Disclaimer: I do not own Red Eye, or any characters originally involved. Any OCs are, of course, my own.
Exams are done, I'm home and unpacked, so expect more updates from me! Thank you to everyone for being so patient.
So- Just a note about the pool scene… Yes, I do love to put him in a pool… Jackson, all wet… the danger of drowning… the closeness… *drool*
bexr91- Lisa doesn't want to kill Jackson- regardless of their past. That's why she's trying to find some other way to get him to change. This way, Jackson lives, and *hopefully* the ones who do want him dead will back off if he calms down and stops his killing spree.
Iseebutterfly- My take on their business is that because it's so low-key and dependent on the success of their jobs, sure, Jackson may be the best, but he did fail. He jeopardized their entire business with his failure. And then, if that wasn't enough, he decided to start putting more jobs in jeopardy as well as the hidden identity of everyone involved by just going out on a whim and killing people whenever he wanted to.
I hope my explanations made sense and cleared a few things up!
Thank you for all of the reviews, loves! They keep me driven and I appreciate the feedback!
Jesscah
Chapter Seven:
More
Lisa let the scream well up in her throat, but refused to release it. What had she gotten herself into? She should not have goaded Jackson into further rage. She should not have teased him and she certainly should not have pushed him in the pool. Lisa sighed in relief as the elevator doors dinged and opened up to a crowded hallway. She was heading towards the level with the buffet-style lunch to go over a few things in her mind. She didn't need to be alone right now, especially not with Jackson's threat looming over her. He said he would come for her when she was alone. Would he? And would he kill her?
Lisa nearly collided with a small chef carrying a large pot of some type of soup. She counted her blessings as she apologized, and headed for the buffet. She grabbed a plate and began picking up food from here and there. She turned around, ready to find a table, when she ran into Jackson once more. Her tray tipped, threatening to let her food and drink drop to the carpeted floor. Jackson's hands shot up and steadied hers as they locked eyes. Lisa gasped and tried to pull away, but his grip was like steel.
"I thought you were heading back to your room, Leese," he remarked, cocking his head to the side with a smirk. Clearly dinner was too long for him to wait. "Lying is such a bad habit. It could get you into trouble."
Lisa narrowed her eyes, determined to not let him discover her true nervousness. Lisa was terrified. It didn't matter that they were in public. That didn't stop him the first time he tried to attack her on the Red Eye. Jackson Rippner was resourceful and he would always find a way to accomplish what he wanted to. But, some part of Lisa knew that he wanted to keep her death quiet. Another part of her reasoned that he was just toying with her. She would die later. Not here and now.
"Let go of me," she whispered.
Jackson's smirk slowly fell from his face as he set her free. He swung out his left arm in the direction of the windows.
"I have a table. Right over there."
Lisa followed his gaze to a small two-person table next to the windows. Jackson had placed a towel over one of the chairs and a glass of water sat in front of the seat.
"Walk," he murmured softly behind her.
Lisa swallowed hard and made her way over to the table. If it wasn't for the fact that Jackson was a known murderer and a terrorist in Lisa's eyes, she might have been on a date with a handsome young man she met by the pool. She might be flirting with him in hushed tones. She might be taking in the gorgeous view of the crystal blue water as the boat cruises on to their next destination. Instead, Lisa was heavily aware of the man following her to the table and his dreadful intentions. She wanted to scream for help. But she couldn't let herself. Screaming would always provoke Jackson more than her resistance ever could. He expected her to be honorable. And Lisa would. She would go down with a fight, but she refused to give in and she refused to murder Jackson Rippner, no matter how vile he was. But, Lisa hadn't quite figured out her plan of attack yet, and if she didn't soon, she wouldn't have any other choice. Lisa would always choose self-preservation over Jackson's life.
Lisa placed her tray down gently across from the towel, but she didn't sit. Jackson, noticing her reluctance, pulled out her chair for her with a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Your seat, madam," he commented with a short bow.
Lisa couldn't help but notice how he resembled a shark. Those eyes were one thing, but his tone was icy as well. Lisa sat down slowly and Jackson pushed her in before taking his seat across from her.
"You're not eating?" Lisa asked softly, keeping her eyes plastered on her own tray.
"No. I ate earlier."
Lisa nodded and she heard Jackson chuckle from across from her.
