It was difficult to make the journey back home for him. He decided not to use his ability to travel there within mere seconds to avoid a sneak attack on him just when he needed his power the most, he would have to better train himself to get that ability down pat. The plane ride made things worse for him, as he had to sit in a confining space and let the memories of his past once again haunt him, only making the trip to end now so he could get off the plane and just breathe. Zedd had decided to sit next to Jory on the trip back, as only he really knew what dwelled in Jory when it came to Jory's past in Spokane, and wanted to be there for Jory just incase he couldn't handle it. How could Jory not handle it? If he can handle a powerful phantom, a naked assassin, and a legion of zombies and other creatures of the night..surely he could handle a small thing like this.

"So, how does it feel to be going back home?" Zedd asked, looking at Jory with some curiosity. Jory didn't bother to look at him, he wanted to keep his eyes on the window and see if he could see any familair landmarks. "Like I'm having an old battle with you Zedd." Jory replied.

"Haha, those were the days huh pal?"

Jory only nodded in responce. His mind was too focused on his hometown. Would anyone recognize him from his childhood? Would he have to see his family again? And worse of all..would he have to go back to his grandma's house? Too many questions, so many answers..he needed to get this plane on the ground.

"You know Jory, the only reason why this foul creature is bringing you to Spokane is to clearly use its past against you. Now I know I've done this to you as well, but I just wanna know if your ready?" Jory could sense that Zedd was genually concerned about him. He never thought he would see the day when Zeddicus Rahl..better known as Evil DM..would be concerned over him. "Zedd, I've been through a lot in my life and you of all people know that. From anger issues to demons trying to kill me, but I've overcome it all and I've stared everything in the face, even death, and spit directly in their eye..if anything..I'm overprepared for this."

"Well, just incase it finds a kink in your armor, I'll be there to make sure you dont fall too hard."

"Hahaha, you do that Zedd." It felt weird being able to joke around with Zedd, then again life is always throwing the unexpected at him..he should be used to it. Before either of the two men could start up another conversation, the camptain of the plane got on the p.a. system and grabbed everyone's attention.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speakng. We are entering Spokane County and should be in Spokane in no time. I would advice you now to please buckle in your seatbelts and enjoy the rest of the ride. Thank you.

Well, this is it, he was going home. Last time he was home it was around Gang Rulz 2001 when he went back to his grandma's house and ended up falling into a deep sleep that revealed some of his forgotten past to him, acucually it was more or less Zedd messing with his mind and trying to drive him to the brink of madness..he doesn't realize just how close he came. Come to think of it, he couldn't really remember what drove him to go home in the first place. He had always wanted to avoid home since leaving it at an early age, but for some reason he was driven back and he was once again used in Zedd's evil games of domination, how would it turn out this time? Maybe that was what he was afraid of, being played a fool in a place that means the most to him..theres a motto every general uses with it comes to facing his or her enemy. "Never strike him physically or mentally..always strike him in the heart" which proves to be too true. A human being can recover from a physical blow and come back at you, and a mental blow will only slow them a bit. But if you hit them where it counts, and you hit them good..they may never recover. Jory was all too familiar with that motto, as hes used it countless times against friends and foes a like, if there was one thing Jory always has been good at its mind games and he could use them on you without you even realizing it til its too late..and your on your knees withering in anguish as he stands above you with the prize above him.

"Ladies and gentlemen this is your captain speaking once again. We are now in good ol Spokane, Washington. The airport is just right ahead of us so we hope you enjoyed your flight and hope you enjoy Spokane, Washington. Thank you.

He could feel his heart pounding in his chest faster and faster. He never thought he could be this nervous ever, and hes been in some pretty nerve wrecking situations. The plane started its slow decent towards the tarmak and looking out the window, Jory saw the all to familair airport staring back at him. Jory has been here many occasions and knows this airport like the back of his hand, even after being gone for so long, its like riding a bike..you never forget.

"For now, you should try and relax. If the phantom is willing to come to you in a peaceful manner and ask you to come to your grandma's house, then it must be a peace talk and not a battle." All the words in the world still didn't change the fact that this phantom knew where to hit him and even asked him to go to the very spot that makes him the weakest...cunning. "We'll see Zedd, we'll see."

The airplane touched down without a problem and quickly the airline was able to unboard all of its passangers. Because of his roots in the UEF, he had to weave his way through the people while signing the occasional autograph and taking a picture with someone..it didn't help he had Scorpion and Kerri Storm traveling with him. They finally picked up their bags and while Jory, Kerri, and Scotty had the fans distrated, Zedd went and rented a car for them and by the time they had their luggage and were ready to go, Zedd was pulling up in a red Mini Van Montana.

"I know I know, its a van..but we need the room." He said with a smile. It was hard for Jory to imagine Zedd like this, like a man who could smile and have fun. He could vividly remember when Zedd had to use to wear robes and conceal his identity because the hatred and evil that consumed him made him look like a monsterous freak. But now Zedd is far from that, even still resembles Jory a little bit still. He was happy that he was able to trust Zedd and confide in him, it isn't everyday that a mortal befriends a demon.

"So, where do we go from here Jory?" Kerri asked after loading her luggage into the back of the van. Jory tossed his things in next to her then turned and looked out towards the highway that led to and from the airport. "I dont think that we have to be in a rush, I doubt the phantom would ask me to come to my hometown and only go to one spot. I wanna go somewhere real quick."

"Where do ya wanna go Jor?" Scotty asked. Jory looked at him and smiled. "I wanna go to my old home."

***Life on Courtland***

Since Jory used to live pretty close to Downtown Spokane, it only took about 15 or so minutes to get to his old house, which stood close to the famous Division Hill. Division St. was Spokane's Main St. and if you wanted to get somewhere in Spokane...90% of the time you were on that road or ended up on it eventually. The hill was a steep decline that led into Downtown Spokane which was the main part of town. it consisted of Spokane Arena, The Spokane Opera House, The Courthouse, the rich man's district, and South Hill where the biggest hospital in Spokane, Sacred Heart Hospital was. Because Jory lived on this hill, he was subjected to seeing the nght life hound his area at night, especially when it came to crime. His neighborhood wasn't exactly the safest, infact he was almost killed in a robbery at a taco joint when the cashier got into a struggle with the burgler and the gun went off, the bullet just missing him. Though it was a hard life, it was still very enjoyable and he made friends that he would never forget...but would more then likely never see again. Pulling up to his house was a little breath taking, he hadn't been to his old house since the night before he won the UEF Ironcore Title from Xtreme Mohican. He had come to his house because the anger of his past was calling to him, and it was at a time when he was bathing in the evil that was Zeddicus Rahl. That night he saw his old friend Leslie who gave him a pep talk about his up coming matchup and put some confidence in him. It was the first time anyone put confidence in him, not even his former flame Hellkat did that for him. The UEF didn't look upon DM with the best of thoughts, which only drove him closer to the brink of insanity, and Leslie's pep talk motivated him to stand up and show them UEFers that he was more then just a dark soul with no purpose or guidance. Looking at the house now, it still resembled the same structure that housed him all those years ago, and it still looked like the same structure that night he had his talk with Leslie...that was 2 years ago. The van stopped and DM stepped out of the van and walks to the front to the fence that bordered their property. His step-dad had put up this fence when he was taking his karate lessons to better hone his body and mind. His dad was a great carpenter and his skills were known nation wide, which made him very proud of him.

"So, this is where "Da Man" grew up eh?" Kerri asked, giving her "twin" a gentle push.

"Yep, this is home." He replied with a smile. He liked this house a lot growing up, and it pained him deeply to have to move from it. But if there was one thing he was glad about when it came to moving from this house, it was finally getting away from the spirit..or spirits who dwelled there with him. His house is your typical 1 story, white coated, 5 step front porch house that exists in Spokane,Washington but with everything there is a story, this one has a deep one. Though Jory didn't acually know the story, he does know that the house was built way back in the 1940's and ha sproven to be one tough son of a bitch over the years. because of its history, it was no surprise to him that a ghost..or possibly more lived inside his home. The ghost(s) stayed in the basement, where it was ALWAYS cold, even if you turned on the heater, and you always had a very strong feeling of being watched and followed. The spirit(s) never really showed themselves, as a matter of fact Jory could only recall two times that the ghost(s) have ever revealed themselves other then in his dreams. Once his Uncle Mike and his then wife Denise were downstairs sleeping. They had just married and wanted to stay at Jory's house while they hashed out living arrangements, while sleeping Jory's uncle awoke to a being floating above him, with what he described as a "sick evil face". He ran upstairs, leaving his wife downstairs alone with the thing, and woke his mom up screaming about it. The only other case of a ghost sighting in his house was by Jory himself when about 4-5 years later, Jory and his Uncle Jeremiah were sleeping downstairs. His Uncle Jeremiah had just moved up from Mesa,Arizona and was looking for a future in Spokane. With an obvious fear of the basement, Jeremiah had asked Jory if he would sleep downstairs with him because Jory always slept on the couch, sighting it was just too cold and creepy to sleep down there by himself. Knowing what his uncle was going through, he caved in and bunked downstairs for the night.

At first everything went fine, he and his uncle stayed up most of the night going over past memories and telling jokes and playing board games, but then it turned creepy. First, it started out small with the room temp lowering just a bit, it didn't phase the two much considering it was the Fall season, so they continued on talking. In mid conversation with his uncle, Jory felt the air in his room change, as if someone had walked in. Turning towards the door, Jory noticed a figure of a man standing there staring at them. He was covered in grey and Jory guessed it was because it was so dark down there that he couldn't see him too well. Figuring it was his step-dad, Jory called his name several times to no responce. It was then that both he and Jeremiah realized that it wasn't anyone they knew and quickly came to the assumption that it was a ghost. Jeremiah began to spew out bible qoutes, hoping that that would scare away the being, but it never budged. His uncle tried to get him out of the bed to turn on the light, but fear had a strangle hold on Jory and he could barely move. He tried to convince his uncle to do it, but he was an even bigger coward then Jory was, and so once again Jory caved for his uncle and somehow got out of the bed and shot across the room and after a few failed attempts, turned on the light to which the spirit vanished before the light could even fill the entire room.

That was the last time there was a ghost sighting in that house int he time period Jory lived there, but it always made its presence felt with heavy breathing and whatever else a poltergeist would do to give someone the creeps. Standing there before his old house, knowing what he is now, he can still feel the presence lurking in that house somewhere, waiting for someone else to move in. Maybe he could help this trapped soul, maybe with his new found ability he could finally rid this house of its presence and start it off with a clean new slate...after all, a man just doesn't come to his hometown for one reason and one reason only...right?

"You guys wait here, I'm gonna go in." Jory said.

"Well, how long will you be bro?" He knew Scotty wasn't a man of much patience, so he had to reassure him. "Dont worry, this shouldn't take long".