Daro's legs buckle underneath her from running so long from Marek's sight, they wanted to make sure they were safe and far from his grasp. "We should be safe here" says Jack. He starts putting the ruins signs on the walls of the office. A policeman rushes over to help. "Whoa, there! Let us get her to the holding cell to rest."
"Hey! You! What do you think you're doing?"
"Wait, w-where are you taking me? What's going on?" Asks Daro.
"It's okay, we have a bed in the holding cell. You can sleep there, must have had one heck of a night" says the first officer.
"Look inspector!" He shows his badge to reassure them that they were not criminals.
"It was a rough night indeed..." says Daro tiredly.
"I'm a detective, Jack Dickson."
"Oh! One of us, blue blood. That doesn't explain what you're doing to our walls." He looks confused.
"Well, uh..." Says Daro.
"It is protection from that BASTARD! Marek!" Jack showed his arms, which time made them into scars. She walks over to him and examines the scars closely. He hides them. "I did what needed to be done"
"Geez...us, man. You got problems. Name is Maverick."
She goes over to hug him. "More than you need to know...Jack Dickson" he holds out his hand.
"I'm Daro." She is still hugging Jack.
"What did you mean protection? Who is Marek?" Asks Maverick before he shakes both of their hands.
"He's the one that's been behind all the disappearances of the townsfolk."
"Maverick....It will protect us he won't be able to get in and out.... he seems to hold a grudge against us now.... Against me and Jack" says Daro.
"I kind of shot his arms and his leg, he's my nemesis" he said very seriously with hate in his voice.
"But he does heal himself pretty quickly." Says Daro.
"I recognize the name. Ah! Haven't seen him 'round since he was a teen...rough, childhood. Became a troublemaker and feared by many people because he was special. Ran away at 14. Dang. He's gotten worse over the years, not real surprising." Maverick goes to computer and pulls up Jack's case with Marek.
"You know the case on us both? I was told earlier that I was special as well but why?" Asked Jack.
"I don't know...I only know what is put in the system anyway. Not much on Marek...doesn't look like there is a lot of evidence here."
"I'll tell you what evidence that BASTARD DID! He-he! Took my EVERYTHING!" He slammed his hand on the desk and bit his lip. Daro comfort him.
"I'm sorry.... I didn't think he would ever go so far...." Say Maverick.
"Someone by the name of Malacai said I was special." Says Jack confused.
"That guy, who owns the curio shop? I don't think that guy ever sleeps." Says Maverick.
"I-I've had these powers for as long as I can remember, yes, him. I-"
"Either way, if it's Marek you're dealing with, you're more than welcome to stay here."
"Thank you" says Daro, Jack was still in pain about his family.
"No problem."
"I think Marek knows I'm special. Just like him." Says Jack looking back up at Maverick.
"...." Jack was in thought hearing his family's cries, Daro almost got killed, he almost got killed. "You should stay here...I'll handle Marek"
"You mean abilities. Special is a word we use for one who's different." Says Maverick.
"No, Jack. I'm not going to let you do it alone!"
"Agreed"
"This is MY BATTLE! I can't lose you too!" he says looking into her eyes.
"And you won't...just trust me..." he went silent for a moment; he was a stubborn ox and was not going to let her do it in the end. "I am pretty different. I have some unique abilities"
"You'd be the second we've known here. Man... kind of miss the action, this town used to be so full of tourists. It's all so creepy now..."
"Letting you get taken or killed I can't handle it.... I'm not strong enough...." Say Jack.
"Yeah. Used to be known for the raspberries that grew on the hill. Once they died, people slowly stopped coming. So did the money that used to keep up the town." Says Maverick.
"Jack, I'm not letting you go alone. It's far too dangerous." Maverick cocks his eyebrow and looks between the two but does not intervene.
"Please Jack. Stay here with me."
"Hey, boys! We need a couple cars patrolling. Marek maybe back, we need a perimeter, STAT." Commands Maverick.
