Silence.
Silence.
Deathly silence.

Jack wasn't saying a thing. He just sat there, his nose resting on his mentioned fingers as he stared at me blankly.
I could read his expression for he had put a strong shield up. But my intuition rang bells of warnings, for silence sometimes spoke louder than words.

He exhaled aloud, relaxing his tensed body to sink back onto the black leather chair he sat on.
Without speaking, he picked up his glass of white wine and took a small deliberate sip, his eyes caging mine over the rim of the glass.

A click rang out as he put down the glass on the desk that stood guard between us.
Meeting him in the office felt more safer than being with him in a private place. After what he had recently done, I had every right to be cautious of his presence.

"Moving out you say, hmmm?"
He seemed to ponder over the information I had given almost five minutes prior, rubbing his right temple.
"Do you think it's wise to make such a decision without my opi-"

"It was my choice to move in with you in the first place. Don't you forget that!" I shot, feeling the need to hold my dignity and nose high. I would not let him mistake me for a pushover like the last time.

"Hmm... I've just got back and now you want to abandon me. Is this what couples do?" He asked wearing a straight face, void of any remorse for his actions.

I frowned, my hand tightening around the marker in my right palm. "You're not my Jack. I'll appreciate it if you'd respect my decision and give me some time to think."

"Ooh?! Is that so?"
He rubbed his temple again. "You can still have your space in the man-"

"You have Lilith! So why won't you just fucking let me go!" I snapped, raising my voice in a manner I had never before. It felt as if every string of patience had faded, leaving behind a mess of desperation, confusion, heartbreak, pain, and so much anger.
All for... Jack.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been fucking her in my absence. So why don't you move in with her and leave me the hell alone?!"
Shameless tears escaped my eyes, betraying my confidence and feelings.

I still loved him...so damn, much.
So why was he hurting me like this?
Did we not deserve a happy ending?
Why was there always an obstacle between us ever since we grew attracted to each other years ago?

Was I too ambitious?
Or were we never meant to be together?

"Annie?" Jack exhaled, as if my feelings and tears were a bother to him. "I don't know what you've been told, but you're the only woman I love. Lilith...well, she's just a substitute. I have been craving your body since I came back and it's grown into a deep starvation. Fucking her means nothing to me, trust me."

"Oh gawd!" I buried my face in my hands, shielding him from seeing the fierce tears flowing from my eyes without a break.
He had done it again, saying something so hurtful and presenting it as a normal occurrence.

In only a single week, Jack had managed to cause me intense heartbreaks that I had never in all my life experienced.

"Please, give me some space," I whispered crying. "I'm not strong enough to handle you at the moment. Let's just...take a break."

*Smack*

I jerked when he slapped the table, almost sending myself in limbo from the missed heartbeat.
My hands fell from my face and I saw him already on his feet, his blue eyes raining rays of terror upon me.
"You and I have reshaped this city. You do not get to toss me to the side dammit!"Jack bellowed, creases appearing between his brows from the furious frown that had dawned on his face.

"You belong to me. This city belongs to me. This country belongs to me! Everything-" he yelled, "-belongs to me. I'll show the world that even I can make an impact. I'll have them all begging for mercy and gawd, it'll be a beautiful sight!"

His ambitions had gone astray.
His expression was evil.
And so was the devilish smirk on his lips.

My Jack was...gone.

I could sense the hostility leaking from his soul. It was a darkness I had only felt when Zack had abducted me. An evil presence that could be seen through the doors to his soul...his eyes.
There was no mistaking it for anything in the world.

"Now you'll listen to me you little spoiled brat. I want Shadows back, along with my contribution to Project Beta. You owe me that much if you're trying to cast me away."
His demand sounded like a plan that had been calculated long before the meeting.
Could that be the reason he was digging up old files?

My tears had somehow dried up without my knowledge. Maybe it was due to the shock brought by his words, or it was from the truth poured through his unreasonable demand.

"You want to break Dark Shadows?" I asked, my voice a little rasped but steady all the same.

"I don't care!" Jack yelled leaning forward at me. "If you don't need me anymore, then give me back what belongs to me."

His face was so close.
I could feel his warm furious breaths falling on my itching face.
He lowered his eyes on my lips, and then slowly leaned all the way down till his pair got to mine.
But before he could kiss me, I shoved him away angrily while pushing my chair backward to escape his range.

"You little...!" Jack grunted, his hands sweeping the desk, pushing the files and the glass of wine to the floor.

He was about to be violent again.
And just as he was thrusting himself over the desk, I hurriedly grabbed the gun attached to the back of my chair and aimed it at him.

The W-L3 pistol activated as soon as my fingerprint touched the sensor.
"Don't move!" I yelled, and then held my breath out of fear of raising a gun at the man I loved.

Jack quickly froze on the desk, his emerald eyes enlarged at the sight of the gun.
"You wouldn't-"

"You don't have the microchip, Jack, this gun can hurt you if I want it to!" I reminded, hiding the tremor in my arms as much as I could.
It killed me in the inside that things had come to this. It broke my heart that he was now a violent man who could effortlessly toss a glass at me.

"Leave!" I hissed.

"You dare point a gun at me? How bold of you!"

My jaw clenched.
I could see the certainly in his face. He was so sure that I wouldn't shoot.

"Leave Jack! Just fucking go!"

He obediently slid off the desk, but the murderous look printed on his face was terrifying.
Once on his feet and his hands in the air, Jack pulled out a wide smile. "Gosh! You look so sexy when you're mad. I want to pin you down right here and fuck you till-"

"Shut up!"