Bound: Eyeless Jack Story

prologue

PROLOGUE | jack

November, 1890

My body, now a sickeningly gray hue, hovers over the table in my kitchen. The elongated claws that are now a part of my fingers scrawl erratic marks upon its surface.

"What do you mean a curse?" I breathe, my eyes narrowing towards my family.

My mother's expression softens. "We're sorry honey, but we have no choice but to turn you in. Your... condition is far too dangerous for us."

Exasperated, I scoff. "You need to explain to me what all of this about."

"We didn't think this would occur in the bloodline again," my father states. "But you acquired the curse that occurs every century. Graying skin..claws...your sudden outbursts of immense anger right before the eighteenth birthday indicate the curse, which you definitely have. Your mother and I do not want to do this, but we have no choice. We have to turn you in to authorities."

"You're too dangerous."

I glance down at my trembling hands.

Suddenly, the cabin door bursts open and bangs against the wall.

"Grab him!" A man in a gray uniform with a musket orders.

Another man in an identical uniform grasps my arm, and pulls me away from my parents.

"Let go of me!" I shout, flailing frantically in the mans grip; I push down as hard as possible in attempt to shove myself out, but no such luck occurs.

"Shut the fuck up, tier. You do not have a choice." The man sneers, harshly escorting me out of the cabin.

I throw one final gaze over my shoulder, and all I see is a look of horror plastered across my parents faces.

-

My heavy feet drag through the guck and overgrowth, stumbling left and right. Rain is penetrating every single portion of my body and it's getting increasingly difficult to sprint any longer. Locks of soaked auburn hair dangle down in thick strands, their curly wisps caressing my cheeks. I reach up above my shoulders and yank my hood up.

A sudden splitting migraine blossoms across my head, my skull pounding immensely.

"Fuck!" I drawl, hunching over with both palms pressed forcefully against my temples.

With a few gasps and choked breaths, I sink to the wet ground and hang my head.

What is happening to me?

My mind is racing, but my pulse isn't. Flat. I clutch my chest, resting my hand upon the area where my heart resides.

Nothing.

The world in front of me is nonexistent, I see absolutely nothing. My hearing, sense of smell, touch and taste are all amplified spectacularly. Where my eyes once were, a sticky substance trickles down my cheeks.

Indescribable pain explodes across the top of my head, and I scream a blood curdling scream. My hands dart up cover the area, and I feel two small lumps begin to pierce through skin. The two lumps continue to grow, spreading like a web. My trembling fingers fumble over what is protruding from my head.

A quick, terrified breath escapes me. I shrink down further into the earth, acquiring a fetal position. Every little sound pierces through my ears, every little smell overflows my nose. All I remember in that moment is feeling entirely, utterly helpless.

I smash my fist against the mud, curling it in further. I force myself up to keep walking. To find anything.

I wander aimlessly through the forest for what seems like ages. After a little while longer, I'm able to sense some type of clearing come up in front of me. A large, looming structure is revealed. It must be a mansion of some sort, most definitely abandoned. I quicken my pace towards the building, and when my feet clang against unstable wood, I know I've reached the staircase leading inside. I ascend up the staircase and onto the porch, placing my fingers against the large doors. When one side creaks open slightly, I push it open and step inside.

I'm stopped in my tracks when an ear splitting static noise resonates through the building, making me collapse against the floor.

"Who dare enters this threshold? Impossible!"

Above me stood a massive figure with no face.

"Who are you, child?"

It says, an equally large hand taking hold of my shoulder.

"Jack," I meekly reply. "Eyeless Jack."