The Pain Thief

Chapter 18

IF ONLY LIFE WAS EASY

It was starting to get colder now as November got under way, meaning that Zoe probably should've been wearing something heavier than a sweatshirt. She liked the cold though, even though she knew she'd freeze when the snow came. 

It was now Monday again and Zoe was going back to school for the first time since her battle. She walked with Jack by her side, pulling her sweatshirt tighter around her. 

"Why don't you just wear a jacket?" asked Jack. He had a dark blue one on that looked a little bit like a rain coat. 

Zoe rolled her eyes. "Sweatshirts are better."

Jack sighed. "When we get home I'm asking my mom if you can borrow one of hers."

Zoe smiled back at him, grateful for the concern. She couldn't explain it, but she felt like something had changed between her and Jack since she had woken up. Her heart would beat faster and she found herself wanting to be close to him more so than usual. She even caught herself staring at his lips a few times when she thought he wasn't looking. 

She sighed, dispelling the thoughts. They had been friends for so long that all these new feelings were strange, but she doubted that he felt the same way about her. Sure he got a little red around her sometimes, but she figured it was just from embarrassment. 

"Are you alright Zoe?" asked Jack. 

He was right next to her now and she hadn't even realized it. "F-fine," she said with a nervous smile. 

Jack looked a little confused, but didn't say anything else. 

The two of them arrived at school a few minutes later, going straight to homeroom to sit. Zoe sat back in her chair while Jack sat on her desk like usual. Zoe noticed that Jack looked relaxed and smiled, happy to see him acting more like himself. 

He seemed upbeat all day in fact, which was quite odd considering that he was never so happy. By lunch time, Zoe just had to ask, "Why are you so happy today?"

He opened his eyes and looked up at her from the position on her legs. "What do you mean?"

Zoe pursed her lips. "Well... you just seem... I don't know... like something really good happened."

Jack thought for a moment before his face broke out into a huge smile. "I'm just happy to have you back now Zoe."

Zoe smiled and closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the chilly wind on her face and ignoring the beating of her heart. 

*** 

After school the both of them took off to kill a haze. Jack had wanted Zoe to rest, but she wouldn't hear it. She did however concede to riding Malachi while he rode Reyna. 

They both dismounted when they arrived and Zoe knelt down, placing her hands on the ground. Malachi and Reyna circled around her protectively, waiting for a command. 

She opened her eyes and they glowed silver. Jack took out his twin swords, which were long and thin. 

They glinted in the sunlight, reflecting his deadly intention. He rushed forward angrily, raising both swords to kill the haze. His eyes narrowed when they came upon a shield put up by the haze. 

This haze looked like a normal haze with its shadowy complexion, but it was shaped like a human. Beside it stood a haze shaped like a tiger. Zoe's eyes widened as she saw the human-shaped haze holding an old-style shield out in front of him, seemingly made of shadows. 

The tiger haze jumped out, headed for Jack, but Jack was too fast. He leaped backwards and threw a knife, but it missed. He was about to fight the tiger when Zoe commanded, "Reyna!"