decision

Jackson POV

"What?"

It felt like time froze.

Mom and Jaebum are staring at me with a grim looks on their faces.

Mark

He killed Mina?

Bullshit. I don't believe it.

"So if he killed her, why the hell does he still go to school!" I slammed my hand against the table making mom and Jaebum both jump. "You guys are just trying to pull me into this shit by saying lies. How in the hell can he kill her? He probably can't even kill a fly! He's so weak! In gym he struggled benching 10 pound weights!" My anger was taking over me.

"How....just how could he kill her! It doesn't make sense. You're just saying he did so I can help you!"

"Jackson, calm down." My mom started to stand up.

"No! I can't calm down! Mina's culprit was caught and the police had them in custody! No way in hell it was Mark! I saw him in school the next day!"

"Jackson sit. Breathe Jackson. Breathe." My mom rubbed my back. She pushed me back down into my seat.

Breathe Jackson.

Breathe.

I inhale.

I exhale.

"Ok. I'm fine now." I start to calm down but the anger is still boiling inside of me. Mom continues to rub my back.

"Where not lying to you Jackson." Jaebum finally speaks up again. "Mark murdered Mina."

"Bullshit."

I felt mom tense up. She didn't say anything though.

Sorry mom. When I'm angry I cuss.

"He was at school the next day! The police caught the culprit!" I could tell Jaebum was getting irritated.

"The police did catch the culprit! It was Mark! They classified him as mentally insane! Do you know how they "caught the culprit"?" This is the first time I've heard Jaebum yell.

I shook my head.

"How'd they catch the culprit?" I was honestly curious.

"They followed blood tracks from Mina's house to an alleyway. They saw Mark holding his knees rocking back and forth repeating one word: die. He had a knife beside him."

"Ok. I still don't get how he's the culprit and he's not in jail."

I'm so confused. How the fuck did I see him at school if he did this?

"Well you see...Mark escaped from the hospital." He did? "The police saw what he was wearing. The platinum crescent glowed on his shirt. You can't arrest a mentally ill person. Mark doesn't even know what he did. He was nearly schizophrenic that night. You saw him at school the next day because we had to play his mind."

"Play his mind?"

"Yes, play his mind. He lost his memory of that whole week. We had to make it seem like nothing happened. We had to act like he was never admitted into Platnium. We had to act like he never killed someone. Tis' why he went to school."

"Why'd you have to do that?" This shit is crazy.

"If Mark knew what he did then he would've thought he could hurt all the other people he despised. It could've been a massacre."

But....why did he kill her?

Then it hit me.

"So he....he killed her because she was dating Jinyoung?"

"Yes."

"But..they were dating for a while."

"He didn't know that until he saw them kiss."

"That's obsessive love Jackson." I looked at mom she had a serious expression on her face. "He saw Jinyoung with someone else. Remember, in Mark's mind he thinks Jinyoung is his. He...killed Mina because she was being intimate with "his" man."

Holy hell. Mark is crazy.

"Why did Jinyoung move?" Jaebum asks.

"I don't know for sure but I think he moved because he was so heartbroken." I shrugged. Jinyoung didn't really tell me why he moved.

"He moved because I told him to."

What?

Before I could speak Jaebum continues talking.

"If Mark saw him, he would've killed him just like he did Mina."

"Didn't he love Jinyoung? Why would he kill him?"

"He has paranoid personality disorder. He doesn't trust people. When he finally does trust someone or feels like that someone cares for him, he becomes possessive or obsessed." I nodded.

This is sort of intriguing.

Jaebum goes on.

"Jinyoung was in danger. I didn't want him to get hurt. I did it for his sake." Jaebum's gaze got more intense.

I gulped.

"Jackson. You and people whom are close to you are in danger. Including your mom. Mark doesn't know Ping is your mom."

I look at mom.

Would he......

"Would he kill mom?"

Jaebum nodded.

"We can prevent this Jackson. All we need you to do is talk to him."

Really?

"All I have to do is talk to him? All of this for me to just talk to a fucking psychopath?"

"Jackson!" Mom slapped my arm.

"He's not a psychopath. He does have a conscious."

"Oh really Jaebum? Then where was it the night he murdered Mina!"

"He was triggered."

"Exactly my point! He. Is. A. Psychopath."

"He's no- you know what I give up." He ran his hand through his hair. "Jackson are you going to help are not?"

"I don't know yet."

Jaebum growled.

He looks angry.

"All you have to do is talk to him."

"Why can't you just talk to him?"

"We've tried! He won't tell us anything!"

"What do you need him to tell you?"

