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I've been and am currently working on a Duskwood (Jake×Mc, post Ironsplinter Mine happenings) fanfiction. I know that fanfics take a lot of time to actually publish, with all the information searching, writing, editing, promoting, etc. process.

My only question is, would some of you be interested in it?

Since I have exams, competitions, entrance aptitude tests ahead of me, I've been thinking of publishing the chapters weekly, starting of late spring/summer. Until then, I'll keep working on it in my free time.

This fanfiction stepped in my life so suddenly, that it made two of my main project freeze, together with the help of writer's block.

Every feedback is welcomed, and I'll report back soon with more detailed information.

Until then, have great days!

I've been and am currently working on a Duskwood (Jake×Mc, post Ironsplinter Mine happenings) fanfiction. I know that fanfics take a lot of time to actually publish, with all the information searching, writing, editing, promoting, etc. process.

My only question is, would some of you be interested in it?

Since I have exams, competitions, entrance aptitude tests ahead of me, I've been thinking of publishing the chapters weekly, starting of late spring/summer. Until then, I'll keep working on it in my free time.

This fanfiction stepped in my life so suddenly, that it made two of my main project freeze, together with the help of writer's block.

Every feedback is welcomed, and I'll report back soon with more detailed information.

Until then, have great days!

Little Do You Know by Jules LeBlanc, Hayden Summerall is the forever Jake×Mc song.

Change my mind. I dare you.

Duskwood Incorrect Quotes pt.18

Mc: I turned out perfectly fine!

Jake: Mc, this morning you thought a ghost made your toast.

Mc: I DIDN'T PUT THE BREAD IN! YOU DIDN'T PUT THE BREAD IN!!!

Mc is petty, but Jake is even pettier.

The afterfire by slytherinlizzy is now on Wattpad!

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Story category: fanfiction

Fanfiction type: Duskwood, Jake Donfort × OC

Warnings: memories of childhood trauma; mental health problems directed at various characters; use of alcohol, cigarettes; mentions and graphics of injuries, blood, vomiting, explosion, sexual related content, murder, death, suicide, abuse, violence; nudity; strong language; use of darknet; stalking; continuous violation of personal and security rights; dark themes

Ongoing

Copyright: all rights reserved

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Characters: Jake Donfort

Lyra Ambrose

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Story description:

After the explosion in the Ironsplinter Mine, things went on with a quiet tension.

Not only did the fire leave behind an unidentified body, but it further enhanced the already intricately tangled threads. And this time, Lyra was in more danger than ever.

No one from the group is trying to reach her. Lyra didn't receive a single phone call, and she couldn't make one either. Is there a more serious reason than she thinks? Or do the others no longer need her? They got what they wanted from her, and maybe... they're now afraid?

Will it be possible for the girl to build further the precisely crafted spider web in such a way that as few people as possible fall into its trap, including herself? Will she be able to move on with knowing her last words to Richy were unforgiving?

And Jake... What happened to the man who won her heart with words alone?

So many unanswered questions, and Lyra got no one but herself to help figuring them out. And as any good detective does in such situation, she began to investigate.

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Excerpts from the book (spoiler warning):

[...] And to be honest, she knew that she was the last person who was important and needed to be paid attention to, but someone could really tell her what the hell was going on. With a sigh, she lowered her phone. Lyra wanted to stay still, like since the day Thomas added her to the group. When all of this mess came crashing in her life. And until then, she managed to do well. But it seemed that without the others, without a specific person, it was imposibble. All thoughts and possibilities of what's happening came crushing her down. Her mind was buzzing and dead silent at the same time. Shocked by the informations, yet already making things up. Her knees finally gave out, and Lyra fell to the ground, a crying, curled up mess on the rug.

She wondered if if Jake showed up there unharmed, would she start a fight herself, or rather just hug him without saying a word for as long as possible. She'll still think about it. Equally, the man would truly deserve both. A small tear rolled down her cheek, caught at the corner of her upturned lips. It really deserves scientific attention, that how the salty taste of tears can make one laugh. Lyra considered she might give up journalism and part-time detective work and become a student of biology or psychology department. It would be less profitable, but still more pleasant to deal with human brains and interneurons than to deal with mine explosions and murders from legends made into reality. The quarrel suddenly stopped, punctuated by a heavy slamming of the door. A similar door slammed in Lyra's soul recently, for which she's now desperately searching for the key.

"Probably when around a few days ago I thought I'm about to get kidnapped, but turns out Jake just likes to be dramatic, and now I'm stuck here with him." All the while, she didn't take her eyes off him, who upon hearing the answer suddenly looked away, hiding a... Oh look, was that a smile? 

