#duskwood jakexplayer

[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 85

"We will get to that. It is the early hours of the morning. Maybe let your call wait until dawn." Alan replied curtly as he sat in front of me once more, his fingers steepled as he eyed me suspiciously.

I shrugged, trying to look as non committal as I could.

"Aye, aye cap'n," I muttered dryly, wishing beyond anything that I could see MC's reaction to my attempt at a passive aggressive attack. I had no doubt that, if she were in this situation, her remarks would be far more cutting than anything I could come up with. That was one of the things I loved the most about her. She would never settle for anyone's bullshit. Even my own. If it was morally wrong to her, she would call anyone out on it. Perhaps to her own detriment.

Alan looked less than amused with my attempt at humour. Rather, he sat back a bit and eyed me with a steely gaze.

"Humour will not be your friend here, son." Alan stated calmly, trying to insert some form of dominance.

I shrugged half heartedly and shook my head. "Well, I am aware of my predicament. If I can't have a little fun now, when can I?" I answered, surprised at how calm I sounded. I was severely sleep deprived and struggling to keep myself distanced enough from MC to keep my emotions in some form of check. I had no idea what the future held for either of us, but I would be damned if hers would be worse for having known me.

"Okay, how long will it take to find out anything about the people that are following...her." I paused, my voice catching in my throat. I had hoped Alan wouldn't noticed but he gave a smirk as he registered the emotion in my voice. "We are on bareboned crew at the moment, due to the hour. I imagine we will have some more information over the coming hours, should there be anything to find anyway. She really has you captivated, doesn't she? So much so that you fell into a pretty obvious trap. I didn't think hackers made such horrendous mistakes."

"Fuck off," I growled, my voice dark and menacing as I fought to restrain myself. I was well aware that anything I said could be used against me and showing hostility to an officer was never a good idea. I hoped that he would read something different in my reaction. Maybe embarrassment that I had fallen so hard I had gotten caught. I hoped he wouldn't register the real reason. The fact that I had promised her I wouldn't get caught and that now I would struggle even more to secure us a future. I would have always made the decision I did. I would always protect MC from whatever danger I could, set up or not.

"Now, now," Alan grinned. "Maybe you should get back onto your story while we wait then, hacker."

I shrugged. "I need sleep. You bring me some more information on MC's stalkers and I will provide you more information. But right now, I feel like I have spoken enough...without a lawyer." I smirked, upping my game. I hadn't specifically asked for a lawyer, but the mere mention of the word was usually enough to send a chill through an officer. It had the desired effect. "Okay, I will play your game for a while, hacker. You can have a cell overnight and then we will get your phone call. I expect a lot of information for the favours I am doing for you."

I nodded once and waited for him to lead me to a cell. The four walls that separated me from everything. My everything. As I lay on the cold bed, I felt the walls close in around me and hope drain away. After all, Caged birds don't sing.

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[wouldduskwood]

Descendants of Despair Part 86

I gritted my teeth as Lilly spoke, my hands balled into tight fists. "Hold please," she murmured, as her eyes widened in shock. "It's Jake," she whispered as she changed the phone to speaker phone.

I realised my mistake the moment it occurred.

"Lilly," his voice hit me like a tonne of bricks. My resolve lay in tatters around my feet as I listened to his haunting words.

"Lilly...I have been arrested. They are opening an investigation into my hacker related offenses. I'm not sure how long I will be in here. I need you to do something for me..." His voice was quiet yet somehow forceful, leaving no room for arguments. I could feel tears springing to my eyes but I forced them back and swallowed sharply. I wouldn't allow myself to cry.

Lilly nodded in shock, then seemed to remember that he couldn't actually see her. "Yes...yes Jake...anything..." she was finally able to whisper.

"I need you to...to let MC know and...I need you and Dan to look out for her, more so now than before. They might still target her... if they think she knows too much." Jake paused for a moment, then resumed speaking, his voice tortured.

"I have to go...I'm sorry. Lilly, I'm sorry. Tell her, tell her I'm sorry I broke my promise." Then the line went dead. Taking a shallow breath through my nose, I gritted my teeth harder and forced myself to focus on getting out. I couldn't be here any longer. The room felt suffocating and had begun to close in around me.

"MC..." Lilly was speaking, her voice sounded as though it was coming from a distance. I doubled down on my attempt to focus, drawing blood as my nails clenched against my skin. "MC, I'm sorry." Her words wormed through to my consciousness and I realised I had an out. An escape from under their clutches. At least for a while.

"I have to go," I cringed, grabbing my backpack and throwing myself out of my seat and through the door before they could react.

I ran.

#duskwood #duskwood fanfic #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x player #jakexmc #duskwood jakexplayer #jake x mc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood jake

[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 84

The squeal of a seat being pushed against the linoleum floor felt deafening, but I remained sitting with my head down. I wouldn't let this amateur break me. Once the door clanged shut, I raised my head and considered all that had happened since being captured.

So far, though I had been read my rights, something felt off about the entire situation. Where was the FBI? Someone higher up that would have quickly taken a case of this extent from a small town cop? I desperately wanted to use the phone call I should have been guaranteed to contact MC. Let her know I was okay. Maybe get some sort of message to her to leave town in case Alan went back on his word. But, I also knew that Alan would be extremely curious about this call.

