Sunday, July 26, 2009

Chapter 21

Jackson frowned. He knew she had given in too easy. She was still playing games. He hated games, especially head games.

"Look, Im not in the mood for games", Jackson told her.

"Then, what are you in the mood for?"

"You really dont want to try me", he said threw his clenched teeth.

Orchids eyes grew wide then. Finally, the fact that he was dead serious was finally sinking in. She took a step back, her eyes narrowing. You really are dangerous aren't you?

"Was their ever a doubt", he asked.

"No..not really. Thats probably why Im so turned on by you".

He clenched his fist at his side. But eased up when she walked toward the bed and layed down, her back turned towards him.

"So its that simple", he asked. "You just lay down and go to sleep, and you wake up another person?"

"Not another person really, just a different personality", she said

He sat on the bed beside her, starring at her in amazement.

"When you wake up as Orchid, what do you do?"

She closed her eyes and said, "I thought you wanted to talk to Amy."

"I do..eventually, but Im thinking I'd probably learn alot more by spending more time with you. Amy seems to be lost and confused."

"And I'd like her to stay that way", Orchid said.

"Why?"

"The less she knows the better."

"I dont understand", he said.

She sat up and looked at him. "I can make you understand, if you want."

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Chapter 20

She got up from the bed and walked over to Jackson.

"What a nice surprise. Did Amy leave me a present?", she asked stopping a few inches from him.

Jackson stepped back a few paces. Not yet sure of what was happening.

"Amy?", he asked.

"Amy's asleep", she said.

"And you are?"

She shook her head from side to side and said, "Dont tell me you've forgotten me already. "

"Humor me", he said.
"I remember you", she said. "Jackson...right?"

"Right..and you...".

"Orchid."

Jackson nodded slowly.

"Why is Amy sleeping? Can you wake her back up?"

"Now, why would I want to do that?"

"Because I need to talk to her."

She walked closer to him, placing a hand flat on his chest, letting it travel downward until he caught her hand with his own. She looked him right in the eyes and smiled. He let her hand go and folded his arms across his chest.

"Oh come on! Why would you want to talk to a boring nobody like her when you can talk to me. Im here. Dont you want to get to know me better? You seemed pretty interested the other night."

"That was before.."

"Before what? Before you knew I was one half of a head case?"

"Thats not what I mean."

"Then what?"

"Amy knows. Thats why I need to talk to her."

"Well, whatever you need to tell her, you can tell me."

"It doesn't work that way", Jackson said as he walked around her and took a seat in the chair.

She followed behind him. Stood over him while he sat in the chair. Her hands on her hips. Still holding a sly smirk on her lips.

"Then tell me how it works."

"You bring Amy back so I can talk to her and then we go from there."

She shook her head. "No..no, no..I dont like being out of the loop."

"I promise to fill you in later."

"Why dont you fill me in now", she said as she straddled him in the chair.

Jacksons breathing was getting heavier. He closed his eyes, trying hard to keep his composure. She wasn't playing fair. But who does? Did he? He opened his eyes when she started to grind in his lap. He quickly lifted her off him as he stood up and sat her down on the bed.

"Ooh! Your so strong!"

He rolled his eyes and went back to take his place in the chair.

"You stay over there", he said to her.

Now she was the one folding her arms across her chest.

"Why are you being so mean", she asked while pouting.

"I'm nicer when I get what I want."

"So am I", she said.

Jackson sighed loudly. His frustration getting worse. After a few minutes of silence, he stood up and walked toward the door. Orchid jumped up.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"Dont worry about it", he said as she reached for the door.

"Ok! Ok! I..I"ll.."

Jackson turned slightly to look at her, his hand still holding on to the door.

"You'll what?"

"I'll let Amy come back."

He released the door knob and walked over to her. The smile on his face fading as soon as she said..

"On one condition."

