It's the next day and Mari had went to school, she didn't want to and was scared of Jax and Kingsley yet she trusted Cloud enough to protect her. She stared at the floor as she walked to her classroom, trying not to draw too much attention to herself and hiding her red and puffy eyes.
She had arrived really early to school, she couldn't sleep last night because of the thoughts roaming in her mind so she had decided to just... Wait till school starts. She sits down on her seat and checks her phone to see if Cloud had replied to any of her messages... He didn't. She stared at the messages., deep in thought until... she saw someone's shadow right in front of her.
Jax: "Why were you gone for the past 2 weeks?! It was so fucking boring... I couldn't tease your pathetic ass. I would've just sent that picture to everyone I know but you're lucky I'm a nice guy."
Mari stayed silent, she hoped, she wished, she needed Cloud to come and save her from this nightmare. Little did she know... Cloud was in his own nightmare, in the same feeling of distraught and hopelessness she had.
Jax was visibly annoyed that Mari was staying silent.
Jax: "Hello??? Are you mute? Deaf? I'm right here you know. Say something."
Mari looked down at the floor, she didn't want to speak to Jax because now... Now he scares her. She trusted him and he betrayed her and now... Now she doesn't know anymore, she can't tell what he's planning... He's become a wild animal.
Jax was getting more frustrated with her being "rebellious" He was about to just grab her face and force her to look at him until someone grabbed him from behind.
???: "You're making her uncomfortable, can you fucking back off?"
Mari looked up, finally feeling hope seeing Ernst grabbing Jax's shoulder tightly. Jax pushes him away and slowly backs off.
Jax: "Right, yeah... Prince charming here to save the day!... You're so fucking annoying."
Ernst gives absolutely no fucks and leans down to see Mari's face.
Ernst: "You okay? You were gone for like... A couple weeks."
Ernst had a hint of concern in his voice.
Mari: "Y-Yes... I'm..."
Mari's soft whispers were suddenly stopped by the sound of Ernst's head being slapped... And the only person who dared... Was Jax, with his usual teasing smirk.
Jax: 'Dude, what is this? I'm tired of seeing your ass try to act like a fucking hero."
Jax tries to push Ernst away but he stands there like a brick wall. Ernst slowly turns and looks at Jax in the eyes.
Ernst: "Something to say? Little lap dog?"
Jax looks at him with a furious expression yet he somehow speaks in a calm and collected tone.
Jax: "Me? Lap dog? More like you're the dog... You've been treating Mari like some sort of queen... What are you? A guard dog?"
Ernst stares at him for a few seconds, seemingly thinking about something... Before grabbing Jax by the neck and lifting him up.
Jax: "T-The fuck?! Let me go! Let me go you son of a bitch!"
Jax struggled to get out of his grasp, he punched Ernst's arms, swayed his legs in an attempt to kick Ernst. Tried to do whatever he can to escape Ernst's hold but nothing worked. Ernst slowly tightened his grasp, Mari watched in shock and horror... It was all silent until...