I began focusing my breathing. Trying to employ some of the tricks MC used to remain as grounded as she could. Clearing my mind so I could see beyond the current situation and prioritise the most important things. Right now, the most important thing to me was to get MC a message that I was safe. Beyond that, I would worry about my own situation. I knew MC wouldn't be happy with my thought processes. She would want me focusing on myself. To get myself out. Back to her.

She wasn't wrong, but right now, at this moment, it didn't seem possible.

As Alan came back into the room, he leaned against the doorframe and announced, almost casually; "I have put out some alerts and we will see what they shake out. Now, where were we?"

"I would like to make a phone call," I spoke the words slowly, an idea beginning to form in my mind.

#duskwood #duskwood fanfic #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x player #jakexmc #duskwood jakexplayer #jake x mc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood jake

[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 83

As I spoke, I kept my eyes lowered on the table in front of me. Watching my fingers trace patterns on the table. Sometimes, I paused in my narrative, swallowing hard. I was finding it challenging providing just enough detail to keep Alan interested. My mind kept wandering back to MC.

I had done the unthinkable. Broken a solemn promise to her. I had removed myself from the possible future we had been striving to reach. Intense pain coursed through my body, fighting with my survival instincts that told me I needed to play the role I was dealt.

Pausing in my narrative once more, I raised my eyes to Alan's suspicious gaze. "I need you to try and do something for me," I began slowly. Alan cocked an eyebrow but made no other concession.

"There are people after her. Bad people. They want something that she has. Evidence that could put them away. Can you help?" I asked, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. Alan shrugged. "That isn't much to go on and so far the information that you have provided for your own case is very limited."

"I know. I know." I cringed, clutching at the table in front of me then releasing, trying desperately to keep the stress down. I wasn't sure how far they had gotten in their investigation and whether they had traced my last whereabouts to the loft that housed my equipment. I knew it would self-destruct the instant someone without a familiar phone presence came anywhere near it and the camera set to monitor movement. But, that did nothing to help MC. To get her out and to a life she deserves.

Alan leant back on his chair and stared at me, eyeing my every movement. "I can't promise anything, but I will make some inquiries. When I come back, I expect some more information and whether this links in any way to the missing girl, Ms Hannah Donfort."

I nodded weakly. Some time away from being questioned and having my every movement analysed, might just give me the perspective I needed to continue this. To find a way to protect MC and save Hannah. Whatever consequences would befall me, I would face them. It was time to end this. To end it once and for all.

Part 84

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[wouldduskwood]

Descendants of Despair Part 83

I felt myself collapse against the building I had scaled not long before. Hope drained from every pore of my body, dripping from my skin like rain into the gutters. I stared at my phone, at the blinking dot that showed Jake's location. Duskwood Prison. My suspicions had proven correct and now I was forced into a cold, numb state, barely registering my environment.

Surprisingly, there was no pain. Just a deep, darkness that threatened to swallow me whole. A small part of me was screaming furiously. Telling me I needed to move. To head somewhere safe. But I had no idea where safe was anymore. Safe was no longer a concept I was familiar with. My safe place lived and died with Jake. I found myself collapsing further, now sitting against the rough wall, my head falling backwards and the phone I had clung to so desperately sliding to my lap. Falling. Falling into the abyss.

Just as I felt I had reached rock bottom, a car turned onto the street and I blinked with a start. Running on pure survival instinct, I forced myself to moving. Jake was already in trouble, the extent of which could be massive. I could do something to help him get a lighter sentence. I knew I had to find the car and his set up. Before they did.

My feet pounded against the pavement as I followed the map that had lit my phone. Checking his location obsessively had paid off. I knew how to find his safe house. As I ran, I scanned the streets, keeping an eye out for anyone that may be following me. If the Police had left a tail on me, I would be leading them to the evidence they needed to throw away the key. With this in mind, I took a sharp turn in the opposite direction and found a building to scale onto. From this height, I could see everything. I made my way along the building, jumping as I needed to. By the time I had ran out of building, I had determined it was highly unlikely that I was being followed. I felt safe enough to clamber from my perch.

The car sat out the back of a building that looked deserted. There was some equipment, hidden rather haphazardly, in the boot. I made my way into the building and picked up everything that belonged to Jake. This would have been devastating, but somehow I had closed off my feelings. Logic. Collect any evidence of his stay and remove it. It was a process and required no emotion.

Emotion. Hope. All it ever brought was pain.

Part 84

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[wouldduskwood]

Descendants of Despair Part 82

Flashing a quick grin at the closest car, I took off to the nearest building, hoping beyond hope that my skills were still polished enough that I would be able to scale whatever building I was faced with. Beyond that, I would face whatever consequence. If I was trapped, then so be it. It probably wasn't the smartest decision, but it was the only one I was comfortable with. When the Police had failed you your entire life, it became practically a defense mechanism to avoid them at all costs, regardless of the purpose of their visit.

I struck it lucky. The building before me was large but there was an easily accessible fire escape. I launched myself at it and pulled my way up to the roof, relying almost solely on muscle memory as I looked down to the street below. A couple of officers had left their vehicles and were looking towards me with irritated expressions. A maniac part of me wanted to laugh at their hapless faces, but I figured this would make things worse, and if they already had Jake there was a high chance they would take my behaviour out on him.

