Chapter 14 – Broken Friendships

During the two days Alex and Michael spent searching for their missing friend, Jason had been living a decent life with the Crimson Nightshades. He would spend most of his time each day in their headquarters, doing the usual cleaning, sorting and shopping. Occasionally he’d glimpse over at the trio gathered around the table carefully plotting the heist to steal Oculus Abyssi’s scepter, as well as eavesdrop on what they were saying.

Scarlet: …I’m sure, Drake. I’ve scouted out the museum three times inside and out. They’ve doubled security after the last break-in. Getting inside again is almost impossible.

Drake: Have you forgotten how we managed to break into The Labyrinth?

Lukas: I wasn’t there for that.

Drake: Course you weren’t. You hadn’t joined back then… The point is, Scarlet, if we could break someone out of the world’s maximum-security prison on an island isolated from the rest of the world. I think we can handle a second attempt at robbing the museum.

Scarlet: Still, we can’t afford to be careless. One little slip up is all it takes to land us a one-way trip to the aforementioned prison island. If we’re doing this, we need to seriously plan ahead.

Drake: We’ll think of something. But Will Craft and the rest of the Miners Guild aren’t very patient people. We have two days left to prepare before we get that scepter they so desperately want. If we fail, we’re going to that prison anyway. Need I remind you of all the dirt the guild has on us? More than enough proof that’ll put us away for life.

Lukas catches Jason eavesdropping as Drake and Scarlet continued discussing the best way to steal the scepter. He narrows his eyes at him, suspicious by how he’s acting. Jason noticed him staring and quickly gets back to dusting the keyboard of the giant computer.

Ever since they first picked him up from that alleyway in New London his instincts have told him that there’s something more to Jason than being a lost puppy, as Drake would call him. His instincts are usually never wrong, and right now they were telling him that having him here is very bad, not just for business, but for them too. Until he can know for sure what kind of person Jason will become, it was wise that he kept his thoughts to himself and contributed to this heist.

When he wasn’t working, Jason spent most of his time relaxing in his new fancy apartment. At least he was until he met that boy, Nigel. Now he can’t help but think about what he may be dealing with at his house. Wondering if his stepfather is causing him or his mother any harm.

He would often go back to the park he met him at every time he finished work, usually being the first one to arrive. Nigel was making sure he wasn’t being followed by his stepdad or the dirty cops who are too loyal to their corrupt chief. When he does show up, they share stories about their traumatic experiences. Not a very healthy way to make friends, but it worked just fine for them.

For the next two days Jason had been growing closer to Nigel, viewing him as a true friend to connect with. Someone who can truly understand what he went through when he’s been going through something similar. He was slowly starting to get over the pain he felt when Alex and Michael abandoned him.

He was once again sitting on the same bench he found Nigel crying on at 6:30pm in the evening hanging out with his new best friend. Any passers by sometimes gave him a weirded-out look because of the boy’s young age and how bad it looks for him to hang out with an older teenager, but neither of them cared. They just continued chatting away as the sun was setting in the distance. Jason was in the middle of telling Nigel a joke, but he didn’t seem to understand the joke at all.

Jason: …And then he said, “Leaf me alone, I’m bushed!”

Nigel: I don’t get it.

Jason: It was a joke I heard Jackson say to May Li once. I don’t really get it either. I think it’s some kind of tea related joke.

Nigel: Is Jackson your dad?

Jason: No, he’s my care worker… I don’t think I told you this before, but I used to live in an orphanage before I moved in with the Crimson Nightshades. Jackson is one of the only people in my life who’s ever been nice to me… I wonder if he actually misses me.

Nigel: If he’s as nice as you say he is then maybe he does. He didn’t seem to mind you moving out though.

Jason wished he could’ve told Nigel the whole story. About how he actually ran away from home because he was scared the police would find and arrest him. The Crimson Nightshades never welcomed him, they pretty much kidnapped him and he lied his way into a new free home. Should they ever discover he’s a runaway orphan, he fears what they may do. He casually turns to Nigel and continued to play along with this lie.

Jason: Oh, he’s fine with it. I’m almost 18 now, so he figured it was about time I figure things out for myself, you know?

Nigel: I doubt my mum and stepdad will ever let me move out once I’m old enough.

Jason: Why do you say that?

Nigel: They both want me to join the police force, but I don’t want to. I wanna run a bookstore. One of my biggest interests is books… Do you like to read, Jason?

Jason: I… don’t read.

Nigel: You mean you never learned?

Jason: I learned a little. Jackson homeschooled me when I was young. It’s just been so long since I’ve read anything. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve held a real book. Everything is digital nowadays.

Nigel: I know, I don’t like it. The feel of the paper when you turn the pages, seeing the pages turning yellow with age. You don’t get stuff like that with a MagnaPad.

As they conversed about their likes and dislikes, the orange sky slowly faded out and was replaced with the night. Nigel checked his watch while Jason was talking in the background and was surprised to see that it was now quarter past 7. It was getting late.

Nigel: Jason, I think it’s time for me to head home now. I’m already out longer than I was allowed to be. Before I forget, did you find anything on my stepdad that would get rid of him for good?

Jason’s mouth opened but no words came out. He didn’t want to disappoint him by telling him that he hadn’t had a chance to take a look through the Crimson Nightshades’ files for anything useful he can use against Nigel’s stepfather. It was too secure and there were cameras everywhere. He was too hesitant to try anything. But he can’t just tell him that. He should at least give him some semblance of reassurance to help him sleep easier at night.

Jason: N-not yet, but I’m sure I’ll find something soon. I just need a little more time.

Nigel: Okay, but it has to be soon. He’s already suspicious of how long I’ve been out of the house.

Jason kneels down to his eye level and places his hand on the boy’s shoulder.

Jason: I already promised you that I’d do what I can to help you and your mother, and unlike some people, I will keep this promise!

Nigel: Some people?

Jason: Some old friends of mine who I thought cared about me. But they ended up abandoning me and living their best lives lounging around some nice house, forgetting all about me… I won’t be like them! I want to be there for you, Nigel. Be the friend to you they should’ve been to me. I will-

New Loud Voice: NIGEL!

