Here's another bit of a new one for ya!

Chapter One

Attraction

Lisa jerked awake in her bathtub. She had fallen asleep and had been out long enough that her water had gone cold. Exhaustion was getting the best of her these days. Right now, she couldn't be sure what was real and what she was hallucinating. Had she woken up from a chill, or from something sinister? She could never be sure these days. Her father, Joe, had been begging her to see a doctor. Talk to someone. She needed help, he said. She needed to talk about what had happened to her on the Red Eye to Miami.

Nightmares still plagued her at night. Lisa knew that Jackson Rippner had officially been declared dead due to complications during surgery to repair the damage she and Joe had done in self-defense. And yet, she couldn't help but stay awake at night and hide in her apartment. She had a feeling in her gut that she'd turn a corner and there he'd be, waiting with his signature K-Bar and those piercing blue eyes. She shivered as she lifted herself from the water and toweled off, but she knew this time it wasn't just from the chill in the air. Pulling her robe snugly around herself, she counted the parallels between her situation now and her situation after that terrible day in the parking garage. Did danger simply gravitate to her?

And that's when she heard it. Or, rather, she thought she heard something. She was continually doubting herself, which made the fear that much more palpable. She froze in her bathroom doorway, staring out into the dimness of her bedroom. She had one small light on her nightstand which didn't cast adequate light throughout the room. She drew her robe tighter around herself in comfort and strained to listen for more movement in the darkness. She took in the silence for a few beats more before releasing a breath and easing her way into her bedroom. She still had the feeling of someone watching her, so she decided sleep wouldn't be happening tonight. Her cat nap in the bathtub would have to hold her over – at least until sun up.

She padded her way down to her kitchen for her favorite 3:00am snack – scrambled eggs. It made her sick to think how predictable she was. She had certainly made Jackson's job easier, and that was before she had this most recent bout of paranoia. Now she had fallen back into this rut and it was all because of him. Every where she looked, she saw him. Every thought she had led her back to thinking about him. Her mind was cruel. She wanted nothing more than to forget the trauma and the fear he instilled in her, but try as she might, she couldn't forget him. The worst part was that she almost felt sorry for him. Sorry for the way he died. Sorry that he had gotten tangled up in that lifestyle – one that would eventually have killed him, if the surgery hadn't. She often found herself wondering what he would have been like in a normal life. Would the man from the Tex Mex, all smiles and flirts, be someone she could see herself being with? Could she let him in? But none of that mattered now because he wasn't that man and he wasn't ever going to be.

The eggs sizzled as she poured them into the pan and she absentmindedly pushed them back and forth. It was all routine. All mechanic. She was on autopilot like a zombie. She wasn't even sure how she managed to pass the time without sleep. For now, the case was closed aside from an investigation into those who had hired Jackson, which was headed nowhere fast. Lisa was more than happy to lock herself away in her apartment where people couldn't ask her questions about her "experience" and how she was "feeling." She was on paid leave from the Lux Atlantic after an "incident" when she returned during a point in the trial. At this point, Lisa could care less about going back to the Lux Atlantic. Everything seemed meaningless. Tainted. Who was to say this wouldn't happen again? She just didn't have the energy to try to move past it right now.

Lisa took slow bite after slow bite of the eggs, staring off into the distance. She had her TV on in the living room, but that was just for noise. She found the TV made it easier to ignore the terrifying noises she may or may not have been hearing. She dumped her plate into her sink, piling it on top of the many others she hadn't felt like washing. She knew she'd need to muster up the energy to do the dishes soon or she'd run out, but she still couldn't manage it. She shuffled into her living room and sat down on her couch in silence. Hours passed as she watched mind-numbing show after mind-numbing show.

Just as the boredom began to truly set in for the night, Lisa heard the creak of her bedroom door. Immediately her posture became stiff, all of her muscles coiled and ready to spring into action. Her heart beat rapidly and began pounding in her ears. She muted the TV and waited for a sign.

"Who's there?" she called out sheepishly.

Silence. She placed her face in her palms and took a deep breath.

"Why does my mind have to play tricks on me?"

"I assure you it's not," she heard in a faint whisper.

