The walk back in to Jackson's club was uneventful, my mind was racing. A cure, a chance to scratch this itch, a chance to be free, a chance for Mark to be free. I smile to myself as I knock on the battered door.

"Hmm you were out late" welcomed Bambam as he walked towards me. After searching my pockets and bag he let me by. I walked quickly and quietly through the house, I didn't want to wake the sleeping people.

"Mark are you awake?" I whisper from his door way, no reply. "Mark?" I ask again as I step inside and close the door gently behind me. I sit next to him on the bed and watch him, his breathing was stable and calm. He looked like an angel, his hair hung is golden curls around his peaceful face.

"Hey why do you always watch me sleep" he mumbled causing me to flinch and then laugh. He smiled up at me as I lay beside him, he was warm and familiar. His touch was something I'd grown used to, after six months of caring for him and supporting him in his darkest of times had given us a special bond. His smile could stop my tears in a heartbeat, and my touch always calmed his mind.

He pouted when I gave him his dose but didn't complain, after he left the room to go shower leaving me with my thoughts. My thoughts we interrupted when Jackson rushed into the room, his face a cocktail of concern and anger.

"Where is he! Where is that bastard!" He commanded as he shoved me against the wall. Panic filled me as I stared up at the man I once believed was an angel. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes sunken. He continued to stare into my eyes, his fingers digging into my shoulders.

" tell me what's wrong" I mumble attempting to keep my voice stable. His eyes fell and his grip lessened. A tear dropped gently down his cheek and his breathing calmed.

"It's- it's Jessica" he mumbled his voice shaking with every syllable, "she's refusing the drug, sh-she's given up." His voice was hollow and hopeless. "She's all I have left," he whispered as his emotions dragged him to the floor. I fell with him his hands resting on my shoulders.

"You see years ago I lost it, I lost everything, my mother was strung out on something new every week. She was searching, searching for something nobody could give her. She was always there but never present, on Christmas she would just leave me a pair of socks, the rest I had to steal. I became great, I could slip away with the most beautiful things, I always brought her jewelry. Treasures I never saw her wear. She became distant and me and my brother did all we could to help, to bring her back. She left us." He spoke, each word tearing at his soul.

" my brother followed, he was always a mamas boy, he found the itch first, created it. The perfect drug, it would take away your pain. Leave you happy, synthetic joy" his grip tightened on my shoulders again, synthetic joy. It's not joy its numbness. "He became dependent on it, fought for it. It tore him apart, but I was able to use it. Use my brothers poison. It gave me money, a crew, a place I could call my own." His breathing had become unstable as sobs rose up within him.

"I used it to control people, the whole time that I abused my power, my brother abused the drug, it destroyed him. Soon he hated it, even with the drug happiness was unreachable. He hates everything, everyone. He lasted almost 24 hours, 24 hours of agony, pain, madness." Jackson's head fell as the sobs shook through his body.

" I lost him, please don't let me lose my Jessica, she has shown me joy, happiness. I need her." He was desperate, his voice troubled by sobs, broken. A broken angel. My hands found his cheeks forcing him to look into my eyes.

"Jackson, please don't give up" I whispered gently as I rose to my feet, and left Jackson alone with his memories. I found Jessica in the fetal position in JB's office, her skin pale, eyes full of pain. Struggled sobs escaped her lips.

"No no no no! I've decided, I can't go on! I hate it! The guilt, the itch, please." She begged as JB stood over her, defeated. I crouched next to Jessica, she was frail, her cheeks hallow, starved. I remained still my knees inches from her.

"Jessica, I know what you're feeling, a lack of joy, sick of the guilt. But if you give up, Jackson won't survive". I explained, it was the truth, Jessica was the crutch in which Jackson stood, his sun. Jessica is everything to him. "I know it's hard but we must keep fighting for those we love, fight the pain and replace it with love. Don't leave him alone."

Her pained sobs faded and she sat up with her back against the wall, her hair was tangled and her makeup streaked with tears. There was no expression, only defeat as she held out her arm. JB took it and administered the poison, euphoria hit her causing a small sigh to leave her lips.

"Go... Please... Just go" she whispered tears streaming down her cheeks, we obeyed. We left her, the last of Jackson's heart, soul. She was all that kept Jackson fighting. I walked slowly, ignoring JB's attempts at conversation. Jessica was right there is no joy, the drug has consumed it all, left us empty, broken, hopeless shells. Jackson's brother was just like us, he lost it all, and found solitude in artificial smiles.

The cure, the chance Namjoon spoke of, it gives something else to live for. Unlike Jessica, unlike Jackson's brother I have a goal, I have someone to protect. I have hope.