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Post by Pukkina on Mar 27, 2006 17:29:43 GMT -5
Dictionary
Anger. Embarrassment. Disbelief. Three words that crossed Jackson Rippner’s mind as he lay bleeding on the floor of the Reisert’s home. These feelings drifted away as he left consciousness.
He spent close to two months in the hospital, being treated for the various injuries the seemingly sensitive, feminine Lisa Reisert had inflicted on him.
The two months were painful, Jackson had to admit, even for a man who’d had a plethora of painful experiences.
Painful. Perhaps it wasn’t just physical, but also...emotionally?
He pondered why. Lisa had failed him. He’d be lucky if the clients who’d hired him for the Keefe assassination gave him another chance. Jackson was glad that at his position, he was far too powerful to be brought down.
Failure wasn’t common in Jackson’s business. When someone did happen to stumble, they were usually too important to the company to be fired. They usually were just demoted to lower positions. Firing people was far too risky, considering how the ex-employees could very likely leak secrets to the government. The lower positions. Dirty work that one had to work themselves up from. Shooting off the missile, shooting the gun, dirty work. Jackson had the fun, easy job. Manipulating innocent minds. Stalking. It was almost relaxing for him, that is, until the Ms. Lisa Reisert came along.
Lisa Reisert. He’d stalked her close to two months, admittedly more than he’d needed to for the job. He found her fascinating, everything about her. He’d found himself writing down unimportant details in his notepad.
Usually dresses up.
Never wears short skirts.
Has three sets of heels.
He wasn’t sure why, but dismissed the thoughts with his usual tossed-off air.
He found himself growing somewhat attached, possessive, almost. He shot threatening glances at any male that walked near her. Again, he’d no idea why.
Looking back, Jackson cursed himself for not learning more. Obviously, sweet, sensitive little Lisa had a hidden fire deep inside her that he’d coincidentally unlocked.
Revenge. A word that played over and over in his head in the depressing hospital room. He wanted nothing more than to make Lisa pay, make her feel remorse for what she’d done to him.
But then...something else. Her. He wanted her, in a nagging sort of way. Not her body, but...her soul. A feeling he’d had since he first lay eyes on her.
After his hospital stay he’d been transported to a brief trail, where he was undoubtedly convicted to a four-year jail stay. He was surprised at the minute duration of the punishment, knowing he’d get out sooner.
The inmates hated Jackson. Hated the new, c*cky inmate with the extensive vocabulary. Every fiber of his being, and they let him know that by his second day.
His response? A cool, “I hate you, too.”
Yes, they’d asked what he’d done. But he just smiled that calm, demeaning grin, and they proceeded to ask the guard.
When news got around that Jackson Rippner’d been beat up by a girl in heels, he’d had to admit he’d been slightly apprehensive. Inmates could be grizzly characters.
But he had naught to worry. After his first encounter with a prisoner culminating in a black eye for Jackson, the other inmates backed off. Perhaps it was because the man had woken up dead the next morning, secretly killed by drugs in his evening glass of fruit punch. Jackson prided himself on that minor victory.
Two years, he was in jail, before one of his employees finally had the brainy idea to send the bail to release him. Jackson left the place without so much as looking back.
Life continued as normal. Well, as normal as it could get for an assassin, anyway. His thoughts of revenge were put on hold by an interesting proposition one evening.
A fax, to Jackson’s temporary apartment.
Re-do on the Keefe Job. Pay $5,000,000. Must be completed by next year. You decide terms.-Keanu Morris
The man who’d first requested the job done. Jackson grinned.
Excellent. And I know just the person for the job.
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Post by Pukkina on Mar 28, 2006 18:23:25 GMT -5
Stronger than Yesterday
Lisa didn’t wallow. She didn’t cry, or feel sorry for herself. She’d thought she would. It was who she was. But somehow, she was changed.
Lisa no longer let herself believe that every man was a threat. She made friends, went on dates, and allowed herself sick days from work. She didn’t let little things stress her out, and made time for herself, even when it seemed like there wasn’t any left.
The incident on the Red Eye three years ago had, if anything, made her stronger. Not physically, but mentally. She knew in her mind that she could in fact beat Jack again.
He’d gone to the hospital for two weeks and then to jail. Recently the paper read that he’d been released.
