Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jack has planned this awesome day for his friends, a day to get their minds off things and no better way to do that than funland. He'd taken them to the park and his plan seemed to be working, no one was fussing over the radio or worrying about the king wrench so that was good.

But most importantly everyone was happy, keyword was, because as they were having fun the radio crackled to life and suddenly everything was forgotten, Jack was forgotten, it was all forgotten.

“I barely hear it” June said , she sounded frustrated,she was the one who fussed over the radio the most, “you gotta listen harder!” Dirk replied as they continued they're conversation no one noticed jack in the corner.

He let out a laugh, it wasn't a happy laugh,over the radio being fixed , it was more like a deranged laugh and to be honest he looked deranged too. That's what got the others to look at him.

“Jack?” June called out but she was ignored, “I'm-i’m such an idiot” “I thought this place , this day, this was going to be enough. But oh,no, not for you guys. You guys had to pick a side! Ugh!” He said as he knocked the bowl of popcorn off the table, they watched as it rolled on the grassy floor below.

“Wait, what are you talking about ?” Quint asked

“I'm talking about choosing what's important. And you didn't choose us. You didn't choose ME. You choose that!" The radio tried to talk again. “Jack listen-” June started but was cut off “ No you listen! It's never gonna be enough, is it” Jack by now was clutching his head and his breathing went heavy. His thoughts were spiraling. ‘Why couldn't they have just chosen the better option, why did they want to leave him, after everything they've done together, after everything Jack's done for them.’

“No matter what I do, you're all going to leave me ! He was now pacing and yelling , why was he yelling, it was like he couldn't calm down enough to not yell, it was the only way they'd listen after all. “That's not true” quint tried, keyword tried “yes, it is. Stupid radio this , stupid parents and families that, can't you guys see that we're fine as we are right now” slow tears were streaming down his face now, could his so called friends not see how much he was hurting , no they were too focused on that stupid radio “I'm right here and all you can think about is that radio and whoever is on the other end”

He grabbed the radio suddenly from quint, holding it high, preparing to drop it “woah-woah-woah be Careful “ June tried to get closer, presumably to get the radio, and where the problem started huh the damn radio. “All you care about “ he said addressing the whole group “ is taking everything we've built and destroying it. This is not the beginning of a better life” he spat out the swords as if they were poisoned “this is the end of the best life I've ever had, this radio i-its a tool of destruction” he raised it higher preparing to drop it when it spoke yet again.

“Our next broadcast will be our final broadcast. Is anyone there? Our next broadcast will be our final broadcast. We will try one more time tonight at 10pm.”

Jack slowly lowered his hand looking at the radio , June stepped up and slowly took the radio from him. Once it was in her hands she backed up quickly. He looked at the rest of the crew and they were looking concerned for the radio. For the radio, why not Jack, they finally looked up at Jack but they're faces were not what he expected, they looked at him like he was a monster. Maybe he was (Rezzoch was trying to possess him.)

They looked at him like he was dangerous, like he was trying to cage them, he wasn't! He..he wasn't..right?

He was trying to help, he was trying to show them that this was enough

That HE was enough…he was wasn't he?

He stepped back, he-he couldn't handle the looks they were giving. So he turned and ran away, past rides and fences and into the forest. He ran and ran, swiping fast leaves and vines and almost tripping over his feet multiple times. Until he finally reached a peak and sat down behind a tree.

He was breathing heavily

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, his hands trembling uncontrollably. He couldn’t catch his breath — no matter how deeply he inhaled, it was never enough, he wasn't enough. His vision blurred at the edges, like a dark vignette slowly creeping in. Rational thoughts slipped away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of dread. He didn’t know what was happening, only that something was terribly wrong.

He clutched at his chest, staggering slightly, his mind screaming.

