Back at Jimmy's place—
"I never told anyone this before, but…" Jimmy said, his tone suddenly different—lower, almost hesitant.
Jake looked over, half-joking, half-curious.
"What is it, man? Don't tell me you're a demon too." He chuckled.
Jimmy didn't crack a smile.
He just stared ahead for a second.
"…You know how you've never met my old man?."
Jake's smirk faded.
"Yeah… you've mentioned him, said he was always on expeditions, never really around"
Jimmy nodded slowly.
"Yeah, but this weren't normal expeditions, he was on a hunt, always said a great evil will rise again in our world and he was gonna be the one to stop it."
Jake leaned in. "Wait—what?"
Jimmy's jaw tightened.
"It's why my mum left him, and I moved in with her. He was paranoid, but a part of me believed him and still does."
Jake sat back slowly, processing.
"So you're saying… your dad believed some kind of evil was coming back? Like, real evil?"
Jimmy nodded. "He called it The Rise. Said it wouldn't come from hell or space—but from within. People. Said 'he' would emerge from us."
Jake frowned. "Damn… that's freaky."
"I know, bro," Jimmy said quietly.
"But think about it—would a man really abandon his family, his whole life… for something he wasn't sure of?"
Jake stood, tension building in his voice.
"So, putting two and two together… we're saying Sarah might be this evil?"
Jimmy nodded slowly.
"Or the evil's emerging from her."
Jake ran a hand through his hair.
"Okay, okay… so what now? We contact an expert? Your dad?"
Jimmy exhaled sharply.
"If he's even alive."
Jake turned to him. "What'd you mean?"
Jimmy held his gaze.
"I haven't seen the man in years. My mom wouldn't let me near him when I was a kid. He showed up maybe twice after we moved… then nothing. It's like he just forgot we existed."
"Guess we've got that in common," Jake said with a small smile. "My mom—remember?"
Jimmy let out a short chuckle. "Oh yeah. How could I forget?"
"Anyway, let's leave the lost parents to their adventures—they're out there doing their thing," Jake said, waving it off.
He glanced at Jimmy. "How's Mama J doing, by the way?"
"She's good," Jimmy replied with a shrug. "A little too busy lately, but she's aight."
Jake nodded. "Good to hear."
He stood, the weight of everything creeping back in.
Grabbing his jacket from the armrest, he headed for the door.
"I'm going back."
Jimmy stood too. "To Sarah's?"
"Yeah," Jake said. "I left her alone in that state… I need to make sure she's okay."
Jimmy hesitated, then reached for his keys.
"Then I'm coming with you."
Jake smirked faintly.
"That'd be asking too much. Just… try to figure something out. We'll talk tomorrow."
He stepped out into the night—uncertain, but ready.
Back at the house—
Sarah sat on the floor, legs crossed, arms wrapped around herself.
She stared at the box from across the room.
She'd shoved it under the bed, but it felt like it was watching her.
"Nope," she muttered, standing up. "Not doing this."
She turned away—
"There's so much happening at once, The pack. Jake. Catherine. Now this." She thought, pacing. "I don't know where to start" she muttered.
She faced the mirror across the room.
Her hair was a mess, mascara streaked down her cheeks.
The faint outline of the mark lingered on her arm.
"Am I losing it?" she whispered to her reflection.
Needing a distraction, she stepped out of the room and headed to the living room.
Collapsed onto the couch. Turned on the TV.
But the sound barely registered.
I'm so screwed… she thought, burying her face in her hands.
That's when it happened—again.
Her arm lit up. A soft glow beneath the skin.
Then—a knock on the door.
"Sarah?" Jake's voice called from outside.
"Damn it… I left my keys," he muttered, patting his pockets.
Sarah froze.
"Shit. He's back. And so's the pain"
"I gotta get out of here," Sarah muttered, standing up instinctively. Her eyes flicked toward the back door.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Sarah, open up!" Jake's voice came from outside, louder now. "Are you in there? Is everything okay?"
Her arm pulsed again, the glow spreading faintly beneath her skin.
"No. No, no, no—"
She stepped back from the parlour, heart pounding in her chest.
Jake paused, feeling the silence on the other side of the door.
"Don't tell me..."
His heart skipped.
"Is… is she—?"
"Sarah?" Jake called again, softer this time. "Please say something."
Inside, Sarah's breath quickened as the glow crawled up her wrist.
"Not again."
Jake pressed his ear to the door.
Silence.
"I can't!" Sarah yelled, clutching her arms tightly.
Jake frowned, stepping closer to the door.
"What the hell? Open up, Sarah."
His voice held more confusion than anger—but the worry was rising.
Sarah backed against the wall, breath ragged.
"I said I can't!" she screamed, her voice cracking—raw, desperate.
Jake's jaw tightened.
Confusion gave way to frustration.
Then—bang!—he kicked the door open without hesitation.
"Sarah!" he barked. "What the hell is—"
He took a cautious step closer.
"Sarah… talk to me."
"Please," she cried out, trembling, clutching her arms like they were burning.
"Stay away from me. Stay away!"
She stumbled backward, the glow intensifying.
"To hell with that," Jake said, his voice low and rough. "I'm not just gonna walk away while you're in here falling apart."
He took another slow step forward.
"I don't care how bad it is. I don't care if you're the vessel of some demon or whatever the hell this is. I'm not leaving you."
His eyes stayed locked on hers.
"You don't get to push me away just because it hurts."
A breath.
"We're in this together, Sarah. That's what it means to be family. We watch each other's backs—no matter what."
Sarah's eyes welled up, her voice trembling.
"Jake, it's not—"
BLACK OUT.
Suddenly, she was back in that place.
The darkness. The voices.
The four shadowed figures stood in a circle, cloaks rustling like whispers in windless air.
"His Luna… she shall be the key."
This time—they looked directly at her.
Not like a vision.
Like they saw her.
Her breath caught.
Flash—
Jake's voice broke through.
"Hey. You still with me?"
He was close now, crotched beside her.
Sarah blinked hard. Her arms—no longer burning. No glow. Just skin.
She was back.
Her eyes found Jake's—wide, worried, unwavering.
She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Jake… what were you even saying earlier? A demon? Really?"
Jake looked down, a little embarrassed.
"I mean… it's complicated."
She shook her head softly, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Thank you."
He looked up.
"Thank you for having my back—that speech... it really meant a lot. It was just what I needed."
Jake's voice was low. Honest.
"It's nothing. I just… I couldn't walk away from you."
Sarah smiled faintly—then leaned in and kissed him.
Soft. Quick. But full of everything she hadn't said.