"Jack... would you calm down a little and listen to me first?"
Jessica spoke in the softest tone she could muster in this situation. However, Jack only seemed to be aggravated by it.
"What? You don't want to play? Do you think that the game isn't fun? I can show you! I can show you how fun it is!"
He tilted his head to the side as his smile grew wider. He raised one hand, curling and reaching out with his fingers tantalizingly, all the while looking at her eyes. His aim was fairly clear.
Jack wanted to start what he called a 'game'.
Jessica recognized this and hurriedly spoke up.
"Wait, wait! I'm just thinking about... the best way to have fun! If you don't think these things through properly, then you might ruin everything!"
Jack let out a gasp, quickly retracting his hand like he was scared.
"Ruin everything? How would that happen?"
Jessica took in a few deep breaths but didn't dare take a break for too long.
"You see Jack, when you try to play a game, you can't be so reckless like that! It has to be a game that both people understand, and some games aren't fun for all people, alright?"
Jack went into contemplation, thinking for a while. Mia, who was holding onto him all this time, fell back, her arms completely numb. Jessica grew a little nervous and spoke up.
"A-Anyway, what about a game that I like to play?"
Jack scratched the side of his head in confusion.
"Mm... ok."
Jessica took a deep breath and coughed.
"First, it would be easier to talk if we were facing each other normally instead of like this. We can also ask Mia for the things that she likes to do as well."
Jack tilted his head to the side before turning around, looking at Mia's collapsed figure. He let out a small gasp as he looked at her.
"Oh, Mia! What happened to you?"
Mia let out a weak laugh.
"N-Nothing..."
The skin on Jack's body reformed, wrapping on top of his flesh. After a moment of thought, he reached for his mask, gently pulling it off. It warped into a joker card, while the comical clothes had all disappeared. Unfortunately, that left him naked, as his old clothes were already in the bellies of some other creatures.
Still, he didn't shy away, not understanding that being naked was a shameful thing.
Though that didn't mean he didn't feel shame. After taking a look around, and observing their condition, he had a vague realization.
"Did I... do a bad thing?"
Everything suddenly calmed down. Nobody spoke for a moment, making the only sound in the air the heavy breaths of a bunch of exhausted people. Eventually, Jessica sat up and pulled Jack into a tight hug.
"I'm so glad you came back to us."
Mia blinked a few times before smiling weakly.
"Geez... you really have a strong grip, I must say."
Jack puffed up his cheeks and lowered his head. He occasionally shot a glance over before looking away.
"I'm sorry."
Mia let out a groan as she got herself up. She let out a soft chuckle.
"It's ok, it's ok. Besides, if it weren't for you, then we would've died anyway. There's hardly anything to blame you for."
Jack looked at her with puppy dog eyes, though it looked a bit like a horror movie with all the blood on him. Thankfully, it wasn't too visible due to the darkness.
"R-Really?"
Minori smiled and narrowed her eyes slightly while patting his head, though she did miss the first few times.
"Of course. Although the process was a little messy, you still saved the two of us from those bats. If it were us, we would've died in a heartbeat. But you used the cloak to hide us and then took on all of them yourself. Really... we should be thanking you. So, thanks for saving us."
Jessica tightened her hug ever so slightly and gently whispered in his ear.
"Thank you for saving us."
Jack returned the hug sheepishly before biting his bottom lip.
"D-Did I do a good thing?"
Jessica took a deep breath.
"You may have lost control a little bit, but overall, you still did a good thing."
Jack blinked a few times. His expression relaxed while his eyelids began drooping.
"I'm glad. Can I go to sleep now? I'm tired..."
Jessica let out a small laugh.
"Go to sleep then, Jack."
He then did as told. Both Jessica and Mia were substantially injured, and they had difficulty seeing. Still, they moved through the pain to carry Jack. They first got the lantern again and continued going back to the hub.
It was quite an arduous journey back, especially considering they were in no condition to properly defend themselves right now. But despite their fears, nothing ended up happening and they made it all the way back to the hub.
Though it was quite noticeably different from before.
Unlike all the tables filled with people gambling like before, they were empty. It was silent, with practically nobody up at all. Most of the various tents were ripped up. The few that remained didn't look the best either.
And the only person in this entire place was Emma. She was standing near the middle. Not doing anything. Like a statue.
There was the trademark smile on her face, that really didn't make her look any less creepy. It was all the more strange considering they walked in on her doing it like it was a normal thing for her.
She slowly looked over at them before giving a wave.
Jessica and Mia with a bit of nervousness. They didn't wave back in the end, instead carrying Jack over to the side and setting up a tent to take a rest. Still, Emma walked up to them, almost like she didn't recognize the fact she was being ignored.
"Hello there. It seems you guys were roughed up pretty badly by some monsters, but came out alive in the end! Well done."
Jessica furrowed her brows.
"Well, it wasn't really monsters..."
Mia looked over before muttering to her.
"We don't have to talk to that girl."
Emma tilted her head to the side, with that same smile.
"Aw, that hurts my feelings. And besides, just because someone is human, doesn't mean that they can't be a monster."
She glanced at the purple bruise around Mia's wrist, as though hinting at something. Mia let out a sigh.
"Whether or not he's a monster doesn't mean you can judge him."
Emma held her hands up sarcastically.
"Hey, hey, I wasn't trying to say anything that would offend you. My apologies if it came off that way. I just came here to say some congratulations."
Mia pursed her lips. On one hand, she was a bit afraid of her, but also didn't want to show that she was afraid.
"Thanks. If that's all you wanted to say, then you can leave."
Emma pouted for a second before smiling once more.
"Why are you being so rude? We're going to be on the same team after all. Unless you actually plan on leaving him, which would be quite cruel. However, I will take good care of him in your stead, so there's no need for him to suffer."
Jessica's eyelid twitched.
"...Why are you coming along?"
Emma let out a laugh like it was obvious.
"Didn't you know? I was fairly sure that you heard, but I made a promise with Jack that I would go out with him the next time he came back, no? Naturally, I am not the kind of person to break my promises, so I will be going with him. Whether or not you all wish to come with us is up to you."
Mia narrowed her eyes. The corner of her lip twitched as she weakly pointed at her.
"Y-You didn't have to listen to that! Sometimes people just say it for the sake of courtesy, taking them up on that offer despite that fact is being rude."
Emma raised an eyebrow after tilting her head to the side ever so slightly.
"Oh? And was Jack's invitation really just courtesy? I'm sure you of all people are aware of how excited he was for it. How about we ask him later when he wakes back up?"
Mia swallowed, unable to come up with a retort. Jessica didn't know what to say either. The time that Emma 'taught' Jack how to use a gun by shooting a random person was still firmly imprinted in her mind.
They both didn't want her to come along because she was even more dangerous than Jack.
Jessica eventually worked up the courage to look at Emma, saying her piece.
"Then we will see in the morning. If Jack really does want you to come along still, then we will do that."
She was just going on a last hope that perhaps Jack may change his mind, as small of a chance that may be. Knowing that Emma let out a chuckle.
"Alright then. Let's do as you say."