‘They'll never get you Jack, can't you see they just needed someone temporary , once that radio is fixed they'll leave you and you'll be all alone’. He looked down to the scar on his hand, it was glowing slightly “why can't you just leave me “ Jack screamed “ we were one in the same jack , you have true potential join me, become a host for my body and help me open a portal to your world, we'll be unstoppable.. you'll be unstoppable and your friends, your family will never want to leave you”

Jack didn't know what to do, for all he acted like he was the leader and knew how to make decisions he really didn't, after all he was just a kid that couldn't get over the fact that his friends might not stay his friends…heh, he really was pathetic

Chapter Text

Rezzoch had little interest in the planet’s native species. To her eyes, they were weak, fragile creatures that died too easily, even from the simplest monsters. Their survival chances were slim, and many times, those who managed to stay alive only did so through sacrifice or deceit. She had watched them grovel and make fools of themselves, sacrificing others for personal gain while their own kind crumbled. The species' tendency to turn into zombies, mindless and only useful as feeders, reinforced her disinterest. They had no real strength or resilience. To Rezzoch, they were just pests—easily crushed, easily manipulated, and ultimately insignificant. Their struggles, their pathetic attempts at survival, seemed almost laughable. That was why she didn’t bother pondering too much about their fate or their place in the universe. They held no importance in her plans or in her mind.

She sent her most trusted servant, Thrull, to explore the planet and report back. Thrull was fierce and cunning, someone she relied on to gather intelligence without fail. He returned with a report that pleased her: the planet was perfect for her purposes. The terrain was lush enough to hide her movements, the creatures there offered enough challenges to keep her entertained, and the native beings were so weak that she saw little threat. She paid scant attention to the inhabitants, dismissing them as nothing more than background noise—until Thrull mentioned a particular group of humans. His description of them piqued her curiosity.

According to Thrull, he had managed to gather some of these humans into her “bestiary”— he'd convinced them it would help them instead of being her there. They hadn’t realized that this harmless act of collecting data would lead her straight to her goal: her presence on this planet. She found it oddly amusing how these humans had been so easily tricked and convinced; believing they were just part of some game or challenge. The naive trust they showed was almost comical, but it also presented a perfect opportunity. These humans were so simple—so easily fooled—that she could exploit this weakness for her own gain.

What truly caught her attention was one specific boy, Jack. Thrull kept going on about him, describing how he was easily manipulated and as long as he trusted Thrull the others would too. To her, Jack seemed ordinary at first glance. Thrull insisted he was easily manipulated, that as long as Jack believed in whatever lie he fed him, the others would follow. She hadn’t seen anything special about Jack—yet. Her interest was piqued only when Thrull reported that Jack had somehow defeated Thrull and himself, something she hadn’t expected. That act made Jack stand out from the rest of the naive humans. Defeating her trusted servant meant Jack had a strength she couldn’t ignore. When she possessed the king wretch—the creature marked with the scar Jack had inflicted—the boy’s importance seemed to grow even more.

That act of possession ignited her curiosity fully. The scar Jack had given her chosen creature was more than just a mark; it became a symbol. Possessing the king wretch fueled her interest because it showed Jack’s ability to cause genuine damage and impact. It was easy to possess the creature, as Jack’s feelings and desires poured out openly, making her infiltration simple. It would have been sad if it wasn’t so convenient for her plans. She relished the control she gained over him, seeing how easily he displayed his emotions.

Her favorite way to torment Jack was through his nightmares. She learned quickly that if she disturbed him when he was awake, his friends would notice—he was already distant enough, and any sudden move from her side could trigger questions or suspicion. Nightmares, however, provided a perfect cover. During his sleep, Jack was vulnerable, his mind unguarded. That was where she loved to meddle with his fears. She watched him quiver and plead in his dreams, asking her to stop. His eyes would fill with tears, trembling hands clutching at unseen horrors. It was a sick kind of pleasure for her. Seeing him become so fragile, so scared, was like a twisted game of chess—each nightmare a move to break him further.

When Jack was awake, her options were limited. She could only manipulate his perceptions slightly, causing hallucinations that didn’t alert his friends. But within his dreams, she had free rein. She explored his deepest fears, the memories that haunted him. Watching his memories, she saw moments when life was better—glimpses of happiness, innocence gone too soon. Most of his past was clouded by pain—an orphan shuffled from foster home to foster home. The ones he’d lived with recently barely cared for him, this one in particular had left him be after they saw him run toward the car that day. The earlier homes were crueler. Some beat him, starved him, or made him work until he collapsed. One family never even gave him a proper bed—he now found comfort sleeping on the cold, hard floor. She couldn’t understand how humans could be so harsh to their own kind. Such cruelty was alien to her senses. If she let him have one good dream, she knew she’d be giving him happiness he didn’t deserve, and that thought made her frown. No, she had no interest in giving him relief, not even a moment of peace.(She still did anyway)

Her purpose was clear. She didn’t care about Jack or his friends, not really. They were tools, pawns to use in her larger scheme of invasion and control. She simply needed the planet to fall under her power—nothing more. Yet, she couldn’t ignore the fact that Jack’s resilience was growing, and his stubbornness was beginning to threaten her plans. Would a human servant truly serve her well in this new environment? That question lingered in her mind. She needed to understand him better, manipulate him with greater confidence.

