Author's note:
I want to make sure
everyone understands that I do not know
where the hell this story originated from. If you
know, please tell me because I'm desperate to know
the answer to this. Jack's Shadow is a story based off of
a déjà vu moment I had thinking that someone had told me
about a guy named Jack who had a super power in which his
power was all in his shadow. I do not own the original. However, I
can not find the original or figure out who told me about the story because
the two people I thought told me the story said it was an interesting concept but
they do not actually know of this story that I speak of and it's freaky. Because I don't
know how I would have brought up this 'shadow super power' up in a conversation with
anyone. If anything, I asked my friends what they would want to have as a super power.
Rather a friend asked me and I asked a few of my of my friends and they all said the
general answers were flying or invisibility. Personally, I've always wanted to be
psychic and that's why most of my characters are telepathic but anyway. That's
not on subject. If anyone has any leads on this story please tell me. The main
character might not even be named Jack. It's only the name that my mind
keeps turning to so please. If you know, comment of contact me
because it is going to gnaw at me until I find out who it really
is. But in order for me to write a legit chapter for The
Revelation of Dragons I have to have the
information so I'm making it up since
it's my only choice and when a
writer doesn't have any
choices this is what
they do. They make
due. Thank you
in advance.
Read this
story with
the thought
in mind.
Jack's Shadow
There was a man known as hell
No one dared cross his path
Because of the power at will
He was a maniac
His life held in his shadow
The only way to live
And in the night his shadow became the night's curtain
So no way could dear Jack
Die for all his sins
A murder he was
And the attention was all his
Pounds and US dollars
Peso, all the more
Money cast in his shadow to end their likely hood
Then one day Jack was challenged
To be sent to his last fight
"I'll give you all the heavens, my mansion, and my dear wife."
"Go ahead and take my kids, my life savings, I doubt you'll win."
Said the man who was ready to give anything.
With a smile Jack proposed.
"Live as my slave, and then you'll have a deal."
Determined, the man went for it. His wife scowled at the hell
That her dear husband had made that day and shook her head at will.
"Sorry, Hun, but he won't win. For there will not be a shadow to cast.
In the place made of glass is a place known with no shadow."
He explained how he knew
That nothing would go Jack's way.
But Jack didn't care
For the man
Or his wife per say
He was in it for the challenge
The shrill thrill that he might lose
For the man was foolish to even think
That money was of value.
A billionaire Jack could be
But as an immortal he loved to be
Living away from everybody
Living his own life
Known as a devil
Or a man with a true heart
A saint to some
A curse to others
Jack and loved his shadow for his dear life
Appearing at the province
Jack bowed at the merchant as he sought
For the challenge of the one who stood above
"I hear there is a place unlike any other,"
Said the merchant with a thought.
"But are you that demon saint who lives only to rot?"
Jack laughed at the man's question, allowing his shadow to stand.
"This is my shadow and my life.
I doubt you'd understand."
"So you're a dare devil as well as a demon? But I know you won't kill me for the fun."
Jack nodded at the man's words and grinned wider than the thought.
"Precisely. This damned figure, has been challenged by the one and though
I may be on my way to my death, no immortal cared for so,
For you see, even if I die today. It's not as if I didn't live thy life.
Years have passed and I've tasted blood
And laughed and the scream of love.
Money has no worth to me
And it'd be hilarious to see
Something inanimate beat me
and my dear shadow."
"The challenge is what you seek." The merchant said with a nod.
"Go. I've told you of the place, of glass and there you will fight the sun."
As Jack took his shadow and left the merchant in his place, he mumbled something under his breath, a few words of grace.
For Jack could see, the fighter within the man's eyes
And the fact that man didn't run or scream for his dear life
Was amusing to Jack every time
He loved the ignorant and their bliss
In all his life he wished
He could live on like this
To live fighting every day
To feel the thrill in his veins
But Jack had not felt fear in days
And years because of his shadow
Stepping into the territory of the fallen hallow.
Known other than the 'stable' the one who stood their ground
Jack read the small pamphlet and crossed the boundaries known to man
The tour guide shouted
And warned Jack of his falling grace
That one day, the stable would be challenged
And never would it take
Anything but the soul
Of the debate
Standing face to face, with the boulder Jack felt the people laughing
"He's challenging a mere rock!"
"How will it fight him back?"
"Indeed, that is the devil saint known as Jack."
