The second piece of art for the SagexJack what-if is done!

POV: Nathan

When I stepped into Sage's room to check on him, what I saw was somehow terrifying and sad at the same time. Sage was just standing there, staring at the door as if he'd expected someone to come in, tears streaming down his face like he'd just been bawling his eyes out, but in his arms was the body of a familiar boy--dark gray hair, light gray and cream colored fur, wearing a dark gray T-shirt and blue jeans...Jack?!

Sage's face, paws, arms, and shirt were also stained with blood, which I assumed belonged to Jack.

"It's so nice of you to visit us, Nathan." Sage told me in a monotone voice. "What brings you here this time?"

"Sage...why are you holding Jack's corpse?" I asked Sage slowly, being extra careful with my words.

"Because I love him, obviously. Also, don't call him a corpse, that's offensive." Sage replied. He seemed like he was denying the fact that Jack was gone, and so he was treating his dead body as if it was still alive and well, which it obviously wasn't.

"Sage...you know Jack is gone. You can't keep dwelling on the past like this." I told Sage, a bit more firmly this time. "You might as well just move on, and let me take Jack back to the graveyard."

"No! I won't let you take him from me! He's all I have left!" Sage argued, holding Jack's body even closer than before. "Don't you get it?! I keep him around because he's the only thing that makes me happy anymore!"

I sighed. Trying to reason with Sage wasn't going to work while he was in this state. He was extremely protective of Jack's corpse, and wouldn't let anybody near it for fear they would take it.

"Sage, I'm just trying to help your healing process go a little faster. Keeping Jack around...as much as I hate to say it...isn't going to help you get any better." I tried again. "I know you're still grieving, and I know it hurts, but if we can cooperate, it'll be much easier on both of us. We can get through this together."

"...." Sage was silent, staring down at the floor as more tears welled up in his eyes. I gently put my paw on his shoulder and he sobbed.

"You okay?"

"L-Leave me alone..."

"Sage, I-"

"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Sage and I were both silent for a while after he screamed. I was surprised that he would even lash out like that, and Sage seemed surprised about it, too. Eventually, after regaining his composure, Sage continued.

"If all you're here to do is torment me, then you don't need to be here."

"Torment you? Sage, I'm just trying to help..."

"Yeah? Well, I don't need your help, okay?!" Sage snapped. "You just want to take my Jack away from me...you WANT me to be miserable, don't you?!"

"Sage, no, it's not like that at all! I just want to..."

My voice trailed off when I saw the unpleasant look Sage was giving me. It was very clear now that he didn't want me to be here.

"...nevermind...sorry..."

"My apologies, Nathan, but..." Sage began, sounding...unusually calm for someone that had just been experiencing a mental breakdown. "...sorry isn't going to cut it anymore."

What happens to Nathan? Maybe the answer will be revealed when the next art comes out!