"Fucking consequences," I moaned to myself, suddenly realising the glaring problems with my plan. I sighed and cast a quick look around my surroundings, then slid down the fire escape I had just scaled. Whatever the cost, I refused to have Jake pay it. Just as I landed, static came over the radios of the officers that remained on the pavement, watching me hesitantly. I couldn't make out what was being said, but suddenly they turned tail and left. I watched after them, stunned. It had been a long time since I had ever felt this out of my depth and alone. As I watched the lights of the cruiser fade, I considered my options.

I had everything that had ever meant anything to me, the backpack that had contained my whole existence up to Jake. But, at this very moment, as I stood on an empty street, now devoid of other humans, I realised that I ultimately had nothing. Without Jake, I had nothing.

Part 83

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[wouldduskwood]

Descendants of Despair Part 81

"I'm going to test these pieces, make sure they're ready for if we need them," I announced with as much forced bravado as I could muster. Dan and Lilly nodded, looking a little more relaxed than they had done since I arrived. "Listen, don't feel you have to wait up. I...I need to be sure they're working to the best of my abilities so I don't risk...well yeah." I ended, rather lamely and with a swallow. It had the desired effect. Both Lilly and Dan said goodnight and left me to it. It was comforting to know that, when it mattered, I could still manipulate people and so what needed to be done. Maybe I hadn't gone as soft as I'd thought.

As soon as their doors closed, I grabbed my phone and backpack and slipped out into the night, not bothering with my other gear. It was too much of a risk. Once the chill of the night air hit me, I could feel myself centring. Resuming my identity from my time on the street. Cold. Methodical. I couldn't afford the panic that emotion would bring. Instead, I treated it as another inconvenience that I'd need to get on top of if I wanted to survive. Without even a backwards glance at Dan's, I took off running through the streets.

Just as I was beginning to reach a gentle rhythm, I spotted them. Unmarked, of course, but definitely police. The late hour. Two officers per car. The way they were spaced to not allow for traditional exit routes. The very obvious way they perked up when I had appeared , as though they were expecting me. If it had been only one cruiser, I may have missed them. I knew then what had happened. In the very pits of my soul I knew he'd been caught. The why didn't even matter. At that moment, I had a choice. Allow myself to get caught, or attempt a run and risk further punishment if they caught me down the track.

It was a split second decision. Emotion is a funny thing.

Part 82

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[wouldduskwood]

Descendants of Despair Part 79

A small knot of hope settled into my stomach. Hope. It was one of the most useless human emotions. Either your hope would be justified and the outcome would be good, or your hope would be dashed and the outcome would be so much worse than if you just thought of the worst case scenario to begin with. However, despite this knowledge, I allowed the hope to spread, easing some of the tension that had been building since leaving Jake's side.

"Well, let's approach this from the point of view that we know they know you are here..." Dan began. "We can assume that they also realise that you know this information. This limits our options fairly significantly. I think our best bet is to make it appear that you have disappeared. They obviously aren't interested in what I am doing, so I think I should be the one to do something...and I know just what to do." Dan left the sentence hanging in the air as Lilly and I waited with baited breath.

"Well, what are you going to do?" I finally prompted, a slight growl of annoyance in my voice which made Dan snicker.

"I am going to head to the Aurora and confront Phil, loudly, asking for your whereabouts!" Dan announced, looking extremely proud of himself. He had the right to be. I couldn't really find any fault in his plan. He was the only one that would be risking anything by going there and he may stumble upon some information that may help us get closer to the end game.

"Hm, okay but you take precautions." I agreed.

"Precautions?" Dan groaned. "You don't need to treat me like an infant."

"Oh, that isn't what I was thinking at all," I clarified. "I was thinking if you get taken you won't be able to relay the information to us, so we need to have you wired so we can hear it ourselves."

Dan nodded in agreement, accepting my terms without flinching. A good sign that he was aware of the potential danger that could lie ahead and was willing to meet them head on. Alternatively, his bravado could entirely be because he was stubbornly ignorant of the dangers that could lie ahead. It really didn't matter either way, though the former would be far easier to deal with than the latter.

"Uh, no offence or anything, but do you know how to...wire someone?" Lilly asked hesitantly. I knew what she was getting at. Out of the two of us, Jake was far more tech savvy, so Lilly wouldn't have noticed any of the small things that showed I knew a thing or two. That was helpful. Being underestimated always was. I decided to play this to my advantage. The future was bleak and I clung desperately to any small fragment of my former life.

Shrugging, I indicated my phone.

"Can't be too hard to figure out." I muttered as I typed absentmindedly into the encrypted search engine Jake had left on my phone. The rest of my mind I devoted to searching my memory of the things I had taken with me. To build a simple listening device, you need a crappy phone. The type with a microphone that picks up on everything. You then need to upgrade it with the battery power and circuits of another phone. Risking the connection severing due to battery shortage or a small bump was not worth it. The end device may be crackly but, it would be serviceable enough to get the information needed.