Released, not escaped. Lisa tried to remain unfazed but her “female-driven emotions” kicked in every so often and she found herself carrying a pen in her purse every where she went. Just in case.
Lisa’s phone rang late one night in mid-December. She glanced at the caller id and picked it up from her countertop.
“Hey, Leese,” Lisa’s happy-go-lucky cousin and best friend, Tanya. Lisa glanced around her apartment. It was small and modest, but a few charming pieces of furniture made it cute.
“Hey, Tanya,” Lisa smiled through the phone.
“What are you doing tonight?” she bubbled.
“Um,” Lisa laughed, glancing at the clock. “Seeing how it’s ten o’clock, going to bed.”
“No,” Tanya corrected her. “Come to the movies with me.”
“No, Tanya, it’s too late,” Lisa argued. “Tomorrow.”
“Come on, Leese,” Tanya begged. “I really want to see Date Movie. It’s stopping showing tonight. Besides, going late is fun. Less people.”
Lisa sighed. “I’m tired, Tanya. Go with Adam.”
Adam was Tanya’s boyfriend.
“You know as well as I that he’s visiting his parents in Greece,” Tanya whined. “I know for a fact that you don’t have to work tomorrow. First day of your Christmas vacation.” Lisa always got a week’s vacation and it did start tomorrow.
Lisa surrendered. “Fine. When?”
“Half an hour,” Tanya squealed and hung up.
Lisa pulled up in front of the cinema thirty minutes later dressed in jeans and a green Aero tshirt under her jean jacket.
Tanya hopped out of the ticket line waving two tickets in Lisa’s face.
“Here,” she said excitedly. “I paid your way.”
“Thanks, hon,” Lisa smiled at her.
They grabbed some food and went into the theatre. The dark room held only a handful of people as the previews played.
Lisa munched her popcorn as the movie began and a couple of late comers came in. A man and his daughter. Lisa looked a little closer at the girl. She looked pretty young to be in this movie, only about three or four years old. Parents these days.
Lisa laughed right along with Tanya at the exceedingly stupid film. She heard the man laughing next to her, a low, kind of hoarse laugh. Lisa did not hear the girl chuckle once. She’s probably too young to get some of the jokes, Lisa predicted.
As the girl on the screen made her ugly-duckling transformation to now be played by Alyson Hannigan, Lisa accidentally bumped her arm on the man’s on the armrest.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“It’s fine,” the man next to her answered.
The movie played on to the Kill Bill-esque scene. Lisa chuckled. The man leaned over to speak to her.
“This remind you of anything?” he whispered.
Lisa shook her head, a chill darting up her spine.
“Julia Jones’ Ka-Bar doesn’t ring a bell?”
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Post by Pukkina on Mar 29, 2006 18:10:26 GMT -5
<bows> Thank you, thank you. I'm here all week. LOL. Well...thanks so much for saying you like it. I do have it on FF.net, but my self-esteem kinda dropped because a lot of people were kinda posting rude reviews on the later-on storyline (unrealistic, etc.) And some of them, not all of them, were somewhat implying that I suck at writing, so, yeah. LOL. Well, I hope it's okay. I'll try to update as much as I can, but I, being the obsessed little girl I am, am also workign on trying to combine all of my Red Eye fanfic into a screenplay. Hey, I can hope! Well, next chap soon, I promise! Maybe tonight if I get time!
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Post by Pukkina on Mar 31, 2006 16:18:38 GMT -5
Okay, thanks guys! Seriously I look at these comments and like, freak out, I'm so happy. <disco music begins playing-Ahhhhhhhh Freak out!LOL>
Anyway...here it is!!! (I combined two chapters so it's extra-long since I haven't posted in a while! Hope you like!!>
Take Me Away
“Julia’s Ka-Bar doesn’t ring a bell?” the man asked again. Lisa’s head whipped aro und so fast her curls smacked her in the face.
Charles Keefe, ring a bell?
“What the hell are you doing here?” she whispered fiercely.
“My business is all about you,” he grinned. Lisa looked at his face, his eyes. His voice was almost the same, despite a light rasp, as was his face. Why hadn’t she recognized him?
“Quit with the f*cking flashbacks, Jack,” she spat and turned to leave but Jackson placed a strong hand on her wrist.
