Thanks for reviewing if you did so for my previous 2 chapters. Keep them coming! Hope you like my latest chapter. I really played up the theatrical side of Red John, because it just seemed to fit. Sorry my chapters are a bit short. I seem to have that problem lol. Remember, reviews are very much appreciated!
Ch. 3
"Hello Patrick." Red John's silky tenor voice alerted Jane to the presence behind him. He jerked in his chains and groggily turned to look. He saw first the tailored shoes and his gaze traveled upward, taking in the long black robe that trailed along the floor, a silver blade clutched by a black gloved hand, and finally a face obscured by a hideous mask.
Jane let out a kind of choked, yelping sound as realization dawned on him and he abruptly turned his head away as far as he could.
"Do you know who I am?" Red John stepped closer.
Jane pressed his teeth and lips together, his cheeks inflating with every ragged breath, and his chest heaved and his hands shook; every fiber of his body was screaming, crying out for him to run, to get as far away as he could from the man that had terrorized him for so many years- he had to run, run, run!
Like lightning Red John was upon Jane and struck him across the face with his unarmed hand. Jane was knocked to the side, his arm almost yanked from its socket by the chains holding him upright.
"What do you want?" Jane slurred. His head was pounding in his skull.
"What do I want?" Red John chuckled manically. "Oh you know what I want, Patrick. The same thing I've wanted ever since you opened your big, arrogant mouth on television all those years ago."
"Stop," Jane begged. "Please, just leave me alone-"
"Oh, but Patrick, where would be the fun in that?" Red John backed away from Jane and outstretched his arms, gesturing to the walls. "Do you like what I've done with the place? It's homier, don't you think?" He gazed up admiringly at his artwork.
Jane spit blood out of his mouth. "Why are you doing this?"
"Ahh, well let's just say that I realized the error of my ways, Patrick. You see," he continued, stooping to Jane's level, balancing on the balls of his toes, "I've been too easy on you. I missed a valuable opportunity when I last had you at my mercy. And looking back, I feel something like regret. Better late than never, right Patrick?" His knife flashed through the air and sliced open Jane's shoulder. Jane let out an agonizing cry of pain. More blood stained his sullied shirt.
"Oh!" Red John exclaimed, jumping to his feet excitedly. "Did I mention you have an audience?"
Lisbon could hear their conversation from the other room. When Red John attacked Jane with the knife, his scream tore at her heart. She was so close, and yet completely helpless, forced to watch from behind an impenetrable wall of glass.
Then Red John swung around and gestured at the team, and her terrified heart skipped a beat.
"Did I mention you have an audience?" she heard him say theatrically. He was enjoying this. "Say hello to Agents Lisbon, Cho, Rigsby, and Van Pelt." When he said her name, she blinked, startled.
"Lisbon?" Jane whispered hopefully, squinting into the glass.
"I'm here Jane!" she called, near hysterics. "I'm right here! It's going to be ok!" She shakily reached out to touch the glass, trying to give Jane some sort of comfort, but knew it was futile.
"Lisbon!" he replied, stronger this time.
"I must admit, this is rather touching," Red John chuckled, placing a hand on his heart. "You see, Patrick, I get to kill two birds with one stone here. Your teammates care very dearly for you. Your pain is their pain. I'm counting on that."
Jane pulled at the chains restraining him, snarling in frustration as they held firm and grimacing as he agitated fresh wounds. "You don't know what you're doing. It was stupid for you to come here."
"You underestimate me, Patrick. I'm hurt. I certainly know what I am doing, and it was not 'stupid,' risky indeed, but far from 'stupid.'"
"Just get it over with then," Jane spat. "Kill me. You can't hurt me anymore."
"Kill you? I hardly want to kill you. On the contrary, I like our little game. I wouldn't trade it for the world."
"Game? You call this a game?"
"Oh yes, Patrick, it is a game." He smiled behind the mask. "You should know. You started it. You started it the day you insulted me in front of the nation. What a crushing blow that was! But in games, there are always sacrifices, always casualties. Your wife and daughter can attest to that." His tone darkened. "And Patrick, you should know, I never lose."
"You bastard," Jane growled through clenched teeth.
"Hmm, perhaps. I don't remember my parents," he said thoughtfully. He shook his head, snapping out of it. "Look at me Patrick; you have me rambling about all sorts of things. You're very good. Unfortunately for you, you are merely delaying the inevitable."
"You can't hurt me," Jane repeated.
"Oh but I can, I can." Red John warned, waving the knife threateningly in the air. "Want me to prove it?"
He abruptly ran up to the glass and threw his arms in the air. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! I give you…" he paused dramatically. "-the Greatest Show on Earth!" He took a great, low bow and swiveled menacingly towards Jane, his jagged blade outstretched.
