Two Sides of The Moon - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

-Jack-
I had to leave. I had to run as fast as I could and never look back. No... I needed to die. I had no place in this world, and the shadows... The shadows...! I could feel them waking up. Their time had come. They'd spread now from the new cracks in my soul.
I begged my body to move. I pleaded for my legs to pick me up from the floor and start moving. I had to leave. This was not my home. It would never be my home. It was just a dream. A fantastic dream I could never have.
No one would ever want me here. No one would welcome someone like me with open arms.
No one would ever love me.
I stood up, gasping for air and trying to wipe the tears away so I could see, but I was weak. I was so incredibly weak. And the pain in my heart, in my soul...
I had to leave. I had to die.
I turned around and was immediately grabbed by a strong hand.
"Stay strong," he said. The nameless god.
His features were ageless, but I immediately realized I had met him before. He'd been there when Arch's parents told me to leave at the Great Hall.
I just stared at him. How could I stay strong when I had nothing left to even live for?
"Kill me," I whispered. "I can't..."
"Yes, you can," he said in a weird voice. He stared at me with something even odder in his yellow eyes. "You will stay strong," he added in a whisper.
He, too, was on the verge of tears.
"I can't," I said again, shivering in my pain, exhaustion, and fear. "I want to die. They're getting out."
"I am not losing you, Jack," he said. "Stay strong just a little while longer, okay? For me?"
I shook my head. "It's too late..."
"It's not. Just a few more seconds. I beg you," he said, now holding me by both of my shoulders. "You are stronger than this."
"I can't do it. Let me die. I'll infect them all."
"No, you won't. They want you to think that way. You don't understand how important it is for them that you let the shadows take you," he spoke. "But you will stop it."
The pain grew worse, so did the infestation. I started to believe I was going to die anyway. The pain in my soul was too much.
"I promise, just wait," he said. "Just a couple of seconds."
"It won't stop..."
"Two seconds," he whispered. "One second."
He disappeared when the door behind him flew open, and Arch stood there with a panicky look in his eyes.
"Jack!" he hurried to me.
And pulled me into his arms.
"What the fuck happened here...?" he breathed out, his hold on me still growing tighter. "What is this...? Who did this?!"
"I..." I lost my ability to speak.
"Whoever did this, they will pay for it," he murmured in my ear in an angry voice, but somehow, it soothed me. "What the fucking hell is wrong with people?"
And the pain subsided... Little by little.
"I... Don't..." I muttered, resting my head on his shoulder. "I think..."
That group. Those teenage bullies. I could smell them all over my home. My beautiful, destroyed home...
Why did they hate me so much? Why would they...
"I'm so stupid," I breathed out when I understood why.
"This is not your fault, Jack," Arch said, pushing me back so he could see my face. "You did nothing to deserve this!"
"That's not what I mean," I hurried to explain. "Arch. There are people who are still possessed in this territory!"
"What? But... How? Are you sure?" he asked, his face turning even more worried.
"There's a group of guys... I thought I could feel their hate, but I felt the shadows in them! Oh, my fucking god, how did I not see that!" I stepped away from him and turned to look at my home.
I could still feel their shadows lingering in my home. I had been possessed for so long! I should've known better!
"Jack," Arch said, grabbing my arm again. "Are you sure?"
I stopped to stare at him. "You don't believe me."
"I do," he said sternly, lowering his voice like he feared we were being listened to. "But that means our protections are down. We're in danger."
"They wanted me," I muttered, turning my attention to the infestation in my soul. It was... Not calm, but... It was trapped again. Thank god. "I think they tried to crush me so the infestation could spread."
"That's not good," he said, yanking my arm so I'd follow him to the door. "We need to go to Rayleigh."
We did get out of the door, and reached my gate, but it turned out someone already had alerted Rayleigh. His car came to a screeching halt at the top of the pathway leading down to my cabin, and when he got out of the car, he was joined by several people from the highest ranks. Aurora was with them, and when she spotted me, she rushed past the rest of them to get to me first.
"We were told you were attacked!" she said, looking just as worried as Arch had as she grabbed me by my shoulders and checked me for injuries.
"I'm fine – but there are possessed people in your territory," I told her. "We need to find them fast!"
"Are you sure?" she asked when Rayleigh ran down to us with his betas and Alphas from the allied packs.
"I could feel them," I told her.
"Do you know who they are?" Rayleigh asked with a furious frown.