As soon as she saw the familiar beard, Lyra hurried over to the screen, a flurry of irritated words leaving her mouth. She wanted to throw so many things at the man's head, but nothing more came out than: "Thomas, you idiot!" He stared back in shock and fear. Beside him, Lilly whispered in his ear, "She's really mad at you right now." "I see that."

She gently grabbed the other wrist as well, and as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other, she tried to encourage the black-haired man to do the same. The light of the lamp on the wall by the counter cast soft shadows on his neck and face, and he slowly began to surrender to Lyra's movements. The music hummed softly in the background, gently dancing with the lights as the two people did. Somehow this was different now than at any other time in Lyra's life. She was always the one who was led, the little lost, unfortunate girl, but now someone is relying on her, watching her movements. They are clumsy together, but this didn't fill her with nervousness, rather a pleasantly warm liquid flowed through the woman's body. If Jason or Betty saw her now, they wouldn't believe that this was the same Lyra they took under their wing just a year ago. Her adopted family would understand now, the journalist never had a regular family, but many and many, everywhere. She began to take bigger and bigger steps to the rhythm of the music, by that her dance partner forced to follow her example. Jake smiled down at her, admiring, loving how enthusiastic she was, wanting to spin him around. "You were right, you're horrible in this," he said with the biggest grin known to man on his face. "Sod off, kindly?" "That was very British of you," Jake laughed while trying to spin her around, the two almost tripping over each others' feet. "You're such a little weird one," he said as he pulled her closer, spinning around between the small kitchen area and the tables.

How do we feel about a little book excerpt? 👀

Leaving the apartment more and more often wasn't that easy. In fact, she'd probably still be sat in her bed, if it wasn't for Darkness and his annoying pushiness. Which Lyra found annoyingly working. The weather in Birmingham became friendlier since the start of June, and the man – yes, it turns out he was, in fact a man – was somehow aware of it. The two knew he didn't have to do it. He didn't have to care, send messages all day and night, when Lyra needed someone to talk to or just get her mind off of the case. After finding out about the disturbingly burnt body, it occurred to her that all this was just pity. That a stranger took pity on her and got so involved that he can't get out of it. But as the days passed, she realized that this wasn't the case. Both of them were lonely, and in it, they found a partner. Lyra continued to be discreet about anything that might tie her to Duskwood's story. Including her own name. But it was because of this continuous mysteriousness that she attracted the man's attention. He was determined to find out the secret.

A silly headcanon about how I imagine the group finally meeting up in person for the first time. (Containing F!MC)

• When the group finally has the chance to meet up after the events in Duskwood have calmed down, everyone would travel wherever Jake and Mc are without doubt to ensure their safety.

• Jake, who makes sure everything's safe in the holiday home's area Mc chose out carefully.

• Both arriving hours later than the others, just so they could go unnoticed on the streets and bus at night.

• Barely entering the house, Mc would immediately find a mess of red hair in her face, arms holding her close. They kept whispering reassuring words and small news for long moments, Jessy hardly wanting to let go of the woman. By the end, everyone was hugging everyone, only Jake standing near the front door, only letting his sisters and Mc by his side.

• Quickly overhwelmed and overstimulated, the man was extremely grateful for Mc to hush everyone and make an attempt to usher them all to sit down on the couches and chairs in the connected living room-kitchen.

• Jake going all tense because Phil was there too. Not noticing at first, but sharing the same feelings as the black haired man, Mc quickly froze down as well. She knew she would sit between Jake and Jessy either way, and that gave her another reason.

• Never leaving Mc's side, the girls would sometimes have to close the oldest Donfort out of the room if they want to have girl talk.

• All five of them giggled and spread out on the beds in the girls' room, having a huge pajama party on the very first night. Even though they were in their twenties, they were gossiping and laughing like teenagers, and even Hannah was having a great time.

• At dawn, when all of them fell asleep except for Mc, she sneaked down to the bottom floor, carefully entering the only bedroom down there. For Jake's sake, she looked for a three-bedroom house so that he wouldn't have to sleep with Dan, Thomas and Phil for two whole weeks.

• As she closed the door behind her, she saw a slumped figure on the bed leaning towards his laptop. Jake was working even there, paranoid that someone was after them. Mc was at least as worried, but she lacked these skills to fall into complete paranoia.

• They sat silently next to each other in bed, watching the rising sun, and when it hurt too much to blink, they allowed themselves to close their eyes. Just for a moment.

• Mc jolted up in a room covered with bright sunlight at hearing a huge clatter from the kitchen, while someone grunted "fuckshit". Glancing down at Jake's black strands on her shoulder, she stayed in bed, not looking for the unfortunate person who had probably woken up the whole house by then, except for this man who was fast asleep next to her.

