The Demon's Mark

Shattered Remains

Jack's eyes flew open, his entire body jerking against his own will.

Pain exploded through him—a crushing, all-encompassing agony that left him gasping. His chest heaved, his throat raw as a scream ripped from his mouth.

The memory of metal crunching, the deafening noise, the feel of Kyle's cold lifeless hand in his grasp—it all crashed down on him like a tidal wave.

"No! No! Please, no—Kyle!" Jack's voice rang out in the stark, sterile quiet of the hospital room.

The machines around him beeped frantically, responding to his elevated heart rate. The room was blindingly white, the smell of antiseptic sharp in his nose.

Jack thrashed, trying to pull himself up, only to be yanked back down by tubes and wires.

"Somebody—help—Kyle—" Jack cried out- his cries were broken, desperate.

Within moments, the door burst open, and a flurry of nurses and doctors rushed in. They surrounded his bed, calling out commands he couldn't comprehend.

"He's awake! Stabilize him—"

"His heart rate's spiking—"

"Sir, sir, you need to calm down!"

A gentle hand pressed against Jack's shoulder, holding him steady.

"It's okay, you're safe," a nurse said softly, leaning into his field of vision.

The nurse had kind eyes and a calm voice, but nothing could help Jack. He was filled with fear and pain.

"No, he's gone—Kyle's—" Jack choked, sobs wracking his broken body.

The same nurse looked at him solemnly.

"Shhh. It's ok Jack. It's ok." She said softly.

Jack clawed weakly at the air, reaching for something that wasn't there.

"Please, I have to—he—he's dead—" Jack begged.

What he was begging for-he didn't even know.

"Just breathe. You're in the hospital. You're safe." The kind nurse said as calmly as she could manage.

Safe meant nothing. Jack's world was shattered, ripped apart in a single, horrifying moment. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to shut out the reality that kept crashing down on him. The monitors beeped and blared as he sobbed, clutching at the sheets.

"He's gone," Jack whispered hoarsely, his voice a hollow shell of itself. "He's really gone..."

The nurses exchanged worried glances, and one of them stepped forward, adjusting the IV.

"We're going to give you something to help you relax, okay? It'll take the edge off—" The new nurse said gently.

It was different nurse then before. Jack's senses were overwhelmed with the amount of people in the room.

"No!" Jack cried, jerking away as much as his broken body allowed.

The movement caused pain to shoot through his ribs, making him gasp.

"No, don't—I don't—" Jack gasped.

"It's just a mild sedative," the doctor murmured, his tone soothing. "It'll help with the pain, too."

Jack barely registered the sting of the needle as they injected something into his IV. The pain, both physical and emotional, dulled slightly, but it didn't matter. Nothing would ever dull the agony of knowing Kyle was gone.

Jack felt his whole body relax and his whole mind went blank. He felt his eyelids grow heavy- and Jack's eyes drifted shut.

The air was warm that summer night, the sky a soft navy blue blanketed with stars. Jack and Kyle were lying on the roof of Kyle's house, side by side on an old blanket they'd dragged up there.