Jack In The Box

Jackson was so close that I could feel his minty breath fan over me. I tried to act like I wasn’t scared at all but it wasn’t working. I felt raw fear claw into my skin like never before and I guess he sensed it because he was grinning at me like a lunatic. It seemed like he could read my mind and my body. He raised his arm towards me and I cowered in reflex. I felt his fingers move slowly down my arm in a teasing way.

“W-what are you doing?” I asked him.

“You’re scared of me, aren’t you?” he asked.

“No. I’m not scared of you.”

Jackson laughed. “You don’t sound so confident.”

“If you try anything, Jackson. Just anything at all, I’ll scream.”

He moved closer, leaving absolutely no space between us. Our bodies were pressed against each other with the exit right behind me but I couldn’t move, not when a six-foot four giant was towering over me (His physical details were all in the patient’s file.) I felt tiny in comparison of him. He was looking straight in my eyes and I continued to stare back. He needed to know that he couldn’t scare me like that even though I doubted if I’d walk out of this room in one piece, note the pun.

Jackson cupped my face, his fingers digging into my jaw. “If you scream, Nurse Riley, my teeth will dig into your skin faster than any doctor can make it in here. Do you understand what I’m saying?” He wasn’t smiling anymore, and by the looks of it, not bluffing either.

“You won’t do that. The security guy is right outside.” I told him, it was more like I was assuring myself.

He pushed a loose lock of hair behind my hair. A chill ran down my body. “Here’s something, Cotton Candy, my room is sound proof because they don’t enjoy when I scream my head off in the middle of the night which means no one will be able to hear you too.”

I swallowed. I knew Jackson wasn’t lying. “What do you want?”

He chuckled. “I like that question. What do I want? Seems like no one here cares about me enough to ask that. You’re a first though.”

“If you’re gonna ask me to let you out of here then it’s not gonna happen.” I said.

“Oh, of course not, Nurse Riley. I wouldn’t dare ask you that, not when there are surveillance cameras in the hallways that are in dire need of technicians and a bunch of dim security guards who are incapable of handling one crazy.” He sniggered. “Trust me, if I wanted out, I would be out.”

“Then what is it?”

their patients out for one day if the nurse is able to report about the patient’s good behavior. One full day out of this goddamn place, and you, Cotton

you think stranding me and threatening to hurt me is

meant he trusted me enough to not leave the room. “Well, there wouldn’t be any threatening if you co-operate.” He said, settling down on the leather couch and crossing his

spoken a word. How do you expect me to co-operate and get you a free day outside after

you co-operate with me

placed a few colorful pills on his table with a glass of water. “And after

with me? Or not?” He

not. I simply cannot.” I said

a very unusual way of having them when he could have swallowed them whole without crushing. Next, he was right

medication into my mouth and as I tried to spit it, he clammed my mouth shut leaving me no choice but

weren’t supposed to have my medication. What if Dr. Paul

breathe.

Jackson’s psychotic medication!

sick bastard!” I screamed at

his revolving chair by the study table. There was a creepy smile on

it. The security guard looked me up and down. “Are you

fine.” I

but I knew that’s

I don’t back down without a

wanted me to and in-exchange keep my sanity intact. I had to make some ground rules. Jackson needed to know that he wasn’t the boss here anymore. Just because the staff

from the medication that I’d consumed and I knew I’d be falling asleep soon. I found an empty hospital room and lied down on the bed, my eyes became droopy and

calling out to me

The voice seemed