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x3kristax3 · 1 year

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Oh i need the next chapter!!!!

Who I am now?

Part 9.

Pairing: Jake x Mc.

Genre: Angst, comedy, dark romance.

Warnings: Strong language, angst scenes. 18+ content can be found.

Words: 8.6k

Author's note: This story contains mature topics and is not fully related to the duskwood game. A different parallel with different personalities. Thank you everyone for following and liking this! lly.♡(pardon me if you will find any grammar errors or just a typo. I will edit it as soon as possible.)

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Jake focus.

I walked into the busy nightclub, and my breath was momentarily taken away. The large club is overrun with many people drinking, smoking blunts, dancing, and singing along to the bass-heavy music playing in the background. A purple neon light fixture hangs from a metal structure above-there is no ceiling, just a silver metal structure that also acts as a walkway where people can walk on and lean over the rails haphazardly. The floors and walls were shiny white surfaces that illuminated a neon glow due to the set lighting.

On the way here, I thought about Mc's claustrophobia for a second. Would she be able to breathe with all these drunk people pressing into her side? Would she be crushed by the people dancing around her, them grinding her into the dance floor? Would Lex be able to take care of Mc if she experienced a panic attack?

But I was surprised by the airy space surrounding the partying drunks. It was easy to walk through the crowd and there was probably enough space for Mc to breathe in without feeling constricted.

"Hey baby, can I buy you a drink?" The drunk woman whispered in my ear, her hot breath uncomfortably fanned against my neck. More than just pissed off, I stopped walking, stiffening and turning my head to face the woman with narrowed eyes.

"Get off me before I ended spreading your cheating self on the internet." I threatened darkly, and the woman's grin visibly froze upon seeing the anger etched on my face. She nodded slowly, backing away from me.

I'm so gonna kill Lex tonight. I surveyed the crowd of men and women around me, looking for the familiar faces of Lex and Mc. No matter how much food she feeds me, she's so gonna get it today for getting Mc here. I growled internally, pacing around the bar, and peering at the faces surrounding me.

I almost walked right past Lex but the brief giggle that was just about to meet my ears stopped me in my tracks. Recognizing that laugh, I looked over my shoulder, noticing her flirtatiously laughing with one of the guys. Mc was nowhere near Lex.

I locked my jaw in irritation, storming toward the bar where Lex was laughing giddily, and placing a firm hand on the table. I faced her, showing her my irritation.

"Hey, I was having fun!" She whined, trying to talk with that guy. But I just ignored her, glaring right into her eyes.

"She was talking to me man, chill." The guy jokingly protested Lex, making my already boiling blood boil more.

"Get out."

"What?"

"You heard me." I gritted, boring holes into his face. "Get the fuck out," I uttered the last words making the guy take his drink and walk away. I turned back to face Lex who was glaring up at me.

"What the hell, Jake? I was having fun." She complained, looking at me annoyed.

"How many fingers am I holding up?" I questioned blankly, holding up four fingers. She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

"Four fingers. I'm not that drunk." She muttered, picking up her drink and giving me a look. "You should worry about Mc, she was full-on drunk once she finished her three drinks." She laughed, sipping her drink whilst humming pleasantly.

"Oh? Speaking of Mc." I gritted my teeth. "Where the fuck is she? If she's been taken by someone, I will forget that you're my friend and-" I growled, tearing the glass out of her grasp so she could focus on my words.

"You worry too much. Look, she is right here, drinking with me." She smiled lazily, lifting a hand in the air to show the crumpled sleeve of someone's leather jacket in her hand, the owner of the jacket, however, was nowhere in sight.

"I kept holding her hand in case she tried to run away." She giggled, looking at me and tapping the side of her head with a finger. "Smart move yeah?"

"Whose hands are you holding?" I asked stiffly.

"Mc's hand, of course, look yourself." She hummed, looking to her side to see an empty bar stool. Lex's once proud facial expression dropped. "What the hell-"

"It's time to go home." I sighed, trying not to let my anger out just yet. "Hail a cab and go home. I will see you there later." I ordered with finality. Without a word, she nodded and gathered Mc's jacket in her hands.

"See you back home," Lex murmured, turning on her heels to walk away. I nodded and turned away, walking toward the dance floor where I prayed Mc was because if not. Ah fuck- Mc you better come out of where you're hiding. I mentally threatened her inside. Stepping on the slightly sticky dance floor.

Mc focus.

I had no idea how to entertain myself in a nightclub but thankfully Lex was there. She guided me and led me to the bar stool. Lex ordered cocktails while holding my jacket sleeve in case I tried to 'disappear'. Soon after a few cocktails, I felt tipsy or maybe drunk already.

We were dancing together, moving from side to side. Tangling each other's limbs and laughing loudly as we sometimes stepped on each other's feet. Suddenly Lex made me walk back to the bar because her feet started to hurt. Whining I had followed her midway before coming up with the idea of slipping out of my jacket.

Quietly giggling I slipped out of my jacket and watched Lex unknowingly walk off without me. Happily laughing I turned around, jumping along with the catchy rap song playing.

Perhaps half an hour later, I was completely sweaty and dizzy from trying to pull off all the moves I'd been doing in the past thirty minutes. Breathless and smiling hard I was ready to go back to Lex and apologize for my disappearance and maybe ask for one more cocktail.

I was about to walk towards her but someone appeared out of nowhere in front of me, causing me to slam my forehead into the person's chest. I staggeringly took a step back to inspect the person blocking my pathway. It was a greasy-looking man in his early thirties. He was shirtless and accessorized with thick gold chains around his neck. Typical thug.

He was looking angry, his thick eyebrows were tugged together in anger and his stained lips were pulled into a nasty sneer.

"Watch where you're going." He hissed, towering over me. Probably to show his dominance. Hell, I could step on him and run right now.

"Sorry, mister." I apologized slowly stopping midway. Why the hell am I saying sorry? Why doesn't this guy apologize?

"Excuse me?" I frowned, disapproving of the way the man spoke to me in the first place.

"You heard me." He grunted, rolling his eyes at me.

"No." I shook my head. "You watch where you're going loser!" I yelled over the music, pointing a finger at his chest.

"What did you say?" He growled, closing the space between himself and me. I wasn't fazed by his moves at all.

"You came in front of me. I was just walking, but you came bounding out of nowhere and you didn't even apologize-" I explained, trying to stand straight. The world was blurring in my vision. Oh god, I feel like passing out.

"Hey who do you think you are?" He cocked his head, eyeing me with arrogance.

"I am Mc. The soon-to-be detective!"

The guy just laughed, grabbing me by the shoulders and surprising me with the suddenness of his moves. The man leaned into my face, snarling.

"Listen up, you little arrogant bitch. Say sorry right now, and I'll let you walk away-"

Fuck, fuck. Now's the time to be the better person to apologize, Mc. Don't let him get inside you hea-

"What if I don't?" I suddenly questioned, smiling at him sarcastically.

"I'll make you say sorry then." He spat out the words. Making me realize my stupid mistake. He's not chill like Jace what the hell I am doing? Now I'm gonna get killed by this gangster dude. Damn look at that girl's drink. I wouldn't mind getting it too.

"Ah- Lex where are you?" I whined throwing my head back, not liking how close I was to his round face.

"Lex is not here. Say sorry you little shit." The man started shaking me. I tried to apologize, realizing that the possible outcome of this situation would most likely be me getting beaten up. "Okay, okay. I'm sorr-"

"Sorry to interrupt but is everything okay here?" Someone drawled out, making me and an old hag look to our side where an unimpressed Jace was standing. His hands were shoved in his black leather jacket pockets and his eyes lidded in what looked like boredom. He blatantly disregarded the way hag's hands were tightly gripping my shoulders instead, he studied my appearance.

"Are you wearing Lex's clothes?" Jace commented dragging his eyes down my body. "They look nice on you."

"JD!" I smiled widely, struggling to get out of the death grip placed on my shoulders. The hag snorted, staring at Jace.

"The hell are you doing here? Fuck off, this ain't about you. It's between me and her." He spat out, harshly throwing me to the ground with a push to empathize with the word 'her'.

Jake focus.

I sighed before moving in front of Mc. She was out of this world for sure. Just the way her eyes lingered on every moving subject with awe said it all.

"Yeah, but you see she's my girlfriend so if you wanna fight with her. You're gonna have to deal with me first." I yawned, too tired to deal with this shit. I just wanted to go to sleep. Not to fucking fight or stand in crowded loud nightclubs, listening to trashy raps.

"Come on! JD! JD! JD!" Mc chanted, pumping her fist defiantly in the air. Her cheering seemed to attract the attention of a few nearby clubbers and they jokingly joined in.

"Show him your muscles, greek god!" Mc encouraged, clamping a hand on my shoulder and determinedly glaring at the gangster standing in front of us, looking very amused. I shoot her a warning look but Mc was completely unaffected, wildly cheering on despite the look on my face.

"What the fuck is this skeleton gonna do to me?" The man narrowed his eyes, now searching for my physique with raised eyebrows.

"Mc-" I gritted my teeth, looking over my shoulder at a red-faced Mc who was yelling mercilessly beside my goddamn ear.

She's so fucking drunk. So goddamn drunk. I'm gonna kill Lex.

"What the fuck-" My nose scrunched with embarrassment at her cheering.

"JD, I'm on your side, let me know if you need backup!"

I mentally facepalmed inside. What type of backup are you gonna give me? The only backup you're giving me is cheering my ear off. I sighed again, rolling my eyes, and turning around to face the angered man standing in front of me.

"Hey, I'm sorry about my girl, she's drunk and out of the senses. Can you just let her off this one time?"

"Hey!" Mc frowned at my words, nudging my back gently. Fuck.

"No way, I wanna see your muscles now. Come on skeleton boy, show me your moves." The man hissed, bulky body standing firmly in front of me.

Calm. Jake. Just stay calm.

"I'm in a shit mood, I don't wanna fight and worsen it so can we just be smart men and-"

"What are you? A fucking pussy? I said show me your moves." The man spat, shoving me backward hard. I stumbled back a little at the impact of his shove. My already dark mood darkened just a bit more.

Contain your anger. There is absolutely no need to fight him, be a sensible man and-

Fuck it, let me show him my godamn move if he insisted. With that last thought in mind, I swung a clenched fist back and brought it forth, hitting the man's nose directly onward. I managed to hear a quiet crunch and grinned at him satisfied. The man howled in pain, covering his bloodied and most likely broken nose with his hairy hands.

"Oh wow-"

I looked over my shoulder to see Mc standing stock still with mouth wide open, and eyes focused on the kneeling man who cried out in pain. Upon feeling my gaze on her, she tore her eyes away from the man and made eye contact with me. Her mouth broke into a huge smile, her eyes crinkled in joy as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder. Surprising the hell out of me.

"That's my man!"

I sighed, I will never let her drink again for sure.

"Fuck! What are you standing there for? Do something!" The man pathetically yelled at his few friends who watched me with glazed eyes. The man who had joined in the laughter aimed at Mc earlier, stepped closer to me whilst sliding a bony hand into his jacket pocket. When he retracted his hand, a glinting pocket knife shines a neon hue under the fluorescent lighting. I felt Mc's hand on my shoulder disappear.

"Better wipe that smile off your face, because-"

I didn't wait to listen to the man's words instead, I lifted a sneaker-clad foot into the air and harshly jammed the hard soles of my shoes against the man's ribcage, making him topple over backward from the impact. The tiny pocket knife fell out of the man's grip and landed on the slightly sticky dance floor, disappearing behind many people's dancing feet.

Almost immediately, I took Mc by the hand and tugged her through the crowd, the grip on her wrist was tightening with every second.

"Ow!" I swiftly looked over my shoulder to see Mc was caught by one of the hag's men. A well-built man shoved Mc's head into the crook of his arm, forcing the girl's throat against the crook of his inner elbow. I wasted no time in advancing on the man, however before I could punch the fuck out of the guy strangling Mc. Sharp fingernails dug into my shoulders, yanking me backward into someone's chest. I gritted my teeth together in irritation, wildly swinging a punch into the air. It was a successful shot, I managed to connect my fist with someone's jaw. I jerked away from the hands holding me back to see a man cupping his jaw, face scrunched up in pain and howling loudly over the thump of music.

I threw a punch again but my fist got caught by the howling man's hand. The man yanked my arm behind, pulling hard as if he was planning on snapping the tendons in my arm. Despite the pressure and pain building in my shoulder joint. I searched for the gun shoved securely behind the waistband of my jeans.

'Getting a gun out in a club is a stupid stupid idea.'

A tinny voice in the back of my head called out. But my built-up rage violently quashed the voice. I slowly lowered the glinting gun to my side, pointing the mouth of the gun toward the guy's foot.

I shouldn't open fire in a nightclub full of people. I shouldn't shoot at anyone. I was supposed to grab Mc and leave but my stupid temper complicated things and I was fucking pissed. So without further thought, I allowed my anger to consume me and pulled back the gun's trigger, firing a clean shot into the man's boot.

He collapsed to the ground, screeching with pain and alerting the dancing people nearby of his state. A group of men having a party spotted the distressed and injured man lying on the floor and screamed at the blood trickling around their footwear. They stumbled away with fear in their eyes, noticing me and the gun in my hand. The guys yelped when I returned the gaze, turning around to violently push past people so they could reach the exit.

I dragged my eyes upward from my fainted victim and latched my eyes onto Mc who was now kneeling by the floor, coughing manically. The man who had her in the chokehold must've witnessed the scene and ran away before he could get hurt too.

I was feeling very unplayful and un-chill. I rushed to Mc and hoisted her up by grabbing Mc's upper arm. I didn't allow her to regain her breathing. It'd slow us down and get us in trouble. Even if they're drunk, people will take notice of the blood seeping onto the dance floor in minutes, perhaps seconds.

Quickly tucking my gun away in the waistband of my black jeans, I guided Mc towards the entrance where an unsuspecting bouncer nodded at us, pushing the door I exited the building alongside Mc and took a right, briskly walking into a side road and moving as far away as possible from the soon-to-be crime scene. I wasn't supposed to do that. Fuck!

Mc focus.

The cool night air is pleasant against my skin, it relieved the heat that clung to me. Jace marched me down several side streets and now sobering up I rubbed my bleary eyes and looked at him. He did not look like he wanted to speak. His jaw was clenched, making the bone prominent, and his eyes were set on the empty street. His dark brows were furrowed and the bruising grip on my wrist was painfully tight.

"Hey, JD." I hissed but he didn't even glance at me. "My wrist is hurting, let go."

Suddenly Jace slammed a hand in front of my chest, pushing me roughly against the brick wall of someone's coffee shop. I yelped when coarse brick pressed against my head and... When Jace pressed against my front face, undeniably close to me. He harshly slipped his thigh between my legs, keeping me in place. His hand that was holding my wrist was yanked into the air above my head and slapped against the wall.

Jace pulled his face closer to me, making me gulp down my saliva and look away from his glaring eyes. I stared down at the ground, nibbling on my lip hard.

"You shouldn't have left Lex's side, fuck. You weren't even supposed to be in a fucking nightclub!" He snarled loudly, "Who the fuck said you can go and create fights with fucking thugs? They're stronger and bigger than you. What do you think would have happened if I hadn't come?" Jace hissed lowly, his breath was fanning over my lips, making me feel nervous inside.

"I don't know," I whispered, looking down. Tears started to well up in my eyes, and salty tears threatened to spill out of the confines of my eyelids. I didn't want to cry, so I closed my eyes tightly trying to calm my breath down. Without thinking I tilted my head forward and placed my forehead on his shoulder gently, whilst hoping for the tears to stop welling in my eyes.

Jace stayed quiet for a while so I sat down on the ground with my head lolling forwards slightly. I saw him sit up too with his legs outstretched and hands resting between his legs, busily fumbling with his fingers as he was staring out into the distance.

He suddenly coughed breaking the silence. "We should probably go." He said casually, rummaging around his pockets for his phone.