• Jake Donfort, who until now had known no love other than his mother's, and then Mc came into his life.

• Jake Donfort, who had a hard time putting into words what he was feeling, knew that there was something there that hadn't been before. He wanted Mc to explain this to him, but was afraid of the question.

• Jake Donfort, who doesn't know why, but feels grateful to Mc for making him feel things he thought he could never.

• Jake Donfort, who wants to take her to places and kiss her in public because people would be jealous of what a cute face he's kissing. He knew they would be.

• Jake Donfort, who wants to give Mc the most, never believing her when she says he already gave it to her: himself.

• Jake Donfort, who all of a sudden finds himself in front of a Chinese restaurant, nervously picking at the skin on his fingers, searching every person's face in the dark, hoping the next one will be her.

• Jake Donfort, who has no idea what he's doing, but now knows why. Knows the reason behind his actions, feelings, and wants them to stay, because he hopes with that feeling that gets his heart beat faster and eyes see stars, Mc will stay too.

• Jake Donfort, who never speaks much finds himself wanting to share everything with her.

• Jake Donfort, who doesn't know how to express emotions, but tries doing so with what he can; words of affirmation and acts of service.

• Jake Donfort, who finds it hard to understand the reason behind why people love small touches, but gets it the moment Mc walks a bit closer to him on the street, arms touching ever so slightly.

• Jake Donfort, who doesn't mind anything Mc is doing, because he knows he wants it too, just not how he could make it happen. But Mc knows, and that calms him down. He doesn't feel useless or less, which was surprising to him at first.

• Jake Donfort, who makes sure Mc gets home safe. Who makes sures she never once has to live through unpleasant things again. For her safety, he would go to the Moon and back.

• Jake Donfort, who leaves it up to Mc when she recieves a strange message from an unknown number. Mc, who to Jake's surprise, blocks the number, because according to her, she already had her fair amount of moments with strange messages and got the best out of her first and last ever investigation; friends and him. Jake, whose heart skipped a beat at her saying it separetaly.

• Jake Donfort, who internally melts at everything Mc does and says.

• Jake Donfort is the man he is, because Mc is the woman she is.

(Here you go, another fluff filled headcanon. Do we want this to be a series?)

The afterfire update:

This and the next one are the chapters I've first daydreamed about after finishing the game. Basically, that daydream is the reason why I started writing this fanfic. I feel so happy and solemn in some type of way that finally, after waiting for almost two months, you all can see it too.

Thank you for sticking around, and I promise this is by far not the end of the book.

Part two of this headcanon

• They didn't talk about it. They sat quietly at the table during breakfast, listening to the lively chatting of the others.

• They didn't talk about it when they were all planning where they should go today. Not even when they were left alone in the backyard. Mc just sat in the swing staring out of her head, monotonously pushing herself with her feet, and Jake watched.

• They didn't talk about it as they sat close together in Thomas's car, the radio background noise in the conversation between Jessy and Hannah. Nine people had to be divided into two cars, and there they were the most.

• There was no mention of it as they walked through the city, Jessy and Lilly happily dragging Mc behind them, asking her to tell more about the sights. She did, of course, since she's a historical journalist and this is her country. She knows. Almost as well as those black strands of hair and its owner behind her.

• They didn't talk about it as they walked side by side at the end of the group, lest one of them gets left behind and lost in the crowd. They didn't speak to each other more than necessary all day, but that moment was on both of their minds. It was indelible.

• The memories came back in a huge, strong wave when they touched each other by accident on the narrow sidewalk, yet they didn't talk about it.

• That moment was too intimate, too fragile, not belonging to the outside world, only their own.

• They didn't talk about it when they ordered lunch and ice cream, when they saw a deer on the way home, when everyone went to the backyard after dinner to hang out by Dan's campfire.

• They didn't talk about it when everyone slowly returned to their bedroom, when only Mc was in the kitchen, washing the dirty dishes.

• Neither of them said a word when Jake walked through the door, standing next to Mc, hips leaning against the counter, looking at the woman, the hands, the eyes, the lips, the place that made him wonder if her heart was beating there at least as much as his.

• They were quiet because it was their own little thing only they can understand. Their own language. Fragile and sensitive to all external sounds.

• They didn't talk about how that morning after Mc woke up for the second time, this time her head resting on his shoulder, Jake whispered "I love you" in her ear and kissed her forehead.

I need some gut-wretching, sad, traumatizing short stories or headcanons about Jake and Mc to make me sob and finish some headcanons.

Give me recommendations, please.