The boys were startled by a new, loud and menacing voice shouting the boys name in a commanding tone of voice. Nigel’s body tensed up in response to hearing his name being called out. Jason didn’t know who was approaching them, but he can guess it was the very topic of discussion himself.

As he got closer, Jason got a good look at the man. He was what he expected when Nigel described him. He was a slightly rotunded man with a shaved head and a short grey moustache wearing a police chief’s uniform. He was carrying a torch and aimed its light at the pair, particularly on Jason’s face, forcing him to cover his eyes with his hand and back away from Nigel. On closer inspection, Jason could see his name written on his police badge. It said “Chief Arnold Jacobs” on it.

Chief Jacobs: You! Get away from that boy now!

Nigel quickly turns around and gets in between his stepdad and his new friend, trying to defend him.

Nigel: No! It’s not what you think! He’s-

Chief Jacobs: A potential kidnapper or child molester is what he is! You should know by now not to talk to strangers, you moron! Thought you were meant to be smart or something.

Nigel: Don’t you dare call him those nasty things! He’s my friend!

Chief Jacobs: Friend? You’re 11 years old and he’s almost an adult. You’re just asking to get hurt if you’re trusting this freak over the chief of police.

Jason: He’s safer with me than a man who uses his power over the law to do whatever he wants to him and his mother. Yeah, I know all about the abuse, forcing him to do what you want him to do, instead of what he wants… And I know about how you like to pawn his mother off to your corrupt officers! You, sir, are a true example of a real monster!

Chief Jacobs: How dare- Wait a second. I recognise you!

Chief Jacobs grabs Nigel’s wrist and maintains a firm grip as he moves closer to Jason. He shines his torch on his face, trying to get a better look at him. His eyes widen a little once he recognised where he’d seen that face before.

Chief Jacobs: I knew it! You’re that patient who killed his therapist who went missing a couple days ago. I saw you on the news earlier today at the station. Decided to come to Stratford to escape from the law, ey?

Nigel: What?

Now it was Jason’s eyes that went wide in shock of what he’d just heard. He should’ve known better than to assume that what happened in New London wouldn’t reach this far. The instant he learned Nigel’s stepdad was a police chief he should’ve just turned tail and ran. But he’d be no better than his parents if he abandoned the kid.

Jason struggled to formulate a response in defence of himself which was only making himself look worse for Nigel. Arnold snickered at this skinny teenager’s vain attempt to save face.

Chief Jacobs: He hasn’t told you? I’m not surprised. This little freak stood by and watched his own therapist die from her peanut allergy. Then he ran away, further proving he’s guilty.

Jason: What happened was an accident! I didn’t kill her! I’m sick of everyone thinking I did!

The obnoxious policeman closes the gap between them until he’s standing a few feet from him. The combination of the foul smell of alcohol on his breath filling his nostrils and the intense, judgemental look in his eyes, forced him to look away.

Chief Jacobs: I don’t care who you are. How scared you were in the moment. You may claim you’re not a killer, but I know a killer when I see one. You, Jason Dark, are a sicko. You came from a broken home and grew up a broken person.

Jason: Shut up.

Chief Jacobs: You think you can make yourself look good by helping Nigel? Stop yourself from going down the wrong path? That ain’t how life works, Freak. You will never be accepted by society!

Jason: Shut up!

Chief Jacobs: …You never should’ve come here. This is my town. I can have you put away for a long time for murder, evading arrest, and now I can add attempted kidnapping and pedophilia to your list of crimes. I’ve got a nice dark, dingy cell for sickos like you.

Jason: I SAID SHUT UP!

In a fit of blind rage, Jason grabs a rock from the ground and strikes Arnold in the head so hard that it causes a split in the side of his head, immediately beginning to bleed profusely. The rotund officer falls to the ground hard with a sickening thud, accidentally dragging Nigel down with him. Blood started leaking from the wound and trickled down his face. Some of it gets into his left eye, blinding him.

Both Jason and Nigel froze. Jason was completely consumed by fear as the realisation of what he’d just done sank in. His eyes drift slowly down to the rock in his hand now splattered with the man’s blood. Nigel looks up at Jason, then down at his downed stepfather, then back at Jason again. He wasn’t sure how to react in this situation. What Jason did was out of line, but at the same time why should he care about what happened to his bastard of a stepdad?

Jason: Oh god! Wha- what did I… do?

Arnold wasn’t dead though. He tightly grasps his forehead to cover the wound and do everything he can to stop the bleeding. But every ounce of pain he felt only heightened his boiling anger towards his attacker.

Chief Jacobs: You… you little shit! I’ll have you executed for this!

He quickly reaches for his radio and switches it on, calling his most trusted officers to come to his aid, scaring Jason even more.

Chief Jacobs: All units in the area respond! I have been assaulted by Jason Dark, the culprit behind the murder of Andrea Leland!

Nigel: Run, Jason! Run!

Nodding, Jason drops the rock and makes a mad dash in the opposite direction, trying to get as far away from the scene of the crime as possible, stumbling a little along the way. Arnold angrily grabs Nigel’s wrist and pulls him closer to his blood-covered face.

Chief Jacobs: I’m not through with you yet! You are going home right now! Once we find and lock up your sicko friend, we will discuss your punishment! Now get outta my sight!

He shouted as he rudely pushed him in the direction of their house. Tears started to build up under his eyes and his lips trembled. He was scared for Jason and what the police will do to him, but he was also too scared to stick around to find out. He does as he’s told and started running for home.

The chief of police had a little difficulty standing back up again. The wound on his head most likely gave him a concussion on top of a bleeding wound on his head. He brings his radio back up to his lips and speaks with authority into it.

Chief Jacobs: Let it be known that Jason is considered armed and very dangerous. Shoot him if you must, but make sure he doesn’t escape! …And send a goddamn ambulance to my location immediately!

Jason was in real deep mud now. He couldn’t get over what he’d just done. He just attacked the chief of police, potentially killed him. And now he’s on the run, leaving Nigel behind, abandoned him like his mother did during the Monster War.

Jason: No! He told me to run away. I didn’t abandon him. I’m not like my parents! I’m not!