My fingers tightened around the phone in my hand. The phone with the best battery and circuits, upgraded to well above standard. The phone that held my precious connection to Jake. Shaking my head briefly, I eyed Dan and Lilly warily. "We need two cell phones. An old piece of crap phone and a newer model..." I began, hesitantly shielding my device from their keen eyes.

Sacrifice. It was something that Jake and I had done our whole lives. Lives marred with bare surroundings. Walls that dripped with icy drops and held together with mold. Fragments of blankets that barely stretched to make one good one. Every good thing we had, we had worked our asses off to get.

Dan grunted and levered himself from his seat. "If it's crap you need, I got it," he mumbled as he headed into his bedroom. He was playing his role well, but I could sense the tension that bubbled below the surface. It was how I felt every time I was up against the unknown. False bravado.

"Um, I can sacrifice my phone..." Lilly whispered, holding it out in a shaking and unwilling hand just as Dan appeared back in the room. "No, it's okay Lilly." He grunted as he chucked two phones on my knee. Saving both Lilly and I from making the sacrifice. I smiled up at him, genuinely.

"Thanks Dan," I whispered, as I went through the process of creating a listening device, forcing myself to remember to check the instructions on my phone. An act. Always an act. Playing a role. A part.

Part 80

#duskwood jake #duskwood fanfic #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood jakexplayer #duskwood jake x player #jake x mc #jakexmc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood dan #duskwood lilly

[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 79

Darkness clung to the small fragments of weak light from the ancient street lights, threatening to swallow them. This was comforting. Concealing. I ran at a steady pace, pausing occasionally to glance at my phone and adjust my position. As I neared the area, I slowed. It was now a matter of hunt or be hunted. Neither option was good, but the former offered the best opportunity for escape.

The best way to gather information that you need is to provoke a controlled action. Pros will know enough to not deviate from the game plan, but they usually have to work with amateurs who are more likely to panic. So, setting off some sort of diversion from the plan and watching to see if the amateur bolts is an easy and safe enough way to determine who is after you. It also means that, if the amateur is the one waiting for you, you can follow them to the pro.

Having no idea what I would face put me at a distinct disadvantage, so I decided it was time to even the fields a little. At least see who I was up against. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. I had 20 minutes up my sleeve. It wasn't long, but it would have to do. Pulling my hood further over my head, I leaned against the wall and considered my options.

They were limited. I could orchestrate some sort of drama in that exact position, with as many emergency services as I could muster. Or, I could attack, with as much fanfare as I could. Scare out the threat before they got to me. The last option was to use my own unique skills and set off some sort of wired trap. All of these options had merits, and would likely achieve the desired result, but only the latter would offer me any chance of knowing what they were after. Why me? Why her?

Sighing, I decided to confront the issue head on. Entering the building was simple enough, the security was lacking. Once inside, I was able to make my way to the alarm system. Security would be more effective. Fire would only trigger unneeded distractions. Pulling out my lockpicks, I let myself into the small office labeled Security and cast a quick look around. Smirking, I made my way over to the basic computer. It was, like everything else, lacking. It was easy enough to find and trigger the alarms to go off. One at a time, varying areas and distances away from each other. The commotion would be enough to scatter a scared amateur but, was probably little more than an inconvenience to the residents. A pro, well they would just wait somewhere safe and see what happened next.

Making my way back into the fairly empty hallways, I headed up the stairs, keeping my head down. The rooftop. How fitting. As I reached the doorway, I took a deep breath and scanned my phone. The mystery phone had remained in position. Either my pursuer was somewhere behind this door...or they had dropped the phone and ran.

Unfortunately, only they knew which one. Only they knew what was waiting behind this closed door. A picture of MC's face, eyes wide with trust, waivered in front of my eyes. For her, I would face anything. As long as she was safe. Taking a deep breath, I pushed on the door and stepped out into the unknown.

Part 80

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[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 78

Trades? The thought whirled in my mind as my hand gripped the bag of food and water tighter. There was the possibility that this unknown had traded me to the Government in order to gain some sort of freedoms of their own. Or it could be entirely unrelated. Someone that knew of my abilities and wanted to extort them, for a price?

I took a deep breath, steadying myself and replied hastily, trying to buy some time.

Jake: And if I don't agree?

Then, I slid my phone into my hoodie and took off running towards my shelter...and closer to her. Once I had arrived, I headed straight to my set up and glanced at the program that was running in the background. Nothing unusual had been registered, but a thought, just beginning to form, came to my mind. I freed my phone and checked it briefly, nothing from the mysterious stranger had been received yet, so I plugged it in to my set up and furiously typed some strings of code to the program that was still running in the background. When I had finished typing, I looked at the phone screen once more. The pencil was still moving and pausing across the screen.

'Prioritise,' I told myself, as I watched the pencil moving with morbid fascination. 'You're wasting time,' the logical part of my brain was right. I sat my phone in front of me and pulled out the food and water. I needed sustenance, especially if this came to a fight. I barely registered what I was putting in my mouth as I watched my phone. Waiting.

Finally, the pencil stopped moving and a message appeared on my screen.

Unknown: Well, you're not the only option for the trade. I'm surprised you'd risk MC like that, but I can go that way.