Y'all, chapter 15, 16, 17 & 18 are my favourites so far, it feels surreal rereading them, I'm completely amazed by the fact I wrote that. Can't wait until you all can read it too 😭

Until then, remember: updates on The afterfire every Wednesday! Next one is a favourite as well; 9. Chapter 😉

Part three of this headcanon series

|| Part one, part two ||

• "What you looking at?" She smiled, setting the glass down, waterdrops running down around it. Jake shook his head in response, continuing to study every move of hers. Mc didn't mind; ever since they met, she learnt how to read him like he does with her. Without words and a lot of patience.

• Jake waited until the last spoon was clean too, then grabbed her hand, leading her out of the room.

• The symphony of night was played by a chorus of frogs and violin of crickets, the air fresh and crisp, full of the scent of the nearby lake. The street was quiet and peaceful as they walked in the dark.

• They didn't speak now either, but this silence told no story. Mc was forced to break it. "Let's go to the lake." She pointed in the right direction.

• They walked through the streets in silence, passing fewer and fewer houses. The symphony of the night grew stronger by the water, and the hissing trees and undergrowth joined in as well.

• Taking a seat on a nearby bench for a long moment, perhaps hours, minutes, years... they didn't know for how long.

• "Did you really mean it?" She asked, observing the surface of the water in front of her. "What you said in the morning." Her eyes darted over to the man, but he didn't move.

• Mc carefully slid closer on the bench until she felt his warmth on her skin. "Because when I'll say it, I mean it," she whispered. "I love you too."

• Kiss. That was all she remembered from that night, sitting on the bench by the lake, until her body began to cool down and his kisses could no longer provide enough warmth. Mesmerizing, intoxicating feeling of his lips against hers, closer than they have ever been, and she really didn't want it to end.

• She and Jake walked back to the hut, their fingers entwined all the way, and the woman wasn't the least bit concerned about what they will say to the others in the morning. Probably nothing; they will figure it out on their own anyway.

Part four of this headcanon series

|| Part one, part two, part three ||

• After two days, they started getting suspicious.

• Firat, Lilly noticed something was wrong with her brother; he was calmer and more nervous at the same time than usual, it just depended on whether Mc was in the room or not. But she said nothing, silently observing the signs.

• Jessy vocalized her happines more excitedly than this, when after Lilly she also slowly realized what was going on, but Mc tied it to her soul, that she will tell her everything she wants if she keeps her mouth shut. The redhead did as a true friend.

• Slowly they all found out about the two's little secret, but no one initiated the confrontation. What could they have confronted? It wasn't their business. But that doesn't mean curiosity didn't kill them.

• One night, when they were drinking by the campfire, Dan couldn't take it anymore. Taking a big sip from his whiskey, he surveyed the silent couple. "I'm just saying," he pointed in Jake's direction, "if you don't watch out for the little detective, hackerman, you're going to be in trouble."

• After the 'father's blessing', everyone suddenlx found their voice at the same time, Cleo a little annoyed that the bisquits she made yesterday were gone. Mc and Jake looked at the group with a bit of an embarassed awe, not understanding what was so celebratory about this.

• "It was about time," Lilly smiled, "it was getting annoying with you two avoiding each other, but Lyra waking up in a different room every morning. Like two teens keeping secrets."

• If she could, Mc would have slid down the log, but she had to make do with burying her face in her hands. "It's not because—"

• "Another bottle of wine? I'll bring it right away," Phil suddenly jumped up, and as the back door closed behind him, Jessy, as if she had just realized, hurried in after her brother.

• Mc found the scene strange, since there was still plenty of wine in their glasses, but was glad that the attention was off her.

• "Phil's always been quite... that way." Cleo swirled the liquid in hand, as Hannah added softly, "Like her sister, acting on emotions."

• This was agreed upon. Mc stole a glance at Jake, who sat next to her perhaps with a more relaxed posture tonight. It was comforting, as was when she closed the bedroom door behind her at night. They were finally alone, in silence. And the best part – she thought to herself as she snuggled into Jake's bed – was that now she doesn't have to sneak down the stairs in darkness if she wants to fall asleep calm.

HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME

Anyway here's a short story for this headcanon:

!Not entirely plot relevant conversations and actions!____________________

May 28th. The calendar said it's today, on a dark Thursday. Calendars never lie. His phone echoed in silence the same words, and his phone certainly never lies.

But Jake... Jake does lie often.

He pushed a few branches away from his face and immediately started typing on his phone again. The cool wind blowing his skin didn't bother him, in fact, it helped to hide the noise he made in the rush.

Jake: Mc, you have to promise me to not go to the mine.

Don't go, because I'm already here. He thought as he finally reached the Grimrock.

