Promises-Laughing Jack

~Chapter 3~

~Jess~

I was having the most amazing dream about a family cookout! I dreamt that my uncle had cooked these amazing pancakes and, don't laugh, dipped them in cheese! It was all going good until I thought I heard a chuckle from outside of my dream. Wait a minute...Im the only one home. I sat up rather lazily for my taste, especially since I was scared. I turned to the side and sat on the edge of the bed before standing. I was about to go downstairs and check the alarm system before hearing a small laugh...a giggle? No, a chuckle. I shook violently in fear as I bent down to peer underneath my bed. I was instantly met with whitish/grey eyes, and sharp teeth. "What the hell?!?" I stumbled backwards into my vanity and screamed. I didn't know what to do, so I started to throw everything within reach at the creature. It held up it's arms in defense and growled his words at me. "Oww stop! Cut that shit out!!!" It started to come closer to me and quickly gripped my wrist tightly. I noticed the sharp claws and was thankful it didn't use them instead. Otherwise, my wrist would've been sliced off intead of being held. "Stop.It.Now." He sternly scolded me like mom. "P-p-please don't h-hurt me." I begged him. As he was in my face, I started to recognize him more. He was tall, an his monochrome colors of his outfit were once bright and colorful. He even had a cone nose. He used to be the epitome of my happiness as a child...but now he was a monster. Realization hit me hard. "J-jack? Laughing Jack?" He looked so d-different. His smile wasn't even sweet like it used to be. It was sick, twisted... demented... EVIL. I felt tears run down my cheeks as he threw his head back in a laugh. What did he mean by suffering? "Why did you leave me all those years ago? What happened to you?" I asked him quietly in fear of his reaction. His smile turned into a dark sneer. "You're such a stupid bitch! You happened to me. YOU'RE THE REASON FOR ALL OF THIS!" He gripped tightly and loosened up when he calmed down a little. "W-what do you mean?" I had nerve to ask him another question. Before I knew it, my face was met with a fist and I was out like a light.

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The next morning, I jolted up in a cold sweat screaming like I'd been stabbed. After calming down, I looked around and realized that I was in my bed and last night had to be just a bad dream. However, my head hurt like the punch was real. I just pushed it off as stress and sighed. Wait a second...Why is my dresser so messy? I tilted my head in speculation at my destroyed vanity and that's when it hit me. Last night wasn't a dream... It was a nightmare, a REAL one. Laughing Jack had come back from my past. He looked so scary from what I remember and he was not happy. Demented maybe, but not happy. I shivered before getting up and looking under my bed. I couldn't find any trace of him there or anywhere else throughout the house. I double set my security system and cautiously went to take a shower. The rest of the day was just me being on edge from the feeling of being watched. As time unfolded, I realized each day that I wanted my mommy!!! I know it sounds like a childish request but it's true. I can't take all the weird noises I've been hearing lately. Every time I come back from visiting my mom in the hospital, there's a crap ton of candy wrappers everywhere on the living room floor. It doesn't bother me as much but the fact of 'how did they get here' does. Sadly, my mom would have to stay more time in the hospital because they think she has a slipped disk now. I sighed at the thought of it as I came into the house another night late, and closed the door behind me. I groaned and bent down to pick up the papers on the ground. Last time it was Tootsie rolls, now it's Smarties. "Gee, I wonder what's next." I said to myself while picking the paper up. Over time, fear was escaping me and being replaced by general annoyance. I rolled my eyes and went to throw away the paper. Then I took a seat and started to watch tv in the living room. Realization hit me as a warm breath touched the back of my neck while I sat on the couch. Laughing Jack.

"Hello sweet Jess. How's life treating ya? Awwww, what's the matter? Are you scared?" He growled and flaunted his claws at me. Sure enough, my fear came flooding back to me. Was it finally time to face the music? I started to shiver and cry. Part of me thought of being with my father again in heaven, but the logical half of me wanted to stick around for my mom...so I pleaded. "Please Jack. D-d-dont hurt me." But he just growled and scratched me from the base of my neck to just above my breasts. It started to bleed and hurt. "No please. Oh God!" I got up and ran to the bathroom. From what I could tell, he didn't chase me but I could hear him laugh in the distance. I quickly made it inside and locked the bathroom door behind me. I sat on the ground and sobbed in the bathroom while my blood ran down onto my clothes. After a while of silence when I calmed down, I stumbled to my feet and went to the bathroom sink to clean the wound up. From outside of the door, I could hear him suddenly speak. "Oh my dear Jess, I have an announcement to make. At first, I wanted to kill all those you love and watch you suffer before I finished you off but now, it's changed. Since I still feel something for you Im not going to take away the ones you love. Im instead going to physically make you suffer before killing you. Good deal right?" He laughed maniacally. I started to scream and sob for mercy. "No please, leave me alone!!!" I screamed at the door. "Oh, like you've left me alone in that box for all those years? No, I don't think so." He snapped back at me carelessly. Things went silent and for a while, all I could hear was my own crying. When I finally stopped crying again, I just sat in silence and fear. I wanted to leave the bathroom but I was unsure of whether or not he was outside. I sighed and started to feel the stinging of my cuts. They weren't too deep but I did burn and bleed. Dear God I hope they won't leave a mark. Wait a minute, what am I saying!?!? I should be far more worried about my former best friend/homicidal clown that's right outside the-wait...I slowly opened the bathroom door and finally looked outside. He's gone? Even though he wasn't outside the bathroom door, I knew he'd be back for me. He always comes back. He won't stop until Im dead and I won't treat his words lightly.