Jim

As Lisa wrapped the gauze around his waist he breathed in several deep, uneven breaths. He was conscious, and alive. The wound wasn't too bad, just fucked with his vision to an incredibly extent. She finally finished and sank back into a plane seat. Selena glanced once to check that they were settled, and joined Hannah in the cockpit, mumbling something about having pilot training once. Jim sat gingerly down next to Lisa and tried to take her hand. She jerked away sharply and it was then, with his less than perfect vision, that he noticed the extreme tremors shooting through her body.

"Leese?" she didn't answer, tears streaming steadily down her cheeks. She turned her back and leaned against her seat, her back against the armrest.

"Lisa?"

"He..." she broke off, shaking her head. "He loved me and I killed him."

"You didn't. Selena did..." Jim felt hurt. Why did...why did she care?

"I didn't give him a chance..." Despite his fading strength Jim grabbed Lisa's shoulders.

"Lisa! He was a murderer! You don't give murderers a second chance! What's wrong with you!"

Lisa looked fearfully into Jim's eyes, then glanced once at the body. "You're just like him. He hurt me, and you will too."

"Lisa, what's wrong with you? You're acting like a crazy person!" Jim shook his head and swallowed hard.

Lisa ignored him and moved to the plane door. She opened it and glanced back at Jim once more, sorrow filling her warm brown eyes. He stared at her in disbelief.

"Goodbye, Jim."

And then she jumped.

Selena

Jim's yells filled her ears as Selena began to take over the controls from Hannah. Instantly she was back into the cabin and saw Jim leaning out the plane door. Selena shrieked and grabbed his legs. Coincidentally his other arm was attached to Lisa's, who was in tears.

"Come on," Selena grunted and with a heave helped the couple back inside. Jim breathed heavily as Selena shut the door and Lisa collapsed to the floor. Selena stared at Lisa, then at Jim.

"What the fuck was that about?"

"She jumped." Selena froze and looked at Lisa. Her face looked blank.

"Why?"

"Don't deserve to live." Lisa answered solemnly, quietly. Jim didn't say anything for a moment, just tried to walk over to her. She shook him away.

"Jim," Selena muttered softly. "Go sit with Hannah for a while. Give us girls some time, eh?"

Jim sighed in defeat and nodded slightly, trudging off to join Hannah. Selena sat on the floor next to Lisa.

"I know how you feel."

Lisa looked up. "No, you don't."

"When the infection first starting spreading, my family and I didn't do anything. We thought it was just another common spread, like Mad Cow or something equivalent. But..it wasn't. They all...eventually they all were killed," Selena licked her lips sadly. "And guess who's idea it was to stay?"

Lisa moved a bit closer. "Yours?"

Selena nodded mournfully. "I've had to live with that the past four years. Its not easy. But I have to tell myself that this guilt, what I'm feeling, is normal. Everybody feels it with every death they experience. Jackson's wasn't your fault, by any means. And Lisa...after all he did...its what he owed. It was his repayment to God for all the lives he's reaped."

Lisa chewed her lips. "I guess."

"Don't take it out on Jim. He loves you. I thought...I thought he loved me once. He didn't. This is different, with you. He genuinely cares for you. You mean the world to him, that's all there is to it. And he wants something with you."

"He's just...he reminds me too much..."

"Of Jackson? How so? Well, okay, I can see their physical traits, but...Jackson was harsh, cold, demanding. Jim is nothing like that, Leese. Completely different person. He's sweet, gentle, and caring."

"I just feel..."

"Like a slut? You never had anything with Jackson, Lisa. He wanted you. He was forcing this thing on you, something you didn't want. Don't ever think that what you want with Jim is wrong."

Lisa finally cracked a smile, and let Selena envelope her in a hug. It felt odd for Selena. She hadn't hugged in so long.

Lisa

The plane carried on until later that night, and Jackson's cold blue eyes still seemed to be staring at her from the body on the floor. Finally Lisa stood with a sigh.

"Get it out," she demanded. "I want to get that out of here."

Selena rose next to her with a yawn. "We're over the ocean still. We can dump it."

Lisa repressed a shudder. She wouldn't get over this for a while...it was going to take time.

"Okay."

They opened the door again and Lisa helped Selena lift the corpse without looking at it, squeezing her eyes tight and trying not to inhale the smell of decay.

Jackson's body tumbled down when they dropped it, down into the sea...making a silent splash. Selena turned back to go wash her hands, and Lisa stood at the door for one more moment.

"Goodbye, Jackson. I thought I loved you once. Back in the airport. But that wasn't you."

She turned, beginning to shut the door.

"That was Jim."

The End