chapter 1 No time for process

Jacob woke up on a normal monday morning. Having managed to sleep mostly through the night of New-York. The city might never sleep, but he certainly couldn't afford to lose more of it.

He slowly got out of bed, boxes still strewn around his room. The scent of breakfast mingled with Wolfsbane guiding him to the kitchen where his father was hurriedly dumping bacons and eggs in an empty plate.

"Okay I gotta go, don't forget to take your medications and have a good day at school dinner is already in the fridge and your lunch is on the counter."

Terrance Helion hugged his son and hurried away before he would be officially late for work.

Jacob blinked his vision still blurry. He ate breakfast in the heavy silence of the apartment his eyes glued to the two tablets next to his plate.

He was on his fourth week of Clozapine treatement. The third if not fourth attempt to find the right antipsychotic by his Pharmacist father.

The side effects were less than desirable. With a sixty percent failure rate he wasn't sure he wanted to keep going.

That is until he glanced outside at the window. Where an old building throned with gargoyles at the top.

He could have sworn he saw one turn it's head towards him. Jacob vividly shook his head and took the tablets downing them with a gulp of orange juice. Hardly helping his dry mouth.

He left the apartment acting like he didn't see the many eviction notice in his father's key bowl. His march to school stumbling a bit, the usual amount of dizziness making it hard to pay attention to anything.

Jacob managed to make his way to class on time sighing in relief as some amount of stress was lifted off his shoulder.

That was until he realized his first class was science. He didn't hate the subject in fact he loved it.

Only his teacher was the strict type who spoke a thousand words a minute and categorically refused to repeat himself.

Which often resulted in Jacob resisting the urge to scream until his vocal cords stopped working.

As Jacob went back to his locker with only a handful of science notes that definitely weren't enough. His lack of rush and stress let him notice what was spray painted on his locker door.

Crack head, weirdo, addict, spaz amongst many others in bold red.

"How did I not notice that was there." Muttered Jacob scratching off some of the paint. Unaffected by the hurtful words. After all he often directed worst to himself, getting angry over it felt unneeded borderline hypocritical.

It suddenly struck Jacob out of nowhere, he had forgotten his lunch. Groaning he let his head thunk against the locker door.

"Idiot." He muttered to himself trudging to his next class.

Miss Chloe his PE teacher watched him intently as he tried to keep up with the other students. Sadly his sheer lack of energy as hard to miss.

"Helion, one of those days?"

Jacob bit his lip and nodded still running or at least trying too. The other students flashing him smug smiles or snickering.

Only when his teacher ordered him to he sat down on the bench and watched the others play dodgeball. As usual stray dodge balls landed in his face. Afterwards the rest of the day was spent in a daze. Music blasting in his ears to drown out the cacophony surrounding him with something pleasent.

When he got back home his father was passed out from work. Jacob stayed up late in the silence trying to get his homework back on time.

It kept repeating over and over for the entire week. Jacob hoping with every morning that it would have a different outcome.

Things still appeared and dissapeared at the corner of his eyes. His movements grew more dizzy his mouth somehow got drier than the desert. New words appeared on his locker with each new day. And his head ache only grew more and more severe. The culprit a boy slightly older than Jacob showed off the paint can he used.

Trevor, that's the name Jacob caught when people thought he was spaced out and not listening. He didn't even know him, but Jacob knew people often just did things impulsively. He tried to let his anger go he really did, but as usual his patience was growing thinner.

On Friday at lunch Jacob ate his lunch on a bench in front of the school. Eager to escape the overwhelming sounds as his ears painfully rang.

Jacob went to take a bite of his sandwich only to tense hard as a cold spray of paint met the back of his neck.

And most of his food.

The obnoxious gap toothed laughter of Trevor filled his ears as he marched away like nothing happened. He didn't make it much further up the steps before he was pulled back by the scruff of his shirt.

Jacob swung, cleanly connecting with the other boy's jaw. Which is how his problems truly started snowballing into a full on mess.

~¥~

Terrance sighed as he gave today's fifteenth ordinance. He rubbed his eyes, this job hardly payed and the second one was no better.

At least it was Friday. He had the entire weekend with Jacob to look forward too.

"There you go miss Smith, your boy Trevor should be able to put his awkward acne phase behind him. Politely chuckled Terrance.

"Thank you." She replied "how is your son? I Heard he was quite troubled?"

Terrance had to force his face not to harden. "Don't we all, have a good day ma'am."

"Of course, bless you it must be so hard to raise a child like that." Terrance looked down at his phone as he recieved a call from the school.

