Eleven years ago.

"MOTHER!"

Jack's hand twitched around Celine's throat, his eyes wild. He stared Dark dead in the eyes and heaved for breath.

Dark could only stare. Stunned.

"H-how—how could you—"

Jack lips twitched into a frown. It was like his body was still glitching in and out of reality; electricity zipped up and down his body like wildfire, making his body spazz.

"Me..." said Jack with wide eyes.

Celine's throat slid from his hand, and he dropped her to the ground as he struggled onto his feet. Dark watched with dismay as his mother's body crumpled to the floor.

"Me?" breathed Jack.

His lips quivered and his face trembled as he spoke, every breath seething with rage. Jack stepped forward, feet crunching over glass and rubble.

"You," spat Jack. "YOU did this to me!"

"No—" said Dark, and he flinched when Jack spazzed under another electric shock. "N-o, it was her idea—"

"Well," Jack breathed out. "I can't take her word for it." He gazed over his shoulder at Celine's body on the floor.

"She's dead."

Dark's jaw tightened, and his fists clenched under his cloak. He couldn't believe he was mocking her.

"I can't believe you," breathed Dark.

He stepped forward, snarling, but beneath his menacing facade was a scared and hopeless boy. Jack was unpredictable, fueled by the same unkempt emotions—and who knew just how well the experiment worked.

"She was my kind," continued Dark. "My blood!"

He walked forward until he was inches away from Jack—until he could feel the heat of the electricity zipping in and out of his body.

"Yeah?" breathed Jack. He bared his teeth, shoving his face right up into Dark's space. Bolts of electricity snapped against the floor.

"The same blood," spat Jack, "that kills my kind?" He breathed hard, his eyes beginning to glow with those same fiery sparks.

"The same BLOOD," yelled Jack, face quivering with fury, "that treats humans like shit? Like fucking animals?!"

He threw his hands out, and electricity burst from them. They shot across the lab in a frizzy flash. Hit the walls with such force that the building practically shook.

Jack jumped away from himself, eyes wide. His face paled. Eyes widened. He stared down at his hands, and when the electricity wouldn't die down from his skin, he began to shake.

Dark swallowed.

"I-I'll..." Jack clenched his fists, and when he did, electricity balled up white hot in them. He took a deep, quivering breath, eyes sparkling. He glanced up at Dark with a newfound vigor.

"I'll make you pay."

Dark's face paled, the words sending shudders down his spine. He wasn't looking at a human anymore. With the ghastly glow of the lightning against Jack's face, and the manic look in his eye, he looked like a monster.

He was already becoming one.

"You don't understand the bigger picture," said Dark, trying to reason with him. But it was all too complicated—a human, or a former one—wouldn't understand. "There are good Evolveds out there—"

"Bullshit," spat Jack. Electricity shot out of his body. Hit the walls and bounced over rubble. "These powers corrupt you. You all think yer gods."

Jack heaved for breath.

"But you know what?" he panted. "Now that I'm—now that I'm one of you monsters—" His lips twitched into a smile, and it made Dark's blood curdle. "I'll show you how it feels to be—" His breath caught in his throat.

"Human."

Dark shook his head, breathing hard. "You don't have to," he said firmly. He stepped forward carefully. "I can—we can find a way to reverse the effects—"

Jack's eyes flashed at that, and he twitched again.

"No," he said, voice gravelly. He breathed hard with a passion, and the sparks around his body grew hotter and brighter. "Noooo, no, no... it's too late for that." His eyes glimmered. "I've already made up my mind, Tear Stealer. It's only fair."

Dark clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes. Jack spared a glance down at Celine's body.

"People like her," he seethed. "People like you..."

Dark breathed hard.

"You don't... deserve to live... I..." Jack twitched, and he gave a broken laugh. "I did her a—a favor."

Dark didn't give Jack a chance to say another word. He shot out a hand and flicked his wrist.

Jack cried out. Clawed at his eyes.

"FUCK!" he yelled. He staggered over rubble and fell, thrashing.

"My mother didn't know what she was getting into," growled Dark, curling his fingers. Jack screamed, blindly clawing at the floor. Sparks flew from every direction.

"But what I do know," continued Dark, "is that you killing her is no favor."

He breathed heavily, his eyes glowing red as he stared down at Jack's flailing body.

"You killed our leader," spat Dark, and his heart gave a terrible pang. "When the others see what you've done, no one will even think of joining your side."

Dark clenched his fist, and Jack burst into screams of agony. Blood spilled from his eyes.

Jack shot out a hand. A bolt collided into Dark's body, and he flew against the floor, skidding across rubble.

