-1Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to "Red Eye" …
Chapter 7- Dreams of Golden Skans
Well Gee…I'm back. Almost time to be free more! Summer!
She heard it. She knew she did, but she didn't want to admit it.
Not the door, not again!
The sunshine touched Lisa's eyelids just enough for her to open them. She resented the light. It meant she had not slept that long. Lisa sighed and smoothed the hair out of her face.
"What time is it?" She mumbled, trying to wake up Jackson.
A creeping fear swept over her. Her eyes were fully opened now, to reveal an empty bed.
She quickly sat up and tore off the comforter.
Where is he…? She searched the room as the knock on the door continued to persist.
Lisa walked out of the bedroom to the living area. No Jackson. Next, she searched the bathroom, no sign. That's when it hit her, the panic. She could feel her heart pounding insistently in her chest.
"Jackson?" She spoke shakily, trying as best as she could not to sound desperate.
She scanned her eyes across the suite once more, nothing.
Lisa wrapped her arms around herself, in an attempt to comfort herself. The talk about not trusting anyone had got to her. She didn't know who was on the other side of that door.
Tears of fear fell down silently from her face.
No. She scolded herself. Maybe it's Jackson at the door. She quickly wiped the tears from
Her face and tiptoed as quietly as she could to the door. She closed her left eye and pressed her right eye towards the hole. She jumped back and gasped, trying not to scream. The man on the other side of the door was certainly not Jackson. He was a short, bulky man in a dark blue suit, holding a particularly large handgun in his left hand as he used his right to knock.
The tears returned to Lisa's eyes. Once more wondering why Jackson wasn't there.
Did they do something to him already? Where is he?
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Lisa slowly backed away from the door, the knock continued.
Her eyes searched the room. For something; anything to help her out of this situation. Her eyes suddenly fixed on the door opposite the side of the room she was on.
The balcony! She nodded to herself as she walked backwards towards the sliding door, never taking her eyes off of the door that the man continued to knock on. Lisa fumbled with her hands to pull the slide door open. She placed one foot on the balcony. Still staring at the front door. Finally, she made it. She smiled in her small triumph and slowly slid back and tried to shut the door, only to bump into something at the process.
Lisa screamed. Someone had grabbed her and clamped their hand over her mouth. She swatted at her assailant's arms until she looked up into his eyes..
"Shh! Quiet Lise." Jackson whispered, also maintaining a stare on the front door.
"Jackson." Lisa peered up towards him. Thank God! Lisa instinctively wrapped her arms around him. He put an arm over her protectively.
"I thought you had left…" She whispered, now slightly smiling.
"What, and miss all this?" He smiled down at her. "I don't think so…. I was just trying to find a way to get us out of here."
"Did you?"
He grinned mischievously. "As a matter of fact…" his words were cut short by the sound of a gunshot. Lisa jumped and turned her attentions to the front door, which was being kicked opened by the very disgruntled man with the gun.
"Hate to cut our vacation short…" He winked at her as he her behind him.
"Alright Seals…lets talk this over shall we?" Jackson spoke smoothly, now directing his attention the other assassin.
"Too late Rippner…should've invited me in…" The man spoke with a coarse voice, no doubt built up throughout the years intimidate opponents. Lisa looked up at Jackson, who was the opposite of intimidated. She looked down to his hand, calmly holding the gun.
Lisa inched closer to the back of Jackson. In some attempt to draw some sort of support or comfort. She moved in until she was within inches of his body. Here, nothing could happen to her.
Jackson closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could feel the warmth of Lisa almost bouncing onto him. It exhilarated him in a way, to know she was there. And to know for the first time, he was not alone.
"Come one Rippner, you knew this was coming. And to think, they were even going to cut you some slack, that is…until you created this unholy mess…" The man paused. Obviously gifted in gab just as Jackson was. "But they're willing to make a deal."
"What kind of deal?" Jackson asked. Knowing it probably wouldn't be good.