"Did you have fun at least?" He asked, his phone screen lit up, showing the numbers displayed. It was way past midnight.

"It was fun yeah, we danced a lot," I mumbled lazily, letting my eyelids droop close and drawing my dress over to keep myself warm a little.

"It would have been more fun if you were there with me," I whispered, letting my head fall onto Jace's shoulder. I felt him tensing up so I reached out my hand with eyes still closed, to poke at his arm.

"No tense. relax." I smiled sleepily. "Don't leave me again." I yawned, opening my eyes slowly to look at him for a short a while before closing my eyes again.

"You remind me of someone and I only feel safe with you, so don't leave me again. Let's just stick together."

He stayed quiet for a while but finally, he got up, making me stand up gently.

"Alright, Mc. We stick together."

Jake focus.

Lex's apartment was only a seven-minutes walk. Seven-minute walk where a sleepy Mc clung to me like a koala, taking the phrase "stick together" quite literally. But my hell is finally over when I managed to push her up the stairs leading to Lex's apartment door. We climbed up the stairs and I fumbled for a second, looking for my set of keys before slotting the correct one in.

The door unlocked to reveal a dark apartment, the curtains were closed, dimming the streetlamp's light streaming in from the window. I had to drag a tired and slurring Mc to the guest bedroom whilst fighting my way through the thick cables and wires pooling at my feet. I nudged the door open carefully with the tip of my shoe. I wandered in with a mumbling Mc and halfheartedly seated the girl on the edge of the bed.

"Mc, take your heels off," I murmured, shaking her shoulder to wake her up. Mc sat up for a second, yawning, and then promptly she fell backward, splaying out on the bed and rubbing her eyes. I didn't bother to put up a fight with her, so I kneeled to match the height of Mc's legs. I rolled my eyes when Mc daintily lifted a low top-heel foot into the air for me to take it off. Gritting my teeth together I placed the sole of her shoe onto my thigh and started to take them off.

Once I took off her heels, Mc curled into a ball, gradually slowing her breathing and eventually drifting off to a deep slumber. I stood over there next to her for a second, softening my look at her peaceful face, and turned around. Walking out of the room and into the main room where dim yellow light was now filtering into the room.

Mc focus.

I stirred in my sleep for a second, hearing heavy footsteps creak against the floorboards, making me lift my eyes to see the back of Jace walking out of the room and into another. Leaving the door open whilst doing so.

I lazily watched him through the gap in the door, noticing him standing in the middle of the room for a second, then turning his head to look at someone approaching him. It was a small blurry figure who padded toward Jace, stopping just in front of him.

I blinked my eyes quickly to focus my vision on the blurry figure. I quickly recognize the person. It was Lex. I spotted Lex standing on her tiptoe, wearing nothing but an oversized long-sleeved top. She reached up to cup Jace's cheeks with her hands.

They exchange a few hushed words before Lex closed her eyes, leaning forward to press her lips against Jace's own. Lex pulled away after a few tense seconds and they both talked softly whilst standing close to one another. Her hands were still cupping his face, making him look directly at her as they spoke in low volumes.

My visions blurred and it didn't last long when my eyes closed. Pulling me into darkness.

The next morning, I woke up with head pain. The pain throbbed throughout my entire head, and punched the backs of my eyes. I sat up in bed slowly, aware of the pounding in my head and the emptiness of my stomach. My throat was dry and my limbs were sticky with sweat.

I blinked for a few seconds, focusing on my bearings. I recognized the room as the one Jace had dragged me into last night to let me sleep. Recognizing the room in which I was sleeping seemed to have triggered a set of fresh memories to flood into my head. My mind struggled to process the flood of last night's memories. Everything was clear yet so blurry. I saw scenes but I don't remember what happened to cause those particular scenes.

I plopped back onto the bed and frowned, furrowing my brows at last night's still images of a fight taking place and dancing to shitty songs.

Lex wanted to have fun so we went out to a party. She gave a USB stick thingy to someone and then we danced and got drunk. Then I ditched her to dance and got into an argument with a thug man. He was mad at me. I remember Jace popping up and trying to stop the fight. He punched the guy and I was cheering him on. Then we tried to run away after that but other people stopped us...Something happened and they ran away, scared. I don't remember what happened though.

Jace dragged me out and he was really angry. Did I rest my head... on Jace's shoulder? What the hell, Mc?

I remember we sat there silently and I ended up making promises to him. What was the promise again? The last words of last night floated into my mind.

"Alright, Mc. We stick together."

No. No. Hell to fucking no.

"Aw, she's awake!" Lex suddenly barged into my room cheerfully and flashed me a bright smile. She was holding a plate of omelet and apple juice. She set the food on the bedside table, turning her gaze to me.

"Ah, I forgot to do shopping this week so today I made you something simple!" Lex chuckled, slightly awkwardly.

"Don't worry." I shook my head, frowning at my croaked voice and sore throat. "I like an omelet."

"What happened to your voice?"

"She was put in a chokehold yesterday." Someone from behind answered Lex. I turned around to recognize someone as Jace who was standing in the doorway shirtless, he crossed his arms rising an eyebrow at me.

"Chokehold?" Lex mumbled to herself before nodding. "Oh, yeah. You told me about last night." She hummed, her eyes suddenly narrowed. "Speaking of last night, why the hell did you ditch me?" Lex asked, picking up one of the bed's cushions and playfully whacking me over the head with it.

I laughed, weakly lifting my arms to protect myself from Lex's hits whilst apologizing quietly. "I'm sorry!"

"I forgive you only because I need someone to talk to other than the red eye. He tends to get a little boring sometimes."

"Fuck off, Lex."

"I love you too. Now-" Lex breakoff, looking to Jace. "Goddamn, wear a shirt."

"I tend not to." Jace shrugged, the muscles in his shoulders flexed as he shrugged them. I looked away quickly.

"Wear. A. Shirt!"

Whilst they bickered. I remembered something else about last night. It was a fuzzy memory but I remembered something about Lex and Jace...kissing?

I recollected faded images of Lex reaching up to peck Jace on the lips, doing the little action directly outside my room. Holding my breath in at the recollection of their moment. I looked up to look at both of them.

Are they in a relationship?

I felt something inside of me crack. It was something small inside of me. Something so small and irrelevant that I almost dismissed the feeling as nothing. But I felt it. I wished I hadn't.

I took the juice and gulped down the waves of disappointment felt deep inside my chest. Are you seriously back on the idea of liking Jace? That's so stupid, Mc. He's your kidnapper, you shouldn't feel anything at all for him except strong dislike and disgust.

But how I was supposed to hate him when he keep doing all these nice things for me?

And so what if Lex and Jace are together?

'You like him, Mc.' A tiny voice retorted inside my head. 'And you're hurt by the idea of then being a couple.'

I didn't deny it, instead, I shoved the omelet inside my mouth and kept my thoughts with hurt feelings to myself.

I didn't know if any more kisses were exchanged or if anything more was shared between them. But when I went into Lex's bathroom to brush my teeth and shower. The idea of Lex and Jace doing 'couple' things behind the bathroom door makes my feelings go numb. I was upset but it's nothing that immensely affected me.

I don't have anything with Jace. My attraction towards him isn't a big thing. Just I was missing Jake and this idiot right there reminded me of Jake. I had thought of any possibilities if Jace was Jake. But why would he lie? Why would he use the hard ways to be with me? Why would he hide his identity?

But I could never feel romantically involved with the kidnapper, so why I am starting to feel like this with Jace when I am down to earth for Jake? Could he be Jake who is scared to reveal himself to me?

Jake focus.

Mc was being weirdly silent. I observed her listening quietly to Lex who complained about the viruses blocking up her computers. A freshly showered Mc was sitting hunched up on the couch, watching Lex working at her computers, hacking god knows how many files.

Eh.

She's probably resting her throat, I nodded to myself and looked away from here at the window beside me. I was sitting on the kitchen bar stool, by the window. It was early in the morning. I am. Probably the best time to leave Lex's apartment and get back on track. The track to get over her meanwhile making her hate the perfect image she created inside her about me.

"Mc, grab your shit. We're leaving soon." I ordered with an eyebrow. She looked up confused but followed my instructions and padded into the bedroom she slept in last night.

"Why are you leaving so soon? Jake, you don't contact me for months and then you appear out of fucking nowhere. Stay here for a couple of days at least before leaving, I've grown a liking to her too. Your plan fucking sucks." She whispered in a hushed tone, irritated. I sighed, feeling a bit of guilt building inside me.

"Lex, as soon as I'll be done with Mc. I will call you and we can go down to the beach alright?" I smiled at her kindly. "And about Mc. She's not made for our world. So it's best if I let her go with the worst image of me." I mumbled noticing Mc wandering back into the room with a plastic bag in her hand.

I took this as my cue and walked toward the hallway where I had dumped my backpack. I slipped into my boots, looking to Lex. "Goodbye Lex. Call me if you need anything." I smiled at her, wearing my black cap on my head.

"A day on the beach, remember," Lex confirmed, smiling tiredly at me before turning her head to look at Mc sadly.

"Bye, Mc. It's been fun while it lasted," She murmured, sighing softly. "Take care."

I sighed walking out of the door, I heard Mc saying bye and soon her footsteps followed me in a rush.

Mc focus.

As usual Jace made his way through the pedestrians that shared the sidewalk with him, his hand was, of course, wrapped around my wrist which he tugged at when I failed to keep up with his fast march.

I trailed after Jace blankly as we moved further and further down toward the area where he had parked the motorcycle yesterday afternoon.

Sighing and lifting a hand to my furrowed eyebrows, I shielded my tired eyes. The sun was way too bright for my eyes and my hangovers didn't make it easy either. Never drink again.

I groaned internally when Jace tugged hard on my wrist, almost dislocating my hand from my arm.

"Hey?" Jace called over his shoulder, sending a sharp look at exhausted me. "Hurry up."

I didn't want to make him mad, so lazily stumbling I tried to catch up with Jace's side. We walked together, no more likely he marched towards to when I was stumbling with my bruised feet. He suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence between us.

"Okay. What the fuck is up with you?"

I looked at his side to see him intensely staring at me as we walked down the bustling pavement.

"What do you mean?" I murmured, quickly looking away before I could, I don't know. Melt under his hard gaze perhaps?

"I said-" Jace started but stopped abruptly when something in front of him caught his attention. "What the fuck has happened to the motorcycle?" He asked with teeth gritted together, staring ahead.

I lifted my head to see the motorcycle which should've been in perfect condition and standing parked by the side of the road, was now lying across the asphalt road, metal parts strewn all over the concrete and paintwork dented and scratched up by something. My mouth dropped open, intaking the destroyed motorcycle lying just two meters away from us.

What the hell happened?

Jake focus.

I was not worried about the motorcycle's condition but I was slightly worried about the recognizable men that were standing by the now shattered motorcycle, casually swinging their baseball bats. The people of Duskwood didn't even seem fazed by their swinging baseball bats. Many pedestrians warily glanced at them but ignored them afterward, quickly walking away from the thugs.

All of them were looking down at the battered motorcycle, shit-eating grins etched on their faces as they admired their handwork. I recognized them, they were men from last night who had attacked me and Mc. But now it seemed like they have multiplied overnight. Becoming a group of a maximum of ten and not just five.

You've gotta be kidding me.

The one's nose I had broken was also there with his ugly bruised nose fixed up by a measly plaster that does nothing to help the injury. Just looking at the aggravating man, the ring leader of the group, makes my hands unwillingly curl up into fists again.

No, Jake.

You're not meant to engage in any fights. Last night was an exception but now, what you need to do is get moving and take Mc to a safe place.

No fighting.

Just then, Mc seemed to recognize the man as well. She gasped quietly, turning her head to face me.

"JD, aren't they the ones from last-?"

"Yeah." I breathed, cutting off her."Fuck yeah, they've tracked us down. I don't know how the hell they did that, but they did." I quietly murmured, speaking more to myself than her.

How the hell did these outdated gangsters find us in this city? I rolled my eyes back, irritated at the situation at hand.

"We have to go," I ordered quietly, pulling Mc's body close to my side and forcefully turning her around, I pushed her in the opposite direction we were supposed to walk. Because if we will try to pass by them, they will spot us in seconds and I don't want to have an encounter with these baseball bat-wielding thugs.

Despise wishes, the men noticed us with their beady eyes when I was pushing Mc to indicate her to walk. But she didn't even look where she was going and accidentally stumbled upon an elderly senior foot with her borrowed boots from Lex. The senior shrieked in pain.

"Fucking move, Mc. Move."

Due to the senior loud shrieking, the thugs crane their flabby necks to look at the sea of faces on the sidewalk where dozens of people walked. I looked over my shoulder for a split second. Bad mistake, Jake.

Fucking hell, you fucking idiot! Why'd you turned your head for?

My eyes immediately caught the attention of the man I'd wanted to dodge. Broken fucking nose narrowed his eyes in realization and scowled at my face before swiftly turning to face his men, barking a series of orders and pointing an accusatory finger in my direction. The group of ten men turned their necks around at once and began to run toward us.

"Fucking hell. They saw us-" I cursed, barging past the angered senior, and dragging Mc down the road, I ran past several pedestrians. Mc got the memo and surprisingly ran to catch up with my speed.

My eyes darted in all directions as we were running down the stretch of a sidewalk. To my right was a wide road where cars and trucks were stuck in traffic, and on my left was a fucking brick wall, and behind me, right on our tails, was a ten-member gang running to catch us.

Wherever we would go, people was surrounding us. Which is 50% good, and 50% not so good. Lots of people mean good coverage, we can use it to our advantage by hiding in and out. But it's not so good what with the number of people we're possibly endangering by getting pushed and exposed to the thugs.

Not wanting to cause an accident on this busy sidewalk, I quickly stepped onto the road and dashed in and out of cars stuck in traffic. I ignored the beep of horns and yells of drivers, jumping over bonnets and running past side mirrors, nearly knocking them off the cars. I looked over my shoulder to see Mc following me close by, simply running with all her might and not doing the extreme athletic jumping and dodging as I do.

I turned around, dodging a cyclist before climbing onto the opposite sidewalk which it's less busy with people. I hurtled down the sidewalk, tugging Mc along with me. Rounding the corner, I looked over my shoulder for a split second to see the thugs dodging in and out of the traffic, manically denting cars and smashing windows, making their war toward us.

Crazy fuckers.

Now's the chance to lose them whilst they're stuck in traffic. Panting hard, I quickly rounded the corner, slowing down into a jog as we assessed the new street. It was as crowded as the last, maybe even more. But there was something additional about this street. They had an old car park, a three-storey car park for a shopping mall nearby. It was the perfect hiding place. The inside was darkened to the max, the only source of light was the orange glow of the exit and entrance signs and the vague sunlight streaming through the gaps in the crumbling walls.

I speed up without alerting Mc, making her gasp at the sudden speed. I ignored her weak whines and forced her to run toward the car park where all types of cars were lined up. My backpack whacked me repeatedly and my heart was pounding against my ribcage, threatening to burst and split my chest into two if I will keep up with the intense running. Mc was in a similar condition but can't stop.

We ran to the entrance of the parking lot and ducked under the blocking pole that allowed cars to enter the parking lot. There was several shouts behind our back as we were running into the dark car park but both of us ignored them.

I have to keep her safe. At any cost.

Mc focus.

We ducked behind a brick wall for a few seconds, trying to regain a normal breathing rate.

"I'm exhausted." I choked out, feeling my chest rising and falling rapidly. I let my body slide to the ground pathetically. I felt Jace's hand massaging my shoulder as I was panting for more air to fill in my burning lungs.

"Come on, Mc." He urged breathlessly.

"I can't anymore." I breathed deeply, shaking my head. "My lungs are burning." I pant out tiredly, gazing at his...worried expression?

