Jack looked toward the multicolored crystal.
It's not broken, is it?
He slowly walked toward the crystal while holding his breath.
I'll just place it back and no one will notice.
Crouching down, he looked at the crystal that was slightly shining despite the darker interior.
How did that damn cat even get in here?
Moving his hand to touch the crystal, he slowly felt a strange pressure and chill in his hands that increased the more his hands approached. His hands touched and went through the crystal.
"AGHHHH!!"
From his hands toward his lungs and eventually across all his body, he began to feel an incredible pressure that came from all directions at once, along with it an intense sense of foreboding. His breathing increased and sweat began to pour out.
He tried to move his hands away from the rapidly shrinking crystal. They felt as if they moved while the hands themselves stood in the same place.
The sound felt distant and muffled. The world began to warp near the edges of Jack's vision.
Eventually the crystal dissipated. The black box felt as if it was on the other side of the room and not next to him. Jack's knees gave in completely, causing him to fall on the ground and convulse. The edges of his pupils began to warp.
Dam.. t. Wh.. r. I. (Damn it, where am I?)
Jack's attempts to make a thought failed. His attempts to retreat back failed as his body was no longer responding to his commands.
M.. y Hea...rt (My heart)
Jack attempted to make a single coherent thought.
h..rts s.. much! (Hurts so much!)
The moment the thought was finished, the pain in his heart felt even greater.
"Aghh..!" He let out a small sound in his pain. He had sweated so much that the ground had a small puddle.
An..y-Wh...ere is fi.. ne, ple..ase n..ot th..e he..ar..t. (Anywhere is fine, please not the heart.)
I do..n't wa..nna d..ie. (I don't wanna die.)
His semi-coherent thought had some effect, causing the pain in the heart and nearby lung to be moved all over his body, allowing him some form of ease. Now he began to do the same for his head. He inhaled as deep as he could but only his left lung felt it.
I.. Want the.. Pain in.. Head! To move..Down!(I want the pain in the head to move down!)
Slowly the pressure, pain and confusion in his head was moved down in his body toward his stomach area.
It felt like a burning line was carving its way through his torso. His spine felt like it was constantly being twisted and his nerves felt like they were being ripped.
"Nghh..!"
His body attempted to resist this process with all its might. It was a fight between his mind, body and this strange pressure.
Eventually his head became clearer, allowing at least his thoughts to flow normally. His eyes no longer warped and returned to the normal hazel color they originally were. He was still in pain, and his head was filled with a sense of impending doom.
"J ACK!"
The muffled voice of Aldric was heard from toward the door. He sounded as if he had witnessed a murder.
Moving toward Jack, Aldric began to inspect his friend who was lying face first on the floor. Placing his hand on his forehead, he looked around and stayed looking at Jack for a few more seconds.
Bren, who was outside, quickly rushed in.
"What happened?"
Aldric looked at him and threw the key at him before carrying Jack on his shoulder.
"Bren! You stay here and deal with this mess."
Seeing Aldric move toward the door, Bren asked in a panic.
"Where are you going with him? Let me help!"
Aldric yelled at him and pointed with his left hand, the one also holding Jack.
"You stay here and make sure nobody finds out what happened here."
He then took a deep breath through his mouth.
"I'll take Jack to the Salvation Camp."
Bren opened his mouth to speak but stopped for a moment. By that time Aldric was already out in the streets.
Bren took three fingers and tapped them on his forehead, speaking quietly.
"..May God be with you."
. . .
While being carried between the buildings, Jack slowly closed his eyes to focus. He had already made some sense of the basic rule of this pressure.
It could be controlled and moved only if the thought had intent, was coherent enough, and was finished.
Now that he had gained control over his head, he clenched his teeth and began to think.
Pressure.. From the Lungs. Toward stomach!
He began to cough violently for a few moments before stopping.
"Jack! Are you alright? Can you hear me?"
Aldric asked Jack while still moving toward the Salvation Camp.
His eyes still closed, Jack began to inhale deeply.
"Yeah.."
He only replied in one word. His focus was on dealing with the pressure. He was barely maintaining consciousness. He felt that if he lost it, he would die.
Same as before, he began to form thoughts. Now they began to be more and more coherent as his vitals were no longer threatened. Eventually all the pressure was centered in his stomach, which in turn began to visibly warp. Luckily Aldric was too focused on reaching the Camp to notice.
Pressure. Move toward right kidney.
With the same burning and stabbing sensation the immense amount of pressure was slowly moved toward his kidney.
Pressure. Stay in kidney. Don't spread.
The pressure seemed to compress, making the surrounding pressure feel like it had a clear border. Finishing this thought, Jack felt that even if he lost consciousness now he wouldn't die. The pain was still there.
Feeling that he was out of danger, Jack slowly began to drift into sleep.