Lisa's white dress shone in the, seemingly, veiled moonlight but glittered against the glow of the rippling water of the park's grand lake, the location was hopelessly romantic with the gentle humming of the local wildlife and the light but icy breeze. She much preferred the natural and lonely splendor, to that of the stuffy ballroom of the manor. Her steps were hurried and ungraceful,the floor length satin of her dress adding to her stagger. Anything to get away from the intimidating stares of the other guests but more importantly, she could have sworn she saw the icy gaze of the familiar stranger, one she had hoped to forget. Paul told her to get some air in her distress while he fetched her another drink. He was taking a long time 'What is he doing?' She wondered .
As she thought those very words, she heard brisk footsteps approach. She turned, expectant to see him, but the light emitting from the lake showed another. A bulk man, with height of extraordinary proportions gave her a predatory look she was familiar with. She, likewise, became frozen with a familiar overwhelming panic. The once, beautiful surroundings turned dark and haunting. An evil foreboding twisted in the cold breeze, adding to her frozen paralysis.
"I'm sorry to do this, Miss Reisert.' He stated, his voice a growl. immediately, she turned to run and only made a few steps before something solid smashed into the back of her head.
Lisa's body contorted as she swallowed and chocked cold,cold water. Instantly, she thrashed her limbs but found her wrists and ankles tied; she tried swimming in panic none the less. 'He must have dumped me in the lake!' she thought frantically as fear and adrenaline gave her the strength to struggle. As her wrists were in-front of her, she could move her arms, somewhat, so she began to pull herself upwards. She couldn't last much longer, the oxygen was running out and the cold was numbing her limbs. Something large pummeled her hands from above, large ripples in the water pushed her sideways, a weight crushed her left shoulder. A red/ brown substance corrupted the clear water and clouded her view. The body was unmistakable. The size of him; it was her attacker. She screamed, releasing a cloud of bubbles, as well as the last of her oxygen reserve.
Still she reached her arms upwards in her last desperate struggle. Suddenly, someone grabbed her bound wrists and she was thrusted upwards. Her mind was dizzy and confused but she grabbed onto the warm shoulders that her wrists were placed over, a second passed before she was above water, her rescuer pulled her from under her arms as she gasped and coughed, her limbs her numb and heavy and her dress pulled her downwards with the extra weight of the water. It was difficult to breathe against the cold, her chest constricted in pain, she had to calm down her hysteria.
Water still stung her eyes but she pulled herself up as best she could, her rescuer didn't seem phased by the effort to get her out. He gripped one arm around her shoulders and the other around her waist as her dress and feet dragged out of the water and river bank. Her violent shudders and gasps was the only sound in the once peaceful and serene setting of the park. Her body trembled in the cold and she clutched to the man with an embarrassing need, her relief at being able to breathe squashed any reservations about her dignity. He was so warm and she clung to him as if her life was still in danger. Whimpers and tears escaped her.
"Shh.. It's ok.. I got you." He rasped to her gently, his hand moving from her shoulders to her head. She could feel his warm hand at the small of her back, the backless dress style providing no barrier to the heat of his skin, still there was a familiarity about the man. He tried to pull away from her after a few moments but her limbs refused to move and Lisa had no desire to leave the warmth and buried her head further into his shoulder, she didn't want to face the world just yet. She heard him chuckle slightly, the action was unnerving.
Without words, he lifted her against his chest and carried her to a nearby tree, protecting her against the icy breeze. He lowered her and knelt down with her.
"Paul?" Lisa whispered confused. The man's chuckle made her lean away from him. Her mind cleared and she became aware of where she had heard that sardonic laugh before.
"Not quite Leese." Jackson Rippner replied, she could hear the smirk in his voice. If it was possible, she froze, he moved his arm from around her shoulders. When their eyes locked, she tried to scream and pulled her bound hands up from around his neck. He moved just as quickly and clamped his warm hand over her mouth, the bark of the tree trunk was painful against the back of her head.
"Do not scream Lisa, it seems we find ourselves in a complicated situation, so for now, I need you to listen to me." He demanded in a patronising and deadly tone. She carefully nodded as hot streams of tears streamed down her face. He seemed satisfied as he released her and proceeded to look around. Lisa turned on her side and attempted to get up. He pulled her back but Lisa refused to meet his piercing gaze. He was still relentlessly and beautifully terrifying, even after all this time and after her survival and luck fighting the evil that threatened her world, she wasn't sure she would be able to keep up this fragile luck. Was this Jackson's revenge? Was this time to give up?
"Leese, look at me." He asked intensely. She refused to move and he felt agitation rise in him.
"I said Look at Me!" He growled grasping the her jaw. A tense few moments passed before he spoke again.
"They tried to kill you Lisa." He said matter-of- factly. "Your good friend Paul-" he sneered with sarcasm, "-was alerted about our previous history on a particular Red Eye flight and agreed to your disappearance. It seems that that honest streak of yours keeps getting you in trouble." He added, amusement danced across his features.