"Mc, we can relax as soon as we lose these guys but we're not gonna lose them if we're going to sit here." Jace panted, but his words seemed to not follow his body because he struggled to stand still himself. I pushed his enclosed hand away from my wrist weakly.

"I can't run anymore," I whispered, closing my eyes.

"Mc, I'm not gonna." Jace tiredly hoisted me up to his feet. "Get killed just because you can't handle a little more running." He gritted out, marching me down the pretty much desolate car park.

I groaned but staggered after him, following close by as we ducked behind cars and were running across open spaces with our hearts racing, fearing being seen by the thugs. After ducking behind another row of cars, I held my ground, refusing to follow his orders anymore.

"JD there's no one here. Can we just rest for a second?" I hissed, feeling sweat roll down my neck and my back. "please." I begged.

"Mc, we're-" Jace stopped speaking abruptly when he saw something behind me. Before I could react, he placed both hands on my chest and harshly pushed me to the hard ground. I fell backward onto the rough gravel, hissing in pain as my head collided with the ground. I looked up, angered by his sudden actions, wanting to yell at him for being such a fucking dickhead.

Only to stop myself and words when I saw Jace hunched over a little, blood oozing out of a wound on his forehead. Thin crimson tendrils trickle down the side of Jace's face, coming to a stop by his clenched jaw.

"JD?" I whispered, seeing him straighten his body and glare at something behind me with a careful hand pressed against his wound. Following his gaze, I turned my head quickly to see the thug from last night. The same one I pissed off yesterday. The same one Jace had injured the face of with a heavy punch to the nose.

The lone thug was holding a baseball bat of his own, swinging the now blood-stained wooden bat maliciously in his hand whilst donning a smirk on his ridiculously ugly features. My heartbeat stilled for a second.

Did Jace push me down so he'd get hit instead of me?

I caught sight of the bloodied bat, gulping at the red- Oh my god, Jace. I quickly scrambled to get up and practically crawled to get to Jace's injured side, clasping a hand around his forearm. "JD," I repeated softly but Jace didn't reply.

"Knew you will come in here." The man chuckled sarcastically. "My prediction is good." The man beamed, proud of himself.

The proud smile on the thug's face was soon overtaken by a dark sneer. Thug inspected the wet blood smeared on his bat before looking at Jace with eyebrows raised.

"Surprised you're not unconscious, skeleton." He mused. "Should I hit you again?" He questioned rhetorically, chortling and lifting the bat into the air.

"Which one do I hit? Skeleton or little arrogant bitch here?" Thug asked himself innocently. The man looked over at me trembling silently beside Jace.

"You annoyed me first so I'll hit you first." He decided, pointing the tip of the bat at me. Jace immediately reacted and pushed me behind him with a protective stance on.

I probably shouldn't have in this situation but I felt my heart skip a beat at the small action.

But I also felt that Jace's little action made him unable to stay standing up any longer and he was about to lose consciousness due to the open wound.

"Cute." Thug whistled before locking his eyes with Jace. "Then how about you? You have gotten all quiet. Last night, you had so much to say, same with you too, pretty but arrogant little bitch." He sneered mockingly, twirling his bat around to prove his words.

It was silent for two seconds before Jace quietly voiced out. "All bark but no bite."

"What did you say?" Thug growled immediately, he moved closer toward me and Jace with a firm grip on his bat.

"Hey, you hag." Jace started, smiling lazily despite the blood covering a third of his face. "I'm holding a gun." He mused, lifting his gun into the air and pointing the gun at the thug's chest. Thug stopped in his tracks, surprised at the sudden appearance of the weapon in Jace's hand.

Jace cocked his head. "How are you gonna bark now?" Jace questioned mockingly, running the pad of his thumb over the trigger.

"You little shit." Thug snarled but didn't make any further movement. As if he was waiting for Jace to make his decision. Jace half smiled, bringing a slow finger to the trigger. The thug might not see that but I saw the unsteady waver in Jace's raised arm.

Please. Just do it already, before you get hurt. I pleaded mentally, looking at Jace.

Perhaps Jace had felt my unease because he pulled the trigger, allowing a loud bang to follow the small bullet, heading straight deep into the man's chest, initiating spurts of dark blood to leave the bullet wound.

"You should know how to not mess with me after last night," Jace mumbled, looking at the struggling man with disgust.

The thug's expression resembled pain. His bat clattered to the ground shortly afterward, and the thug dropped to his knees and landed on the concrete ground. The maroon blood was flowing onto the ground beneath him.

I gasped at the sight, hurriedly looking away. Unknowingly burying my face into Jace's neck. He smelt like faint cologne and mint cigarettes. It was somewhat of a comforting smell for me.

Did he kill him?

'It was either him or you.'

A familiar tiny voice in my head reasoned with me.

I got snapped out of my thoughts when Jace suddenly tilted backwards onto me. His whole weight beared down onto me. I struggled to hold up his weight so I lowered him to the ground slowly. Setting the boy on the ground and sitting by Jace's head. I ignored the bleeding guy, cupping Jace's cheeks gently.

"Jace-" I called out for him with my eyes blankly wide. "Hey, wake up. We have to go! Hey!" I begged desperately, seeing his eyes closed and mouth parted the slightest bit. "Please, don't you dare die on me!"

Panicked I started looking around, needing help but all I could see was darkness. Faint outlines of cars, and the body behind me.

What do I do?

I raked a shaky hand through my dark hair, turning back to look at Jace. "Please wake up," I begged in a soft tone, patting his cheek in an attempt to wake him up.

"Jace, please. You said we have to stick together, please don't leave me alone now." Tears started to prick my eyes as I was staring at unconscious Jace. At the incessant amount of blood dribbling down his face, feeling utterly helpless and alone without his tugging and almost dislocating my wrist to him to follow him. Out of nowhere, someone suddenly yelled.

"Boss! you called for us!" I heard stomps of many feet sounding throughout the car park, sounding only a mere distance away.

"No, please no." I whispered, covering Jace with my hands, unsure about what to do "That's his men, Jace please wake up." I pleaded quietly with tears spilling down my cheeks. I heard the heavy footsteps, the footsteps belonging to people who'll beat Jace senselessly for killing their boss.

What to do, fuck. Think hardly Mc you don't have much time.

I gripped my hair, trying to think of ideas. I dragged my eyes upward to see a black jeep parked directly in front of me, my reflection visible in the sleek metal. The gap underneath the car looks spacious enough to fit a human. I checked the car heightened wheels. I gulped at the idea forming in my head.

Oh god, this is crazy.

I pushed Jace upright, my hands grabbed his backpack, and pushed the item under the car first before slowly lowering Jace's head to the ground and moving him inch by inch towards the ten-centimeter-away jeep but it was difficult with Jace's body weight. My own body also hurt badly from dancing and drinking last night and from running as fast as I could down two streets. My unathletic arms ache in protest when I budged Jace's almost lifeless form under a godamn jeep.

Despite my weak limbs, I managed to do the task just in time. Jace was pushed to the center of the car's underside. Holding my breath and laying beneath, I heard the shouts of the thugs as they were running towards their leader, rage filled in their voices as they crowded around the body, completely unaware of my and Jace's presence underneath a car beside them.

I was laying, not moving an inch beneath the car. I looked over at my side to watch the scene whilst opening my mouth to breathe through. The thugs feet are the only thing I can identify from where I am laying on the ground but I listened to the group's sharp cries.

"Boss! What happened? Who did this to you? Boss! Wake up!" Several of the men bend down by the dead body, trying to shake the man awake.

"I bet it was that couple! I'll break their bones for what they've done to the boss." One man yelled.

"Yeah! Let's go to hunt them down!" Someone grunted, standing to his feet and walked close to the jeep. I held my breath, feeling new tears fall from my face. Hot fearful tears which sear my cheeks as they rolled down.

I'm afraid. I don't want to die and I don't want this hag to die. Shitty thug or not, he had people caring for him. I don't want to be hiding under a polluting jeep with an unconscious body beside me. I don't want to be here at this moment.

"Something's wrong!" One of them cried, and I felt even shittier, watching from the bottom of the car. "I don't feel a pulse." The man choked out, making the men grow still and quiet.

"Bullshit, he's alive. Get him up boys, he needs to see a doctor." A man ordered but his tone wavered slightly. The thugs followed his order quickly.

Placing my palm over my mouth, I suppressed my sobs. Watching the thug getting lifted from the ground, gave me a clear view of the man's blood-engorged chest. It wasn't something I wanted to see.

"I'm going to skin those bastards alive and make them pay." a man emotionlessly stated and all of them walked away from the jeep.

Even when I was sure that I'd heard the last footsteps recede. Even when it had been five minutes of silence underneath the car, I didn't move, nor I stopped muffling my cries. I just laid there beside an unconscious Jace and breathed in pungent car fumes, crying pathetically. I patted around behind me for Jace and grabbed ahold of his hand, enclosing my palm around his index finger.

I turned around to look at him with teary eyes. I noticed something unusual about his neck. Something that I've never noticed. The red eye tattoo with words written under it.

Nym-0s

...

Jake?

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

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reblog if your name isn't Amanda.

2,121,566 people are not Amanda and counting!

We’ll find you Amanda.

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

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Would you be interested in reading something like this?

#duskwood #duskwoodlover #mc x jake #writing #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood fandom

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

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Jake save her please!

Find me - Chapter 3

Chapter 2

Trigger warnings : language, mention of rape, mention of murder, violence

Jake POV

It's been almost two months since I have talked to MC. The FBI was on my tail so I couldn't contact her yet. They tried to contact me several times but every time I managed to avoid them. I needed to find somewhere safe so I could reach for MC.

I checked on her every day. She was back at her home and seemed safe. But I knew she was worried, she always worried. This is why I wanted to talk to her. And also because I missed her.

After three days without eating properly, I went out to buy some food. I was getting weak and I couldn't afford any weaknesses in case I had to run away from the FBI.

On my way back I walked through a dark alley when someone appeared at the other end of the street pointing at me with a gun, "FBI, don't move!"

Shit! I cursed under my breath and turned around to find an escape, but a woman was blocking the way. I looked around me looking for a way out when she said, "Jake, wait!" of course I didn't wait. I spotted a ladder that could lead me on the roofs. If I was fast enough I could avoid the bullets. I was about to climb on it when the woman talked again. "Does Jasper Flint sound familiar to you?"

I frozzed. How did she know him? I slowly faced the woman, analyzing her. She was a little older than me, in her mid thirties I guess. A tall girl with blond hair brushed in a tight ponytail. She could have seemed nice if she wasn't with the FBI. "What do you want?" I hissed.

"Help." Help!? Was this a joke?

"And how could I help you?" I asked mockingly.

"You're the only one who can find him," she started. Of course I was the only one able to find that asshole. I always had an eye on him and his organization as I had an eye on the FBI. Both were related and that was what made me sick!

"Stop acting like you're innocent! You're working with him!" I spat.

"Don't you dare say that again!" she snapped back, which caught me off guard.

I sighed, "Why would you want to arrest him?"

"Because he killed my sister," she said with an emotionless voice. I looked at her, raising my eyebrows asking for more. She took a deep breath. "A few years ago me and my team found out who Jasper flint was and what he has done. We collected evidence just like you did. But before I was able to do a thing my sister disappeared. She was found a month later, by the side of the road. It was a warning… I should mind my own business for my safety. She had been raped and murdered because of what I found. I'm sure you know how I felt and understand now why I want Jasper Flint, his organization and all of the people involved with him behind bars."

Oh no, no, no. You are not using the "my sister disappeared" story to get to me. Of course I knew how she felt. I also thought about that when Hannah was missing. What if the kidnapper hurted her, what if he raped her, murdered her. But I didn't know if that woman's story was even real. It could be a trap!

I frowned and looked at her. When our eyes met I gulped. It was like facing a mirror. I could see the anger, the fear, the despair in her eyes. She had the same look I had when I was looking for Hannah. Except my sister was safe and hers was dead. I closed my eyes, "why would I help you? When I find him, you will arrest me as well."

"No," she replied firmly, "I can offer you a deal. You help us find him and then you're free. Free to live the life you want. Free to live a life with MC."

MC? She knew her? Was this a threat? As if she had read my mind she said, "Don't get me wrong. MC has nothing to do with that. I don't intend to involve her in any way."

The woman put a hand in her pocket and handed me a price of paper. "Call me" I grabbed the paper and read Amanda Prescott. I took a step back and reached for the ladder on my right. As I climbed it I heard Amanda shout "At least think about it!" I didn't look back and disappeared into one of the buildings.

Back to my hiding place I was sitting in my chair, staring at the ceiling trying to figure out what to do. I checked on everything that Prescott told me. She didn't lie. But the danger was real. Of course if I could put Jasper in jail, I would be delighted. It was because of him that I was wanted. I had the file, the file with every crime he committed. And this was not only drug dealing but arms and human traffic. I also had the name of everyone involved in this. There were so many people all around the world, politicians, judges, and so many more. Of course, the FBI was covering that up. And I was the only one with those files… I could have revealed all the information I had but it was me and only me against the FBI. So, I felt powerless.

What was I supposed to do? I could be a trap. Prescott could lure me, to arrest me. But if it wasn't a trap… It was my only chance to live with MC. Was I ready to risk everything I had left for this tiny hope? The answer was yes.

__________

Two weeks later everything was settled. I contacted Prescott again to make the deal. Now I wanted to warn MC about my plan. Well… I didn't want to tell her much because she was so stubborn that she could get involved in this trying to help me.

No, I was just gonna say to her that it was almost over, that we would be together soon. I wanted to see her one last time before looking for Jasper.

So, on the evening of June 12, I came to MC appartenant with the biggest smile on my face, happy to tell her the good news.

When I arrived at her place I immediately noticed her front door was slightly open. My smile faded and I rushed into her apartment. Everything was a mess as if there was a fight here. The dishes were broken on the floor, chairs were thrown to the ground, I spotted a knife covered with blood, lying next to my feet. This couldn't be MC's blood?? I clenched my fists as I felt fear took over my whole body. "MC," I called "Are you there?"

I knew it was a foolish question. Nobody was there. I panicked even more when I saw a hole in the wall. A gunshot!

From the corner of my eyes, I saw MC's laptop on her desk. It was blinking. When I opened the laptop, a woman tied to a chair appeared on the screen. MC! At that exact moment, my phone rang. I picked up carefully, not taking my eyes off the screen.

"Good evening Jake, my old friend," said a voice I could easily recognize, Jasper!

"Let her go!" I shouted.

"No, not yes I need something from you first." I could hear him smiling from the phone. "Bring us the file, and she'll be free."

"What file?" I tried to save time while I was thinking about a plan.

"Don't play dumb with me! Bring us the file or she dies!" he replied angrily. "I thought that seeing your girl tied to a chair would motivate you."

"I don't even know if this is a real recording." I argued.

To my words, I saw two men on the screen. One man with a phone waved at the camera and I heard him say to the other "Wake her up!"

The other man approached MC and slapped her. "You, asshole! Don't you dare touch her!" I yelled through the phone.

Jasper laughed and answered, "I thought you wanted to talk to her." Then he put the phone against MC ear.

"MC, are you okay?" I asked concerned.

"Jake? Jake is this you?" she started to sob. "Where am I?"

"Don't worry MC, I'll find you." I tried to reassure her.

"Jake, please, please find me!" She was totally panicking.

Jasper took the phone back, "I'll send you the location. Come with the file. No file, no MC," and he hung up.

I stared at the screen trying to figure out how to react. Jasper came closer to MC and leaned over her. I saw him grab her chin and stroke her cheek with his thumb. "Don't touch her… if you hurt her I swear I…"

MC kicked him in his leg. Jasper lost his shit and grabbed MC by her hair while taking a knife in his pocket and pressed it on her neck. The screen went black. No, no, no! I tried everything to connect to the camera again but nothing worked.

I grabbed my head and fell on the couch. I couldn't breathe. Why was this happening? I sat there for a while trying to calm myself down. Jake, you need to focus. You won't be able to get MC back if you overreact. I took several deep breaths and took my phone and dialed Prescott's number.

