Jack In The Box

I was feeling drowsy, and every part of my body was aching. I opened my eyes slowly to find myself in unfamiliar surroundings. It took me a while to realize where I was until the scent of disinfectant and medicines permeated the air.The walls were painted sky blue, an IV was attached to me. I was wearing a hospital gown. I hadn’t even realized back then that I’d been injured too.

There were flashes of the accident. We survived the accident and I was saved from being badly injured when Jack has wrapped his arms around me, cushioning me from the impact and taking the hit himself.

“Riley!”

“Jack, you’re injured. We have to get you to the hospital immediately!”

I hurried to the car that was now lodged into a tree and pulled out the First Aid kit and a shirt from my bag. I disinfected his wound as much as I could, tore the fabric and wrapped it tightly around his wound to stop the bleeding.

As a nurse, I knew how to disinfect a wound and stop the wound from further damage but he still needed to be seen by a doctor.

“You need urgent medical attention.” I said frantically wiping the blood seeping through his denim. “You’re loosing blood, oh god!”

“Listen to me, love. Take this phone, and call Mark Bowen...” Jack said holding his bleeding leg. “Code word ‘Jack & the Beanstalk’. If he answers with ‘The Boy who cried Wolf’ only then tell him the address of this area and ask him to come asap.”

“Jackson! Are you even listening to yourself? You could die out here waiting for this person. We need to take you to a doctor.”

“Mark is a doctor! He’s the only person I trust!” Jack said, even though he was injured he was still arguing with me. “Besides, if I visit any hospital, I’ll be arrested and I can’t take that risk.”

He pointed towards the forest. “Take me there.”

I’d helped him up, he’d staggered all the way to the forest, drops of blood trailing on the road. When I placed him on the ground, his back against the tree, I saw that he had another wound near his waist.

“It’s still not too late. Let me call an ambulance.” I insisted, my vision blurred as the moisture pooled in my eyes.

Jack’s once vibrant face was now turning gloomy, like he was battling to remain conscious. His brown eyes looked topaz in the sunlight as he stared at me. “Nurse Riley, you’ve hurt yourself too. Sometimes you need to put yourself before others. Now’s that time.”

I stared at him, was he joking?

“I can’t leave you alone here. You’re stupid if you think I would do that.” I snapped, unable to keep the fury out of my voice.

“Call Mark right now. Please.” He said in a barely audible voice.

car and in a few minutes I located the phone. I called the number and waited, the line rang for a few minutes until a man answered the

& The Beanstalk.”

the man responded. “The Boy

and he needs urgent medical attention. You need to come

cheeks softly a few times to keep

eyes enough to look at me, he raised his

shook my head, taking his hand in mine. “I’ll

wants me dead and I can’t put your life in danger. One of us needs to be alive. He can’t win this. You

“But...”

help me. There’s

“I want

“What’s that?”

He said their names with

his head close to my face and kissed his forehead and

with every step because I knew that I’d never have such powerful desire for

Riley.” He said in almost a whisper when my back was turned to him. I stopped, my hand flying to

walk ahead. It was like he was

are you with

Voices in the distance.

“Riley!”

it!” Some was shaking me which is when I I stared back at my brother’s

on his face.

managed to

of water to

coughed. The door of the room flew open and in walked Aaron. What I didn’t

thank god, you’re fine!” He said as he power walked

belonged with people that loved me, I should be glad. Aaron didn’t even seem to be mad anymore about the argument we had before Jack kidnapped me, and yet,

stared ahead, feeling the trauma of the situation slowly sinking in. He patted my head softly, and kissed the top of my head.