You Failed, Jack

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!

Chapter One

Six long months had passed since he had last seen Lisa Reisert up close. She had been standing over his broken and battered body as he had been hauled away by the paramedics. Afterwards, he was pronounced dead thanks to a few associates. He had been taken to a private hospital to recuperate, while an empty coffin had been buried in a grave marked with his name.

He had since reverted to his birth name—George King. According to common knowledge, he was a computer tech who lived in Miami and had never missed a day of work until a car accident landed him in the hospital. No one was smart enough to connect one of his 'business' trips and untimely 'accident' to the explosion at the Lux Atlantic and a hotel manager's tussle with a trained assassin.

Yes, according to the news, Jackson Rippner was an assassin. Not an assassination manager, but a cold-blooded killer.

People these days— they never bother to double-check their facts before plastering it everywhere.

To make a long story short, Lisa was a hero and he was nothing more than an amateurish killer.

But now was the time for his revenge. She had gotten him into trouble and bruised his ego. There had been a time where he had been determined to keep her alive and for himself, but no more. She was destined to die for her betrayal. No one betrayed him and lived.

Her death was already set in motion. There was nothing to stop him. His defeat had been the result of poor planning—an oversight—and now he was better than ever. His thoughts were clearer; his mind more organized. He was prepared for anything that she might try to throw at him.

She had let her defenses down now and he was almost ready to strike. She thought he was dead and he was exploiting her naiveté. She would soon learn that no one was safe from him. No one escaped his wrath.


Lisa Reisert was walking swiftly to her car, her reddish curls bouncing with each step. The dying sunlight struck the natural highlights, adding an extra sheen to it. Each purposeful step brought her closer to her final destination.

Afraid of parking lots, huh, Leese?

Her grip was tightening on her keys as she neared the vehicle, her slender finger resting on the panic button incase of danger. Her green eyes glanced around nervously; searching for an invisible predator. But it was not him that she was searching for because he was dead in her eyes.

Who is it then, Lisa? Who is haunting your mind?

The compact car chirped as she unlocked the door and climbed in. He noticed that first thing she did was re-lock the doors. Everyone else normally turned on the car first. Something was amiss with her that he had missed the first time around. Lisa Reisert was hiding a deep, dark secret.

She drove away and he followed in his silver, everyone-owns-one car. He was trying to blend in with normal folks, not drive a sleek or flashy car like he deserved. There was no payment for finishing Lisa Reisert off. All that he would receive for her death was sweet satisfaction.

She had single-handedly destroyed him and now he would destroy her from the inside out.

Not much had changed in her routine. She still worked at the hotel in a reduced capacity of hours and duties. She hung out with Cynthia, the desk clerk she had phoned on the plane, and indulged her father's endless phone calls and requests to visit her. She had moved on and let go of the events of the red-eye and her grandmother's death. At least she had on the outside.

Are you hiding behind a mask again? Who is the real Lisa Reisert?


Jackson returned to his lonely apartment and collapsed on the soft bed. Any day now, he would strike and Lisa would be his once more. There was no escaping him this time around. There was no room for error in his fool-proof plan.

She would be his prisoner until he either grew tired of her or she became too much of a hassle to keep around. Then, then he would be avenged and her gruesome murder would play out.

He was not sure if he would enjoy torturing her or killing her more. Both gave him a thrill—part of the reason why he was in this line of work.

She'll get what's coming to her no matter what. She will suffer. She'll beg and plead, but I was lenient before and she abused my mercy. I was going to let her live, but no more. She has to die. Just like Sofia, she must die…

Icy blue eyes flicked to the glossy photograph of her that he had taken recently with a telephoto lens as he learned her new routine inside and out. She was in mid-smile, chatting with Cynthia. There was a time when he had been determined to make her smile and now he was determined to make her scream.

Violence had overcome logic once more.


They were in her father's house again. She was trying to run from him, but he was advancing. A long blade glittered in his grasp; hastily stolen from the cutting block. She had placed the island between them, but nothing was going to stop him. He leapt across the countertop and tackled her.

She cried out as he landed harshly on her. She fought to free herself, but he pressed into her and brought the knife up to her pale and exposed throat.

"See, Lisa? I'm not a failure. I'll finish the job—I'll kill you," he hissed, tracing a neat line with the blade.

She gasped as the steel nicked her flesh, eliciting blood. Her eyes were begging for forgiveness—for mercy. But he had none left for her.

"Aw, let me kiss it," he said, following the tender wound with his lips. She had frozen in horror.

"You know, I rather liked it when you fought. It makes the end so much more satisfying."

"Just kill me—end it already," Lisa begged him. "I can't take this anymore."

"What a shame. I rather liked you," he smirked, running a blood-dripping finger across her cheek. She trembled at his touch. "But as you wish…"

With that, he plunged the knife into her heart and twisted it. She had ruined his heart and now he would kill hers in return. Her eyes went wide and the blood came, gushing out from the vital organ as she took a few painful last breaths. Her crimson blood covered him and he smiled.

"I won, Leese. No matter what, I always win."

Author's Notes:

That's a disturbing first chapter. I honestly have no clue where that came from. The last bit is a dream that Jackson had. A very demented dream… but a dream all the same. Thanks for all the reviews and encouragement. It makes my day and keeps me going. Thankfully, my insomnia is helping me find writing time since most of my daytime hours are used up. Sorry for any redundancies or mistakes. Enjoy!