Chapter Text
”Are you really sure you want to go visit John and Jane?”
It had long stopped being surprising when Jade popped up behind Jake out of what could only be nowhere. They had lived together on the island alone for years, after all. Little idiosyncrasies like that were just normal. “They are offering to put both of us up for a few weeks,” he pointed out as he packed. “John would so love to see both of his cousins, the lovely chap.”
”Yeah, but...” Jade gnawed on her lower lip. “I need to be able to feed Bec. I wish you wouldn't go either.”
Jake laughed, turning to her. “I’ll be fine.” He sobered for a moment, looking deep into her shimmering green eyes. “Jade, do you know something I don’t?” It happened often enough that he would believe she would have foreknowledge of events to occur.
She paused for a moment, staring at the colorful bands on her fingers as if it was a chore to remember, then shook her head. “Just a feeling. Be careful, okay?” Jade smiled at him, and stepped away.
It stopped being surprising years ago for Jade to suddenly disappear as well. Jade was just... Jade. His cousin could just move like that. Ever since their grandpop had left them alone on the island as children, they had learned to survive. One of those things had been Jade’s ability to move around like that. Apparently it helped her find food for them and her animal, Becquerel. He had... never actually met Becquerel. But all the meat she brought back was being consumed much quicker than he could eat, and he was certain a lass like Jade couldn’t eat like a growing boy like himself.
Jake realized he was staring at one of his shirts as if it was the most interesting thing in the room. Grandpop would be ashamed to know how distracted he was! He didn’t leave them for Jake to have his head so far in the clouds. He started to fold the shirt, packing it away and reaching for more pants.
Oh, he would need to speed this up! The plane they had managed to land at their island would be here soon and wouldn’t stay for long. Jake started throwing clothes into the suitcase, then paused. His pistols. Of course they had to come with him. But from what John had told him, they didn’t seem too keen on firearms. Or at least, firearms being carried openly. Was it legal? That wasn’t something he actually knew. He had to figure out what to do with them. Leaving them in his bag was a bad idea, as anyone could find them and he knew enough not to let one undisciplined in gun safety just handle one without him around. But there was no way he could keep them on his person.
Perhaps his uncle would have a resolution to this quandary. For right now, his pistols went into his bag, and everything zipped up nice and tidy. There. Everything was fine.
”Hey.” Jade hugged him from the side, having popped in randomly again. “I really really hope you have a good time. Say hi to everyone for me!”
Her words gave him new strength, and he shifted so he could hug her back. “I will. Thank you, Jade.” he mumbled into her black hair.
That made her giggle. “Oh, your ride’s here. Go have fun!”
When he pulled away, she looked rather tired, but she had been running around the entire island like usual in that way only she could. “You get some sleep,” he instructed her. “And I’ll be home before you know it.”
”I know.”
Jake didn’t doubt she knew.
But goodness golly gracious, everyone in Washington was so nice!
Maybe he did put out a bit of little lost lamb vibes, as the city was nothing like he expected it to be. It was so big, for one. But every time he needed to ask for help, anyone who was in a bad mood seemed to instantly turn it around as soon as they saw the lost look on his face. It was the reason he had a ride now to his uncle’s and meet his other family for the first time. He was so excited! Such an adventure!
The ride was in silence once Jake realized his babble of words weren’t being responded to. From there, he just sipped the sugary pop and nibbled on the snack he had managed to get despite not quite having enough. The clerk was so kind, seeing the look on his face and covering it for him. He never knew people over in the States were so nice. From what he had heard from John and Jane, they sounded like right bastards.
The car came to a stop, and Jake looked up. A house stood before them, which... was probably his uncle’s? Yes, the number matched. “Well, I supposed I should thank you,” he said as he turned to the woman giving him a ride. “You were too kind to give a-”
Jake’s words cut off in his throat as the woman looked at him, unbuckling her seatbelt. She looked like she was acting on some kind of autopilot, like- no, no, this was too strange. Jake fumbled with his clasp, throwing his door open once his seatbelt was unbuckled and tumbled ungracefully to the driveway, snacks raining down around him and his suitcase landing next to his left arm.
”Ow.”
For a moment, nothing happened. Then an arm reached out, grabbed the car door, and pulled it shut. Jake backpedaled as he heard the car change gears to reverse, and watched the woman drive away very quickly.
