Chapter Two:A Fateful Encounter

"Hey I heard you're an orphan. Is it true?" A huge kid stands in front of Jack. Laughing at his face, He mocks Jack. Jack ignores him. "You think you're someone special, huh?" The bully says as he pushes Jack. Jack falls on the ground. He glares at the bully. Jack grabs the rock by his side and grips it tightly.

"Hey Jason. Why don't you..." A scrawny kid comes up to the bully. The bully runs around and the scrawny kid punches him. "Pick on someone your own size?" The scrawny kid finishes his sentence. Jason runs away crying.

"Don't mind them. He likes to act tough. But he isn't." The scrawny kid extends his hand towards Jack. He grabs his hand and stands up. "I'm Johnny. What's your name?" The scrawny kid asks.

"Jack." Jack says in a low voice. Johnny stares at Jack for a while. A smile starts forming on his face.

"Oh yeah. The new kid. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, nobody's gonna even touch a hair on your head." Johnny gives a comforting smile

"Thanks. But why are you being so friendly to me?" Jack asks hesitantly.

"Well Mr. Jack. I'm sure we'll become good friends. And my Mama always used to say that you should treat your friends with respect and kindness." Johnny says extending his hand.

"Unlike any of you, I'm not planning on staying here forever." Jack says shaking Johnny's hand. A smile forms on Jack's face.

"Well that doesn't mean we can't be friends." Johnny says putting his arm around Jack's shoulders.

"Is that smile one of those 'Hes going to be a victim' smile?" The voice says.

"Nah. He might be of some use in the future." Jack whispers.

"So I heard what happened at your house. I heard Demon visited you. Tell me everything." Johnny says.

"Demon?" Jack asks.

"Yeah. The serial killer with the green dragon tattoo. He leaves the name Demon on a wall. Every letter is written in blood." Johnny asks.

"Oh yeah. He killed my parents and I barely escaped. He stabbed my leg and fled." Jack explains.

"But how are you so calm about the whole situation?" Johnny asks.

"Oh. I might be processing it all." Jack smiles a bit.

"Sure. We'll go with that. Well as for today, We'll go throw a few punches." Johnny says as he takes the lead.

"But why though?" Jack asks.

"Duh. For you to stand up to Jason's bullying. You need to protect yourself." Johnny says as he grabs Jack by the collar and starts dragging him. Jack stumbles along the way until he gives up and lets himself be dragged along the road. They reach the park.

"I'll hold that punching bag. You give me your best punches." Johnny says slapping the piece of wood.

"You call that a punching bag? A piece of padded cloth has been tied around a block of wood." Jack says.

"Just punch it. Whatever it looks like. We're not rich people here." Johnny says grabbing hold of the punching bag.

"Alright, Alright. Here goes." Jack says as he gets ready to punch the punching bag. He pulls his arm back and punches the bag. It bends over to Johnny's side a bit.

"That was quite a hell of a punch." Johnny says as he lets go of the bag and looks at Jack who was winding up his right arm to throw another punch. "Hey hey. Wait, I'm not holding it." Johnny yells. Jack punches the bag with his full strength. Johnny falls over from the force of the punching bag hitting him.

"You okay?" Jack says as he extends his hand towards him. Johnny grabs it.

"And you needed help with the bully? You could knock him out with one punch." Johnny says.

"Well I never knew my strength." Jack says pulling him up. They both exercise for a while.

"Poor boy. At least he found a friend in these trying times." A worker talks to the owner of the orphanage.

"Yeah. And the officers advised us to keep a close eye on him with all the talks about Demon coming back to finish the job or something about his mental health." The owner says.

"It's nearly time for Lunch. Let's let them be for the time being." The worker says as she leaves. The owner starts to leave but from outside the fence, notices a police vehicle patrolling the area. He waves to them and walks towards the doors.

"Everything seems fine sir. No news about Demon." James says.

"Well James. Do one thing. Find out if he has any other living relatives. This is no place for any kid who has gone through what he has to be living in. He needs comfort." Ryan says, starting the car.

"His aunt was a piece of work huh? Straight out telling us she will never take him in." James says. Ryan scratches his head.

"There's nothing we could do in that case. Tell the captain I'll take the kid in if we can't find any of his relatives within a week." Ryan says with a stern look.

"You sure Mary and Stuart would be fine with that decision?" James asks.

"Mary would be happy with another kid in the house. And Stuart would be thrilled to have an older brother." Ryan says.

*Night time comes with heavy rain*

"Hey Jack. Know what would be fun?" Johnny asks. Jack looks at Johnny with a mouthful of food.

"What?" Jack spits food bits onto his face.

"Say it, don't spray it man." Johnny says. Jack swallows the food.

"Yeah now tell me what would be fun?" Jack says.

"See Jason? He's a scaredy cat when it comes to scary stories. Let's have your revenge." Johnny says.

"Sure. I'm up for that. Let me just finish this first." Jack says eating hurriedly. Johnny stares in disgust.

"Man you must have gotten everything from there. Even Big Fat Joe won't eat that much." Johnny chuckles.

"Big Fat who now?" Jack asks. Johnny points at the fat kid shoving food into his mouth. Jack sprays all of his food outside. "Man he gives the name fat, it's definition." Jack says. He finishes up with the food and the both of them heads towards Jason.