He kept repeating those words in his mind as he ran aimlessly through the park with no idea where he is going or where he might turn up. Eventually, running in a straight line led him out of the park and out into an empty road in a quiet part of town on a street with small houses. With nobody around, Jason took this moment to catch his breath, resting his hands on his knees. His body isn’t used to doing this much physical exercise. He could feel his stomach churning and his heart and head pounding.

But far off in the distance on his left he can hear the faint sounds of police sirens blaring, and it was getting louder with each passing second. Panicked, Jason started running down the road in the direction opposite the approaching police car. But no man can outrun a speeding vehicle. It was only a matter of time before it caught up and closed in on him.

Jason: No no no no! This isn’t happening! I didn’t do anything wrong! That policeman, he’s the bad guy, not me!

The car soon came into view and its headlights were shining on the fleeing boy. The officer in the passenger seat addresses him through the car’s speaker, not at all caring about waking the people sleeping in the houses on the street they’re driving down.

Police Officer 1: Freeze! If you don’t comply, we will be forced to shoot you!

That only persuaded Jason to keep running now out of fear of being shot by corrupt cops and then have his murder covered up or pin it on a monster attack, giving Aegis an excuse to execute another innocent creature.

Suddenly, a second police car comes around a corner in front of him. Jason was now boxed in and had no where to go.

Jason: No! Damnit! Think! Use your head!

His panicking thoughts screamed internally as he desperately scans the area for anywhere he could go that the police wouldn’t follow. The first thing his grey eyes spotted was an old rundown house with boarded up windows and and a locked gate held closed by rusted chains. Not the best place to go, but Jason didn’t have a lot of options nor time to think about it. The cars were closing in on him fast.

As the cruisers closes the gap between them, the policeman in the passenger seat pulled out his gun and started shooting, narrowly missing Jason’s head. That settled it. Screaming in terror, Jason scurried up the brick wall of the abandoned house, using a bin as a stepping stone and climbs over. The cars brake to a halt right outside the gate, the officers exit their vehicles just as Jason squeezed through the semi open front door.

Police Officer 1: We’ve got him now. There’s no way outta there.

Police Officer 2: Why’d you take a shot at him?!

Police Officer 1: He cracked the chief’s skull open with a rock! Said he’s very dangerous and we have permission to shoot him.

Police Officer 3: Jesus, that kid attacked the chief? Nobody messes with our chief! I say we take him out!

Inside the dirty, empty house, Jason was able to pick up on what they’d just said. The instant he heard them say “Take him out” he slowly backed away from the window and tried to find another way out, maybe a backdoor. But there was no backdoor. He reached the back of the house, presumably the kitchen area from what he could tell by the black and white tiles on the floor. But no signs of a backdoor. He peers through the cracks in the boarded kitchen window and can see the that the wall he hoped over connected all around the house to the other side of the gate. He was trapped.

Jason: This can’t be happening! Why did you think it was a good idea to hide in here, you idiot?!

Jason started to hyperventilate and placed his hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat increasing speed and rhythm. There was nowhere to go and nowhere to hide in this empty house. This was it, he thought. This is where his life ends. Either they kill him, or they imprison him for life unfairly. Either way it didn’t matter. All he could do was think back to how he ended up in this mess, starting with insisting May Li buy him a packet of his favourite chocolate, leading to his therapist choking on a piece.

Jason: How did it come to this? Why is it I’m the one who always gets to suffer?! It’s not fair! Why can’t I just be happy? Is it really too much to ask for a little happiness?! …This is the end. I’m going to die in here. Alone. Forgotten.

Dark Voice: Who says you have to be the one to die?

Jason’s head shot up from his hands and his tear-filled eyes search the whole house for whoever spoke to him just now. It was a voice he didn’t recognise. It sounded like his voice but it had a demonic high pitch to it.

Jason: Who’s there?!

Dark Voice: Why do you think you should be the one to die? Why not kill them instead?

The voice replied inside Jason’s head. To him, it sounded like it was coming from all directions at once. It ignored Jason’s questions and kept speaking.

Dark Voice: They’ve come to kill you, so kill them first. Pick up that piece of wood in the corner and start swinging.

Jason: Wh-what? No, I… I can’t. They’re police! Killing them will only make me what they believe I am!

Dark Voice: You’re already a monster, Jason. You’ve been one since the day your friends left you… Everyone thinks you’re weak. Broken. A waste of flesh.

Jason: No! I’m not weak!

Dark Voice: You are if you cannot fight for what you know is rightfully yours… Human beings are the true monsters. People like those cops, like your parents, are a cancer that prey on the weak of this world. Nobody will miss them. You’d be doing the world a favour by eradicating the vermin on its surface!

Jason: Yeah… You’re right.

The fear and hopelessness in Jason’s eyes quickly fade out and is replaced by an empty, blank expression. His eyes dulled out and his body started to move on its own, grabbing the piece of wood on the floor and heading back toward the front door as the police were moments away from opening it.

Dark Voice: Yes, Jason. Do it! Kill them! Make them suffer as you have suffered! I will guide you through this.

The police quickly kick the door open and spread out inside the house with their flashlights positioned under their guns, searching for Jason. An eerie silence washes over the house as the cops cautiously check each of the rooms on the bottom level. The staircase was completely broken from years of decay, so it was unlikely that Jason was on the second floor.

Jason was hiding in the shadows, his hands firmly gripping the thick piece of wood, staring blankly at the nearest police officer in front of him. His back was turned to him, making it easy for him to perform a sneak attack from behind. From this moment on, his brain was running on autopilot and whatever dark presence was plaguing the depths of his mind was in full control.

When Jason was able to regain control of himself, he was met with the results of giving into his dark side. His eyes were pinpricks from sheer panic they’d, filled completely with pure horror at the sight of all five police officers laying dead all around the house. The walls of the living room, kitchen and entrance hallway were splattered with their blood. He slowly gazes down at his own hands and was horrified to see them dripping with blood also. Even his clothes and face were covered in it.