***

Rezzoch had been lying around, bored and restless, unable to act freely until she saw Jack leaving with his friends heading toward the amusement park. She observed with keen interest how Jack’s obsession with protecting his friends showed itself clearly. His hesitation, his quick glances over his shoulder, all hinted at past trauma. Something about his history with his previous families haunted him—maybe abandonment or betrayal. Her interest deepened as she realized this could be used.

The more she watched, the clearer it became that Jack’s feelings could be twisted to her advantage. As his friends talked about the radio, she could sense his anger simmering beneath the surface. She pushed a little—played off his emotions. When Jack finished pouring out his frustration, his friends acted coldly instead of comforting him. Their cold stare made her smile. They looked at Jack like he was a monster for not caring so much about that inanimate radio. They didn’t see how much he hurt inside, how much he just wanted someone to understand.

Seeing Jack run away and sit behind a tree, she knew this was her moment. The perfect opportunity to strike. As he distanced himself from his friends, she prepared to come out again, to push him further. She whispered in the dark, knowing he couldn’t hear her yet. "They'll never get you Jack, can't you see they just needed someone temporary , once that radio is fixed they'll leave you and you'll be all alone” it wasn't like she was lying she was telling the truth. “Why can't you just leave me? "The poor boy was hyperventilating now, (wait poor boy???)

“ They'll never get you, Jack. Can't you see? All they ever needed was someone temporary, just a placeholder until they fixed the radio. Once that device is operational again, they’ll leave you behind without a second thought. You’ll be all alone, stuck in this messed-up situation with no one to turn to, no one to help. She spoke softly but with conviction, making it clear she wasn’t lying. Every word carried weight, truth seeping from her voice like a heavy fog. Jack looked at her with wide, panicked eyes, his breathing growing faster, shallow as if his lungs couldn’t keep up. He was hyperventilating now, unsure of what to believe or do.

The words echoed painfully in his mind, and she seemed to sense his fear. Her voice softened, almost coaxing. “Why can’t you just leave me?” he begged, voice trembling with desperation. The boy was overwhelmed—his chest heaving, his face pale with anxiety—and she could see it plainly. Strange how she thought of him as a boy, a fragile kid caught in a situation far beyond his control. His vulnerability tugged at her, stirring feelings she couldn’t ignore.

She pried closer, her tone becoming more persuasive, almost hypnotic. “We are one in the same, Jack,” she said. “You and I share something deeper. You have real potential inside you. Join me. Become a host for my body—let me help you open a portal to your world. Imagine what we could do together. We would be unstoppable. No one would be able to hold you back. Your friends, your family—they’d never want to leave you if they saw what we can achieve. They’d see how powerful you truly are.” She paused briefly, letting her words sink in. “Think about it. This is your chance to be more than just ordinary. To be something extraordinary.”

Her voice was soothing now, voice full of promise. “Jack, I’m trying to help you. Truly. I’ve never once abandoned you. Maybe I’m more loyal than these humans who only see you as a problem or a lost cause. Don’t you feel it? The pain, the loneliness? I understand, more than anyone. Join me, and I’ll make sure you’re remembered. You’ll never be forgotten. You’ll always be loved and cherished. You’ll have a family—me, and the others—who will stand by your side no matter what.”

Rezzoch’s words hung in the air, heavy with emotion, but she wasn’t entirely sure how much her feelings seeped into them. She was aware of her own conflicted voice, how her true emotions intertwined with her manipulations. She knew her words carried weight because she genuinely cared—at least she believed she did—but part of her wondered if she was just hiding her real feelings behind a mask of persuasion.

Rezzoch had a special connection to the boy—an undeniable bond that she couldn’t ignore. It was only natural that she felt remorse and a desire to protect him. Her instincts told her to shield him from harm, to hold him close. It was more than just a connection; it was a deep, instinctive empathy. She saw the fear in him, the helplessness, and it stirred a protective instinct that she couldn’t extinguish. Her heart softened even as she spun her web of deception.