"On it!" says another officer and runs to their car. Daro sighs and tightly hugs Jack, not daring to let go.
Jack looked down. "This ALL is my fault.... I should have been there...and now...here we are...fighting Marek"
"We'll fix it together, ok?" Daro looks in his eyes.
"Okay...." he holds her hands tightly. She kisses his cheek softly.
"It's going to be ok. I promise." Jack looked down at her and knew he would fight for her with all he had, this time he would not fail!
"Is it? you almost got killed and he got you.... it's all my fault...." Daro falls silent for a moment knowing he was right.
"I-I just...I'm sorry, Jack." She lets go of him and turns to walk away. He takes her hand and looks at her with hurt eyes.
"Don't leave Daro....please" she stops walking and stands still before turning around and walking back to him.
"I-"
"Yes?" Daro sighs, looking down at the ground, not knowing what to say. He pulls her close and kissed her, she leans into the kiss and smiles.
Outside the station there was a child's voice. There was a boy seen wandering around. "Daddy?! Has anyone seen my daddy?! Please! I'm lost!" Daro looks up from hearing a child's voice from outside. "Mommy?! Daddy?! Help! Please!" The small child starts cry. Maverick walks to the door.
"Oh, dang. A lost kid! I gotta help!" Daro bites her lip nervously, wondering if she should help, knowing it could also be a trick. Maverick walks out the door, cautiously and calmly and walks to the kid. "Hey there. You lost? It is okay, I'm a policeman, I can help. Do you remember where you last saw them?" the child turns towards him, looking normal but like Jack. He shakes his head. "That's okay. Why don't we go to the station so we can find them together?" The small child nods his head.
"Okay."
"Do you think this is a real child?" He says looking down at Daro.
They reach the station. The child says "Th-thank you, mister." in between sobs.
"You're welcome! Let's go inside." He opens the door for the boy. Jack looks back to the small child wonder if he was okay and freezes, he fell to his knees buckle, his eyes a bit frightened.
"Hey, man. You alright? Look like you've seen a ghost." The child turns to see who he was talking to and meets Jack's gaze. His heart felt like it was breaking. He thought it had to be some kind of sick joke! That Marek pulled, which made him both MAD AND SAD!
"Alex?" his voice trembled under his breath.
"DADDY?!" He runs and hugs Jack. "Daddy!" he looks up at Jack, Jack's eyes showed such emotion to see his son alive.
"Oh Alex" he touched his son's face gently.
"Daddy...where's mommy?" Jack was in shock he did not know what to say but knows he must do what is right. ".... I....she....she is somewhere where they can't be seen and can't be hurt" he touches his head telling him gently. Daro looks at Alex and smiles, getting down on her knees to be at his level.
"H-hello...my name is Alex."
"Hello Alex, I'm Daro. Are you okay?"
Alex was happy now "Yes...now I have daddy with me!" She smiles and looks up at Jack, who had a look of shock still on his face.
Daro grew worried "Jack? Is...is everything ok?" She stands up, taking his hand into hers. He snaps out of it for a short time and does not know what to think, he seemed almost broken. She turns back to Alex. "So, Alex, is there anything you wanted to do?"
"Uh...I don't know. Kinda hungry."
Maverick smiles "Best food around! The diner is just down the street. Do you want to go there, Alex?"
"Yeah! I like the strip basket! As long as daddy comes."
"What if you and I went together? Your dad did tell me so much about you." Daro smiles.
"Well...okay. Since you're a friend of daddy's...I can trust you." She holds out her hand for him to take.
"Great idea! Food for him! That is what.... that's what a parent does...." he was still not sure what to think about his son being alive and if he was alive THIS WHOLE TIME! then...where was he? And who had him? Alex takes Daro and Jack's hand and looks up Daro, then Jack and smiles. Daro smiles and leads him out the door to the diner with Jack also.