Mc: Well someone clearly has to go there, and I'm already in my car, so live with that

Jake always found it mesmerizing how determined Mc can be when it comes to doing whatever she finds good, but this time the habit seemed too stubborn. Too reckless. Too dangerous. He has lost plenty of things in his life; family, identity, freedom, ability to want to feel again, but he didn't want to lose another person. No, not this time. Even if it meant that this very important someone would be the one suffering. Someone would get hurt either way, and Jake was sure he couldn't take it anymore if it were him. Mc, on the other hand... she has much more potential, she would get past it quickly. She has purposes in this life, great purposes, he had to admit. And as selfish as it sounds, he was sick of pain.

Jake: You cannot go there, you understand? We will figure out something.

Mc: And when do you want to do that?? After they are already dead??

She was right; he had to act quickly. Jake fastened his pace and stepped inside. The air felt heavy and old there, suffocating him, but instead of turning around, he went deeper.

That wasn't exactly how he imagined that day, in an old mine about to collapse and arguing with Mc. It had been a long time since he thought about this date like that, even longer when he cared. A few days ago, however, he thought that maybe now it could be different. Perhaps now he can afford to share it with someone, after all he's a person like the others; with private life, childhood, thoughts and birthday.

He planned to tell Mc tonight. In other words, just mention it, he didn't want to... What exactly? To be important? Brag? Distract her from finding Hannah? Maybe. Maybe one of them is true. It could be he wanted to matter a bit...

But it doesn't matter now. All his plans were ruined by the messages from that Unknown person. And the least he will let is Mc go there herself, no matter what. As smart as she is, she sometimes comes up with the worst ideas. Besides, it's his birthday — at least let him have one wish. A wish to solve this mess and keep his beloved out of trouble.

Hannah too, he stopped abdurtly. Free Hannah and Richy, too.

Beloved... Did he really just think that?

His phone kept buzzing crazy. Instead of checking the messages, he muted the notifications and continued his way deeper into the mine, the flaslight casting more and more horrifying shadows everywhere as Jake reached a ladder.

***

The road was slippery and dark; it rained. Mc cursed loudly as she drove through small towns and larger cities, the warmth of the car lights glinting on the wet windshield and puddles. Under other circumstances, she would have enjoyed this time listening to the patter of rain, the rumble of a distant storm, and the sound of cars passing by. She especially liked the roar of the engine. It always made her forget her problems.

Now everything was different though, her heart was beating faster and faster as she glanced down at the speedometer.

"You motherfucker of a car!" Either way she calculated, she couldn't go any faster or she would have an accident before she even reached the Grimrock. And time is hard to beat, especially when the goal is something that's even more expensive than your life.

***

He didn't know how good an idea it was, in fact, he was sure it was a terrible idea, but he climbed it anyway, maybe because according to his map it was the only way to go. The ladder creaked a lot under his weight, which was not very gratefully received by the rungs. Halfway through, one broke, landing with a thud, as Jake would have if he hadn't caught another in time.

He can't die, not yet. Not when he's so close to something more important than his life.

***

He was there. She saw Alan walking around the waterfall, the cars' sirens in the distance and where she needed to go. Mc carefully made her way through the tall plants, with as little noise as possible. Even though that the water hit the ground with a deafening force, it doesn't hurt to be careful.

The man was too busy doing whatever he was doing with his back to her, so Mc easily slipped through the opening. Damp and heavy air, great darkness. Even scarier when you know someone is waiting. And the Unknown person was waiting for her to walk into his arms.

She has to be smart and make sure to find Hannah and Richy first, preferably on a path that looks hidden. And let's face it, it's really hard to do in a fucking mine.

I have to try.

She turned on the flashlight of her phone and walked deeper and deeper, noting the turns.

***

She was there. She ran and ran, far, loudly. Hannah has escaped. Jake was already heading towards the alarmed woman when he heard voices and turned a corner. He leaned against the wall and listened.

"Miss Donfort, come with me now, I'll take you out."

"No, wait–”

The sound of a gun; not a shot, just a knock. Jake peeked out and saw a policeman escorting his sister out with quick steps in the direction he himself had come from. So it's okay, Hannah will be safe soon.

But what is a policeman doing here? He remembered the uniform he had seen, and then involuntarily could only think of one person. Mc, did you seriously call the police?

He would have already turned back to look for another exit, possibly one where he wouldn't run into a policeman, when his legs stopped. He still has to get someone out. Because Richy wasn't with Hannah, and he owes Mc that.

***

There he stood. With his back to her, dressed in black, in the dimly lit place. Mc would have been happy to see him again, the man who was kidnapped with Hannah by The Man Without a Face. She would have been happy, relieved, if only she hasn't found out just five minutes ago, it was him all along.

Richy was The Man Without a Face.

Two people, whom until now she thought were so much the opposite of each other, turned out to be the same. A kind man, whose voice can hardly be heard, and a murderous, psychopathic kidnapper. The irony life has...

