Jack Thompson's Arc

Chapter 22 of 25

Jack stepped over the broken glass and out onto the street. He stopped. Looked up. Right at you. "Hey. Quick question. Did you notice I was a completely different dude in that last comic? Tall. Handsome. Both legs working." He tapped his bad leg with the shotgun. Black flame curled around it. "Weird, right? Anyway." He kept walking like he hadn't said a thing. The lion lighter sat heavy in his pocket. Eight's warning sat heavier. Dr. Owl had a trap waiting, and 13 was walking straight into it. Jack needed to find the kid first. He pictured 13's flat face, the twin pistols, that quiet way he spoke when something actually scared him. Somewhere behind 13, Seven would be following, fists ready, luck running thin. Jack moved faster. The bridge inside him hummed steady, open both ways, and for once that felt useful instead of frightening. He picked a direction and committed. Find 13. Pull him out before the doctor closed the jaws. Jack Thompson, late as usual, started to run.