Jack In The Box novel Chapter 16

When I woke up in the morning, there was another tray of food at the edge of the bed with a badly cooked omelet, hash browns, sliced kiwi and a glass of OJ.

Ritualistically, I brushed my teeth first, had a quick shower and pulled on a t-shirt from the wardrobe. I was actually starting to like Jackson’s choice of clothes that he’d bought for me.

I reached out for the tray of food before sniffing it. The omelette tasted alright, but a little on the saltier side. Jackson was a bad cook indeed.

When I was done eating, I climbed out of bed reluctantly and made my way out of the bedroom to find Jackson sprawled on the couch with a book in his hand.

I recalled all the events of the previous night and how I continued to accuse him even after he’d repeatedly told me he was innocent. I realized that lashing out on him wasn’t going to get me anywhere. If anything, I had to stay calm and find another way.

There was one thing that was clear, Jackson wouldn’t hurt. If he wanted too, he would have done that when he first brought me to this cabin. I would be in a chair, bound and tortured.

Like his other victims. A voice hissed in my head.

I brushed off that thought because my gut told me Jack was telling the truth. He hadn’t killed those people and I hoped like hell that I was right.

“Thank you for the breakfast.” I said, trying to appear a little cheerful.

“Glad you’re still alive after having it.” He grumbled.

Normally, Jackson would say something else along with the retort, but today he remained silent, almost detached.

“I want to say that I’m sorry for the things I said to you yesterday. I didn’t let you explain.”

“Damn right you didn’t.” He said in a monotone, sitting upright. “I want to know who killed those people as much as you do, Riley. You’ve got to believe me.”

I sat down on the couch beside him. “You’re saying you didn’t kill them?”

“Probably said it a million times since yesterday.”

“Jackson—”

“Call me Jack.” He insisted.

I gave a nod. “Jack, how about you pretend to be in my shoes for a minute? Imagine if you were kidnapped by a psychopath and you heard all the news about him on tv, all the atrocious crimes he committed, wouldn’t you be having doubts as well?”

He grinned. “I’d be thinking goddamn he’s hot and I’d want to bang that psychopath one of these nights.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re just feeding your own ego.”

Jackson chuckled. “You want me, Cotton-Candy, you just don’t want to admit.”

“Keep telling yourself that until you convince yourself.” I said.

“Will sure do, ma’am. And I promise you one of these days, you’re going to come in my bed willingly, begging me to put my hands on you and that time, Riley. I’m gonna say ‘I told you so’”

“That could possibly happen in your dreams.”

I heard him laugh as I climbed to my feet and was headed towards the kitchen. My face resembled a beetroot, and I didn’t want Jackson to see how the things he said affected me. Mostly the flirting.

When he flirted with me, and teased me, it gave me certain butterflies in my stomach, the type I was having right now and that really made me mad.

It infuriated me how he was always sarcastic about serious issues, as if the police weren’t even looking for him, like his face wasn’t all over the fucking news. He was acting like we were here on a vacation.

That afternoon we barely talked, Jackson was on the couch playing PlayStation 4, some race car game that was boring the hell outta me. He was having a huge bowl of tortilla chips and a can of Coke. I’d noticed he always ate all that junk food and still managed to stay fit.

I decided to cook something for lunch. “How about grilled chicken sandwiches and egg salad for lunch?”

“Whatever the wife wants.” He called out to me.

I shook my head. He was back to being a complete joker and it made me smile.

“While you’re at it, could you hand me a coke from the fridge, please?”

“I believe you possess two pairs of limbs. Last time I checked, I was just your Nurse, not waitress.” I said. “Take it yourself.”

I heard a snigger in the background.

I was dicing the vegetables, facing the stove when I felt his body hovering behind mine and then I watched from the corner of my eye as he crossed me and pulled out a can from the fridge.

Instead of walking back into the living area, I felt his presence behind me. A shadow. My heart turned to ice as I wondered what would happen. My hands were practically shivering as I sliced the veggies.

Was I wrong to assume he wouldn’t hurt me?

Was my time up?

If he was standing behind to hurt me, I had a knife in my hand ready.

“Riley...” He said in a soft husky voice.

“Hmm?”