Jack gasped as the hold from his eyes released. He collapsed, wheezing, his face wet with heat and his vision blurry. He grasped around himself, blinking away blood to find a black blob struggling against the rubble from across the lab.

Jack's heart skyrocketed, and he jumped to his feet, stumbling back and forth like a drunk. His head pounded in agony, and his vision swam. He didn't know if he could take another hit like that. He was already blinded.

Dark stumbled to his feet too, wincing and rubbing his front. His cloak was completely fried, crumbling under his fingers into hot flakes. He gazed at Jack's stumbling figure from across the lab and bared his teeth, breathing hard. Once they locked eyes, they lunged for each other.

The rest happened in a blur.

White-hot bolts, flying sparks—fist to jaw, to stomach—

Feet skidding against rubble, crunching against glass—

Blood dripping. From lips, down foreheads—until it painted the floor red and black.

The scientists were waking up then.

Schneepelstein rose first.

He gazed over the broken glass. Eyes widened at the bright flashes of electricity. There they were—the Tear Stealer and their experiment—fighting like animals.

Jack landed a few more hits. The two of them were shouting, their voices echoing against the walls, but Schneepelstein's ears were ringing.

The doctor felt the ground around him, spotting the other scientists. He shook the woman nearest to him, and when she came to, her eyes widened. He put a finger to his lips, then gazed towards the fighting duo.

Her mouth fell open.

"Ve have to get out of here," Schneepelstein whispered. "Vake ze others. I'll save our research."

There was a loud, metal clatter that silenced the entire lab. The scientists, now awake, froze in their spots. They could hear Dark and Jack panting.

"I'll make you regret what you did to me," Jack growled, blood hanging from his chin. "I will make you hurt."

There was a sickening crunch, and Dark's yell echoed through the lab.

"And when I'm done," panted Jack, sparks flying around him. "You will kneel before me... and treat me as your God."

There was a long, dreadful pause, and yet it was so loud. They stared at each other with a searing hate, the emotions sweltering and haywire—time seemed to melt now, the world spinning around them... It could have been hours or minutes, all they could focus on was their despise for each other when—

A cabinet rattled from afar.

Jack snapped his head up, eyes landing on Schneepelstein's figure. His breaths quickened, and a bloodlust glossed his eyes.

"You..." he breathed.

Dark's breath hitched as he snapped out of his trance.

He had to protect the others. His mind raced—had to come up with something—right moment—

Jack lifted his foot.

Now.

Dark grabbed Jack's ankle and pulled. Tackled him to the floor. They collided into the floor with a thud. Sparks flew.

"GO!" Dark yelled, looking back at the scientists. Jack kicked him in the face. Dark fell back.

The others fled. Schneep stayed. Floundered through cabinets.

Jack locked eyes on him, breathing hard. The electricity grew brighter, bigger—glowing, white-hot, piercing—

Dark stumbled to his feet and chased after Jack, tackling him back down with a growl.

"What are you doing?!" he yelled at Schneepelstein. "GO!"

The doctor threw open a drawer, pulling out a laser-like gun. His hands shook so hard he almost dropped it.

"Zis!" he yelled. "Use zis!"

Schneep threw the gun, and Dark caught it. Jack growled and kicked Dark off of him.

Dark stumbled back, fumbling with the gun. He'd never used something so—human.

He pointed it at Jack.

Hesitated.

"Shoot him!" yelled Schneep.

Jack heaved for breath. He wouldn't die—not now. He lunged for Dark, going to disarm him—

Dark pulled the trigger. One. Two. Three.

Jack's body recoiled. He fell to the ground, gasping, but he wasn't bleeding.

Dark breathed hard, lowering the gun.

Did it... did it work?

Jack shuddered against the ground, nails digging into the floor. His skin cracked, and sparks burst from his body. The heat was building—building—building—sparks flying, snapping against the walls—

A loud, hollow creak of metal groaned throughout the entire laboratory. The ground began to shake, and the static in the air became overbearing...

When he looked at Schneepelstein, he knew something wasn't right.

Electricity balled up around Jack, hot like the sun, and he let out an inhuman scream.

Everything went white.

———

Dark sat in what was once his mother's room, staring blankly at the wall.

A porcelain woman knelt by his side, hovering her hands up and down Dark's body. Blue wisps thrummed from her palms as she healed Dark's wounds.

"Quite a nice place you have here," said Jack softly, voice dripping with disdain. His eyes were dark—no longer alight with those fiery sparks. Ever since Dark shot him, he seemed to have more control over his new powers. If anything, that only made him more dangerous.