Rushing over to the dead officer lying up against the wall, Jason grabbed his head, checking for any hint of life. But it was completely snuffed out by him, or whatever it was that took control of his body. He can’t even remember what happened. There was no question it was him who butchered those cops, but how did he do it? How can a skinny boy like him with no fighting experience kill five adults armed with guns? This whole situation was really messing with his mentality, causing him to start panicking again. Trying to figure out the best way to make this look like an accident should any backup arrive.

Jason: Oh God, oh God… please! Please wake up!

He shouted hysterically as he slapped the dead officer’s head around a couple of times, thinking it’ll somehow wake him up. From there he started beginning his slow descent into madness, shouting at the corpse, believing it’s still alive, blaming them for chasing him in the first place, and questioning who is and isn’t his ally.

Jason: What am I gonna do?! What do I say if someone sees this?! It-it wasn’t me. I mean, it was me, but it was self defence… I know it needs work! STOP JUDGING ME! I was happy! I was about to start a new life here, and you monsters ruined it! It’s your fault you’re dead! NOT MINE!

It was at this moment that Alex and Michael would finally find him and catch him in the act of what is arguably a horrendous murder scene. Both of them could not believe their eyes. Something this gruesome is often seen in horror movies, it’s easier to stomach that way. But seeing it in real life, smelling the foul stench of spilled blood on old wood, it was too much for Alex to handle. Michael was somewhat used to seeing carnage like this when a soldier is killed in action by a monster. But this was the first time he’d seen murder like this done by a human’s hand. It was even worse knowing which hands caused this.

Jason: Alex? Michael? Wh-what are you two doing here?

Jason asked so casually, forgetting for a moment the situation he was caught in. But once it set in, he started to panic again. His only friends just caught him in the middle of a crime scene. How on earth is he going to talk his way out of this?

Jason: It-it’s not what it looks like. I-I-I can explain!

Michael: What the hell have you done, Jason?!

Jason: No no, please! Just… hear me out.

He begged as he got back up and tried to approach them. But Michael puts his arm in front of Alex, protecting him while his other hand was slowly reaching for one of his handguns.

Jason: Michael? Why are you reaching for your gun? It’s me, Jason. Your friend, remember?

Michael: Yeah, my “friend” whose hands are stained with the blood of five police officers! Can you blame me for being cautious?

Alex: Stop it, Michael. He said to hear him out, so let’s hear him out… What happened here, Jason?

Jason let out a sigh of relief and replied with a quiet “Okay” before he started from the beginning of what led to this. He tells them all about how he met and befriended a young boy called Nigel and how he was only trying to protect him from his abusive stepfather who is also a corrupt police chief. How he sent these officers to kill him.

Michael was finding it hard to believe that police would just want to kill him. He will admit that some people on the force can be corrupted by the power they wield, but not to a point where they feel they can get away with murder and cover it up. But Alex believed he was telling the truth. He can totally see Jason want to make sure another child didn’t have to go through the same trauma he did. Part of him thought it was kind of noble of him to want to protect others like him.

Jason: …Then they came for me, forced me to hide in this place. Police are not supposed to just start shooting, Michael! They’re supposed to say, “Hands up” or “You have the right to remain silent.” I’ve seen it on TV.

Alex: They just… attacked you?

Jason: I tried to talk sense into them, Alex, but they wouldn’t listen. They just wanted blood! I was scared. I didn’t know what to do…

He slowly looked down at his blood-stained hands, curling his fingers to make them look like claws. Then, to their surprise. A small menacing smile crept its way onto Jason’s face. His voice carrying a hint of depravity as he continued.

Jason: …Something took hold of me in that moment. Something dark, vicious, and desperate for survival. I grabbed the nearest thing and started swinging. Hahahahahaha!

Michael: You think this is funny?!

Michael shouted, startling Jason out of his trance and bringing him back to his senses.

Jason: I’m sorry, i’m sorry. I… I always laugh when I’m nervous.

Alex: It’s okay, Jason. If you say this was self defence, I believe you.

Alex says reassuringly as he approached Jason and put his hand on his shoulder.

Alex: I think I understand what’s going on here… The Crimson Nightshades made you do something illegal, didn’t they?

Jason: Huh?

Alex: It’s okay, bud, you don’t have to defend them. We know they kidnapped you a few days ago. They must’ve found out about what happened with Andrea and thought they could use that against you. Force you to do things for them so you’d take the fall. These officers must’ve chased you here with the intent to kill because the Crimson Nightshades have committed crimes so big that they’re more wanted dead than alive. They mistook you for one of them and attacked you. You had no choice but to defend yourself. It was either them or you, right?

Jason: Y-yeah… that’s exactly what happened!

Alex then gives Jason a bunch of wet wipes he bought from a petrol station they stopped at earlier on their journey, which he used to clean off some bird poo that landed on the bike hours ago. Now they’re being used to clean the blood splatter off his face, hands and clothes to the best of its abilities. He can’t exactly let Jason walk out of this house covered in blood. It would freak people out.

Alex: Good, that should calm him down a bit. Still, whether it was self defence or not, Jason still killed five police officers. Killing just one is already a serious crime. The best I can do is keep him calm until we think of something.

As Alex was trying to keep Jason calm, Michael takes a proper look at all the dead officers scattered around the room. Jason claimed it was self defence, but the way some of these cops died didn’t match his story. He then noticed one of the officers was laying by the front door. He didn’t see him upon entering due to the darkness keeping it hidden. The cop’s left arm was stretched out, like he was desperately trying to reach for the door before he died. There were no wounds or signs of head trauma around the facial area. “So how did this one die?” He thought.

He knelt down to get a better look at the corpse and shines the light from his MagnaPhone to see better. He then discovered that this officer had two gunshot wounds in the knees and several in the back, as though he was shot while running away. Nobody can kill someone like that and call it “self defence.”

Michael: You said you hit them with something, right?

Jason: I think so. I just grabbed whatever came to hand.

Michael: Then explain to me why this man has several gunshot wounds in his back and legs?

He glances back at Jason over his right shoulder, staring daggers into him. Jason felt his gaze and started to panic again, struggling to think up a good excuse for this new development.

