Jazz hears a clock ticking. This has her confused. She opened her eyes. The cabin was completely dark. She blinked several times uncertain as to what she was looking at. It slowly dawns on her they were not alone. There was ‘things’ in the cabin with them.“Jack.” She tried calling the motionless man. Her voice was barely a whisper.Several eyes looked at her. The beating of her heart was thundering in her ears. Breathing harshly, trying to control her rapidly rising emotions.“Jack,” she tried calling again. She tried forming words but only a gasps of breath escape across her lips. The deep-seated urge to rise from the floor settles in her chest. Once the though entered her mind, she tried to move her body.It felt like she was being held tightly down on the floor. She instinctively tried to struggle but the hold seemed to just tightened more.Jack…her mind screamed.“Please,” she begged. The words were barely a whisper. Again, she tried opening her mouth, then she felt the hand clam
“Jack stop a moment,” Jason tries his best to catch his breath. They all stopped to take a breather. They can hear the dogs; the animals weren’t far behind judging from the braking. He looked around; the night was changing.“Guys, we should separate. Those dogs were trained to follow in a pack. I will give you guys a head start.”“I don’t like it Jack.” Jazz looked anxiously around. She was never afraid of dogs but these were trained to hunt.“I know, but that’s the only way we might have a chance to get out of this wood.”“Jack, I am scared.”“I know Jason. I am too so is Jazz. I never though things would turn out this way.”“Daddy must be very furious. Momma and me, we were gone longer this time.” Jason rubs his eyes trying to conceal his sudden tears.“Jason…we are currently in a bit of trouble but I do believe we can get out of it. I want you to follow Jazz. You two look after each other. We will get out of here. Now go please brother.”Jason quickly move to him and hugs him tight
“Jazz, where are you?” Jason looked around frantically. He run so fast when fear grabbed hold of him. He never realized he lost Jazz. Stumbling over his feet, he falls onto his face. Breathing hard as he tried getting back onto his feet.Looking around, he has no clue where he was. He tried walking back looking for Jazz but she was nowhere to be seen. He feels frightened not sure what to do.“What am I to do now?” he asked himself out loud. He keeps spinning in circles really not sure what to do. He finally decides to start walking back the way he had run.“Momma, what should I do?” he asked knowing there was no answer. He kept on walking. The wood even with the sun shining was a scary place. Silent tears streamed down his face but he kept on walking.“Jazz…”“Jack…”The eyes from between the branches watched the boy looking around uncertain. It was clear he was scared. A nasty smile played around her lips. She waits until the boy was passing her when she stepped into the path.“Hey y
Jazz slowly opened her eyes. She was confused. Moving into a sitting position she looked around. She realized she was alone. She has a terrible headache knocking against her temples. She sits there rubbing her head until she feels a bit of relief. Again, looking around wondering what had happened.“Jason, where are you?” she called. The birds suddenly flew into the air. She struggled onto her feet. She was alone.“Where are you Jason?”She stood motionless trying to remember what had happened. The last thing she remembers was Jason getting spooked and run so fast. She was shortly on his steps when something hit her against the head. She immediately felt and found the bump.“How did I miss that?” She looked around wondering if the person was close. She starts to walk in the direction what she remembered Jason had taken. Her steps were a bit hesitant but she kept on going. She starts to play her game last played when she was a lost little girl.“I am Jazz Duncan.” She told herself.“I a
“Okay, let me see what has you so fascinated?” Jazz looked from John’s point of view searching to know what has him so fascinated. She kept looking back at Jason too. It was clear the boy was frightened. He stood in front of his father also looking in the direction as the pointed rifle.Her heart nearly burst from her chest with relief when she finally caught sight of Jack. Her husband stood watching the man up at the cabin. He just stood there motionless.“What are you doing Jack?” she asked softly. “You should move.”She looked back towards the cabin. She noticed the man has his finger on the trigger. She looked back at Jack. He still stood motionless.She studies his face. His expression was stone cold. It was clear to her he was facing his past. She can understand that. If he runs now, he will always run. She quickly looked down at her still unconscious cousin. Getting onto her feet she instinctively knows she wants to be right beside Jack.“I intent to change this status from con
“Jack,” John called.Jack and Jazz both looked around searching for the man. They no longer see him on the cabin’s porch. Judging from the level of his calling he must be closed but clearly hidden.“You can’t hide away from me boy.”Jack hid behind the trees searching frantically. He recognized that tone of calling. His father has a definite plan he was about to execute. Suddenly just turning around when he heard the clicking of the rifle’s cock. He looked into the mean hard look of his father standing behind him. Very carefully he stood with his body in front of Jazz who stood motionless looking at the older version of her husband.“You are stupid boy,” John said.“That’s a question of opinion sir.”“I see you managed to grow a pair of balls. But don’t worry you won’t have then for long. I will cut them off before the end of the day.”“I rather to see you try, sir. You always were brave whenever you have a pointed gun.” Jack challenged.“Bastard,” John said lifting the rifle.“You sh
