"Lisa."
Lisa whirled around and aimed her gun at Jackson, grabbing Tanya's arm and forcing her behind her.
"I'm calling the police. Get out, or I'll shoot you," Lisa gasped.
"What's going on?" Tanya whispered.
"Lisa, I'm-" Jackson began.
"Don't touch her," Lisa began backing away. Her trust in Jackson still wasn't that high. "I still don't trust you."
"Neither do I."
Lisa whirled around again to see Christopher standing in the kitchen, his gun also out and a long cut on the side of his neck.
"Get the hell out of here, Christopher," Jackson said loudly. Tanya whimpered and moved closer to Lisa. Now they were trapped.
"Um, no?" Christopher raised an eyebrow. "You two have completely screwed up the job. What was it I was discussing with you earlier, Jackie? Revenge, I do believe? Well, get ready."
He cocked his gun and Tanya shrieked as it fired. Lisa didn't stick around to see if it made contact with Jackson or not before she began dragging Tanya up the stairs.
"Lisa, what's going on?"
"Tanya, just do me a favor and, just for once, shut up!" Lisa snapped as they entered Tanya's bedroom. She looked around frantically as she heard Christopher's thunderous steps upstairs.
"Shit, shit, shit..." Finally her eyes locked onto the closet and she flung open the door, pushing Tanya in. Then she ran to the stairway and tossed Tanya's desk chair down. One of the wheels connected with Christopher's head and he stumbled. Lisa ran back to Tanya.
"Stay here, no matter what," Lisa gasped for breaths. "No matter what you do, do NOT come out until the police get here, no matter what happens."
"Lisa, what about-" Tanya began tearfully.
Lisa quickly hugged her cousin, knowing it may very well be her last chance. "I'll be fine," she lied.
Lisa slammed the closet door shut and ran from the room into the connecting bathroom, desperately searching for anything that could be used as a weapon. As Christopher entered the doorway, Lisa found the first thing she could and sprayed it at him. He shrieked and rubbed his eyes as Lisa darted from the room. Clorox Bleach. Hm.
Lisa ran downstairs, still not seeing a sign of Jackson and ran to the kitchen, grabbing a kitchen knife from the counter. Christopher charged in, his eyes looking red and swollen. He aimed the gun and Lisa screamed as he staggered forward, revealing Jackson holding a broken plate. His leg was bloody from the gunshot wound. He stumbled over to Lisa.
"Come on, we need to get out of here!"
Lisa shook her head. "No! Tanya!"
"Where is she?"
"Upstairs!"
Jackson began running upstairs as Christopher stood, rubbing his head. Shit. He wasn't supposed to wake up from that one. He growled and stepped forward, also grabbing a knife from the countertop. Lisa began to run as he darted forward, knife poised to stab. Lisa held out her knife also but he knocked it away, pinning her against the wall, knife blade at her throat. She screamed and struggled but found her attempts to be futile.
"You know what, Lisa?" he sneered. "Killing you will be fun, after all the trouble you've caused for me and my company. Not to mention taking our best employee."
"He's your son," Lisa groaned.
"I don't care," Christopher spat. "He's always been a nuisance to me, an embarrassment to my name."
"At least he's got a soul," Lisa said angrily, looking slightly taken aback by her own words. Wait...what had she just said?
"This is something Jack should've done a long time ago," Christopher growled, raising the gun. Lisa closed her eyes.
"Hey, Dad?"
Christopher turned and Lisa's eyes flew open as Jackson drove a knife into his gut. Christopher gasped once and fell to the floor.
"Don't call me Jack."
Lisa stared in horror at the body but didn't waste a minute before grabbing his gun. She pointed it at Jackson as Tanya shrieked from the doorway.
"Put down the knife," Lisa was shaking. "Now."
"Lisa, don't-"
"NOW!"
Jackson dropped the knife and it clattered to the floor.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
"Lisa, shoot him."
"Tanya, shut up."
Lisa began to tremble as she cocked the gun. Sirens began wailing.
"Lisa, all he's done, he's ruined your life, he'll kill you just as soon-"
Jackson turned, slightly amused, to Tanya. "You're a nasty bitch, aren't you?"
"Shut up," Lisa yelled.
There was silence and tension for a moment until Lisa finally realized something, and dropped the gun to the floor.
"Go."
Jackson stared at her in disbelief. "What?"
"What?" Tanya repeated incredulously.
Lisa's eyes locked with Jackson's. "You save my life, I save yours."
Jackson nodded. He didn't need to be told twice. He ran from the room as Tanya strode over to Lisa.
"Lisa, why'd you do that?"
Lisa sank to the floor, shaking her head.
"It must be...my female driven, emotion-based logic, I guess."
TWO WEEKS LATER
Lisa Reisert stepped out of her car, chatting animatedly to Cynthia. The sun was high and she was of good spirits. She reached the door, still talking, and froze as she saw a note taped to it. The cell phone, forgetten, fell to the floor as her eyes scanned the words.
Thanks. -J
Lisa smiled and shook her head. "You're welcome."