Mc, slowly recovering from the earlier shock caused by the conversation and the video chat between Richy and Jessy, slowly but surely started towards him. She got a bad feeling as she approached, didn't know why, but something was wrong. Richy stood there, menacingly still, without moving a muscle. Mc felt her heart in her ears, no longer owner of her own voice, and her breath hitched when she saw him drop something.

Something he shouldn't have.

A lighter.

***

The air grew smoky and Jake sensed that something was very wrong. He ran from one flight to another, searching and hiding at the same time. For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to do, and he was alone. It's ironic to say that when you're playing hide and seek in a mine with a dangerous man and one of his victims.

He increased his steps and felt the heat on his skin. Holding his shirt tighter to his nose, starting in the direction where he already saw the flames of the fire. He knew that it was like running to death, because it was, but he would still lose his remaining freedom outside as well, and Richy had a chance. Jake will point him in the right direction. Then sit down and wait; what for, he didn't even dare to think about himself.

After all, he certainly won't be able to get out, and it won't make sense either.

His ears hurt so much from the blood throbbing in them that he almost didn't hear it. He almost swerved, not in the direction a woman was shouting. A figure was sitting at the base of the wall, another was trying to pull him up; the woman.

The woman.

Mc.

Perhaps Jake has never run so fast in his life, even though he has his fair amounts of escaping from the police. This was different now. He didn't have to save his own life, the stakes were much higher.

"Get up, please get up!" She begged the man in a tearful voice, who just shook his head. When he looked up at Jake, the black haired saw that there was nothing in his eyes. He stepped in front of him and tugged hard on the arm, forcing the blond to stand up unless wanting to fall.

"Look here, she's here because of you, so you're going out now." He looked into the speechless eyes, which were now staring back at him in alarm. He pulled Richy's hoodie up to his nose. "Straight over there, and you only turn left. Up the ladder and keep going until you see flashing lights."

"Quickly, it's spreading fast!"

They sped off, making sure Richy was always ahead of them. The echoes of their feet was thrown around by the walls, as if none of them wanted to keep it. They already saw the ladder and gave Richy a big push to hurry up. The man climbed as far as he could, but the ladder gave up and broke with a loud crack. Just when the two legs disappeared.

"For fuck's sake!" He tried to put it back together somehow, but it was too heavy and rusty; broken beyond use. Jake scanned their surroundings nervously, looking for a way out. "Come on," he turned to Mc, "I'll get you up there, you can reach the other half that way."

"No!" She stared into his eyes, those stubborn, everseeing blue eyes, in which she saw the frightening power of the approaching fire. "You're a complete fool! I'm not going! Can you hear? I'm not going!"

"You are–" He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the ladder, but Mc wouldn't go. She sat down at the base of the wall and didn't move. Jake could have pulled her up, it wouldn't have been difficult, but there was something final about this movement. So he fell down next to her, now both scrutinizing each other. That's not how he imagined the day, but there was something oddly comforting about it. Maybe it was the acceptance of the approaching end. Until now, he had only imagined what it would be like face to face with the woman, what her voice is like, her eyes, what she's like when she smiles.

And now he already knows.

Mc smiled gently and stroked his smoky face. "Why did you have to come here? Why can't you listen to me once in your life?"

"I could ask you that too."

Small tears rolled down their faces, but they didn't turn away, didn't cover them. They didn't want to waste a single minute without seeing each other.

"You,” she broke into a strong cough, but continued, “you still...why...”

"Because someone had to. And you?"

Mc smiled tearfully. "Because someone had to."

Jake loved the way she looked at him. Only him, and no one else, giving him all her attention, to the last drop. Something heavy broke in his chest — probably his heart — that he could only feel this for such a short time. He wanted to know this woman by his side every day, safe, in his arms, until they were both old, but their eyes didn't change. It is the soul and the eye that never lie.

His soul was whispering loudly to him, but he didn't listen to it, he just watched and absorbed Mc's words as long as he could.

"Once in a lifetime..."

"I know."

"But seriously, you'd only listen to me once."

He smiled slyly, and the whispering suddenly stopped. He already knew, didn't need it anymore, he knew it himself. "Then listen to me, too."

She furrowed her brows in question as Jake's smile only got bigger and closer, much closer...

"Listen to me... and let me..."

Silent silence. Only their hearts were racing, but it was far away somewhere else, far away from them, from the feeling of their lips meeting for the first and last sweet kiss. It was like heaven in hell, a little slice before it was all over, but maybe it wouldn't have been enough without it. Mc's fingers crawled into his hair, into the thick blackness, before he pulled her closer to him. To safety, where perhaps the fire can never reach this beauty.

