Cracked Foundations

Entry 3

"Now we can finally dispose of this dreaded suit." Jack says to Anna as they look at her suit that she wore while she was contained. It was an ugly, almost vomit-like color, beared the SCP logo where the heart normally is, and looked a couple sizes too big for the porcelain girl. "What do you want to do with this?"

"I don't know, what do you want to do?" Anna asks.

"Let's burn this thing." Jack replies as the two head outside and into the backyard. There a small fire pit sits smack dab in the middle of the backyard, and Jack lights it up. Anna then balls up the suit and then tosses into the flames. A few minutes pass and the suit is reduced to ashes, burning away the bad memories that were associated with it. "Are you fine with staying home by yourself? I gotta go shopping for a little bit."

"Sure." Anna replies as she heads back inside and Jack drives off to do some shopping. While Jack was off doing that, Anna decided to head back to her bedroom and experiment with her wardrobe. "Whoever this girl is, she must have been really short if I can fit in these clothes so well." She says to herself as she explores her closet more, finding crop tops, miniskirts, shorts, sandals, heels, and other cute articles of clothing that would be more fit for a teen going young adult than a 12 year old like Anna. Nonetheless, she experimented with various tops, bottoms and shoes, strutted towards the mirror in said experimental outfits like a supermodel and overall had a blast. Then she heard the front door opening and she froze in place for a few seconds fearing that someone, possibly the SCP foundation looking to reclaim her, had broken in. As soon as she heard the all too familiar voice of Jack though, she relieved herself of the tension and slowly walked downstairs. The last outfit she had been experimenting with before this all happened consisted of a black and white crop top sweater, black skinny jeans and matching color sandals.

"I see you've been having fun with your closet." Jack chuckles. "You look wonderful by the way."

"Thank you! I tried!" Anna replies happily as she embraces Jack again and rests her head on his shoulder. The two part and Jack then heads into the kitchen with the stuff that he bought.

"Thank god it's the weekend. It's always more relaxing." Jack says as he pulls out Safoco brand egg noodles, chicken flavored soup base and mixed veggies. Anna watches attentively as he fires up the stove, and prepares to make the broth for a soup. He scrapes some of the base in before taking a whole onion out and plopping it in the broth. While Jack lets that heat up to the proper temperature he chops up the rest of the veggies; celery, carrots, spinach, bok choy and lettuce are quickly tossed into the broth before he finally adds the noodles. "This will take a little while." Jack adds as he brings out two bowls for the both of them and then brings out the tub of glaze. "Now how is this going to work..."

"Don't worry, I'll manage." Anna replies as Jack checks up on the soup. It's just about boiling, just the right temperature for Jack to start ladling it out. While Jack gets utensils for the both of them, Anna opens up the tub of glaze and grabs a spoon, scooping it out like ice cream, and drops a big glob into her bowl. It practically dissolves and changes the color of the broth as it does so, and Anna gives it a taste. Her porcelain eyes light up and the two simply munch away at their lunch. "You really know how to cook!"

"I got it from my dad." Jack says, and Anna stops midway. Jack notices and looks at Anna worriedly. "...Is something the matter?"

"...I..." Anna stutters. "...I never had a dad like yours..."

"...Can you tell me what he did to you?" Jack asks, concerned for the porcelain girl.

"...He would beat me... And he would call me names... He told me he would rather have a son than me-" And just like that Anna burst into tears. Jack quickly embraced her and held her tight, a little short of leaving a crack on her skin, as she cried into his shoulder.

"Anna... I'm so sorry..." Jack says, using a soothing tone. "...I never knew..."

"...It's not your fault..." Anna sobs. "You had it better..." And with that, Jack gently eases Anna off of him and looks into her eyes.

"...You're not the only one." Jack says. "That was the ONLY good thing I got from my dad. Aside from that he's done a lot to me, possibly worse." Anna suddenly stops sobbing, shocked that Jack had a dad worse than hers. "Was your dad a drinker?"

"Yes, a very heavy one." Anna replies.

"My dad was a perfectly healthy guy, and he pushed me to the brink of suicide." Jack says. "You can't make stuff up like the one time he almost killed me. I'm pretty sure your dad has laid his hands on you before but me..."

"...You don't have to tell me." Anna stutters.

"It's painful but I must." Jack replies, closing his eyes and preparing to recall the horrid memories. "I talked back to him once when I was a kid. I swear had I not ducked my throat would have been slit..."

"He tried to cut you?!" Anna asks, shocked at what she's hearing.

"Yes." Jack replies as his eyes finally open again. A tear is yearning to fall, but he blinks it away. "That memory has been burned into my head... I don't think I'll ever forget it, but you should know, you're not alone." He finishes as he embraces Anna once again. "We'll both get through this, together."

"...Thank you." Anna replies, her voice much less shaky now as the two part. After all that emotional baggage was disposed of the two resumed eating their lunch, which had now cooled off substantially, but the two didn't really care.