Unknown is Offline

"FUCK!" I screamed. Panicked and shaking, I penned back a message, hoping the unknown would be watching and waiting. I knew it played into their ultimate game plan, but the risk for her was not worth it.

Jake: I'll agree to your terms, just leave her out of it!

I waited with baited breath, unsure how far I would have to go if they didn't reply. Maybe burst in on her and pull her out, even if it was kicking and screaming? Maybe find them myself and. And what Jake? Kill them?

Unknown is Online

Unknown: Good choice. Track my location, hacker, prove just how good you are. You have 1 hour to find me, or all bets are off.

Unknown is Offline

I sat back on my heels, a smirk playing on my mouth. My computer screen had lit up and a beeping sound was alerting me to the presence of an unknown device. As I watched, I could see the dot that represented the stranger moving, then settling somewhere. I couldn't trust that this would be where they would remain, so I began the process that would transfer the phone location data to my phone. My mind had gone into hacker mode. No longer did I fear for myself. I could be her hacker. I could use whatever skills I had to try and protect her....and...if that wasn't enough...

I left the thought unformed, pieces that I refused to acknowledge appeared and disappeared as I fought them back and forced myself to focus on the current situation. Hacker. That was who I was. I cast a quick look back at my set up and said a silent good bye. Then, grabbing my mask, I turned for the door and ran out into the night and to whatever awaited me.

Part 79

#duskwood jake #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood #duskwood fanfic #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x player #duskwood jakexplayer #jake x mc #jakexmc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood jake pov

[wouldduskwood]

Descendants of Despair Part 78

The room seemed to close in around me. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. My mind ran through every miniscule detail since my arrival, searching for an elusive moment. I forced myself to see everything, as I had done when I had arrived. As I scavenged for information, I saw the massive error that had likely led to this whole situation. The entire time that I would usually have spent ensuring safety, going through escape routes and practicing again and again, or drawing up plans, or making a mental list of every little thing that could even be remotely threatening...that entire time I had spent in a whirl trying to diminish my feelings for Jake. And, for what? To end up running back into his arms, piled with more danger than before?

I snarled under my breath, realising just how dangerous I had actually made things by coming here. At the time of my arrival, I had been fairly smug, thinking I was taking in the external escape routes of the home and noticing enough that would keep me safe. Keep us safe. Now, there was nothing I could do. I shook my head and leaned back against the wall. 'Suck it up, Princess,' I screamed internally. 'You made the choices that got you here, now fix it.' With that thought thundering through my mind, I forced myself back into the room and was met by worried stares.

'They think you're crazy,' the thought wormed its way through all the others. They had every right to. My mood hadn't exactly been stable since I had arrived, far from it in fact. "Something happened," I said, slowly, buying myself time to try and decide exactly how much to let them know. They watched me, standing closer together. Supporting each other.

"I..." I began, thinking about all that had happened in the Aurora, then stopped and swallowed, changing my original trajectory to keep more information to myself. "Someone tried to jump me as I was leaving the Aurora. If I hadn't been quicker they would have caught me." Lilly gasped and Dan grabbed her hand, soothingly. "I'm not sure if they were after me for information on Jake...or just after me. Either way, someone knows I'm here and doesn't want me to be. If you haven't told anyone...then I have missed something. Whatever that something is...it...well it can't be good."

"But, MC, what if it was from the Man without a Face?" Lilly squealed, eyes wide. Her concern seemed genuine, but I still eyed her suspiciously, looking for any micro-expression that may show a different and truer emotion. When I couldn't see any, I moved on. "If it was, then he has people working for him." I shrugged, casually. If it was the Man without a Face, at least I knew what he wanted. It didn't spell too much more trouble for Jake and I. It did put a lot more pressure on us to get out or solve this shit and move on.

"If it is the people after Hackerboy...you need to stay well clear of him. Let them go after him." Dan snarled, then added, almost grudgingly, "He's more than capable of defending himself." I nodded thoughtfully, watching Dan as thoroughly as I had Lilly. Protective. Big brotherly. He really appeared to be nicer than he had originally led me to believe. I sighed and pressed my finger and thumb to my eyes. "I don't know if they know I'm here," I groaned. "I don't want you or Lilly in danger...well any more danger than what you are already in."

"Hannah is my sister and Dan's friend. She wasn't anything to you, but you are still out there, putting yourself in harms way, for her. We owe you a safe place to rest your head. Heck, we probably owe you far more than that." Lilly declared, solemnly. I felt the corners of my mouth move upwards in a genuine smile. "Thanks Lilly," I whispered, suddenly uncomfortable with the situation. "So...what should we do next?" I asked, making a sudden decision to include them. 'You don't have to take their suggestions. Keep them busy. They may come up with a good solution that at least delays the inevitable.' I told myself as I watched the duo give each other a look of steely determination, then turn to face me once more. "Now, I think we need to meet them at their own game," Dan announced.

Part 79

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[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 76

My response was as immediate as I could make it, with fumbling fingers and racing heart.

Jake is Online

"What is it?"

"What happened?"

"Please answer me and let me know you are okay!"

Thoughts raced through my mind.

Had she been contacted by the same mysterious stranger as I had? Had Dan or Lilly said or done something? Was she going to end up back on the street, unsheltered and lacking of even the most basic of protections?

