Summer's Riptyde

Chapter 3: Into the Darkness ~Jackson's POV~

I never thought I'd see him again, I wish I didn't...

We left her house, Summer still waving to Val. Summer's hand and mine were locked together, never wanting to let go. "So, what do you wanna do first honey?", I asked Summer with hidden excitement. We were on this little dirt trail that lead to the road right outside the forest. I had to give it to Val, she was as smart as she was cunning. "I dunno, where do *you* wanna go?" Summer asked with such innocence and excitement, I can tell that she was having a great time even though we haven't done anything yet. Summer had once told me that she had a power that could help her sense an evil or dark presence. That was how she convinced Valentine that I wasn't a threat. As we were walking down the path Summer just stopped, dead in her tracks. "Honey, what's wrong? Are you okay?", I asked with a nervous tone. "Y-yeah, I'm okay, something just...felt off. I'm oki though!" She said so with confidence, so I believed her. Little did we know, we were already being watched. We get to the end of the path; Summer runs to the sign at the intersection of the path and the road. "Jackie!! Come look, places we could go!" She was extremely hyper for some reason, but it made me smile so I was happy. "Kitty, you know I don't like being called that." "Why, Jackie?", she said that with such innocence. "Because, it's kinda embarrassing." My face was covered in red blush, then she started chanting "Jackie, Jackie, Jackie!!!" "Alright, what's this sign about?" The sign pointed in two directions: one leading towards a town just a couple of miles away. The other direction pointing to the countryside, towards a bunch of farms and farmland. "I wanna go to the town! Then we can go into the WILDERNESS!!!" She was spinning around like a top as she said 'wilderness', it made me laugh. "Okay we could-" I pause for a second as Summer's ears begin to twitch violently, like she had a bad feeling.

"Summer, get behind me quickly!" I yell to Summer as I draw the sword Val gave me as a departure gift. She darts behind me without question as another figure lunges at me. Our swords clash with a awful screech. "Well, I see you've gotten *some* skill since the last we met, Riptyde!" That voice, that fucking voice, why does it sound so familiar?! As he bounces backwards and lunges again, I could tell that his target was Summer. "STAY AWAY FROM HER!!" I swing my sword in his direction and in his way, he dodges my swing and leaps into the air. The stranger now stands in front of me and starts to speak again, his hateful words directed at me. "The last time we met, you were a scrawny, pathetic little fuck who couldn't fight for shit. I can still hear you little twat of a brother getting taken away and you, SCREAMING LIKE THE PUSSY YOU ARE!!" I remember him now, I never thought I'd run into him again, I kinda wish I didn't. It was Artimus Victorion, my old pain in the ass and old rival.

"Artimus, long time, no see. What has my...favorite person been doing these days?" The sarcasm in my voice was off the charts, I never wanted to see him again but, hey, shit happens. "SHUT UP, RIPTYDE!! I've wanted to do this for a long-" "Don't tell Jackie to shut up, you asshole!!" Summer bursts out of anger as she yells at Artimus. "Who do you think you are, filthy creature!!" Artimus shouts back, meaning every word. "My name is Summer Agira, Jackie's girlfriend! You don't have the right to say those words to him!!" I love her, so much right now. She was the first person to care that much abut me. Artimus studdered for a moment "Agira...?" He seemed like he heard that name before, so I asked "where have you heard that name, Artimus?" "N-none of your business, Riptyde! This won't be the last time we meet!" Artimus throws a knife at Summer and disappears in a cloud of smoke. Summer crys and I catch the knife before it hit her.

"Kitty, are you okay?!" I was so scared, what if that bastard hurt her?! "Y-yeah, I'm oki. Wh-who was that, Jackie?" She was shaken, but okay. I told her "an old friend that I never thought I'd see again." She knew what I meant by 'old friend', and she holds me tight. "Jackie, I was so scared. What if he hurt you?" "I was thinking the same thing if he would've hurt you, Kitty." We stand there for a moment so we can colectomy our composure. "Okay, we go to town, get some sleep and new equipment, and then leave. Does that sound good?" She replies, still a little shaken up "uh-huh, sounds like a plan." We walk into town, trying to solve our next problem...finding a place to sleep.