She wasn't punished for attacking him. In fact, Jackson seemed to forget about her momentary disobedience after she had brought the game broad down from upstairs. They played several rounds of Nine Men's Morris, with Lisa winning the last two. Jackson showed his regards by nodding approvingly when Lisa overcame him at the end of the game. A small, proud smile crossed her lips as she snagged his last game piece. The rest of the night went pleasantly, if you could call being locked in a house with Jackson pleasant. That's why what happened the next morning frightened Lisa.
"Jackson, what are you doing?" she asked in panic. He'd been waiting for her that morning. As soon as she emerged from her bathroom, he laid hands on her and threw her into a chair in the clearing of the room. He moved with precise actions, duct taping her wrist to the arms of the chair then taping her legs tightly together. Lisa watched in horror, wishing she had been prepared for whatever sick act he had in store next.
"What-"
"I can't have you going anywhere," Jackson interrupted before she could get a question out. He produced a dark blue clothe from his pocket and wrapped it around her head. Everything went dark, and Lisa's stomach twisted in knocks waiting for the worst.
She jumped when Jackson's cheek brush against hers, his breath on her ear. "I don't trust you with the cuffs. Be a good girl for me."
With that, he was gone and the lock clicked. A few minutes later Lisa heard a distant sound of a car starting.
For a long couple hours, Lisa thought she had made the wrong decision to play Jackson's mind games. Her knowledge of how he worked was increasing everyday, but this had come without warning. Her mind flooded over with anything she could do to get away. With the sound of a car starting, she knew there was transportation nearby instead of far off or hidden as she thought before. She didn't know where the keys were kept, but she was sure she could find them. She tried vainly to free herself of the tape around her wrist and ankles, but the duct tape was too constricting to move.
Footfalls could be heard approaching and the lock clicked. She gnawed her lip nervously as cold metal pressed against her skin and the tape confining her was cut. Lisa's hand flew up, yanking the blindfold off. Jackson was kneeling in front of her, removing the tape around her ankles.
She waited patiently for him to free her legs. As he raised his head, Lisa kicked up smacking him in the face with her bare heel. Jackson fell backwards onto his side, and Lisa jumped to her feet, running to the door as best she could with her stiff legs. The back of her hand bashed the doorknob and pain exploded in her lungs as she hit the floor. Jackson's hand gripped her ankle, yanking her savagely back to him. He was straddling her in an instant, pinning her arms above her head and pinning her legs with his. Lisa fought to breathe as Jackson's weight shifted on her, unwanted images flashing through her panicked mind.
Jackson bent close to her face. "I can't believe you'd try a stunt like that after I brought you presents," he said as if scolding a child.
The weight lifted off her, and Lisa stared up wide-eyed, her breathing ragged. Her mind was frozen, trapped in memories she wanted to forget. Jackson came into her view, his hand extended toward her.
She couldn't take her eyes from his outstretched hand. It looked innocent, extended to her like it belonged to someone who wanted to help her, someone who wouldn't think of hurting her. But it wasn't a friendly hand. It was the same hand that had wrapped around her neck many times, that did harm without a second thought.
When Lisa refused to accept it, Jackson grabbed her forearm, tugging her roughly to her feet. He didn't let go until they were downstairs in the living room.
Out of all the surprises Jackson could have had for her, the one that awaited her was so ridiculously non-threatening that Lisa broke into relieved giggles despite the situation. "A treadmill?"
Jackson narrowed his eyes, and his stony face extinguished the humor.
"May I ask why?" Lisa said carefully.
"You need more exercise than just our dance lessons."
Lisa nodded absently. A meek whistle caught her attention. She turned to find sitting on the floor of the foyer a white bird cage holding a white and yellow cockatiel. Lisa blinked, wondering why the bird was there. She looked at Jackson, questioningly. Traces of smugness flickered on his face.
"The bird is yours."
Lisa stepped toward the cage, kneeling down and whistling softly. The cockatiel turned one side of it's head to her, blinking a black round eye curiously. She smiled as the cockatiel inched it's way to her.
"Um-" Lisa peered over her shoulder at Jackson, who stood watching her as if expecting something in return. The corner of Lisa's mouth twitched, and she glanced at the floor feeling scarcely awkward. "Thank you," she murmured, not knowing what else to say.
Jackson merely nodded, satisfied, then made his way to the kitchen.
It took me all day Saturday to write this chapter, and yet it only took like an hour to type it up and edit it. Go figure...lol. If this seems to be running slow or whatnot, just bear with me, okay? I have the next few chapters planned out before the real test begins.