“Okay, see, if you want this girl-” he nodded to the child next to him, “to live, I’d sit back down and don’t say anything to your cousin.”
Lisa dizzily fell back into her seat, shaking.
“What do you want now?” she whispered, trying to control the trembling of her voice. “For me to make a f*cking phone call?” she edged her purse closer to her with her feet. Pen, she thought.
“Actually, no,” he whispered back. “For now, what you’re going to do is watch the rest of the film as you were before, and when its done you’ll leave the theatre with your cousin. You’ll say that you’re meeting someone here in ten minutes and she should go home, and then I’ll come back and we’ll take it from there.”
Lisa breathed a deep breath to calm herself. “What after that?”
“You’ll see,” he smiled his c*cky grin at her and settled back into his chair. Lisa then noticed the little girl next to him. She looked maybe nine or ten, and was shaking from head to toe, petrified. Lisa wondered why she hadn’t noticed before.
Lisa tried to enjoy the rest of the movie, knowing that it very well could be her last.
Finally the credits began to roll and Lisa rose on weak legs to follow her cousin out. As she turned she felt Jackson’s grip on her shoulder. It sent shivers in catalysts up her back. She felt his warm breath in her ear.
“I’ll be watching you,” he whispered. She wrenched her arm away and turned to follow Tanya.
The bright lights of the lobby stung Lisa’s eyes and the clock read close to midnight.
“So, I have to meet someone, so...I’ll see you later,” Lisa croaked.
“Who are you meeting?” Tanya asked, pulling out her compact mirror and studying her reflection.
“My...um, Cynthia,” Lisa stuttered. Tanya liked Cynthia. Perhaps she would stay...
“Can I stay with you?” Tanya requested. “I haven’t seen her in forever.”
“Sure,” Lisa smiled. Now what?
Lisa and Tanya sat down and Lisa tried to conceal her fear. She chatted along with Tanya at a table in the food court for about half an hour. Then she looked past Tanya’s shoulder and saw Jackson, his body hidden in the shadows. He shot her an annoyed glance and tapped his watch, and then opened up his jacket a little bit to reveal a knife, making sure only she saw. She gasped despite her best efforts and Tanya stared at her.
“Tanya, um...Listen, I don’t think Cynthia’s coming, I’ll wait a bit more but you should go home,” she spit out.
“No, I can wait with you,” Tanya replied cheerfully.
“Tanya, go home,” Lisa ordered, her tone so forceful that Tanya finally sighed and rose.
“I’ll call you later,” she mumbled in a hurt voice as she left the mall.
A few seconds later, Jackson strode up.
“It’s about time,” he snapped. “You’re lucky I planned for one of your little acts.”
Lisa glared at him.
“Come on, the car’s outside,” he ordered, seizing her arm along with the little girl’s. Lisa wrenched away.
“No way in hell am I going anywhere with you,” she spat.
“You don’t have a choice in the matter,” he pulled her arm harder this time and pushed her by his side so as not to attract the attention of passerby.
The cool Miami air bit Lisa’s cheeks as Jackson pulled them to a Ford Escort and shoved them in. Lisa in front, the girl in back.
“Bit girly car, don’t you think, Jack?” Lisa smiled sweetly at him, sarcasm dripping from her voice. She wanted more than anything to annoy him. He glared at her as he began to drive. Lisa heard the tiny girl whimper in the back.
“Listen, arsehole, I realize why I’m here, revenge,” she began. “But you could at least let her go. This is between us.”
“I don’t want revenge,” he sighed and paused. “Actually, I do, but that’s not why you’re here.”
“Oh, really?” she laughed a harsh, cold laugh. “Then why?”
“He paused. “I was going to wait, but...we have another job, Leese, and I need you for it.”
“Make another phone call?” she said bitterly.
“Nope,” he shook his head. “This little girl is Keefe’s daughter. She was born the year after you nearly killed me. Now, the deal is, Keefe declines from politics or she dies.”
“Why do you need me?” she questioned.
“Taking care of her,” he shrugged. “And bargaining with your little friend Charles.”
“Moved past assassinations, Jack?” she snapped. “Well, I”m not doing it.”
Jackson clicked his tongue playfully. “Knew you’d say that.”