The air was scarce and heavy, even heavier when Mc gently pulled her lips away. She ran her nose over Jake's cheek, jaw, back to his lips, but she didn't say a word or kiss. They just sat, holding each other, simply existing.

"Maybe this birthday isn't bad after all," he whispered.

The pair of brown eyes opened in alarm at this, but the body remained motionless. "What?"

"Today is my–"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jake looked down the curve of her nose and chin. "I wanted to, tonight. But a lot happened."

It was absurd, really out of place, utterly impossible; Mc laughed though. It was a soft, weak voice, one that smoothed Jake's soul like silk. She just shook her head without saying a word and her laugh was contagious. Then it died, and a heavy silence fell upon them.

There they sat, leaning on each other's shoulders, in a forgotten flight, completely alone and on the verge of certain death, yet perhaps now they were the most complete in their lives. Happiness doesn't have to accompany us for a lifetime, it's enough if it lands on us only in the last moments, like a tiny butterfly. Flies away at any moment, yet the knowledge that it chooses us for its short rest is more than the longest love in the world.

The play of flames reflected in their eyes as the fire spread around them. Mc tiredly looked up at Jake, not observing him, she already knew the man. She just looked at his eyes, waiting for him to do the same, and when the blue of the sea met her own sweet chocolate, she smiled. The words were heavy and suffocating, but she wanted to say them. She wasn't sure she would be able to comfortably close her eyes if she didn't.

"Happy birthday to you."

Jake chuckled as he held her eyes, the warm feeling of his fingers around hers never leaving ever again. "I love you, Mc," he whispered.

"I love you too, Jake."

I rushed to Tumblr to write this after finishing my essay... Did you just spoiler your own story??

It crossed my mind to imagine that the day Jake goes to the mine is the same day as his birthday but he doesn't say anything because he stopped celebrating it, but with MC maybe he had hopes of doing it again, but the FBI ruined it for him

How sad it would be… if someone wrote it in her story… 😈

Secret train ride

Summary: Neither of them was supposed to be on that train...

Pairing: Jake Donfort and Lyra Ambrose (my Mc from The afterfire)

Warning: cursing

Inspired by this post

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The platform has perhaps never been so crowded. Weak sunlight penetrated through the high windows, dancing along the dark walls and columns, on the hundreds of lives that ran from one train to another like a swarm of ants. Passengers were informed about a ten-minute delay on the public address system. It's the train that's most important right now, she has to get on it as soon as possible.

Scanning the tracks, she walked through the station. The air smelled heavy of rain. It perfectly reflected Lyra's soul.

Not just one man approached her in broad daylight, but she deftly dodged them, cutting through the crowd wrapped in her thin coat. A train pulled into the station between the others and she jumped on it without wasting a second. With a big sigh, she sat down, soon a woman in a hat folding herself in next to her. The huge white machine just stood still for a long time, Lyra trying to get it going in vain. She must go now or it will be too late.

As if a miracle of the gods had happened, she started the two-hour journey squeaking. Lyra was staring at her phone so hard and still, the woman sitting next to her had doubts about her mental state. But that didn't bother her in the least; another message has been received from the unknown. A demanding, frightening one. He wants her there now, and Lyra is running out of time.

***

She didn't mean to. If it weren't for a kid crying out loud somewhere in the train, her eyes immediately searching for the source of voice, she wouldn't even notice it. Lyra would get off in Duskwood and continue her way into this complete madness. Oblivous to the man's presence in front of her. But this weren't the case, and will not be; because the brown pair of eyes landed on the blackness.

It is no exaggaration to say, he was black from head to toe. Dressed in thick clothes, maybe far too warm for the late rainy May weather, pale white skin peeking through the mess of dark hair at the nape of his neck, curled up at the ears. He was sitting in front of her, his being going almost completely unnoticed by her if she hadn't looked at him painfully precisely. Lyra had to tare her gaze away once her phone started to beep like crazy again.

Jake: I came to inform you of something that will require me to stop communicating with you for a certain period of time.

Jake: I am sure you will be fine with your friends without me. Whatever happens, let me know. I will know about everything that may be important to us. Don't let the Unknown scare you.

Lyra: That's great because I was just about to say the same thing

Jake: What do you mean?

The woman shook her head. For what reason, remained unknown. Was she dissapointed or nervous? Scared?

Lyra: In two hours I arrive in Duskwood

Jake: You can not go there, Lyra. It is very dangerous.

Lyra: Someone has to do something, or the man without a face will

Lyra: That option is NOT favourable for us

Jake: I warn you, Lyra, whatever transport you use, stop now and go back. We will figure out something.

Lyra: You want me to jump off of a moving train?