MC: "Jake...it's okay. Nothing has happened. Not anything I didn't expect.... I just...

Just? Just what? My heart thundered in my chest, threatening to burst free altogether.

Jake: Just? Just what? What happened MC? You can tell me. Tell me anything.

MC: Sorry. I can manage things myself. Really. Just, I guess... Jake...

Jake: Please MC. Please. You can tell me. Don't ever be sorry for wanting to tell me things.

MC: Jake. I...I guess I need you. More than I thought. Maybe I'm just tired.

Suddenly my heart, that had nearly been in my throat leapt for a completely different reason. I never got sick of hearing her express her love for me, and this time was no exception. It had been a far better outcome than expected and I cherished it. Every single word. I read them once again, holding onto each word for dear life. As I wrapped my whole being around the words, I realised that while I was holding on for dear life, she had no clue of what I was doing. She would be worried. So I penned back, as quickly as I could.

Jake: I'll be there. I will always be there. Just say the word and I will get you. The promise I made. The promise about not allowing myself to be caught. That stands. I won't ever take myself away from you. I can't. Not if it means you suffering.

MC: Thanks Jake. Really.

MC is Offline

MC is offline. The sentence hung over me. I scrolled back over her previous message, the one that held my life, and reread it. Comforting. Loving. Her.

MC is Online

MC: Two days Jake. Then, one way or another, we end it.

MC is Offline

Two days. She had put a definite time limit on it. She was certain, as certain as I was. I could do two days. I could make it work. I had waited a lifetime for a love like this. Two days, counting down the hours and minutes. I could do it.

Unknown is Online

Unknown: Are you ready to play my game?

What could I say? Saying yes invited myself into a sick and twisted game. Saying no would just encourage and spur on the attacker. Saying nothing would likely just elicit anger. I could try hacking the phone, but that would take time. Two days was all I had.

Unknown: If you say anything to anyone, we will come after her.

Unknown is Offline

The words broke through all thoughts of two days and forced me back into a state of panic. Two days now didn't seem long enough. To find who this person was and destroy them, before they destroyed us.

Part 77

#duskwood jake #duskwood #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood fanfic #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x player #duskwood jakexplayer #jake x mc #jakexmc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood jake pov

[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 74

I watched as she considered my words. Serene in the knowledge that, despite the amount of time and effort I had spent in protecting my knowledge, I had made the right decision. As she lay in my arms, cradled against my body the closeness sheltered both of us from the chill of the evening. I gazed at her, kissed by the moonlight. Her eyes were closed, thoughtful and strained. I wanted to ease her worries, but I knew I needed to let her work through them. After all, the mere fact that she was worried about me was beautiful. Nobody worried about me.

“Jake…” she began to speak, stirring against me. “Mm?” I murmured, my fingers trailing lightly against her supple skin. 

“I have to go back…” She began, but stopped as my fingers found her lips in a gentle but persistent shushing motion. Now that I had tasted life, however briefly, without her, I really didn't want to let that happen again.

“No, don’t you see? We can have any future we want.” I interrupted. She had no clue how far I would go to protect that. To give us the life she wanted. A life she deserved.

“Jake…I have to go back to get my belongings and tie up the loose ends. I will come up with a way out where they won’t come looking. For me or for you. Then, Jake…then we can have the future we want.” 

She lay in silence against me as if waiting for me to process what she was saying. It was a struggle to get past the glowing future I was dreaming of. So much could go wrong, if she wasn't by my side. What if. So many what ifs. But, her meagre belongings meant something to her. And she had a point about the amateur detective squad. No need to have them after us, hunting blood, as well.

“Shit. I guess you’re right.” I groaned after what felt like an eternity. She nodded abruptly then pulled away from me, taking all the warmth with her. In response, I groaned weakly then stood myself. We dressed in silence. A silence of all that could have been. Perhaps should have been. I was tortured, but I had to let her tie up loose ends. I would remain as close to her as I could and I would go in and remove her physically if I had to. I would do anything I could to protect her from any harm.

“Give me a couple of days,” she whispered. A couple of days. I had been thinking in terms of hours and now I had to think in terms of days? “Just a couple. Then we can put everything behind us and move on. Like you want.” I nodded, caressed her cheek briefly then replied huskily; “Give me about 10 minutes to get to my gear so I can assure you are safe getting back to Dan’s….and keep in touch. MC, I won’t go back on that last one. You keep in touch with me. No more severing contact. We are in this together.” I stated firmly, my hands cupping her face and my eyes focused firmly on hers. 

“Of course…” She murmured, looking somewhat lost in my eyes. Her response was hesitant and I knew her well enough to know she would be thinking of only messaging the barest minimum. She wanted me to think things through fully and be completely aware of the consequences. She had no clue I had been sitting on the edge of this decision since I met her and now that I had decided, I would not be going back on it. I was relieved and entirely happy with my decision. I just regretted it had taken this long.

“Thank you. I love you.” I murmured, kissed her gently then, without saying goodbye I looked around, found the fire escape and left. No more goodbyes. No more severing of ties. It was just a see you soon. That was all. I ran, for the first time hoping enough of my set up remained so that I could track her movements. As I arrived, I saw everything was how I had left it. Very few vagrants were around. I guess that was one bonus of being in a small town.