Jason: Oh uh… Right, it’s all coming back to me now. He was going for his partner’s gun, and I-I just went on autopilot. I didn’t think, I just kept going until I was safe! I’ve just been sitting here in the dark until you two came.

Alex sighs and lowers his head. So much for his earlier plan to keep things calm. Now that Michael’s called him out on the gunshot wounds there was no further use in trying to defend Jason. But as his best friend, he still can’t stand the thought of him to going to prison for this, even if he knew this was murder. Just how is he going to get him out of this mess?

Michael: You can be straight with us, Jason.

Jason: Why wouldn’t I be telling you the truth? If I hadn’t fought them off, I’d be the one lying in a pool of blood!

Michael: You tell yourself that, but I’ve served in Aegis long enough to know what an execution looks like. These wounds show a clear sign of desperation. He was trying to leave and call for backup, but you grabbed his gun and shot him dead. That wasn’t self defence, that was murder!

Jason: I’M NOT A MURDERER! They’re the bad guys here, not me! They wanted to kill me, so I killed them first!

Jason quickly turns to Alex, hoping he’ll back him up as he always does. If there was anyone who’d always have his back it would be him.

Jason: Like you said, Alex. It was either them or me. If I’m a killer, it’s only because the Crimson Nightshades made me one against my will! You… you believe me, don’t you? Your best friend, Jason? We always trust each other.

Alex: Jason, I-

Michael: Don’t go getting his hopes up because you’re his friend, Alex. You know as well as I do that there’s no way outta this. Jason needs to answer for what he’s done. We’re not pinning this on Drake and his friends. They may be guilty of a lot of things but killing cops ain’t one of them.

Jason: Shut up, Michael! Don’t act like you care! Our friendship was nothing but a façade to you! You only played along because you were more Alex’s friend than mine. Deep down you’re just like everyone else. Looking down on the little people… Tell him, Alex! Tell him he’s out of line!

Now Alex felt like he was truly on the spot. There was no worse feeling than having to choose between two people he cared about. Never had he felt more powerless as Alex Laytham than in this moment. He made a promise to Jason years ago when they first became friends that he’d always protect him, always have his back when it mattered most. But deep down he knew Michael was right. Jason had become a murderer and there was no way to prevent the public from seeing that once word of this gets out.

Like Michael mentioned, blaming everything on the Crimson Nightshades wouldn’t be a very honourable thing to do. If he ever were to send them to prison it would be for the crimes he knew they committed. He can feel Jason’s pleading eyes and Michael’s serious stare piercing him. He needed to give them his answer. Omnius taught him to do the right thing no matter what, even if it meant breaking that special promise he made to Jason.

Alex: …He’s not. I’m sorry, Jason… But he’s right, you did kill them. What I assumed happened here was what I simply wanted to believe, because I didn’t want to admit to myself that my best friend did something unforgivably wrong. I know there’s more to this story than you’re letting on.

Jason: Wh… what the hell…?!

Jason slowly starts backing away in shock over what he viewed as a hurtful betrayal, almost tripping over one of the bodies in the process. He grabbed the side of his head as he has an existential crisis. His hurtful tone soon flared into rage as he starts letting it out on his supposed friends.

Jason: You’re supposed to be on my side! I guess I’m an idiot for expecting that, aren’t I?!

Alex: What do you mean?

Jason: Whatever this is between us. It’s off-balance. The goodwill only flows one way, and it’s not towards me. You’ve made that very clear by now.

Michael: Yeah, it is off-balance, but not the way you’re saying it. You’re the one surrounded by corpses!

Jason: Of course! It’s all my fault. The great Michael Mercer of Aegis gets to kill creatures from another world for a living and people cheer for him. Whilst I get punished for killing actual monsters! These men are far worse than any monster you’ve killed! And they work for an even worse monster who takes joy out of hitting a little boy and treats his mother like a servant! People like that should not be allowed to live! They deserve to rot in the depths of Hell!

Michael narrows his eyes at Jason. His hand slowly moves towards his holster, ready to go with the backup plan in case he decides to lash out. But Jason wasn’t done ranting yet. He still had more to say, specifically to Alex.

Jason: And you! I wanted to believe we were still friends, Alex. That one day you’d return, and everything would be as it was before. I should have known things were wrong when you came back to New London and didn’t tell me! You’d forgotten all about me and decided to spend your precious time with your stupid girlfriend!

Alex: What?

Jason: Don’t act dumb! She was in the same support group meeting I attended. I saw the two of you meet up and followed you back to that pub… You two looked so happy together, like nothing else in the world mattered to you but her. You never thought all this time to visit me? Not even call or drop a text?! You’ve been avoiding me from the start! At least have the decency to admit it. The least you can do is come clean about that. I’m not stupid, Alex! Just please… please don’t feed me anymore lies.

Alex: O-okay, you’re right. I should’ve told you sooner, should’ve visited you when I had the chance. It’s just that… something very important happened to me when I was taken away. Something I swore not to tell anyone about. Even you…But make no mistake, I am still your friend, Jason, and I when I said I’d be there for you, I meant it.

Jason: LIAR! You abandoned me! Both of you! You left me all alone at Hillside with Zack and his bullies. Let them hurt me! Use me! You two are no better than Chaos Man!

Alex: Chaos Man? What’s he got to do with any of this?

Jason: He has everything I want! Power! Peoples’ respect! Criminals fearing him! The whole world sees him as this new messiah! And does he deserve any of it? NO!

Michael: Get to the point.

Jason: The point, Michael, is that he, you and Alex are what’s wrong with humanity. You think you’re better than everyone else. You look down on people like me and leave them to suffer alone. And even when you do choose to help, you won’t go to the extreme to fix the problem because it’s against the law. The law is a joke! It’s clear that you’re both not gonna let me go. Think I deserve to be locked up in another cage? I don’t think so! I’m never going back to that life! NEVER!

Jason suddenly grabs Alex by his shirt and pushes him into Michael, knocking them both down and opening up his exit route. He bolted through the front door first chance he got and through the now open gate the police had to force open earlier.