"We need him tell us what's going through his head dammit! He's developed most his illnesses because of events in the past. We want no we need to know what they are. He won't talk to us. He doesn't even say it out loud in his cell because he knows there's cameras in there."

"It seems like he doesn't want y'all to know."

"He doesn't trust us. He doesn't trust anyone except for one person."

"You. Jackson."

Damn.

"Please Jackson. We don't have much time. He's probably losing it as we speak. I told him he can see you today."

"Why would you say that!"

"He was having an episode. I had to calm him down. Telling him you were coming also got him to eat. And he took his medicine. And he actually smiled."

Just the thought of me coming to see him causes him to do better for himself.

Wow.

"So are you going to help? Just talk to him. We want to save him. I want him to be a normal teenager. The most you could do for him is to listen to all he has to say. Be his friend. Let him use your shoulder to cry on. He's lonely."

I looked down at my hands.  I can't look at Jaebum right now. His gaze is too intense.

"He didn't mean to kill Mina. He trusted Jinyoung so much. He thought that him and Jinyoung were in love. But then he saw them kiss. He instantly thought she must die. And then Jinyoung must die because he let her kiss him. His trust was broken. He's like a lost puppy looking for an owner. Someone to love him and care for him."

"What about his parents?" I finally lift my head.

"They're a mess too. His parents are divorced. His mother is an alcoholic.  His dad left when he was younger. God knows what he's been through. He won't tell us."

"Jackson please." We stared at each other.

My mom watched us.

Should I?

This is some deep shit.

No I shouldn't.

But

"I'll do it."

Jaebum and my mother engulfed me into a hug.

"Alright you guys! I can't breath!" I wheezed.

Mom kissed my cheek.

"I knew I could count on you." She hugged me again.

I haven't seen mom this happy.

"Alright then. We should get going." Jaebum grabbed his keys. "I'll drive."

"Come Jackson. Let's go."

I'm nervous.

I've never been to platinum. I've seen it.

How could you miss it?

It's a huge silver building. Even though it's not directly in the city you could see it anywhere.

Rumors say it that in Platinum all you can here is screaming and flesh ripping.

The flesh ripping is the doctors and nurses who can't stand the screams anymore so they rip they're ears off.

I shiver.

"Jackson it's okay. Those rumors you've heard from school are false. Platnium is actually really peaceful." Mom tries to calm me down. But then there's always Jaebum.

"Yea it's peaceful with occasional screams and yells. Blood curdling screams matter of fact."

"Jaebum!" Mom smacked his arm.

Fuck him. I'm not scared.

I get in the car.

"On second thought-"

"Uh uh Jackson. You're already in the car." Jaebum starts the engine and backs out of the driveway.

I sink into my seat.

"Platnium isn't that bad."

"That bad? So it is bad!"

"Calm down. You'll be okay." Mom reassured me.

"Shit. I forgot to call in." Jaebum grabs his phone.

"Call in?"

"I have to call in so they can get Mark prepared."

I'm still not too sure about this.

"Yea. It's me. Im Jaebum. Yes can I speak to Jongin?"

"Jongin?"

Mom turns to me in the backseat.

"He's our supervisor."

My mouth forms an o shape.

"Hey. Jackson agreed to help. What? You don't believe me? Really? Yes I've told him everything. Yes Ping is with me. We're all in the car."

Mom whispers to Jaebum to put the phone on speaker.

"Kai! I told you my son would do it."

"Oh wow Ping. Getting all cocky I see." The deep voice from the phone chuckled.

"Jackson say hi." Mom handed me the phone.

"Hi. I'm Ping's awesome son Jackson."

He laughed.

"You're really going to do this?"

I nodded but then I realised he can't see me.

"Yes yes. I am."

"Ah aren't you a great young man."

"Thanks." I smiled. These people must really want to help Mark.

I gave the phone back to Jaebum.

"We should be there in half an hour maybe."

"You better haul ass. Mark is losing it. It's been hell. He even attacked Youngjae."

"Damn. I thought he actually liked Youngjae?" Jaebum shook his head.

"I'm sure he does but he-" Jongin was cut off by a scream.

A blood curdling scream just like Jaebum had said.

Me and mom jumped.

"Who was that?" Jaebum held his right ear.

"That was Mark. You really need to hurry up."

In the background I can hear someone.

"Calm down Tuan! It's okay." It was an unknown voice.

"No it's not you liar! All of you are liars!"

It was Mark's voice.

"See? He's losing it." Jongin's voice came back.

"Where's Jackson! I want to see Jackson! Doctor Im said I could see Jackson!" Mark's screams became louder and louder.

I thought the glass in the car would break.

"He's coming Mark." Jongin' s voice became more distant. "Relax. Ouch."

