Jack Part 9

Jack awoke suddenly, the spot in the bed next to him empty. The rain was falling in sheets, thick pulses of sound like a rush of pebbles intermittently filling the space between the lighter surges. Jack called out, wandering around the house when he heard no response. Then Jack stumbled his way to the front door, a blast of air hitting him as he opened it. The air was cool, and carried with it the sent of sediment and runoff from the tin roof. A light mist hung in the air of the porch, the crash of lightening illuminating the landscape temporarily, revealing the building pools of water, and the deepening colors of clay and gray.

“Maddie?” Jack called out.

There was no answer, save the surge of the rain.

Jack waited a few more seconds, a second flash revealing nothing. He sighed, moisture filling his lungs as he turned to go back inside.

A strike of laughter kept him in place.

“Jaaack...” the voice chuckled. “Jaaackie...

A heavy thump caused him to jump as a object fell from above, landing in a shallow pool in front of the porch steps. Jack swallowed hard, his breath deepening as he hesitantly stepped forward, one step after the other. Then another. Then another.

At last he found himself at the edge of the porch, looking down at the crumpled form. Another flash of light cracked across the sky, making the scene in front of him clear. Jacks vision wavered, his gut tensing as he vomited off the the side of the porch. Her body was mangled, and not just by the fall. Her eyes were pale, her head and limbs at odd angles. Yet her face remained mostly untouched, her normally rosy lips now devoid of color, her hair matted to her face.

Jack leaned down, cupping her head in his hands, stopping short of drawing her close as he felt her neck shift around his fingers. His eyes burned, his throat tight and dry. He placed his forehead against her own, a let out a long and exasperated scream.

He did this...he had to have done this. He didn't know how or why, but the only thought that ran through his head was a sense of guilt for something he couldn't remember. Because he always knew he was insane, and that all the visions and voices were just in his mind.

At least...that's what he thought.

A thick sound of mud shifting caused him to turn his head. It was only then that his guilt subsided, turning at last to a full realization of horror.

There was another long and heavy step, the displacement of water causing it to pulse and lap across Jack's knees. At last the form came to rest in front of him, the rain ceasing to fall on Jack's trembling form, the path blocked by something impossibly large.

“Oh Jack...” it sighed sympathetically, “You really thought I was just your imagination.”

Jack looked up, his eyes climbing the clumps of damp fur, rising above the legs three times as high as his house, falling at last upon a cold visage, dull, unfeeling eyes resting just above rows of long, jutting teeth. It crouched down, its hands gently swaying in front of Jacks face.

Individually they were the size of train cars.

“I hear parents tell their children not to play with their food. Honestly though, I never could resist. Do not worry though. She was dead before I really got going.”

Jacks eyes fell to the body in his hands, a sob escaping from his tensed lips.

“I think I have had all the fun I am going to have with you. Goodbye Jack.”

Its voice almost sounded sad.

Jack looked up as the thing stood up, its form rising towards the lightening and the rain and the clouds. The thing raised its fist, its glowing eyes narrowing as the scene fell to the dark again. A final strike of lightening revealed the motion of its fist descending.

Jack thought only of Maddie. And that was all.