Chapter 1: Memories

5 years later

The planet Thalion – Jack

“Where the hell can I get eyes like that?”

“You’ve got to kill a few people”

“OK. I can do that”

“Then you gotta get sent to a slam where they tell you you’ll never see daylight again. You dig up a doctor, and you pay him twenty menthol cools to do a surgical shine job on your eyeballs”

“So you can see who’s sneaking up on you in the dark?”

“Exactly”

Jack awoke startled, once again. She was sweating, and when she carried a trembling hand to her forehead, she found that it was burning with fever. She closed her eyes and sighed. She stood slowly and went into the bathroom. She turned on the shower, adjusting the water to a warm temperature, and stepped in. Closing her eyes she let the water flow over her body, trying to relax her aching muscles. But her mind wouldn’t let her; she kept trying to figure out the meaning of those words, the ones from her dream. After a long time she stepped out and dried off, afterwards she wrapped a big towel around her body and she headed to her bedroom. She got dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. Looking inside her drawer she picked up a little black box. Jack stared at it for a few seconds and then went to lock her door. She sat on the bed and opened the box. Pulling out a hypo syringe, she inserted an ampoule filled with red liquid and clenching her teeth, she injected it directly into her neck. Shit, she thought, tears rolling, as she shut her eyes tight. When will this end?, she wondered as she tried to breath deeply. Afterwards, she fell on her back, trying hard to control her trembling body.

“Audrey?” She heard Danielle’s voice call to her as she heard the apartment door open and then get kicked closed. Danielle waited, hearing no answer, she then yelled “Yo, Audrey, are you here?”

Jack stirred and opened her eyes; she slowly climbed out of the bed and tried to ignore her muscles, which were crying out in pain. “I’ll be out in a minute !” she yelled back. Jack hid the black box in her drawer and headed out to the kitchen.

Danielle was already in there. “I’m not shopping anymore in your place, you know?” she said raising her voice as she left the bags on the table.

A moment later, Jack was watching her from the kitchen’s doorframe. Danielle turned her head to look at her and saw the fatigue reflected on her face. “You told me that last time, Danielle”, Jack said in a whisper as she passed a trembling hand through her wet hair.

Danielle narrowed her eyes and stared at her. “Yeah, well. I really don’t understand why I let you get away with not doing your share of the shopping”, she said in a frustated tone as she collapsed on a chair.

Jack lowered her face, ashamed. “You know I don’t feel comfortable going out, this isn’t a safe place”, she said sounding shy and weak.

Danielle stood and hugged her. “I know, Audrey. I’m just kidding”,. Funny, but she suddenly felt like a shit. She knew full well that Jack was easily frightened, and that that was the reason why she always came up with an excuse to stay at home. This was the only place where she felt completely safe. After a long moment, Danielle spoke “But…” she said as she let go of her, “Tonight you’ll make dinner!” and her smile widened.

Jack gave her a big smile in return, “Done!”

Danielle opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. “Ok, now onto more important things”, she said as she opened the can. “You should think about coming with me to training sessions”, she said taking a sip.

Jack looked her in the eye, “Take a look at me, Danielle. Do you really think I could fight with someone?” She said and sat on a chair. “I don’t even know how to use a shiv to kill, for god sake!” she rolled her eyes and began to play with the bottom of her t-shirt.

“Holly shit!” Danielle yelled as she spat out her mouthful of beer, she was completely shocked “who’s talking about shivs, though?” she asked looking for a towel to dry her tank top. “Who are you? A serial killer?” she asked and looked at her with wide eyes as if Jack was a ghost. “I was just thinking about a few movements to protect yourself, that’s all”, she sat next to her and took one of her hands. “Tell me at least you’ll think about it”, she said rubbing Jack’s hand.

Jack sighed and went silent for a long moment. Why in hell am I thinking about shivs? she thought. “Ok, I’ll think about it”.

Danielle shook her head. “Good, that’s my girl”, she said smiling.

As soon as the words came out of Danielle’s mouth, Jack looked at her amused. Then Jack’s eyes widened and a surprised look was on her face.

“What?” asked Danielle when saw her face.

Jack stared at her in silence. “Nothing, just…… nothing”, she said standing up and going through the bags on the table. Suddenly she was feeling very sad and didn’t even know why.

Danielle looked at her concerned. “What happen, Audrey?”

Without turning her head, Jack answered. “Nothing. Forget about it.” Danielle just stood and began to help her, not wanting to upset her any further.