“Well, aren’t you smart,” Lisa rolled her eyes. “So who’s being threatened now Jack?” He jerked his head to the back.
“Her.”
“She’s the hostage,” Lisa explained as if to a toddler. “You can’t kill the hostage or you don’t have any ransom, dumbass.”
“No, but I can make her life a living hell,” he grinned at her. “Oh, and um, forgot to mention, but your little cousin, too, what’s her name, Tia?”
“Tanya,” Lisa corrected him, growing nervous. She felt like kicking herself. She hadn’t done anything after he’d been out, hadn’t taken any precau-
It was then that she remembered the pen in her purse that she was still holding. She secretively dropped the purse down to her side and unbeknownst to Jackson retracted its cap and quickly jerked it up to his neck.
Reflexes like a cat, he snatched it away and snapped it in two with his hand. He jerked the car to a stop and unbuckled, slamming Lisa’s head against the seat. She saw stars but remained conscious.
“Nice try, Leese,” he rolled his eyes. “But after your little act I invested in thicker clothing.” He gestured to the turtleneck and corduroys he was wearing under his jacket. If it weren’t for the circumstances, Lisa would have laughed at his poor clothing choices. She kicked at him to let her go and she heard the little girl cry out in the back.
“So now, try this again, shall we?” he said in a singsong voice. “You pull another stunt like that, and the girl will not be happy and you, my dear, will be in severe pain. You will be extremely lucky if I keep your cousin alive, got it?”
Despite the strong hands gripping her, Lisa managed to nod. He yanked away his hand. She gasped for air but finally spoke.
“I’m sitting in the back.”
“What?” Jackson began buckling up again.
“I’m sitting. In the back. With the girl,” Lisa repeated loudly and slowly. “Get over it.”
“No, you’re not,” he answered, checking his reflection in the mirror. “Easier to keep an eye on you up here.”
“Oh, come on, what am I going to do, kick your seat?” she said sarcastically. He looked at her long and hard and then unbuckled.
“Fine.”
Jackson came around to Lisa’s door and pulled her out by her elbow, shoving her roughly in the backseat. She scowled at him but buckled herself up next to the little girl.
As soon as they were back on the road, Lisa spoke to the little girl.
“Hi, honey, I’m Lisa, what’s your name?” she asked sweetly. The girl stared up at her, petrified, her straight blonde hair tumbling into her face before she finally spoke.
“Melanie,” she answered in a quiet, sweet voice.
“That’s a pretty name. Can I call you Mel?” Lisa asked. The girl nodded, shoving her thumbs into her mouth. “How old are you, Mel?” Melanie held up three dirty fingers. Lisa felt her heart twinge. Three years old, and a hostage. Her poor family. It was then that Lisa noticed a dark bruise spreading up her face.
“Don’t worry, Mel,” Lisa assured her. The girl stared up, her big blue eyes wide. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”
The little girl nodded and tears slid down her face. She eventually leaned into Lisa and fell asleep on her lap. Lisa fought back tears of her own and finally spoke again.
“How long, Jackson?” she said in a tired, fed-up tone. “How long have you had her?”
“Two days,” he cleared his throat.
“Why her?” Lisa asked, her voice wavering. “She’s just a baby.”
“You’re so naive, Leese. Little kids don’t try to escape, like you,” his voice held a tone that Lisa was an idiot.
“But...”
“Don’t even start in on the sentimental sh*t, Leese. We already know that you’re the heroine and I’m the villain of this story, now get over it. Life isn’t always black and white, and sometimes sacrifices must be made,” he said seriously.
“Even if they’re at the expense of others?” she spat.
He paused. “Yes,” he nodded. Lisa’s anger boiled inside of her, and a few minutes later she slammed her foot into the back of his seat. He flinched and glared at her through the mirror.
Hahaha, she thought triumphantly, and leaned back her head to sleep.
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Lisa awoke, feeling lightheaded and dizzy in the backseat. Mel’s head on her lap formed a circular pattern of drool and Lisa sighed lightly and brushed it off, for a moment disoriented and confused about where she was. Then she remembered the last few hours of events.
“Well, Sleeping Beauty finally awakes,” Jackson smirked in the front seat. “Nice nap?”
“I don’t know, how’s your neck doing?” she shot at him, the only thing she could think to say.
