Jeb lay still on the bed, staring into the ceiling as the fan creaked-endlessly. When he shut his eyes-the world changed.
The flashing images of corpses repeated relentlessly. Their intestines spilled like paint on the concrete floor. Their bodies gnawed upon. Violent and monster-like screams resonated through.
His eyes snapped open.
He swallowed hard and closed his eyes again.
The images flashed again and again, no matter how he tried to not see it again. Jeb grabbed the bedsheet gripping it tightly. He grunted quietly.
Why won't this stop?!
The door produced a tired, humanlike sound
A hand grabbed the wall as the person let herself into the room.
It was Jessica.
She closed the door behind her isolating the only source of light into the room. Jeb pushed himself from the bed as he squinted her eyes trying to see her clearly.
"Can't sleep?"
Jeb recognized the voice as he softened his gaze. Jessica sat beside Jeb as he crossed his legs.
"Yeah."
Jessica didn't answer right away. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her gaze fixed on the darkened floor.
"Sleep doesn't come after this." She continued "But try to stay strong...don't lose yourself."
Jeb exhaled quietly.
"I am trying."
"That's good."
Neither of them spoke for a while. The fan creaked above them and then it slowly stopped-the sound growing quieter.
Jessica stood up and walked over the window, the curtain slapping against her face.
"When I try to sleep, they come."
Jeb paused for a while then continued.
"I see corpses of people and I hear them."
Jessica's posture becomes stiff as she digs her fingers into her palm.
"It slowly fades but not completely."
Jeb looks at her,
"that's not comforting."
Jessica glances at him and gives a faint, tired smile.
"I don't know how to comfort."
She turns around and goes for the door. The door closes behind her.
Jeb looks at his hands and mumbles to himself.
###
The sweet and tangy aroma spreads around the room as faint traces of smoke float around. The annoying man is seen chugging another bottle down as he makes a loud and satisfied cry.
He turns towards the sky and lights another cigarette as a ash tray lays beside him.
Thud!
The slamming sound of something alerts him but he doesn't care and indulges in his desires.
Jessica covers her mouth in disgust as she flinches at the sight of empty bottles of rum and whiskey.
The smell hit her immediately-the bitter smell of ash and smoke. She carefully treads around carefully avoiding bottles.
"What the fuck?!"
The man doesn't look at her. He shakes the last remaining bit of alcohol in the bottle as he spits the cigar in the ash tray.
"You're gonna clean this!"
"Alright! relaaax."
He gets from the kitchen counter part lighting another cigarette skillfully as the fame briefly illuminates his face-unreadable and hollow.
"What is your purpose?"
Jessica's expression darkens as her jaw tightens.
"What do you mean?"
The man looks at her puzzlingly furrowing his brows-but too late.
"You were watching the boy."
Her tone was sharp and demanding authority. The man looks at the ceiling dismissively.
"hmm...smart, so what?"
He glances at Jessica-smiling at her.
Her gaze hardens as she takes a step closer.
"Don't touch him."
The man leans in closer. His alcohol and smoke filled breath directly hitting her face. This causes Jessica to flinch, her posture leaning back.
"If he poses a threat-"
"He is a kid."
Before he could finish Jessica interrupts. she clenches her fists tightly. Her eyes widens causing red vessels of blood in her sclera becoming visible.
The man stares at Jessica, his gaze hiding deeper meaning.
"Don't let the boy get ahead of himself."
The man walks wobbling to the side frequently.
Jessica grunts as her gaze narrows.
###
The red rays of the rising sun hits Jeb causing his facial features to glow.
His shoulder-length black hair spreads around in the bed, covering his naturally tanned and young face.
Jeb groans as a indistinct voice rings in his ear.
"Jeb. Jeb!. Jeb!!!"
The high-pitched voice wakes him abruptly causing him to twitch in his half-woken state. He grunts angrily as tells the voice to shut up.
It was Amy.
She flinches greatly not expecting Jeb to get angry. Her expression saddens as she grips the blanket.
"Oh...Sorry"
Jeb's eyes contracts as he finally realizes it was Amy that he screamed at. His angriness fades as his gaze softens.
"It's okay, Ms. Jessica told me to wake you up"
Jeb pauses as he remembers what the man said yesterday. He frantically gets up, falling down due to his legs being tangled in the blanket.
Amy tries to say something but Jeb had left the room already. Her eyes sinks down as she walks toward the bed, folding the blanket.
The man hummed a song as he danced to the tune snapping his knuckles as he imitated some dance moves.
He notices Jeb as he stops humming. He gazes toward the boy walking towards him, his cyan flipflops slapping lazily against the floor.
"Sleepy fellow, huh?"
The man laughs hysterically as he puts his hand over the wall.
Jeb unconsciously steps back as he holds his breath.
"get ready, we're leaving."
Jessica's voice cuts through the uneasy atmosphere as Jeb lets out a sigh.
"To the Force?"
"Yes, they want statements."
Jessica walks towards him as water drips from her hands.
"What statements?"
Jeb asks confused as he scratches his head.
"You will be a witness and give statements."
"And then?"
Jessica takes a towel from the sofa as she dries her her hand.
"You will be registered as a rookie Unnatural."
"What happens to Amy?"
"She will remain at the living quarters at one of the branches."
"Will I be far from her?"
"It is not sure."
Jeb's gaze tightens as his breath becomes fast. The air around him ripples lightly. His jaw tightens.
The man glances at Jeb as he plays around with his lighter.
"I will not go then. I will stay with my sister."
He looks Jessica directly in the eyes as air around him start to vibrate.
"Calm down. You have to go."
Jeb scoffs slightly as he steps closer.
"I will not become registered if I can't stay with my sister."
Jessica pauses for a while as she falls into thought.
"What if this disaster happens again?"
Jeb flinches as he grits his teeth.
"Then-"
"When you have no power to prevent the disaster...
"Will you curse The Force or yourself?"
Jeb's eyes widen as he struggles to find anything to say.
Jessica put her hands over Jeb's shoulders.
"You have two choices: become strong in order to save Amy and prevent the disaster or whine and curse when this happens again."