Jack In The Box

“What are you going to do to me?” That’s the first thing I asked him after I’d handed him the scalpel. He was assessing it curiously, like he hadn’t seen a blade in his life before. “Jackson, I asked you something.”

“Relax, Nurse Riley. I ain’t gonna touch a single hair off your pretty little head, well, unless you want me too,” he grinned, quickly hiding the scalpel underneath the hospital bed. “Now, there’s one other thing I need from you.”

He wrote down a number for me and gave me instructions on what I was supposed to do.

“Are you nuts?” I almost shrieked at him. It was hard to keep my voice down. “If someone finds out about it, it’s going to be a criminal offense. I could go to jail for this.”

“I assure you that if you follow my instructions, nothing will happen to you but if you want to refuse, that’s fine because one way or the other I will find my way out of here and when that’s done, baby brother will be home waiting for you.” He said.

And then added, “In the freezer.”

He barked out a laugh. This wasn’t funny anymore. I bit my lip hard. “Dr. Paul suspects there’s something going on between us.”

“Well that cocky bastard ain’t got nothing else to do. He’s just teasing you, I bet.” Jackson said. “He’s the type of a guy who pretends to know everything, but doesn’t.”

Frustrated, I asked “Why me?! Why are you doing this to me?”

Jackson’s expressions turned serious, “I warned you enough times to give up on me, didn’t I?”

“It’s my job! I never asked for this!” I said.

“Well neither did I, but we are stuck with each other, Cotton-Candy.” He said. “The smarter ones took off, but Dr. Aaron thought you could make a difference because you’re kind and forgiving, but then again, this isn’t some fucking cliché novel where the Nurse slowly treats and cures the patient with their love.”

When I didn’t say anything, he muttered. “You should have left when you had a chance like everyone else.”

Instead of answering to that, I said, “at five-thirty I’ll be ready with whatever you need but you have to keep your word and no one gets hurt.”

He made a cross on his heart with his finger.

“See you in the evening, Nurse Riley.”

I placed all the things that Jackson asked me to in a bag and placed it under the bushes where it wasn’t visible to anyone. I had to be very very sneaky, considering the fact that Paul Bennet had a close eye on me.

After that I went along with the rest of the plan. That evening, Jackson was on a wheelchair, faking a migraine and how after almost slicing his wrists he still had weakness in his body. It was mandatory to take patients out in a wheelchair, mental or not and this was a good opportunity for whatever he had planned.

When we reached the ground floor, he eyed the corridor, waiting for a doctor to appear. Because Jackson was in luck, Dr. Deena was doing her usual rounds. Sweet, understanding, nerdy Dr. Deena who was a little too scared of Jackson for obvious reasons.

“If it isn’t Dr. Deena Love, it’s so nice to see you after a long time.” Jackson said.

Dr. Deena smiled politely looking for an answer that did not piss off the lunatic. “Likewise.”

Jackson laughed. “Never thought anyone would say that back to me.”

“Doc, I’m still waiting for your answer for our coffee date.” He called after her with a wink as she passed us.

“Well, Dr. Love isn’t insane, so you should find someone of your caliber.” I retorted.

“Someone like you?” He asked.

his feet and pulled out the scalpel from his pocket. It was too fast for anyone to

tries to call the police,

hysteria,

the surgical knife at the audience, “Take your cellphones out and put it down on the ground where

back and I had to follow his steps.

gates, he asked the security to hand him the gun and open the gates. The guard knew better than to talk Jackson out of it unless he really wanted to see my throat sliced clean because either way there was no

at him.

I didn’t escape the asylum so I could play Candy Crush.” He said. I was surprised that even

you going,

“Home.” He said.

each other, like

your help, Cotton-Candy.” He said and climbed

I jogged behind the car but it

road. The sun was already going down. I covered my face with my hands, thinking what I had done. By helping Jackson roam free, I’d put the lives of innocent people in jeopardy. But I had been so helpless, if I hadn’t done what he had asked me

this to Aaron. I knew Paul would be breathing down my throat by the end of this day. He wouldn’t

known as Massi wrapped me in a tight hug.

I let him out and

her head, patting my arm,

of his plan.

coping. It didn’t come as a shock to everyone that I was a victim to Jackson’s never ending ways to mentally torture people, when I’d signed

phone buzzed in my pocket, I reached

see me

would I say to him when he comforts me saying that it was alright; that I

reassurance. But his expressions were grim, he frowned at me and told me to

to appear this way. I assumed it was because of Jackson’s escape, followed by more of his concerns regarding other patients. He was pissed, so pissed that I had hardly

a lot of explaining to do, Riley.” He said, without making

you

a single word, just clicking away on his laptop and then he turned the screen of the

wearing a latex glove, stealing a scalpel from an operational theatre and hiding it in my pocket. Then another clip of me wheeling Jackson towards the entrance of the hospital and then him suddenly catching me as a bait for escape.

again until I said.

what to say to you, Riley. I’m not even disappointed. I’m just surprised.” He said, his expressions were

sorry, Aaron.” I apologized. I couldn’t even take the look on his face. I didn’t want Aaron to look

some

because it

would hurt Ken if I didn’t do

was a good idea to come and talk to me first?” He asked. “I could have helped you, instead you decided to help a criminally insane go through with his plan of fleeing this place which to you seemed like a best

have a

me flinch. “Of course you did. This is exactly what he is good at, Riley. Manipulating people into thinking he’s innocent and then forcing

I’m a

stole a surgical knife from an operational theater, the same knife that Jackson used to hold you hostage while he escaped, so yeah.. technically, you helped him go through with his diabolical plan.”

a notch up. “That

comfortable doing this for him. What’s gonna

else to

the Mental ward, because things are really easier down here. Patients are not always locked. He’s the kind of a psychopath who could slit his own throat to get out of a situation and still be