To convince Jack further, she showed him a vivid vision, one that burned brightly in his mind. In her mind’s eye, she was seated on her grand throne, regal and commanding. Jack was standing next to her, smiling—a happy, peaceful figure—surrounded by his family. His loved ones kneeled before them, offering homage and respect. Everything looked perfect—almost idyllic, except for the background. The world around them was engulfed in flames, but the fire was theirs—an emblem of destruction they had intentionally sparked. It was chaos they had embraced, and yet, in that chaos, they found strength.

She explained, “Do you see what we could have? Do you see how important you are to me? Even now, you matter—more than your friends ever told you. I see your worth. That’s what makes you special.” Her words dripped with conviction. “Even in this moment of your confusion and fear, you’re still significant to me. That means more than anything your friends have ever said. Their words are empty compared to what I feel. This is our future if you’re willing to join me. Together, we can shape the world in our image. The power I offer, the freedom—that’s what you truly deserve.”

Her promise hung in the air, a fragile yet compelling offer. Rezzoch understood that her words could be a flickering light in the darkness for Jack. It was about giving him a sense of purpose, a purpose rooted in her own twisted idea of salvation. Whatever his answer, she knew deep down the vision wasn’t just a tool for manipulation—it was a reflection of her own longing for something more, something beyond the pain and chaos she had always carried inside her.

“Join me” range through Jack's mind

Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me want me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me need me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me please Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me want me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Please Join me Join me Join me need me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join Me join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me want me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me need me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me please Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me want me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me please Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me need me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me want me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me need me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me Join me please Join me Join me Join me .WANT ME JACK, NEED ME .JOIN ME.

“Jack?” his friend, June her mind supplied, called out

Chapter Text

The group was in shock, how could Jack run away after doing something like that. It wasn't that they were mad per say, just confused. Why had Jack reacted that way, why had he tried to destroy the radio, why did he seem to harbor such hate to it. These were all questions they had but didn't have the answers to.

“Ok so I'm not sure if it's just me but that was weird” Dirk spoke up at last, and yeah he was right. That was weird. “Why would he react like that?”June said, as Dirk and June contemplated they noticed Quint was suspiciously quiet, and then it hit them that Quint was Jack's closest friend, he might know what was wrong with him. “Quint, do you know why Jack reacted that way” June prodded carefully.

Quint looked up startled “...well, it's not my place to say but Jack is an orphan, his foster parents aren't too bad compared to other ones…I think he's just scared of losing us, we had a talk, around that time he was protective over me, and he mentioned that he was just scared of losing us” Quint was quiet as he spoke, and nobody could blame them. Jack had taken them out here to have fun and to spend time with them because he cared and they had sorta tossed it to the side when the radio talked.

“Well…that still doesn't give him the right to do that, i get that he's hurting and that we could have been better but he also could have been better and tried to talk to us about it” June spoke strangely defensive, it should be expected thought, she was the one who cared the most about finding her parents and the radio.

They went silent once again. “We gotta go find him, he ran into the forest who knows what could be in there” Quint said “yeah dude, well apologize later, lets make sure he’s ok first”

They decided to split up to cover more ground, they had their walkie talkies with them so they figured it was fine, they would also check up every five minutes just to be safe.

***

June was...conflicted. On one hand Jack was one of her best friends and she knew he was hurting but on the other hand he also knew how important finding he-their families were to them and the radio was their best bet for that. She was contemplating it when she came across his figure sitting against the trunk of a tree.

She took a deep breath and called out “...Jack?”

Jack turned to face her , “June?” he said back to her.

***

Jack hadn't expected his friends to go looking for him much less June, he knew she cared a lot about the radio and would be the most betrayed by Jack so it makes him confused. If she had stumbled upon him she could have just walked away meaning her talking to him was on purpose…but why

June looked at him for a while before sitting down at the side of the tree. “Hey..” “hey Jack replied weakly, they just sat there, until finally June started speaking again “I don't get why you did it.. I'm not sure I ever will, but I do know you know why, what I don't know is if you'll tell me” it sorta sounded like she was speaking in riddles but Jack got what she was saying. She was asking him why he had acted like that earlier.

