The Secret Life of Jack

ch 1

Borrowers weren't what the movies made them out to be.

They weren't like humans on a smaller scale.

They were more complex than that.

Much like small mammals, they need more heat than a human, they need more rest, more food.
They could run the length of a room at the same speed it took a human to walk it, they had the body strength to scale a table and not break a sweat.

They were stronger and more agile than stories made them out to be.

And Jack was a prime example.

Most of his kind moved from their childhood homes, the custom of many borrower families. Once they reached a certain age, they moved out and survived on their own.
Jack never truly wanted that, he'd never wanted to leave his home in Athlone.
But he had.
It was an accident really. One that made it impossible to ever return.
But he didn't let that stop him. He refused to roll over and let grief consume him. This was the life of a borrower. Maybe not the one he would have chosen.. but it was what it was.

It had all happened 5 years ago, when he'd unfortunately gotten trapped in the backpack of the old cabin owners son just moments before he'd come to retrieve it at the end of his visit.

So now, the 27 year old borrower lived in a lovely home in America. Los Angeles, California to be exact.
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The agile borrower never lost his energy. He was still an adventurous one, he still went out on his expeditions. It was something his poor ma always worried about. He'd always go looking for something to do, something to explore. And what better thing to explore than a new home?
Granted, he waited a good while to do anything, only ever going out and searching for food for the first few weeks. Grief wasn't always easy to avoid.
But he pressed on, he did his best.
And so, he explored. He scaled the shelves, explored the rooms, looked through the drawers.
He set up his home in the walls, in a dead space conveniently close to the kitchen. He made the pathways on his own, and little doorways too. He pulled out nails and staples enough to make stairs and ladders. All was going well.

Until...

Jack was currently sneaking around the large abode, looking for any stray batteries to power the small home he'd created.
He lit up the room he'd made with battery operated 'faerie lights' as the humans called them.

The human he borrowed from was out for the day, having taken his dog out for a 'vet visit'. Something about 'shots' as he'd overheard while the giant walked around on the phone and gathered his things to prepare to leave.
Now, Jack had the whole house to himself. He didn't have to bother about running into the giant in broad daylight or getting the giant dog he'd grown fond of to keep calm when he came out on his escapeds.
But that didn't mean he wasn't going to be cautious. It was a rule afterall.

Jack ran out from his hidden doorway behind the stove, making his way over to the island in the center of the kitchen. Using his grappling hook, he climbed up the large structure to access the drawers he knew the excess batteries were kept in.
He whistled while he worked, a happy tune as he climbed up and pried open the drawer by bracing his feet against the countertop.

He hopped in and grabbed a battery from the pack, tying it to his makeshift backpack before climbing out again. He'd gotten better at time management.. sorta.
He'd shut the drawer and was about a third of the way down when the one thing he'd prayed wouldn't happen, happened.

The door handle jiggled.

In a panic, Jack let himself slide down the rope and back onto the floor, hissing as the small twine left a stinging burn.
He was in plain sight, he needed to run before it was too late.
But the hook, the damn hook just wouldnt come loose! It was the only keepsake he had from his ma. It had been his birthday gift when he'd turned 15. The age he went out on his first Borrowing.
He couldn't bare part with it!
So Jack continued to jiggle the hook out of its place as the giant mans laugh rang through the house.
He could hear Chicas paws skid across the hardwood as she ran inside and the giant go quiet. The ground shook just as Jack managed to get the hook down, quickly wrapping the rope and fastening it to his belt. He looked over towards the doorway of the kitchen, paling even further when he noticed giant brown eyes blown wide with a mix of surprise, confusion, and awe fixated on him. Jack gulped, glancing at Chica who'd sat at the entry way of the kitchen just like Jack had taught her, tail waging at a mile a minute at the sight of him.

Unfortunately for him, breaking eye contact with the giant seemed to break the human from his trance.
He took large steps through to the kitchen, eyes fixated on the borrower as he darted for the hidden door he'd made in the wall.

"W-Wait!" The human called, causing Jack to flinch and stumble as the loud, booming voice shook him to the core.