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

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I am so hooked!!!

P.s. still cant comment 😩

Who I am now?

Part 8.

Pairing: Jake x Mc.

Genre: Angst, comedy, dark romance.

Warnings: Strong language, angst scenes. 18+ content can be found. (Mention of claustrophobia.)

Words: 9k

•

Mc focus.

We spent about ten minutes in the rain before the water droplets transitioned from a drizzle to an icy cold, a heavy downpour that drenched us from head to toe completely. The sudden rainfall crashed down onto our skin and clothes. Jace still holding my hand dragged me back inside the motel whilst struggling not to slip over the wet puddles gathering on the ground. We made it inside and Jace motioned me to walk in front of him to their room whilst wringing the water out of his white shirt.

As soon as we entered our shared room, I made my way tiredly to the bathroom. Inside, I took off my wet shorts and underwear.

"I'm so tired," I whined, dumping the shorts into the bathtub, wringing the hoodie dry enough. I was faced with an important decision to make. The decision of what to wear. I only had two sets of clothes. The wet ones and the three-day-old dirty ones with dirt smears and sweat stains on them. I didn't want to wear either garment. Taking a deep breath, I wrapped a towel around my naked body and padded out of the bathroom. Pushing away the self-consciousness occupying my head when I walked out and flopped onto the bed, still feeling grossly damp but I didn't bother to do anything about it. I was way too tired, letting my eyes close for a moment, and turned myself into the darkness.

I woke up in the middle of the night, not knowing how I managed to fall asleep with a damp towel sticking to my skin. I sat up in the queen-sized bed and winced at the horrible feeling of something wet clinging to my waist. Quickly pulling the soggy garment off and haphazardly flinging Jace's hoodie across the room. I let out a loud relieved sigh, flopping back onto my pillow.

"I give you my hoodie to keep you warm, and this is what I get?" I got up from the welcoming warm squish of the pillow, tilting my head to the side at the sound of someone's raspy voice.

I peered through half-lidded but wary eyes, immediately spotting a figure laying across the couch, the shirtless and annoyed Jace was laying on the couch with the damp hoodie I had thrown just seconds ago laying upon his face, blocking off the glare that the dickhead was no doubt giving me.

He slowly lifted his arm, to pinch the wet clothing item between thumb and forefinger before dragging the soggy pile of a hoodie away from his face and throwing it onto the wooden floor.

I murmured out a halfhearted "Sorry." Tilting my head back to face the ceiling I closed my heavy eyelids again, willing to fall asleep one more time.

"I-" Jace started but a sneeze interrupts him. Another sneeze and another...

"Fuck." He cursed annoyingly under his breath. I furrowed my eyebrows but I didn't bother opening my eyes again just yet.

He sneezed again.

I opened my eyes now, a teensy bit agitated by the rapid consecutive sneezes thrown into the quiet of the room. I shifted my body to his side to look at him who sat up, sneezing repeatedly and struggling to keep his eyes from watering like crazy.

"You know sleeping without a shirt on during the night will lead to catching a cold," I mumbled sleepily, looking at watery-eyed Jace who looked up and met his eyes with me who

He was about to reply but instead, he ducked his head, sneezing once more. With an annoyed groan and a small sniff, Jace got up from the too-small couch and barefoot walked over to the bathroom. The sound of the toilet paper ripping sounds throughout the small room. Jace blew his nose and walked back into the room, giving me a small nod.

Jake focus.

"Uhm-" I slowly bunched the tissue paper into a ball, raising my eyes at sleepy Mc. She was still half asleep, rubbing her eyes whilst mumbling out.

"You let me dance in the rain and you gave me your hoodie, and well you're probably gonna get a cold because you didn't wear a hoodie so you should keep yourself warm and can not sleep shirtless and without a blanket...So."

I raised an eyebrow at her mumbling which caused her embarrassingly blush and look away.

"Spit it out." I sighed, turning around a little to locate the bin and casually throwing the balled-up tissue neatly into the wastepaper basket in the corner of the room.

"Do you want to sleep with me?"

My body stiffened. I was caught off guard by her sudden question.

"What?"

Mc quickly sat up, widening her eyes. Probably realizing how weird her words sounded.

"I didn't mean it like that!" She yelped out, embarrassed. "I meant to say that you can sleep on the bed if you want. We'd have to make a barrier between us out of pillows in case you decided to hug me out of the blue again."

"Oh."

"Mhm."

"Hm."

"So are you gonna get in?"

"Oh. Yeah, I guess." I nodded, scratching the back of my neck and walking over to the bed. Mc noticed my movements rolled over to the right, letting me take the left side of the bed.

Once I slid beneath the duvet and adjusted to the bed, Mc grabbed the white patterned cushions that sit neglected overhead and placed them in a line between herself and me. Separating us from each other. Well damn.

"Okay." Mc sighed, once she was done aligning the cushions.

"Okay," I replied once I settled in my side of the bed. Awkwardness filled the space between us. Fuck it, Jake. Please don't hug her. God dear it was embarrassing.

Mc focus.

Please don't cross the barrier and please don't suffocate me by hugging the life out of me. I prayed internally, laying there and just looking up at the ceiling. I risked a quick look at Jace who faced away from me, facing towards the wall.

Wish him goodnight or something and get some sleep, Mc. Come on you can do it.

"Good night, JD." I tried to say it out loud but for some reason, my voice resorted to a muffled whisper. It was silent for a few seconds and I started to regret saying good night. Maybe it was too casual? Maybe I should've just left it and not said good night.

"Good night, Mc."

It was early the next morning when I woke up to Jace prodding his shoulder hard with his rolled-up map.

"Hurry up and get dressed, we need to leave." He ordered, pulling the duvet down so I wouldn't burrow under it. I whined, spotting the time 5 am. Couldn't we have left after having a few or more hours of sleep and breakfast? Why is he so in hurry?

"Mc, I'm serious get up. Pack up all of your shit and dump it into the plastic bag I gave you yesterday." He instructed, bending down and repacking items into his backpack.

I groaned, messily climbing out of bed. I managed to drag the towel up threatening to slip off. I ignored my messy hair, the only thought that was occupying my mind was last night. I walked into the bathroom, remembering yesterday's 'dancing'. I smiled to myself for the long fun I had yesterday whilst grabbing my toothbrush and toothpaste.

Last night was amazing, I danced in the rain. I did one of the things I've been wanting to do ever since I met everyone and Jake. The whole idea of dancing in the rain with a boyfriend suddenly seemed and seems the perfect date in my opinion.

I spat the toothpaste into the sink and quickly washed my face. It had been weird dancing with my kidnapper, but also strangely fun. The 'dancing' was clunky and awkward because of my ankle but the spins worked out very well. I don't even remember how many times I have spun around but I enjoyed each second.

I bundled up the items into the plastic bag. Grabbing the shorts and underwear that had dried overnight I quickly wore them and walked out of the bathroom facing Jace.

"Ready?" He asked, fixing his messy hair. As usual, he wore black clothing and his slightly ripped backpack, he had an additional surgical black mask covering half his face, making his icy blue eyes more prominent than usual. I slowly nodded, nibbling on my lip nervously.

"Here." He outstretched an arm, holding another surgical mask in his hand. I took the mask and put it on hesitantly whilst Jace slipped his feet into his damp boots, visibly wincing at the feeling.

"Let's go." He said in an annoyed tone, sounding muffled behind his mask.

Well...Here we go again.

Jake focus.

We met with the owner for her to help us sign out. I led Mc out of the building and into the practically empty parking lot. Nothing is there except for a motorcycle parked by the building. A black motorcycle that's a little on the battered side but it was perfect for my eyes.

"Follow me and stay quiet," I ordered quietly, walking toward the motorcycle. I felt her walking close by me, her confused face almost made me let out my masked smile but I adjusted to my position.

I hunkered down by the motorcycle, checking the vehicle with care before sliding my fingertips over the matte paintwork for access to the interior of the bike.

"JD what are you doing?" Mc questioned in a hushed tone. I sighed loudly.

"Hot wiring a motorcycle, Mc. So I can use it to ship us to the safe place." I replied monotonously, getting annoyed by the damn thing not turning on.

"But this is someone's motorcycle, idiot." She yelped incredulously.

"Wow, Mc. I didn't know that!" I replied sarcastically, trying to stay as quiet as possible.

"Can't we just grab a bus or something that doesn't require stealing?"

"Look, will you just shut up and hold this for me?" I grunted, handing her my locked phone with the torch setting activated. She carefully took the device grudgingly whilst muttering something about the number of crimes I am breaking right this second. She lifted the phone half-heartedly into the air and accidentally or not but flashed the white light directly into my vision.

"Fuck." I hissed, wincing and turning away. Annoyed I grabbed her wrist and forced her to lower the phone so the light reflected onto the surface of the motorcycle and wasn't capable of blinding anyone. "Keep it like that, okay?" I grunted, rubbing my eyes. Feeling annoyed and tired already.

I had cranked open a compartment of some sort near the handlebars, reaching inside my hoodie pocket for a small length of wire, I started to insert the speaker wire into the opened eye of the cap.

"What are you doing?" Mc whispered, bringing the phone light closer to me fiddling with the wire.

"I'm putting a speaker wire into the eye of the cap and a socket cap. That should engage the ignition." I explained quickly, moving my fingers quickly to feed the 'speaker wire' into the vehicle.

"Hm okay." She mumbled, with confusion setting into her voice.

After a few frustrated tries and groans and more tenacious fiddling, a light appeared on the motorcycle, making me smile satisfyingly at my well-done work.

"The ignition's engaged," I announced, not bothering to hide the pleased expression on my face. Mc just nodded and shifted my phone into her other hand.

I got up from the ground and swung a leg deftly over the motorcycle, smoothly seating myself on the seat. I noticed Mc watching me reach over for the handlebars and switch them on something. Waking up the previously dormant motorcycle and startling it awake. A low growl escaped from the motorcycle's engine making me grin at my work. I had just successfully hot-wired a motorcycle. Hot wiring a car? Easy. Hot wiring a motorcycle? I have never tried hot wiring a motorcycle until now and yet somehow I managed to ignite the engine with ease. I was proud of myself

"Alright get on, Mc." I whistled, not wiping the grin off of my face. Not hearing her answer I turned to look at her and she does not look happy.

"What's wrong? You have never been on a motorcycle before?" I started, patting the seat behind me. "Just hop on it's not as scary as it looks-"

"It's not that." She murmured, looking at me with her brows knitted together. I sighed loudly. She's so stubborn hell.

"It's either an easy vehicle that'll take us to the safe place with no worries or walking there for an hour and a half and then continuing to walk for another hour and also another hour and-"

"Okay, okay, I get your point but don't you feel guilty stealing someone's car?"

"No," I mumbled with no hesitation, looking at her with a risen eyebrow.

"Well, I do." She crossed her arms defiantly, and the plastic bag in her hand swung from the movement almost hitting me in the face.

"What do you want me to do? Find the owner of this bike's room and apologize for hot wiring his or her's motorcycle or write a fucking sorry note or something?"

"Oh, that's a good idea."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope do you have paper? A pen?"

"Mc. Seriously?"

"Yes, hurry up. We're in a rush remember?"

I rolled my eyes but yet still rummaged inside my pocket for a pen and paper. I found the red marker on the side of my backpack and a receipt for the fried chicken order I had bought a couple of days ago. I handed the items over to her, who kneeled down and hurriedly scrawled out.

"We deeply apologize for stealing your motorcycle it was needed for a major emergency and its purpose could not be ignored during this urgent time. - from the people who borrowed your bike. :)"

She quickly handed the receipt over to me to check if she hadn't written anything about being kidnapped. I obnoxiously snorted at the formal language Mc had used.

"Couldn't you have just said 'Sorry for taking your bike, lots of love, anon.'?" I asked with the corners of my mouth raising in a joking manner. Mc scoffed, looking at me with a fed-up face.

"I wanted to be sincere." She kneeled and found a big enough pebble amongst the gravel and laid the note beneath it.

"If you're done with your note, shall we go?"

"Yeah." She hummed, getting up to her feet. She clapped her hands to rid the dirt that clings to her palms. She looked up at me with a puzzled face. "JD?"

I raised an eyebrow at her, feeling confused inside. "What now?"

"I have to sit at the back right?" Mc confirmed, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "What if I slip and slide right off onto the road?"

"You won't because you'll be holding on to me."

"Or you could sit at the front, I guess. Just don't make any sudden movements or touch the engine."

"Oh." For a couple of seconds, Mc was thinking with her puzzled face looking at me. "The front. I wanna sit at the front." She gave an extra nod to affirm her decision. I shrugged moving a little further back to allow space for Mc to sit and waited for her to mount the bike. I looked over at her expectantly. She mounted the bike but not as nicely and smoothly as I did. She had practically flung herself on whilst hoping she'll get on. But she didn't. I muffled a laugh and had to hoist her up by the hand and wait for her to slide her other leg over the side. Once she was seated I moved a little closer, pushing my legs up against the back of hers, leaning over to grab ahold of the handlebars. I let my breath fan over the shell of her ear, turning the engine, I caused her to tense up between my arms.

"Are you comfy?" I asked, close to her ear.

"As comfy as I can be sitting this close to you." She muttered reddening when I chuckled softly in response. Without another word, I started up the motorcycle once again, the roars of the engine startled Mc to sit up straight and make her clutch at the bundled-up plastic bag in her arms. I motioned for Mc to lift her legs onto a part of the motorcycle so her legs didn't dangle.

Suddenly the motel room window slams open and a female pokes her head out, her blonde hair was falling into her face as she lifted her fist into the air and yelled.

"That's my bike you little shits!"

"We're sorry!" Mc shouted back up just as soon as I lifted my feet off the ground and twisted the handlebars with a sharp intake of breath from Mc. I left the car park with an extra roar from the engine.

"Come back with my bike or I'm calling the motherfucking police!"

Mc focus.

I knew I shouldn't be enjoying this but the feeling of the wind whipping through my dark hair and billowing my shirt out is too pleasant to not enjoy. My eyes watered a little at the wind's intensity and goosebumps are littering the skin on my arms, but even so. I smiled not bothering to hide it as Jace was guiding the motorcycle through the slowly awakening town. The adrenaline was flowing throughout my body as Jace was switching up the gears. I enjoyed the view laid out before my eyes, sitting there in front of a motorcycle, trapped between two nice arms. I squinted my eyes and watched the sun now high in the sky, glow above the town. It's still early in the morning but the ground was still wet after yesterday's sudden rainfall the sun seemed adamant to banish the dark grey staining the pavements, with its heat.

As we drove down the motorway, I stared in awe at the towering lorries that drove side to side with us. One of the middle-aged drivers of one particularly large lorry caught me staring with big eyes and waved a hand at me with a big smile. I smiled back and gave him a small wave too.

Neither one of us checked the time for how long we were driving but we must've been driving for quite a while because Jace's stolen vehicle was running out of fuel. There was a small gas station situated at the end of the motorway. One that's different from the gas station where Jace had fired at a worker and I had been forced to be kinky. This one was clean and tidy and had more than one worker on standby.

Jace drove over there, switching the engine off, and pushing the motorcycle to stand out with the heel of his foot. Like before, he smoothly climbed off with ease and walked around the vehicle, taking off his cap and running a hand through his hair. Jace walked over to the gas machine. On the other hand, I was a little stuck.

"Um, JD. A little help here?"

"You don't need to move. Stay there." He hummed as he was reading through the information printed on the notice stuck to the gas tank.

"My legs are numb, let me walk a bit." I persisted.

"If you wanna walk around, you have to get off the bike yourself."

"How am I supposed to do that? If I can't get on, how am I supposed to get off?" I questioned, frustrated inside.

"That's the point." Jace took a second to break away from the poster he was reading to look over at me pointedly. Sighing I looked down at the bike I was sitting on, thinking about how to get off it.

