Where my Dreams take me - part 3 Into the Dark city

            Night had settled on the land, rain continued to pour down on the autumn forest. Jack walked through the forest, sore and exhausted. As he walked he noticed the trees change from bright Autumn colors to dark brown leaves and eventually to bare trees with black gnarled roots. Jack had stumbled into the last remains of the dark forest. The dark forest was a dangerous place filled with wild animals and twisted trees. The Dark Forest is the result of corruption from dark magic spilling into a previously healthy part of the Autumn forest. The Haunted forest, which was now known as the cursed land was the source of the dark magic and corruption that tainted the surrounding area turning it into the dark forest.

            Luckily for Jack he was able to spot a city beyond the dark and twisted trees. Slowly the corrupted Dark Forest was being cleared away in development of cities and roads. Despite aggressive development, the Haunted forest, which was located on the edge of the city, was not touched. Too many workers, hunters, explorers and people in general went missing in that cursed place. The wildest beasts of the forest were nothing to be afraid of compared to the ghosts, spirits and demons that lurked in the Haunted forest.

            Jack walked in the rain toward the city. The dark, twisted trees parted to make way for a large brightly lit city, full of towering ominous buildings and seedy streets. From a distance the city was a beautiful sight, the city lights from the buildings and traffic shined like a beacon in the dark night, but as Jack walked closer he saw the city was unwelcoming and dangerous.

            He approached the city from the forest, he climbed over a fence, walked through a parking lot and ended up on the sidewalk. Jack needed to find someplace that was still open even at this late hour, so he could get directions or maybe even a ride home. As he walked he realized everything was open. This city was very different than his home in the mountains and that forest village were everyone went home at 9 o’clock.

            As strange and foreign as the city was, Jack somehow knew his way around. After a few minutes of walking he found a bar called “The lousy dame” It was a dive bar that no one in their right mind would visit. Jack went in, he felt compelled to go. When he entered the bar he saw it was a dimly lit room, with most of the place being taken up by a large bar and bar stools. A few old booths lined the back wall. The bartender was an old guy with a beard. He might have been old but he looked like he could hold his own in a fight. He had the appearance of someone who used to either box or wrestle when they were younger. Some muscles don’t go away.

            The bartender walked in “you must be lost” he said with a sneer. “Heh, yeah actually. Uh..were am I and could I use your phone?” Jack replied. The bartender’s face stiffened. “Yer in Darkcity. Formerly Dark Oak city. And you are standing in my bar, the Lousy dame. Just figured I’d mention that too ‘cause you look brain dead as well as lost. Also no you can’t use my phone. Only custumers use my phone”  The bartender replied.

 Jack smiled, trying his best to be friendly despite being called brain dead. “Well then I will have a beer a shot of whiskey, a basket of pumpkin fries and some chicken fingers” Jack replied. “Also I would like to use your phone” He added with a smirk. The bartender gave Jack a second look as if trying to place his face somewhere, but then walked into the back kitchen to get Jack’s food.

            Jack was hungry but he wasn’t sure why he ordered all of that stuff. He didn’t want to get drunk. He could have just had a beer, used the phone and nursed his beer as he waited for a taxi. “That’s an awfully specific order” Said a large man as he walked up next to Jack. “Yeah? No one order the chicken or pumpkin fries before?” Jack asked, trying to stay light hearted. “No, they don’t, because pumpkin fries aren’t on the menu, only people that know old Carl order them. He says they are a pain in the ass to make and only makes em for friends” said the large man. “Well it must have been a lucky guess. Who are you?” Jack asked the large man who was now looming over him.

            “Galose Rigs, and you are Jack the hammer” Said Galose the large man. He leaned down and Jack saw his face, which looked like it was in a permanent sneer. Galose has jet black hair and olive skin, he wore a trench coat over a bullet proof vest and a dress shirt. “My name is Jack but I don’t know…” Jack began to say but then Galose smacked the silver hammer that Jack was doing a poor job of concealing under his coat. the hammer flung forward but Jack caught it mid air, spun around kicked Galose so hard that made him fall backward then Jack raised the hammer above his head ready to slam it down on Galose. This all happened in a second and Jack moved out of reflex not rational thought. “Don’t touch my hammer” Jack said with a sneer. Then his face shifted from frightening to confused. “MY hammer? When did I ever buy a hammer?” Jack muttered.

 Galose, who was not afraid of anyone, was now on the ground shivering. He was thought he was going to be executed by Jack. “You kill people Jack, that’s not something you can just forget” Galose said after he got his nerve back. Galose had seen Jack murder people for less and smacking Jack’s hammer was up there on punishable offenses.

            Old Carl the bartender came back out with a Jack’s food and drink and was now wearing a smile. “You know Jack, I thought you were a lost bumpkin the way you were acting. I recognized your face but your attitude was way off. I didn’t know you enjoyed practical jokes so much” Said Carl as he set Jack food down. Jack was now sitting at the bar trying to remember his old life and Galose had left.

