Laughing Jack: How To Put A Jack In The Box Back In The Box (Laughing JackxOC)

Chapter 15: Headaches and Pills Part 2

Dylan eased into the cold embrace of the water, feeling it envelop his body like a soothing blanket. With a sigh, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to sink deeper into its depths. Sometimes, he found himself wishing that the water could swallow him whole, offering solace from the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind. The frigid water seemed to work wonders, gradually easing the relentless ache in his head as it washed away the tension and stress that had been weighing him down. In the cocoon of silence, Dylan found refuge, his mind finally free from the cacophony of the outside world. Alone with his thoughts, he relished the tranquility, cherishing this brief respite from the chaos that often consumed his life. It was a rare moment of peace, a sanctuary where he could simply exist without the burdens of the world pressing down on him. However, his sanctuary was soon shattered as Laughing Jack abruptly materialized in the bathroom, his presence disrupting the serene atmosphere. Dylan's moment of solitude was abruptly interrupted, replaced by the unwelcome intrusion of the mischievous clown, whose sole purpose seemed to be to torment and annoy him at every turn..

"Oi, brat, if you're aiming for a death wish, I'm right here. I can make your demise more entertaining," Laughing Jack taunted, a chuckle dancing in his voice, as Dylan emerged from the water's embrace. Droplets cascaded from his drenched hair, framing his piercing green eyes as he pushed the wet strands aside.

"I wasn't contemplating suicide, I was contemplating life," Dylan retorted calmly, tilting his head back to gaze at the blank expanse of the wall before him.

"About what?" Laughing Jack inquired, half expecting Dylan to ignore him, but curiosity getting the better of him.

Dylan remained silent for a moment, pondering the question, before finally responding, "Leaving this town," his voice carrying an undercurrent of weariness. Sinking deeper into the water until he was staring at the ceiling, his eyes held a hollow emptiness, a sight unfamiliar to Laughing Jack outside the confines of Slender Manners. "I despise it here."

"Isn't that the dream of bookworms like you? Escaping to some quaint little town where you can immerse yourself in your books in peace?" Laughing Jack quirked an eyebrow, his head tilting inquisitively.

"This town isn't peaceful. It's cacophonous. Everyone here seems to be devoid of reason, their only skill being the ability to offer hollow sympathy to those less fortunate. It's grating, it's suffocating. If I have to endure this place any longer, I might lose my mind." Dylan responded, his eyes closing as if to shut out the oppressive reality that surrounded him.

"Ah, so that's why the kid gave the doctor that icy stare earlier, as if he were contemplating rearranging their facial features," chuckled Laughing Jack inwardly, his mind already concocting schemes to exploit Dylan's sanity. "Fascinating~," feigning innocent curiosity as he observed Dylan's stoic demeanor. "And does this tie into your recent fainting spell?" he inquired, his voice dripping with calculated interest as he watched the boy submerge himself in the water.

Dylan's response was measured, his eyes betraying little of the turmoil within. "Yes and no," he replied calmly, his gaze meeting Laughing Jack's with an unsettling clarity. "It's primarily stress-induced, exacerbated by sudden movements," he explained evenly, the weight of years of struggle evident in his words. The memory of his parents' divorce loomed large, a constant specter haunting his every step. Despite countless consultations with doctors, a solution remained elusive, leaving Dylan to navigate his condition alone.

"And don't even entertain the thought of using it against me," Dylan stated calmly, his gaze locked with Laughing Jack's. Behind the tired façade of his green eyes lay a weariness that seemed to penetrate his very soul.

"What? Who said anything about that? Are others attempting such futile strategies?" Laughing Jack replied, his chuckle betraying a sense of amusement as he observed Dylan's demeanor. The deadened look in the boy's eyes only fueled his twisted delight. There was something intoxicating about that emptiness, a perverse desire to ensure it never faded. He relished the idea of inflicting maximum misery upon Dylan before ultimately extinguishing his life.

"No. You're the only one privy to this information," Dylan disclosed, his tone tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I've never been one for socializing; friendships have always eluded me."

"Not that it matters," Dylan remarked, his voice steeped in the shadows of his psyche. "Humans are inherently driven by greed, consumed by their insatiable desires. They're ruthless in their pursuit of goals, willing to exploit any vulnerability, any weakness, to further their own ends. It's a bleak reality, one in which trust is a liability, a weakness to be exploited." His words carried the weight of someone who had gazed deep into the abyss of human nature. "In the grand scheme of things, life is but a fleeting illusion," he continued, his voice laced with a haunting resonance. "All living beings are condemned to the same fate: death. A relentless cycle, unless one possesses the power to shatter the shackles of mortality, to defy the natural order and transcend the boundaries of existence."

Dylan rose from the bathtub, the cool air of the room embracing his damp skin as he reached for a towel. "But then again," he murmured, a trace of contemplation in his voice, "I'm no exception. Despite my disdain for humanity's flaws, I'm not immune to them. There are desires I harbor, boundaries I'd cross, even if it means subverting the rules of this elaborate chess game we call life to claim my crown."

He wrapped the towel around his waist, a gesture both mundane and symbolic. "Until the very end," he affirmed, his words carrying a sense of determination tinged with an unsettling resolve, as he unplugged the drain, watching the water spiral down into darkness.