recover.

He also wanted to stay home for a while to take care of Millie. She was struggling with her own demons and fresh traumas. Milton kept her close and was a protective force to give her strength. He woke her up and held her for hours when she had nightmares or flashbacks. Millie was grateful for his love and kindness, but she was a source of support for him as well. When Milton considered making his temporary hiatus from his job permanent, since he was so devastated by his own failings, Millie convinced him to stay. She reasoned with him that he could be a force for good in improving the lives of the human students, a shield to protect them. The murders were not his fault; he couldn't have known in advance that Chester's son would be a violent man-eater; he could apply the knowledge gained to prevent future misfortune. Milton was thankful to have a lovely light in his life like Millie.

Determined to right whatever wrongs were within his power to correct, Milton made significant changes when he returned to work. He requested funds from the school board to provide every human with a tracker watch, like the one he bought for Eren, so they had some protection. He beefed up security, hiring guards to patrol the hallways and campus at all hours. Milton was surprised to learn that Pedro was still willing to work at the school, despite being ingested alive by a student. Pedro explained to Milton that he felt safer now that Hunter was gone, and he believed the students needed his services more than ever. Milton admired his bravery and resolve. Ray came by the school often to keep watch over his boyfriend and the other humans, providing additional support. Milton was determined to avoid another catastrophe.

A rift inevitably developed in the friendship between Milton and Chester. When Chester asked to stay at Milton's house again, since he and Jackie couldn't go home, Milton refused. He didn't want Chester around Millie, but he was also angry with him about the situation with his son that had caused so much heartache. Chester and Jackie couldn't bear to stay in the same community that had been ravaged by their son, so they migrated to the other city where Chester had his Maneaters Anonymous meetings, which would be more critical than ever since humans were far more common in this realm than the Land of Giants.

Life was hard for the lonely couple. Chester and Jackie suffered from being cut off from everyone they knew and loved, not to mention their son's fall from grace that split their family. Jackie had to overcome her debilitating fear from being surrounded by so many giant strangers. They had to start fresh in a new city, with no money or state-sanctioned identity. By an incredible stroke of luck, and generosity from a kind giant named Leon sympathetic to humans, Chester and Jackie were both able to get a job working together for the same company, Griffin Industries. They gradually picked up the pieces of their broken life to create a new future together.

Jackie pined the loss of her magic. The couple struggled with physical intimacy, since Jackie could no longer grow or become acid-resistant. Chester was constantly salivating over her, desiring to devour her more than ever, but he had to control himself, which became harder by the day. Thankfully, they discovered the human pills that allowed Chester to eat Jackie safely, and crisis was averted as they fell into a familiar, comforting routine. Despite their loss and melancholy, they were grateful to have each other in trying times.

Eren was not able to return to the dental clinic. She was broken, to the point where she feared she was beyond repair. She became extremely clingy to Joey, since she didn't feel safe without him, even in her own home. Joey relented and took her to work with him, hiding her in his chest pocket. If he was going into a potentially dangerous situation, he would swallow her down or find a safe place to hide her, such as inside the glovebox of the police car. He was saddened to see his brave, sassy Eren reduced to such a state, but he protected her with his life nonetheless. Eren believed, as long as she had Joey on her side, she would be okay.