She bolted into a standing position and sprinted for the kitchen. An intruder was in her house, and had been for quite some time. She should have trusted her instincts and left. Now it was too late and she was going to be murdered by some revenge-seeking associate or jaded client. She didn't imagine it would be the most pleasant. She slid a knife out from the block on the counter and held it shakily in front of her.

"Come out! I'm calling the police!"

"Please do."

Jackson emerged from the shadows as if he had been made of them himself. She gasped and stepped back until she bumped the dishes piled high in the sink. Her eyes darted back and forth, looking for an exit as he crept closer. He reminded her of a cat stalking its prey. But, then again, that's exactly what she was to him.

"How?"

He simply smirked and lowered his eyes to the dishes behind her. He made a tsk noise and crossed his arms across his slender frame.

"Letting yourself go, are you, Leese?"

"Look, just leave and I will forget you were ever here."

"I think we both know that's a lie. Do you remember my feelings about liars, Leese? Hm?"

He frowned, relaxing his posture and stepping closer. He was trying to pin her in the kitchen and it was working. Lisa was frozen. She wanted to break free, but couldn't find it within herself to run.

"Jackson…"

It was a feeble attempt. His name fell from her mouth and broke into nothingness around them. He simply closed his eyes and shook his head, silencing her.

"You know why I'm here."

"To kill me," she said, stronger. "But please-"

"Don't beg. It's unbecoming, Leese. You're better than that."

He stepped closer, to the point where the tip of the knife was just brushing against his chest. If Lisa wanted to, she could end this game here and now. But, again, she found herself locked in place by his piercing gaze. Her fear was slowly beginning to fade into something else. Something more powerful and confusing.

"What are you going to do?" he asked quietly. "Stab me again? Get to it."

"No."

She hadn't even meant to say that. What was happening to her?

"No?" he repeated, cocking his head to the side, genuinely surprised.

"No…?"

The smirk returned as he reached up and slowly took her hand, making her lower the knife. He stepped in closer so that they were almost touching. Lisa tilted her head back to look up at him.

"Shall we have some fun before I kill you, Leese?"

Before she could even answer, he pressed himself against her, pinning her arms at her sides and hovering just close enough that she could feel his breath on her lips and his eagerness between her thighs. He slowly slid her legs apart with his, never once letting his eyes leave hers. It was teasingly slow and Lisa couldn't understand why she wasn't resisting him. She should be running for the hills. Why wasn't this disgusting her? Why was she hoping he'd kiss her? Run his hands up her side and replace the leg he was grinding against her with something more wicked?

"I'll take that as a yes."

And, just as he finally placed his lips on hers, a ring from a phone startled Lisa awake. She bolted upright on her couch, sweat matting her hair to her neck and forehead. Her breaths came in gasps and she was ashamed to know this one hadn't come from fear. She tumbled ungracefully from her couch and crossed the living room quickly to grab her cell phone on the kitchen bar where she had left it last night.

"Hello?" she asked groggily, trying to slow her breathing.

"Leese, it's dad." He paused. "Are you alright? You sound… tense?"

"Peachy," she choked. "I mean I'm fine, dad. Just woke up from a nap is all."

"I was wondering why I hadn't heard from you…"

Lisa thought and then remembered.

"Oh, dad, I forgot. Lunch." She kicked herself internally and squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. "I'm sorry, dad. I know I've been scatter-brained recently…"

"It's alright sweetie. We can go in a bit. Whenever you get ready. You know… You really should go see a doctor. You know the Lux would pay for some therapy for you, honey."

She sighed and felt her hands beginning to tremble. She didn't want to leave. She didn't want to go outside in public. She didn't want to speak to a therapist about the Red Eye.

"I'll be ready in fifteen and then I'll head your way. Alright?"

"Sounds great, sweetheart. I'll see you soon."

They said their goodbyes and Lisa ended the call. With a groan, she dragged herself back to her bathroom to make herself presentable. She knew she would already get a lecture from her father during lunch, but looking a mess would throw him overboard. He would really be relentless if he saw how far she had "let herself go" as dream-Jackson had commented last night. Her mind wandered back to that dream and she cursed herself. How was that even a possibility? What did that say about her as a person? She made a mental note to maybe ask her father for recommendations for a therapist.