He then ran out into the road without looking both ways, desperate to get as far enough away from Alex and Michael as possible. He was oblivious to a van diving down the road and heading his way before it was too late. Jason was blinded like a deer by the headlights, unable to bring himself to jump out of the way. Fortunately, the van came to a quick stop within inches of his body. Jason could feel his heart leaping into his throat, realising how close he’d come to getting run over.

Drake: There you are, Jason! We’ve been lookin’ all over for ya! Get in now!

Shouted Drake as he poked his head out the driver’s window. Jason quickly glanced back at the old house on his left and spot Alex and Michael opening the front door. Without a moment to spare, he quickly climbs in through the back door and slams it shut behind him. The moment he was inside, the Crimson Nightshade’s van sped off down the road, only narrowly exiting the boy’s field of vision.

Alex: NO, JASON! STOP!

Alex shouted and waved his arms about, trying to get their attention. But it was already too late. They were far out of sight and well beyond earshot.

Alex: No…

He glances over at Michael and sees him dial 999 before bringing the speaker end up to his left ear.

Alex: Michael, what are you doing?

Michael: Telling the police what happened here.

Alex: You’re not gonna tell them about Jason’s involvement, are you?

Michael: You’re damn right I am.

Alex: No! Please, not yet. Not until we check in with Jackson first.

Michael: Are you serious right now? Jason’s guilty, you know that. Why would you even think about letting him get away with this?

Alex: We promised Jackson we’d check in with him first once we’ve found him, let him know he’s okay. We at least owe him an explanation about what happened first and what he thinks of it… Please, Michael.

Michael takes a moment to ponder over this. Every fibre of his being was telling him to do the right thing, but the small part of him that connected to his fond childhood memories of growing up with Alex and Jason, smiling and laughing together, was eating away at him, urging him to listen to Alex.

The operator for the police on the other end of the line soon asked him what the reason for his call is. Michael doesn’t hesitate to report the murder of the five police officers at the address he and Alex are currently at. But when asked for specifics tied to the murders, that’s when he hesitated. He looks back at Alex who was already giving him the puppy dog eyes, attempting to guilt-trip him into not giving away Jason’s name.

With an annoyed and frustrated sigh, he tells them that he hadn’t seen the killer, and they came across the bodies whilst they were out for a walk before hanging up the phone.

Alex: Thank you…

Michael: I’m doing this because Jackson deserves to hear the truth from us, not through the news. Make no mistake, I’m not trying to protect Jason like you are.

Alex: Jeez, when did you get so cold?

Michael: When you go on enough missions where most of your comrades die, as I have, you’ll understand. Sometimes, for the sake of protecting the world and its people, you have to do things you’re not proud of.

Alex: Heh, you can say that again. If you only knew what I was really doing most of the time everyday.

Miles away from Stratford on the motorway, the Crimson Nightshades’ van was driving along with Drake behind the wheel, Scarlet sitting in the passenger seat next to him and Lukas hanging out in the back with Jason, whom his eyes hadn’t left once since he was brought aboard. The crew sat in silence until they were out of their hometown, ignoring Jason’s thanks for picking him up earlier. Without taking his eyes off the road, Drake speaks, finally addressing their errand boy.

Drake: So, Jason, care to explain why you left your apartment without notifying us and why we wound up finding you in the road on an empty street? Oh wait, I should clarify. Empty street aside from two police cruisers?

Jason gulped nervously, but he managed to utter his response and told them the same story he told Alex and Michael but left out the part about killing the officers who drove those aforementioned cars.

Since they met. Lukas struggled to get a proper read on Jason, to find out if he was lying to them or not. But not this time. Now he was an open book, and he can see clear as day that he was hiding something. They all knew.

Drake: Let me ask you, Kid. What did we ever do to make you disrespect us, ey?

Jason: I-I’m sorry?

Drake engages the van’s automatic drive and rotates his chair around to face him alongside Scarlet, who decided to surprise Jason by showing him a social news feed on her phone. Jason’s eyes widened with shock when he saw a photo of him on the feed next to the headline “Teenage orphan boy from Hillside House goes missing. If anyone sees him, please contact Jackson Hills” along with the orphanage’s office phone number.

Scarlet: What? You didn’t think we’d do a background check on anyone we hire? We called the landlord who owns the apartment building you pointed out to us across the street from the alley we met. He says he’s never heard of you or those guys you were with.

Jason: Oh, he said that? Maybe he-

Drake: You lied to us!

Jason: I didn’t mean to! I-I thought that maybe you-

Drake: Save us the excuses. Now, thanks to you, everyone thinks we’re kidnappers.

Jason: I’m not a kid!

Drake: This is where you zip it! The adult is talking here… If our boss finds out we let some snot-nosed orphan into the building the guild paid for, he’s gonna throw us under the bus. Which is why you won’t say anything to anyone. Cuz if you do-

Jason: You’ll kill me?

Drake: That’s just what you want from us, right? Nah, Lukas here will use his psychic powers to forcefully bend your limbs backwards until they snap like twigs and we dump you on the side of the road. Unless you’re into that too?

He says in a threatening tone, even though deep down he was bluffing. With the way Jason’s body was shaking, combined with Lukas’ intense glare, he seemed to believe him. He’s already seen proof of the Elemental ninja’s powers and how effective he can be with them. Breaking his body apart would be easy for him. Jason fearfully shakes his head in response.

Jason: No no! Pl-please don’t do that! I won’t say anything, I swear!

Drake: Good to hear that. Now buckle up, we’ve got an important stop to make first before we drop you off back at Hillside House.

Scarlet: I swear to God if Will Craft hadn’t given us a deadline for that scepter, we’d have just driven you there now. Fortunately for you, the museum is much closer than your orphanage. You can take this time to think about what you’ve done.

Lukas: Take this as a kindness, Jason. We originally planned to turn you into the police. But you did do a good job and followed our instructions without question. You will find that I am more than just the stealth element of this team. I am also the one who ensures we do what we do with honour. And the honourable thing to do with you is bring you home to face the consequences of your actions alone… But I will do the things Drake described if you involve us in any way. I swear my pride on it.

Jason: N-noted.

He muttered under his breath. From there the rest of the drive was quiet with Drake and Scarlet focused on the road and their plan to break in, and Lukas focused on Jason. His eyes stayed on him for the entirety of the drive, making Jason feel uncomfortable.

