(Tuesday, September 12, 2006 ~ Day 30 ~ 4:16 A.M.)
Everyone stood around the kitchen, drinking coffee, with the exception of Jackson, who preferred his sprite. No one had slept last night.
Jackson hopped up onto the counter. His face was terribly scratched.
"Anybody got any ideas?" Melissa said.
No one answered.
Jackson cleared his throat before speaking. "I think it'd be best if you guys don't stay over anymore."
"Why not?" Eric said.
"Because I said so."
"I think that you're just mad 'cause you got outsmarted by a ghost."
Jackson said nothing.
"Just admit it."
"Eric?" Jackson's voice was quiet, yet hard and irritated. "I'm not mad. And I wasn't outsmarted by a ghost. I'm handling this."
"Sure doesn't seem like it to me."
"I've got it under control, Eric."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Seems to me like you're letting it run over you. It even got you running out of your own house."
"Yeah? Well, I'm not running anymore. I'm gonna show this f***er who's boss. Ahh! S***!" Jackson jumped off of the counter, holding the lower left side of his back. "D***it!"
"And I'm guessing it's not you."
"Eric, shut up!" Melissa hurried toward Jackson. "What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.
The boy faced the counter now, his hands baring down on the edge, his eyes squeezed closed.
"What is it?"
Jackson's voice was strained as he tried to hide the pain he was in. "My back." He looked down, clenching his teeth together.
Melissa touched his back, about to pull up the shirt.
"Ow! D***it, Mel!"
"Sorry." She pulled up the back of the boy's shirt, slowly and softly, then gasped.
"What?"
Everyone else stepped closer to get a better look.
"What? What is it?" the boy asked nervously.
Nathan gently touched his back, but pulled away when Jackson cursed. "It looks like…"
"Like what?"
"Like something bit you."
(Tuesday, September 12, 2006 ~ Day 30 ~ 8:42 A.M.)
Jackson lay on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket.
Melissa took a seat next to him, then put her hand on his cheek, but quickly removed it when she remembered about his scratches. Instead, she played with his hair. "You going to work?"
"I guess."
"You know you're gonna be late."
"Yeah. I know." Jackson forced himself into a sitting position, but didn't stand.
Melissa took the hint and stood. "I, uh, gotta, um…get something."
Jackson followed the girl into their bedroom.
Eric winked. "You guys have fun."
The couple ignored him.
Eric laughed as the two teens disappeared upstairs. "He is such a chicken--gotta have someone in the room while he changes for work."
Nathan glared at him. "Eric, why you gotta be like that?"
"Man, I'm just having a little fun. Chill out."
(Tuesday, September 12, 2006 ~ Day 30 ~ 8:47 A.M.)
"Enjoy the show, Mel?" Eric said as Jackson and Melissa came down the stairs.
The two ignored him.
"I'll see you later, Mel." Jackson gave her a kiss on the cheek, then picked up his keys. "Bye, guys."
(Tuesday, September 12, 2006 ~ Day 30 ~ 5:49 P.M.)
The front door opened.
Eric looked to see who had come in.
It was Jackson. "Where is everyone?"
"They went to get something to eat. When's the last time you guys went to the grocery store?"
Jackson ignored that last comment. "Mel, too?"
"Nah. She's upstairs in the hall closet doing something."
Jackson was curious. "Why?"
The boy shrugged, then followed the other up the stairs, camera in hand.
Jackson opened the door to the closet, then stepped inside. "She's not in here."
"No," Eric said. "But you are." He hurriedly shut the door, then locked it from the outside.
"Eric!" Jackson banged his fists on the door after trying the knob. "Eric, let me out! Now!"
"Sorry. No can do."
"Stop messing around, Eric! Open the door!"
"Are you scared of the dark?"
"Eric, don't!"
Eric flipped the light switch, turning off the closet light.
"Eric!"
"Must have some electrical problems."
"D***it, Eric! Open this f***ing door!"
"Say 'please.'"
Jackson was annoyed. "Please."
"Say it nicer."
"Please, Eric. Please."
"'Please' what?"
"Please, let me out."
"Hmm…I don't know."
"Eric, this isn't funny!"
"You should see it from my point of view."
"Eric!" Jackson kicked the door. "Please!" His voice cracked with desperation.
"Crybaby Jackson," Eric sang over and over again.
There was silence on the other side of the door.
"Crybaby Jackson," Eric continued.
Jackson was no longer banging on the door.
Eric could here a small crash, then several failed attempts of deep breaths coming from the closet. "Jackson?" He unlocked the door, then turned the knob, but it wouldn't open. "Jackson? Open the door. Jackson?!"
"What's wrong?"
Eric turned to see Melissa, along with the others. "I can't get Jackson out."
Melissa hurried to the door, then attempted to open it. "Jackson? Jackson?!"
Nathan tried. He pulled hard, his face contorted with his strain. He fell backwards as the door whipped open.
"Jackson!" Melissa rushed to the boy, who sat in the dark, twitching and jerking, gasping for air. "Jackson, breath!"
"What's wrong with him?!" Taylor said worriedly.
"He's having a seizure." Lex got onto his knees next to the oldest boy. "Jackson, you gotta take deep breaths okay. Deep breaths."
Eric was rambling on and on. "It was just a joke. I didn't mean anything by it. I didn't know that this would happen."
"Jackson, stop it!" Melissa, frightened, tried to hold Jackson down.
"Don't, Melissa," Lex said. "You need to lay him down." The youngest boy moved out of the way so Nathan and Melissa could do what he said. "Daley, grab a pillow."
The girl ran into the bedroom, quickly coming back with a pillow. "Here, Lex."
The boy took the pillow, then gently placed it under Jackson's head. "He needs to be on his side--not his back--so he doesn't choke if he vomits."
Nathan and Melissa put Jackson on his side.
Everyone watched the oldest boy worriedly.
(Tuesday, September 12, 2006 ~ Day 30 ~ 6:00 P.M.)
Jackson lay asleep on the couch--his first nap in a long time.
Everyone sat around the living room, their eyes on him.
Melissa played with his hair.
Eric broke the silence. "I didn't know he'd get so freaked out."
No one talked to him.
"Guys, c'mon. It was an accident."
There was no response.