"I... I don't know... There's this group of young men... It's them. They've tried to scare me before. You can still find their scent in my cabin," I explained, and Ryder and Ezra hurried past us to investigate.
"The same group from earlier today?" one of the Alpha's asked. "I saw you at the shopping street – you said something about getting off on the wrong foot?"
"That's the same one," I said with a hasty nod. "I could feel the shadows in them, but I didn't understand it until now."
Rayleigh turned to his men and started giving orders. Arch and Aurora stayed right next to me as we listened to him. Well, I forgot to actually listen as I stared at the Alpha of the Blue Moon. He... believed me? Just like that? None of them questioned my words.
"After we find the possessed ones, we need to find out why our protections failed. We were told there's not a single possessed person in our lands," Rayleigh spoke after Ryder and Ezra had returned to him.
"The rest of the Walkers are already on their way," said a short lady with a guardian spirit by her side. "We will check the wards thoroughly."
"Good. This needs to be dealt with immediately. We need to find every single shadow there is," Rayleigh said, commanding the rest of them to get moving. Once it was just the four of us, Arch, Aurora, the Alpha, and me, they all turned their attention to me.
"Are you all right, son?" Rayleigh asked.
"I'm fine... It's my..." I trailed off, not daring to look back at my home.
I could still smell the destruction inside of it.
"Wait here," Rayleigh ordered, and walked up to my house.
I carefully peered over my shoulder, the sadness and misery and helplessness nearly swallowing me on the spot.
My home...
I had to look away. I stared at the snow at my feet, trying to stay strong just like I was told, but... it was my home... That one place I really liked. That one place where I'd felt safe. Like I belonged.
But now... I couldn't even look at it without breaking apart.
"We'll fix everything," Aurora promised in a gentle voice. "Why don't you come with us for now?"
I nodded, mostly because I needed to get out of there.
"Ray? I'm taking Jack with me," Aurora shouted at her leader.
"Keep him safe," was the Alpha's order.
I took one last glance at him standing in my doorway, his back turned on us as he studied the destruction in silence.
"Always," Aurora said, nudging my shoulder to make me follow her. "Arch, too."
Aurora made sure I didn't stray away from her side as we walked. Arch stayed right next to me, peering over his shoulder. I stared mostly at the ground as we walked, trying to... Trying to keep myself together. The shadows in me were angry, and I feared that one wrong thought would set them free.
But keeping my head empty wasn't an easy task. Keeping the negative thoughts away was even harder. The images of my ruined home kept appearing, and every time I felt a painful jolt in my soul.
Why me...?
"Here we are," Aurora suddenly said, and I stopped to look up.
I assumed it was her home, another log cabin under the trees. It looked friendly and welcoming, but I could only think of running away. My soul couldn't take much more kindness. I was deadly afraid it would only turn into another heartache.
"I'll make you a cup of hot chocolate, okay?" Aurora spoke.
I nodded, but still couldn't take a step closer to her house.
"Jack...?" Arch spoke my name softly. "Everything is all right."
I hadn't even realized I was silently crying. I tried to hide it and get a grip, but I was too shaken. Too weak.
"Come – let's get you inside," Aurora said, trying to reach for my hand, but I stepped back.
And immediately bumped into someone. I sprung around, nearly in panic, only to be met with yellow eyes.
"I'll stay here to guard the house," the god said, bowing his head a little.
"It's you again," Aurora spoke. "Thank you for alerting us."
The god only nodded, keeping his eyes on me. "Stay strong," he whispered.
"You're not Blue Moon," Aurora continued speaking. "I don't think I've heard your name before."
The god glanced at her briefly. "I am Fenrir," he spoke, looking back at me again. "Of Valhalla."
There was a short pause of silence in the yard.
"You're a... You're a god," Aurora spoke in surprise.
"These goddamn gods just keep popping up," Arch muttered, sounding almost frustrated.
"Fenrir..." I repeated, feeling shivers running down my spine. "What about your cover? They were not supposed to know."
"I don't give a damn anymore," he said in a dangerous voice. "They dared to attack you again. I'll be damned if I let that happen for the third time."
"Why would you care...?" I asked before I could stop myself. I didn't want to sound so whiny in front of him.
"I will not lose you," he said, touching my arm gently. "You are my chosen champion. It's my task to protect you until you have recovered."
"Where were you when he got possessed?" Arch asked, keeping his voice polite, but there was certain sharpness in it.
"Locked away, just like the rest of us," Fenrir said. "Our enemy made us watch while they took our sons and daughters, but we are now here to take back those who belong to us."
