[center][img]http://www.outlookskates.com/DKtextLogoMain1dark.jpg[/img][/center] [b]Unknown[/b] The flames died down, the searing pain which tore across his body becoming a dull sensation of numbness, the ringing in his ears from the gas explosion becoming a subdued note of quiet, until there was nothing but darkness which surrounded him. Grunting exhaustedly, Jackie forced himself to his knees as he glanced around, hoping to find something but to no avail - only a shroud of darkness. He was within its realm once again. [i]"You insulted my legacy, Jackie..."[/i] He felt the voice's presence, yet this time it wasn't inside his head, but instead came at him from all over. That choking, black tone which seemed to take care in making every word as agonisingly grating as possible, as if the only form of expression it understood was one of misery, chaos and evil - but then, maybe that [i]was[/i] all that the darkness truly understood. [i]"You betrayed my gift..."[/i] It spoke again, and like before the voice came from around him rather than within. Glancing around, Jackie shouted back towards the darkness. [b]"What do you want from me this time, dammit?!"[/b] Silence followed, the darkness gave no answer but for the echoes of his own voice. Even now, after all this time, Jackie still had no idea where he was, or what the darkness had intended for him this time. When he'd died before, he'd gone to his own personal hell, one where the Darkness had reigned and forced him to face its own nightmares, an eternal war on the frontline trenches of the First World War, where he'd also met his great grandfather, Anthony Estacado - also trapped here by the will of the Darkness. But he also remembered how he'd found a light in that same darkness, fighting at Anthony's side to its very core until he'd been felled by another one of its nightmares, but all the same he was able to force it into submission, giving him the chance to finally take his revenge against that rat bastard Uncle Paulie. This time, the voice spoke from within. [i]"This is not your time."[/i] And he awoke. --- [b]Aunt Sarah's[/b] As he stirred from darkness, the faint aroma of fresh cooking entered his nostrils and gave him even more incentive to wake up. A familiar voice gave him the final boot. [b]"You wakin' up, kid?"[/b] Blinking several times, Jackie dragged a hand along his jawline as a man recovering from a binge-induced hangover might, glancing over towards Jimmy who was seated at a dining chair just across the room. Clearing his throat with a grunt, he answered sharply. [b]"I don't think I'm dreaming, at least."[/b] Cracking a wry grin as he always did, the Grape nodded. [b]"Least you haven't lost your spirit kid, I'll give you that one. Jees, you really [i]are[/i] one tough son-of-a-bitch. Christ, I woulda' thought Chef Vinnie had managed to cook a final dish outta you, but after the boys found you all busted up they took you back here for your Aunt Sarah to take a look at."[/b] The familiar name made him smile. [b]"Yeah, thanks Jimmy.."[/b] Right on schedule, she stepped into the room. Aunt Sarah wasn't a particularly imposing woman in any respect, standing just over five feet with short, greying hair which matched her pink and black sweater and greyed out pants, but regardless she drew respect from all those who'd come to know her - even the Chicago Guys. A long time ago, she'd moved from her life as a token Southern Belle to marry a distant relative from the Estacado clan, a respected mob boss, but even with such distance Jackie had always been close to her - were it not for her age, she most probably would've adopted Jackie from the orphanage as a boy, and even then she'd often visited him and vice versa, exchanging Christmas and Birthday Gifts. After losing Jenny, she'd been the only family he had left - and he was fiercely protective of the old woman. Jackie brought himself to his feet as she approached, quickly drawing her into a loving embrace as she spoke up with her faint, Southern Drawl. [b]"I was so worried about you, Jackie.. when Jimmy helped carry you in here, I almost thought we'd lost you again.." "I know, Aunt Sarah. I'm sorry, things got a little uh..." "Complicated? I suppose the family always will be, especially now that disgusting piece of work Franchetti is no long around to keep the rest of those animals in line... but you need to be more careful, child. You lecture me on how I should take things more easily and let you do some things for me, that I'm all you've got left, but that works two ways kiddo.... ever since my Jimmy passed, you and Jenny were always there to talk to, and now you're the only thing I have left. Please, promise me that you'll try and take care of yourself a little more, if I were to lose you too... it might break an old woman's heart."[/b] He nodded with a faint, saddened smile across his fine. [b]"I promise, Aunt Sarah." "See? That wasn't so hard. Now c'mon over to the kitchen, I've made you and the boys something to eat, you must be starving by now..."[/b] Even now, he couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at his dear old aunt's optimism.