Jack started to feel the chill of the ascended darkness, but decided to remain outside. If they didn’t think he was ready to fight, he is just going to have to prove it. He returned to his previous spot on the roof of the diner, from there he swore he could see the curvature of the earth.
Memory hid herself under the sanctuary of her blanket, she was frozen. Laying stiff in her bed not entirely sure how to feel. Her fingernails dug into her palms out of frustration and she squeezed her eyes shut tight. She opened her eyes and stared into nothingness, there she laid until exhaustion finally took over her and she collapsed into a dream of anywhere but here.
Over the next few days Jack had taken to sitting on the roof, looking out for trouble and surveying the immediate area. Memory visited often to bring him water, Frank made the roof his new smoking spot to keep Jack company, “Do you think Jack is okay?” Frank asked Memory as she was refilling an empty water bottle, Memory tried to avoid talking about Jack, she was still shell-shocked. From feeling so many emotions and not knowing how to express them, only just increased her hard exterior. She whipped her head around to look over her shoulder “Has he said other wise?” Frank was thrown off by this comment clearly not expecting her tone, he shook his head meekly. Memory snapped her head back to concentrating on filling up more water bottles, “Here, let me take a few of them up to him” Frank offered trying to warm up the chip on her shoulder. He picked up 3 filled water bottles and walked away from the ever silent Memory.
Jack had entered a daze, his eyes fixated on the end of the road in which the Trans-am drives down whenever there is a transmission. Just in case, just perhaps something may come this way. He wondered what was beyond the zones, he wondered what all this was about, and what could he d- “H2O ATTACK!” Frank whilst laughing poured a bottle of water over his head flattening his usual quiff. Jack panicked and pulled his gun out as he whipped around to face the ‘threat’ “FUCK YOU!” Jack screamed instantly. Frank jumped back slightly shocked by Jacks reactions, instantly Jack put his gun down, “Sorry man, I was … concentrating, out of it” Frank threw the bottle cap at him giving him a warning look. Frank sat down and leaned on the ‘E’ of the Diner, “You need to chill out” Jack shoved his gun back into his back pocket and wandered around kicking stuff. Taking a swig of water he asked “give me a fag then?” Franks eyes widened, eyebrows raised he stuttered out “d-d- I-I- Didn’t know y-you were…” Jack looked towards Frank eagerly then made a clicking noise with his tounge, “I meant a cigarette! It’s a British thing” Frank still looked at him with the same bewildered look. All of a sudden Frank burst out into laughter as Jack looked confused, “Like fuck Foxy, your sister would ghost me without thinking” Jack’s face dropped as he wandered a little. He picked up the empty water bottle and built up his strength and threw it full force from the roof with an audible grunt, “Violet, fucking Violet-“ “AY!” Frank pointed towards Jack with glaring eyes, “She thinks she can do whatever. The. Fuck. She wants, so why can’t I?! Why can’t I help?!” Jack began kicking the air.
Frank was at loss for words, things were getting far too serious with these two. They need to let go and laugh and enjoy the little things. Frank stuck his cigarette in between his teeth as he stood up to a confident stance. Unlike his usual demeanour he held his head high, pulled the cigarette from his teeth and looked down at a meek little boy, “You have no idea Fox” Jack looked at him scornfully, the blood boiling under his skin almost visibly, Frank stepped closer. Jack, trying to act the big man put a foot behind him, unsure what to expect “No idea?! No Id-“ Jack began only to be cut off by a tone that is not often heard from happy go-lucky Frank “You have no fucking clue how lucky you are” stressed the ‘L’ Jack opened his mouth to retort but once again Frank cut him off, poking a finger into his chest “how lucky you are to have someone that cares about you as much as that woman does, you need to hold on to that shit before you find out what it’s like when it’s gone because when she’s gone. Oh boy, when she’s gone you won’t have a leg to stand on, sort your shit out Jackie” Jack remained there stunned, Frank took a final drag of his cigarette and flicked it off the building. Frank left Jack there to think that over, he had riled himself up which is difficult to do.
“Who is shouting?!” Gerard’s distant voice could be heard, just as Frank jumped off the last step of the ladder to immediately bump into Memory, without hesitation she hugged him, “Thank you” she whispered, she had obviously heard his little speech. He gave a soft smile as she pulled back, Frank nodded in return. Without any words, he struck a match to light her cigarette with, noticing that was probably why she was outside, “Who was shouting?” Gerard said distinctly louder than the last time. He peered around the door to face the two “Is everything okay?” Memory stayed silent, leaving Frank to do the talking “Yeah, I lost my temper a little at Fox, that’s all” Frank admitted sounding a little ashamed, Gerard looked to Memory expecting some sort of contribution, “no big” Frank stated simply with a slight laugh playing on his lips. Gerard looked at the two intently “Is Fox okay? What did you say?” Gerard pushed, “It’s not a probl-
THUMP
Came from nearby, Memory and Frank pull their guns out starting to search their area, Gerard, hand on gun began looking around, “What the-“ Ray shouted running out the diner followed by Mikey “Fox took off” Ray said out of breathe, everyone stayed silent and lowered their guns, the soft sound of a bike chain could be heard in the distance, until Memory exploded. She screamed his name and ran towards the direction he took too, she sprinted as fast as she possibly could. She ran as fast as she thought she could ever run, coughing slightly at the dust the bike tires were picking up. She couldn’t see him anymore. White noise filled her ears but she kept running, her chest began to feel tight and her throat began to feel like sandpaper as she screamed after her baby runaway brother. She collapsed to the ground as her feet became numb and refused to work, her knees buckled and her body totally gave out. The adrenaline was pumping but her body could not respond any more, tears were brimming in her eyes but she begged them not to fall despite the dry eyes sobs of frustration erupted from her. As the dust settled, the guys caught up to her, Gerard instantly engulfing her in a protective hug, Frank kneeling beside her with some water, asking her if she needed a cigarette or water or if she wanted him to get Gerard to let go. Mikey stood in her eye line as Ray didn’t really know what to do. Her hearing came back as her adrenaline simmered down and she heard Gerard gently shushing her. She let her tears fall “Keep running Jackie”

Notes