The Reaper

"Hey, it's good to see you're awake." The Prophet entered the tent. Carolyn got up to greet him. I moved to sit up but Carolyn had pushed me back down on the bed. I huffed and looked at The Prophet.

"I'm sorry Jake. I know Eve meant a lot to you. She meant a lot to all of us. I'm also sorry I had Jinxx knock you out. It wasn't something I really wanted to have happen- but you were just so.. hysterical. I knew it'd terrify some of the soldiers, and I just.... I didn't know what you would've done." The Prophet explained as he sat on the edge of the bed. I looked up at him and let out a somber breath. I didn't know what to say so I just shrugged.

"How are you?" He asked. I sniffed a bit and looked up at him.

"How do you think I am?! I was her protector Andy!" I exclaimed, fighting back tears.

"Jake- I know.... I was asking physically. Jinxx's spell was extremely primitive and blunt. I just need to make sure you're okay." The Prophet explained, placing his hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes and thought about his words. I hadn't really paid much attention to how my body was feeling- all I could think about was Taz.

"My legs hurt. My head is pounding, and I feel shaky." I explained. The Prophet frowned a little and nodded.

"Okay. Want me to go get Jinxx? Maybe he can try to fix it?" He offered. I shrugged.

"It doesn't matter."

"Jake. It matters. I know you're sad and upset, I know, and it's okay. But please- don't say your health doesn't matter." The Prophet scolded. I felt Carolyn's fingers through my hair, and looked over to see her crouching next to the bed.

"I'll go get Jinxx." She said and kissed my forehead.

"Thank you Carolyn." The Prophet muttered. She got up and left the tent. It was an awkward silence for a while.

"It seems you trust her more now." I whispered, looking up at him. He nodded a little and chewed his bottom lip.

"I've noticed you and her have gotten very close... and I know you don't let many people close to you. I'm trusting your judgment." He explained.

"Thank you. All she wants is to fit in." I muttered. He nodded again and let out a long sigh. He looked over at me with a worried expression.

"Jake... I know it'll take some time- but are you okay? Like... you're not going to do anything... right?" He asked.

"Do anything?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at him. He let out a long sigh and shifted so he was sitting closer to me on the bed.

"You're not going to try and bring her back." He solemnly murmured.

"No... I won't bring her back." I repeated after taking a long pause. The Prophet turned and looked at me.

"And Jake... I know we're The Wild Ones... we're immortal and everything... but, you and I both know of your human-like tendencies..." He trailed off. My blank expression turned a bit cross and I felt a bit offended.

"Yeah, of course I have human-like tendencies. Do you have any idea the shit I've seen? The gruesome ways people die?! I'm called The Mourner for a reason Andy. I mourn the lives I'm forced to take. I'm cursed to exist solely on taking the life out of once living things." I defended myself, feeling angry tears bubble up into my eyes and spill onto my cheeks.

"Jake, I'm sorry. I know, I just... I don't want you to hurt yourself again." He tried to calm me down.

"Hurt myself again?! What does it matter what I do to myself?! I'm immortal anyway! As I've said before I exist by taking lives. I bring pain and suffering. I deserve to harm myself for what I do!" I shouted at The Prophet.

"Jake, please. I know... but please. I know Eve was suicidal, I know she was self harming, and I know you saved her from that. Please- even though she's gone... even though we've lost our Chazona- our seer, she left so much behind. So much love, and hope. You saved her from self harming and suicide, how do you think she'd feel if you were harming yourself?!" The Prophet was growing angry and frustrated, I could tell. I didn't care, I was livid.

"Hey guys! Jake, I'm glad you're awake. I'm so sorry for having to knock you out, I was just tryi-"

"What's going on?" The Mystic and Carolyn entered the tent. Carolyn cut The Mystic off mid sentence when she noticed our expressions. She rushed over to me.

"Jake... Jakey, look at me. What's wrong? Breathe okay?" She placed her hands on my cheeks, forcing me to look at her and away from The Prophet.

"Jake's getting angry because I called him out on his self harming. I know he's going to self harm again now that Eve is gone. He blames himself, and he figures that since his name is The Mourner that he's expected to live up to his name." The Prophet explained, still angry. I heard Carolyn gasp a little and The Mystic stepped over to me.

"Jake... you're one of The Wild Ones. We're the leaders of all these soldiers... If they found out one of their leaders was self harming- I'm pretty sure a few of them would pick it up themselves... I know you're The Mourner, you're immortal... but our soldiers- they aren't... if they pick up on your self harming... it could kill some of them... not to mention the mental problems it'd cause..." He explained in a calm voice. Carolyn had let go of my face, and was now gently playing with my hair.

"They'll never find out." I said sternly.

"I don't care. I'm not taking a chance. I'm not letting you be alone ever- and that's that." The
Prophet ordered, standing up from his seat on the edge of my bed. I glared up at him.

"I'm serious. I'm not going to let you harm yourself anymore- and I'm not taking the chance of a soldier finding out. Absolutely not. I'll talk to Ash and CC, they'll help me keep an eye on you." He said sternly, then left the tent.

"He's got a good point..." The Mystic shrugged and looked at me. I glared back at him as well and he let out a sigh.

"Okay Jake, Carolyn said your legs hurt, you're shaky, and you've got a headache?" He asked, changing the subject. I nodded.

"Yeah. My legs have like this weird shooting pain, then it stops. It feels like electricity shocks me four to five times every minute or two then it stops and it's numb." I muttered.

"Okay, for now I just want you to stay in bed- obviously. I'll go research your symptoms. I'll be in my tent trying to read up and see if I can find anything in my spell books. Tell me if anything changes, okay?" Carolyn nodded and I sighed.

"I'll come find you if anything happens." She said while nodding. The Mystic nodded, and left after saying his goodbyes. It was just me and Carolyn now.

Notes

Poor Jake... trapped in both physical and emotional pain...

Tell me what you guys think! I'd love to hear any and all thoughts/comments/concerns. If you've got questions about anything I'd be happy to answer them! I'm desperate for your feedback!

-Ra