"Get rid of the girl and you'll be relocated, you'll get a second chance. You're transgressions will be covered up and your resources will be turned back on."
Jackson leaned his face on the brick wall, the only thing separating them from the man with the gun. Whom Jackson knew by experience was a pretty accurate shot.
There was a short pause until the man spoke again.
"How bout it? Girl for your life back. Pretty fair trade considering…" He inched closer to the balcony.
Jackson sighed. Of course it was a great offer! After killing one of his own, screwing up a mission and lying to say that you would fix it which in reality you save the target; yes, it was generous.
There was just one problem.
Lisa closed her eyes. It seemed as if she wasn't leaning against the wall she'd collapse.
She opened her eyes to be greeted by his. Lisa jumped initially, his eyes were a lot to drink in. He seemed to be trying to tell her something but she couldn't quite figure out what it was but she couldn't tear herself away.
Jackson lowered his gun and without warning, pulled her body swiftly into his; forcing her to exhale abruptly. Her breathing escalated. All thoughts of the current situation ceased. The only danger she knew of was his close proximity, the lingering thoughts that clouded her mind. His dangerous gaze, his heavy breath, Jackson leaned his face closer where his forehead touched hers. His eyes swam across her own. Lisa could swear they were in motion; a galaxy of complexities and mystery, mysteries she was dying to discover. Then came the words, the words that she barely contemplated.
"Will you trust me?" he breathed huskily, inhaling every instant of the closeness between them.
Lisa.
She looked up at him. She knew what his eyes were saying now, they were pleading, begging for her faith in them. She nodded.
"Yes."
Jackson exhaled as a wide grin spread like wildfire across his face. He looked at her with such delight and reverence, it caused her cheeks to flush.
Then his eyes left hers and slowly traced down to her lips.
Like a moth to a flame he pressed in closer to her, trying to get nearer, if such a closeness was achievable, Not really paying heed to the voice on the opposite side of the wall…drawing closer and closer.
She closed her eyes.
"Lisa…" Jackson moaned as he held her sternly, brushing his lips against her cheek; so close. Her skin reacted towards the touch, a chill raced up her spine.
That's when she felt it. A hard metal substance piercing into her stomach. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Time's up Jackson!" Seals declared joining the pair on the balcony.
"What'll it be Rippner?"
Jackson grabbed Lisa's wrist and whipped her around, now pressing the gun to her back.
"How am I sure you're not just feeding me all this? Where's the guarantee?" Jackson demanded with all the coldness in the world. Lisa shivered.
Seals smiled. "That's the spirit!" He padded on his pocket. "Three hundred thousand, up front. Right after the girl dies." he grinned, giving Lisa the once over.
Jackson scowled at the man.
"It's a shame, really. I can see why you've held on to her for so long, she's pretty." Seals winked towards Lisa as he attempted to touch her face.
Lisa turned her head in defiance. Seals hand snapped back.
"Oh, and feisty too!" He smiled. "But…all good things must come to the end." He shrugged. "Want me to do the honors?" he turned towards Jackson.
"No." Jackson quickly stated. "She's my project, let me finish it."
Seals held his hands up. "Alright alright, just hurry up, we haven't got all day." Seals lowered his gun and turned around.
"We're expected soon at…" before he could finish, Jackson fired his gun. Lisa jumped. But then took in a deep sigh, it wasn't her he had shot.
Seals fell flat on the cold concrete on the balcony as a pool of red began to accumulate around him.
Lisa stared at the morbid sight. She could not tear away from the gory sight. Her mouth hung open in shock. Without warning, her knees buckled and she almost fell to the ground. Jackson caught her before she made impact. This forced her to spring back to consciousness.
"Lisa…" He brushed strands of hair out of her face. "You okay? Lise, stay with me." he gently patted her cheek. Her eyes opened slightly wider. Jackson smiled.
"Do me a favor?" She stated shakily.
Jackson nodded. Anything…
"Find us a new vacation spot."
