Standing before the house, the three felt a mixture of emotions. Part of the three wished to allow Jack to stay inside, to live his dream, but each one, for different reasons, knew they couldn't. Skylar looked to Leon and spoke, "Did you know him when you were children?" Leon nodded in reply, "Then you will likely look like one again when you enter. This is his happiest moment, and if he was happiest when he was a child, you will change to suit that narrative."
Leon nodded and reached out for the door handle. Opening it, he stepped in first. The two followed behind him and arrived in front of the same room as the last time. Leon took a deep breath and stepped in. Crossing the invisible boundary between the corridor and the room, his body shrank to that of a ten-year-old boy, his white hair turning brown, and his sharp features becoming fat. Jack looked at him, and his face lit up. Running around the table, he nearly jumped with joy.
"LEON!" Diving into Leon's body, he grinned and looked up at his face. Leon turned away, hiding his sad expression and grabbed Jack by the shoulders.
"Jack." Choking back the tears, he said with a sad voice, "You need to wake up." Jack looked at him in confusion. Skylar moved next, whilst Jack was focused solely on Leon and moved towards his mother. Grabbing her arm, she quietly pulled her away. Jack's mother looked at the young boy with longing, but never stopped, the memory seeming to realise it was time to end.
Pulling her past the door, Jack's mother stared back as she slowly vanished, the room growing darker as her presence faded. "Leon, let's play." Ignoring Leon's words, Jack went to the table but paused and looked around, seeing his mother nowhere. "Mommy?"
Leon walked to his side. Grabbing his shoulder, he lowered his head. "You need to wake up, Jack. We both know this isn't how it ended." Leon's words triggered soemthing as Jack crouched down, grabbing his head in pain. He opened his mouth to scream, but soemthing compelled him not to let a sound out.
Skylar watched with pity as Jack slowly grew up alongside Leon. His eyes lost their spark and became hate-filled and sad. Throughout it all, he silently cried, begging for it not to end. The room got darker and darker, finally ending with a banging on the front door. Skylar looked around as the house shook.
"Leon." Calling out to him, she urged him to come over. "We leave now. He has to wake up on his own from here." Leon took a final look at Jack as he silently sobbed and nodded. Grabbing the two, they exited Jack's mind and returned to their bodies.
James looked around and noticed Xavier looking at Skylar with great interest before coming to his side. "Done?"
"Yeah," James said with a sad tone. Xavier smiled and shook his head.
"He had quite a tragic life." Looking at Xavier, he tilted his head as the other two woke up. "I couldn't help but look. I was interested in what caused this, but also." Looking at Jack's body, he smiled, "His ability. I wanted to know if soemthing caused it." Saying with his usual calm, Xavier pulled James away, letting the other two slowly come to and wait.
"You shouldn't have peeked at his life. If he knew, he might kill you." Xavier waved his hand to stop James.
"He never will. Anyway, he is fascinating, his ability, I mean. A parent's words truly are amazing." James narrowed his gaze, waiting for Xavier to get to the point. "They become a curse that makes their child never talk again, but also the source of his power. I saw his mother's pregnancy. Every day, she wished he would be born healthy and strong. Prayed that nothing could ever harm him. It is literally a miracle in the truest form. To manifest such a power from that is probably one in a billion." Grabbing his chin, he sighed, "A shame it only applied to his body."
James looked at Xavier, wondering how he could say that so calmly after seeing Jack's trauma. He would have spat words of disgust at him if it weren't for the fact that he could tell Xavier actually felt pity for the man whose ability didn't help soothe his mind. Xavier shrugged at James' look and carried on, "Anyway, our chance to grab Maria is coming. The Gentleman seems to be worried about soemthing else, now that he dealt with the chicken."
"How long?"
"Two days, so make your preparations." James nodded and walked back into the room. Seeing Jack get up, he saw him covering his face with his hands. Leon had already got up and grabbed the chicken mask, handing it over to him to put on.
---------------
"The Great Magician." Adrian said, walking into Magnus's room, "Your praise is sung from every house." Looking at Magnus, he saw the young boy smirk at his words. Looking around and seeing Alannah wasn't around, he smiled and made his way over to him. "I learned a new trick for you." Lifting his hand to his mouth, Adrian pretended to throw up a deck of cards. "Impressed."
"You're getting better at magic, Adrian," Magnus said happily, making a smile. Sitting down next to him, Adrian patted Magnus's leg and sighed.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come to your performance. They didn't let me in. The people in this city always look at appearances, never a person's soul." Adrian tapped his chest. Magnus looked him up and down.
"Why didn't you dress differently? Lucas says you have a lot of money." Adrian smiled and flicked Magnus's forehead.
"Just like how you always dress as a Magician, I will always remember my roots and dress like this. No one can change me, Magnus." Magnus seemed to understand and nodded, apologising for being rude. Adrian laughed and shook his head, patting his leg again. "Soon we may no longer be able to be friends, Magnus."
"WHY!?" Magnus shouted, making Adrian back up. Sighing, Adrian shook his head.
"You know no one likes me in our group. Lucas has suffered some troubles recently and, for some reason, thinks I will turn against Alexander because of it. It's not a lie to say that Lucas and I dislike each other; we are just opposites. He's using this as a chance to get rid of me." Adrian leaned over. "I think he's jealous of me personally. Because I'm so free."
Magnus sadly looked down and frowned. "I can talk to him for you. Lucas listens to me." Adrian smiled and scratched his scruffy beard.
"That is sweet, but it won't do anything. Magnus, I came to speak to you for two reasons. One is to say goodbye if I can't do it later, and the other is to warn you. Lucas does take care of you, but he isn't your friend. They are using you, using your desire to do the Greatest trick."
Magnus lowered his head deeper, sinking into his shoulder. Grabbing the ends of his bed, he nodded. "I know that already. But they are still my friends. Lucas, Maria, Alannah. Even Cain, although I can't see him right now."
"Yes. But real friends are people who only wish for you to do soemthing for them. A real friend, like me, would wish for you to do it for no reason other than you want to." Magnus suspiciously looked at Adrian.
"So you don't care about Zoktis." Adrian scoffed and shook his head.
"Zoktis seems fun, is all, and working with you guys made me a lot of money. But do I care about what comes from it? Not really. You guys can have it; I'm just along for the ride." Adrian leaned closer to Magnus. "Is what I wish to say, but I think my ride is ending." Looking Magnus in the eyes, Adrian's eyes sharpened. "Magnus, what you wish to do is possible, trust me. But you can't use it for them. It will only work if you are selfish and do it for yourself."
Magnus sighed, "But if I don't trick the doorway, then what can I trick?" Adrian smiled and flicked Magnus's head again.
"You're a genius, aren't you? Think for yourself. What is the greatest audience you could have?" Looking to the door, Adrian clicked his tongue. "Remember what I said and promise me you won't tell the others."
Magnus nodded weakly, getting lost in his mind. The door flew open again, and Alannah stood there, staring daggers at Adrian. Adrian rose, holding his hands up, and smiled. "Boys this age need privacy, Alannah. You don't know what he could have been doing."
"Get out." Alannah coldly said. Adrian laughed and got up, brushing his trousers. Going to Alannah's side, he went to pat her shoulder, but his hand was smacked away. "Don't touch me with those disgusting hands."
"Alannah, mine aren't the ones which turn a person to dust. That's you." Looking back at Magnus, Adrian smiled and waved, running off afterwards.