Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling , except for Jackie and her friends etc.

Chapter Four

Running the next morning felt strange. She had a good pace, breathing steady. In, out, inhale, exhale. Her feet pounded the same rhythm they did whenever she ran, a comfort to distract her flying thoughts. Everything seemed alright until she came to a section of the road that had been sectioned off. White tape outlined where a person had lain.

A sick feeling welled up in her stomach. Her brain seemed to recognize this spot, though it was like any other part of the road. Jackie couldn't shake the feeling like she knew what had happened, but couldn't recall it . . . .

Jackie glanced around, seeing that she had stopped near the area and was staring. Rolling her shoulders she began running again. Although now she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.

"I feel like I know what happened, I just can't remember it," Jackie admitted to the woman sitting in the chair across from her. Jackie shifted again on the recliner, not quite feeling comfortable. The woman nodded.

Her name was Paris Beckley. But she liked being called Doctor P. It sounded so juvenile coming from Jackie's lips, so she avoided directly calling the psychiatrist by name. Beckley was a small woman with brown hair, graying slightly. She wore thick rimmed glasses and a straitlaced suit. There was nothing warm or kind looking about this woman. It clearly set Jackie on edge. She wasn't even sure if Beckley even could see this.

"Has this ever happened before," Beckley asked.

"No."

Beckley stared long and hard at her, eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"You mentioned that your mother sometimes had blackouts," Beckley suddenly said. "Would you care to elaborate?"

"It was only when she was knackered," Jackie admitted. Beckley's eyebrows raised.

"Do you get sloshed, Jackie?"

"No! Never!" Jackie snarled, growing angry.

"Why not?"

"Personal reasons," Jackie mumbled, knowing she had spilled too much to a person she didn't know. Beckley's brows drew together in a frown.

"I cannot help you Jackie, if you don't let me," she said firmly. "It's obvious from your job and boss that you are quite stressed. Perhaps, taking it a bit easier." Oh, and she had told Beckley about her situation with Richards. A very piss poor choice, but the words had tumbled right out of her mouth.

"I'll try."

Beckley stood. "Our time is up. You can schedule another session with my secretary, if you please. Don't hesitate to contact me Jackie," she said trying to sound warm and inviting.

"Sure," Jackie smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. She picked up her bag and left the room, not even bothering to stop and 'schedule another session'. It hadn't helped her in the slightest. With a disgruntled huff she left the building and made her way down the street to a café to pick up something to eat.

Jackie quietly enjoyed her chips as she casually walked down the slightly busy street. A book store caught her attention, rows of books littering the sidewalk. She stopped, reading the titles with mild interest as she ate.

"You enjoy reading?"

Jackie jumped, turning to the owner of the voice. A pale man with black hair stood to her right. His gray eyes did not move from her as he stared her down. He wore the strangest clothing Jackie had ever seen. Something from an old fashioned from the twenties maybe? The suit looked old enough, a bit tattered, but there was no denying the fine material it was made from. He had a dark green cape around his shoulders.

"Yes," she replied after her moment of staring. Jackie looked back to the books.

"Any favorites?"

" . . . not really," she said, hoping the strange man would lose interest and wander away.

"A pity," he said. "I myself rather like books-"

"Lovely," she said. "I best be on my way. Good day." Jackie hurried away, knowing that she had brushed him off, and not kindly. Her rude dismissal seemed to stun him long enough for her to get nearly all the way down the block before he called out to her.

"What is your name?"

Jackie turned and eyed him warily.

"What's yours?" She could hardly believe the words leaving her mouth. She was never this bold. Ever. Always the polite and nice Jackie. But this man gave her the creeps.

"Mulciber," he called after a hesitation. The way he said it, the swell of his chest with pride and the gleam in his eyes made her heart pound. Just looking at him sent triggers to her mind to run. "You wouldn't happen to know a man, Adrian. Adrian Dunn."

A man's face flashed before her eyes, matted hair, dried blood. His mouth opened as he spoke but she heard nothing. Jackie blinked. Somehow she seemed to recall a man at the mention of that name. An odd heart clenching sensation swept through her as the man, Mulciber, began to approach her.

"Sorry. You must have the wrong person, never heard of him," Jackie said and swiftly hurried away. She had the strangest feeling that she would not be seeing the last of him.

Jackie relayed what happened that night as Lucy sat on her sofa, eating Chinese food from a box. After coming home Jackie hadn't felt much up to cooking, and ordered out. Lucy frowned when she told her about Mulciber and the man's face that flashed in her mind.

"Are you sure?" Luce asked skeptically once she had finished. "Maybe one of your patients is Adrian, and Mulciber is a friend or relative."

"I swear, he gave me the worst feeling. I felt like I had to run the whole time."

"You sure that isn't your body talking to you?" Lucy said humorously. Jackie did not smile. Lucy sighed. "Okay. So the dude gave you the heeby jeebies, it's probably nothing."

"I feel like I'm being followed all the time," Jackie admitted. Lucy grabbed her hand.

"Just try not to think about it. This whole disappearing for a day has clearly fried your nerves," she said. "Just go about your life like it never happened." Lucy smiled encouragingly. "That psychie obviously only took your money."

"Beckley was alright," Jackie shrugged.

"Right," Luce drawled. "Now. Let's get you back in the swing of things. Time for movie night and girl time."

Jackie smiled. "Alright. Let's get this on."

"There's my Jackie!"

Never been to a psychiatrist . . . not sure if that's how they really act. Anyways . . . thank you to Menalliha for the review! :)

R&R!

~filimeala