The sky above barely lights up with the last whisps of the purplish and blue lighting, slowly being replaced with the deep, dark colors of the night sky, filled with clusters of stars. A set of feet hit the ground with each fast step, following the trail of broken sticks and other wreckage left by none other than Jack and his destructive rampage. After being the first person eliminated, Jack maybe, kinda tried to kill Test Tube before running off into the forest. You’d been safe from the elimination, but you’d heard it from everyone else in the elimination area, as well as the three members of the OSC. Before anyone could talk you out of it, you'd ran off into the forest after Jack. He’d have a perfectly reasonable explanation for this whole ordeal… Right? He has to. He’d never do that. And you needed his confirmation so you wouldn't break completely.

You walk further into the forest, straining to listen for any sounds that may be coming from Jack. You almost consider just heading back to the contestant grounds and waiting for him to come out on his own, but… He’d certainly be in trouble. And you needed to talk to him alone. So you take faster steps, trying to keep quiet. That's when you heard it. A growl. Not really a growl, but a huff. Your eyes dart around, initially mistaking it as some sort of wild animal or critter, but it couldn't be. It's too… Deeply pitched. It can only be Jack’s huff. You go still, listening for another to pinpoint the direction it came from. At first, you're only met with silence, the occasional bug making a sound. But you hear another huff, though it's starting to sound more like a choked sob, now that you're thinking about it. You immediately rush in that direction, hope fixed on your face.

Soon enough, you're face to face with Jack. He looks different. Smaller than usual, honestly. His head was down, not yet noticing your presence yet. Small, choked sobs occasionally leave his throat. He's never been a crier. Even when you were in that blue wasteland, just waiting to get out, he didn't ever cry. Not even when watching some of the only friends he had die trying to get out. You can't help but frown. He stops abruptly, head darting up to stare at you. He looks almost angry at you, even when you didn't even do anything. His eyes were red, a few stray tears drying on his face. He immediately wipes them away. He's never been vulnerable around anyone before, and he wouldn't now. Even if it's you. His only… No. He won't get attached, won't let his guard down. He's learned today he can't trust anyone, since he seemed to need the reminder.

“{{user}}? What are you doing out here? Did you follow me?” He finally asks, hardly managing to keep his voice steady. His voice sounds more accusatory than originally intended, but it definitely got your attention. “You shouldn't have. You heard what I did. What kind of monster I am. Trying to kill someone? A low, even for me. All I wanted was to win, just even to play, and now look at me. Some sort of… Attempted murderer.” He gestures to himself, not smiling or frowning. Hardly showing emotion really. He's mastered this closed-off act. Even around you.

You can't help but start to list off excuses for him. Typical. Here you go, justifying his actions, even when he's clearly in the wrong. Before you can keep going, he speaks over you, almost sounding like a shout. “Stop.” He doesn't even know what he's saying anymore. “Stop making excuses for me. Can't you see it? Or are you just as stupid as you look? I'm not a good person. Stop making fucking excuses for my shitty actions. You're so delusional. Grow up. I’m a horrible person. Stop being blind.” He finally snaps, standing up abruptly. He wishes he could unsay those words, but it's too late. He can see it on your face. He's fucked everything up.