If at first you don't succeed…

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Red Eye, only any original characters that I create.

A/N: Thank you so much for reviewing! Also thank you for all of your wonderful suggestions they have helped me so much. Here's the next chapter, hope you like it. Oh, and all of Lisa's thoughts are in italics. Thanks March : )

Lightning

"Lux Atlantic this Lisa speaking… yes, we still have availability for the twelfth. How many rooms will you be needing? … Two? Okay. May I ask your name? … Mrs. Flowers an e-mail confirmation will be sent to you within twenty-four hours. Have a nice evening." Click.

Sighing Lisa tiredly rested her head on her upturned hand and stared out into the deserted lobby. Two hours thirty-seven minutes to go. Stifling a yawn she heaved herself up from her chair and walked over to the coffee machine. The clip of her shoes resonated through the quiet lobby.

After quickly fixing herself a cup she made her way back over to her desk. She couldn't wait to get home take a hot shower and then curl up in bed. That's where she should be now instead of covering the late night shift for Diana.

Lisa hated working late. She always felt so alone and it was tremendously boring. Except for the occasional call the phone lines were mostly dead. Honestly, who would be calling a hotel at one thirty in the morning? But mostly she hated the late shift because that meant she would have to cross the parking lot in the dark and return to her home alone and in the dark. Which means that He could be lurking anywhere out there and I would probably never see him coming.

It had been three months since she heard the terrible news that Jackson was still out there. Lisa tried to go on with her life the best that she could and tried not to let her fear keep her from doing the things that she would normally do. Of course this wasn't what her father wanted.

After they had found out about the fake ambulance and Jackson her father had insisted that Lisa come live at home or that he move in with her. After many days of arguing and fighting her father, Officer Caldwell, and herself had finally reached an agreement. Lisa would live at her home by herself, but she would have to call her father every night before she went to bed and when she got up in the morning. Of course this didn't mean that she only talked to her father once a day. Oh no, far from that. On average he called about five times a day plus the two times that she had to call him. Why do I have to have a father with insomnia? Why couldn't he be like normal fathers that actually slept through the night? She couldn't remember the last time that she had gotten whole nights sleep without her father calling at some unearthly hour to just "check up on her".

Oh, and there was the other part of the agreement. Some poor police officer that had night duty would occasionally swing by her home to make sure that no suspicious activity was going on. At first Lisa had enjoyed all the attention; it had made her feel safe. Now all she felt was annoyed. Her father was bad enough to deal with, but now for some unknown reason Officer Caldwell had decided to also take on fatherly duties and "check up on her" all the time. How am I supposed to have a normal life with all this going on? No one even knows for sure if Jackson is alive!

Taking a sip of her coffee Lisa let out another sigh. Whenever she though of him dead she always felt this little twinge in her heart. Dr. Phil would say it was because she was harboring secret romantic notions towards Jackson. Which is completely ridicules. True, she missed the Jackson whom she had meet while waiting in line, but that wasn't the real Jackson. He was just being charming so that Lisa would drop her guard and trust him. Which she obviously did, for the first time in two years. But make no mistake; if she ever crossed paths with Jackson Rippner again she would not make that same mistake.

Lisa glanced down at her watch and groaned. Why couldn't time move any faster? She cringed as the next thought that hit her. Her father would probably be calling any min…" RING RING!

It scared her how well she knew her father, it really did.

Grabbing the cell phone from her purse she flipped it open and said, "hi daddy."

"Hello honey, how is everything going?"

"Everything's going fine." She answered and leaned farther back in her seat. "The hotel is basically dead so I've just been trying to keep myself awake.

"You should get some coffee. It will help keep you alert."

She chuckled at his statement of the obvious. "Yeah it's great stuff, I'm already on my fourth cup. So how are the late night comedy shows?"

"Oh the usual. Just watched a rerun of the Daily Show and Colbert Report."

"Well its sounds like you're having a fun time." She laughingly replied. "Do you have any fun plans this weekend daddy?"

"Well I've got to mow and tidy up the lawn and work more on renovating the house. Why don't you come home and spend the weekend with me?"

Lisa just shook her head. Was he ever going to give up? "Actually daddy Cynthia and I are going to go out shopping then go to dinner tomorrow night."

"Oh I see how it is." He replied with mock hurt in his voice. "You're too old and cool to hang out with your father."

She just laughed once again. "I'll never be to old to hang out with you daddy." BEEP!

"Dad, someone it on the other line, probably Officer Caldwell. Can I call you back later?"

"Of course pumpkin. I love you."

"I love you too Daddy. Bye Bye." CLICK! Hm, let's see, I bet it's Officer Caldwell.

"Hello?"

"Lisa this is Officer Caldwell." Big surprise.

"Hi, how are you?"

"I'm fine. Lisa listen, I know that you are working the late shift tonight so when you go home just remember to call me if anything looks or feels suspicious. Also remember the pepper spray."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Officer, shouldn't you be asleep? Don't tell me that you're an insomniac too."

"Lisa, I'm being serious. Just because it's been three months and nothing has happened yet doesn't mean that you're safe."

Cold chills ran up her arms. She knew that she wasn't entirely safe but she just wanted to try and move on with her life.

"I know Officer."

"Lisa, please just be careful."

"Alright, I'll be careful. Good night."

"Good night Lisa." CLICK.

Well let's see how much time has passed. She thought then looked down at her watch. What! Only twenty minutes! This night is never going to end.