It took less than 10 minutes to force my way into the cameras around the area. I scanned them religiously as I waited for her to appear. I was sure she would be quick and almost impossible to spot, but I would be vigilant in the job I had given myself. Her most recent pursuers were still on my mind, a fringe worry, but a worry none the less.

The streets were dark, lit solely by the odd street light. Buildings that appeared empty were suddenly terrifying to me. Hidden amongst those seemingly unassuming buildings was the possibility of danger. It lurked. Everywhere. Surrounding her. Threatening to separate us. I spotted her then, moving quick and confident in her ability. She had every right to be. She was capable. Of that I was sure. Capable and confident in her surroundings. In her own abilities.

“MC…” I whispered as she headed back into the unknown.

Part 75

#duskwood jake #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood #duskwood fanfic #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x player #duskwood jakexplayer #jake x mc #jakexmc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood jake pov

[wouldduskwood]

Descendants of Despair Part 77

I fought the whole way. It was a short distance, but it felt like an eternity. I had cared for both of them. Deeply for a while. At least, as deep as I had cared for anyone before, other than Jake. I had considered them friends. Even after Lilly's stunt that had almost ruined everything. Yet, now, I walked towards them with nothing more than regret. Regret for what could have, possibly what should have been.

I had already made a decision. One that remained unvoiced, even to myself. I knew, deep down, how this would end between us. Somehow though, saying it, even in my own head, was like an ending. A severing of ties. If I refused to think it, or say it out loud, even for just a moment, it preserved what could have been.

As I reached the door that separated me from their accusations, or their over concern. Their untrustworthiness. Everything that I had come to despise. I felt as though I was walking beside myself, urging myself forward. It was unnatural, but in a way it protected myself from what I knew was coming. The night had already been long, and I cherished those moments with Jake, though they had been interspersed with terror.

"You can do this," I muttered to myself. "If not for you, then for Jake." With that thought running through my head, I opened the door and entered with my head held high. The air in the room was icy. It felt like walking into daggers. Cold, yet somehow too hot to handle. I sighed. This was going to be harder than I had anticipated, and my expectations were already very low.

"So, did you do it?" I whispered. A whisper that was as cold as the icy atmosphere. Sharp with the bitter sting of betrayal.

"Do? Do what?" Dan asked, eyeing Lilly suspiciously. Both shrugged and turned to stare at me like I was crazy. "Have Phil set me up. Was the plan to see if I would draw Jake out of hiding?" I snarled. "Well, if it was, he is long gone. All that succeeded was hurting me further. He's gone and now I am even more aware of that than I have ever been. Was that what you wanted?" I forced as much hurt into my words as I could. It wasn't hard. The very thought of a betrayal that could end up with Jake being removed from my life was enough to cause my lip to tremor. Unwanted but effective.

"Honestly, I don't know what you are talking about," Dan whispered, his eyes meeting mine. "I couldn't do that to you. I know. Fuck MC, I know he meant a lot to you. I saw that. Don't think I didn't....You laid me flat on my ass for misjudging you. I wouldn't do that again." His admission caused me to pause. Admitting something like this, in front of Lilly, was not likely an easy fete. I forced myself to watch him. To see if I could spot any tell tale signs that would scream he was lying. But, frustratingly, I could find none. He, for all intents and purposes, seemed to be telling the truth.

I cast my eyes at Lilly. She had betrayed us once. Would she really do this again? This time knowing full well that he was her brother. "So, was it you then?" I asked weakly. There was no good answer here. "MC, I don't know what you are talking about. Jake is... Well you know I couldn't do that to him again. Not anymore. Not now." I hissed through my teeth. She appeared honest. Innocent. Could either of them lie that well? I doubted it.

"Did you tell anyone that I was coming?" I asked, unsure, frustrated and so alone. "No, no we have only been speaking to each other." Both vowed, hand on heart. Suddenly, I was in a situation I hadn't expected. Betrayed by someone, yet without any knowledge of whom. I pressed my back against a wall and stared at the ceiling. This wasn't how the evening was meant to go. "I'm sorry..." I whispered, breathing slowly and staring, unblinking. "We understand. Seriously we do. Dan said...well and I saw...I know..." Lilly stuttered, making a hash of what she was trying to say, but somehow I still understood. She had seen Jake. She had heard Dan's story about our relationship. She knew. She understood what he meant to me. The question was, did she know so much that she had worked out he was still there. Still just a simple message away? I glanced at her, still suspicious, but lacking anything substantial to hold her accountable to my suspicions. "I...Thanks." I muttered, suddenly uncomfortable and feeling exposed. "Can we forget this? It's still kinda raw" I muttered, avoiding eye contact and trying desperately to think back on all the details that had happened since I had left Dan's house. It seemed like an eternity ago. But I was missing something. And if I didn't figure it out, I risked more than anything.

Part 78

#duskwood jake #duskwood #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood fanfic #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x player #duskwood jakexplayer #jake x mc #jakexmc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood lilly #duskwood dan

[wouldduskwood]

Descendants of Despair Part 76

The response was instantaneous. Jake is Online

"What is it?" "What's happened?" "Please answer me and let me know you are okay!"

