The Definition of Insanity
Chapter 1
"Have I ever told you… the definition of insanity?" Vaas said. Those psychotic eyes piercing into Jason as he kicked the cinder block into the chasm. The cinder block dragged Jason down into the chasm and into the water where Jason began to drown.
Jason woke with a start. His lungs burned and he gulped down air as he remembered the past encounter with death. Luck favored him that day. Or perhaps throughout his whole time on Rook Island. Jason Brody ran his fingers through his brown hair. He cursed quietly trying not to think about what could have happened if those bonds had not broken.
He looked around. The boat rocked gently on the open water. He remembered. He was safe, with his friends, away from the island. He lay back down on the deck and watched the midnight sky. The moon and stars shined brilliantly.
"Jason?" a gentle voice came from the door that led to the quarters of the boat.
Sitting up to look who called him, Jason met eyes with a curious Liza. He gave a silent nod. She sat next to him.
"You okay?" she asked.
He avoided those green eyes. Her concern played all over her features.
"Yeah," was all Jason muttered.
"I heard you out here," Liza said, "You screamed in your sleep. A nightmare?"
"No, just past memories on replay," he said, "I'm fine."
Her eyes searched his face for any sign of well… anything. She knew that he was changed. He wasn't the Jason Brody she knew and loved.
"Wanna talk about it?" she asked.
"No."
"You never told me about anything that had happened back there," Liza's voice became shaky when she then added, "Talk to me. What happened to you?"
Jason finally turned to look her straight in the eye.
"I don't want to talk about it Liza," he said, "A lot happened."
"Jason, can't you talk to me?"
"You wouldn't understand," he murmured as he stared at his boots.
Tears shimmered in the moon's light, but Liza refused to release them from their green prison.
"Try me," she said.
Jason stared at his tatau, the tattoos of the Rakyat. They glowed briefly, playing images in his head of the power he was capable of. He sighed and looked at Liza.
"It was Vaas. He… he had me tied to a cinder block. And… well you remember him. He kicked the block which sent me over the edge of this cliff. And… I almost drowned. Could have ended up dying down there with so many others. The bodies…"
Jason began drifting off to those moments under the water.
"Jason stop," Liza whispered.
"Dead. Rotting."
"Jason…"
"If that rope hadn't broken loose…"
"Jason!" Liza raised her voice.
Jason snapped out of the trance.
"Stop," she whispered, "Don't dwell on it. You're here. You're safe."
She tried to take his hand in hers but he gently withdrew it. Liza tried her best to not let the hurt she now felt be released now. She stood.
"Jason?"
"Yeah?"
"You need space. I get that. But just know that there are people here who care about you. Who love you. We're here for you. Please… don't shut them out. Don't… don't shut me out."
Jason remained silent. Liza only watched him from behind. His shoulders slumped. She longed to go to him and take it all away. All of the past experiences on the island. But she knew this was Jason's battle.
"Goodnight," she said.
"Night," Jason replied.
He closed his eyes, trying to find sleep but all he saw as he dreamed was Vaas whispering again and again, "Have I ever told you the definition of insanity?"
