Jacob drove toward the Beacon Hills Preserve, a dark amusement curling in his chest as he imagined the look on Matt's face when he realized just how badly his plan had backfired.
Soon, they arrived at the edge of the woods. Matt leaned forward from the back seat. "Drive deeper. Further in."
Jacob obliged. The deeper they went, the more isolated they became—exactly where Jacob wanted him.
After several minutes, Matt said, "Stop here. Get out."
Jacob parked the car and stepped out with Melissa. Matt retrieved a rope from the trunk and pointed it at Melissa. "Tie your husband's hands behind his back."
Melissa looked at him—really looked at him—and all she saw was a pathetic, terrified boy who had no idea what he'd walked into. She shook her head slowly, pity in her eyes. "Jay, take me back."
Jacob smirked, wrapped an arm around her waist, and said to Matt, "Wait here. I'll be back in a moment."
Before Matt could react, they vanished.
Matt spun in circles, panic rising. "Where did you go?! Come out!"
Jacob reappeared directly in front of him.
Matt raised his gun with trembling hands. "Where's the woman?!"
"She's back at the hospital." Jacob smirked. "It's funny—you thought this was a kidnapping. Instead, you just delivered yourself to me. And you even picked a place where no one can hear you scream." His smile widened. "So congratulations, dumbass."
Matt's face went pale. "Who… who are you?"
Jacob reached up and deactivated his nano mask, revealing his true face. "Surprise."
Matt stumbled back, his face twisting with terror. His skin lost all color. His mouth opened and closed uselessly. He tried to release the safety on his gun, but his hands shook so badly that the weapon slipped from his grip and clattered to the ground.
Jacob chuckled. "Let me help you." With a wave of his hand, he used his telekinesis to lift the gun and float it back to Matt. "I removed the safety for you. Go ahead. Shoot me."
Matt grabbed the floating weapon with shaking hands and opened fire.
Jacob raised one hand. Every bullet stopped mid-air, hovering inches from his palm.
Matt emptied the entire magazine. And every single bullet hung there, suspended, defying everything he thought he knew about the world.
His legs gave out. He collapsed to the ground, staring up at Jacob with pure, primal terror. "W-what kind of monster are you?"
"The kind you should never have messed with." Jacob's voice was cold, casual. "I heard you called my wives bitches."
Matt shook his head frantically. "I—I didn't..."
"And I heard you wanted to play with them in front of me." Jacob released a fraction of his dragon aura. "Before crushing my balls and making me eat my own dick."
Matt's whole body convulsed with fear. He tried to stand, but his legs wouldn't obey. "HELP! SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP!"
Jacob tilted his head. "You can shout all you want. No one can hear you. You picked this place, remember?"
With a thought, three bullets shot forward—faster than any gun could fire—and struck Matt directly in the crotch.
Matt screamed. A high, animalistic sound of pure agony. He curled into a ball, clutching his crotch, rolling on the forest floor as blood soaked through his pants.
Jacob waved a hand, and stone rose from the earth, forming a comfortable chair. He sat down to watch.
After a moment, his expression shifted. 'This isn't as fun as I thought it would be.' He frowned. 'I feel… uncomfortable. Maybe I should have let Cogman handle this.'
Matt's screaming eventually subsided into sobbing. He looked up at Jacob, his face streaked with tears and dirt. A puddle of urine mixed with blood had formed beneath him. He had even lost control of his bowels.
Jacob wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Gross. You just made me lose interest in torturing you. So I'll make your death quick-ish."
Through choking sobs, Matt begged, "Please… don't kill me. I'm sorry. I'll leave Beacon Hills and never come back. Please, spare me!"
"Spare you? So you can find some washed-up mentor, learn some forbidden curse spell or some shit, and return to gloat about how my mercy was my greatest weakness? No thanks. I've seen this movie before. The hero always ends up with a knife in his back or a loved one's corpse in his hands because he was too noble to finish the job. I'm not noble, Matt. I'm vengeful. I'm petty. And when provoked, I'm ruthless." Jacob smiled—a cold, humorless smile. "I heard you have hydrophobia. And while I can't use the water element, I can still make you drown."
He stomped his foot. The earth beneath Matt softened, liquefied, becoming quicksand.
Matt began to sink. Slowly.
He screamed. He begged. He clawed at the edges, but there was nothing to hold onto. "PLEASE! I'M SORRY! DON'T LET ME DROWN IN MUD! PLEASE!"