Sudden silence, as if Jake had frozen. The three points in the corner returned so quickly that she could not spend much time on the former thought, not enough to gain meanings.

Jake: Please do not jump off of a moving train, but get out as soon as it stops in the next station.

Lyra: Okay, so in Duskwood

Jake: No.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She loved getting the man all worked up, mostly because he doesn't often gets annoyed with her. Yet she couldn't shake the feeling of something being very wrong. He took it for the conditions in Duskwood. In the meantime, the hacker continued to argue, for which her reply was the same every time; she will go to the mine and finally end everything.

It was a sudden movement, so sudden and out of character that Lyra had to glance up at the man in front of her. He sat so still for half the ride that she started to think he was either asleep, dead, or a creep. However, now he was furiously typing on his phone, shoulders under the hoodie tensed. Lyra returned to her messages coming in faster than usual.

Jake: Look, Lyra, you are a very smart woman, we both know this is a terribly idea. Get off of there as soon as you can. For your sake.

Jake: Think about what will happen if Jessica finds out what you are doing.

Jake: If Michael Hanson lied, which he most definitely did, and will not release Hannah and Richy like he said.

Jake: I am already on a train to Duskwood.

The last message sent a shiver down her spine, one so uncomfortable she had to shift in her seat. Her coat wrapped around her body uncomfortably, suffocating.

It can't be. Impossible. She checked the schedules and only this one goes the fastest and earliest to Duskwood, the only express not stopping at every single train station. Maybe he's going with another one. Maybe that one is already close to the location. She shouldn't just jump into assumptions like this.

Something kept whispering she is wrong this time.

Lyra: You are what??

Jake: That is why I do not want you there. I will take care of everything. We are closer to Hannah and Richy than ever.

Lyra swallowed down the unnecessary words, there's really no time for it now.

Lyra: When exactly will you arrive?

Jake: In half an hour.

Lyra: That...

She glanced up at the time on the top of the screen.

Lyra: Is impossible

Jake: It is very much possible.

You are not Jake, her jaw clenched as she repeated this to herself, staring daggers into the man's head in front her. You are not– Her fingers acted faster than her mind could give out the right command, faster than a human should be able to move. The tip of her fingers got lost in the mass of blackness, no longer than a mere second, the turn of his head even quicker than the pace she could have pulled back.

Jake.

She didn't know what he looked like. Never heard his voice or knew more of him than he allowed her. Lyra wouldn't have known it was him, she could have apologized and continued the virtual fight. About to open her mouth to apologize – 'Sorry, I confused you with someone' –, but his eyes betrayed him. They stared back with a wide-open blue, all the feelings that a person can experience passing through them at the speed of light.

"Why are you here?" A voice whispered – with more or less success – the words which all probably came from his moving mouth.

"Why are you here?"

They both stared at each other without a word, and when Lyra excused herself out of the shared seat with big hat woman to sit next to the man, nothing happened. The world didn't collapse, the cure if cancer hasn't been found, no giant lizard entered the Earth's atmosphere. But that also meant Hannah and Richy were still... no. She will not think about them, not when they are sitting so still next to each other it should have been awkward, but wasn't. The way both tried so hard not to touch each other, but the train said otherwise. In every turn and bump they failed miserably.

No, she will not think about them when her last moments of faked peace can be enjoyed. Enjoying is a strong word for such situation, yet she couldn't help the small smile on her lips as they observed each other out of the corner of their eye.

She had to be a bit selfish to not run away from the inevitable.

Y'all I finally finished this after two weeks :D

No proof reading because I might end up not posting this out of tiredness

Guys guys guys, the age gap in The afterfire is a masterpiece

I'm aware this is an another fandom, but my mind immediately went to the headcanon that:

Jake secretly listening in on Mc one time, because he has to make sure the person he's about to work with is trustrworthy enough, but the next evening he feels odd. Like something is missing. Pacing his room didn't help, nor washing his face, commanding himself to stop tyring to figure it out. So he subconsciously ends up sitting by his computer where Mc's voice is echoing through. This devilous circle repeats every night for weeks, slowly building in itself in his daily routine. Jake even found himself waking up to a slight snoring that certaily wasn't his. Memories of last night flashing in his brain about what has happened; him sitting there in silence while listening to Mc rant about something to Jessy (he remembers every single word of hers), in complete awe of each sound she made. Then came the blurry dots, blinding his eyes, the last thing he remembers hearing being a faint "good night", the darkness swallowing him in whole.

Ever since then he cannot stop himself from not listening to the woman all day, his only, ever so lightly convicing excuse that he keeps repeating to himself being "I'm used to hearing your voice before I go to bed."

This was supposed to be a comment about a two sentence headcanon, but here we go-

alright little guy