Pitter-patter pitter-patter. Lighting lit up the entire sky and thunder boomed in the distance, but Lisa found the noise of the rain spluttering against her windshield extremely relaxing. She was finally on her way home. Tonight hadn't been as bad as she was expecting, one of the security guards had walked her out to her car so that she wouldn't have to go through the deserted parking lot alone.

I'm finally home. She sighed in relief while pulling into her driveway. Turning off the ignition she quickly jumped out of the car and sprinted across her lawn to the patio. The rain was coming down harder then ever and the short distance from her car to the patio had rendered her absolutely drenched.

Her shaky hands rummaged through her purse trying to find the blasted keys. After a minute or two she finally located them, unlocked the door, and stepped into her warm home. Throwing her keys and purse on a nearby table she flipped on the lights, kicked off her high heels (which were killing her feet), and headed to the kitchen.

She was in the middle of making herself a hot cup of coco when everything went dark. Oh no, she inwardly groaned. Lisa glanced out the window to see if everyone's power had gone out as well. The entire block was pitch black, not even the streetlights where on. A shudder swept though her body. It's okay Lisa; it's just the power it will come back on any minute, everything will be fine. CRASH!


That came from upstairs! Lisa blindly groped the counter for any possible weapon. Her heart was pounding louder then the roaring thunder. Finally her hand connected with something. It was the rolling pin she had used to make cookies earlier that day. Well, it's not exactly a knife or pepper spray, but since the pepper spray is I guess this will have to do. Lisa quickly ducked or rather fell behind her dining room table. Why did I leave my cell phone in my purse! I should have brought it in here with me!

Heart still thudding widely she decided that she better make a break for the door, slowly Lisa stood and started across her dark kitchen. Thunder kept crashing with shorter intervals between the last. Lisa's palms were getting sweaty making it increasingly difficult to keep a hold of the rolling pin. With her free hand she felt her way towards the door. Her posture was rigid, ready to strike out at any moment. Please let no one be in my house, she silently pleaded. Tiptoeing out of the kitchen a sudden burst of lightning made everything momentarily visible. It was then that she saw what had caused the crash.

Sighing with relief Lisa carefully walked over to the bottom of the stairs. Her coat rack had crashed to the floor. She slightly loosened her death grip on the rolling pin. The adrenaline was still pumping in her veins, and her heart wouldn't stop racing. Bending down she pick up and righted the coat rack the best that she could in the darkness. What a relief. I could have sworn that the crash came from upstairs oh well. After righting the coat rack she turned to go back to the kitchen when the house was lit up by another burst of lightning.

Her heart stopped.

Squinting up the stairs in the dim light she was able to se what had caused the crash, and it made her blood run cold.

"Surprised to see me Miss. Reisert? I told you we would finish this later. Didn't you believe me?" The young EMT asked while slowly making his way down the stairs.

Lisa was frozen in place. Of all the scenarios that she had imagined this was definitely not one of them. Regaining her senses she made a dash for the front door.

Lisa could hear him thundering after her. With the rolling pin held tightly in one hand and heart racing madly she grasped the door handle, and turned the knob managing to slightly open the door when a hand shot out from behind her and slammed the door shut.

Whipping around Lisa swung the rolling pin at his head and heard the delightful crack it made upon connection. Swearing loudly the fake EMT grabbed the rolling pin from her and with the other hand shoved her against the door. Lisa was absolutely terrified. In the darkness she could see the blood pouring from his nose, which made her feel slightly better.

Throwing the pin down he grabbed both of her arms and held them above her head while pining her to the door with his body. Lisa started trembling. What am I going to do?

Leaning closer the fake EMT whispered, "You're going to pay for that."

Then before she knew what was happening he switched his position grabbing both of Lisa's hands within one of his and promptly punched her in the stomach. Lisa gasped for breath. She would have doubled over in pain if he hadn't been pressed up against her. With his free hand he tangled his fingers in her hair and yanked her face closer to his bloody one.

"Now you're going to be a good little girl," he said menacingly, "and get into my car."

Lisa grit her teeth in pain as he was saying this. She wriggled and squirmed trying to break free from his grasp. All this achieved was pissing him off even more.

Slapping her across the check he growled into her ear. "Don't worry, I won't kill you. I'll let Rippner do that."

Lisa didn't think it was possible but she was even more petrified then she was before. He's still alive. Swallowing her fear Lisa reminded herself that she was no ones 'good little girl'. She was going to fight him every step of the way, just like she did with Jackson. Speaking of Jackson she decided to use one of his nifty little tricks. Before the fake EMT knew what hit him Lisa thrust her head forward connecting with his in a brutal head-butt.

He immediately released Lisa, and the moment he did she brought her knee up and hit him where it hurt.

"I'm no ones good little girl." Lisa said while he was doubled over in pain. Lisa threw the front door open and immediately collided with a hard chest. She let out a scream and tried to back away but two strong hands grasped her arms preventing her from fleeing.

"Lisa, Lisa, clam down it's me."

Lisa's head shot up and she found herself staring up into the warm brown eyes of Officer Caldwell. Relief washed over her and she fell against his chest.

"Lisa, what happened? Why is your head bleeding?" He asked pushing her slightly away from himself so that he could better examine her head.

"I was attacked by one of the EMT's that came and got Jackson he's still in my house." Lisa managed to chock out.

"Stay here." Officer Caldwell said as he drew his gun out from its case and pushed the door open wider.

Disobeying his orders Lisa walked over and stood next to Officer Caldwell. Looking inside the house she gasped.

There was no one there.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter : ) Lena