Hannah
Her temper raged with every breath she took. She felt like a complete idiot. What was she thinking, involving Jim in this? Jackson was obviously stronger than him, or at least more prepared, and plus, what good would it do even if Jim did win? She contemplated this as she brought water to Jim for his bloodied face.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, sitting down on the bed where he was perched.
"It's not your fault, Hannah," he stared at her dumbfoundedly. She sighed and looked away.
"Yes, it is," she argued. "I shouldn't have told you, and now look at you, and now that jacka-" she stopped the swearword as soon as it had left her mouth. Jim had never heard her swear before. She blushed and cleared her throat. "Jackson is in complete control. There is nothing we can do."
Jim sighed. "Don't give up on me, Hannah. Please. We need to keep thinking. We may have to let him kill Keefe, if he's not already dead, but I will die before I let him take Lisa." He stopped short, a confused expression on his face.
Hannah cocked her head at him. "Jim? Why is Lisa such a big deal to you? You just met her."
Jim bowed his head and bit his lip. Hannah looked closer. She saw the answer in his face.
"Oh." Jim nodded.
"You may not understand, now, Hannah, but..." he looked into her eyes. "You will, I promise you."
"I do," she nodded, smiling. His eyes reflected somewhat of a sadness. "Is that...how you felt with Selena?"
"I felt something with Selena," he agreed. "But it was something else...not...love," Hannah saw him struggle to say the word. "I'm not sure. Lust, maybe."
Hannah blushed. This was going to an uncomfortable zone...
"But I shouldn't expose you to that," he laughed. Hannah turned obstinate.
"I'm nearly fifteen, you know," she said indignantly, despite her discomfort.
"I know, Hannah, but you know what I mean," he chuckled and patted her hand. "You'll find someone someday."
"Does...Lisa love you?" Hannah asked, serious again.
Jim shrugged. "Who knows? Doubt it. She hardly seems the type for love at first sight. But...appearances can be deceiving, I suppose. I don't even know if she likes me at all... hard to say."
Hannah nodded. "Everyone likes you, Jim."
Lisa
Lisa awoke on the makeshift bed that Selena had constructed to her on the floor and groaned. A splitting pain ripped up her throat.
Not again, she sighed. He fucking knocked me out again...well, choked me. Fucking bastard. Lisa opened her eyes, trying to recall the incidents of the early morning.
Jackson...threatening her...telling her...
As his admittance to his feelings for her resurfaced in her brain, she moaned and rolled over.
Not this...no...
Lisa sighed as another picture flashed through her brain. Jackson falling to the floor, someone...Jim, was it? Slamming his fists into Jackson...yes, it was Jim. Lisa smiled and then inwardly yelled at herself. What was she doing? Had Jim won? Hopefully...what was to become of everything now, she wondered. Suddenly Jim's face flashed before her mind.
Blue eyes...so beautiful...his face...cheekbones...
Lisa tried to figure out what the hell she was thinking. Did she...she forced herself to think the word...have feelings for him? Was it possible? He was a stranger, yet it was so hard to ignore the fluttering feeling in her chest...if only Jim were Jackson...
If Jim were Jackson you wouldn't be in this situation, she reminded herself as the bedroom door opened. She jumped up, startled. It was Hannah.
"Sorry," she apologized. Lisa shook her head and smiled at her. She was a nice girl. "Do you feel alright?"
"I'm fine, but..." Lisa tilted her head and gestured to the hallway. "What...happened out there after I passed out?"
"Well, you weren't completely passed out, but you were pretty much out of it," Hannah giggled. Then her face solemned. "I...saw the whole thing. I went to get Jim because I was scared...he was hurting you..." Her face darkened. Lisa knew what had happened.
"Jim tried to win, but...Jackson beat him," Hannah sighed. "He said we all had to bring him to London or bad things would happen," she looked pointedly at Lisa. "You get the idea, I assume."
Lisa nodded. "Yes, I do."
Jackson
Jackson stood in front of the mirror that was placed in the kitchen of the stucco house and straightened his suit. Today...today...
Finally his plans would be finished, and he could retire early with Lisa...Lisa.
His thoughts focused on her for a moment. Indignant, caring, beautiful. If only she loved him back.
Well, that's half the fun, the challenge, Jack, he reminded himself. His mind flashed to Jim.
Little bastard, thinking he could beat me up...he's just a child...perhaps the same age as myself but no match by any means, Jackson's conceited thoughts were interrupted when Selena entered the room, her face flushed with anger.
"I saw Jim's face," she accused him. "What did you do to him?" He noticed the knife in her hand. Ah dear...
"I didn't do anything," he flashed her a charming smile. "Klutz probably...ran into a door, or something."
"Like hell," she said angrily.
"Look, even if I did, can't the bastard defend himself instead of having his girlfriend do it?" Jackson snorted, and went back to fixing his hair.
"So you did, then?" she concluded. Jackson sighed.
"Look, if I say I did, will you shut the fuck up?" he retorted. "He took a swing at me, first."
