Jack In The Box

Riley

As soon as I heard Maddy’s name, I texted Ken to let him know what was going on and rushed quickly to the hospital. The entire drive I began thinking, what if Maddy was dead in a gruesome way? Would I be able to come out of the trauma?

When I arrived at the hospital, the receptionist told me she was admitted due to having injuries. Maddy was propped against the bed, connected to the IV, a large bandage on her neck. Her eyes were tear-stricken and she looked exhausted. I was so relieved to see her alive, I went to sit in the chair beside her bed.

“Maddy, what happened?” I asked.

She appeared to be in some kind of a shock. “I was attacked.” She choked out a reply.

Maddy stared at the distance as if she saw something that didn’t exist. “I was just going to get some medication for a patient. It was dark in the room so I switched on the lights and when I went to the cabinet, someone hit me from behind. When I regained consciousness, the man was dragging me by my ankle.” She said and then sobbed hysterically, clenching my hand in a death-grip. “I was so scared, Riley. I thought I was going to die!”

I tried to comfort her but her sobs were uncontrollable. “I kicked him so hard, but he was strong. There was blood everywhere. It was some cold dark room.” She shrieked.

“Who was it, Maddy?” I asked. “Who did this to you?”

She was saying something incoherent, I couldn’t make sense of anything other than her chants ‘he would have killed me’.

“Maddy, you have to remember who did it!” I said.

She looked straight into my eyes. “It was Jackson.”

I had no doubt in my mind that it was Ezra, that’s who Maddy had meant when she’d taken Jackson’s name. Maddy definitely wasn’t aware about the twin swaps. Everyone assumed Ezra was dead, so it was a no-brainer Jack was taking the blame.

Rage coursed through my body.

How could Ezra do this to his own brother? Hadn’t Jack suffered enough? If this went on, Jack could be no doubt executed for crimes he hadn’t committed. Ezra was dead to the public eye.

I stayed with Maddy until evening, and when she fell asleep, I took a coffee break. I saw Aaron rushing from an E.R barking instructions to a poor Physician assistant. When he saw me, his expressions turned relaxed.

“Riley.” He approached me.

“Doctor Shaw.” I never called him that unless we were in company of the higher-ups.

“I’m so glad to see you, Riley.” He said, having missed my slight taunt. “Did Agent Knight tell you everything?”

I gave him a nod. “Although I’d like to hear it from you.”

“I want you back here, working alongside me.” Aaron said with what I assumed was sincerity. He took my hand in his and squeezed it. “I need you.”

I searched his eyes. He seemed eager, almost desperate for me to join again. “What’s wrong, Aaron?”

He rubbed his temples. “Everything.” He whispered as he caught my wrist and pulled me into a corner. “The controversies linked to WoodVille’s hospital surrounding the Wolfe case have been bad for the faculty. One nurse brutally murdered within the hospital and the other almost killed! The staffs are piling my desk with resignations and Dr. Liu isn’t happy with this. I know you’ve been through a lot and it’s too much to ask of you but I can’t lose you too. I want you back in the Psychiatric Unit.”

“When would you like me to start?”

I saw relief cross his features. He looked so tired, I felt bad for him. “Tonight, if you can. Please. I’m short on staff. You won’t be assigned to one patient. All you’d be required to do are the routine duties.”

“Okay. I’ll be here.”

Aaron sighed. “I will forever be in your debt. Thank you.”

my job. You don’t need to thank

something else I’d like to

anything, he proceeded. “I don’t know what is

“What is it?”

Madeline when she was attacked. While Madeline’s memory seems a little fogged up, she’s mostly giving bits of what she thinks she saw,

she’d blabbered Jack’s

normal, Aaron. She was attacked, she probably doesn’t remember

her and he kept giving her some strange looks and when she would

Now that was new.

I asked him. “You’re not implying

He said and I didn’t miss how’d

of a book genius. He doesn’t strike me as clever or smart when it comes to

right but he’s been acting suspicious. Anyway, I’ll talk to Paul and see what’s going on. One thing’s for sure. No one can be trusted in this

dressed in my nurse uniform. It felt weird to be wearing it after such a long

repulsive for most people, for me, it was comforting.

back, Nurse Riley.” Bridget, the receptionist on the

acknowledged her, making my way to the locker to dump

in this wing had either asked for a transfer or plain handed out a resignation. They’d rather live being unemployed for a while than risk their lives at the hands of a psychotic killer. I couldn’t blame them; I would have done

shy and short nurse Josephine whom Bobby had nicknamed ‘midget’ because she was four feet something. Then there was Tilly, the nurse Bobby was supposedly banging. With Maddy lying in a hospital bed, that left with me

done with the work and decided to get

favor, Riley.” She said anxiously. “And in exchange I’ll cover as many shifts

desperation but I was the type of person who always helped my colleagues. Sometimes I wondered if my softness had led them to take advantage of me. I was just too nice. Maddy often told me how unfair everyone was towards me. In Josephine’s case, I thought it had to be something really serious. She was far

is.” She said in apparent disgust. “He wants

can I help

said. “Tilly went to his room the other day, and Jack said ‘Boo’ literally and Tilly almost peed herself. I saw her change into a spare uniform

bit back laughter. I couldn’t laugh at a nurse’s

could always pass the food through the opening in

food that way. The plate just lies there with the

want me to take the

won’t you?” She asked. If I

taking my time. Ezra was reading a book. I couldn’t read the title but knew he was reading a book by Stephen King. “If it’s mashed potatoes and gravy, you can take it back. I’d rather eat my foot than eat that for another fucking day.” He’d assumed I was

care in the world. “How unfortunate it is that at the end of the book, John Coffey was convicted and literally fried on the Old Sparky for crimes he never committed. I want to feel remorseful, I can’t.” It took me awhile to realize Ezra was

get blamed for the crimes that they often never committed just because they happen to be at a wrong place

oddly familiar. If I closed my eyes, I could bet it belonged to Jack and a

I guess I’m rightfully blamed for the crimes I did commit. They couldn’t find a John Coffey

the tray of food, and medication. “It’s shepherd’s pie and veggies. I’m hoping that’s up

you get me a Big Mac? You could do

watched him. He pointed at the tray of

could sense fear and I knew that. One moment of weakness and I’d give him an upper-hand. Ezra’s posture, the way

much in common

ask you to unlock my restraints? I

restraints shouldn’t be a bother. I

kept staring,

“Who knows what?”

“Our little secret.”