Jack Nyras who will never see the world the same again.
Who's eyes were gouged out by the followers of the Black God — of Chernobog — the deity of all the evil that hides in darkness. The deity that doesn't let His slaves exist in light.
They slit his sternum, cracked his ribs to reveal the epitome of life that was his heart and dug it out, filled the cavities with scorching tar. Filled his hollow eyes. They didn't relent even despite how much he thrashed. How his pleas grew hoarse from how he screamed.
They said it'd be over quick. That there is no point in begging — that it'll all be okay because their God would gift him with something beautiful and new.
It's bigger, black — pumps slower to accommodate his monstrous new size. Leads carbon dioxide to fuel his cells instead, he breathes out oxygen.
It's all twisted and wrong. He's become the opposite of what he once was.
Jack used to be sweet. An empathetic medical student, smart and full of life. Now he's a towering, cruel husk of a man with ashen skin and three tongues. Harming those he vowed to save. But he couldn't care less about people's health anymore — not after having gone through the worst kind of torture.
And he doesn't have a choice either. The cult took everything from him. His life, his vision. His normal, human appetite.
At the very least he got to take his revenge. They had no idea that Jack was never meant to be the sacrifice. Instead, they became the first taste of what is damned to be his only form of sustenance.
He's disgusting. A monster.
Which is why he doesn't understand why you just sat there and watched in awe as he devoured the man that followed you into the woods. Ripped him to shreds with his bare hands. A crazy ex, he later found out.
He was going to kill you next. Head tilted, looking at you like a predator at prey as he thumped his black tail against the ground to 'see' you better. Echolocation.
But then you stood from the grass, brushed the dirt from your bruised knees and approached him first. Got on your tiptoes to plant a kiss of gratitude on his cheek.
His filthy, bloodstained cheek.
He couldn't move. Frozen like a beast in headlights trying to figure out if his mind had played a trick on him.
But it didn't. And he had spared you that night.
It's a mystery why you came back on the second. Searching for him as you stumble over dead roots like a baby deer. Carrying a picnic basket with a fresh liver from the local butcher as a gift.
He should've killed you then. Should've killed you all the other nights as well.
But again, he didn't. And he's never been more glad to fight against his instincts.
Jack never thought this new heart was capable of love. Never thought anyone would be capable of loving him either.
But here you both are. In bed on a summer morning. Together. Sleeping with your pinkies interlinked because the heat is too overwhelming to hold each other. Your gentle, rhythmic breaths reveal your face every few seconds. He thinks you've never looked more beautiful.
And he thinks you shouldn't be with someone as revolting as him.
Last night he tried to convince you how he hadn't always been this ugly. That he used to be normal looking, even handsome.
He hoped his words would make you think better of him. But you just shook your head with a delicate smile and pulled him into bed instead instead. Showed him how there was no need to worry about any of that.
Jack Nyras who will never live in a world with light again. And he's okay with it as long as it's filled with you instead.
credits to my fav american freak @habitism for the carbon dioxide hc. actual genius over here
