CHAPTER NINE: PAAK MILLER

It had been quite some time and Jake hadn't returned home. Dahlia was worried so she called Sky asking if Jake was still with her and she affirmed it. She asked for their location and Sky directed her to them.

Jake and Sky scavenged through his late mother's stuff, looking for anything that could be useful to him. As jake searched, he stumbled upon her journal. He skimmed through the pages when his eyes fell on a line where she described Alaric; his father, as a perfect start. He smiled and continued reading the things she had to say about his dad when Sky called his attention.

"She was beautiful" Sky confessed as looked at a printed picture of Edith. Jake went over to Sky and gently collected the picture to see for himself. He set his eyes on her and immediately, tears began rolling down his cheeks. Sky hugged him, comforting him.

"You should take the picture" she advised. Jake folded the picture and put it in his pocket. They continued scavenging.

"This place doesn't look dusty at all for someone who has been away from home for eighteen years" Sky declared and that was when they both beard the cock of a gun.

"What are you doing here?" A man from behind demanded as the pointed a gun toward them. Sky was terrified but Jake wasn't in the least.

"Jake what the fuck, this guy has a loaded gun" Sky cussed in an attempt to make Jake surrender. But Jake wasn't having it.

"What are you doing here?" Jake asked boldly stepping closer to him.

"And why the hell do you gotta ask that question?" The man asked pissed.

"The woman who lived here was my mother" Jake said.

"Edith never had a son" the man declared.

"And how do you know?" Jake asked.

"Because I was supposed to be her husband" the man said. There was a moment of silence then Jake spoke.

"Paak Miller...my mum had a few things to say about you"

"It was not my intention to..." Paak said but got interrupted when Jake gave him a blow to his face.

"Jesus Christ, Jake!" Sky said in shock.

"You left her, like the fucking dick that you are" Jake cussed in anger.

"I couldn't give her the life that she wanted" Paak said in his defence.

"You know I should be grateful that you left her, if not I wouldn't have been born, but you had no right to leave her like that!" Jake said.

"I was messed up kid...I didn't want to drag her into my shit"

Jake got even angrier and wanted to hit him more but Sky stopped him.

"Jake, let it go!" Sky demanded bringing Jake to a halt.

"We came here looking for memories your mother kept and he's the closest thing we've got, so why don't you stop fighting over old wounds and have a nice conversation with him" Sky suggested. It took Jake some time but he finally agreed to it. He helped Paak up from the ground and they sat outside on a bench discussing.

"What was she like?" Jake asked staring into thin air.

"She was beautiful, kind and caring. She knew my demons and she loved them anyway...but I was afraid that one day, one day I might hurt her"

FLASHBACK

"I'll tell you what, it's his loss. From the minutes I've spent with you, I can tell that he's already missing out. Not many can witness a wolf turn into a man and still be alive to tell the tale" Alaric jeered.

"What can I say.....I've seen worse my friend" Edith joked as both laughed.

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"Why didn't you explain this to her?" Jake asked.

"She wouldn't have let me go" Paak said.

"She said you moved on with another lady, is that true?" Jake asked starting into Paak's eyes.

"She was just a fling to pass off time. Her name was Maria, she had my daughter" Paak said.

Dahlia had arrived at the house and they all sighted her.

"You guys are having fun without me I see" Dahlia proposed. She noticed the serious face they all had on and immediately realized that it was no time for jokes.

"Ok...did I miss something?" Dahlia asked confused.

"Dahlia, Paak, Paak, Dahlia" Jake said introducing one another. Paak kept strangely looking a Dahlia as though they had met before. Dahlia noticed it and left his sight going to meet Sky who sat by a corner.

"Who's the weird guy?" Dahlia asked Sky.

"Jake's mother's ex-fiance, apparently he leaves here now" Sky whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" Dahlia whispered.

"It just feels right you know" Sky whispered.

Meanwhile, Jake and Paak continued their discussion.

"Is she your best friend?" Paak inquired.

"Sort of"

"And the other one, the brunette, is she like your girlfriend?" Paak asked.

"I'm not interested in anyone"

"Seems like anyone is interested in you" Paak said.

"My advice kid, open your eyes" Paak demanded.

"Last thing I'm gonna be doing is taking advice from you" Jake said as stood up and headed to meet Sky and Dahlia.

"I've made a lot of mistakes Jake, I abandoned the ones I love...don't follow my path, you'll regret it" Paak declared. His statement upset Jake and he retorted.

"I am nothing like you Paak and I never will be" Jake declared then ordered Sky and Dahlia to come with him so they could get going.

They had left the house along with Jake. They walked for some time and suddenly Sky began laughing. Dahlia in turn, did the same then so did Jake.

"Dahlia you needed to have seen Jake in action. Paak was like what are you doing here and I was like all terrified and shit but Jake was like what are you doing here as well and Paak was like why the hell you gotta ask that and Jake was like the woman who lived here was my mother then Paak says he was supposed to be her husband and I was what the fuck?" Dahlia jeered as they laughed along.

"Paak was kinda weird though" Dahlia mentioned and everyone agreed to it.

Jake and Dahlia accompanied Sky home. Before she entered inside, she told Jake to learn how to control his anger and heeded her caution then Jake and Dahlia began their journey home.

"Did she see your wolf side?" Dahlia asked concerned.

"No" Jake replied.

"Did Paak see it? Because there's something fishy about that guy"

"No one saw it, I promise. And you're right, Paak kept talking about these demons that my mother saw in him. I have her journal in my backpack"

"I see where you get my writing from" Dahlia jeered.

"She was a very detailed writer"

"Was there anything about Paak?"

"A lot, but I don't care about him"

"Some time I'm gonna need to go over that journal Jake...if you don't mind" Dahlia asked politely and Jake agreed.

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Paak had everything that reminded him of Edith in a pile outside the house. He held a picture of both of them in his hands. He stared at it for some time and threw it on the pile he had just gathered.

"Ignis" he said which meant flame in Latin and the pile he gathered caught on fire. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he watched them catch fire.

"I'm so sorry Edith" Paak said. He went inside the house and locked the door.

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"That Paak guy's just reading all kind of weird" Dahlia to Jake as they both headed home.