An hour later the Crimson Nightshades’ van goes into cloaking mode, disguising itself as a random white delivery van with an ad on the side that read “Wilson’s Pizza Delivery Service.” Even the licence plate changed to a different set of random letters and numbers to help cover their escape in case any cameras or Magna Tech robots scan them and attempt to run them through their criminal database.

They park the van out of sight in a quiet road a few feet away from the museum thinking it best not to risk parking in the alleyway they first met Jason in. Once parked, Lukas pulls out a pair of handcuffs, attaches one side to the handle by the backdoors and the other to Jason’s left wrist.

Jason: Hey! What are you doing?

Drake: This just to make sure you don’t get any ideas of running away or following us. You’re staying in the van until we return.

Jason groans in response and struggles against his cuffs.

Jason: They’re too tight! Can you at least loosen them a little bit?

Drake: Ha! Nice try, Kid, but I ain’t fallin’ for any more of your lies. C’mon, guys, let’s move. See ya in a few.

He gloated before slamming the van doors closed in Jason’s face. The enraged teen struggles more against his cuffs as he goes into a fit of rage, cursing at them as he desperately tries to find a way to escape. For the most part, it looked like there were no options. Until his eyes settled on the red custom-made boomerang hanging on the wall. He then remembered what Drake told him about it.

Drake: That belonged to my old friend and mentor, Jett. The Whistling Wind he called it. The edges are strong enough to cut through steel, and it’s durable enough to withstand an explosion.

Jason: …And now it’s going to get me outta here.

Jason smirked as he reached out for the boomerang, but the cuffs put him just mere inches out of reach, further adding to his frustration. He had until whenever the Crimson Nightshades get back to escape before they bring him back to Hillside House and he’s forced to face Jackson again. He wasn’t ready for that yet, not until he had more time to figure a way out and get his life back on the right track.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Nightshades were already inside the museum. They broke in through the ventilation shaft on the roof this time since the open skylight is most likely secured now. It wouldn’t be wise to break in the same way twice.

Once inside they treaded with extreme caution from the safety of the overhanging railings maintenance use to repair or replace the overhanging lights. They knew they’ve tripled their security since the previous break-in. More cameras, more alarm beams strutted about the floor close to the exhibits and MT robots patrolling the halls. This first part was where Scarlet comes in. Using her custom-built laptop, undetectable by Magna Tech’s systems, she hacked into the museum’s security system and disables all the alarm beams in the west wing. Doing so caused the robots to be notified of a malfunction and stray from their programmed paths to the west wing, which was exactly what they were hoping would happen.

The scepter was being held in the east wing of the museum, in a room dedicated to explaining the history of the Monster War even though it still felt too soon for some. The section itself was still under construction and not ready to open to the public, which meant there was less security in it. But that didn’t mean it was safe to just stroll in and take it.

Upon entering the incomplete room, Drake was the first to spot the scepter standing upright inside a huge glass case. Another laser grid surrounded the case from all sides. Not a problem for Scarlet. All she had to do was repeat what she did the first time, only now they had a limited amount of time to steal it before the robots detected the east wing’s systems were down.

Drake: Alright, that takes care of the lasers. Now let's hurry up, grab it and get outta here. Lukas, get the case open.

Lukas: Right.

Lukas hangs of the edge of the railing with one hand and pulls out three shuriken from his pouch, positioning them between his fingers. He takes aim at the case and throws them with such precision whilst using his psychic powers to increase their speed to ensure they slice through the glass cleanly. He telekinetically lowers the sliced pieces far to the side whilst summoning his ninja stars back to his pouch and the scepter to Drake’s hand. Drake then pulls him back onto the railing, looking pleased with how their well-planned heist was carried out.

Drake: Easiest money we’ve ever made. Now let’s bolt.

The Crimson Nightshades quickly exit the building the same way they entered and leave the scene of the crime just as the robots report a break in and theft of the scepter. They blend in under the cover of the darkness as they sneak their way back to where they parked their van.

Drake: Alright, Jason, I’m gonna put this in the back with ya so you better- Oof!

The moment Drake unlocked the back doors of the van, Jason uses both feet to kick them open, slamming into the mercenary’s face so hard it knocked him down. The scepter flew out of his hands and landed a few feet away from them onto the pavement.

Scarlet: Drake!

Jason quickly climbed out of the van and made a dive for the scepter, grabbing it as he rolled onto his knees. But as he stood up to try and make a run for it, he was suddenly held in place by Lukas. A purple aura completely enveloped his body and the scepter. He couldn’t move so much as an inch. Scarlet helps Drake back up onto his feet. His nose was bleeding from the impact of the doors slamming into his face.

Scarlet: Are you okay?

Drake: Yeah, nothings broken. But his bones will be in a moment! Take the scepter away from him, then throw this piece of shit back in the van, Lukas!

Lukas nods and extends his right hand, increasing the power of his psychic element, trying to wrestle the scepter out of Jason’s grip. As Jason struggles to keep his prize, he can feel his body screaming in pain as he tries to fight against Lukas’s psychic hold on him.

The red gem in the scepter seems to react to his pain and resonates with his desire to stop them from taking it. The gem starts glowing a bright red, casting a strong glow around the area, drawing the attention of anyone walking through the busy streets at night. Drake, Scarlet and Lukas’ eyes widen with surprise over how the scepter was glowing whilst shaking in Jason’s grip.

Suddenly, a blast of dark purple energy emits out of the gemstone and strikes Lukas in the chest, sending him flying backwards so fast that he wound up crashing into the side of the museum so hard it made a crater in the surface at the moment of impact.

Drake and Scarlet: LUKAS!

The Elemental’s hold on Jason dissipates, allowing him to move again. But instead of obeying his first instinct and taking this chance to run away, he instead gazed in awe at the scepter in his hand, fascinated by its strange power. He and the Crimson Nightshades now know that what he has there is no ordinary relic, but a super-weapon of unknowable power.

Jason: Did I just do that? This scepter has magic. And it was powerful enough to hurt Lukas and send him flying across the street.

