JUST A REMINDER: THIS BOOK IS SET AFTER WAKE UP AND YOU SHOULD PROBABLY READ THAT ONE FIRST SO YOU UNDERSTAND :)

Also please read the trigger warnings in the description so that you don't get triggered. Stay safe everyone! <3

"I missed you so much!" Mark yelled, wrapping his arms tightly around his best friend.

The Irishman responded with a loud, "I missed you too!" hugging the other back equally as tight. Ethan watched with an amused expression on his face: although it was quite a precious interaction, he was unable to understand how they hadn't suffocated each other yet. Jack eventually did back up a little and hug Ethan but with a lot less passion.

"How are you doing?" Ethan asked with a small smile.

Jack just shrugged, picking up his suitcase and saying, "Fine." Something flashed in his eyes though, something that would have told those he was with that he was screaming for help if they had noticed. They didn't.

"That's good, I suppose. Let's go home. I'm sure you're exhausted."

"I am. If I was back in England, I would have just gone to bed." To prove his point, he let out a long yawn.

-

Mark seemed to be buzzing with excitement due to the fact that his friend was visiting. Ethan was aware that the pair were close but he had no idea just how much Mark loved Jack. They were inseparable whilst they were in the same country. Ethan was a slight third-wheel but he didn't mind, as long as Mark was happy.

"Jack, aren't you hot?" Ethan questioned as they walked down the street. They were heading to the nearby park with the intention of having a nice picnic in the LA sun. Both Ethan and Mark were in short sleeved t-shirts and shorts to their knees but Jack was in his usual skinny jeans and hoodie. How he wasn't overheating, neither of the others knew.

"I'm good." Jack grinned but Ethan couldn't help noticing a bead of sweat on his forehead. He was obviously hot so why was he insisting on wearing clothes more suited for a winter month?

"How? I'm boiling." Mark chipped in, taking a sip of his ice-cold water. He let out a short gasp as he put the lid back on the bottle, just to exaggerate how nice the cold liquid was on such a scorching day.

Jack just chuckled to avoid the question.

From that day onwards, Ethan couldn't help but notice Jack was always wearing a hoodie, wherever they were, however hot it was. But... why?

-

"Ethan, watch out for Jack. Keep an eye on him." Blank muttered, concern written in both his expression and his tone.

"Why?" Ethan asked. He frowned, scanning Blank's body for any hints of what the man was talking about but he kept his posture stiff as usual and his eyes were still black and empty.

"I don't think he's safe."

"Why? He seemed fine yesterday?"

"He looked tired, didn't he? Those bags under his eyes..."

"Jet lag?"

Blank let out a sigh and shook his head. He shoved his pale hands into the pockets of his jeans, beginning to pace up and down the black room.

"What? What's wrong with him then?"

"How can you not notice? He's going through the same thing you were but you can help him. He doesn't have to almost die to be saved."

"What are you talking about, Blank?"

"You're so stupid honestly." Ethan raised an eyebrow, asking him to elaborate. "Idiot," Blank muttered under his breath. "It's Dark."

"What?" Ethan yelled, taken aback. He hadn't expected to even hear that name again as both him and Mark had made a pact to forget (or at least ignore) his existence.

"You heard me. He could be in danger."

"How come you're telling me this now? He's been here for a few days already!"

"I only just noticed? Anti looks different... his eyes are different and his hair is green. They don't really look too much alike."

"Anti..?" Ethan recognised the name but he just couldn't place where he had heard it before.

"Are you that stupid? Anti's his demon."

"Fuck. I need to help him."

"You do."

-

"Jack, we need to talk." Ethan started, closing his bedroom door behind him. He didn't want Mark to hear the conversation because he knew he'd get too anxious and potentially lose it in front of Jack. Jack sent him a puzzled frown, sitting down on the bed of the guest room. Ethan sat beside him, going silent as he tried to muster up a way to say what he wanted to say. As each moment passed, Jack grew more and more worried. Ethan looked like he was on the verge of tears but he was biting his lip hard enough to stop them from coming.

"Is everything okay?" Jack asked once he realised Ethan was struggling to speak. He was subconsciously tugging at his long sleeves and it didn't take long for Ethan to notice. He knew what that meant. The sleeves were hiding something.

"I know about Anti." Ethan's voice was very low and quiet as he tried his best not to alarm his friend. It was apparent he was alarmed though because he stood up and backed up a little with wide eyes.

"Who?"

"Don't act like you don't know. Could you please... take off your sweater?" (Me being British, I wanted to say 'jumper' but Ethan is American so gotta keep him in character, right guys?) Jack was nervous. His face had paled and his shoulders were hunched like he was about to cry. "Jack, please. I want to help."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I wear jumpers because I'm cold all the time."

"I know that isn't the truth."

"How do you know that? Do you not trust me?"

"I used to do the same thing."

"What?" Jack had backed up even more, enough that he could escape at any moment. He was standing right next to the closed door, ready to run.

"It's a long story. I-" Ethan was cut off by another voice.

"Perhaps I could help you explain." Blank was beside Ethan in his usual black attire, hands buried in the pockets of his skinny jeans. He was frowning and his eyes sparkled with anxiety. "I'm Blank and-"

"Get away from me." Jack pressed his back into the wall to get as much of a distance between him and the demon. Blank stepped forward but the other's response was to scrunch his eyes shut as if he was about to get hit. "Please... don't come near me."

"He won't hurt you, I can promise you that."

Jack's eyes opened as Mark called his name from downstairs. He then shot out of the room, relieved Mark had saved him.

So what do you think so far? :)