            “you know me?” Jack said in a shaky voice. “Yeah a’course I do. You’re my best costumer. I worried you would stop coming by after…you know” Carl said but trailed off. “What?” Jack said looking up with concern. “Isabelle…died. She died Jack, you did know that, right? I mean I heard you were there. I heard…well don’t worry what I heard. You just relax and eat and drink. It’s on the house. You rest up. Did you really need to use my phone” Carl said then began to smile as he mentioned the phone, remembering Jack’s hilarious ‘joke’. “No, it was a joke. I just haven’t been myself lately” Jack replied with his head hung low. Carl nodded solemnly. “I know my boy, I know. You two were set to be married and everything. I-I am really sorry” Carl said and then went back into the back room kitchen.

            Jack began to remember everything. He remembered his past but his present seemed hazy. He remembered Isabelle dying. He saw her gunned down by their boss. Jack was worked for a criminal organization as an enforcer. He grew up in Dark City, he was raised by the Organization and then became their strongest and deadliest member.

            Jack remembered he had just come back from a job when he saw Isabelle. She was beautiful, Tall, red hair with blue eyes. She was standing confidently in front of the big boss. The most ruthless man in the city besides Jack himself and Isabella stood unwavering as they spoke. Jack walked in and heard them talking. She had just joined the Organization for money. She had skills as a thief but knew she needed support to stay out of prison and get the bigger jobs. Her joining wasn’t supposed to be permanent but if the Boss likes someone, he doesn’t want to let them go.

            Jack went out of his way to talk to Isabelle on a regular basis. When she was around he let himself relax. He could be a nicer version of himself when he talked to Isabelle. They connected instantly and after a year planned to get married.

            “We should just run away, Jack. Get married and get out of the city” Isabelle said as she stood on the balcony of their fourth floor apartment. Jack slowly got dressed, as he talked “I can’t just leave, the work pays well. Besides where would we go? Run off to the mountains? I grow pumpkins and you raise kids?” Jack said with a sarcastic laugh. He put on his gray t-shirt, black jeans and black combat boots then walked toward the balcony. “Why would we leave?” Jack asked as he tried to soften his voice. He spent his days delivering death threats and orders, so when he was with Isabelle he had to consciously make an effort to not sound like an asshole. “I joined the organization to make money, I made money, now I need to leave. I don’t want to live in Dark city all of my life. Do you?” Isabelle asked. Jack grabbed his dark green trench coat and put it on then walked to the balcony. “No, I suppose not. The boss isn’t going to be happy” Jack said as he pulled Isabelle close. “The boss is never happy” She said. “You never answered my question. You wanna be pumpkin farmers and raise kids in the mountains?” Jack said with a sarcastic smile. “Ass” Isabelle said, she punched his arm and then kissed him.

            Months later Isabelle and Jack went to the Boss’ office together. “No, I need you both for an upcoming job. Besides you are two of my best employees” said the boss. He was an overweight man who had a taste for expensive suits, flashy furniture and naked woman paintings. Jack didn’t like being around him.

            “You say this every time we try to leave. You promised this wouldn’t be a permanent position for me. We both made money from me working for you. We both made out well, now let me go” Isabelle said. She knew everyone who worked for the Organization needed the Boss’ permission to leave or they would be hunted and dragged back to Dark city. “I can’t risk losing both of you. I can’t count on Galose or Big Davy to do Jack’s work and most of my professional thieves are small time” The boss said. Then he hesitated “One of you can go. Not both” He said then slapped his palm down on his marble and gold desk. “One not both. Take it or leave it” He said.

            Jack turned to Isabelle “You go, I wanted to stay anyway. This can still work” Jack said. “No, both of us. Jack worked for you his whole life. You don’t own him or me. We are leaving.” Isabelle said. Guards stood in her way to keep her from leaving the room. She gritted her teeth. This organization was pushing her patience. Without another word Isabelle grabbed two daggers from her belt and stabbed one into each of the guards. She jammed her daggers into their necks before they could even pull their weapons, or scream. The boss pulled out a shotgun from under his desk and fired it as Isabelle.

            Jack went to jump in the way but was tackled by guards wearing suits and ties. Isabelle only had enough time to turn before she was blasted by the shotgun blast. Blood splattered the white and gold walls. Jack threw the guards off as fury built up in him. “You didn’t have to do that! HOW COULD YOU” Jack yelled. The guards tried to restrain him but he pulled out his hammer and swung it through the air. It hit the first guard and shattered his skull on impact. The second guard was kicked to the ground before he could get close enough to attack, then Jack finished him with a downward hammer drop to the skull. Blood and brains splattered the floor and ceiling. The Boss put his gun down. “Feel better?” He asked coldly. The other guards didn’t even attempt to attack.

"Feel better?! I won't feel better until I split your head like rotten fruit!" Jack yelled then tried to lift his hammer but Galose acted quicker and broke an end table over Jack's back. Jack collapsed on the ground and was carried away.
  “Keep on eye on him. Like I said before I can’t risk losing both of them. He will come around. Jack had nowhere else to go. We are his family” The boss said to one of his goons.