I cringed as I read his messages. The heart felt terror he was experiencing. It was my fault really. He had told me to contact him, but he also knew just how strong I usually was. How much effort I put into keeping that front. Keeping everyone from seeing that every second of every day I spent in a mixture of abstract terror and determination.

MC: "Jake...it's okay. Nothing has happened. Not anything I didn't expect....I just..."

Just what? What? How could I end that sentence? How could I possibly undo what I had already done.

Jake: Just? Just what? What happened MC. You can tell me. Tell me anything.

MC: Sorry. I can manage things myself. Really. Just, I guess...Jake....

Jake: Please MC. Please. You can tell me. Don't ever be sorry for wanting to tell me things.

MC: Jake. I...I guess I need you. More than I thought. Maybe I'm just tired?

I paused, waiting for a reply. A reply that didn't seem to be coming. Suddenly, it was me that was second guessing things. Wondering if he was okay. Had he been caught? Because of me. Because I put him in danger. Then, just as I was about to go crazy...

Jake: I'll be there. I will always be there. Just say the word and I will get you. The promise I made. The promise about not allowing myself to be caught. That stands. I won't ever take myself away from you. I can't. Not if it means you suffering.

MC: Thanks Jake. Really.

MC is Offline

He had no idea, but his words had strengthened my resolve. It had to end. Whatever was coming for Jake and I. It had to end. Either we ran and never looked back, left Hannah's fate to whomever could take our place. Or, we battled on and forced a resolution. Whatever we chose, I was giving us 2 days. I could work with that. Two days. Then, whatever choice we made, it was our choice. Our ending.

MC is Online

MC: Two days Jake. Then, one way or another, we end it.

MC is Offline.

There would be no backing out now. Gritting my teeth, I shoved my phone into my pocket and headed out to the living area where Dan and Lilly waited. Silent and accusatory in their stares. The journey was about to begin and I would be ready for it.

Whatever happened. It was now or never.

Part 77

#duskwood jake #duskwood #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood fanfic #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x player #duskwood jakexplayer #jake x mc #jakexmc #duskwood jake x mc

[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 77

I sat, staring at the equipment around me, some still disconnected in my haste to be involved with every aspect of MC's life. Equipment I relied on to keep myself, and now her, safe from harm. Equipment that was now practically mocking me. The connection had been severed and though I had a vast amount of protection on my phone - whomever it was had managed to at least bypass my defenses enough that they could send an unwanted message through. That gave two options. Either it was someone I knew - someone that I had allowed access to my phone in some sort of menial way, whether it be sharing my number with them or as arbitrary as an email address. That moment of sharing would have taken them off the hit list that killed messages before they arrived. Or, the person had enough experience at hacking to bypass my system. That would spell disaster.

Whichever option it was, I no longer felt secure in the building I had chosen. It was close to her. Too close. If they happened to track my signal, they'd be able to stumble on hers as well. "Fuck!" I growled under my breath, trying to release some anger. It put me into an impossible situation. Backed into a corner, I would usually run. But not now. Not now that her safety relied on my ability to help keep the streams of people that wanted us wiped out away from her. I had to think about this logically. I still had options, but they were the options of someone with their back against a wall.

I took several deep breaths, closing my eyes to avoid seeing my set up. It felt different now. I tried to centre myself. Concentrating on what I needed the most. When I had grounded myself, I found that I was hungry and my head ached, likely from stress and thirst. I would remedy those and while I found sustenance, I would have time to think. Before I left, I opened a program on one of my screens. It was one I had not needed before, but now that she was as threatened as I was, it was my best option. It would run and if it picked up on an intrusion in the area, it would kill everything. Including severing ties with her phone. It would mean I'd no longer be able to track her, nor her track me. It was not a good option, far from it. I hoped beyond hope that it wouldn't be needed.

I glanced behind me, watching the flickering light of my computer screen briefly for a moment then, I headed back out into the night. Now that I was alone, I felt strangely exposed. MC and I were a good team. She could encourage me in physical endeavors that I would never have imagined before. I made my way towards the inner city, avoiding the area surrounding the Aurora and hoping to stumble upon a small take away store or something. My senses were heightened, every sound had me jumping. I needed to do better than this!

Finally, I found a small corner store that served a variety of fried delicacies. It would do. Putting my head down to avoid unwanted detection, I made my way around the store and grabbed whatever looked edible. A bottle of water looked more appealing than the assortment of food I gathered. Heading to the counter, I handed over a small fistful of cash in response to the cashier's request and recieved a bag of my purchases. Then, I headed back out into the night, head still down, nervous.

As I reached the street, my phone began to buzz. Once again, I was confronted with two options. One had the power to make me insanely happy. The other, to destroy all the happiness I had. I pulled my phone out with my one free hand.

Unknown is Online

Unknown: Have you had time to consider what I have said?

Jake is Online

Jake: What do you want from me?

Unknown: Let's just say, we made some trades and it involves you.

Part 78

#duskwood jake #duskwood #duskwood jakexmc #duskwood fanfic #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x player #duskwood jakexplayer #jake x mc #jakexmc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood jake pov