Dark breathed hard through his nose.

"This was her room," he muttered, averting his gaze. He numbly stared at one of her portraits on the vanity desk. "You shouldn't even be in here."

Jack hummed. His head twitched to the side, and he cursed under his breath. Despite his better control, the powers still thrummed through him at full force. The lamp that was on seemed to ring in his ears, too—too loud.

"Trust me," said Jack, twitching again. He glared at the lamp across the room. "I don't want to be here. Think of this as a—courtesy."

Dark scoffed at that. "Three days here and you already speak like the snobby Highs."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "And you aren't one of them?"

Dark took a deep breath, and he sighed. The woman at his side stood then, joining Jack's side.

"You wouldn't understand," muttered Dark. He gazed up at him, and as much as he wanted to curse Jack's existence—kill him right then and there—all he could do was slump into his chair. The fatigue and the grief wore on him like a weight. "Like I said... Evolveds aren't black and white, just like humans aren't. Not all of us are 'evil.'"

"Don't even think of comparing humans to your filthy kind," he spat. The woman at his side flinched, brows furrowing at Jack's words. Dark noticed, and he gently waved her off.

"Can you give us a moment, Celeste?" he muttered.

The woman lingered for a moment, then nodded, leaving the room and closing the door with a click. Dark lingered for a moment, listening, and—though Jack loathed to admit it—he watched him with curiosity.

After a minute, Dark took a deep breath, and he stood gracefully.

"We have to kill her," he said quietly.

Jack's eyes widened, and he searched Dark's face incredulously.

"Ex—excuse me?"

Dark stepped forward, overcome with a sudden vigor. His jaw was clenched tight, and his expression was firm.

"We can't have a single soul have any hint of suspicion that you weren't born an Evolved," said Dark firmly. "We agreed to never mention the experiments—ever. To anyone." His eyes flashed. "I killed those scientists. Now you return your side of the favor—and learn to act like one of us."

Dark stared evenly at Jack.

"It doesn't take much to blow your cover here," breathed Dark. "Evolveds typically don't call themselves a 'filthy kind.'" He tilted his head and rose a brow. "You see now why we can't let Celeste go back home."

Jack grit his teeth, and he clenched his fists. A few sparks ran up his veins.

"You can't just—kill an innocent woman—"

"You're not with humans anymore, Jack," spat Dark, standing taller. "Either learn our ways or take the easy way out."

Jack swallowed, breathing hard. He'd already gotten so far... getting killed would take all that away.

He bowed his head and sighed, wrapping his arms around himself.

"Fine," he breathed.

———

Dark sat alone in the living room, running his finger along the edge of his wine glass.

The TV played in the background, its light casting a sickly glow on Dark's graven expression.

"I have to interrupt, Jim," said one of the reporter's voices from the TV. "We have an important broadcast from an... 'Antinstine.'"

Dark looked up then, rubbing at his eyes. The channel went static for a moment, then blurred onto a person behind a podium. Dark squinted, leaning forward, his eyes widening when the camera focused on Jack.

What? But how?

Jack cleared his throat, which sounded muffled through the television speaker.

He looked different now—the way he carried himself, the way he dressed... and when he looked into the camera, there was a look in his eyes that bled with massacre. A killer's gaze.

"Yes, it's shocking, I know," Jack said through the screen, his lips curled into what would become his infamous smirk. "But that's why I've been trusted to handle the City."

Dark set down his wine glass, breaths going shallow.

What?

His mind began to race.

Just how much did he miss?

"I know many of you are mourning the death of Celine Edwards, The Seer," said Jack, lashes fluttering. Dark couldn't believe what he was hearing. "She was a magnificent leader. A role model for all generations to come." Jack continued to lie through his teeth, smiling all the way. "She cared for this City... for every single one of you... and she always strived for our Greatness."

Jack's fingers tightened around the podium, and he leaned closer to the mic.

"And that's why I know..." he snarled, voice going gritty, "how furious each and every one of you must be."

Dark's brows furrowed, and he turned up the dial of the TV. Jack gazed into the camera then, his eyes seeming to pierce right through Dark's.

"The Tear Stealer was the heir to this City," breathed Jack, his voice building in a passion. "But, out of impatience to rule—"

Dark shook his head.

No.

This couldn't be happening.

Antinstine took a deep breath, his gaze never wavering from the camera. He leaned closer to the mic, expression dark... and as the cameras closed in on him, he said:

"He killed his own mother."

...

Thank you all so much for readinggg! Also, Happy (Belated) New Years UwU

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Love,

Kas xoxo