"What's funny?" she asked, finally glaring at him.
"You can't even look at me. Is that it then? All that talk by the pool," he nodded towards the deck, his laughter dying, "and now you've given up?"
Jackson looked deadly serious.
"I have not given up." Lisa paused and then continued. "Besides," she said, grabbing her fork and stabbing a piece of cantaloupe, willing herself to be brave and bold, "There isn't going to be some big show-down, Jackson. You and I both know this."
Now Jackson barked out a whole-hearted laugh. Lisa almost wanted to smile along with him. He seemed so genuinely happy and relaxed. But, Lisa kept her face reserved. If he could switch himself off and on, so could she. She, too, was a master of people. Lisa placed the cantaloupe carefully in her mouth, waiting for Jackson to snap. He took a sip of water and then turned back to her, smiling.
"You even lie to yourself," he chuckled out. "It's so… unbelievable. I wonder what other secrets you're hiding…"
"Kill me and you'll never find out," Lisa remarked, eating another square of cantaloupe.
Jackson didn't chuckle this time. He gave her a steely look and Lisa paused chewing. Was this it? Would he hit her? Or had he poisoned her food? Lisa hoped maybe Jackson's curiosity, coupled with his loosened mental state, would win out and buy her a bit of time. She simply needed to find a way to solve this. She was clever. This was just another riddle to be solved.
"I wonder," he murmured softly.
Lisa stared at him. She waited. And she waited. And then she couldn't handle it any longer. She swallowed her cantaloupe quickly.
"You wonder, what?"
Jackson smirked. He surely did enjoy toying with her. Cat and mouse.
"I wonder… I wonder how you would react if you knew the date of your death?"
"Don't I? You said you'd kill me the next time I'm alone. I have to sleep sometime."
Jackson took a piece of the cantaloupe off of Lisa's plate and she contemplated stabbing him with her fork. He honestly thought that he was irresistible. Jackson Rippner: the perfect man. The perfect killer. He can do no wrong. Lisa scowled.
"Ah, but what if I kept you in suspense? Or… what if I killed you… now!"
Jackson twitched, ever-so-slightly and Lisa screamed. Families in the dining area stared over at her.
"She spooks easily," Jackson commented to the woman who was glaring at them from the next table.
Jackson was all charm. Still, the woman rolled her eyes and picked up her tray to move tables. Jackson shrugged.
"What's her problem?" he asked Lisa, who was gripping the table so hard that her knuckles were turning white.
"Her problem? What's your problem?"
"I have many. Many that revolve around you. But, back to our conversation. What if I told you I'd give you until..." Jackson paused, glancing out the window to consider his proposal, "tonight?"
Lisa snorted.
"I told you you're all talk."
Jackson reached his hand beneath the table and gripped her knee. Lisa squirmed, both from the pain and from the proximity of his hand.
"Be grateful. Say thank you."
"No," Lisa muttered, reaching down to grab his hand and pry it from her leg.
Jackson reached across the table with his free hand and grabbed hers, squeezing her wrist. Lisa hated this. She hated that Jackson could exert so much control over her.
"If I say thank you, will you let me go?"
"For now," he breathed.
Lisa felt a shudder ripple through her at the tone of his voice. Jackson was so perplexing. He never wore the same mask. He was always a different person.
"Thank you."
As he stated, he let her go and relaxed back into his seat.
"Well, don't let me interrupt your lunch, Leese. Please, continue."
His signature smirk played upon his lips, but he kept it subdued for her. She grabbed her fork once more and stabbed a piece of watermelon. He continued to watch her and Lisa felt uneasy.
"Are you just going to sit there and watch me eat? Haven't you done that enough?"
Jackson leaned forward.
"Actually, I have. But it never ceases to interest me."
"You're sick."
He chuckled and leaned back in his chair, folding his right leg over his left.
"So whatever will we do to pass the time?"
"The time?"
"The time until I end your life, of course. Do you think maybe I should make you pay back the debt you've earned by ruining my career? Hm? Or will we spend it with you begging me to let you live? Trying to convince me that you're worth something… Are you worth something, Leese?"
Lisa contemplated telling Jackson that he could fuck off, die, fall off the boat… any number of things to enrage him, but instead she kept her thoughts to herself. She simply smiled sweetly at him as she placed a small red grape in her mouth.