"Jim doesn't do anything to anyone unless they're doing something to piss him off," Selena explained. "What did you do?"
Jackson stared at Selena, an idea beginning to form in his mind. "Lisa decided she wanted to get a little heroic and, for the life of her sister, I told her how the cards were going to be laid out." It wasn't a lie. Lisa had tried to check the plane for her cell phone to call her father, and Jackson had caught her. He didn't mention that he told Lisa he loved her and choked her...oops.
"Really courageous, beating up a fucking woman," Selena rolled her eyes. Jackson grinned. Quite outspoken, this one.
"Who said I beat her up?" he flashed her another one of his winning smiles.
"Well, the bruise the size of Asia blossoming up on her neck gave me the first clue," she said.
"Nice job, Sherlock," he laughed, and, finally satisfied with his appearance, gave his hair one last flick and turned to look at Selena.
"Oh, thanks for your support, do I get a cookie now?" she said sarcastically. Jackson chose this moment to act and swooped down, kissing her strongly on the lips. At first she backed away, confused, but then she let the kiss grow and Jackson's suspicions were confirmed. She was attracted to him, and this meant he could use her to help his plan. Eventually he broke the kiss and used his charming dewy-eyed look to send into her eyes.
"No, you get that," he whispered, smiling. She smiled back, broken.
Selena
She had to admit, while the whole kiss thing from Jackson was lovely, it was slightly confusing. Selena did have what one might call a "crush" on the man, but didn't he have a girlfriend? She shrugged off her inhibitions and tried to feel happy that a guy she liked actually liked her back (Selena, despite her brusque manner, was indeed quite self-conscious).
Jackson retreated upstairs and a few moments later returned with a very annoyed looking Hannah, an angry-looking Jim, and a frightened-looking Lisa. Selena almost laughed at the fact that Jackson could stir all of these emotions in people.
"Time to go, Leese," he told Lisa in a singsong voice, wrenching her arm. Lisa cried out softly and Jim glared at Jackson. Selena, wondering what the hell was going on, saw Jim's fists ball up. She quickly pulled Jackson to the side for a moment.
"Jackson," she whispered harshly. "I would NOT do that if I were you."
Jackson laughed sharply. "Why? Afraid he's going to whack me with his teddy bear?"
"No," Selena answered him, glancing in Jim's direction. "He put a guys' eyes out with his fingers, Jackson. I'd watch yourself." Selena wondered why she was warning this strange, slightly evil man of Jim's capabilities.
"Fine, fine, I'll make sure little Jimmy doesn't try to gouge me, kay?" Jackson rolled his eyes and moved back to Lisa, pushing her out the door, but this time a little more gentle.
The odd-looking group of five got into the old cab and began the slow, long drive to London.
"So," Jackson turned to look at Jim, who sat protectively on the other side of Lisa in the back. Selena drove and Hannah sat up front next to her. "Tell me, James, what do you do for a living?" He said Jim's full name mockingly. Jim angrily looked at the floor.
"I'm a bicycle courier," he said quietly. Jackson laughed harshly.
"Wow," he said, feigning impression. "That sure is a big boy's job! Did they take off the two-wheels, and everything?"
Lisa smacked Jackson hard in the face, and all the occupants of the car turned to look at her in shock. Jackson recollected himself and seized her wrist.
"Leave him the hell alone," she reprimanded him. "We can't all be psychopathic murderers."
Jackson twisted Lisa's wrist around and sneered at her. "I don't kill people, Leese, I manage their deaths."
"Same fucking thing," she hissed. Jackson released her wrist with a sharp yank and rolled his eyes.
"She got you," Hannah remarked from the front seat a few moments later.
"Hannah," Selena scolded her softly. Jackson heard her, though.
"What did you say?"
"I said, she got you," Hannah remarked, turning to look at him. Her face held no fear. "Feeling upset that a woman half the size of you got the better of you?" She smirked at him. Selena marveled at the fact that full-grown adults cowered in Jackson's presence but Hannah remained unmoved.
"Listen, you little bitch, I'd appreciate it if you'd stick your nose in things that actually concerned you," Jackson snarled. "Like Barbie dolls and nail polish."
"Hm, and what things concern you?" Hannah retorted. "Football and recliner chairs?" Jackson rolled his eyes angrily at her. Jim stifled a laugh. Selena turned to stare at Hannah.
"Hannah, I mean it..." her statements went unheard.
"Listen, if you'd like to get out of this alive, I'd suggest you keep your pretty little mouth shut," Jackson stated. "Or else you'll soon be joining your precious old dad."
Hannah stared to gape at Selena.
Shit, Selena thought. She'd told Jackson Hannah's story, not even thinking about how much Hannah hated this man...now he could use it against her.
"You told him?" Hannah cried. Selena noticed the tear welling up in her gray-blue eyes.
"Hannah, I'm sorry, I didn't think-"
Selena's apologies were cut off when Hannah just shook her head and looked tearfully out the window, her thoughts far too complex to be understood.