"Your the one who's lying. Paul wouldn't do this, this is more your work." She responded faintly, shaking her head in his firm grip. They gazed intently at each-other for a brief moment before his eyes took a dangerous glint.
"Im lying am I?" He asked in a disturbingly calm tone. In an instant, he was standing, pulling her up aggressively in the process, she gave a startled cry, she was suddenly cold and her wet dress clung to her limbs. He began to pull her toward the lake but didn't get far as Lisa's still bound ankles gave out at the rushed and angry steps of Jackson.
"No! What are you doing? Please Jack!" She cried helplessly as he unkindly carried her back to the edge of the lake. She screamed as he grabbed her sodden hair and leaned her over. She struggled uselessly.
"If Im lying Leese, who do you think that is there? Huh?.. You know Im telling the truth, that's Paul's dog and you know it." He spoke, shaking her for emphasis. She did know it, deep down, she knew and the fact that she couldn't blame Jackson was difficult to handle. Truths hurt so much more than lies and if the lies don't touch you the truth will.
She squeezed her eyes stubbornly closed and gripped his hand that held her hair in a painful grip, off-balance, she tried to regain it and the fear of falling heightened the longer she remained there, outstretched over the lake she had almost died in moments ago.
"I know what your thinking." He continued in an almost hurt tone. "But if I were to kill you, I'd do it myself." He added harshly. She whimpered a little and the cold air continued to blow around her, she could almost feel the ice cold of the water beneath her call to her. He seemed to understand her distress as he abruptly and painfully pulled her back so she collided with his chest and to her dismay she was thankful for the warmth. He just as quickly cut the ropes binding her ankles.
"Thankyou." She said in a controlled voice. He gave a lopsided smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"You welcome." He replied in a warm and guarded voice. Suddenly a cell phone went off. Jackson seemed startled by the sound and looked at the display. He looked back at her and mentioned for her to keep quiet, his eyes communicating with her that who-ever was on the other end of the line did not bode well for their situation. He got out a handkerchief from his suit pocket and placed it over the mouth piece, folding it many times over.
"The girl. Is it done?" A voice at the other end of the line demanded, Jackson never broke eye contact, either out of warning or anxiety.
"Yes Sir - what your looking for is in the lake." He said unemotionally.
"Good - make sure there are no traces. Make sure she can't be found." 'So he was telling the truth.' Lisa thought, shocked to find herself unsurprised by this.
"Don't worry Sir, I'm on it." His eyes suddenly took on a glint, a knowing and threatening gleam. Suddenly, Lisa felt a little afraid. When had she stopped? She edged away from him, startled that she could read him easily, without taking his eyes from her, he threw the phone in the lake. 'It was his!The attacker!' glancing back at him, she began to edge away from him. He likewise followed her steps measuredly.
"You need to disappear Lisa." He stated matter-of-factly. "You need to come with me. Now." Her steps became more unsteady as she shook her head in defiance.
"I can take care of myself." She answered without conviction. Her mind screamed in refusal to give into him, suddenly Jackson became the bad guy.
"Paul wouldn't do this to me, you could hav-"
"Yes, because your so good at meeting decent men" He answered irritated, he lunged at her and grabbed her wrist to stop her retreat. The comment was cruel and she was in no way capable of examining the truths behind those words. He tried to pull her after him as he walked.
"Like you, you mean?" She snapped furiously. It had it's desired effect, Jackson's steps became aggressive and his grip tighter. "What makes you think I would trust you with my life? You tried to take it not so long ago! What makes you think I want anything to do with you? You psychopath! Murderer!" She screeched loudly. She began to struggle, near hysterics as conflicting emotions surged through her, her own distrust of him, his past behaviour and his recent label as saviour, she continued to haul backwards away from him and his forward direction back towards the manor. Jackson's own temper was on the knife edge of snapping.
"Lisa, Don't fight me! I don't want to hurt you." He growled, his voice strained by trying to control her struggles. She glared at him suddenly.
"Just because you don't want to, it doesn't mean you wont." She spat, yanking her arm forcefully from his grip. "You can't control yourself." She added in accusation, his breathing was hard as he stared at her for a few moments, violence still shone in his eyes.
"Right now, I need to get you out of here, Lisa, they want you dead and right now,Im seriously considering giving you to them." He added in a dangerously calm voice. She calmed a little at his display of self control, unaware that her words had any influence on him.
"So you gonna listen to me now? huh?" He added as if he were speaking to a child. She nodded slowly.
"Lisa?"
"Yes! Ill listen." She snapped in agitation.
"Good, now follow me." He turned and began stalking back toward the manor.
"Not too long you tried to kill me, Jackson,Why are you doing this?" She continued as she walked behind him. It was easier when his eye was not fixed upon her, extracting all her soul. He suddenly stopped, causing her to walk into him, he turned sharply.
"Petty revenge isn't what I do Lisa. I get jobs done, just as I told you on the plane." He said, she tried to speak but Jackson cut in.