"I'm your chosen champion?" I muttered, almost laughing at the thought.
"As you have been for hundreds of years," he said.
I could only stare at him. "Hundreds of years? But... What?"
"Your soul is old, older than most," Fenrir said. His smile was kind when he pushed me gently to Arch and Aurora. "But for now, go inside and rest. Your soul was damaged, but not beyond repair."
"How am I supposed to even start fixing it?" I asked quietly, wiping my face dry.
"A cup of hot chocolate is a good start," he said. "I'll protect this house with Valhalla by my side. The enemy underestimated your strength, and their plan is now ruined. We will find the possessed ones and set them free. You won this battle for us."
"I did nothing," I muttered.
"You did everything," he said, nodding his head towards the house. "Rest now."
"Come," Aurora said with a smile, and Arch placed his hand on my back. They both waited until I had taken the first two steps to the door, then followed me.
When I peered over my shoulder, Fenrir had turned into a massive gray wolf and lay down at the bottom of the stairs. Was he really going to just stay there?
I felt Arch's hand on my shoulder, and I turned to look at him.
"You need to rest," he said quietly, the gleam of worry and fear still in his eyes.
"I'm fine," I muttered, but I knew neither of them believed me – not after seeing me cry.
Aurora opened the door and stepped in. She turned around to make sure I was still following, and once both Arch and I were both inside, she closed and locked the door. I stopped to look around in the small hallway. I could already tell her house was nice and cozy. A real home. An actual home full of life...
I had to close my eyes for a second. I wanted to break down, but I had to stay strong.
I had to...
The tears were already forming in my eyes. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stay strong. I just couldn't...
"Everything is all right," Arch murmured, his hand still resting on my side.
I shook my head. I wanted to say nothing was all right, but I was unable to speak a word. The emotions took control of me... and I broke down.
I was so tired of everything. I was too damn tired to even try anymore. I wanted it all to end. I didn't want to die, but if my fate was to keep suffering, I didn't want to live. For a brief second, I'd let myself dream, only to get crushed again.
"I got you..." Arch whispered in my ear. "I'll protect you. You'll be all right..."
I barely understood he was holding me tightly. I didn't care. I didn't care about anything anymore. I just wanted...
I just wanted...
"Let it all out..." Arch whispered.
I didn't know how long I cried. I was so tired it felt like I would never be able to gain any strength back. But, as the time slowly passed us by, I started feeling a little bit calmer. A little bit stronger. It became easier to breathe. My soul didn't hurt so much.
It was easier to not think about my home, and focus more on the strong shoulder that was now soaked with my tears. When I opened my eyes, I could only see a glimpse of his green jacket before I closed them again. For a moment, I was ashamed for bursting out like that, but the truth was, I was too damn tired to care.
I just wanted to... I just wanted...
Arch suddenly hugged me tighter. I was getting increasingly aware of just how tightly he was holding me. And how desperately I was holding onto the back of his jacket. I'd never even touched him before...
I breathed out just to take in his scent, my body relaxing. I carefully let myself remember the image of my home, and this time, I didn't feel so weak anymore. The house itself was fine, after all. I didn't even have much stuff... I shivered when I thought about it, but the fear didn't have such a strong hold on me anymore.
"So... Hot chocolate?" I murmured against his shoulder.
"There's no rush," Arch replied softly.
I nodded, but lifted my head up, anyway. Aurora was still standing there, wiping her own cheeks dry. She gave me a shivering smile.
"I'll go make some," she promised, her voice heavy. "It'll make you feel better."
I nodded again, and little by little, I let go of Arch clothes. He didn't let go of me.
"I could sit down," I told him.
"Oh, right... Sorry..." he mumbled and so, so very reluctantly, he let go of me.
I didn't step away from him just yet. I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to step away from him. Then, slowly, I looked up at him. His eyes were red, too.
"I..." What could I say?
"Come – let's go sit down while we wait," Arch said, resting his hand on my back again.
I followed him into the living room, where we sat down on the couch. I looked around a bit and noticed that the Ackley's home was decorated pretty much the same as mine – obviously, since most of the stuff clearly came from here. I liked it. It was... soothing. I looked out the window and saw Fenrir still in the same spot at the bottom of the stairs.
"I..." I tried again, but I still had no words.
"It's all right," Arch said when I didn't continue, carefully taking my hand in his.
I nodded and looked down at our hands. The shadows had fallen silent inside me.
My soul was already healing.