Jumper – The Next Level
Please note that I do not own the rights to any of the characters that is Steven Gould's creations. I do own Regan McGowan and others that I've made up. I will stay true to Steven's genius though and try and combine the movie and books.
This jumps off from the film but I'm using ideas from the books throughout. Let me know what you guys think – honestly!
"Welcome to hell"
What did she mean by that?
Griffin started to pace the short length of his narrow cell dragging the clumpy chain. Griffin realised the slab he had been lying on was supposed to be his bed. Like that's comfortable. Situated next to that was the toilet and given by the smell, it hadn't been cleaned for awhile. The sink was directly across. At least his captors had the decency to give him a mirror, although the grime and dirt did make near impossible for him to even see his reflection.
The girl sat down against the concrete wall and pick up at rock. She started to draw. She hadn't answered his questions.
"Hello ...what do you mean by "welcome to hell"?"
Griffin began to get agitated. He continued to pace, back and forth, back and forth, getting more and more pissed off. He turned on his heel and felt the rage rise.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
The girl stopped scraping the dirt into tiny symmetric circles.
"You are not really a people person are you?"
Sarcasm dripped like poison.
"I deserve to know what the fuck is going on"
The girl stands and wipes her hands on her already muddy scrubs. She extends the right one.
"The name's Regan McGowan, it's really nice to meet you"
Griffin growls "Are you joking with this shit"
"You're supposed to give me your name, you know tit for tat"
"Well how about you tell me what's going on and I'll think about giving you my name"
Regan pretends to ponder.
"Okay" chirruped Regan.
Is this chick for real?
Griffin continued to glare.
"You may want to sit down; most jumpers have a tendency to faint at this point". As she spoke, Regan took her own advice and sat on her slab, hooking her right foot under her left leg.
"I'm not most jumpers" Griffin's voice clipped
"You don't say."
"So?" Griffin growing impatient with the second.
"Fine, this place is run by paladins"
"Paladins, I don't get it, why don't they just kill us?"
"Because we're useful. How do you think they get those retards ready for the kill?"
Griffin didn't need to answer.
"That's right, us. They use us in this training room called the dome. It's the only time, we are allowed to jump."
"Is that it?"
"Unfortunately, no. They also test their latest weapons on us, I'm sure you've had the pleasure of the stick."
"Yeah" remembered Griffin. The Coliseum. Where he met David.
Regan shoves out her battered left hand. "This was courtesy of the new little gun."
"Fuck sake"
"Yeah, hurt like a bitch. From what I can gather, it fires off small darts which hold electricity bolts or something. As soon as they come in contact with your skin, SNAP you're ass is fried. Not fun, I can tell ya"
Griffin slumped down on his slab, his head buzzing.
"Have you ever tried to escape?"
Regan recoiled "Me"
Then she started to laugh
" What's so fucking funny?"
"It's no holiday camp dude, you can't just walk out the front door with a wee wave and "thanks it's been great but must jet", ha, the only way out of here is in a body bag?"
"A simple no would suffice" retorted Griffin.
This chick has clearly been in here too long.
Suddenly, a loud clang boomed down the corridor and Griffin heard the clanging of keys unlocking the door. Regan jumped to attention.
"Get up" panic rises in her voice.
"What?"
"GET UP NOW"
Griffin slowly stood just as the door swung open and two paladins strolled down to their cells. The slightly fat one had a cocky manner that surrounded him. His face looked like it had been mashed with a mallet. His left eye was badly swollen and his lip was cut. The smaller one held a nervous air and kept his eyes to the ground. Both wore the traditional silver outfits of paladins. The Fat Paladin was carrying scrubs which Griffin assumed were for him. The Nervous one carried a small tray which held a bowl and glass of water.
They stopped directly in between the two cells and blocked Griffin's view of Regan.
Fat Paladin turned to Nervous.
"Put that down"
Nervous took a few steps and placed the tray down. He looked petrified and stood slowly trying to avoid Griffin's deathly stare.
Fatty simply dropped the scrubs where he stood and directed Griffin.
"You are to put these on" Fatty kicked the scrubs towards Griffin's cell
"You have thirty seconds to grab the tray and the scrub before the door is re-activated. Do Not Try to Jump as any attempt will be futile. Nod if you understand me"
"Fuck You".
Fatty gripped a truncheon.
"Any further comments jumper and YOU will regret them"
Both Paladins turned to leave.
"What not even a hello, well can't say I'm not hurt Billy." Piped Regan from her cell
Fatty or Griffin guessed Billy faced Regan who was leaning against her wall. She was inspecting her nails.
"Was it something I did?" Regan fluttered her eyelashes innocently.
"You will be quiet" ordered Billy
"Oh, come on, you can't still be upset about the eye? It was nothing personal Billy. It was training plus... you hurt me first."
"SHUT UP"
Regan grinned at Billy. She faced him off. Her voice as cold as steel.
"One day I will get out of here, and trust me when I say this. I will kill you and make you suffer."
Billy leaned in, his face inches from the electric surface.
"You will die in here." Smirked Billy "And I will be one to kill you and trust me when I say this, you will not enjoy it but I will."
"We'll see about that Billy Boy. Now run along back to mommy."
Billy pulled his truncheon. Nervous grabbed his arm.
"Billy, the door's still activated"
"You should listen to Tom, we wouldn't want you to vaporise yourself, now that would be a tragedy".
Griffin was beginning to really like this chick.
Billy shrugged of Tim and re-positioned his truncheon.
"Fine, I'll be seeing you Regan."
"Bye boys, it's been a hoot as always"
The Paladins stalked out the corridor and the door banged shut. An electronic voice boomed over Griffin and Regan's heads.
"Doors have been de-activated, you have thirty seconds until re-activation"
Griffin watched amazed as his door de-materialise in front of him.
"You better hurry, they will shorten the time."
Griffin in split second movements grabbed the clothes and the tray causing the water to slop over. Griffin laid the tray down on his slab and scrunched his nose as the foul looking gruel in the bowl.
"It's full of all life's goodness" quipped Regan.
"Yeah, I gathered that" Griffin sniffed the glop and was clearly not impressed. Gingerly, Griffin took a bite. As the contents hit his stomach, Griffin leaped to the toilet and spewed his guts. After a while he simply was dry retching which began to hurt. Pushing back tears, Griffin crawled onto his slab and lay down.
"You should try some water"
Regan's voice was soft with concern.
"I'm fine"
"You don't look fine" whispered Regan
Griffin's whole body shook with pain and despair set in. Abruptly, he sat up and put his head between his knees to try and stop the room from spinning.
"Your stomach just isn't used to that. You need to take your time"
"Thanks for the advice doc" snapped Griffin.
Griffin slowly sat up straight inclining his body to the wall.
"So where were we before we were rudely interrupted"
Griffin laughed which caused his stomach to retract.
"Oh my god was that a smile, I must lie down before I'm overcome with shock"
"I think we might get along Regan"
"Good as I need you if we ever want to get out of here"