“Jazz, do you see any movements?”“No nothing,” she answered softly.“I don’t trust this. Where are those dogs of him?”“The last time I saw them they were in the cabin with Jason.”“We don’t have a choice Jazz; we have to go closer.”“I am at your side.”Jack looked at her before he smiled slightly. The both start to run towards the cabin on the hill. Sometimes they both stopped and looked around. There seemed to be no sign of either John nor Eva. They reached the cabin.“Stay here Jazz, I don’t know where those dogs were.”“Okay but be careful.”Jazz watched him carefully but swiftly moving up the steps. She anxiously looked around but don’t see the monster truck guy anywhere. She wants to get out of this wood. This was one outing in nature she refuses to attempt anytime soon in the near future.Looking up the steps Jack was now carefully opening the door. An odd notion made her looked back towards the trees. A kind of coldness runs down her spine when she saw that creepy man but sh
Jazz has been running ahead of the brothers looking for the road leading out of the woods. She kept looking over her shoulders, seeing them both a short distance behind her. The black smoke from the cabin still hangs thickly in the air. She realized apparently; she had a lucky escape from that man.She rounds the sudden curve looking back and noticed she was now out of sight. The sudden area where she was somehow makes her feel suddenly unsettled. Moving forward carefully she comes full stop. She saw Eva sitting in the middle of the road. She was playing with small stones while giggling.“Eva,” she whispered softly.She stayed motionless wondering what was wrong. It certainly looked like that there was something not right. She felt inclined to slipped past but at the same time it doesn’t feel right. Taking a deep breath, she stepped closer to her cousin. Reaching out she touched her shoulder.“Eva,” she said softly.Her older cousin slowly lifted her head looking at her but also not a
Running…. running, need to hide. Nowhere was safe. Can hear his laughter. Need to slip away from what doesn’t work. Where is he? Why is he hiding… Warm tears stream down her face. She can’t reach out to wipe it away. She tried opening her eyes but she can’t see. Something covers her sight. She tried calling to find out who was with her, sometimes she senses the presence of someone circling around. Her heart beat wildly until she realized she wasn’t afraid of the unseen person. Darkness settles around her again. She tried not going into that tunnel, afraid of where he might be lurking. He enjoyed staying in the dense coverage of the island taunting her. She has the instinct to get up and run but she can’t move. She keeps fighting but the darkness was too powerful… She was now somewhere in the depths of her unconscious mind seeing herself as a person of one. She makes stillness into a quietness that resemblance invisibility. She needs to escape his cloying presence. Running…running…
Jack sit looking across the ocean. His body still feels weak but he was no longer so thirsty. Sometimes he kept looking at his ring wondering why Jazz never calls. He watched the fisher men trying to catch the meal for the day in the harbor. Sometimes he looked towards where his brother was playing with other kids on the beach. It was clear he was enjoying his time.“Son,”Julie touch him on his shoulder before sitting down across from him.“Hello Mom, everything okay?” he looked at her and also noticed the difference in her.“That’s the very question I wanted to ask you. You seem sad,”“I am just thinking Mom,”“Is this about Jazz?”Jack turned to look at her. “Did you hear from her?”“No but I did talk to her grandmother. I want to go back.”“Are you taking Jason too?”“It’s time that he gets stability in his life.” Julie started fiddling with her fingers especially her rings. It draws his attention since it was what he has been doing. “There is something else I need to tell you Jac
Jazz just woke up feeling restless. She jumped out of bed restless. She kept wondering if Jack was okay. At the same time, she refuses to intrude into his time with his family. According to her accounting, Jack’s medical expenses came to a halt. To her mind the doctor managed to help him and if something were wrong at least Julie would have let her know.Opening the shower door, her morning ritual was quick and to the point. Stepping out again Eva was waiting for her. “Morning,” she starts to dress in her usual sportive outfit.“Are we going somewhere Jazz?”“Why you ask?”“It seems you are back to being you.”Jazz looked puzzled a moment before understanding her cousin’s meaning.“I like my way; beside can you truly see me as a sophisticated person?”Eva laughed. “What’s your plans for the day?”“I am going out on the boat. Where is Brazen James? By the way why are you calling him that?” Jazz satisfied with her easy look start to walk towards the kitchen. She quickly noticed the man
