Heroes

Chapter 22. Really, Jack?

I ran forwards to the edge of the waterfall, oblivious to Jack, who was dangerously close to me. Looking down, the only thing I saw was the cascading water, sounding louder now that I was closer. There was no sign of Nate.
"There's going to be some changes around here," Jack announced. Turning around to face him, I saw that he had advanced towards the others, who had begun to split up and scatter. "I'm in charge now."
"Excuse me, no-one's in charge," Morgan piped up, but Jack shot her a look that shut her up.
"Like I said, I'm in charge, so I want everyone doing what I ask. If not...steps will have to be taken."
By this time, I'd stood up and was glaring at the back of Jack's head, my hands balled into fists. He'd just thrown my brother off a waterfall and now he wanted to take over the group. I wanted so badly to go over and knock him clean off his feet, but I didn't. In hindsight, I should've. It would've saved us a story if I did. But then I wouldn't have a story to tell. So I didn't go over and knock him clean off his feet. Instead, I unfurled my fists and went over to Morgan. She was shaking slightly, obviously shook by Jack's behaviour, and I have to admit, I was nervous myself. This was not Jack. I hadn't known him for very long but I already knew his obnoxious, infectious energy and his genuine smile. And this...thing had neither.
"Patrick, Cordato, Want," he said their names, looking each one in the eyes.
"Fischback."
He looked at me differently. It was the same look he'd given Nate. I refused to be intimidated by him, so I sneered back, which caused him to walk towards me and get right up in my face.
"Don't think you'll be treated any differently just because you're related to him. Each of you will get what's coming to you," he whispered to me, his voice so low I could barely hear him. That's when I noticed his eyes properly for the first time: instead of their usual piercing blue, these were more aqua, almost green in colour. This was definitely not Jack.
He strutted away again, then swivelled to face us again. Mat had gone towards the waterfall and Steph had backed away; only Morgan and I were together.
"Let's get moving," Jack ordered, pointing out of the clearing through the trees. We all exchanged glances, then Mat hesitantly led the way, closely followed by Steph, who held on to his arm.
"Hold on, where are we going?" I asked, deciding to be the saviour here since no-one else would. Jack raised his eyebrows at me.
"If I tell you, it's no fun," he smiled, that same sly smirk. He gestured to the Mat and Steph, and Morgan gently pulled my arm, then went and followed them, head bent to the ground. I stayed behind. There were so many things I wanted to do:
1) Throw myself off the waterfall to end it all before someone else could
2) Throw myself off the waterfall to see if there was a chance Nate was still alive down there
3) Throw Jack off the waterfall
4) Start a fight with him right there, right then to try and kill him
5) Question him some more so as to find out more about the certain doom he was leading us to

I did none of them. I gave him one last glare, then trailed after the others, giving a final glance to the waterfall, then looking away in resignation. But, as I walked away, Jack alongside us, I could've sworn I heard the sound of leaves rustling and branches snapping. It could've just been an animal. But somewhere, somehow, I knew that it was something more. I just wish, at the time, I'd known what it was.