“ June “ he started before pausing and then he started again “I'm not…I'm not like you guys okay, I don't..I don't have a family to look forward to seeing, I don't have anyone who will actually be happy to see that I'm alive and doing..as well as we can get” a sniffle “. I'm alone in this and seeing you guys…” Jack stopped and let out a croaked Sob and rocked himself gently “seeing you guys so happy makes me over the radio just broke me, you all were so happy.. way more happy than you guys would've been with me”

“so you're upset because we were happy without you” and boy June sounded upset, she subconsciously gripped tightly on her walkie, of course she'd be upset Jack, she doesn't understand you, she doesn't know your pain ,get out of my head rezzoch,
hahahahhahaahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahah

-ack , Jack? “ Jack startled, he had been so lost in his own train of thought with Rezzoch that he forgot that June was sitting next to him. “S-sorry” June raised an eyebrow, an obvious question, sorry for what she said or sorry for getting lost in his head, he turned and looked away. “Jack look you're one of my closest friends ok, but if you were feeling..left out you could have told us we-” “you what..what would have happened , would anything change or would you guys pity me for feeling…this”

June spoke again louder and more frustrated “yes things would have changed Jack, you're our friend” “but I'm not family, I'm not important like your parents or siblings or anyone related to you” and Jack was just so angry, how could she get it, she had a loving home, loving parents a happy childhood, Friends, popularity, everything Jack wanted to have so desperately but never got, no what Jack had gotten over the years was abuse, words that no one would ever love him, being moved around the place because no one wanted a broken kid , back pain from sleeping on the floor, getting used to pain because at that point it was just part of his life, being forgotten, no one knowing he was there so it was almost Impossible to be forgotten because no one knew he was there. They would never understand and they couldn't understand . One one knew him, the real him, they'd hate the real him .Jack was like an old puppet toy he was passed around, his feelings were played with , his strings broken and then they'd just move on only to come fix him to do the same thing.

BUT HE WASN'T FIXABLE GOD DAMMIT

he was a kid who wanted love but never got it

Jack’s voice cracked and sounded like he was crying, he also sounded angry and he stood. And his eyes…oh his eyes looked like a certain shade or teal that June would never forget

“Gosh June did you really by the whole leader act, maybe my acting is good because it managed to fool you people, I'm not important I act like I am but I'm not, I'm not important to you, to Dirk or Quint, anyone here and especially not myself. I'm not loved enough to be important, to be remembered or to have people in my corner June, I just don't…I'm not even that important compared to a radio huh, an inanimate object was doing a better job than me”. His voice calmed down into a tone of nothingness like he'd completely given up.

“Why does Rezzoch believe in me more than you guys do” that said something right, that his friends, his supposed family, had less faith in him than a creature he had fought and was considered his enemy.

June paled “W-what do you mean by that Jack…you haven't been talking to Rezzoch have you , we defeated her didn't we” and …oh. Jack had forgotten he hadn't told his friends about Rezzoch possessing him .

A crackle went through the silent air “what do you mean Rezzoch isn't gone” June looked at her walkie only to stare as she realized while she was gripping it she accidentally turned it on, meaning the others that heard their full conversation. “Guys-no Jack…is Rezzoch back” Quint said slowly through the walkie

Jack ran his fingers through his hair “i-i mean, I think” “Jack it's a yes or no question” “...yes”

A gasp range out and quint and Dirk appeared, winded, it looked as though they had ran there “Jack speak, what do you mean Rezzoch is back, why didn't you tell us” Dirk spoke still slightly winded Jack sighed “it happened a while ago I…it happened a while after I thought I killed that wrench , Rezzoch possessed it shortly after and soon she did the same.” His voice got quieter as he continued, he scratched his hand and that brought their attention to it.

“Jack…what is that?” Jack looked down at his hand and noticed that his scar was out of his glove and was glowing, it was probably safe to say his eyes were glowing too. “Shit” she cursed as he tried to cover his scar and shield his eyes from the others. “Jack you need to tell us, what is happening to you” June spoke, “this is more than feeling excluded, Rezzoch is actively trying to possess you”

Jack felt.. cornered, he couldn't hide this from them anymore , he couldn't pretend he was normal or fixed, he couldn't play it off because they knew too much , well- , shut it Rezzoch,

“I'm sorry” June said “we can see that Rezzoch was kinda influencing you and we were kinda harsh”…I'm fucking sorry, did June just imply that he couldn't feel these feelings with the interference of Rezzoch, he feelings were completely valid dammit “Rezzoch didn't influence me” he stated looking at all of them “don't say that. I have feelings that should be considered..

