Lisa woke, realising that she had fell asleep on Him. The harsh brightness of the day over- rode her passionate fury and equally matched embarrassment. In fact, everything ached and for a split second, she wondered if she was dying.
Although her body begged for sleep, Lisa actively sought the strength to move and get up from her comfortable position on a large bed. Sparing no energy to explore her surroundings, she used every ounce to move her limbs. It was extremely frustrating to move so slowly when her mind demanded that she get up and run before she was caught. Finally in a sitting position, Lisa swung her legs to touch the cold surface of the wooden panelled flooring, her heart beating wildly in her chest as she felt the small beads of perspiration cover her face from the effort. Paying no mind, she stood, pausing when dizziness overcame her. 'Come on, come on, come on!'she begged silently, almost desperately. A small pile of clothes was placed on the chair next to the dresser, she noticed and walked over and quickly as her limbs allowed, exchanged the once beautiful dress to jeans and a hoodie. There were no shoes in sight and so she left the large room, determined to get out of the house - Anything to get out of the house.
She made her way downstairs, there was silence. Only a tiny sound of a clock ticking away precious minutes echoed in the open- plan ground floor. She noticed some shoes by the door and, regardless of it's large size, put them on and laced the trainers as tight as she could. Her gaze went out of focus again as she stood, albeit slowly to standing and waited a few more seconds for it to clear. She slowly approached the intimidating dark oak door and was surprised to find it open. In her excitement, she opened the door widely and became blinded by the sunlight but with little thought, she made her way forwards, remembering the isolation of the place and knowing that nearest civilization would be a few miles away.
Lisa briefly considered Jackson's actions, now a horendous mixture of bad memories and heroics that made moisture gather at her eyes. To her horror, she felt her footsteps slow and she turned back at the large house, feeling a strike of second thoughts attack her dizzy mind. She had never felt so torn and ill in her entire life than at that moment.
Jackson, on his part was working furiously in his office, his fingers tapping away loudly on the keyboard as fluent and fast as any pianist, something flared in his chest and he immediately ceased, glancing up at the door, he stared at it for a few moments. 'Something is not right.' He felt, a clear message at the forefront of all his current thoughts.
'Lisa.'
He immediately stood and walked stealthily to the door and proceeded down the corridor to her room. She had been asleep for nearly sixteen hours, at first he was not sure of what to make of it but he left her to it, unhappy at the unhealthy pallor of her white skin. Entering her room, there was no occupant, her white dress discarded uncaring on the floor. He felt anger and a mild sense of panic overtake him as he marched to the en-suite, with no sign of her, he marched downstairs, he paused on the staircase and, looking out of the window, he saw her small frame huddled in the long grass. The house was silent.
Jogging outside, the grass whipping at his hasty footsteps, the sound of his presence should have been noted but she continued to kneel on the ground. A retching caught his ears as he reached her. Without comment, he grabbed her upper arms and hauled her into a standing position and, uncaring, dragged her along behind him, her feet tripping every so often.
"God-dammit Leese, your not fit to go anywhere." He snarled. When she stopped and vomited again, only then he became anxious.
"Stop it." Her demanded, grabbing her face in his hands. "There is nothing you can force up, you haven't eaten in twenty four hours." He continued. Only her sharp wheezing was his answer but he was surprised to see her nod slightly through the curtain of hair hanging in her face.
He pulled her in after him, closing and locking the door this time and pulled her to the kitchen.
"May I have some water, please?" She asked in a whisper.
"Why should I give you anything after what you just tried to pull. I thought we understood each-other yesterday." He smirked darkly. Lisa winced at the memory and looked to her bandaged covered hand. Her gaze then locked with his, a determined and stubborn glint in her eyes.
"No.. We don't understand eachother at all." She accused in reply. She felt her strength suddenly wain. Jackson continued to move around the kitchen after he snorted with disdain at her reply.
"I don't feel well, Jackson." She stated in a soft and worried tone that caught at his compassion, he sighed and turned to her.
"Go back to sleep Leese, I'll bring this up."
"No, tell me whats going on?.. I cant stay here, Jackson! I don't understand!" She demanded, her voice rising. He came round the counter-top and paused slightly when she flinched. Holding onto her shoulders, he commanded softly.
"No questions now, Leese, you look like you are gonna keel at any moment and that wont do us any good, will it?. Get some rest and we'll talk later."
"You promise?" She asked quickly.
"I promise. Now Go." He replied sternly.
Over an hour later and half eaten soup, Lisa was set on rising his anxiety and stress levels when she began to develop a fever. Rubbing his forehead, he watched her shiver beneath the covers. Anger at his actions at the manor that may have prompted her illness and her exposure to the ice -cold wind, he removed the covers on-top of her, a small whimper from her startling the silence and his concentration.
"Shhh, it's alright." He whispered to her as he picked her up and cradled her to his chest to the en-suite in his room where a bath-tub of ice cold water was drawn for her. He winced at the memory of holding her there hours before.
"Don't hate me. Your not going to like this." He said to her restless but sleeping face. She had changed into pyjamas before he had come up with the soup. He held her just above the water, with one last sigh, he resolutely began to immerse her in the water. Almost immediately she recoiled, now awake, her eyes wide and unfocused as she pushed against his arms. She cried out repeatedly but she finally allowed him to hold her underneath the water. Picking up cup fulls of water, he ran it down her forehead, pulling her hair off her face with the other hand. Once she relaxed a little more, he held the back of her head and began to lower her head under the waters surface. Panicked, she met her eyes with his, she must have seen something she trusted in his gaze as, she then allowed him to continue. Underneath the haze of illness, he detected the resentment of being so reliant, of being weak and so vulnerable infront of him. After she was changed and tucked back in bed and in a comfortable and healthy sleep, he pondered as to why she had allowed him to do so.
He could not take her to see a doctor but something told him that she trusted him to make her better. Therefore, setting aside his usually independant and private rules of living. He flipped open his cell phone and dialled for Richard.
For Son-Of-Puji - do check out the Red Eye fanart (on her profile)