Jacob watched for a moment, then sighed. 'Too slow.'
He waved his hand. The remaining bullets shot forward and pierced Matt's body from multiple angles. The screaming stopped.
Jacob rose from his stone chair. With a gesture, he lifted Matt's corpse from the quicksand and incinerated it with a burst of dragon fire. He burned the car too, then smoothed the earth until it looked untouched. The stone chair dissolved back into the ground.
He teleported back to the mansion.
---
Jacob lay back in his recliner in the living room, staring at the translucent system window that had appeared before his eyes.
[You have killed Matt. You may now sign in, Host.]
'System, sign in.'
[Sign-In Successful. Rewards Obtained:
1️⃣ Enchanted Camera (The Wizarding World): A vintage-styled camera that captures fully animated photographs which loop indefinitely. With a single click, it can print animated photos from wallet-sized up to poster-sized. It's filled with infinite enchanted film that transforms directly into printed photos—no developing needed.
2️⃣ Stealth: You can follow any target while completely hiding your presence and sound. Unless you attack, you will never be discovered—they won't hear footsteps, feel your gaze, or sense you behind them, no matter how close you get.
- Note: This ability only works against females.
3️⃣ X-Ray Vision: The ability to see through solid objects—walls, doors, clothing, etc.—at will. Enjoy, Host.]
Jacob read the first reward and thought, 'Animated photographs? We have phones that capture videos, so it's not exactly mind-blowing. But it's better than nothing, I guess.'
He moved to the second reward and frowned. 'A creepy stalking ability? Well, it could be useful. But I should remember it won't work on my wives—they can feel my presence through our bond.'
Then he read the last reward and grinned. 'Great. X-ray vision. That's a nice ability to have. And don't worry, System. I will enjoy myself. But between the camera, the stealth that only works on females, and the X-ray vision… it feels like you're trying to turn me into a super creepy stalker.'
[I am merely an assistant to you, Host. I have no ill intentions.]
'Yeah, right.' Jacob shook his head. 'Anyway, merge the Stealth ability and the X-Ray Vision into my body.'
[Are you sure, Host?]
'Yes.'
A faint tingling sensation washed over his eyes, then faded.
[The two abilities have been successfully merged into your body, Host.]
Jacob focused. Immediately, he could see through the living room wall—the garden beyond, the flowers, the path. He looked down at his hand and pushed further. Skin became translucent, revealing muscles, then veins, then the stark white of bone beneath.
'Cool.'
He deactivated the ability and lay back in the recliner, a satisfied smile on his face. 'I can't wait to see what rewards I get after witnessing Jackson turn into a werewolf tonight.'
He closed his eyes, intending to nap—but sleep wouldn't come. 'I should go get a coffee.'
---
Jacob walked out of the mansion and found Cogman tending to the garden.
Cogman looked up. "Where are you going, sir?"
"Out for coffee."
"I can make you some, sir. It would be my pleasure."
Jacob waved a hand. "No, I want to go to a café and enjoy the atmosphere."
He swung a leg over his bike and rode into town, eventually finding a busy café on a bustling street. He ordered a coffee, found a table, and sat back.
He put on his sunglasses, activated his X-ray vision, and let out a quiet, satisfied sigh.
For the next two hours, he sat there, coffee forgotten, a perverted grin plastered on his face as he watched the women passing by. 'This is the best ability I've ever gotten since I arrived in this world. Thank you, System.'
He was so engrossed he didn't notice the Rolls-Royce pull up. He didn't notice Allison, Lydia, and Malia get out. He didn't notice them walk toward him.
Allison raised an eyebrow at his expression. "What is he doing with that perverted grin on his face?"
Lydia studied him. "Nothing good, I'm sure. But I can feel that he's in a very good mood."
Malia nodded. "Yeah, I can feel it too. He's really happy right now."
They followed his gaze to a table not far away, where four beautiful older women sat laughing together.
Allison and Lydia's expressions darkened. They strode toward him.
Jacob shivered suddenly, a primal warning shooting through him. 'My spidey senses are tingling. I'm in danger.'
He looked around—and saw Allison and Lydia advancing with murder in their eyes, Malia smirking behind them. 'Wait—when did they get here? And why do they look pissed?'
He quickly pulled off his sunglasses and put on his most charming smile. "Hey, girls! What are you doing here?"
Allison's voice was ice. "Don't you want us here?"
"Of course I want you here! I was just surprised, that's all." He stood and pulled out chairs for them. "Please, join me."
Lydia sat, her eyes narrowed. "So, Jay." She nodded subtly toward the four women. "Do you like them?"
"No."
Malia grinned. "Then why were you ogling them with that perverted smile?"
Jacob coughed awkwardly. "I wasn't looking at them. I was… I was actually asleep. Yes. Asleep. And I was dreaming about you girls."
Allison rolled her eyes. "Right. I'd believe you if I didn't know you so well."
Lydia ignored him and called the waiter over, turning to Allison and Malia to discuss what they wanted to order.
Jacob glanced away from Malia, who was still giving him a knowing look. 'Note to self: never tell them about the X-ray vision. And especially never tell Stiles—that idiot would definitely snitch.'
Soon, the waiter arrived with their drinks and an assortment of pastries. The girls dug in, laughing and talking between bites.
After a while, Allison turned to Jacob. "By the way, did you deal with that creep Matt?"
Jacob nodded casually. "Yeah. He's dead."
Lydia's eyebrow arched. "Where did you find him?"
Jacob smirked. "Actually, he found me. Cogman told me he was heading to the hospital, so I went there and disguised myself. When he arrived, he came up to me and Melissa and kidnapped us at gunpoint. Told us to drive to the Beacon Hills Preserve." He shrugged. "We played along."
Allison shook her head. "What an idiot."
Lydia leaned forward. "Did you find out why he was killing people? Isaac's father, that pregnant woman's husband? Why he tried to kill her and the mechanic?"
Jacob's expression shifted. He thought for a moment, 'I didn't dare read his memories—didn't want to see his imaginary life with Allison. But I remember his backstory from canon.'
Out loud, he said, "When Matt was young, he was good friends with Isaac. They bonded over comics. One night in 2006, when Matt was around eight or nine, he went to Isaac's house to trade comic books. That same night, Isaac's father had invited the swim team he coached—who had just won championships—to the house for a pool party. They'd been drinking, and things got pretty rowdy."
The girls listened intently as Jacob continued.
"Isaac's brother, who was on the swim team, drunkenly grabbed Matt and threw him in the pool—despite Matt's desperate protests that he couldn't swim. He sank beneath the surface, tried to plead for help, but no one noticed. Everyone was too busy hooking up. He lost consciousness."
Lydia's eyes widened.
Jacob paused. "Matt woke up and found that Isaac's father had saved him. But instead of showing concern, the man was furious—terrified that Matt's near-drowning could get him and the team in trouble. So he blamed Matt. Told him it was his own fault for not being able to swim. He bullied him into silence, and Matt never told anyone about the party, the alcohol, or his near-death experience."
Malia frowned. "That's messed up."
Jacob nodded. "That trauma gave him hydrophobia and panic attacks. And over time, it grew into an obsession with revenge against everyone who hurt him."
Allison's expression shifted as the pieces clicked into place. "So that's what he meant earlier—when he was controlling Jackson and said he'd kill those who'd killed him before."
Lydia shook her head. "Isaac's father was a terrible person. He was an abusive father, and he turned a scared kid into a psychopathic killer."
Malia shrugged. "Well, he got what he deserved in the end."
Allison nodded grimly. "Yeah. Matt killed him."
Lydia waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, let's not talk about that psycho anymore." She smiled brightly. "How about we go shopping?"
Allison's face lit up. "Sure."
Malia glanced at Jacob. "I'll only go if Jay comes."
Lydia turned to him with a sly smile. "Come with us. We'll let you pick out some lingerie for us."
Jacob's eyes lit up. "Oh. Okay. I'm in." He smirked pervertedly, adding internally, 'I can just use my X-ray vision to pass the time when they shop for other stuff.'
Allison caught his expression and shook her head with a smile. "Alright, pay the bill so we can go, you pervert."
Jacob grinned. "Oh, sure."
He paid the bill, then stood. "Wait here. I'm going to stash my bike."
He rode to an empty alley. After making sure there were no cameras, stored his bike in his pocket dimension. Then he teleported directly into the Rolls-Royce.
Cogman, already in the driver's seat, merely glanced at him through the rearview mirror and said nothing.
The girls felt Jacob's presence in the car and climbed in—Malia in the front, while Allison and Lydia slid into the back, wrapping themselves around Jacob.
Cogman asked, "Where to, my ladies?"
Lydia smiled. "Macy's."
"As you wish."
The Rolls-Royce pulled smoothly into traffic.
To be continued… 😊