When people heard those words.
They were hushed and watch intently
As Jack summoned his shadow
To bring upon the deity
"I challenge you dear fallen
I am here to set you free
From you casualties
And the thoughts that you might be
Alive and lost
In that standing ovation
For you are nothing other than
A mere soul
On my hit list
Allow my respects dearest fallen."
Bowing and attempting to summon Jack's shadow he felt his life
As if began to slip away and his knee his the glass twice.
One knee hit the glass then the other followed then
His breath began to shallow and he looked around at the crowd to catch a hint.
None of them bared a shadow. Although light showed all around
Lit up by the dun at every angle found
Concern filled the tour guides eyes
Yet he did not move
For he felt the longing Jack had to finally lose
But as he felt his heart
He remembered that his shadow was also a part
Of him and not only was he the one in danger
His shadow was on the line
He couldn't lose his shadow
His dearest love
All his pride
Over thousands of years, not as old as some artifacts
But old enough to win
This simple challenge placed on him
On his heavy heart
To wager all his love
And all the blood spilled by his might.
His will arose and gave him, enough energy to strain.
He had to touch the rock
That way he could seep away all the pain
The struggle was felt all around him
Each person watch, amazed
As Jack inched forward, losing strength with the strain
The intensity proposed some tears to some woman's eyes
Even some men touched by the moment knelt down to cry
From around the globe, they preyed
They bowed to their different Gods
Because oddly enough,
This immortal touched their lives.
"What you are seeing is the devil-
is the saint-
is a god-
an immortal-
fighting for all his strength."
The merchant held the currency in his hand, amused by the blessing
If this Jack was a devil,
Why lend a merchant a hand?
What was it that the merchant had done other than give the information he had asked?
Closing for the day,
The merchant took the flask
And walked to the memorial
Of the stable god.
Searching for an answer,
He thought he might see
But instead as he found it
The deity made from the ground
He watched as his falling hero, gasped for his last breath
And with all the little strength he had left
The shadow appeared, over the rock and looked down at Jack with a smile from ear to ear
As Jack's shadow eyes and his own, met with a smile on the ground.
Jack pushed himself up, with his regained strength.
Embracing his dearest shadow, he held him for his dear life.
"I never thought I'd feel what it was like
To live without you, without life."
The shadow nodded and bowed, at the crowd whose cheers could be heard
A smile on the merchant, made him turn on his heels
He laughed to himself and walked
All the way home
Knowing exactly why
The saint had bless his abode.
Breathing hard and turning, Jack finally faced the crowd.
Taking one step forward, the rock crumbled to the ground.
Each piece had a shadow, and each piece gave him thanks.
The tour guide smirked and cursed about the intake
Now his boss would be angry
And it was because he did nothing
To stop the devil saint Jack
From ruining the place
Approach him with a gleam in his eyes,
The tour guide stood wonder filled
How could a guy with such gentle eyes be a mass murderer
But still...
"You have that on camera, no?" Jack asked with a grin
The tour guided nodded, and pointed up at the ceiling.
"There's no audio," The tour guide shrugged.
"As long as it captured the moment."
Jack smiled and patted the man on the back,
"Let today be known as my death."
Confused and head shaking, the tour guide refused.
"But you're alive, more alive than you walked in here."
Jack nodded in agreement.
"This is the only day.
That I've ever felt this way.
My shadow is my life and my power
And today I saw 'the light'.
Let today be known as my death
Because I will be put to rest.
I will take my shadow and leave as I came.
Alive yet dead. It's all the same."
As Jack laid on his bed side, the merchant at his side, and a daughter of the billionaire, hoping for his life,
Jack shook his head and too her hand, kissing it one last good bye.
"As long as you are alive my dear and pass on the strife, shall your family live in peace and money will not prevail over you,
Show what your father couldn't do,
Be generous and be kind."
"Allow further generations, to know of the power of their fate,
As their shadows that they cast will determine how much it takes
For them to fall entirely,
And since I've defeated the strongest foe,
Let them learn that depravity,
Only feeds the soul."
-----------------------------------------------------
And before any of you suggest who I speak of is Peter Pan
I will send Jack's Shadow out to murder you.
Because the real story is in no way Peter
Pan. Do you see any pirates in the
poem? No. Okay then, I swear
if I see anything over Peter
Pan being suggested
I will personally
send you a
letter from
Jack.