"But if I get down, I can have a pee break and get breakfast for us!" I tried to reason with this dickhead. But he was just as stubborn as me.

"That's right! You can have a pee break and get snacks for yourself. If you get down of course."

"When I get down," I grumbled, pissed at him. But he just ignored me and continued to fiddle with the gas station's tanks.

Jake focus.

Okay, diesel or petrol? For a motorcycle- I get broken away from my thoughts when I heard a loud crash and someone yelp out the words. 'Ouch!' behind me. I turned around swiftly and I am met with the sight of Mc sprawled out on the floor beside the motorcycle. Her fall was softened because her plastic bag of clothing and towels fell onto the floor before her and acted as a cushion.

Groaning, she lift herself to her feet and winced at the pain. She raised her head noticing the few worried onlookers and me staring at her. She laughed nervously, standing up and brushing the nonexistent dust off of her shorts. A few people regarded her warily and Mc just smiled back apologetically. She turned to face me, a proper smile on her face. The one that explained just how proud she was of herself for managing to get off the bike.

"I can grab snacks and pee now, right?"

I blinked my eyes, looking at her with pressed lips. I was gonna help her off but she just let herself fall.

"Are you okay? You fell..."

"Yeah fine. Totally."

"..."

She took my silence as her consent and nodded for no reason before walking past me and heading toward the interior of the gas station. dumbfounded. I shook my head at her retreating back.

Jake look at how she treats you. The amount of disrespect she throws at you is incredible. Just look at her walking around and telling you to fuck off and eating all of your expensive nutrition bars and constantly trying to escape and almost fucking succeeding.

Of course, she'd nearly fucking succeed in escaping, you're being too chill with all this and she is taking advantage of that. Using every chance your back's turned to escape. But that's Mc we're talking about. She is indifferent. With the last thought etched into my mind, I grabbed the handle of the gas machine and filled up the motorcycle's tank.

Mc focus.

Humming happily about my success and the blank look on his face, I pushed open the gas station's door and walked in to be hit with a wave of refreshingly cool air. The shop's ac blasted out cool air repeatedly and I took a second to appreciate the temperature change. I breathed out, relieved. Spotting endless amounts of food stacked up on multiple shelves. Various junk foods entice me, and I walked up to a shelf of potato chips. I grabbed several items from off the shelves, getting pairs of each product one for me and one for Jace. Pair of salted potato chips, icy sodas from the freezer, packets of sour gummies, a lone apple, and many more items are all placed in my arms. Nothing else seemed to attract my attention so I started to look around for Jace. He have to pay for my items since I had no cash on me.

I spotted him by the gas machine, still filling up the motorcycle's tank with fuel. I tapped my foot and looked around the gas station, waiting patiently. I caught the sight of a female worker standing by the cash register, sweeping up the dirt on the floor with a broom.

Maybe I should ask her to let me use her phone? I studied the oblivious girl from afar. She looked friendly enough. Brown short hair, hazel eyes, and small height. The girl seemed to have finished sweeping the floor and moved to walk away. I pulled my surgical mask down, calling out for her.

"Excuse me?"

The girl slowly turned around giving me a questionable look. "Yes? Do you need any help?" She offered up a small smile.

"Well-" I completely froze up. The entrance door opened with a click and I jerked my head quickly to see Jace's dark figure walk into the shop. Too late now. I turned back to face the girl and pushed the items into her arms.

"Could you check these out and ask that man to pay for them, I need to go to the bathroom. Thank you!" I smiled at her before rushing out and dashing away from a confused girl who struggled to hold my numerous chosen food items.

I cringed as I jogged towards the door with a toilet sign above it. Why'd you run away? You should've just laughed it off. Now you look like such an idiot. I scolded myself, pushing open the bathroom door. I took my time to pee and wash my hands whilst thinking about how awkwardly awkward I am around people and how I should act when I'd walk out of the bathroom. Just play it off-pretend it didn't happen. I shook wet fingertips and walked over to the hand dryer.

The door suddenly opened behind me and a sudden loud jeer startled me. I looked over to see at least four girls flow into the tiny-sized bathroom. Most of these girls are college students. Most likely bunked off school. Some of the girls ran to the two toilets available. The others who aren't going to the toilets are standing around the sinks, fixing their hair in the mirror whilst joking about last night's antics.

The girls were all around me, trapping me in place near the hand dryer. The girls pressed into my side, giving me no personal space. They're so close. I started to panic inside. I can feel my heartbeat quickening as I feel suffocated and trapped. My claustrophobia started to fill me. I wanted to speak up, wanted to ask them to move but I couldn't. My throat was suddenly dry and my lips refused to part. I crouched on the floor and breathed heavily. My hands were pressed together and I pulled them to my chest. Heat fired throughout my body causing sweat to form on my forehead.

"Hey? Hey, girl are you okay? Hey, look at me. She's not reacting. Hey someone help!"

Jake focus.

I was standing by the cashier with my arms crossed, holding a plastic bag full of Mc's food. I'd have already paid for the gas and food and now was waiting for a certain masked girl to walk out of the bathroom. I looked at the girl who works at the cash register and studied the time shown on her wristwatch.

Mc has been in the bathroom for an unnecessarily long time and the fact that she hadn't come out after eight minutes, bugged me. We were on a strict schedule and Mc was currently fucking it up right now. I sighed and marched over to the bathroom door, pushing it open because it was the public toilet. Now's the time to be un-nice and un-passive.

"Mc?" My eyes widened when I saw a hyperventilating Mc curled into a ball in the corner of the bathroom. Upon hearing her name, Mc's eyes met with mine, her now watered-down eyes revealed just how panicked she was, panicked and pleading for help. Multiple girls were hovering over her and asking Mc repeatedly if she was okay. She was not, okay.

I pushed past these girls ignoring their stares and finally got to Mc, pulling her to her feet and dragging the stumbling Mc out of the pungent and damped bathroom. Taking no time to check Mc I guided her out of the gas station and outside where a gust of warm air hit us, making Mc gulp down the much-needed oxygen. She was about to collapse but I didn't let her fall.

Turning to face her, I slowly kneeled with her, facing her directly onward. With the slightest bit of hesitation, I placed both of my hands on her cheeks, tilting her head up slightly so eye contact is achieved before I murmured out instructions for Mc. Who was crying and gripping her forearms tightly...

"Mc, I want you to take a deep breath in and a deep breath out, okay? Come on breathe in for me."

With both of us facing each other directly, maintaining unbreakable eye contact, Mc was taking in shallow breaths whilst trying not to cry.

I nodded to her, playing with her hair to calm her down. "And again. You're doing well, Mc." I assured placing my forehead against Mc's sweaty one and breathing in with her. Guiding her to follow my breathing.

"One more time. Breathe in and out, slowly." I nodded, breathing in. Mc raggedly breathed in and out.

"You're all good, you're safe now, Mc," I reassured softly. "So take a deep breath again and concentrate on slowing your heartbeat, okay? Your heart's beating like crazy, right?"

Mc holding back a sob nodded. "It feels like it's gonna burst out of my chest." She sobbed out. I just nodded, although I'm not too sure why.

"I know, Mc. That's why I want you to calm down. You're out of that bathroom, no one's crowding you look around." I moved my head away from her and dropped my hands from her cheeks. Letting Mc take in her surroundings and realize she wasn't in a tightly confined space anymore.

It takes another six minutes for Mc's heartbeat to slow, her breathing to return to normal and her tears to stop. During those six minutes, I refused to move away from the crying Mc. My hands were planted firmly on the sides of her face and I continued to mutter encouraging words.

"Breathe in and out again for me, Mc." I didn't rush, yell, or threatened her. I didn't move away, I didn't tell her to 'stop her little act, and fucking move.' Like some people had told me in the past. I simply just stayed there, beside her, telling her to breathe.

Mc focus.

"You're claustrophobic?"

I was sitting sideways on the motorcycle with my legs dangling, eating into a bag of sour gummies when Jace asked me the aforementioned question. Sprinkles of white sugar are littered all around my mouth, decorating my lips. I wiped the sugar with the back of my hand, turning my gaze to him.

"Yeah, and it gets sometimes too." I swallowed hard. Why the hell I am telling this to him?

Jace was standing beside the motorcycle, smoking a cigarette whilst looking away from me and staring meaninglessly at distance.

"I'll keep that in mind." He murmured. Unsure about what to say, I pushed my gummies to one side and reached down for the bottle of water sitting in the grocery bag, and uncapped the water bottle. Gulping down the water, I was thinking back to the state I was in just twenty minutes ago. Hyperventilating almost inhumanely, nauseous and dizzy, crying and sobbing whilst people stared at me.

I cringed but there was nothing much I can do to change what was in the past. I'll just have to get over what happened at the gas station. My fear of crowded spaces is pretty irrational, but it's something that truly freaks me out. This isn't the first time anyway. It had happened many times before. So I'm not embarrassed. It's a just thing I can't help but do.

I heated up though but not because I'm feeling awkward or embarrassed and shy. But because of the way Jace had controlled the situation. He was so nice, he was taking the time to comfort me and make me calm. He did all the right things. The breathing exercises, the reassuring comments, staying there with me and making sure I was in an open space, the eye contact.

He was so close though...I felt my cheeks starting to heat up. I could smell cigarettes and mint on his breath and it shouldn't have calmed me down but it did. His mouth was inches away from mine any closer and I would've been able to...No!

What the fuck are you thinking about, Mc? Just because he gives you Jake's intimacy vibes it does not mean it's him! He is Jace, not Jake. Get it inside your head Mc.

Despite my weird thoughts, Jace's actions and niceness do make my heart unwillingly warm up to the guy standing on my left. But quickly I dismissed the strange warm feeling as gratitude. I was just thankful, that's all.

I sighed, looking away from my pack of sour sweets, and glanced at him. He helped me and I haven't even thanked him. I cleared my throat, gaining Jace's attention on me.

"I- thank you for helping me out. You were good." I mumbled quietly, staring down at my lap. "You were good at handling the situation. How did you know what to do?" I asked genuinely, raising my eyes to meet with his eyes already focused on me.

Jace was taking his time to answer. He breathed in the cigarette for a couple of seconds before slowly parting his lips to allow white tendrils to escape into the air. He finally bothered to speak.

"My friend specializes in phobias."

I don't know if I should believe him but I nodded nevertheless. Why would he lie anyways

"You ready to leave?" He suddenly asked, dropping his cigarette onto the concrete below and grinding it to bits under his boot.

"Yeah," I murmured, looking up at him and folding my gummies back in the plastic bag.

"Alright, we'll leave no-" His phone ringtone, broke him off. Jace pulled the phone out looking at the device out of his back pocket and read the name of the caller printed on the lock screen.

"Hold on." He muttered, sliding his thumb across the lock screen to answer the persistent caller.

I'm glad I thanked him. I pulled out the water bottle again. What he did was super nice of him to do. But he's my kidnapper. Drinking and temporarily holding the water in my puffed cheeks, I frowned.

Would a 'normal' kidnapper help me through my panic attack? Would he sit there with me for ten minutes with my face cupped in his hands, and tell me that I'm okay and safe? Would he have even helped me out of that suffocating bathroom?

I paused for a second, giving a side eye to him. I don't think so. Full of thoughts, I swallowed the water in my mouth and took another few gulps of now lukewarm water.

Would a 'normal' kidnapper even allow you to have pee breaks and let you get junk food? Would he even fucking feed you meals? No.

Of course, he wouldn't. Then why would he treat me like this? The whole bucket list idea isn't something kidnappers would do with their victims.

A 'normal' kidnapper wouldn't treat your bloody nosebleed, and he wouldn't walk down a road and carry you in bridal style under the sweltering sun and he most definitely would not dance in the rain with his victim.

I stared at the back of his head whilst he was taking his call. I looked away quickly, chewing on my lower lip. Thinking more.

But he's not always grudgingly nice. He knocked you unconscious twice. He kidnapped you, kept you in the boot of a car, tied you up, shot an innocent worker, forced you to wear disgustingly short shorts, held you hostage in unknown rooms, and didn't allow you to contact your friends at all.

But despite the previously stated bad things Jace had done to me. I can feel something familiar flicker in my stomach. It was a special something that I haven't felt since Jake had disappeared. Jake was ans is the love of my life. He opened his world to me, and it made me happy.

I smiled at the thought of Jake, looking over at Jace my eyes were running over his features with a slightly opened mouth whilst the other conversed on the phone in a low tone. Jace must've felt my eyes on him because he turned around to look at me with a questioning look on his face. "What?" he mouthed, looking at me. Under his sharp icy gaze, butterflies appeared in my chest. Oh dear god, no. I groaned inside my head.

I've never really noticed but he got pretty eyes, I hurriedly suppressed the thought to the back of my mind.

Squashing the idea of liking Jace's eyes into a ball and shoving it into a corner of my head. I sighed loudly. Just because he is somehow similar to Jake I can't let it get inside my head...

I quickly shook my head and looked away to hide the pink blossoming on my cheeks. Jace frowned at my action but turned away, continuing to talk on the phone.

I thanked him mentally one more time again. Thank you for helping me out when you didn't need to and thank you for buying me food. Please take back your butterflies soon though. They're starting to make me feel sick Jace. You're not Jake. I stressed out indirectly saying it all to him, fiddling with the hem of my shirt, hoping for the butterflies to die down.

Returning to our allocated seats on the motorcycle, we drove down the road at a fast speed and down a busy highway, narrowly dodging and overcoming incoming cars. I thought this will distract me from my taboo thoughts but it didn't. Instead, I found myself ignoring the wind brushing through my hair, the sights all around me, and the deafening roar of the engine. I constantly was thinking back to my earlier thoughts, the thought of possibly liking-

Oh my god, don't say it. Because you do not like him. But something about him makes me feel safe. You can't like him in that way. Jace is not him and he's your kidnapper. I just feel grateful because he helped me out, I don't feel anything else. A tiny sarcastic voice broke into my mind, interrupting my thoughts.

'Because gratitude towards someone causes butterflies to appear in your stomach, right?'

I swallowed thickly, trying to get rid of the hardening lump setting at the back of my throat. Those weren't butterflies, they were just the after-effects of my panic attack.

Just forget about it, Mc.

"What are we doing here?" I questioned as I held out a wary hand, waiting for Jace to take it and help me to climb off the motorcycle. Jace with an eye roll gripped my hand and helped me down onto the littered ground below.

We were standing outside a tiny crevice between a convenience store and a garage. It's a pretty conspicuous building despite being so small. It's painted a black shade and the floor-to-ceiling windows that should display the lights inside were covered with old posters about nowadays problems and drug abuse. I looked at Jace.

"Don't ask questions, Mc." He murmured, tugging me closer to the building, and pushing the door open. He walked down the wooden floor and past all the people who were smoking and giving us dirty looks.

Jace just ignored them and walked to the right back of the room where a woman was sitting behind a thin desk, busily sifting through receipts whilst raking her hand through her red hair.

"Missa, can I go upstairs?" Jace called out as we slowly approached the lady. The woman looked up and glared at Jace over her round glasses.

"Go ahead. Oh and tell your idiot friend to stop stealing my electricity to power those stupid computers." The woman muttered, looking away and returning to her receipts. Jace didn't bother to speak any further and instead, he pulled on my shirt, guiding me towards an inconspicuous door set in the wall. He yanked it open, revealing a small box of a room where a set of concrete stairs started, and motioned for me to go first. Feeling hesitant inside I walked through the door and up the stairs with Jace following close by.

The hard grey stairs shortly came to a stop outside another door. One that was locked. Jace shuffled behind me, making me turn around to see him pulling out a set of keys which he fiddled with for a second to find the right one. Jace leaned over me to reach the lock and unlocked the door.

When I heard the door click open and Jace move away. I sighed out of relief. That was too close again. I stepped over the door frame and into the hallway of someone's one-floor apartment.

"Hey cotton, I'm here! Where are you?" Jace yelled, closing the door behind him. Seconds later, a small "Red eye!" Came from somewhere in the house. Jace sighed loudly.

"Idiot stop using that name." He murmured to himself, almost inaudibly but I heard it. Jace walked past me, moving out of the hallway and into the small but homely-looking studio apartment. I followed Jace quickly looking like a lost puppy.

"Be careful of the wires," Jace warned.

"What wires-Oh." I stood in the doorway, looking around the one-floor apartment with widened eyes. The slightly cramped apartment was overrun with black snaking wires and extension sockets. All plugged up and in use, powering the four computers fixed into a wall. The wires litter the entire floor, making it difficult for me to walk over without yanking some essential wire out or tripping over.

Beneath the wires, the actual foundation of the place was nice. Comfy, cushions are thrown over a kinda slouchy corduroy sofa. Back to the computers and wires. By the four HD computer screens attached to the wall is a desk, a desk that overflows with post-it notes and manila files. Another reminder of Jake. I sighed, studying the girl sitting on her chair with a risen eyebrow. She was pretty even in her messy clothing style and hair.

Jace rounded the girl and frowned.

"You're meant to eat all your food and then sleep. Not fall asleep on your kebab afterward." Jace scrunched, taking the plate of kebab in his hands and pulling it out of the girl's grip.

"That's my food." The girl groaned in response, rubbing her nose and yawning sitting up in her desk chair. She looked around the room with bleary eyes and it didn't take long before her gaze landed on me. I was still staying firmly by the doorway, looking a little freaked out about the thick black wires that course across the room.

"Oh. Who's this?" She questioned quietly, voice croaking a little. "This is her? No way." She smiled, looking at him and me. I held my breath, waiting for Jace to speak up.

"Shut up." Jace rolled his eyes, eating her leftovers. The girl raised her eyebrows slightly,

"Damn, you were serious about all that shit." She said surprised before running a hand through her blue silky hair.

"I always am serious." Jace shrugged, looking at her with serious face.

"Tell me something I don't know." She smiled sleepily.

What the hell is going on here?

Jace just scoffed petulantly as he was forcing food into his mouth.

"I'm Lex." I looked up to see the girl looking at me with a corner of her lip tugged upwards. "Make yourself at home, you are gonna be here for a while."

"What do you mean 'for a while'? It's only a bit of information. We're not gonna go on a task or something Lex."

"I know that it's only a bit of information and it won't take long but I'm talking about how you're going to react," Lex murmured. Jace frowned so the girl hastily changed the subject.

"Also because I've missed you so much! Look at you! Oh my, you've grown more!" Lex started happily, nudging the boy.

Jace laughed shortly and Lex suppressed a smile. "Don't laugh red eye." She whined, rolling her eyes playfully. Jace cleared his throat.

"Alright, we should talk." Jace nodded at her with a serious face now.

Ten minutes later, I was sitting on a stool by the kitchen with my cheek in my palm and a small pout on my face as I stared out of the window. I was bored out of my mind. Both Jace and Lex had developed into a serious talk that was none of my business.

I stared up at the skyscrapers and other apartment blocks standing clustered outside the window. My gaze followed down to the fruit bowl sitting not too far from me. The bowl is laden with mainly fake plastic fruits but there are some real-looking ones on top. I took one of the oranges and tried to keep myself busy by peeling the orange in one go.

Jake focus.

"So what's this about Richy? What's so important that I had to come down here?" I asked as I set down my now empty bowl.

"It's not that important, just wanted to see my favorite hacker." Lex smiled and was about to lean over and pinch my cheeks but the unmoving serious look on my face made her stop midway through.

"What is it about him?" I repeated.

Lex sighed, dropping her hands. "My sources spotted and sent me photos of Richy at one of these clubs yesterday. I was looking through them and-" She stopped abruptly, clearing her throat.

"The page should still be up on my screen so just unlock my computer and just see for yourself." She murmured, standing up. "But seriously, it's nothing big. I'm gonna go get juice. Do you want some?" She questioned, looking at me.

"I'll be the judge of whether it's a big deal or not," I murmured to myself before shaking my head at her who shrugged and wandered over to Mc in the kitchen.

I seated myself in the desk chair and leaned forward to rest my elbows on the desk by the Bluetooth keyboard. I typed Lex's password into the computer whilst Mc and Lex conversed about something in the background.

The screen loaded to reveal a folder named 'recent'. I clicked on it and waited for the files to load. Only a few files are in the folder.

What the fuck is Richy doing? I only saved him for him to give himself to the police. I leaned back in my chair, annoyed tapping my fingertips against the wood of the table, I clicked on the first one and prepared for the image to load onto all four computer screens. The first image loaded and it knocked the wind right out of my lungs. But it also made me laugh.

Because there, on four pretty wide HD screens, are low-quality yet still clear photos of Richy and Ikari. The person who ruined everything not only for me but Lexi too.

Photo number one is a blurred distant shot of two figures getting out of a black car.

Photo number two is a straight-up close-up of a laughing Ikari, looking as beautiful as ever by masking her snaky aura and a smirking Richy, standing by her and gripping her waist. What the hell is he doing with her?

Photo number three is another close-up, this time the shot shows Ikari rummaging through her branded purse.

Photo number four depicts a grinning Ikari sharing a cigarette with Richy who leaned against the car, letting the smoke drift out of his lips.

I thought you hated sharing cigarettes, Ikari. I cocked my head a little and allowed a disdainful smile to appear on my face as I was staring at the image.

Kinda emotionless, I exited the files and clicked out of the folder, displaying the computer's desktop. I ducked my head, letting go of my grip on the mouse and lifting my hands to my hair, running fingers through my dark strands whilst laughing softly.

"Hold on, Mc. JD?" Lex walked to me, noticing that I was finished looking through her computers. Mc stopped what she was saying and also stared at my hunched figure.

"What do you think?" Lex questioned quietly.

"I don't think anything," I tilted my head back against the chair and grinned widely, staring up at the light fixtures in the ceiling,

"What's there to think about? She went for a psycho and he fucking lied to my face!" I laughed loudly, gripping my hair in fists. I noticed Mc's concerned face but I just ignored it.

"Ja-" Lex looked startled.

"Oh, this is too godamn funny," Trying to pause my laughter for a second, I wiped a mere tear out of the corner of my eye.

"God, I need a drink," I muttered before chuckling again lightly. I stepped out from behind the table, staggering across the room, and grabbed my hoodie from off the sofa I wandered into the hallway. Leaving the apartment.

I didn't realize that tears were streaming down my cheeks as I laughed and laughed. I didn't realize, not until I was outside the building, staring up at the sky. I harshly wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my hoodie. I walked down the long road, forgetting about Mc and the stolen motorcycle, thinking only about how pathetic both of them are.

Before I met Mc. Ikari was my everything. I wasted a year for her, fucking got myself involved with the FBI because of her. But look at her, she goes missing for a year and then appears out of nowhere with him. Fucking Richy of all people. How could he do it? He was supposed to be in jail by now. What the hell I am supposed to do now?

Mc focus.

"Well, that didn't go too well," Lex murmured to herself as she washed Jace's empty bowl.

"What's wrong? Where's he going?" I questioned, alarmed because Jace has left. He left me in the hands of someone who looks nice and friendly but god knows what this small girl is capable of. I had only known her for what maybe half an hour? Jace may be my kidnapper but he's the only person I know in this place so I can't help but feel nervous sitting here in this desolate apartment with only Lex and her snake-like black wires.

"Don't worry, he's having his moment." Lexi turned off the tap and set the clean bowl on the dryer. She mumbled something under her breath, looking over at me for a second.

"Hey wanna come to do errands with me?"

"Errands?"

"Well, I can't leave you here alone. God knows what you'll do to my apartment." She joked lightly, pinching my arm playfully.

"How would you feel about going to a nightclub tonight, Mc?"

Jake focus.

A few hours later, I climbed back into the apartment with my eyes glazed and breath reeking of cigarettes. I have said I was going for a drink but an intense drinking session and an even more intense hangover were not what I needed right now. So instead of heading to the nearest bar, I went to the park and laid out on the too-small slide, looking up at the sky whilst smoking god knows how many cigarettes.

When I stepped inside and yelled out my usual call "hey cotton, I'm here!" in a gravelly tone, no one replied. I frowned and walked further into the studio apartment. No one was present. I fumbled for my phone, unlocking the device and searching through my contacts for Lex's number whilst looking through the bathroom and the two bedrooms she owned. I dialed her and waited for her to pick up.

Lex answered after few rings later but before I could question her and Mc's location, Lex briskly yelled into the receiver, cutting off me.

"Shit! Mc. You can't go around stealing people's drinks...Oh my god, Mc!" Lex laughed, sounding distant. I frowned, opening the laptop ready to hack their whereabouts.

"Hold on, okay?" Lex yelled at someone in the background over the loud thump of some bass-boosted song. "Hello? Jake?" The girl's voice sounded closer and much clearer now.

"Where the fuck is Mc?"

"Oh no." Her voice sounded distant again. "Mc, you can't do that!"

"Lex?"

"Sorry, oh my god. Mc is a fucking lightweight I did not think of this shit when I asked her to do errands with me-"

"What do you mean by errands?"

"It's just a small errand, don't worry. I had to give a USB stick to someone."

"I have no idea why you've taken Mc to a bar in the first place."

"It's a nightclub Jake, and calm down. She's totally fine! She's my new best friend!"

"Are you drunk?"

"Well, I'm at a nightclub. I won't be sober." She drawled in a bored tone. "You should come down here and have fun too!" Lex exclaimed brightly.

"I'm coming down there but not for fun, Lex. I'm coming to take you two back home." I muttered, slipping my socked feet into my boots.

"You're no fun. Fine, you can come to take Mc but I'm not going anywhere I am a big girl and I can handle myself." She suddenly giggled.

"You said the nightclub is called rain rays?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I'm on my way."

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

Text

Sorry Not Sorry

Ahhh my custom Duskwood tumbler came in!!! Im not even mad about the post office breaking the lid!

#duskwoodlover #customer tumbler #iykyk #x3kristax3 talks #happy happy

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

Note

As someone who has started a project and never posted with tons of new characters and a whole new world by myself. I feel you on that! Its such a large project that when you lose your flow on it, you sometimes can't get it back.

Not going to lie I hope to see something orginal from you. You are an amazing writer.

I know you’ve retired from the FF world, but I was curious about From Devil’s Grasp in particular and why that one had been abandoned. It was one of the more unique takes on things that I’d seen.

Hi Anon,

Sorry for the late response? Not sure, it's hard to tell and I've had a crazy week at work. 😅

That one is a perfect example while I had to retire. My busy life got in the way of me writing consistently and the long breaks meant I completely lost my flow. With that series in particular I needed my flow to keep writing. My series suffer when I start-stop constantly. Don't get me started on the other series where I lost my flow. 😅 Some of the elements that I was going to cover ended up in Unrecognisable anyway. Not all, but some. 🤐 From Devil's Grasp ended up being a way bigger beast than I could handle. Too much world and character building than I could take at the time. This is why I haven't written an original work... 😅

#still can't comment #get it together tumblr i want my account back

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

Text

Oh i love this!!!! Can i use with credit for a chapter idea I'm writing?

I can't comment or message otherwise I would have

@julesisreading before said about lack of attention to Dan x MC pairing. Well... I tried to do something 🙃

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

Text

So because there was a TIE! First comment is what I will write

New chapter of Eternal Love

Oneshot

#voting tie #duskwood writer #writing #duskwood fandom

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

Text

Help me pick what to work on next! Any questions on the brand new story just send me an ask!

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

Text

#polls #writing struggles #duskwoodlover #duskwood fanfiction #og story #duskwood oneshot

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x3kristax3 · 1 year

Text

Oh not where I was expecting this chapter.

Sorry not sorry for all the reblogs you all grt to see what i enjoy on here and don't always reblog because i can comment my love.

Who I am now?

Part seven.

Pairing: Jake x Mc.

Genre: Angst, comedy, dark romance.

Warnings: Strong language, angst scenes. 18+ content can be found.

Words: 7.6k

•

Mc focus.

"Fuck-I can't do this anymore!" Jace grunted as he unceremoniously dumped me onto the side of the road. His signature made me land on my butt, crying out in pain at the harsh impact of hard concrete against my swollen ankle, I leaned over to cradle my injury with shaky hands.

Jace instead of apologizing profusely like I wanted him to do, rakes a hand through his matted hair and mutters a few incomprehensible words to himself. I ignored the boy and ducked my head, inspecting my injured ankle with worry.

I want to be anywhere but here. I don't want to be with him anymore. I should've run away from him earlier when I had the chance.

I looked over at Jace at the last thought, glaring at the guy who stands there, swallowing large swigs of lukewarm water whilst wiping the beads of sweat collecting on his brow with the sleeve of his shirt.

Jake focus.

I bagged my water bottle whilst surveying my lack of unique surroundings. Absolutely nothing catch my eye, just endless fields of corn and the occasional creepy scarecrow would pop up in the distance.

Whilst performing some stretches to ease the heaviness of my tired arms, I looked back down at Mc who was glaring up at me from under her dark lashes.

"What?" I questioned blankly. I didn't have any niceness left in me after I almost died in the mine.

"Fuck you."

"Fuck you too, Mc," I replied, almost casually. I switched to my other arm and stretched my muscles, grimacing at the dull ache ebbing away at my joints.

"No, fuck you." I looked back down at her words. "I said it first." Mc spitted out defiantly, ignoring my raised eyebrows.

"Doesn't matter so fuck you." I pathetically retorted after a few seconds of trying and failing to come up with something smart.

"Fuck you, you annoying dickhead."

She muttered the "annoying dickhead" part.

But somehow I managed to hear her.

"What'd just call me?"

"I called you a dickhead." She said slowly drawing out the word "dickhead" as if I had never heard of the item before.

"Wh-"

"Sorry to interrupt your conversation but are you two okay? Do you need any help? You seemed to be injured."

Both of us stopped our childish bickering at once and craned our necks around to see an elderly woman sitting in the driver's seat of a small cherry-colored honda. Friendly hazel eyes stare back at us.

I blinked a few times at the car in front of me. It was nothing much, just a beat-up old car that doesn't quite reach my impeccable car standards, but it was a car. A vehicle. A way to travel around without having to personally carry my clumsy gir- Mc and test my strength.

I looked back at the driver, and an aged woman with a wide smile stared back at me. Her browned wrinkled skin and friendliness seemed to ooze right out of her beatific smile. Maybe she'll give us a ride into town?

Quickly hanging my previously bland facial expression to one with pity imprinted on my features. I started to lie...Ever again.

"Ah hi! Yes, uh, unfortunately, our car got stolen just a few minutes ago! My girlfriend here stupidly decided to run after the car but she slipped and sprained her ankle. It's pretty bad...She can't walk so I've been carrying her but it's starting to get strenuous for my arms and the weather isn't helping." I toned out, trying to sound as pitiful as I could.

I had to suppress the satisfied smile that started to grow on my face when the elderly woman smiled at me sympathetically, her ashy white eyebrows furrowing with pity.

"Oh my, what a good boyfriend you are! It's lovely to see you guys take care of each other." She rambled, looking to Mc. "Ah, and it's such pity about your car. Where were you headed to? I might be able to take you there."

Thank god.

I was about to answer the woman and thank her but suddenly Mc cut in.

"The police station, please." Mc pipes up from behind me, making my whole body stiffen.

"I'd like to report this dickhead for kidnap-"

"Oh, my poor baby." I gritted out with 'fake' care, turning and bending down on the concrete to come face to face with an annoyed Mc. Before she could comprehend what was happening, I wrapped my arm suffocatingly tight around Mc's thin frame.

"Say anything and the old lady gets it." I threatened in a whisper beside her ear. Immediately Mc's form become rigid in my arms.