His client yelped and apologized as she bumped into someone else. The new client tapped on the bell.

"One moment please."

"This can't wait." Replied an all too familiar female voice.

Inches away from accepting the call Terrance declined it and looked up into the silver eyes of his wife like she was a ghost.

"Helen." He breathed wide eyed.

Helen smiled tightly at Terrance her eyes full of longing, but also urgency.

"How, how are you?"

Helen brushed a lock of her curly black hair behind her ear. "I've been well, so is Calliope. How's Jacob?"

Terrance bit his lip.

"It's a long story."

Helen immediately started looking worried.

"This isn't a curtesy visit isn't it?"

Helen shook her head. "You two aren't safe in this realm anymore. I know you wanted to avoid conflict and offer a semblance of human life for our son, but his life is at stake."

Terrance took a deep breath. "Alright, let's get to my apartment to pack I'll drive."

Helen nodded and followed him into his van as they drove towards the island of Manhattan.

"Surrounded by a moving river." She commented as they crossed the bridge at least they undead gave you respite."

"The surrounding nymphs aren't really keen on letting anyone crossing. They just can't destroy the bridge." Replied Terrance his fingers anxiously tapping again the steering wheel.

"What's wrong with my baby?" Softly asked Helen her youthful face creased with worry.

"Nothings really wrong I just..." Terrance sighed deeply. "I got him medicated when he started seeing too much."

Helen's face passed through a gyroscope of emotions before it finally settled on anger. She slapped her husband's shoulder hard. "What the hell Terry!" She snapped "you know what kind of problems that might have caused!"

"I know okay!" Somewhat snapped Terrance as the road cleared. "It's a miracle he actually forgot the last time we were almost caught. His senses are so sharp and his mind so perceptive I couldn't even convince him the monsters under his bed weren't real. So I passed it for hallucinations to another doctor."

"I knew leaving you both here was a horrible idea." Groaned Helen dragging a hand down her face.

"What else should I know?" She demanded strongly.

"Well he takes after you and... well he's on the spectrum."

"The spectrum?" Inquired Helen with a raised eyebrow "is that another human over complication?"

"You know, the universe smacked him on the head with the tism stick."

Helen's eyes were filled with realization "oh." She trailed off unsure of what to say.

"I think he tries his best, but making friends been pretty much impo— damn it i forgot about the school call!" Groaned Terrance pulling out his phone. "Please call back the previous number. Just type in 0617 and call."

Helen did so and smiled a bit "that's the day he was born."

Before Terrance could take the phone back Helen accepted the call. He drove faster letting her take the reign of the conversation.

"Yes? No he's not available at the moment."

Terrance took a sharp turn earning a middle finger from a pedestrian.

"Helen Pylos, I am his mother."

"Did he win?"

Terrance would have fondly face palmed if his heart wasn't hammering a thousand mile a minute.

"Your sounding awfully judgemental." Scoffed Helen "you say they were interrupted did you even see how it began?"

Terrance glanced at Helen as her anger grew. "Then don't go labeling my son an animal you biased dipshit!" She snapped closing the call.

"What happened?" Worriedly demanded Terrance as he messily pulled over in front of the apartment building.

"Jacob got in a fight with several other boys."

Terrance sighed as he ran inside followed by Helen.

"Oh don't sound so mortified I'm betting he won."

"That's exactly what worries me." Terrance shot back entering the elevator.

To his wife's confused and slightly offended expression he added.

"There is nothing wrong with our boy, but he's got his fair share of inner troubles. Learning where to stop is part of them. Jacob doesn't like fighting one bit."

"Better than getting ganged up on." Argued Helen the elevator suddenly ratteling as it shut down.

"No no no no!" Terrance chanted under his breath violently pressing the sixth floor button. "Damn it it's not working!"

He jumped a bit at the sound of tearing metal. Helen pried the two doors so hard the metal yielded under her grip.

"Come on let's take the stairs!" She yelled pulling her husband along.

When they reached the door Terrance stopped his wife from getting in and entered the apartment. A few moments later he came out with an armful of different plants wolfsbane included. Helen took a startled step back there face twisting in discomfort.

"Are you absolutely sure he's not—."

"I watched out for all the signs you gave me." Reassured Terrance "now come help me pack, I'll take care of Jacob's boxes. Luckily he hasn't opened much of them."

"Why not?" Asked Helen as she packed away clothes and anything that looked important in travel bags.

"Jacob was sure we'd move again soon. And I thought he was just being negative."

"Did you two have to move often?" Wondered Helen as she picked a small medicine bottle labeled Clozapine with a frown.