"What happened Jongin?" Jaebum pressed on the brakes.

"He bit me. Ow. That shit hurt."

I can still hear him screaming.

He's screaming my name.

"Give me the phone Jaebum."

Jaebum looked at me surprised but he obliged.

"Jongin?"

"Yes? This is Jackson right?"

"Yea." I pause.

Breath.

Breath Jackson.

"Give Mark the phone."

"What?"

I know I sound crazy but..

He could seriously hurt someone.

I don't want to see people get hurt over something like this. 

I want to help him so I can avenge Mina's death. Helping Mark would be more effective than just being angry with him.

I'll help him with all my heart for Mina.

For Jinyoung.

For mom.

For dad.

For my friends.

For myself.

"Give him the phone. I want to speak to him."

Jongin sighed.

"Okay. I'll do it. But if he breaks my phone your buying me a new one."

"I got you."

I hear the sound of Mark's cries getting louder.

And louder.

"Mark." Once Jongin speaks Mark goes even more hysterical. "Mark! Take the phone!"

"Why!" Mark sounds furious.

"Someone wants to talk to you."

"No one wants to talk to me! I'm pathetic, insane, a freak! Why would someone want to talk to me!" I hear him sobbing.

"Go! His ear is by the phone!" Jongin orders me.

Breath Jacks.

"Hey Mark." I hear his cries stop.

"J-Jackson?" His voice sounds so small.

"Yes it's me." I hear him whimper. I see the building coming closer into my view.

We're almost there.

"Can you do something for me Mark."

"Sure."

It's funny how his voice changed from  demonic screaming to a soft angel murmuring.

"Wait for me."

"Can you do that Mark? Can you wait for me?"

"Y-y-yes. I can wait."

"Listen to the doctors too. Behave."

"Yes yes. I'll try."

"Good. Now give the phone back to Jongin."

"But-"

"Wait for me okay? We can talk in person."

"Okay."

I heard shuffling and footsteps.

"Wow Jackson. That was amazing. Who knew he could be so submissive." Jongin sounded dumbfounded.

I'm dumbfounded myself. I didn't expect that to work.

"Tell Jaebum to stop driving like a bitch."

"You're still on speaker!" Jaebum yelled from the driver seat.

"Hurry up! He might lash out again! And if he doesn't then Jackson is magical."

Jaebum checked his watch.

"10 more minutes."

"Good. See you soon."

He hung up.

I give Jaebum his phone back.

"Good job Jackson." Jaebum pats my head.

Mom strokes my blonde locks.

"I'm so proud of you."

I smile. I can get used to this praise.

In just a couple of minutes we pull up to a huge gate.

"Is this it?"

"Yep. You ready Jackson?" Jaebum turns to look at me.

"I'm ready."

He smiles.

He knocks his car in a rhythmic pattern.

Then the gate starts to make a bunch of whirring mechanical sounds.

"Give me your phones."

"Why?" I clutched my phone in my hand.

"There's a electrical current in this gate. If a patient escapes and tries to get through this gate they'll get a electrocuted. It's dangerous to us too but we're in cars.  It can't penetrate through metal. What it can do to us though is fry our phones." Jaebum explains.

I gasp.

"I mean you can keep it. It just won't be usable or touchable."

I could keep it. I really want an upgrade...but I need to write down my contacts first.

Damn. Guess I'll try next time.

I give Jaebum my phone and my mom follows suit.

He puts it in some container that sucks our phones away.

"Woah! Platnium is really high tech!"

"Indeed." Jaebum nods.

Finally the gates start opening. I can see the electricity get more violent the more the gate opens.

Its beautiful yet terrifying.

"Brace yourself. Try to control your breathing. The current makes you feel like your suffocating. There's also a little tingle."

"Ok." I got this. It's just electricity.

Jaebum slowly moved the car.

The car is in the electrical current. It's not that bad.

Yes it is!

"Ugh! I can't breath." I wheeze. I hug my body. "This is not a little tingle Jaebum! It feels like thousands of bugs are crawling under my skin!"

Mom and Jaebum laugh their asses off.

Once we're out I scold them.

"What's so funny? That was horrible!"

"You should've seen your face!" My mom can't stop laughing.

"It's funny cause I felt the same way when I first went through it. You'll get used to it."

"Like hell I will." I muttered.

He parks the car. We all get out.

The huge silver building is right here in front of me. It's gorgeous.

"Let's go."

Don't worry Mark.

I'm gonna save you.

Longest chap fam. Took me forever! But I hope you enjoyed. Jackson agreed to help Mark. Can he get him to talk? Can he save him?Thanks for reading!Baaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiieeeeeee