Chapter 25 (p.78) - The Game of Fate

[ciaran]

Finally I've gotten around to reading this and @#$#@$ Aaron is all I have to say. Just die already! haha, how is it I can feel so bad for both Lisa and Jackson at the same time? I was so pissed when he cut her, but now seeing how he's feeling bad about it makes it all better. Tsk, tsk Jackson, one shouldn't act so rash or we end up regretting things.

I'm sad that there's only a couple chapters left, but I'm soooo excited that there's still a part 3 to look forward to. Don't even want to think beyond that. Already posted in the other thread about your vid, absolutely love it. I agree with blue-eyed though, but maybe a video to I'm Your Villian? That would be cool too.

[blue-eyed struck]

^ you finally caught up!! Yeah... but you don't have to be tortured as much as the rest of us waiting for the next chapter! Miss Moderator loooves to torture and tease!! I think she secretly has the whole story written out and hidden away and posts the new chapter when everyone's on the verge of dying!

[ciaran]

I agree, it's a form of torture, I'm sure of it. *evil* Shannon.

[this bike is a]

updaateee alreaddyy arlkmehwyj geez haha j/p

[§hannon]

Hahahah. You people. JEEZ.
I'll write some tonight and try to finish it while I have the time.

I gotta go... just got an e-mail from Gia... byeee.

[this bike is a]

Hahah, ALRIGHTTY

[blue-eyed struck]

I gotta go... just got an e-mail from Gia... byeee.

^ Case in point. *Evil* Shannon (new nickname perhaps)

[beyond_beautiful]

grrr .... I saw your comment on her blog Shannon ;D ...... lucky girl ....

[§hannon]

beyondbeautiful said:

grrr .... I saw your comment on her blog Shannon ;D ...... lucky girl ....

I'm lucky? She's lucky? Or we're both lucky? lol.

[beyond_beautiful]

hmmm ... BOTH... ;D

[§hannon]

Hahah.

[§hannon]

I'll have Chapter 24 Tuesday, if not tomorrow.

[beyond_beautiful]

YAY!

[bluebutterfly]

i read your story before i was able to join the board, and i can't wait to see the end of it. Wish there would be Red Eye 2, inspired by your story. Great job.

[§hannon]

Chapter 24. The beginning of many unravelings and revealings...

Chapter Twenty-Four
“It wasn’t Aaron, was it?” Lisa said tiredly, already knowing the answer to the question.

”We both know exactly who it was,” Jackson replied with a sting of aggravation.

”JR...” Lisa whispered in despair, “Dad...” She paused. “But if Aaron pulled that fire alarm, why would my dad write that? Why not Aaron?”

”Mind frame of a typical assassin. Don’t leave behind evidence of yourself. Get somebody else to do it for you. Kind of like the situation between me and you,” he smirked, turning to drill his ice blue eyes through her and then return his gaze to the road.

Lisa stared at his chiseled jaw line, not knowing what to say.

”So what you’re saying is...” Lisa started.

”Aaron used your father to pull the fire alarm and write the note for him. Therefore, there would be no prominent traces of Aaron being there, other than a few DNA traces, which was his own slip-up anyway. There would be sources of evidence of your dad being there, which would throw the police off. He’s setting both of us up. He wants you dead and he wants me to fail in my plans, which ultimately leads me being dead anyway.”

“Why are you saving me?” Lisa asked flatly.

”Though you’ve physically and mental done many things to me...” he paused, having sharp, sudden flashbacks. “You’re still worth far too much to be letting you go to some assh*le like Aaron. We need each other. Whether you want to accept that or not, well, your choice.”

”And while you’re at it... would you like to explain what all the Jackson mood-swings are for? One minute... you’re on the verge of sexually assaulting me. The next minute, you’re talking to me in the most calm, rational way possible, like nothing’s happening.”

”You have yourself to thank for that.”

”What’s that suppose to mean?”

”Just because most men are born with tough exteriors, doesn’t mean that even the smallest of influences can’t wear away at their interior control,” Jackson replied, staring at Lisa, as he stopped the car in a parking space and turned the car off.

Lisa didn’t know what to say. Jackson always had the talent of leaving her speechless. She didn’t think it was possible for a guy like Jackson to have feelings for her; not after all they’d been through. Or if he would say or hint that he did in the past, she’d just blow it off, thinking he was just pulling mind games like he always did. Something in his eyes, something in his voice, was now telling her otherwise. She couldn’t help but smile slightly at him, for old time’s sake.

They both turned away and opened the doors of the car, stepping out into the Floridian sun. Lisa walked around to the front of the car and stood there for a moment, looking around. The sea reflected flawlessly like a mirage onto the horizon. Jackson locked the car and walked over to Lisa.

”This way,” Jackson motioned to her.

They walked across the parking lot towards the harbor. Lisa rarely spent any time near the harbor or the beach anymore. She barely had time for herself in between the daily hassles of running the hotel. She looked around, stunned, at all of the boats. Lisa was fully aware of the wealthy upper-class that either lived or vacationed in Miami. But, it amazed her to look at the size of some of the yachts. As they walked onto the pier, Lisa felt that her jaw was about to drop, as Jackson stopped her in front of one of the largest ships she’d ever seen.

”We’re not...” she said dazed.

”We are. This is our cruise for tonight,” Jackson said, looking up at the ship with Lisa. “Time for the tour,” he continued, grabbing Lisa’s hand and climbing the short ramp up to the yacht. She looked down at Jackson’s rough fingers intertwined with hers and the all-to-familiar tingle to her spine returned.

They stepped on board and were confronted by the captain, of whom Jackson knew. Jackson broke from his grip on Lisa’s hand to shake hands with the captain.

”Jackson,” he said, firmly shaking his hand, greeting him.

”Sal,” Jackson said, returning the greeting. “I’m gonna show Lisa around for a minute.”

Sal looked at Lisa with utmost curiousness, as if he were to say ‘Oh, so THIS is Lisa... The infamous Lisa Reisert.’ with his stare.

”Go ahead, just don’t show her everything,” Sal said, looking suspiciously at Jackson and laughing hesitantly.

”I don’t intend to,” Jackson said, smirking.

The conversation between the two of them made Lisa’s stomach turn.

Just don’t show her everything.

Jackson grabbed Lisa’s hand once again and they walked off down the side of the yacht so that they could enter inside the cabin. He opened the heavy glass door and led Lisa inside. They came to a brief halt at the doorway.

”This is the dining room/lounge area. I can guarantee you all the time with Alan and his family will be spent here. It’s big enough and you’re capable of entertaining. Moving on...” Jackson said, pulling Lisa farther into the cabin with a jerk of his hand.

They walked further into the cabin through a skinny hallway off of the lounge area. Lisa gripped onto the wall with her other hand and stopped Jackson from pulling her.

”What, Lisa?” Jackson asked.

”What is it that I’m not suppose to see?”

”If you’re not supposed to see it, then why would I tell you what it is?”

”Because you care about me and we need each other,” Lisa answered, looking directly into his eyes with complete seriousness.

For once, Lisa could bask in the enjoyment of the reversal. Jackson was speechless, as his eyes reflected into hers. But, she soon came to realize it wasn’t everything it was cracked up to be. The tides of her intuition were weighing heavily on her, telling her that the old Jackson, the Jackson she knew and loved from the beginning, the Jackson she was searching for all along, was slowly returning back to her. But was it too late for intuition to save her now?