"Whenever I felt suspicious, we've only been in New-York for nearly two months. Last year was spent in Canada. Jacob picked up French freakishly quick there."

Helen managed to smile a bit.

"How's Calliope been? How's school been?"

"She's been having trouble, but she has good friends to help her." Admitted Helen as she picked up a few fantasy books.

"Please tell those aren't Jacob's."

"Sorry honey, he reads more books in a week than I have in my entire life. Mostly fantasy books."

"As if this conversation wasn't going to be awkward enough. Tell me he hasn't read Twilight?"

She heard Terrance chuckle to himself. "He got through a few chapters before throwing it in the trash."

"That's my boy." Chuckled Helen now done with her side.

She entered the room quickly noticing how bare it was before having three box shoved in her arms.

Then the front door swung open. The two tensed ready to face whatever had entered uninvited.

"Hey dad I'm home." Came Jacob's exhausted voice.

Now that Helen wasn't sure she could face.

"Hey son, how was your day?" Terrance asked sharing an eloquent look with Helen.

"I know the school called. So we're moving again huh?"

Terrance looked thorned "yeah, sorry buddy I know you don't like that."

"Whatever." Grumbled the boy rummaging inside the fridge.

"Hey kiddo, you remember what I told you about your mom?"

Helen's eyes widdened as she vividly shook her head. Terrance held her hands in his looking up to her his eyes filled with trust.

"Yeah she left because she had to, she loves me deeply yada yada all the lies you tell kids when you don't want to tell them, you weren't wanted to their face. Why you started dating again? I don't care I'm more surprised you actually have the game you pretended to have."

Terrance's expression grew a bit miffed as Helen tried not to laugh.

"Why is your garden in the hallway by the way? Is your new girlfriend allergic or something?"

"I am not dating again son." Sighed Terrance.

"Your mother's back."

Helen heard something shatter to the ground and hurried out of the room to make sure he wasn't hurt.

In the kitchen she froze face to face with her son. His single Hazel eye staring at her in confusion. His other eyes hidden behind a swelled black eye.

Nearly fourteen years since the last time she'd seen him, yet she knew exactly that was her child. He had his father's forest eyes, her nose her ears and her messy hair, only his were this adorable shade of brown.

She heard the floorboard creak behind her as Terrance walked beside her.

But by the gods he looked tired, he was deathly pale with bags underneath his eyes deeper than a trench.

She tried to speak, but no words came out.

The shock on his face quickly turned into a blunt expression.

He marched passed her and she reached for him, but  he whirled around and slapped her hand away. It didn't even sting her skin, but it certainly stung her heart.

"Jacob." Sighed Terrance marching after his son only to have the door slammed in his face.

"He got that from you." Pointed out Terrance in a weak attempt to lighten the mood.

"He's probably going to Central Park, it's his favorite place to go here when he's upset."

"It is the quietest part of the city." Mumbled Helen.

"What is after us?" Inquired Terrance as he started carrying boxes.

"What else, hunters."

~¥~

Jacob sat at a bench as night fell on Central Park. He didn't mind the cold growing over him like a thick blanket. Hopefully no police officer would notice him.

"Sorry, got nothing today." He told a curious squirrel that passed by him.

"This seat taken?" Wondered an old man leaning on his cane.

"No I'm waiting for my midnight date." Scoffed Jacob with some humor.

The old man chuckled taking a seat. "Why alone so late? Don't you youngsters have better things to do on midnight?"

"Nope, my deadbeat mom came back into the picture and I'm just pretty overwhelmed." Jacob trailed off for a bit "and I am back to over sharing it seems..."

"Oh don't worry about it, doesn't hurt to have a nearly deaf ear to talk to."

"I guess." Scoffed Jacob kicking a pebble.

"It pains me to see young men like you don't go to church anymore. Surely some guidance wouldn't hurt would it?"

Jacob resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"And have another pray the autism away party. No thank you."

"Oh you misunderstand me dear Jacob, I mean guidance in morals. That would have surely saved your father from temptation. Although I have to commend him, not every men are brave enough to dance with the devil."

"I didn't tell you my name." Murmured Jacob suddenly wildly glancing around as he heard a noise. Suddenly the familiar feeling of a cold sharp metal object pressed against his skin made itself known.

"Now don't let that knife against your throat render you mute child." Chuckled the old man "my grand son has a bit of an easy trigger. Eager to prove himself that's always good. That's something your generation could use more."

Jacob tried to overlook the horrid feeling spreading around his body.

"I don't know who you think your talking too, but I'm broke you old piece of shit."

