"Hello?" Bryan said.

There was an awkward silence on the line, as Bryan repeated himself.

"Hello?"

Talk, Jackson! Damn it!

"Hey Bryan. It's Jackson."

"Jackson! How's it goin', man! We haven't talked in ages. I thought something happened to ya!"

"Then, why didn't you call me, asshole?" Jackson mumbled under his breath.

"What was that, Jackson? I couldn't hear you."

"Oh nothing. There's a lot of commotion around here, which brings me to why I called you. I'm in town and I was wondering if I could stop by? Just to hang out and chat? Catch up on life?" Kill you? He paused, fearing he was going to accidentally slip some of the thoughts he was currently thinking. He continued. "You know?"

"Yeah, sure! You can stop by. I'll be here. You picked the perfect timing. I'm on vacation right now so; I don't have to worry about work. Do you have directions or an address?"

You'll be going to work anyway, Mr. Greenley. "Let's see… I have an address. But, no directions. It doesn't matter though. I'm taking a taxi. I'll just tell them the address and they should be able to get me there just fine," Jackson replied.

"Right. Okay. I'll see you in a bit, then?"

"Okay."

"Bye Jackson."

"Bye."

Click.

"Well, that went well," Jackson thought. "One thing I've finally done right today."

One obstacle down.

He put his cell phone away and searched around for a vacant taxi.

"TAXI!" he shouted waving his hands, as one pulled up to the curbside.

He opened the door and slid into the backseat.

"Where to, sir?" the old male driver said to Jackson, as he slammed the door shut.

"10795 Appalachian Lane. Cumberland, MD. Woodland Estate."

The driver nodded and began to drive away from the airport. Jackson looked out the window and watched the airport rush past him in a blur. He felt like he was leaving the bad luck of this morning behind him in that airport. But, he'd been wrong many times before.

He took his computer bag off his shoulder and set it on the leather seat next to him. He tried to relax with all the energy left in him but, he couldn't. Jackson just continued to stare out the window until he gradually fell back asleep. This time, he slept in peace and got the sleep he needed ever so much.

"Sir…"

Jackson opened his eyes and squinted at the man driving the taxi.

"Mmhmm?"

"We've arrived at Woodland Estate."

Jackson instantly woke up.

"How much do I owe you?"

"$86.59."

Jackson pulled his wallet out of his pocket and removed a hundred dollar bill. He handed it to the man.

"Keep the change."

"Thank you, sir," the man said, shocked.

"No, thank YOU."

Jackson grabbed his computer bag and stepped out of the car.

"You have a nice day now," the man shouted out the window out of the window and he drove away down the paved driveway.

Where the hell am I?

To Jackson, it looked like he was in the middle of nowhere. He was surrounded by trees and forest. There was a paved driveway that led him from the direction he came, which was who knows where. But, there was a huge iron gate before him with a callbox.

"At least there's civilization," he thought, jokingly.

There was a clearing where you could see part of Bryan's house. But, it wasn't exactly a house. More like a mansion. He could see huge white pillars peeking through the clustering of large oak trees.

"He must have a lot more money than I imagined," Jackson said, causing his currently calm nerves to be angered again.

He pressed the button on the callbox, waiting for an answer.

"Hello?"

"It's Jackson."

"Welcome Jackson!" Bryan said, as the huge iron gates swung open.

He took a huge breath and began to walk up to the house. He followed the paved driveway around many turns, in between tree after tree. That was when he saw it. The huge mansion that belonged to the Greenley's. It was breathtaking, even to Jackson, someone who had immense hate towards Bryan. Huge white pillars greeted him at the front door. All 8 sides of the house were decorated with a variety of plants and shrubs and there were so many windows that Jackson couldn't even begin to guess how many rooms were inside. It was truly stunning. Jackson slowly walked up the steps to the mansion, trying to take it all in. All of the sudden, he heard rustling in the bushes behind him.

"Psssstt. Jackson."

It was Alex. Jackson looked at him with a question look.

"I've got the front. Joe's got the back," he said in a raspy whisper.

Jackson signaled a 10-4 with his fingers. Then, it really hit him what he was preparing to do. Once again, his rapid heartbeat returned to him and he could feel the adrenaline pumping throughout his body.

This was it.

He walked up to the door and took the huge, iron knocker into his hand. He knocked on the door on the door. Jackson waited a few moments until the huge, wooden door peeked open.

"Well, Jackson Rippner is it?" said a female voice that once again brought Jackson back to his childhood.

"Hello," Jackson paused, on the verge of dying inside. "Sasha."