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My eyes snap open and I let out a yell of surprise, quickly trying to sit up. My head collides with Jack’s and we both let out a pained moan. Fear and embarrassment floods my chest and I feel my lungs clench up inside of my chest. Jack cowers away, pressing a hand to his masked forhead. “Ah….oh! Y-you’re awake…..H-How long have you been awake?...” Jack asks, wringing his hands nervously and slouching. My blush darkens and I am forced to come to grips with my options. I could either lie to Jack and let him get away with all that he did, or I could tell the truth and ensure at least some guilt on his part.
“S-since we were in the yard…” I reply. Curling up and staring at Jack, a nervous chill crawling down my spine. “oh….. Well….” Jack continues, shuffling his feet and slowly backing away from me. The room quickly darkens and I notice that the sun is almost down. With the room rapidly losing light, I realize how easily Jack is concealed in the shadowy room. Awkward tension builds between us and I can’t ignore the nervous sweat breaking out on my forehead. I need to come up with something, anything at all to make him talk or go away. “Do you really not understand human relationships?” I blurt out, watching as Jack’s nervousness melts into utter embarrassment. “N-No….I don’t really need to…. I’m a monster. We don’t need to know how to interact with people…. Just how to kill them.” Jack mutters, backing away to the door. I take a moment to process what he is saying, what use could Jack have for killing anyone?

Suddenly, everything stops and the room goes silent. Finally, after nearly a year of knowing about his existence, the points were connected and I could finally see. He eats people…
It seems a bit stupid to be thinking of it now, but I had never realized that maybe that was why Jack ate organs… To be honest, I was deeply naïve to think that he ate animal entrails as a dietary choice. My own hopeful thinking had placed Jack in a better light than what he really was. Fear engulfs my heart, casing me to lose all common sense. But that fear is soon consumed by rage as I stand up from my bed. “ Get out!! “ I scream, grabbing a nearby book and flinging it at Jack’s head. “ I have given you mercy! Give me one reason as to why I shouldn’t throw you back into that moat!” I continue to throw things at Jack, secretly unsure of what else to say. I had no clue how to defend myself against this thing, he was obviously a lot stronger than I was… The monster coils up in fear, his expressionless mask is pulled up just enough for me to see the fanged snarl beneath. I focus on his body as I continue the assault. Black clothes casting the illusion of thinness, blue mask conveying nothing but pure apathy. The longer I stare at him, the angrier I get. Looking over even the tiniest detail of his body to see anything more I could hate. Black nailed hands balled up in fury. Tattered jacket that was stitched painstakingly back together by my own two hands. Gray lips stretched taught over carnivorous teeth. All these sights bring disgust to my gut. How could I have been so blind!?

“STOP. NOW.”

A horrid screech fills the room, it was an unholy, demonic voice that shook the windows and caused the blood to rush from my face. Light finally abandoned the room, and a cold draft filled the area accompanied by a murky scent. All I can see is the dark silhouette of Jack and the dark blue circle of his mask. His teeth glisten in the darkness and his eyeless sockets seem to get bigger the longer I sit here. My vulnerable body seeming weaker as the seconds stretch into small eternities. “I’m not here to kill you.” The demonic voice of Jack continues. Though now it sounded like many voices now that I think about it, yet it was all one voice at the same time. Some of the voices were high pitched screams, some were low drones, and yet there was still the smooth English accent that I knew was his. I feel something deep inside me churn with regret as I look up at him with a worried expression. The voices spoke as one, though it wasn’t as loud as before “If I were here to kill you, I would have done so long ago. When you first dared to attack me.” Jack takes a few steps forward, and I find my legs kicking rapidly against the mattress, pushing my body against the wall. Panic and fear consume my very being and I continue to thrash in the bed, attempting to feebly get away. “Hush.” Jack drawls, sitting on the bed in front of me. I am disturbed by the inhumane amount of grace he exhibits as he gently folds his legs beneath him in a crossed manner. Jack’s body doesn’t shake or hesitate, every movement is like that of a dream. Or a nightmare.
My heart threatens to abandon me as Jack slowly reaches up one arm to brush away the (h/c) locks from my face. His black nails and gray skin slide over my shaking head, tracing my jaw and grabbing my chin. “Shhhhhh” Jack continues, his voice losing its demonic edge and melting back into the familiar English tone. “I wont hurt you, I just want to talk.” Jack hums, allowing the world to return to light as he shifts closer. “What do you want?” I whisper, shaking. “I want to understand your kind. Maybe I can learn something worthwhile.” Jack replies.

“worthwhile?” I ask

“Yes.”