“Dandy,” he grinned cheekily at her. She rolled her eyes in disgust and looked out her window. The sun was just beginning to come up and they appeared to be driving through some sort of boggy, almost jungle-like area. Usually, Lisa would love these sort of roadtrips but the current circumstances it was a little hard to feel the childlike giddyness she usually did.
“So tell me something, Jack,” she tilted her head as he glanced back at her. “How long is this going to take, because really, I need to be getting back to work.”
“No, you don’t,” he argued. “You’re on vacation.”
The call on Lisa’s bluff made her stagger. “Spying on me again? Little obsessive, don’t you think?”
He shrugged. “Part of the job.”
“Thought you knew everything about me from before, why’d you need to do it again?” she argued.
“Listen, Leese,” he snapped. “You’re on vacation, and I know it, so quit whining and just pretend you’re taking a lovely little cross-country roadtrip, hm?”
“Normal people don’t take roadtrips with their kidnappers,” she pointed out. Mel stirred a bit on her chest.
“Well, pretend I’m not your kidnapper,” he bargained. “I’m your charming yet sensible Mexican boyfriend Pedro.”
Lisa rolled her eyes again. “Because that’s so much better. And no.”
“Okay,” he said simply.
“So, where exactly are we going?” she asked him.
“Can’t tell you exactly where,” he said, clicking on the radio. “But I can tell you that it’s in New York.”
“Why don’t we just take a plane?” she questioned. She had a feeling she’d like it better that way. The less time she had to spend with Jackson, the better. Now she was stuck in a car with him for at least two days.
“Well, actually, we’re getting on a train around noon today,” he informed her. She rolled her eyes.
“May I ask why?”
“It’s one of those faster ones, so we’ll get there a day sooner,” he grinned. “For now, just sit back and relax.”
“You try to f*cking relax when you’re being held hostage,” she snapped.
“Come on, Leese,” he sympathized. “All you have to do is get Keefe to back down from politics this time. No assassinations. You do what you’re told and no one gets hurt.”
“How do I know you’re not going to kill him afterwards?” she tried to keep her voice low so as not to startle Mel.
Jackson paused. Lisa read the look in the way his back stiffened.
“You f*cking arsehole!” she screamed. “How can you- I mean, you try to f*cking tell me that no one will get hurt just so I’ll do your f*cking dirtywork and then you pull this!” Lisa felt Mel make a quiet noise on her lap.
“Lisa, calm down,” he said quickly. “I knew that if I told you we were going to kill him, then you wouldn’t do it.”
“What was the f*cking point in having him decline anyway?” she said angrily. “If you were going to kill him.”
“Think about it, Leese, you’re smarter than that,” he snapped. “If he’s not Secretary of Homeland Security anymore, then he won’t have a team of bodyguards trailing him everywhere and it’ll be easier for my guys to get in and take him out.”
Lisa shook her head, tears sliding down her face. “How could you? I mean...you told me...you told me that you never lied.”
“I didn’t lie, Leese,” he sighed. “I left out information.”
“Same thing,” she whispered. Mel finally woke up and looked up at Lisa. Lisa looked down at Mel. She was so young...and no matter what Lisa did she was going to be fatherless. It wasn’t fair for someone of that innocent to be placed in this situation.
“You’re a monster,” she whispered to Jackson. He sighed and she could see this stung him none.
“I’ve been called worse.”
The hours dragged on until finally they pulled up to a gas station in Georgia. Lisa bit her lip. There was no plausible way out of this without hurting Mel or Tanya or herself. Then she was struck with an idea.
Jackson pulled the keys from the ignition and unbuckled. “I’m going to get some food. If you need to use the bathroom, go now.”
“Thanks for being so concerned, Jack,” Lisa said, her voice dripping with sarcastic sweetness. “But I don’t.”
“Does the girl need to?” he asked.
“So what, I’m psychic now?” she rolled her eyes and looked to Mel. “Do you need to go to the bathroom honey?”
Mel nodded shyly and Lisa took her hand.
Jackson opened the door like a gentleman and held out his hand to Lisa. She just made a noise of disgust and walked past him. Jackson shot a helpless glance to the people pumping their gas.
“Women,” he sighed.
“Yes, we’re wonderful, hm?” Lisa responded, lifting Mel up to carry her.