"Hey big guy. You know what I heard? Around 90 or so years ago, a worker died working here. Some says they still hear and see him roaming around these very halls." Johnny says putting his arm on Jason's shoulder.

"He? I heard it was a her. Roaming through these very halls. All these kids that disappear overnight. You think they're adopted? Nah. It's the ghost's doing." Jack joins in. Jason starts shaking in his seat. Suddenly sweating. He shoves Johnny's arm away and walks away from the table.

"Wow. it must have worked. He left without saying anything. Hahaha." Johnny says. 

"Ahem. Boys." A familiar voice calls them out from behind.

"Yes sir?" Johnny says. 

"You seem to be getting along well. But don't go scaring others, you hear me? Now if you don't have any other plans, I would like to borrow Jack here for a few minutes." The owner says.

"Oh sure, sir. He's his own man. I'll be here anyways." Johnny says.

"Could I ask where I'm going?" Jack asks.

"Well kid. The policemen asked to see you. And you know, you don't have to talk to me so formally." The owner says as he walks with Jack by his side. Jack follows quietly.

"Do you think the police caught onto you or something?" The voice says.

"No I don't think so. We don't have any cameras at home or any hope of finding out it was me." Jack thinks to himself. He continues following the owner to his office.

"Hey Kiddo. How're you holding up?" Officer James says as he sees Jack walk in. Jack gives him a weak smile.

"Don't freak out the kid James. Well we're just checking in to see how you're doing. And to tell you not to worry and that we're trying our hardest to get a hold of your family." Officer Ryan says with a smile on his face.

"I don't think anyone would be willing to take me." Jack says as he sits on the sofa. James tries to cheer him up with jokes.

"Well kid. To be honest, nobody's accepting yes. But do you specifically have anybody you want to go?" Officer Ryan asks while sitting beside Jack.

"Well there is one of the uncles. I rarely saw him for the last 3 years. He's called Stanley or something." Jack says.

"There doesn't seem to be any immediate danger to him at the moment. And you know who wouldn't try anything with so many people in one place. So we'll try keeping him here for a few more days." Officer Ryan says to the owner.

"We will try our best to get a hold of your uncle Stanley as soon as possible. In the meantime, hold tight here champ." Officer James says as he smiles at Jack.

"Dude, don't smile. You look weird." Officer Ryan says as he gently punches his arm.

They talk for a while, and when they're sure that Jack is fine, they leave. Jack thanks the owner and leaves after the police leaves. While walking back to the dining area, Jack senses somebody behind him.

"So you think it's fun to spook people? Just cause you have a few policemen looking out for you, you think you're untouchable? Big mistake kid." Jason says as he grabs Jack by the collar.

"You..." Jack starts.

"I never said you can speak. Your little friend won't come to help you this time. So whatare you going to do?" Jason says as he punches Jack. Jack calmly takes the punches. Knowing that compared to his father's daily beating, Jason's punches felt like nothing. So he quietly took the beating. After having his fill, Jason leaves.

"Are you going to just let him be like that? An arrogant child like him?" The voice says.

"Who says I'm letting him be? I'll pay him back tenfold." Jack says as he stands up. Jack slowly walks towards his room.

It was 22:00 on the clock and the workers of the orphanage makes sure everyone's in bed.

"So what are you planning? I know that look. You haven't had your fill. But im all this chaos, how are you going to get a chance?" The voice says.

"What do you mean? It's the best time. And yes, there's too many people. Everyone who ever hit me. Bullied me. Treated me like dirt. Everyone is going to get it sooner or later." Jack says as he slowly gets up. Jack slowly walks out and walks towards the balcony.

"You know, for a huge orphanage, this balcony seems odd. A long hallway and a small balcony. Weird." The voice says.

"It's the best place. Now wait for the drama." Jack says. He sees a figure out on the balcony. Jack leans out and looks out into the road. Seaeching for any police cars or orphanage workers outside. As he looks closely, the figure turns out to be Jason. Jack slowly walks near him and hears him sobbing.

"Why would you leave me in a place like this? It's all poor people and a trashy place. Why can't I go with you?" Jason seems to be talking on a phone. Jack couldn't hear what the other person was saying. But it seemed as if Jason was a rich kid who was left in the orphanage as his parents or guardian was on a business trip of sorts.

"Wait until he hangs up? Good plan. What about all the cameras? Who are you going to pin this on?" The voice says.

"I told you just wait." Jack thinks to himself.

As Jason hangs up. He stares out into the world with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"If you think this would make me any sympathetic for you, you will be very wrong. Now when I say you chose the wrong kid to mess with, it would be an understatement." Jack says.

"Who?" Jason says as he turns around.

A punch lands on Jason's face and it breaks his nose. Blood flowing down his nose, he tries to steady himself. Jack takes that chance and pushes him over the balcony. He looks down as Jason lands straight onto a broken wooden piece. Piercing his chest.

"To be safe." Jack says as be pushes a cement block aimed towards Jason's face. He quicky runs towards his room and quietly closes the door.

"What about fingerprints?" The voice asks.

"I brought something to cover it. I thought a cloth wrapped around my hand would help." Jack says as he disposes of the cloth. "Now to get some sleep."

"Oh but there's a lot to talk about." A voice says in the shadow.

"Who is there?" Jack says.

"You don't remember me? Friend." Johnny says as he stepped into the light.

"Oh we're fucked." The voice says.