"Right now, Ill get you out of this mess that you always seem to manage to get yourself into, as well as disappear, who knows? When we get out of this you may even still be able to work with regular visits from your father, satisfied? I may even throw in a bonus of never having to see me again." He lectured with sarcasm. To his surprise, she snorted and looked away. Knowledge gleamed in her posture and face.
"Something amusing, Leese?" He asked with suspicion. She glanced back at him.
"You stand there, criticising My life but I don't see a wedding ring or a circle of pals surrounding you. You live to work you fucking hypocrite." She spat with disdain. His face became stressed, the angles of his face became sharp and moody. His eyes a dark pool of resentment and something akin to regret. He made no attempt to talk, so she walked around him and away, up the sloping grass hill back to the manor. She turned back and called back at his hunched form after a few steps.
"At least I have a father and a family, Jack! They love me and I, them - you have no-one." She stated as her bold resolve came to its close. She turned and began walking, picking up pace as she realised her words and how hurtful they could potentially be. She became too afraid to look back.
He turned and watched her hurried steps retreat from him, an uncomfortable influx of emotions careened him. He couldn't control himself. He darted after her, within seconds he reached her, regardless of her increased pace and cry as he grabbed her hair. He spun her round until she smashed into his chest and the air was knocked out of her lungs. The momentary lapse of attention was beneficial as he hauled her over his shoulder. The pressure and the loss of air made her breathes sharp and chocked. It was enough to get him on his way. Quickly, as not to be spotted, he used shadows to aid his journey.
"Put Me Down! What are you Doing!" She screamed when air returned to her lungs, her voice shook with fear. Getting no reply, she began to get furious and continued to bate him. He seemed unphased as he continued his march across the gardens.
"What's wrong Jack? You said you never lie, so I thought I'd benefit you with the same moral code!" Her words came out more husky as her exhaustion, fear and uncomfortable position came to a head. He didn't answer to her dismay and her body became lax in defeat. She was assaulted by too many emotions and despair overcame her. She began to cry. She was cold, confused, angry, miserable and afraid.
Her shivering and weeping did not go un- noticed by Jackson. After calming down, he stopped and sighed loudly before slowly dropping his shoulder and gently lowering her to the ground. She didn't look well and was ice cold to the touch. He took off his jacket and handed it to her.
"Put this on-" He commanded, "-your cold and that white dress of yours stands out too much." He said with an edge of impatience and uncertainty. If she weren't so tired and cold, she would have realised the flattery behind those words. She took it from him and reluctantly put it on and hugged herself. She glanced back up to find him observing her. He touched his thumb to his bottom lip briefly before reaching toward her, she flinched backward and his face betrayed mild regret but he continued his pursuit and gently ran his hands underneath her hair and pulled it free from the jacket. The gentle motion made her freeze, especially when he then grabbed the jacket lapels and pulled it more securely round her. Holding her shoulders, he looked at her.
"Have you calmed down now?" He asked softly. His demeanor hypnotic, all she could do was nod.
"Good, ready Leese?" There was a serious undertone to his words and she knew that when she nodded she would be agreeing to more than following him from the manor.
She had to be ready to let Jackson help her.
Jackson grabbed her wrist, his finger brushing the start of her hand if it weren't for the jacket's interference, he proceeded to pull her through hoards of cars, occasionally changing sides as if to shield her from someone. Reaching his car, he quickly unlocked it and proceeded to open the passenger door and hold it open to her, she looked up at him and his sudden chivalry and got in the car- slightly annoyed. She had just pulled her dress in when the car door slammed. His car wasn't warm and she pulled her legs up to her chest and pulled the jacket tight around herself, suddenly feeling drowsy and uncomfortable with the strength of his scent on his garment she was holding onto so shamelessly tight. She snuggled into the door as she heard Jackson get in, the enclosed space became too much and she shrank as far from him as she could. Confused thoughts replayed over and over in her mind. She had nearly died and Jackson had saved her. Not once, but twice. The gentle speed of the car didn't help her curb her exhaustion.
"Leese, I need you to look fast asleep from passing out drunk, make sure you can't be recognised, think you can do that for me?" He said sarcastically.
"Lisa?" He asked again, concerned, just as a guard was at the car window.
"May I see your invitation Sir?" He asked mechanically. Jackson carefully reached over and fumbled the coat jacket around Lisa, his arm felt strained from the contact. He handed it to the guard who shone a torch directly on the invite. He glanced over at the sleeping form in the passenger seat.
"And the girl?" The guard suggested, concern vacant from his words.
"She's had one too many, if you know what I mean." Jackson replied cryptically, a smirk playing on his features. " And impossible to wake. Don't worry, I'll take care of her" He added, pasting a nasty smile on his face. They guard looked at him for a moment before he too, smirked.
"Have a good night, Sir." He replied with slight amusement.
"I'm sure I will." Jackson said, before driving quickly away. His smirk vanished and he then looked over at Lisa's huddled form only centimetres away.
"They all want to take a piece of you, don't they." He whispered, 'you aren't safe with any man.' He finished with a seed of resolve in his thoughts.