Jackson took her arm in a feigned gesture of masculine manners but she slammed her foot down hard on his. He groaned and she shot him a simper.
“So sorry,” she apologized. “We women can’t control our actions.”
They entered the convenience center and Lisa led Mel to the restroom.
“Honey, I’ll just be around the corner, okay?” Mel nodded and Lisa left the bathroom, carefully shutting the door behind her. She jumped as she saw Jackson right outside the door. He opened his mouth to speak.
“No, Jack, don’t worry, they were out of soap,” she spat. He grinned c*ckily at her.
“Glad to hear it,” he chided. “Get something to eat.”
“Not hungry,” she said bitterly.
“Could be a while until we eat again,” he reminded her.
“The child is in the bathroom right now, Jack, I don’t need to be reminded,” she rolled her eyes. He laughed and she glared at him.
“Aren’t you witty,” he acknowledged her.
“Complimenting me just makes me hate you more,” she informed him. He just laughed that low, cold laugh again.
Finally Mel trudged out of the room and Lisa took her hand again. She seemed to draw a strange sense of comfort from the helpless little girl.
“Mel, sweetie, are you hungry?” the little girl shoved her thumb into her mouth again and nodded.
Lisa helped her choose some snacks and then they were back on the road..
Mel sat quietly next to Lisa eating her food for close to an hour until Jackson sighed and pulled to the side of the road.
“What now?” Lisa complained. Jackson unbuckled.
“I want you sitting up front,” he ordered. “I need entertainment.”
“Oh, and what am I to you, television?” she spat.
“Nope, just someone for me to engage in witty wordplay in,” he smiled.
“Well, I’m glad I can be an outlet for your ingenuity,” she snapped. “I’m sitting with Mel.”
“And I have the only chance for your cousin to live,” he reminded her. She glared at him, furious at being the little pawn in his game. She unbuckled and stepped out of the car, slamming her door loudly behind her. She opened the passenger’s side door and sat down, once again slamming the door angrily. She saw Jackson cringe.
“Honestly, Jack, right now I don’t give a flying f*ck about your paint job,” she told him, buckling up. He laughed lightly and began driving again.
An hour later they arrived at a huge train station in Savannah. Lisa didn’t speak a word just to spite Jackson as she helped Mel out. They walked silently into the train station and Lisa caught Jackson shooting sidelong glances at her. Finally she grew fed up.
“What?” she snapped.
“I was just thinking...” he began, but shook his head and stopped. Lisa rolled her eyes as they boarded the train. She shrugged it off as they sat down.
“Now, Leese, don’t-”
“Get cute, I know the drill,” she finished, annoyed. Jackson sat on the outside, making Lisa and Mel push past him to sit by the window. Mel sat down in the first seat she came to as most small children do, and Lisa was relieved to see that she could sit next to the window instead of Jackson. He noticed this too and was somewhat annoyed. Lisa shot him a contented smirk and plopped down next to Mel.
The train slowly began to move and Lisa leaned her head back. This wasn’t as scary as planes, but scary nonetheless, the whole concept of not being able to stop if something went wrong. It kind of reminded her of her life.
“What are you thinking about?” Jackson asked after a few moments. Lisa glared at him.
“None of your f*cking business,” she spat, then felt guilty for swearing so vigorously in front of Mel.
“Ooh, thinking about me, are we?” he taunted her. She shot him another death stare.
“About what a moron you are,” she retorted. He laughed, a sound that made Lisa feel oddly uncomfortable.
“Leese, when is the ice going to thaw?” he questioned. She turned to look at him.
“Maybe you can read my mind now,” she said quietly.
“Never?”
“Hit the nail right on the head.”
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Post by Pukkina on Apr 6, 2006 19:13:00 GMT -5
You Confuse Me Yet Again
The minutes passed slowly and Lisa felt like slamming her head against the window to put herself out of her misery. Mel dozed a bit and when she woke up Lisa was happy.
“Lea?” she said quietly. “I has to go to the potty.”
Lisa ignored the name and helped Mel up. “Okay, honey, I’ll take you.”
“Don’t think so, Leese,” Jackson stood up to block their paths.
“Jackson, she can’t go by herself,” she sighed.
“Yeah, well, I’m not putting it past you to be around other people with her,” he pointed out.