Jack's breath hitched as all three of them stood there, watching him like he was a stranger — or worse, something they didn’t know how to help.

Dirk’s voice was tight. “Jack. Tell us everything. Don’t lie. Not anymore.”

Jack stared at them, eyes flickering between the people he once trusted with everything — and the voice in his head that had always *been there* when no one else was.

He laughed. Quiet. Broken.

“You want the truth?” he whispered. “Fine.”

He stepped back, the soft blue glow from his scar lighting his trembling fingers. “The truth is I’m tired. I’m tired of being the one who’s always barely holding it together. I'm tired of pretending I don’t care when I watch you guys talk about your parents, your lives, like there’s something waiting for you when this is all over.”

No one spoke. He kept going.

“I go home to no one. I have no one wondering if I’m okay. No one hoping I’ll come back. And when I saw you smiling over that stupid radio — for one second, I saw it. The future you all wanted. The families you might find. The people waiting for you.” His voice cracked, brittle and raw. “And I realized I wasn’t in that picture.”

June opened her mouth, but he cut her off.

“You don’t get it. You never have.” Jack’s eyes shimmered, not just with light, but with something darker. Older. “Every time you said ‘we’re family,’ I believed you. I *needed* to believe you. Because if I didn’t — if I let myself think for even a second that you didn’t mean it — I wouldn’t have survived.”

Quint stepped forward, face pale. “Jack, no. That’s not—”

Jack didn’t even look at him. “Rezzoch was the only one who didn’t lie to me.”

That froze the air.

June whispered, “You said she wasn’t influencing you.”

“She wasn’t,” Jack snapped. “Not like that. She didn’t have to. All she did was whisper what I already believed.”

His hands were shaking now, the scar on his palm pulsing with a dull, unnatural light.

“You want to know what’s happening to me, what's happening is I'm seeing my worth and what I mean to you guys”

“No,” Dirk said, voice tight. “No, that's not true. You’re still you, Jack.”

Jack smiled. It was hollow.

“I don’t even know who that is anymore.”

The glow from his scar intensified, and so did the pressure in the air — like the forest itself was holding its breath. Jack clutched his arm, trying to muffle a pained sound in his throat, but it slipped through anyway.

“I’m tired of being haunted. I’m tired of fighting for a place in a world that never wanted me.”

“Then stop fighting alone,” June said, suddenly rushing forward. “We can help you, but you have to let us. You have to trust us again.”

Jack shook his head. “You don’t want this version of me. The one Rezzoch’s twisted up. The one that’s angry, and broken, and doesn’t believe he deserves love. You want the leader. The protector. The version that kept it all together for your sake. Well guess what, this is the real me, and the only one to accept me so far is Rezzoch.”

June grabbed his wrist, firmly but not harshly. “We want you, Jack. Not the version you think you have to be for us. The real one. The hurting, terrified, human one.”

Jack looked at them — really looked — and something broke behind his eyes. Not violently. Not loudly.

Just… quietly.

Like the final crack in a dam before the water rushes through.

“I’m scared,” he whispered admittedly. “I think she’s already inside me. I think... she’s been inside me since the first time we fought her. What if I’m just a puppet waiting to snap?”

Quint approached slowly. “Then we’ll catch you. Before it happens. If it happens.”

Dirk followed, his voice softer than any of them had heard from him before. “We never should’ve let you carry this alone. We weren’t just blind. We were selfish. And you deserved better.”

For a moment, Jack stood there, the pain and fury and weight of years of abandonment pressing down on him like a stormcloud ready to burst.

But then, he turned the other “fine…” and something inside Jack exhaled — like he’d been holding his breath for years.

He collapsed to his knees, the glow from his scar fading ever so slightly. And June dropped beside him, pulling him into her arms even as he resisted — until he finally gave in and broke.

Sobs wracked through his chest, but it wasn’t just grief.

It was release.

It was finally not being alone.

***

Later, when the group walked back to the clearing, the radio sat untouched, still silent.

They didn’t turn it back on.

Not yet.

Because for the first time in a long time, they were listening to something more important than a voice on the other end of a wire.

They were listening to each other.

And for Jack — for the first time in forever — that might be enough.

At least for now.

***