Red-Eye (c) Wes Craven, Dreamworks Productions

All rights resserved.

Commit Your Crime

Chapter One: Of Comment Cards and Vodka

Sitting up with his back resting against a few pillows, Jackson was deeply engrossed in the book he held in his hands. The curtains in the hospital room were drawn open, letting in the first rays of the morning light. As time passed, it could be seen that wrapped around the man's neck was a ring of bandages. Bandages were wrapped around his bare chest as well.

There were no other patients in the room. If not for the fact Jackson was sitting in the bed, one would have thought no one was in the room. There were no cards or bouquets of flowers wishing him a speedy recovery. Not a single balloon or even the cliché teddy bear sat on the side table. All that was there were the man and the book in his hand. An odd sight, though, if one were to look under the bed was a small pile of other books. Straying from the pile was a couple of books: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Encyclopedia of Jack the Ripper. In Jackson's own hands was the book The Picture of Dorian Gray, which he appeared to be enjoying thoroughly.

There was a contempt smile on his face as his eyes read the pages of the book. From time to time his lips would move soundlessly as he silently read the parts. For a brief moment, he lifted ice-like eyes from the page. They rested on the clock hanging beside the small television set.

The smile on his face grew even more, holding some sort of a secret that he alone knew.

Tapping her watch with an eyebrow quirked, Cynthia turned to her employer with an amused smile. "Twenty-minutes and already we've already had three baggage crashes. That has to be a new record!"

Snorting, Lisa had just finished apologizing to a couple that was picking up their strewn clothing with the assistance of a bellhop. "At least they were very understanding," the manager replied in a low tone.

"Not like that family. I thought that woman was going to claw at your throat!"

Pointing to the doors to leave and enter the hotel, Lisa said simply, "At least her husband took her outside and managed to calm her down."

"I can just imagine her comment card…"

Turning to the computer sitting before her, Lisa added with a smirk, "Remind me to not check that box when I leave."

Grinning, Cynthia patted her friend on the shoulder lightly. "Duly noted. Now, according to the records a Mr. Alec Johanson will be arriving today to stay in room A-203." Looking down the list, she added, "Plus two more families, Miss Jennifer Fera and another couple: the Gardners."

Confirming this on her computer, Lisa nodded. "Make sure both Miss Fera and Mr. Johanson's requests are taken care of and-"

"Bottle of White Ridge wine and bouquet of sunflowers for Miss Fera; Titans for Mr. Johanson," Cynthia rattled off the paper, tapping the paper with her pen. "Already taken care of."

"Great!"

"Listen, Lisa, you sure you don't want to take today off?" questioned Lisa. "Because I can handle things by myself. Besides," she added, with a small smile, "You look as though you had zip sleep."

Massaging her forehead, Lisa sighed. "It shows, doesn't it?"

"Very much so. How much sleep did you get anyway?"

"Around…two hours…three tops."

Taking the back of Lisa's chair, Cynthia wheeled her away from the computer and around the desk. "As both a friend and concerned employee who would rather not lose her job because her boss 'accidentally' jumped the next whining asshole, go home and sleep."

"But Cynthia, I-"

"No buts! Now scootch!"

Letting herself fall onto the bed, Lisa closed her eyes and clung to the bed sheets with her eyes closed. Oh how she wanted so much to sleep. 'I haven't had a decent night's rest in these past two weeks' she thought, eyes opening as she stared off into space. 'Not since…'

Groaning, Lisa pulled herself up so that she was kneeling on the bed. 'This is ridiculous! I'm letting that sunnuva bitch get to me!' Fingers curling as her fists clenched, balling the blanket up, she shook her head. 'Pull yourself together Lisa! He's in the hospital. He's going to prison. Nothing's going to change that! He won't hurt you or your father ever again!'

The silence was deafening, ringing in her mind loudly. Remaining where she was, her shoulder drooped and her grip on the blanket loosened. Lisa just couldn't shake the feeling off that even now he was watching her.

And it was driving her insane.

'I just…have to shake it off…that's all…'

"Get a hold of yourself girl," she said out loud, her eyes narrowing. This wasn't like her: she wasn't this pathetic. 'Pull yourself together and just get some sleep! He isn't coming back.'

"…I need a drink."

Resting in the hospital bed during his morning nap withthe book open on his lapand his hand still on one of the pages, Jackson seemed to be sleeping peacefully. On the page, there were two lines on the page circled:

'Then she had disappointed him. She had been shallow and unworthy.'

And scribbled next to it, he had written a single name.

'Lisa.'

Review Responses:

SpadesJade - Though I enjoy the retellings, it is an idea for there to be stories of continuations of the film. From the ones I've seen psoted here, I've been really enjoying them and I hope more authors will consider to write them. :D

Puck the Faerie - Thanks for pointing that out! I'll be sure to go back and fix up that first paragraph.

ellina HOPE - No worries, Lisa won't begin to randomly feel sorry for him. :D Their relationship is going to be an interesting one, at least thats what my plans/notes show.

Claire Hall - I think he was too busy in surgery to press charges on her. XD

Bimefl - That line made me squeal (Thus rewarding me with a whack from my friend and a couple of strange looks from the audience) and at once I was determined to write a story revolving around that line. And showing that Lisa had also commited some crimes (though they had good intentions in the end), it sort of helps me level the playing field betwene her and Jackson. :D

And a BIG THANK YOU to everone else who left me reviews on the prologue! I'll try to get around to replying to everone's comments for chapter one. At the moment, I'm too tired and I have classes in the morning. :3;

Up Next: Chapter Two - Inside Help