Jazz stepped into the coffee shop. She took the corner table with a clear view on the door and to look outside. She was still puzzled about the odd call she received from Julie wanting to meet here. She did warn she wasn’t coming alone.Her fingers wrapped around the warm coffee her mind travelled to a time before Jack Warren…her cousin Eva, once she could manage to lie with ease and simplicity, along with Allan Black, both two faced liars convincing of a friendship true. The laughter’s reflection in their eyes, an easy going smile that speaks of sincerity.“You changed cousin but you certainly could put on an act, that side of your personality that could really boils my blood.” She said softly to herself.Looking out the window strangely worried about Jack. One thing she knew about him, he was very punctual and trustworthy. The fact she has no communication from him was strange. Her mouth twist with controlled emotions. It has been a while since she felt the need to do that.“Jazz,”
Jack felt himself being dragged somewhere. He was barely conscious. He desperately trying to hold onto the image of Jazz. He felt his body being dropped onto a bed that stinks. He hears from afar someone moving around him but he can’t open his eyes.“Jazz…” was his last word before he was completely dragged under into darkness.John Warren stood looking at his beaten son. He took his phone and switch it on. He immediately received a lot of miscalls and urgent messages from his mother. He dialed the last number.“Son, where have you been? I have been calling but no answer. Are you with Jazz?”“You sure can string a lot of questions in one sentence woman.”There was instant silence on the line.“Julie…”“What have you done with my son?” she finally asks.“I want you to find your way back to the motel where we used to live.”“What have you done John?”“Don’t make me wait too long Julie. Make sure to bring Jason along.”John switch of the phone just stood looking at his boy. He left the r
“Jack,”John stood in front of his son. He just seemed to stare at nothing. He snapped his fingers the eyes didn’t blink once.“What did you put into that mixture Barry?”“My business. You seem uncertain now.”“I am just curious.”John kept looking into the staring eyes.“I can ask him anything?”“Yes, you can also make him do whatever you want. By the time he remembers the damage will be done.” Barry went and sit beside the table making notes.“Jack, look at me”John watched him slowly obey.“Describe Jazz,”“Truth from my heart…”“Yes,”“I am in love with her smile…the way the corners of her lips curve.”“Tell me more,” John said eagerly.“I am in love with her voice…the way the timbres sound.”“Go on.”“I am in love with her body…she is perfection in my eyes.”“I agree, go on, I know there is more.”“I am in love with the sound of her laughter…it’s like music to my soul.”“Yes, she does sound delightful. Conclude your praise,”“I am in love with her eyes…it always twinkles with mis
Jack stood still listening to his brother telling their mother about the latest antics of Jazz. He was also curious but he was also uncertain. He already made the decision to go to her but he in a way feels he was dropping them.“I should show Jack,” Jason said laughingly.“What should I know?” he steps into the room. He accepts the coffee his mother hands him.“Jazz is blazing through the internet.”Jack leaned over his shoulder watching Jazz cycling fast and furious along with the neighborhood kids. He grabbed the phone for a closer look wondering what’s written on the back of her T-shirt. A slow smile played across his face. He hands the phone back to Jason.“What are you going to do?” Julie watched her oldest seeing the conflict on his face.“She is telling the world she belongs with me. You know Mom, she told me she used to terrorized the kids around her but in truth I didn’t completely believed her.”“She also told me she like to play around in the trees pretending to be a monke
Jack thoughtfully walked along the beach, his thoughts constantly circling around Jazz and what he wants their relationship should be. He realized a long time ago he accidently received a gem of a woman. He stood looking towards the spacious bungalow where he and his family has been spending this last couple of weeks. He discovered Jason has changed from the easy yet uncertain boy he met the first time. Being two years on the street made him a constantly cautious teenager.“Jazz,” she said her name hoping the breeze on the waves will carried his voice towards her. He wonders if she even thinks about him.He looked towards the bungalow and saw Jason coming his way. He stood waiting for him and noticed he was no longer so thin. “Hey,” Jason said nervously.“You okay?”“I am but this feels weird.” He admits.“What do you mean?”“I am trying, I don’t look around so much. It feels weird,”“I understand if you can believe. You know Jazz taught me to admit being happy in the moment doesn’t m
“What is it with this family of mine Jazz?”Jack stood looking at the empty kitchen. A quick search and a look at the surveillance cameras showed both Julie and Jason slipping away from the house in the night.“Is there a note maybe?”Just by looking it was clear they simply left. She went and sit beside the counter just looking at her husband. She watched the confusion on his face.“What are you going to do now?”“Would you mind making coffee for us?”“Sure,”Jack stood looking around the kitchen. It feels rather homey. He should consider buying a place where he could start a fresh life with Jazz. He watched her being busy making coffee. He moved closer and suddenly wrapped his arms around her.“I don’t know how you can still stay with me? I only seemed to have cause problems.”“My choice Jack, beside I arrived with my own back of troubles.” She placed her hand over his.“I promise we will create our own life apart from this troubles Jazz,”“Let’s fix this situation first.”“Okay,” H