The new quarters weren't grand.
But they were familiar.
Four beds. Four lockers. A small shared kitchen. A long couch. A window looking out at the trees.
But for Jack?
It was home — or as close as this island would ever let him have again.
---
🔄 Return to Stillness
Jack stepped in last.
Emily sat on the edge of her bed, arms folded, eyes scanning the floor.
Michael dropped his bag near his locker and stretched, muttering, "Could've been worse."
The gravity girl — finally introduced as Nova — took the bunk furthest from the window and immediately laid down without a word.
Jack looked at the walls.
Same layout. Same lighting.
Same cell where he'd once counted breaths just to stay sane.
Only this time…
He wasn't alone.
---
😔 The Weight Drops
He sat at the foot of his bed.
Slowly.
Staring at his hands.
The red veins beneath his skin glowed faintly as if his power was still trying to crawl out.
But inside?
He felt empty.
The silence got heavier. Emily looked up. Michael noticed too.
Jack's jaw clenched.
He tried to hold it in.
But the words cracked before they left his mouth.
"I missed you guys…"
Emily's eyes softened. She stood, slowly walking toward him.
"I missed you too," she whispered.
Jack shook his head, looking down. "I tried to stay strong. I tried to pretend I was okay but—"
He choked. His chest rose, and the tears finally came.
Not quiet ones. Not gentle.
The kind that come when you've had to kill to stay alive.
When you've been forced to choose between survival and loyalty.
When you've nearly lost the only people that made you human.
"I didn't want to fight you. I thought I'd have to… kill you. And I couldn't—I can't—"
Emily dropped to her knees beside him and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his shoulder.
Jack sobbed into her chest, shaking.
Michael stepped over, awkward at first. But then he knelt down too and wrapped his arms around both of them.
No words. Just warmth.
Just the feeling that, for once, they weren't fighting.
They were together.
---
🧠 A Quiet Voice
Inside Jack's mind, the monsters were silent.
No screams.
No whispers.
Just the sound of breathing.
For the first time in a long time…
He felt safe.
And even though the next fight would come soon…
Tonight?
He allowed himself to be weak.
Because weakness wasn't the same as broken.
🌒 Pulling Back Together
Jack's breath slowed.
His eyes burned from crying, but the weight on his chest had lightened.
He pulled away gently from Emily and Michael, wiping his cheeks with the back of his sleeve.
"…Thanks," he muttered.
Emily smiled softly. "Always."
Michael gave him a firm nod. "You're still a crybaby."
Jack laughed once, barely. "Shut up."
He stood, stretching a little, glancing across the room.
Nova lay quietly on her bed, one arm behind her head, staring at the ceiling like she wasn't even in the room.
But Jack could feel her watching.
Judging?
Maybe.
Or maybe just waiting.
He took a breath.
"I'll be back," he said to the others.
---
🪐 The Girl with Gravity
Jack walked over and stopped beside her bed.
She didn't move, but her eyes slid to him.
"You finally done breaking down?" she asked, voice low but not unkind.
Jack gave a small shrug. "For now."
Nova sat up slowly. She was lean, with sharp eyes and a calm that felt unnatural for someone in this place. She reminded Jack of still water — unmoving on the surface, but hiding deep pressure underneath.
"You didn't say much before," Jack said.
"I don't like talking until I know who's worth talking to," Nova replied, folding her legs.
Jack nodded, sitting across from her on the floor.
"So… you trust me now?"
Nova tilted her head. "You knocked out three psychopaths, walked across an arena alone, and stared down the system to rejoin two people you could've betrayed."
She smirked just slightly. "You're either loyal or really, really stupid."
"Can I be both?"
She chuckled. "Yeah. You can."
---
🌌 Learning About Nova
Jack leaned back on his arms. "You're strong. I watched how you held your team together. Gravity manipulation?"
Nova nodded. "It's subtle. I can make myself float, slam the air into people like a fist, crush metal, or keep people from moving. But I have to stay focused."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Why were you with Michael and Emily?"
"They needed a third. I volunteered. I'd heard of them. You, too."
"Oh?"
"You've got a reputation now. The boy with monsters in his head. The one who doesn't break, even when he's breaking."
Jack looked away for a second. "I'm not proud of that."
"You should be."
He blinked.
Nova's voice softened for the first time. "People like us don't get to be proud of what we've done. But we can be proud of what we survive."
---
💠 A New Bond
Jack held her gaze for a second.
And for the first time, he didn't feel watched.
He felt seen.
"Thanks," he said.
Nova shrugged, but he could see the crack of a real smile beneath her calm.
Jack stood again. "I'm glad you're here."
"I'm not here to make friends," she replied.
Jack smirked. "Good. I'm not either. I'm here to keep them alive."
He walked back to his bed, feeling a strange sense of balance settle in.
For once, the room didn't feel like a prison.
It felt like a team.