53. Jack
FIFTY-THREE
JACK
Someone was humming. It was soft and sweet.
The melody was one Jack had never heard before, but he knew he was safe.
Opening his eyes, he found himself in the bed he slept in the past few nights in the mayor’s mansion.
Light streamed through the open window. His body felt like he was hit by a mage-powered locomotive.
Wincing, he reached a hand to his head, where most of the throbbing originated.
“Careful; Abigail took a long time cleaning you up and dressing your wounds.”
Jack looked at the foot of the bed, where Elizabeth sat slowly rocking herself in a chair.
“Elizabeth, what—what happened?”
“After Abigail killed our father, you passed out.”
“Elizabeth, I’m so sorry about your father. I?—”
“He was a bad man, Jack. Of course I’m sad, but the end of his life meant that other innocent people would be spared. Hopefully, with the mental abilities I have from the experiments done on me in the laboratory, I can do some good to right his wrongs.”
“You’re the subject that they wrote about in the journal?” He looked at the fiery-haired girl in disbelief. “The girl they found?”
“Yeah, it’s hazy and comes and goes, but it would mean a lot if we can keep this between us for now. There are a lot of crazy people out there. Who knows what they would do if they knew.”
“Sure.” Jack’s head pounded now not only from the injury sustained but with the realization of who and what Elizabeth really was. “Aareth and Sloan— are they?”
“They’re in as bad a shape as you, but they’re alive.” Elizabeth rose from her chair. “Come on now, let’s not be lazy. Get out of bed and get ready. I’m sure my sister would like to see you.”
Elizabeth left the room. Jack gingerly got out of bed and maneuvered into his clothes.
His garments were clean and folded for him at the edge of the bed.
With every step, his body ached. With time, Jack managed to dress and head downstairs.
Aareth was waiting for him. The tall man wore a sling around his shoulder and right arm.
Multiple bruises and cuts ran across his smiling face as he saw Jack come down the stairs.
“Glad to see you walking.”
“Glad to be able to walk. How’s the arm?”
“Don’t know. The town doctor said he’s never seen a bite like this. It came with a raging fever for the first few hours. I thought I was going to burn from the inside out, but now it’s healing strangely fast.”
“Sloan, is she?—”
“Sloan’s already out meeting with the town and appointing new officials to get the city back on track. You would think a knife wound in her thigh, one deep enough to put her in crutches, would stop that woman. She’s still at it. She wants to leave for New Hope tomorrow, crutches and all.”
Jack nodded, immediately regretting the action as the throbbing in his head worsened.
“Jack,” Aareth said in a low tone. “I wanted to say that you did the right thing when you let Elijah live. That’s something I wouldn’t have been strong enough to do. Your father was a great man and I know he’s proud.”
“Thanks, Aareth. It wasn’t easy.”
Aareth was about to open his mouth, when the door opened and Abigail let Sloan inside. The captain was wearing her uniform with a wrapped left leg and a nasty bruise on her right temple.
“Jack, good to see you’re up and ready. We’re leaving tomorrow bright and early. The sooner we get to New Hope, the better. I have a feeling the events here are the beginning of something much larger.”
“How are you feeling?” Abigail made her way to Jack’s side. “Your head doesn’t hurt too much, does it?”
“Oh, he’s fine,” Elizabeth chimed in as she walked down the spiral staircase with a suitcase in hand. “Are we ready? I packed Aareth’s and Sloan’s stuff.”
“You what?” Aareth asked, surprised.
“Well, Elizabeth, we’re not leaving until tomorrow.” Sloan noticed Jack’s bewildered expression. “I should probably let you know, Jack, that Abigail and Elizabeth are coming with us to New Hope.”
Jack was about to ask how that had come to pass, when Sloan addressed the inspector. “Come on, Aareth, I can use your help getting the town back to running properly. We have a lot of work still to do this afternoon. We have to make sure Burrow Den is in the hands of the right people.”
“Come on, Red.” Aareth massaged his shoulder with a wince. “Let’s leave these two alone. You can help us talk crazy to some people.”
“My name is not ‘red’ and I’m not crazy. I’m eccentric.” Even with the exchange between the two, Elizabeth dropped the bags. She skipped out of the room, following Sloan and Aareth.
The door closed behind them. Jack and Abigail were left alone.
“Thank you.” Jack turned to Abigail, searching for the right thing to say. “I’m sure there are better words to fit the moment. All I have is thank you. Thank you for saving me at the cost to your own family.”
“I cried all last night and even some this morning.” Abigail swallowed hard.
“I know the hurting will be there, but I have a peace that I did the right thing. Of course, I have some wonderful memories with my father, but over the last few years and especially the last few months, he hasn’t been the same man I knew and loved.
I’m not sure if that makes any sense at all. ”
“It does make sense.” Jack placed a hand on her slender shoulder.
“I’m going to have to come to grips with my own father’s death soon.
I still half expect him to walk through the front door or call me from upstairs.
It still doesn’t seem real. In the next few days, weeks, and months, I’m sure it will. ”
“Well, we’ll have each other now.” Abigail took Jack by surprise as she stepped forward and nestled against his chest.
Jack let himself relax in her embrace as he rested a cheek on the top of her head. Her hair smelt like vanilla and spice.
“How did you manage to talk Sloan into you coming with us anyway?” Jack couldn’t help but ask. “I mean, not that I’m anything but happy to hear the news. Sloan isn’t the easiest person to befriend.”
Abigail pulled away from Jack’s embrace.
She gave him a smile, warming him from the inside out.
“I think the captain has a heart in there somewhere. After everything that has happened here, I talked her into taking me and my sister to New Hope. I told her we could help during the travel process—with the three of you barely standing and all.”
“Smart. Playing the helpful card.”
“I can’t wait to go, Jack, to see the world outside of Burrow Den, to leave all of this behind.”
“Ahhheeemm.” Jack coughed.
“And to be able to go with you, of course,” Abigail said, rolling her eyes.
“I’m glad you’re coming. Maybe dealing with our fathers’ deaths will be easier with someone to talk to, who can relate.”
“I know it will, Jack. Besides, I made a promise to your father that I plan on keeping.”