"Yes," she stated softly once she swallowed.
"Yes?"
"Yes. I am worth something. More than you'll ever know. You like to see people as objects-"
"Oh, here we go," Jackson mused, sitting back in his chair with a roll of his eyes. "The psychoanalysis. You think you're just so perfect, don't you, Leese? Are you that much better than I am?"
"I never said I was perfect," Lisa whispered heatedly. She set down her fork and knife, relieving the urge she had to use them against Jackson. "But I like to give people chances. I like to let people prove to me that they're more."
Jackson looked at her from the corner of his eye. What in the world was she talking about? He shook it off and turned his eyes back to the open ocean surrounding them.
"Look. I know you see me as some sad lonely woman who sits in her apartment after work."
"Ah, so this is how we spend the time you have left?" He turned back to Lisa, smirking. "Not necessarily begging, but in true Lisa fashion, appealing. Convincing. You know, most people would be running for their lives. Even some would be out having sex with the most attractive person they could find." Lisa felt a shiver run up her spine. "Drinking, doing drugs. Living it up! But you…" he chuckled as he continued, "Oh, you. Lisa Henrietta Reisert. You would be the rare person who still sits at the table with the man who will be the end of you, trying to reason with him. You can't reason with a killer, Leese. Didn't the Red Eye prove that to you?"
Lisa sighed and stood up from her chair. Jackson kept his relaxed demeanor in the chair across from her, even as she came to stand above him.
"Well," she said with a shrug. "If I can't reason with a killer, I suppose I should go ask one of these college kids for some drugs and a good time."
Lisa turned on her heel, but she could feel Jackson fuming.
"Lies, lies, lies, Leese," he called. "Go on and hide in your room. Cry those pretty green eyes out."
Lisa waved over her shoulder, not turning around or stopping.
"See you later, Jackson."
Jackson glared after her as she sashayed past the fruit, plucking a stray grape from the island and popping it into her mouth. Then she disappeared up the spiral staircase leading up to the second floor. He wondered briefly, if perhaps she actually would go out and try to talk to one of the sleazy college boys. No doubt they'd accept her offer. He sighed and looked back out at the water. Why did it bother him so much? Why did he care what she did?
"Because," he said to himself, "she's not cowering in fear."
"Having problems, Jackson?"
Jackson bit back a growl as he turned to see Gabriel standing where Lisa had just been.
"Not at all, Gabe. Thanks for asking."
"It's what friends do, so I've heard."
Jackson laughed.
"You've put some dangerous ideas into the poor woman's head, Gabe. Shame on you."
"Shame on me? I'm not the one plotting to kill her." He edged Lisa's plate and leftovers to the side of the table and took her seat across from Jackson.
"Why yes, Gabe. You can sit there."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you saving it for someone?" Gabriel looked around the dining area.
"I was actually planning on leaving."
Jackson stood up from his seat.
"Look," Gabriel began, halting Jackson. "I told her what I had to in order to make her not go to the authorities. You know her, Jackson. Do you think after that stunt you pulled she'd just walk around like nothing happened?"
"And now she doesn't take me seriously. This ends tonight."
Gabriel sighed.
"Go. Go on and sharpen your knives. But, consider this. Is she worth it?"
Jackson paused. Lisa had mentioned that earlier. She had mentioned giving people a chance to prove they're 'more'. But, he had seen her. He had followed her for weeks and he knew that she was that sad little woman who hid in her apartment after her shift. So, knowing that, was Lisa honestly worth losing his career and his life?
"You know, Gabe, that's just something I've got to think about." Jackson looked down at his watch. "I'll give her until after dinner. That's the polite thing to do, don't you think?"
Gabriel shook his head and smiled.
"I think you're a twisted son of a bitch, Jackson."
"That's what they tell me."
With that, Jackson turned and headed up the spiral staircase. His head was filled with notions about killing Lisa, letting her live, watching her from afar. He shook his head as he reached the top. He should kill her. She was nobody. The only person who would even miss her would be her obsessed father. She didn't even have a damned cat that she would have left to starve. He should kill her. He should end her pathetic existence.
And yet, he found himself wondering if Lisa really was "more."
A/N: I hope this chapter didn't disappoint after the long break! I'm hoping to produce more updates now that I have some free time. Please review, I appreciate it! Thanks for reading!
