Chapter 12
"That's enough now Nikki," Harry said authoritatively. You want to go back to London don't you? The others are safe. You did what you came here to do. It's time to go home and then you can sleep. Thomas and Jack will help you, but you have get up."
"I can't Harry."
"Why can't you Nikki?" there was a hint of exasperation or exhaustion creeping into Harry's voice.
"Because when I open my eyes, you won't be there, and neither will Leo. I'll be on my own and for all I know, I'll just be back in that box." The tears began to slide down her face, Jack began to pace again. "And if I open my eyes now, I know I will never be able to close them again. I'll forever be back in that box. I won't sleep again. I'll…"
"Nikki! I am here Nikki, I'm on the phone but you can see me. Open your eyes and you will see me. I can help you."
"You're not real!" Nikki said emphatically. "I'm all alone." Her chest began to rise and fall sharply as she hyperventilated.
"You are not alone Nikki! Not now. Not then. Even in that box, Jack was with you!" Jack stopped pacing and stared open mouthed. Thomas could see his confusion. In the space of the last few minutes he'd had to listen to Harry make jokes about his sexual fantasies, were they just fantasies? Chastise Nikki for ineffectual suicide techniques, tell her he loved her and now listen to him big up Jack's own part in the disastrous last days despite knowing little of what went on. Did he have Clarissa's number? Thomas wondered.
"I know what happened Nikki, he talked to you didn't he. Wasn't it him that kept you sane? Listen Nikki. Hear his voice in your head, let it calm you now as it did then." Harry waited for her breathing to return to normal. "Now listen Nikki. Jack is here. He's going to talk to you. He's there with you and with Thomas."
"Thomas is here?"
"I'm here," Thomas said gently, squeezing her hand and nudging Jack.
"Nikki, it's Jack, I'm so sorry. I'm…" He didn't know where to look, what to do, what to say. Angrily he scrubbed away another stray tear."
"I'm glad you lied to me Jack." Nikki spoke softly.
"I'm not glad that you lied to me!" Jack exploded back, anger and relief colouring his words.
"I'm sorry Jack. I had to do something. Make something meaningful, something..."
"It doesn't matter Nikki. You're back, but we need to get out of here. You need to get up. You need to help us Nikki." Jack finished. He wasn't too proud to learn from the master.
"I'm not in that box am I?" Nikki asked her voice wavering.
"You're not in that box anymore." Harry assured her, taking the lead again. "But you must promise me that you will get help Nikki. You will need help to get past this. Promise me that you'll see someone."
"Harry?" Nikki whined.
"Promise me!" Harry commanded.
"I promise," Nikki agreed.
"It will be helpful Nikki… I know you're not keen on medication but you will need to talk."
"Those Yanks have converted you then?" Nikki asked.
Thomas and Jack exchanged looks again. Just when they thought they were following the conversation, it seemed to take a sudden turn, with no way for them to keep up. To confuse matters further, they could hear someone in the background. An insistent voice, repeating something over again, but hard to make out.
"It was you who suggested it!" Harry countered.
*Abi Harry, Abi Harry!*
"I told you, you should try and assimilate." Nikki insisted.
"Which I did!" Harry replied.
"By getting a therapist!" Nikki shouted.
"This is New York!" Harry shouted back.
*Abi Harry!*
"I knew you weren't real," Nikki pouted.
"And I told you, I was on the phone, now open your eyes, there's someone here who wants to say hello to you too. I've told her what a good friend you are and how beautiful you are and she can't see that if you won't open your eyes. It's time Nikki. I'm right here. Open your eyes!"
Thanks for reading.