Sure enough, Lisa feel right back into her usual routine. She was ready in record-time and out the door even quicker. She wandered down the steps to the parking lot slowly, still not wanting to set foot out in the open. However, after taking a look around and seeing none of her neighbors out and about, she decided to make her way to her car. As she crossed the parking lot, she felt the distinct chill that came with someone watching you. She paused and hesitantly looked around, afraid of what she may see. She simply confirmed that she was alone. As she finally arrived at her car, she found herself in a panic to get inside and lock the doors. Something felt amiss, but she couldn't place it. Maybe it was the lack of people where she had assumed there would be a crowd. Maybe she wasn't the center of attention anymore after the media fire had died down. Maybe it was just the simple fact that she had been living as a hermit since the Red Eye.

The sun was out, birds were chirping, and this was just a normal day. Lisa took a deep breath as she started her car and reminded herself that everything was over. She was going to her father's house to pick him up for lunch. She could do this. Lunch. No big deal. Driving felt foreign to her now. She had been living off of delivery. Her motions were jerky and she felt like she was driving too slowly. She had begun to panic as people passed her and honked at her. She had known this was a bad idea. She should just call her father and explain to him that they would have to do lunch together some other time.

Red and blue lights flashed in her rearview mirror and Lisa swore to herself. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she pulled over onto the side of the road. Cars sped by, no doubt grateful to have her off the road. She fished out her license and registration with shaky hands. Of course this would happen the first time she left her house. It was a sign she should just stay home. Bad things always happened to her when she ventured out into the world.

She turned off her car and rolled down her window as the cop approached. She placed her hands back on her steering wheel, license and registration in hand, hoping that would hide the shakes. He came to a stop just at the edge of her window and leaned down slightly to look into the car.

"Do you know why I've stopped you today, ma'am?"

His voice turned her blood to ice in her veins and she flinched. Although his face was shaded by the midday sun shining down on the hat on his head and the icy eyes were obstructed by the aviators he wore across his elegant high cheekbones, Lisa knew it was Jackson. She blinked hard, trying to clear the hallucination. How embarrassing. This could get her into trouble. His nametag read, "Sgt. Hastings" but Lisa thought he looked exactly like Jackson Rippner.

"Oh shit," he breathed, sliding the aviators down the bridge of his nose to have a clear look at her, recognition dawning on his face. "Oh fuck."

He pulled his gun out and instructed Lisa to get out of her car. She froze, just as she had in her dreams, pinned to the spot like a deer in headlights. Her keys were tucked neatly in her lap, but she knew she couldn't reach them and start her car in enough time to escape the bullets. So, this is how it would end. Lisa couldn't help but think that a part of her was relieved.

"You don't want to do this, Jackson."

He cocked his head to the side and yanked her door open.

"Unbuckle yourself and get out of the car. Hands on the hood, pronto."

"Alright, alright," she murmured.

Slowly, so as not to startle him into accidentally shooting her, she unbuckled herself and climbed out of her car. Traffic continued to pass them, so she knew he wouldn't be stupid enough to actually pull anything off where there were witnesses. However, people were passing quickly and the distance between cars was growing as people returned to their jobs after lunch.

"Please," she asked, without force.

"Get to it, Lisa," he urged, gun still locked on her.

She did as instructed, placing her palms on the hot hood of her car. Immediately he was behind her, pinning her to the car, similarly to what he had done to her in her dream, only this involved handcuffs and his touch was much rougher.

"You're coming with me."

"Absolutely not."

"You don't have a choice."

"Just… Let's just forget this ever happened."

He chuckled as he tugged her upright, pulling her hands downward so that she was leaned against his chest. He smelled different. He was… different.

"What are you going to do? Kill me?"

"Me? No. I can't say the same for my brother." He chuckled as he opened the door to his squad car. "What are the odds?"

"Your brother?"

"I'm not Jackson," he stated matter-of-factly as he placed Lisa in the back seat. "My name is Adam."

He shut the door and Lisa leaned back into the seat, stunned into silence.

Thanks for reading!

Another batch of love to 0liveGreen!

Reviews and such are much appreciated. 3

-Jesscah