𝓐𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲 | Eyeless Jack X reader

Chapter X

It's been 2 days since I first came here. I won't lie, if it wasn't for Jack coming to keep me company I would have died of sheer boredom. There's no service here, I can't call, I can't access the internet- my phone is practically useless.
There are some old novels around here, but I can't read all day, it gets boring after a while. I'm behind on uni work and my family and the police probably realised that I'm missing. I have to start coming up with a story for that...

The door opens and I see Jack enter. As per routine, he brings me bottled water and some more food. I know he won't stay long, but at this point I'm feeling desperate for something, anything new.

"I noticed that you're... restless. So I got you something that I thought would make you feel better."
Jack says, handing me a VCR and some tapes. I look in amazement, I haven't seen one in so many years. Can the TV here even support that thing?

"Oh wow, I.-"
I say at a loss for words
"Thank you. This is actually very nice."
I say, smiling widely from pure joy. Finally! I won't lose brain cells from staring at the ceiling for hours.

I examine the tapes closely. They are 7:
-A Jurassic park movie, I assume the first, because it looks very old and I can barely read the label
-Titanic, classic
-E.T. The extra terrestrial
-Independence day
-Gump
-Beauty and the Beast
-The Lion king

"I'll go hook it up to the TV!"
I say, going to complete the task. As I'm trying to figure out how to properly do it, I notice something. There's an 8th tape that I missed during the initial count. It doesn't have a label. It looks newer, but more beaten up. I put the tape on the bottom of the pile, maybe I can play it when I run out of movies eventually.

As I get up I notice that Jack is headed out.

"You can stay and watch a movie with me."
I say at him, he turns around to face me, but doesn't respond. His facial expressions hidden beneath a blue mask.
"I'll let you pick."

He stands there for a moment, then he sighs and goes to sit down on the couch. I go to grab the cassettes, purposefully leaving behind the 8th.

I hand them to him, he lowers his head to look down at them. I get a very close look at his mask. I can't see the sheer fabric that masks usually have over the eyes, I can't see anything - just black. A void, emptiness. Hollowness. He takes me out of my trans by handing me a tape.

"This one."
He says. He chose beauty and the beast. Ironically the one I thought he would be least likely to after The Lion king.

"A Disney movie? Alright."
I say in a teasing manner. I feel comfortable around him. Slightly. I haven't really had anyone else to be with in a good while. I had forgotten how rewarding it felt to have interactions with other people, face to face. Not behind a screen. It's nice.

"It's a good movie, if you think about the meaning behind it."
He says.

"And what is the meaning behind it? Enlighten me."
I question.

"That every beautiful woman is with an awful looking man."
He jokes
"No, no. I'm just messing with you. It's to never judge a book by its cover. Or some profound shit  like that."

"Is that all you've got?"
I ask, settling down on the couch.

"Well, of course not. But I haven't seen the movie in many years."
Jack says.

"Maybe we can talk about the meaning behind it after."
I say as the intro credits begin.

During the movie we exchange a few comments, but it's mostly silent. It's genuinely a great feel-good movie. It used to be one of my favourites as a little girl.

When the movie ends Jack has to leave. He promises to discuss it with me on a later date. He warns me that he won't be coming for a few days, so he leaves me with a little extra water.

Just as he goes through the door he turns at me and says.

"You know, you kind of remind me of Belle."

This really takes me back. The way he said it was very warm and kind. As if he meant it as a genuine compliment. I smile and nod and he leaves.

As soon as the door closes I go back to the tapes and reach for the black one. I go to switch the tapes and see what's on the mysterious one. But as they say, curiosity killed the cat...