Dark Voice: If a relic like that can overpower an Elemental, imagine what it could do against Chaos Man.

Jason perked up at the mention of that and a small, fiendish grin formed in the corners of his mouth, realising how right the voice in his head was. Maybe he didn’t have to go into hiding and hope for things to get better after all. With this kind of power under his command, he can make things how he wants them to be.

Drake and Scarlet quickly rushed over to Lukas’ side and help him get back up. The impact left him dazed and his body ached all over. But his focus was still on the one who sent him into the wall in the first place.

Scarlet: Lukas are you alright?!

Lukas: Jason… is getting… away!

He weakly uttered as he points them in the direction of Jason who was finally making a desperate escape down the street. Drake instructs Scarlet to help Lukas back into the van while he chased down the treacherous thief on his hoverboard. He easily manages to catch up to him with minimal effort.

Drake: Do you honestly think you can outrun me, Jason? Ain’t no way in hell I’m gonna let you get away with hurting my friend and our ticket to a well-earned break from the guild for a whole year! Either you drop it now, or I’m gonna have to shoot ya and pry it from your cold, dead fingers!

Jason: No! I need to get away from him! Somewhere he’ll never find me!

The scepter begins to glow again, as if it’s responding to his wishes. Only this time it generated a swirling black hole-like portal a few feet in front of him. Jason’s mind had little to no time to process what he’d just witnessed, and his legs kept carrying him forward, entering the portal without hesitation.

Drake: What the fuck?!

The instant Jason went through completely; the portal instantly disappeared before Drake could reach it, forcing the very confused and extremely pissed off mercenary to halt his pursuit and stop in place.

Drake: Goddamnit! Fuck! How the hell did he know to do that?!

The Crimson Nightshade van soon pulls up alongside Drake and the back doors swing wide open, revealing an injured Lukas laying on his back and Scarlet in the driver’s seat.

Drake: He’s gone! He somehow vanished into thin air with our scepter!

Scarlet: Forget that. We must get outta here before more police robots arrive. The museum’s alarm system has already gone off longer than I’d like. Get in!

Groaning with frustration, Drake flies his hoverboard into the back and Lukas telepathically shuts the doors as Scarlet slams her foot on the pedal, increasing speed in a desperate move to flee the scene of the crime. Even if they do evade the authorities again, they’ll now have to report their failure to Will Craft and pray he’ll be forgiving.

The other side of the black portal opened in a location unknown to Jason. The travel time from where he was to where he currently resides was instantaneous. He flew out of the portal and comes crashing down hard on wooden planked floor. The scepter falls a few feet in front of him, the clanging sound it made as it hit the floor echoed through the whole room. Wherever he was it was very open, empty and quiet, aside from what can be described as a loud ticking sound coming from above.

Once he’d recovered from the nausea of his first portal hop, emptying his stomach in the corner of the room, Jason took a look around the area and gasped in awe at the sight of a giant round window to his right. The light of the full moon shone through the clear surface of the window, illuminating the whole space in its shimmering glow. Jason quickly pieced together that the window he’s staring at was actually the clock face of London’s most famous landmark, Big Ben. It explained the constant loud ticking sound emanating from all around him. Of all the places the scepter spat him out in, this had got to be the most random.

Jason: Big Ben? Why would the scepter bring me here?

Dark Voice: You said you wanted to be someplace where nobody could ever find you. Who would think to search the top of a giant clocktower?

Jason: Whatever. The important thing is that I’m safe for now…

He quickly rushes over to where the scepter lay and picks it up with both hands. He holds it up high and gives it a little wave about, trying to make it manifest its powers again. But nothing happened this time.

Jason: Er… How does this thing work again? It worked before with Lukas and Drake. What’s changed?

Dark Voice: The scepter responds to your desperate desires. You wanted to break free from the Elemental, it repelled him. You wanted to escape Drake; it brought you here. You have to really want what you desire in order to get it, Jason.

“Okay” Jason quietly muttered under his breath as he closed his eyes and raised the scepter up higher. The red gem begins to glow again, responding to his desires. A black shadowy mist starts seeping out of the gemstone and blanketed over the wooden floor, covering it up entirely.

A strange black shape slowly begins to rise out of the ocean of shadow and takes form in front of Jason. It forms a tall, slender humanoid creature with long skinny arms and long boney fingers. Two long slim legs with only nubs as its feet. The being had no facial features aside from two glowing dots for eyes. The creature slowly looks down at Jason and responded to the scepter in his hands, letting out a quiet eerie whisper.

Jason’s eyes shot wide open upon hearing this quiet noise and gazes up at the creature standing in front of him. He let out a terrified scream and scurries back against the wall. An appropriate reaction to seeing a shadowy apparition standing so close to you. But he suddenly stops when he notices that the shadow creature wasn’t attempting to chase after him. Instead, it was slowly getting down on one knee and bowing its head to him.

Jason: Wha- What are you?!

The creature slowly lifts its head and stares into his soul with its glowing white eyes.

Shadow Demon: I am a Shadow Demon. A being of the Umbra Ruby, born to serve whosoever holds the Scepter of Darkness. You have summoned me from the Shadow Realm. We pledge our eternal allegiance to you. What shall you have us do, Master?

Jason: U-us?

Soon more Shadow Demons began to emerge from the shadow-covered floor. Many of them came in a variety of different forms. Some were regular slender humanoids like the first one, some were even larger, more bulked up versions of them. And others had more animalistic appearances such as wolves and bats. But all of them shared the same attributes. An all-black shadowy body and glowing white eyes. They all appear around Jason, putting him in the middle and bow their heads, pledging their undying fidelity to their new master.

Jason looks over each and every one of them and his fear slowly faded away, replaced by a big maniacal smile.

Jason: My own army of Shadow Demons. This is even better than I expected. Heh… hehehe! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!

Jason’s maniacal laughter echoes all throughout Big Ben as he raises his arms high, basking in the glory of finally obtaining the one thing he so rightfully deserves, ultimate power. And with it, he can finally exact his revenge on everyone who’d wronged him in the past. At last, he would show the whole world what happens when you constantly torture a lost soul like his!

To Be Continued