tryingwrite

Jack Wilson wasn’t planning to doom the city. He just wanted to make rent and maybe buy a better hoodie.

Then he opened a cursed file labeled “DO NOT OPEN (Lethality Rating: 9/10)”—because what’s life without a little fun? One explosion, a glowing hand tattoo, and a ramen-scented dumpster dive later, Jack is now the host of something ancient, powerful, and probably homicidal.

Now everyone wants him dead: secret guilds, rogue mages, even a talking pigeon with a grudge. Too bad Jack’s having the time of his life.

Armed with sarcasm, unstable spirit energy, and zero impulse control, Jack is about to turn the magical underworld upside down.

MANIAC HYBRID

Late afternoon sunlight filtered gently through scattered clouds as Jack wandered through the quieter streets of West Hollow, memories drifting in and out of focus. The city felt unfamiliar yet inviting, as though rediscovering itself after a storm.

Jack paused by an old, rundown playground, rusted swings swaying softly in the breeze. He felt a sudden sharp pang of nostalgia.

"You okay?" Lyra asked softly, stepping beside him.

Jack smiled faintly, eyes distant. "This place…I think I've been here before."

She placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Let it come naturally. Don't force it."

He nodded, closing his eyes, allowing the memories to gently surface. He saw Kenny again, younger, laughing on those very swings, the toy spaceship clutched tightly.

"Come on, Jack!" Kenny's voice echoed through time, vivid yet fleeting. Jack's heart ached, eyes fluttering open.

Lyra watched carefully. "Remember something?"

He exhaled slowly. "Fragments. Enough to remind me what's missing."

That evening, the crew gathered around a warm meal in their safe house. Draven sat quietly but earnestly, listening to their stories and planning alongside them. Despite initial tensions, he was slowly becoming part of their dynamic.

"Jack," Draven spoke hesitantly. "Guild kept detailed records on everyone they monitored. There might be data on your past, your family."

Jack's eyes sharpened immediately, hope sparking. "You have access?"

Draven nodded gravely. "It won't be easy, but it's possible."

Zara exchanged a glance with Lyra. "It's risky—but knowing your roots might help stabilize your memories."

Jack straightened, determination renewed. "Then we go after it."

Under cover of night, Jack, Lyra, Zara, and Draven infiltrated a concealed Guild archive deep beneath the city's industrial sector. Draven navigated them expertly, bypassing traps and security.

Inside, rows of crystalline data nodes glowed faintly. Zara interfaced swiftly, fingers flying across controls.

"Here," she whispered, eyes wide. "Personal files—Jack Wilson."

Jack stepped forward, breath tight. Images flickered: faces, locations, records of experiments—his life meticulously documented by the Guild. His fists clenched in quiet fury.

"There's more," Zara added softly. "Relatives listed. Kenny Wilson, brother. Status unknown. Last seen…"

Jack's heartbeat thundered. "Where?"

"Right here, in West Hollow. A Guild facility," Zara breathed.

Jack's halo pulsed, memories aligning. Kenny was alive—and close.

Exiting the archives, Jack felt clarity return, memories solidifying. Lyra met his determined gaze.

Jack nodded, resolute. "And end the Guild's hold on this city once and for all."

They moved swiftly into the night, united by shared purpose and strengthened by the echoes of the past.

Chapter 29: "Echoes of the Past"