"Archibald, Archibald Sing is my name no need to be rude." Tutted the old man like a disapproving father. "I would have hoped your father would have bothered to teach you manners."

"What do you want from me then!" Snapped Jacob the person behind him forcing him back against the bench the blade pressed harder against his throat.

"If you tell us where your blaspheming father and your monster mother are. We'll make your death swift."

"Oh what a ravishing offer, like I know!" Yelled Jacob hoping someone would hear him.

"You'd be surprised how easy it is to buy police in these parts."

"I'm not surprised in the slightest." Huffed Jacob trying to buy time.

Several men appeared from behind the trees before Jacob. Each armed with rifles and crossbows.

"Dear child even if you could escape you'd be shot down in moments. Is that what you want? Slowly bleeding out from a gut wound stuck in the back of a cramped up limousine. Although looking at your face that might be a good service for you."

"I have no idea what your even going on about!" Snapped Jacob trying to keep his voice from cracking.

From the corner of his eye Jacob caught movement. The tiniest of whistle cut through the air.

One man was down, then the next, then the next. A figure making sure they made no sound at all.

Jacob turned his gaze on the old man actually taking in his appearance. Despite leaning on his cane his posture was pristine, his eyes marred with deep bags yet sharp as a knife. He still had a full head of grey hair and a scraggly beard.

His greens eyes didn't shine with malice, but strangely enough compassion. As if killing Jacob was an act of kindness.

From the woods rose a deep guttural growl, like the woods suddenly turned into a hungry beast. The person holding Jacob tensed harder the blade digging deeper.

"Don't worry." Calmly soothed Archibald. "The beast won't attack while you have her pup by the scruff. Isn't that right Helen?"

A blood curdling snarl was his response.

"Oh yes I remember you, my mangled femur still remembers you too. Don't worry about your boy, I'll make sure your heads are mounted on the same wall."

One whistle later and Jacob's captor was stumbling backwards. Jacob threw himself forward slashing the side of his chin, only to crumple to the ground as the old man swung his cane just right.

Jacob let out a small scream as his tibia was cracked. Red hot agony shooting up and down his leg like a warning sign.

It quickly dulled Jacob crawling backwards as the old man loomed over him. Screams and gunshots echoed along with a pained howl.

"Soon." He said "my old bones aren't made for that fight." He stepped aside and walked back down the path he came from, as if nothing happened.

Jacob looked ahead back at the bench where he sat. A towering black wolf stood over the unconscious form of a hooded man. Its head turned to him cold grey like silver.

Jacob crawled back faster wincing as pain spread across his bone again.

"Yeah that's a broken shin."

"Dad?!" Came Jacob's incredulous shout.

"Yeah it's me kiddo." Sighed his father stepping from behind a tree pocketing a blowpipe in his coat pocket.

"Don't worry about her, she barks more than she bites." Chuckled Terrance helping Jacob to his feet.

"What the fuck is that?!" Demanded Jacob "it makes a dire wolf look like a runt!"

"While I appreciate the compliment, please watch your language young man."

The voice was deeper, but it was undoubtedly familiar.

"The wolf talked. I'm going insane again why am I going insane again!?" Yelled Jacob tremors going through his body.

The tight hold of his father managed to ground him.

"I heard her too and you were never insane to begin with."

Before Jacob could demand an explanation Helen suddenly appeared by his side clutching her shoulder. The wolf gone completely.

"Let me." She said now carrying Jacob minding his leg.

Terrance winced a bit as Jacob tensed from the touch. On wide alert the couple marched back to Terrance's precariously parked van.

"Does your mother know we're coming?"

Helen sighed "do you really think I'd be here alone if I did? No I preferred endangering less people as possible."

Jacob tied his seatbelt and looked around anxiously. Wondering if another shooter would suddenly pop out from behind a tree.

"Okay things are about to get even weirder now." Began Terrance "you know all the legends and mythologies you've heard through Hollywood and novels?"

Jacob nodded unable to speak.

"Well every last one them is somewhat real. These myth just exist safely away from earth in different realms. Bridges are portals to these realms."

The teen could only blink owlishly at his father. Convinced that he was back to insanity. Only problem being that his hallucinations were usually visual, not vocal.

As his father spoke Jacob watched Helen put a trinket around the rear view mirror. A necklace holding a pink glowing crystal.

Helen noticed and gave him a reassuring smile.

As they passed underneath a bridge the other side slowly turned into a swirling tunnel of light of all kinds.

Jacob's mind was temporarily lost in the spectacle before him, his father's voice completely melted in the background unable to be processed.

Then it was gone as quick as it happened. Jacob felt weightless.

They were falling.