"You can't kill her. She's innocent, she hasn't done anything!" Mc urgently whispered back with her hands flying to land on my forearm, digging her nails into me to make her point. Her former angry and annoyed demeanor is hastily replaced by one full of shock and worry.

Of course, I'm not gonna kill a defenseless old lady, because despite being the infamous hacker man, the number one most lethal anonymous gang leader, and a proud self-employed assassin. I had strict rules. I wasn't a gun-wielding maniac who'd kill and waste bullets on someone who annoyed me or who was in my way. I indeed had killed a few FBI agents who were after me for my defense. But I never touched civils. But Mc didn't know that, did she?

"Then I suggest you stay calm," I warned quietly before suddenly heightening my volume to a worried quiver, making sure the old woman would hear my distress.

"The sun's been making her crazy. She's been like this for the past half hour." I lied. Ever again.

"Oh dear, you better get in. I'll give you a ride to the next town. It's only a couple of minutes away." I looked over my shoulder at the elderly and forced my face to crumple up with fake gratitude.

"Thank you!"

Her wizened face instantly softened and I had to look away to not feel the protruding guilt creep in. I was, after all, tricking an elderly woman. I looked back at Mc.

"Come here my baby, let's get you up," I said forcefully cheerfully, slipping my arms under Mc's armpits and lifting her. Propping her up against my chest so her weight wasn't on her injured foot and she wouldn't fall over and cuss freely at me. I heard Mc murmur quietly.

"You told that truck driver, we were a couple and now you're saying the same again. Fuck you JD."

I rolled my eyes, ignoring Mc and looking over at granny who had climbed out of her seat to help open up the passenger door for me and Mc.

"I'm afraid there's only one seat, the backseats are all dirty and they're already taken by my bunnies." She said, holding open the car door with one hand whilst adjusting her oversized dress with the other.

"Bunnies?" I questioned, Mc, who was unwillingly leaning into me not to fall over, also looked over at the beaming woman with blankness in her big eyes.

"Yes my pretty bunnies." She waddled over to the backseat door and opened it, revealing three, maybe four different colors bunnies.

"Bunnies..." Mc sighed in disbelief. Still holding Mc up, I blinked my eyes also in disbelief.

"Mhm!" Granny hummed happily. "Bought these babies from the market, they were on sale. Half price, all of them! They'll make an excellent addition to my farm!" The elderly woman beamed, clearly pleased with her purchase.

"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that there's only one seat available at the front. You'll have to share the seat." Granny smiled at us.

"We'll share the seat at the front. Thank you." I muttered whilst shifting Mc in my hold. Although Mc was annoyed with me, she still silently allowed me to manhandle her into the embarrassing bridal-style hold again.

"Easy does it. watch out for her ankle. That looks nasty, sweetheart." The elderly hissed as she hovered around us worriedly.

"We'll be in the next town in no time, don't worry." She assured me with a bright smile when the two of us are safely seated. She slammed the car door shut and totter around the bonnet of the car to the driver's seat slowly.

I shifted under Mc. Trying to find a comfortable spot and feeling her body stiffen. She looked over her shoulder to come face to face with a suffocated-looking me. Her cheeks flushed light red and her eyes got wider.

"Am I sitting on your lap?"

"Yes." I sounded choked. Feeling her body pressed against me, made me feel things I didn't want to.

Mc flickered her eyes downwards and sure enough, she realized that she was perched atop my thighs.

"Oh my god, oh my fucking god," Mc repeated, with a low hiss.

"Please shut up this is equally awkward for me."

"No, it's not. It's worse for me because you're my kidnapper."

"Just shut up."

"Please get off me."

"You're on me."

"My fucking leg is practically dead, how am I supposed to move?"

"How am I supposed to move with you weighing me down with your damn ass?"

Her mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?"

"Are you both seated nicely? Yes? Good." Our arguing was once again stopped by the sound of the driver's door opening and the chirpy voice of the elderly. We just sat there, sulking and fidgeting awkwardly whilst the elderly climbed into her seat, groaning slightly at the creak of her stiff hips.

"I fucking hate this," I muttered lowly beside Mc's ear, my breath fanning over the back of her neck, causing her to shiver.

"Let's go cuties!" She cheered happily, starting up the engine.

Mc focus.

The drive to the next town was supposed to be short. It's only a five-ten minute drive to the nearest motel but to both me and Jace, the car ride felt like it was being dragged out for several hours. Jace was sitting on the actual seat, his back pressed right up against the worn leather and his arms are flat by his side refusing to touch me. I also tried to stay still and as far away as possible from Jace but it was hard to do when every speed bump equaled me getting pressed against his chest.

Why I am so damn unlucky? I prayed that the elderly driver would fucking notch the speed up to the actual speed limit and there wouldn't be any more speed bumps along the way.

Please hurry up and finish this drive already, I'm dying here. I whined mentally, shifting around the slightest bit on Jace's lap, feeling slight self-consciousness. The elderly don't seem to sense the awkward auras surrounding us, continuing to chatter about her farm, and kids. She even talked about possible names for her bunnies. We had practically learned all about the elderly life story in the small time we were in the car with her.

Thankfully, before the elderly could start her new story, the car pulled up outside the motel and Jace abruptly interrupted the senior.

"Oh, is this the place you recommended?" Jace questioned rhetorically. "We're here already? Thank you for everything you've done, you've helped us so much." He smiled forcefully. "We should go now-"

"Let me walk you guys in there. The owner's close to me, I might ask her to get you new clothes and good meals for a few days."

"That's not necessary, don't worry-"

"Quiet. Let's get your poor girlfriend some ice for her foot and food for your growling bellies.'

"Granny-"

"Let's go!" The overly happy woman grinned, pushing open her car's door and climbing out haphazardly.

"Oh my fucking god." I heard Jace breathe out, exasperated.

"The lady's just being nice. A little too nice though." I murmured the last bit.

"Yeah yeah, let's hurry up and get out here. I can smell the bunny's shit behind me." He rolled his eyes, carefully getting out of the car with me in his arms. Jace thanked the elderly for everything and walked me inside the room, breathing out heavily.

I silently studied the room the elderly had bagged for us. It's a cozy-looking room, the faded blue and white color scheme comforted me. A queen-sized bed donning white crisp sheets sits against a wall alongside two sets of plain drawers on either side. A single armchair and a chestnut brown coffee table are situated at the foot of the bed. There are doors set in the room's walls which lead to the toilet and to a tiny balcony where smaller potted plants reside.

I dragged my eyes downwards at the pot of steaming spicy soup which warmed my hands, I took a spoon, raised my eyes, and watched Jace in front of me eat with awe.

I've never seen anyone eat so fast. Jace was sitting hunched in a tasteful armchair across my bed, ravenously gulping down the contents of his soup pot, downing the food with large gulps of water. I paused halfway my slurping and mouthed a small 'o' as I watched on with fascination.

He must've felt my gaze on him because he looked up, snapping his glare at me, making me quickly look away. Jacxde sighed blankly questioning me. "what?"

I looked down at my untouched soup pot. I gazed back up to see an unimpressed Jace looking at me. I lifted my soup slowly, offering the pot to Jace.

"I'm not hungry." I hummed, motioning for Jace to take the noodles. Of course, I felt hungry inside but Jace was looking like he was hungry still. He looked surprised for a split second but quickly recovered himself, standing up to reach over and grab the still-hot soup pot.

"Don't complain later saying that you're hungry." He ordered, sitting back down in his seat.

"I won't," I mumbled, laying down and pressing my face against the soft pillow. Falling asleep almost instantly after the long day I'd had.

I'm hungry.

That is what I thought as soon as I woke up.

It's still dark, no light streams in through the small slit in the curtains, and the room is fully sheathed in black. Because of the aforementioned reason, I took a second to adjust my eyes to the darkness, blinking rapidly and trying to concentrate on the unknown objects in the room.

My eyes landed on the red glowing numbers of the tiny alarm clock sitting on the bedside table, I peered over to see the time.

1 am.

I furrowed my eyebrows, annoyed that my sleep was broken because I was hungry.

I'm pretty sure that the owner gave me an extra pot of soup. Sleepily I dragged my eyes over the room, trying to spot the spicy soup pot. For my luck, I spotted it almost immediately. The soup sat atop the slightly chipped coffee table, tempting me to get up. I wiped the sleep out of the corner of my eyes and planned to climb out of the bed, wander over to the coffee table and heat the soup. Just as I was about to move to get up, strong arms tugged my waist, pulling me closer to someone's chest. I froze looking down at the hand wrapped around my waist, which clutched at the front of my shirt, bunching the material up.

Horror burrows deep in my chest when I latched on to the feeling of two legs intertwined with my bare ones. Panic set into me.

What's going on? Whose legs are these? Who's hugging me? Oh my god, where am I again? Fuck, who's touching me?

"Mc, stop moving."

What the hell?

I forced myself to stay calm and not lose my shit, slowly craning my neck to look at the person who had uttered the single syllable: Mc.

My eyes landed on the face sleeping beside me. Focusing on the person's features. I spotted tufts of dark hair sticking up, an earring embedded into an ear, a small mole residing under his closed eye, the little scar under his eye, bare skin...That's Jace, right?

My already widened eyes widen a millimeter more as my pupils adjusted to a slightly fuzzy image of a sleeping and shirtless jungkook beside me.

Jace, my fucking kidnapper is cuddling and playing footsie with me. I screamed as soon as the thought hit back home.

Jace woke up with furrowed eyebrows, blinking slowly as he tried to find his surroundings and the source of the scream. He indeed found his surroundings soon when his eyes landed on my face. His icy blue eyes widen slowly as the realization sets in.

"Fucking hell-" He yelped loudly when he administered my closeness and our current position. He immediately loosened his hold around my waist to scramble away from me. I quickly did the same, forcefully trying to disentangle my limbs from Jace's with haste. I was thankfully successful, quickly pulling away from the twisted bedsheets and Jace, but after doing it with such force, I fling myself off my side of the bed, toppling backward with a loud crash, dragging the bedside table and sheets down with me.

"What the hell?" Jace questioned as he hastily climbed off the bed, acting as if the bed was a pit of scathing hot lava and not just a squeaky mattress. He regained himself and stand on his side of the bed, breathing hard as he raked a hand through his tousled bed hair.

"Oh, my god." I gasped out loudly, laying there on the room carpet, attempting to calm the freaked-out myself, I started to count from 1 to 10.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh my god!" I repeated louder.

"What are you doing?" Jace repeated with a low tone.

"What are you doing?" I retorted, scrabbling to my feet and pushing the surprisingly light bedside table aside. I jumped up, pointing accusatory fingers at Jace whilst shrouding myself in the bedsheets as if the paper-thin blanket could protect me from him.

"What?" Jace glared at me.

"What!" I yelled at him throwing a cushion at him.

"Wha-"

"If you told me we were sharing a bed, I would've fucking slept on the floor!"

"I didn't wanna share a bed I was gonna sleep on the couch because of your stupid ankle!"

"First of all my ankle is not stupid! Second of all if that's the case then why are you sleeping beside me?!"

"I was too tired after carrying you all day, so I must've just blacked out and fell on the bed. Not a fucking big deal!"

"Not a big deal? You were freaking hugging me, you asshole!"

"I wasn't fucking hugging you, get outta your imagination first."

"You had your arms around me and you were playing with my feet!"

"There's no way that I did that. Shut the hell up."

"Yes, you did! You called me by my name too!"

Jake focus.

I lost the angered tone and the rising volume of my words. Shock filled my body.

"I called you?"

"Mhm, you did!" Mc grunted, gripping the blanket wrapped tightly around her.

"Oh." My voice went flat, I raked a hand through my hair again. My dark locks fell over my blank eyes. Mc continued wildly flinging accusations at me but I just ignored her, looking into space with a lump in my throat.

Fucking hell, I called her in my dream and hugged her. What the fuck, Jake? She doesn't know who you are, what the hell are you doing?

I subconsciously raised a hand to my mouth, enclosing my lips around my index nail and nibbling on it whilst thinking deeply.

Of course, I had to fuck this up when she was this close to me. It took me months to realize that whatever Thomas had said was true. I never deserved her. I never deserved to appear in her fucking life. But here I am. Masking my identity to just be close to her. I have to act like she's nothing in my life so I could let go of her.

A pillow to the face wakes me up from my mental debate the impact startling me the slightest bit and causing me to break away from my thoughts and look at Mc.

Mc focus.

Irritated I stood on the opposite side of the bed, arms crossed over my chest and a frown teetering on my face. My stance is crooked, most likely because my ankle was sprained but that doesn't stop me from impatiently and awkwardly tapping my foot against the carpet.

"If you apologize right now, I won't include this scene when I will file a report to the lawsuit." I stated, glaring at him.

"Sorry," Jace muttered, half out of it.

I blinked my eyes slowly. "That was easier than I thought. Wow." I cleared my throat, crossing my arms.

"But I still refuse to sleep in the same bed as you."

"Fine. Take the bed." Jace murmured now completely out of it. I stared at him surprised, he silently reached into the back pocket of his jeans to retrieve a squashed packet of his cigarettes he'd forgotten to pull off his jeans and change into something comfier earlier.

He uncapped the packet, pulling a thin cigarette out before silently turning his back on me to walk towards the room's balcony. With a particularly harsh yank on Jace's end, the rusted balcony door opened and he exited leaving me to stand there beside the bed, slightly limping and engulfed in layers of blanket.

What the hell happened to him?

"Rise and shine!" I am awoken to sharp bangs on the room door and the shrill voice of someone outside, probably the voice of the owner.

I yawned, laying in bed for a couple of minutes, half-heartedly mustering the will to get up, and eventually with another yawn, I sat up in bed and stretched my limbs. I scanned the room, looking for any signs of Jace but I couldn't find the guy anywhere. He's not sleeping on the cramped couch and he's not on the balcony smoking his cigarettes. So he must've left to go somewhere. I rubbed my eyes sleepily.

Thank god, I don't wanna see him after what happened last night, I shuddered remembering the strange feeling of Jace's arms wrapped around my waist. Shaking my head and pushing any thoughts of Jace out of my mind, I scratched my head and slide off the bed, gingerly landing on my left foot to see the condition of my swollen ankle.

The swelling and the bruising's gone down considerably, thanks to the ice pack and the hours of rest I received so I can manage walking with a limp. I limped over to the bathroom door, tugging the door open, careful not to yank the door into my chest and knock myself out or something like that.

The room was sparkling white and clean. The floor and toilet seat look useable and the walls are painted a nice shade of grey. The only thing littering the tiled floor is a soft bath mat. I rubbed my toes into the individual strands and enjoyed the softness.

I sighed happily when I spotted the shower. I need to take one. Catching the sight of myself in the bathroom mirror, I scrunched my nose in disgust at the dirt-smeared shirt and the salty scent of sweat that lingers around my upper body.

Padding over to the shower, I eagerly stripped my clothes and stand under warm water, cleaning the dirt that surrounded me with body washes and massaging my head with shampoo. Feeling a relaxing feeling rushing through my body I gazed at the window, thinking about using it to escape and run away, but remembering the last time I tried to escape using a window I was stuck on a mini roof for half an hour.

Sighing I edged to the left of the bathtub slightly. Feeling my foot curl around the moist shower curtain, I squirmed trying to unravel the curtain off of my ankle. I tugged my ankle away a little too hard and ended up slipping on the little water pooling on the floor. Falling backward, and ripping the shower curtain down with me.

"Fuckity! My back." I groaned loudly, pain erupting in my back from colliding with the bathtub. The string of curses leaves my mouth as I tried to get the material off of me but it covered my face and I felt like being suffocated. All I can see and feel is a cream-colored shower curtain and wet material slapping my cheeks.

Suddenly, the shower curtain lifts off of my face and I stop moving my body, blinking blankly when the curtain moved out of my vision, allowing me to see again. Immediately I noticed Jace towering above me, glowering at me.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Well...I showered and spilled?" I quickly mumbled, looking away hurriedly and covering my body with the curtain cloth.