I furrow my brow, confused as to why a killer would want to understand something ‘worthwhile’. “How is it worthwhile? Better yet, why are you here?” I question, my voice losing its shaky quality. Jack rubs the back of his head gently before taking in a deep breath and replying:

“Hmm… You see, beings like me don’t die…Immortality is a wonderful chance to learn a lot. I have read more books than most have ever seen and yet, I haven’t found anything that has helped me in a practical sense. I may know how the human body functions and how basic human relations work. Things like ‘families’ and ‘workers’. But I don’t know much beyond that. And besides, my boredom has caused my mind to go numb. Thus I went in search for knowledge, bringing along a journal of findings. I have scoured the library for months with my book. However, I couldn’t find anything new to read that wasn’t incredibly….stupid looking. Therefore I concluded that I needed to go in search of a more… personal study subject. It was at this point in my endeavor that I met you….

I had lost my book at the library. Usually I don’t go there during “library hours” but there was no one in the building. It didn’t matter. Although when I lost my book I had realized just how awful of an idea it was.
And in searching for the book I found you. Yes. That leather journal you found that day was mine. You probably cant read my handwriting. I have horrible penmanship.”
Jack takes a moment to chuckle before continuing:
“I followed you for weeks, waiting for you to drop your guard long enough for me to get my book. But when you moved out here, the journal became the least of my concerns.

I had discovered something strange. You were resourceful, witty, and determined. It intrigued me. So I lost focus on my goal, and decided to study you. And my, my you were an odd subject.
I watched you build the moat.
I watched you build the wall.
And it was amazing.
I cannot explain it, but I regard you like I regard my coworkers. I respect you. Which leads me to my point, I want to know about humans. I want to know why you group together so much. I want to know what ‘friends’ are and why you stay with your mates for life. Please. Tell me. I think that maybe by understanding your kind, I can learn to become more efficient compared to my own kind. “

I stare at Jack in shock, unsure of why he seemed to care so much and how he didn’t know about human relationships. Confusion mixed with pity and regret as I stare at Jack, wondering what to do next.
“Okay Jack….” I begin, watching him suddenly sit up and lean forward “Yes?” He asks, excitement lacing his voice. “I’ll teach you. But you have to act on the same schedule as me. Meaning we must wake up and sleep at the same time.” I finish, crossing my arms with a confident nod. I know how much Jack appreciates his schedule, judging by how strict he was with doing things. Maybe by offering a significant change to his existence could cause him to decline or retract his own offer. Warmth floods back into my being as I stare confidently at Jack.
“How do we assure that we wake up at the same time? I lock my door at night and it’ll be like hell if you try to wake me up via kicking down the door.” Jack asks, leaning back in my bed and stretching his legs out. All my previous confidence vanishes at his easygoing tone. Why didn’t he reject? Maybe Jack is serious about this…
“Um…. I don’t know, actually….” I reply sheepishly. Jack rubs his exposed chin thoughtfully and hums. Worrying about what he could possibly be thinking, I slide away slightly and worry about what he could be planning. “how about we just sleep together? I know monsters do sometimes as a protective thing. I imagine it wouldn’t be too difficult to guess that humans do too.” Jack states, patting the area beside him. Blood rushes to my face “What!? No! That’s not how…we’re just acquaintances!” I yell, curling up and shuffling away from Jack. “But I’ve seen humans sleeping in the same bed. Mates do, and sometimes young humans do. So why cant we?” Jack asks innocently, “Because we don’t know each other that well!” I retort, smirking triumphantly. Deep down, I’m hoping that he will eventually give up and leave. “Well, I read that letter your grandmother wrote to your ‘suitor’. That included a large amount of personal information. So I think I know you enough.” Jack replies calmly, reaching up and grabbing my arm. Humiliation floods my senses and I once again find myself blushing. “Th-that’s not how that works! Do you even know what a suitor is?!” I sputter, struggling slightly.

“I have no clue what that is!”

Before I can reply, I feel Jack tug on my arm and drag me down onto the bed with him. And as my smaller form lays beside him, the full reality of what I had just inadvertently done comes down onto me. Large, strong arms wrap around my waist as Jack turns and sighs. “Goodnight.” The monster chirps as he slowly begins to drift off. I sit in silence as Jack’s much bigger chest and arms crush me into him. I feel as though Jack is trying to absorb me into his very being via crushing. As I find myself laying in his arms, the animalistic urge to run kicks in and I try to wiggle out of his grasp. All this does is make Jack hold me closer and squeeze the air out from my lungs. The struggling combined with the emotional shifts finally catches up to me and I decide to close my eyes. As I lay in Jack’s arms I become aware of the thick scent of patchouli wafting from him. The scent seems to calm my aching chest as is wraps my being in its hold. Finally, as I let sleep consume me, I feel Jack gently press his head against mine.