Kat didn't say anything for a moment as her jaw fell agape.
Finally as Jackson glared irritably at her she began sputtering.
"I-no-you-she-not-"
"What?"
She regained her composure and straightened her shoulders pompously. "She won't go with you. She hates you. She'll kill herself first."
"But she won't kill you," Jackson said pointedly. Then he smirked. "But she'll warm up to me with time."
"No," Kat shook her head solemnly. "You're crazy."
"Crazy...or clever?"
Kat raised an eyebrow at him. She didn't know what to say. So she did something reserved for times like these. She laughed.
"Wow," she chuckled maniacally, trembling with laughter. Jackson frowned at her.
"What," he sped the car up. "Is so funny?"
"You," she said, tears coursing down her cheeks. "You're such a dork."
Jackson just shook his head as Kat eventually laughed herself to sleep.
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She awoke as Jackson roughly shook her arm. With a jolt her eyes flew open.
"Wake up," he said, even though she already had. "We're stopping for a bit."
Kat blearily rubbed her eyes and glanced up at the neon sign. "A motel? Why?"
"Because I need to sleep," he snapped. "I've been driving you around all day."
"You didn't have to kidnap me," she grumbled, unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Yes, I did," he responded vaguely, grabbing her arm as she stepped from the car. With a glare she followed him to room 47.
He threw open the door and sweetly gestured her inside. With another scowl she stepped inside and promptly collapsed on one of the beds.
Kat feigned sleep as Jackson removed his tie and jacket and lay down in the other bed, but she was in actuality wide awake. Her thoughts were swimming in her head like fish in a bowl.
She flipped over and glanced at the clock. Four AM. The night was going by slowly, as if it was determined to make this long and drawn out for her. Kat sighed and rubbed her eyes.
And then she got an idea.
Jackson was asleep. She could tell that much, by his loud, even breathing. To her extreme surprise he hadn't restrained her in any way. Kat raised her body slightly, glancing over at his still body. Yup, he was definitely out.
She chewed her lip. If she could just get down to the lobby in time...yeah.
Easing her small feet onto the floor, she quietly watched Jackson for a sign of movement. With none, she silently tiptoed to the door and slowly brought her hand up to the deadbolt.
Please, don't make any noise, she begged it.
As if irony was against her, it squeaked loudly. Jackson stirred on the bed, but Kat didn't waste any time before throwing open the door and darting away.
Her bare feet froze on the concrete in the hallway as she sprinted from the room. Desperately wishing she were a faster runner, she glanced over her shoulder. Jackson, his hair mussed from his brief nap, was taking off after her, fury in his eyes.
Kat emitted a tiny scream as she darted downstairs, her foot slicing open on a splinter of wood. Jackson was rapidly gaining on her as she turned the landing. In a last desperate action she lept for the next flight, but Jackson's arm caught her tightly around the waist and pulled her towards him.
"No!" she screamed, kicking out at him. He quickly smothered her mouth with his hand and dragged her angrily back to the room, locking the door behind him.
"You think you're pretty fucking smart, don't you, Kat?" he said, punching her heavily in the face. She yelled and fell to the floor.
"Your mom would be pretty proud, I'll assure you of that," he sneered, kicking her in the ribs. She tried to scramble away but he pulled her back up by her hair. She tried to twist away at the hands on her scalp.
"There's your problem, Kat," he snarled, wrenching her face close to his. She began to cry. "You think that you can beat me. You can't. Stop thinking you can."
Kat wheezed heavily, asthma kicking in. She looked him heavily in the eye, anger bubbling up in hers. "I'm not scared of you," she rasped finally.
Jackson looked slightly taken aback. "Wha..."
"You won't kill me. You won't kill my mom. All you can do is beat me up or..what is it...rape me? I'm not scared. You won't do that."
Jackson smirked at her and ripped the sleeve from her shirt. He leaned to her ear to speak to her.
"Want to bet?"