"What?" Jace starts but shakes his head, changing his words, he mutters out a quiet "Whatever" under his breath and outstretches a hand in my direction.

I visibly flinched and scooted away from his hand, regarding him warily and pulling my knees to my chest, hugging myself protectively whilst keeping an eye on Jace for any sudden movements.

"What?" Jace repeats, exasperated.

"You might do more than hug me now. God knows you freaky asshole." I narrowed my eyes at him, clutching my hands on the curtain material.

Jake focus.

My eyes narrow into thin slits when Mc mentioned the word 'freaky asshole' the single words triggered the dark memories made last night, to flow through my mind again.

"I'm not gonna do anything, last night was an accident. I thought you were someone else. I apologize for that but I did not intend to do anything else with you." I hissed, giving her a look. "And I don't intend to do it now either, so can we please ignore last night and forget about what happened?" I questioned. Mc opened her mouth to reply but I cut in without listening to her words.

"Okay, thank you."

"But-"

"Now that we've discussed last night-"

"We didn't discuss-"

"-You should probably change into the new clothes instead of laying there naked. Yea?" I cleared my throat, turning my gaze away from her.

"Here, I went out and got a bunch of shit for you to use. Toothbrush, clothes, etc. You have ten minutes. Change." I ordered tersely whilst impatiently waiting for her to take the plastic bag from my hands. She looked up and only then she noticed the plain plastic bag in my hand. Without another word, she took the plastic bag after giving me a warning look.

Once she took the plastic bag I turned on the balls of my feet and walked briskly towards the bathroom door.

"Hurry up. The owner is sending up breakfast for us and if you're not quick enough, I'll eat yours," I yelled over my shoulder before slamming the door shut, leaving Mc alone once again.

After coming back from the balcony after smoking I realized Mc wasn't done yet. I pinched the bridge of my nose feeling annoyed inside.

"Hey, Mc if you're not out of the bathroom in 2 seconds, I'm gonna eat your breakfast," I called out, sitting down on the armchair and crossing my arms. I heard her quickly pad over to the bathroom door, bare feet smacking the polished tiles, a fleeting thought passes through his head, a thought that he forces out of his head as quickly as it had entered. Remembering her helpless laying on the bathroom floor with wet hair dropping on her shoulders.

Fuck...I don't know for how long I'll be able to fake it all.

Mc focus.

The strong scent of toast overwhelmed me as soon as I stepped out of the bathroom, my eyes immediately drifted over to the source of the smell, stomach growling already at the sight of food.

Breakfast food is placed on the coffee table. Glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice perfectly browned toast with tiny butter and jam spread, homemade choc chip muffins, and croissants tempt me to walk right over and plonk myself by the coffee table. But I immediately stopped myself when I noticed Jace across the room, sitting hunched in the armchair, busy studying a map.

Jace not looking up, distractedly mutter out a "help yourself" to me. Without a word, I seated myself on the edge of the bed, reaching over for one of the still-warm muffins. Whilst casually shaking a towel through my damp hair, I spotted something else among the breakfast items. A worn-looking tv remote sit desolate and forgotten.

Discarding the towel in my hand and taking a huge bite out of a homemade muffin, I leaned over and took the thin device in my hand. The tv looks outdated, like something from the 90s, and I'm not sure if the tv will even turn on. Nevertheless, I fiddled with the buttons and eventually managed to turn the television on. The screen immediately shows a pinstripe suit-clad man sitting behind a desk, holding a stack of meaningless papers that he sifts through before suddenly announcing my name.

"Mc, the girl who helped the police to solve the case with her friends..." I stopped chewing when I heard my name. I straightened my back and listened closely. "Is still missing. Family members are distraught about their daughter's disappearance and refuse to comment on the situation-"

Feeling sick all of a sudden, I set the muffin down on the coffee table and reached over for the orange juice, my mouth requires liquid to appease the dry scratchy feeling residing in the back of my throat. I quickly gulped down the juice whilst listening in on the newsman's report, my whole attention was completely focused on the old tv model.

Jake focus.

I frowned at the map in front of my eyes. I can't seem to figure out the safest and easiest way to get both, me and Mc, across the city without having the police and FBI on our tails. I leaned back against the armchair and heaved a sigh, running a hand through my already messy hair

I tried to focus on the different lines on the paper map spread out on my lap. But half me was listening in to the drone of the newsman reporting Mc's disappearance. I leaned forward and uncapped a red marker, scratching an x on the outskirts of the duskwood where we were currently, and placed another cross at our final destination. A destination that would surely take days to arrive at. Considering the circumstances.

A faint buzz from my phone 6 me of a message, the screen lighting up. Causing me to divert my attention to the device, completely forgetting about the map. I unlocked my phone and tapped on the message notification from Nymos, waiting for the messages to load.

N: I saw the news, Jake.

N: What the fuck were you doing in a love motel room with her?

N: The FBI is just one step behind you because of these slip-ups. Jake when I told you to take it easy I meant it. Don't change your plan just because you're getting softer.

J: Nothing happened, don't worry.

N: You're not feeling sorry, are you?

J: No.

N: Maybe you should back out of this.

N: It's not too late for you to reveal everything.

J: Stop worrying.

N: If you say so, brother.

J: :)

N: How's the situation? How's Mc?

J: I had to ditch the car because the cops were on to us. And probably the FBI too. They're hot on my heels. I might need your help to trick them into my fake whereabouts.

N: Fine. I'll see what I can do. Take care, bro. Logging off now.

I was about to reply to Nymos but the sound of someone sniffling made me pause. I lifted my head to see Mc sniffling, sitting there on the bed. I watched little saltwater gather at the corner of her eyes whilst praying to the heavens above to not make her cry.

"Stop crying, Mc."

"I can't." She chokes out, holding her gaze on the tv.

My eyes flit back to the map laid out on my lap. I studied the thick yellow lines passing through duskwood with newfound concentration, with eyebrows furrowed, I murmured out a half-hearted "That's nice."

"You're meant to ask me why I can't stop crying!" Mc sniffed, incredulous at the lack of concern.

I dragged my eyes upwards from the map and stared hard at Mc for a few seconds before rolling my eyes and mumbling the words.

"And why can't you stop crying?"

"I just can't! My friends are worried. I can't imagine how Jessy is doing. And me...I should be escaping, but I can't escape because you're sitting right here. Can't you go outside to smoke for a second and let me attempt to run away?" She bawled, wiping her upcoming tears and silently staring at me.

"You know I can't let you do that." I braced myself, shifting my gaze away quickly. I can't even look at her eyes anymore.

Without saying anything she turned away from me and flopped onto her side, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to her chest. I watched her with an unimpressed raised eyebrow. I know you're not weak Mc. You're just putting the show so the kidnapper would let you go. But I know the real you.

Time goes by and I find myself fully absorbed into the map, planning out a route for me and Mc to take. Fat red lines cover the paper map's surface, indicating fast pathways, roads, and motorways.

I occasionally looked up to check on Mc but she had pretty much stayed in the same spot as before. Curled up on the bed with a pillow on her chest. She watched the movie blankly. With disappointment visible on her face.

Mc was walking around the motel room lifelessly. She lifelessly picked up items and lifelessly put items back down and then started up a lifeless round of walking across the room and back.

I hated to see her like this, but...

Mc focus.

Jace had left earlier, saying he'd be back soon with lunch. I had only replied with a soft sigh and said nothing else to him.

Now alone, I was sitting where Jace had sat just ten minutes ago. The leather armchair was cool against my skin. I reached over for the map laid out on the coffee table, grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl. I slowly studied Jace's messy annotations with narrow eyes.

Where is he taking me now?

I surveyed the black-inked scrawls decorating the flimsy paper. I found where we currently are with the help of a thick red cross marking the area. A black line follows a road from the red cross to an unidentifiable place. The words

"Get a car from River here." Was written in tiny script.

River? Who's he? What is this place? I was trying to think, scrutinizing the intricate lines and dots covering the map. Unable to figure out where we were headed or read Jace's ineligible handwriting. I placed the map back on the table and peeled the banana, sighing heavily.

Somehow three hours had passed by.

In the three hours that passed by, Jace and I had both stayed quiet and just ate fried rice. After our much-appreciated meal, I went back to watching tv listlessly and Jace went back to heavily annotating his poor map.

Jake focus.

"Stop screaming! Listen to me. I'm coming your way and need a car. Can you arrange one? Good. I'll see you." After a few busy phone calls to one of my friends and more annotations on the map, I breathed out a heavy sigh and folded the map up carefully slotting the folded paper into my backpack. I leaned back and rummaged inside my jacket pocket, reaching in for my cigarettes.

That's travel arrangements and the route is done, I thought to myself. Resting my head against the brown leather armchair. I found the lighter and moved it to light up my cigarette, eager to lose the stress and tension that clung to my head.

Now the only worry is if Mc will follow the plan and not fuck it up. That and the dozen police officers that seem to be stationed at every fucking road in this stupid town, making it easier for the FBI to track me down. I pressed the cigarette to my lips and inhaled the burning scent that already lingered around the thin tube in my hands. Opening my mouth I let out the almost weightless cigarette sit between my lips. I breathed in thinking about her again. Where is she?

I turned my head slowly to the balcony where the angered clouds look like they were taking over the world, spreading out far and wide over the town and past it and all the whilst teeming with water threatening to drench whoever was out on the streets. I wondered when the first drop will fall.

I was about to look away but a movement on the far side of the balcony caught my attention. I focused my gaze on the figure that was leaning on the balcony railing, cheek placed in the palm of her tiny left hand. I watched Mc start to pick at the paint peeling on the railing whilst blowing out small clouds of smoke from my lips, slowly getting up.

Mc focus.

I peeled at the tough white paint layering the balcony railing I was leaning against and threw the little white shreds over the balcony, watching the peels flutter and cascade down to the grey concrete down below.

I want to go home.

I sighed, stopping peeling off more paint. I suddenly felt very sick. Just the thought of Jessy getting sick worried about my disappearance, Dan trying to hold his shit together, Lilly getting flashbacks of fear because of her sister and now me. Hannah...Well, we weren't that close. I wasn't her friend, just someone who had helped her and she did show a lot of gratitude for that. Cleo is probably trying to stay positive and Thomas is well...I don't think he is thinking about my disappearance too much, because he has to take care of Hannah first.

"It's raining." Someone mumbled behind me in a quiet rasp. The prominent scent of cigarettes filled and overwhelmed my senses. I looked up and sure enough, the clouds had finally burst and now a steady drizzle falls the town's buildings and concrete grounds, streaking the grey concrete with a light splash of water.

"Come on," Jace hummed from behind. I looked over my shoulder to see Jace walk around our shared room, making a way for the front door where he slipped his feet into a pair of boots. He looked back up at me and waited expectantly for me to move.

I reluctantly moved away from the balcony and padded into the room with slightly wet flip-flops sticking to the wooden flooring. I dragged my eyes upward to see Jace expertly pulling off his hoodie whilst juggling with his lit cigarette. He pulled the hoodie off and without mentioning anything, he threw the garment at me.

"Wear it." Jace muttered as he took a long drag of his cigarette. He held it in for a few calming seconds, before releasing the smoke, exhaling slowly.

"Unless you wanna catch a cold." Jace turned around and unlocked the room door with his set of keys and pushed open the door.

"Hurry up." He called over his shoulder as he walked through the doorway and out. I felt a little confused. I forced my arms and head through the holes of Jace's hoodie and tugged the item on as I attempted to walk through the open doorway with the hoodie obscuring my vision. I managed to get out after stubbing my toes a couple of times on the door and finally tugging the clothing piece over my head.

With my flip flops thwacking against the staircase's polished floor, I struggled to bound after Jace with his fast-paced marching and me with still healing sprained ankle. I sighed heavily, spotting Jace crossing the empty lobby towards the entrance. He yanked the door open and stood by the open doorway, waiting for me once again. Rain poured in through the doorway.

"Where are we going now?" I breathed out after moving so much in just under a minute.

"Nowhere," Jace replied bluntly as he leaned against the front door, staring at me.

"Then what are we doing here?"

"We are." He started but then paused to tap the ash growing at one end of his cigarette, onto the floor.

"Going to do number one on your bucket list. Dance in the fucking rain, Mc."

He's going to let me do my bucket list? I blinked my eyes slowly.

"Oh- I'm not really in the mood to dance." I trailed off.

"Just go out there and dance around a little. Stop looking so dead, you're making me feel depressed."

"How am I supposed to be lively when I'm being held fucking captive?" I muttered under my breath as I passed by Jace. I stepped out, my sandalled feet squelched under a puddle. Pretty much an empty car park puddles are filling up potholes in the tarmac and a drain in the road nearby gurgles. Everything is pretty much a horrible shade of grey.

I was met by a spray of rainwater, the thin drizzle just about okay to stand under. But even so, I shivered and clutched my forearms. I looked back at Jace who stood by the doorframe, casually taking in lengthy dregs of smoke into his lungs.

I looked out at the barely used car park. This isn't what I expected-when I meant dancing in the rain, I meant dancing around in heavy downpours in the middle of somewhere that isn't a damn car park. I meant dancing with Jake. I wasn't intending on dancing alone in a freaking parking lot. I turned around and limped back towards Jace.

Jake focus.

"What happened?" I asked upon seeing Mc wander back inside.

"It's awkward to move around with my sprained ankle. Can't move around much." She mumbled out pathetically.

I stubbed out my cigarette by letting it drop to the floor, crushing it underfoot, and grinding the remainder of the cigarette into the carpet.

"I don't do this bucket list shit with just anyone so be grateful and make the most of it," I grunted, taking Mc's hand into my grip and tugging her to motion her to move outside.

"Hey-" Mc nearly tripped over the doormat when I hurriedly dragged her out to shut the door behind us.

Rainwater rained down on our faces and clothes, soaking us as we walked to the center of the parking lot. Once there, I stood there facing Mc whilst staring into her eyes

"Dance."

"I told you, I can't-

"Shut up and make the most of it. Use me as a stand and dance around holding my hand."

"But-"

"No buts. You wanted to do this, didn't you?"

"Yeah, bu-"

"Great, now dance."

I sighed. I was desperate for this.

"Let me help you out then."

I took her other hand and pushed her away causing Mc to hurtle backward unsteadily but my grip stayed on her hands as I pulled her back to my chest.

Mc focus.

I was shocked at Jace's movements. I let myself fall onto his white t-shirt-clad chest weakly. I felt my right arm raise into the air with the help of Jace. He moved away from me before I could process what was going on. He performed a quick series of spins, spinning me around crazily on the spot.

The world is a blur before my eyes. A blank shade of grey with hints of color beneath the asphalt color. I can feel tiny raindrops drive into my skin and soak my clothes, making my hideous shorts stick to my legs. Despite the horrible feeling of wet clothes, wet hair, the dull ache resonating in my ankle, and the weird feeling arising knowing that Jace was in a way dancing with me. I enjoyed being spun around and flung crazily to the beat of the rainfall. It's different from the dancing I usually do back home.

So despite everything and my previously depressed and homesick state, I threw my head back as he was spinning me and laughed. I was freaking laughing when Jace was spinning me. I stared at the sky letting the raindrops fall on my face.

Jace focus.

When Mc laughed, when she softly but surely laughed, I was caught off guard. I was not expecting that. Nevertheless, her laugh was making me smile.

I stopped the spinning for a second when Mc nearly tripped and landed on her face, laughing. I held her hands whilst trying to mask my small smile.

"You said you normally don't do bucket lists with anyone..." Mc breathed out, widely smiling. "Why exactly are you doing this with me?"

I thought for a second before spinning her again. "Because you're different, Mc."

"Different?" Mc queried in between breathy laughs as I kept spinning her around.

I coughed, looking at her beautiful smile.

"Shut up Mc just enjoy the favor - don't question it."

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