Jack In The Box

“Love the witch outfit.” Jackson said over the loud music. “Some tricks you got up your sleeves?”

“What are you doing here, Jackson?” I asked, practically screaming over the loud music. Now that I knew it was him beneath all that skeletal makeup, I wondered how I hadn’t recognized him before.

“Following you of course.” He joked.

The way he said it, I suspected if he really did follow me here. How had he known I was here? Or was it perhaps a coincidence?

“You need to come back to the asylum, re-admit yourself.” I said.

“Do you miss me that much?” He pulled on his cocky grin. “I love how you’re bossy the second you see me.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I didn’t escape to go back to that hellhole again.” He got hold of my wrist and started dragging me away from the dance floor.

“Where are you trying to take me?” I said, resisting his grip on my wrist.

He let it go at once. “Just want to talk, nothing else. The music is too loud here, let’s go underground.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “You’re stupid if you think I’m going anywhere with you.”

The DJ changed the song to a slower one. Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud. Jackson grinned. “Looks like the DJ can read my mind.” He slid his arm around my waist and pulled me taut against his chest, bringing his mouth close to my ear, he whispered. “Dance with me.”

My body moved along with his in a slow dance. It was just a dance nothing else. He wouldn’t try anything in public. Right?

Unless he was desperate to go to prison again. I didn’t even carry a weapon with me that I could use should the time arise.

I felt his nose bury in my hair, my head fitting perfectly in the crook of his neck. He smelled different, not like the hospital soap or the detergent. He smelled musky and male. I moved with the flow of the slow beats, at this point I wondered if all the logic had left my body.

I tried to pull away from him, but his grip tightened around my waist. “A little while longer, Riley, please.” His voice was husky and pure silk.

If the devil was a human, he’d look just like Jackson.

I let him waltz me around for a while. “Is Dr. Shaw truly pissed with the prospect of his pet nurse teaming up with the enemy?”

I gave out a laugh. “You have no idea.”

“Well, I can only imagine.” He said.

I had a ball of rage bubbling inside me ready to surface. I tried to get out of his grasp. “Let me go!” I let out a frustrated yelp that only he could hear over the music.

To the onlookers we probably looked like a couple having a small argument.

fingers

He was smiling, that smug smile again, and his

look at me now.” I said with gritted teeth. “It’s your entire fault, Jackson!” And then the tears began falling without me

was now. “Why does it even matter to you if Aaron looks at you or not?” He caught my jaw in his fingers. “Do you have some feelings for him, Riley? Why is it always Aaron this, Aaron that!" He loosened his grip on

“Are you jealous, Jackson?”

he ever ask me out in a different dimension and I possibly said yes

any reason to be. I’ll never be threatened by the likes of Shaw or Bennet or anyone for that

you think you’re too full of yourself? Besides, why do you think I would have feelings for

like Shaw, always the sweet, helping doctor that the nurses adore, the type of guy who would give flowers. But deep down, you seek the darkness. You don’t need flowers; all you need is

me how Jackson saw right through my mind. He voiced the thought that I was too ashamed to

mine, it was a slow kiss at first and then it got deeper. His tongue seeking entrance, I parted my mouth just a little and his tongue delved into the contours of my mouth. I moaned as the sparks of pleasure went down to my toes. Without being conscious of my actions, my fingers bunched up in his fine

for a minute and I froze when he reached my collar bone. I pulled away from him and as if he could read my mind, he

don’t trust you.” I said and started

my hand.

him, confused by what he’d

“Where?” I asked.

stared at him in disbelief. He traced my lower lip with her thumb. “I will

don’t want to go anywhere with you.” I snapped, pulling my hand out of his grasp for the

“Why not?”

I’d rather

you know it.” He

damned if I was lying

kiss didn’t exactly say that. You responded to me. You liked it

don’t have time for your

a reason

that you have to say. I can’t trust someone who

once. Just once.” He pleaded,

said

I was going insane.

and towards the parking lot. I decided to text Maddy to tell her I was going home so I opened my bag and rummaged through it for my phone and came empty. I’d become careless and absent minded in a very short time, I’d never been this way. I pinned the blame on Jack. He was one reason I’d been concentrating less and less on my work, he

felt even remotely revolting, it was like

the seat but it wasn’t there. There was a possibility I’d left my phone in my car so I walked back to the parking lot, keeping a close eye behind me. The parking lot was almost empty

and started walking towards it. I had an eerie feeling of someone following

absolutely

towards the car, my feet picking up speed. I

Tap. Tap. Tap.

tears. “Jackson, if it’s you, please stop! It’s not funny anymore.” I didn’t want to sound so weak but I knew I’d sounded

close word to describe how I was feeling right now. I was terrified. I’d never seen the pictures