CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 44 – LOSS

Chapter 44 – Loss

"You really toyed with that old man outside, Jack. Aren’t you so cruel to the elderly?" Liliana asked with an amused look on her face as she floated after Jack. She had heard the request Jack gave the man, and while it had left him completely stunned, the man still accepted — he knew how precious Jack’s knowledge was.

"A deal is a deal. I didn’t force him or twist his arm. He chose to accept freely," Jack replied. "Free will is a thing, Liliana."

"And I’m the one called a demon here." She rolled her eyes, still amused and hiding her giggles.

"That’s because you’re a literal demon."

"Yeah, yeah, apples and oranges."

As the two bickered quietly, Jack found himself within the main hall, where he was met with the sight of countless people. The entire place had been turned into a miniature shelter — fires burning, people tucked together, and a very gloomy, dark atmosphere.

The smell of cooking food and cigarettes filled the air, along with the clear nervousness in everyone’s eyes. It was exactly the kind of scene Jack expected to see walking into this place. It has been merely a few hours since these people lost all their lives and future. He didn’t expect them to be anywhere near calm or collected.

’Seems about right.’

As he walked in, everyone stared at him as if he were some kind of alien. They had heard what had happened outside, and they knew newcomers had arrived, so everyone feared they might be monsters who wanted to eat them alive.

Jack ignored those stares and searched for his group. However, it didn’t take long before he heard a noise.

"Alex!!! Oh my lord! Is that you, Alex?!"

"Mom!! Dad!!!"

Staring toward a corner, a couple emerged and rushed toward Alex, embracing him tightly.

"Alex... Alex... Hick... You’re alive, dear... I can’t believe it..."

"Mom, Dad... I was so worried... I was so, so worried..." Alex’s tears didn’t take long to fall as he hugged his parents.

The entire family cried together in a very heartwarming reunion. Then Jack’s eyes wandered to another side, where he saw Evan and Emi surrounding a single woman who was holding onto them tightly.

"It seems they were lucky enough to find their parents," he muttered.

"Family sure is nice, isn’t it?"

"Mhm..."

However, as Jack looked around, he saw no trace of his parents or anyone he knew — no familiar face, not even a neighbor or family friend. Nothing. This place was just filled with strangers he had never met before.

He exhaled subtly. ’Well, my neighborhood is on the other side of the city... It makes sense that nobody will make it here alive.’

And just like that, Jack confirmed that his parents were indeed dead. After all, there was no other safe spot like this base in the entire city — at least not one that could last for several hours.

A dark feeling filled his heart as the truth fully settled in. Just like that, he had lost all his blood-related family. It was eerily easy, like a swift end he could never expect. He had never thought that morning would be the last time he would ever see them.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he gathered his thoughts before finally looking up and walking forward.

"..." Liliana, usually one for sarcastic remarks and random comments, didn’t speak a single word. She was smart enough not to say anything about something so tragic. In fact, her expression darkened — she looked rather distraught.

He passed the families and headed deeper into the building. He didn’t want to disturb their reunion. Walking through the corridors of the base, he eventually saw one of the soldiers, who guided him the rest of the way.

Walking into the room, Jack was met with a simple yet vast space, several bunkers stacked on top of one another with simple mattresses and pillows. Approaching a random bed, Jack gently placed Luna on it. She squirmed visibly as if she didn’t like it.

Still, she didn’t wake up from her deep slumber.

"I wonder if this girl’s parents made it or not—"

"They’re abroad, not here," Jack replied as he sat down next to her. He then went completely silent for a long while.

Liliana chose to simply sit beside him, giving him her silent comfort in that dark moment. Even if he pretended everything was fine, and even if he was naturally cold and apathetic... these were still his parents.

The people who raised him, fed him, took care of him, and made him the person he was. They were kind, peaceful, and loving people who never hurt him.

They were among the few he truly trusted in that world. People he could call his own without fear of betrayal or prejudice.

Now, he had lost them forever. It made his heart sting... a lot.

"It sucks..." he whispered. "It really sucks..."

Then, for the very first time in his life... Jack felt like crying.

***

A while later, the boy finally stood up and walked out of the room after covering Luna properly and telling the soldier outside not to bother her or let anyone in. After that, he returned to the main area, where he found his group again.

"Hm? Oh! Jack! Here, here!" Alex called to his friend. "Mom, Dad! It’s Jack — he helped me the most! Without him, I wouldn’t have survived!"

"Oh my lord, Jack, dear! You’re alive too?" His mother was the first to approach and hug him tightly. The boy was a bit taken aback before he nodded his head.

"I can’t express how grateful I am for keeping my son alive! Thank you, thank you very much!" she said sincerely.

"I didn’t do much, Miss Amelia."

"Always humble, Jack!" Alex wrapped his arm around his friend’s neck and giggled before looking up and around. "Oh, by the way... Did you find your parents?"

"No. They’re not here."

"Oh..."

Alex and his parents stared at Jack, knowing fully well what that could mean. A moment of dark silence loomed before Jack broke it.

"It is what it is. They could still be alive somewhere in the city," Jack said, mostly to make the group forget about it. He knew very well the chances of that were near zero, if not zero.

"Oh no..." Amelia put her hand over her mouth. "I really hope James and Natasha are still out there. I pray for their well-being. May the Lord keep them safe and sound wherever they are."

"Mhm. Anyway, I’ll leave you to catch up. I’m going to explore the base a bit."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, don’t bother. Just talk to your parents and rest later."

"Ok, take care, Jack."

With that, the boy turned and walked away from the family.

"What are you going to do, Jack?"

"I want to know what I’m working with. This base could be more useful than I expected."

"Oh?"

"Yes. If I find the stuff I’m looking for, then I’m most certainly staying in this base for the foreseeable future." He explained to the curious Demon.