Jack In The Box

Riley

“Jack will wake up soon, right?” I asked Ezra. “Right?”

Ezra stared at me with the familiar eyes. “I don’t want to lie to you, Riley, but I can’t guarantee about that. He could wake up tomorrow, a week later or even after ten years.”

“That can’t be true.” I said the words barely out of my mouth. I wiped a tear that was sliding down my face. “There has to be some other way!”

“The damage is done. The killer got what he wanted. There were two key people who knew his identity. He killed one of them and the other slipped into a coma. Everything turned out in the killers favor.”

“So what are you going to do? Just give up?!” I asked.

“No. Of course not! The investigation will go on with or without Jack.” He squeezed my shoulders in assurance. “Everything is going to be okay. You’ve gotta be strong.”

“How could I?” I whispered.

My best friend was dead, and the man I loved had slipped into a coma with a possibility that he may never wake up. I didn’t think I could remain strong much longer. I was alone in this, and the killer was out there.

“Can I see him?” I asked.

Ezra shrugged. “Riley, it’s best for you not to.”

“But I really want to! You can’t stop me!”

And of course he didn’t. The next hour I was walking down the long hallway of the hospital ward towards the room Jack was admitted in.

When I entered the room and saw Jack lying there with all those wires connecting to his body. It was heartbreaking and I couldn’t bear to see him like that. I sat there for a few hours until Ezra told me I should leave.

“But what if the killer comes here and tries to hurt Jack?” I asked.

“We have two security guards outside the room. A doctor and a nurse who makes regular rounds. The killer won’t be able to get in. I have told hospital staff to not allow any visitors apart from you and me.”

I looked at Jack. Ezra sighed, understanding my dilemma. “Go home, Riley.”

Maddy and I had often discussed what I would wear at her wedding as her maid of honor, but never in my worst nightmares had I imagined I would be picking a dress from my wardrobe for her funeral. I was wearing the same dress I’d worn during my parents funeral. I looked at myself in the mirror. My brown hair was pulled back in a bun, my face looked tired with puffy red eyes. Like I cared.

I cried that morning, I’d let loose the floodgate that was bound to open but I’d been holding back. I almost fainted but Ken caught me in his arms before I could hit the floor. He held me tightly in his arms while I let all the tears free.

to reassure me; he never said a word when our parents died too. We communicated better through the

damp and breezy. I was seated in the middle aisle of the church where I’d met

blond hair combed neatly. His eyes were vacant; no sign of sadness or remorse. Maddy surely wasn’t too

to be okay ever again. No matter how happy you were in life, one day it was coming to an end. For some

guess Maddy had done just

and just then realized that it wasn’t the best thing to

“Sorry.” I mumbled.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I remembered how she used to joke around and make fun of things, especially the other nurses. All this seemed so unreal. The funeral

had something to say

words in memory of Maddy, it was short and sweet, cutting straight to the point. I couldn’t complete because I was

flower in the casket, I noticed stitch marks on her neck. I stayed until after all the mourners had paid their respect and

took shelter by a large tree. It didn’t help much as the water drops soaked into my clothing. I felt a presence beside me, and I wasn’t soaking

Bennett stood disgustingly close, holding the umbrella above our head. His strong perfume assaulted my nostrils. He shocked me further by extending his handkerchief towards me. I stared at him, flabbergasted. What if he’d doused that handkerchief with

I responded, dabbing the cloth under my eyes

like Paul, but I really didn’t want to make a scene

Dr. Bennett, but it’s a little nauseating. I don’t like you.” I reminded

We started on the wrong foot, I said some horrible things which I shouldn’t have and I apologize for that.” Paul

see a day where Paul Bennett, my

want to know why were you so mean

you want an

course, I do.” I

it made me green with envy because I wanted to be in your place. I wanted to be his favorite. And then when you took a liking to Jackson Wolfe, he hated it. The two

made you happy.” I concluded

did, but I realized how wrong it was, and that there’s no point in the constant bickering. What if I die tomorrow? Or in

with Dr. Paul Bennett?” I

a common enemy,

“What do you mean?”

I said. A lot of people died, and we could be next on

I agreed with Paul on

know that.” I said. “Honestly, I could be talking to a killer right now, and

smile. “I’m quite flattered you think I could be smart enough to be the killer, but I could say the same thing about you too. Maybe the goody-two shoes act is just your way to distract the investigators from yourself. Maybe you’re

would try

Everyone knows you’re his bae...as people like to call themselves these days. Frankly, no one would suspect you and