“Can you say f*cking paranoid?” she rolled her eyes. “I mean, Jesus, Jack, get a life.”
He paused. “Fine. But remember I’ll be watching you.”
“Ooh, I’m so scared,” Lisa pretended to cower and Mel giggled. Jackson glared at the child. “Oh, shut down by a toddler, my aren’t we getting weak, Jack.”
Lisa guided Mel to the bathroom and helped her inside, leaning her back against the door. She felt so helpless, so defeated...yet there had to be some way out of this. She had to keep her head clear.
The door creaked open and Mel wobbled out, taking Lisa’s hand. Lisa smiled. She’d wanted children, yet the whole concept of having to find a decent guy and reproduce...completely threw her off. And single-parent adoption just didn’t seem right.
They walked back out to their seats where Jackson stood in the aisle. Lisa rolled her eyes and sat down.
A few minutes later Lisa felt Jackson’s arm on hers. “You want some water or something?”
“If I did, I would have said so,” she spat. He sighed.
“Fine, geez, bite my head off,” he laughed.
“I kinda wish I had,” she retorted. Mel sighed and looked at Lisa.
“I’m bored,” she sighed. Lisa looked at Jackson.
“What?” he said innocently.
“Nice job, Jack, didn’t even bring anything for her to do,” she rolled her eyes. “Mel, sweetie, I’ll ask the attendant for some paper and crayons for you, kay? You like to draw?” Mel nodded eagerly.
Lisa got Mel settled in and was just about to doze off when Jackson spoke again.
“You’re good with them,” he acknowledged.
“What are you talking about?” she sighed.
“With kids. You’d make a good mother,” he nodded.
“Well, thanks,” she rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I’m going to get to be one, though.”
“You never know,” he said absently, stroking his chin that was dotted with stubble.
A few hours later Lisa was still contemplating his words when an announcement came over the train loudspeaker announcing dinner.
“Are you coming?” Jackson stood up. Lisa remained seated.
“Leese, what’s your problem now?” he sighed. Lisa paused. She really didn’t know, but perhaps it was the fact that this all seemed way too real...like they really were going on vacation, and not that she was being held hostage.
“I’m not hungry,” she muttered.
“Lisa, I know for a fact that you are, because you haven’t eaten anything since last night’s popcorn,” he argued. “And you’re coming anyway.”
She glared at him. “Fine,” pushing past him to get into the aisle.
They walked into the dining cart. Jackson took Lisa’s arm but she roughly yanked it away, lifting Mel up into her arms so as to avoid having to make contact.
“I wish you would get over this little roadblock, Leese,” he said as she sat Mel down in a booth of the dining car.
“I don’t really have anything to give me reason to,” she argued absently, tucking a napkin into Mel’s Teletubbies tshirt.
“Well...” Jackson began, but trailed off as he sat down.
The waiter came and took their orders and Lisa helped Mel decide.
Jackson spoke again as he sipped his wine. “So, after we’re done eating I thought we could-”
Lisa cut him off, her voice fed-up. “What the hell is this, Jack, to you some game? You’re trying to pretend that everything’s all right and then you go and say sh*t that no human being could possibly decipher and you expect me to just play along with this all like we’re playing f*cking house or something.”
Jackson blinked. “That was interesting.”
“Shut up, Jack. Just do me a favor. Stop trying to pretend to be something you’re not.”
“I’m not pretending,” he argued.
“Yeah? You’re not? Then how come you’re an assassin eating dinner with a woman and a three year old?”
“You couldn’t possibly understand,” he sighed, defeated.
“So, you don’t think I’d understand that? Do you think you’d understand this?” with that, Lisa yanked hard on the tablecloth, sending Jackson’s wine tumbling onto his shirt. She grinned triumphantly. It was a smaller infraction, she knew, but it was something. He glared at her.
“I do,” he nodded.
“Good.”
“Maybe you can understand,” before Lisa could react, his face was next to hers, his lips touching her mouth and kissing her with so passionately she thought she would pass out. She pushed him away and slapped him hard in the face.
“Yeah. I do,” she said before running to the bathroom.
*OK.....thoughts?*
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You might want to send this to Mr. Wes Craven! Please come back soon hon!! I need more!! 
I'll post more soon. 