What just happened?
No matter. He was at his destination. And he had taken long enough. Everyone must be worried sick about him being so late! With that in mind, Jake brushed off his snacks and picked up his suitcase.
Time to meet the family!
John was such a breath of a fresh air. And his taste in movies- he thought he wouldn’t find anyone else with such a taste! And Jade teased him for his taste in movies. Jane was... always working. John was a little younger than they were, and had school to keep him busy for now. Jane had a job that kept her away during the night and had her sleeping late into the day. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it had to do with life. Protecting life. Or something like that. He was awaiting a day off since he had heard she tended to bake then, and her confections were to die for.
And now they were out of that wonderfully sugary pop. John groaned, pawing through his wallet. “I’ll see if Dad’s home and can get us some more pop,” he told Jake, putting his wallet away.
”No need. I’ll get us more.” He smiled at John as he got up. “Pause the movie and I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”
John giggled at that, pausing the moving just at the right time to show off Nicholas Cage’s face. “You have the weirdest phrases,” he informed him. “And are you sure? Do you have enough money?”
Jake ignored the first part and just smiled. “Of course I do! You just sit there and I’ll be right back.”
Jake did not have enough money. That was obvious when he stood there with a two-liter and tried to pay for his purchase. But when he looked up at the cashier, he seemed to take pity on him as soon as they locked eyes and rung it through. “It’s on me,” he told him, his voice a bit... strange.
”Oh come on, man!” A man from behind him stomped forward, slamming a six pack of beer on the counter. “That means I get this for free too, right?”
”No way. Pay up.”
Jake had enough of a sense to start to leave, catching only the barest hint of the rant the other man started. For some reason, people were really nice... to him. But why? Why were they so... nice to him alone? Was it because they knew he was new and wanted to make him feel at home?
He hadn’t taken a ride since the one he had when he first arrived. It still stuck on his mind, how the woman looked at him. Jake shuddered a little, the pop cold and wet in his arms. What would she have done? And... why did he have a feeling he wanted- needed it?
It made no sense. He shook his head, trying to clear it. He need to stop thinking about it. It was something he couldn’t change. Something that had happened and wouldn’t happen again. Everything would be perfectly fine from here-
The thought was interrupted by a feeling crashing into him. Just this need. This urge that made him lick his lips, something that felt outside of him but filled him so neatly. He had to see where it was from. Jake’s feet turned to the direction he needed to go, his mouth half open. Yes, it was down this alley. He could feel it.
And then-
His boot landed on something that squished.
Dazed, Jake looked down. It was red. Red liquid. Red... blood?!
His heart now in his throat, Jake snapped his gaze up. What was going on? Why had he stepped in blood? What- oh god that was a body with its entire torso opened up. Bile rose as he took a few steps backwards, holding tightly onto the pop. What... why? What killed this person and why? He couldn’t even discern gender at this point, it was so torn apart. It was...
Something moved in the shadows. Jake reflexively moved to pull his gun, cursing softly when he realized he had left them back at his uncle’s. Open carry was frowned upon. Apparently it was allowed, but people were a little twitchy when he actually did so that one time. And he wasn’t anything if polite.
Which was going to come back to bite him, he realized as that something came out of the shadows, taking a bite out of... oh that was a heart. That something was a person eating a heart.
”You shouldn’t be here,” the person - the male person - chuckled. Blood smeared his white chin almost comically. “I don’t know why you are, but it could be lucky for me. Two meals in one day.”
”I- I am not a meal,” Jake told him, his voice firming on the last few words. “What did you do to this poor person? What-”
Before he could say more, the man blurred into motion, slamming Jake against the wall with his free hand. “Pretty brave of you,” he said. Jake looked up at him, breathing heavily, trying to look past the pointed sunglasses. “But you’ve...”
Slowly, the man’s hands went slack, the heart landing on the ground. He stood there, wavering on his feet as he stared at Jake, then... started to lean in, his lips parted.
”NO! Leave- leave me alone!”
The man paused, just standing there, and Jake pushed him back. He stumbled back easily, and Jake started to run. Whatever that was- he didn’t want to be eaten. Or killed. Or whatever had happened there. He just-
It wasn’t until he was leaning against his uncle’s door that he realized he was still holding onto the bottle of pop with a death grip.