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Chapter 19

Jackson sat in a chair across the room, watching Amy. She hadn't moved since he'd laid her down on the bed. He found himself checking her pulse again and again, sometimes leaning over her slightly, watching the rise and fall of her chest. Only to make sure she was still breathing. At least thats what he kept telling himself. Yet, he found himself fighting back the urge to touch her. He wanted to reach out and caress her skin, run his fingers thru her hair. He wanted to lay beside her, wrap his arms around her and protect her. He had been there over an hour now. He grew tired, impatient. Pacing back and forth across the room was something he did when he was anxious or nervous, and right now he was both. He stopped mid pace when he heard the bed creak. She was turning over, but she wasnt awake. He cursed under his breath. This wasn't right. What he was doing was wrong. Why was he here trying to help this strange woman when he was hired to end her life? Then again, wasn't it wrong to kill someone? Wasnt what he did for a living one of the biggest sins? What could she have possibly done to deserve a death sentence? Clenching his fists so tight his finger nails dug into his hands. He had never let anything or anyone get in the way of doing his job. He should leave right now. Go. Better yet, he could take her out right now. Over and done with. So easy. Maybe the easiest job ever. So why was he still standing here? He was stupid that was why. In the middle of the argument he was having in his head, he heard the bed squeak again. He turned around quickly, surprised that not only was she sitting up, she was smiling at him.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Chapter 18




"I dont know", she said.

"Its the only way you'll be able to figure out what happens."


Amy tapped her fingers on the table. Unsure what to do. When she didn't respond Jackson

interrupted her thoughts.

"So, what do you say?"

"You said that Im in danger?", she asked.

"Yes you are."

"Why? You still haven't told me what Im in danger of. And how do you know? Better yet, why do you even care?"

"I really cant devulge that information at this time. I just need you to trust me, Im trying to help you."

"How can I trust you when I dont even know you?"

"Its up to you. But if you value your life, you'll work with me."

"I dont know. This is too much. I cant.."

She leaned over holding her stomach.

"I feel sick", she said.

"Let me walk you back home", he said.

She stood up but her legs wobbled beneath her. Jumping up quickly, Jackson ran to her side. Grabbing her by her waist he held her up. She leaned against him as they walked slowly out of the resturant. Half way up the road she started to slump, her feet dragging across the pavement as he held her up.

"Amy", he called to her.

He realized that she was out. He stopped, lifted her up and carried her the rest of the way home. Once he was at the apartment he sat her down on the steps and tryed to wake her up, but she wasn't budging. Reaching inside her pants pocket her pulled out her keys. Picking her up again he put the key inside the lock and turned. He was thankful that she only had one key on her key ring. He pushed the door open and walked inside, closing the door behind them.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Chapter 17


"Well, for about a year I've been experiencing black outs. But in the last few months, its been happening more frequently. It started out just being maybe once every few months. Then it went to be about every few weeks, to every other day and now in the last week Ive been blacking out every day. And when I say blacking out, I mean Im loosing full days. Sometimes its only an hour or two but more often than not, I wake up not knowing what I did the day before."
"When you wake up from these blackouts, do you notice anything different", Jackson asked.
Amy pulled at her short hair as she said, "I used to have shoulder length hair. I woke up one morning this way."
"Red streaks?"
"Yeah, I woke up with that surprise too."
"Looks good on you."
"Thank you. Its not too bad. I'm still trying to get use to it."
"Any other transformation happen during a black out", he asked.
"No...", she said slowly.
"But something else did?"
"Yeah a few things have been happening, things Im not proud of."
"Like.."
"Like waking up with a strange man in my bed. Waking up in strange places I dont remember going to. I've woken up sore a couple of times."
"Sore? Where were you..."
She quickly shook her head.
"Oh..you mean..."
"Yeah lets not get into that ok, I'd rather not."
"Its fine, none of my buisness anyway", he said
Jackson cleared his throat and leaned back in his seat.
"So, anything else?"
"No, thats it. The strangest thing thats happened recently is when you showed up at my door calling me Orchid."
"Right. Well, I have an idea of how we can get to the bottom of whats happening with you, but your going to have to keep an open mind and work with me."
"How open minded?", she asked.
"What do you think about me staying with you for a few days?"

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Chapter 16


"First thing I need to know, what is your name?"

"I told you, Amy."

"Do you sometimes go by a nickname?"

"No. Everyone calls me Amy."

"So, you've never been called Orchid?"

"Never."

"And you dont remember anything about lastnight?"

"I remember singing at that club. I went out to eat with my friend..but after that, I just cant remember. Was I drunk lastnight?"

"You seemed pretty sober to me", he said.

She nodded her head but said nothing more.

"Does that happen often? Forgetting things?"

"Sometimes", she said as she looked down at the table.
By that time a waitress had come over but he waved her away.

"Amy, do you have any enemies?"

"Not that I know of. I mean, Im sure im not everyones favorites but.."

"Anyone who'd want to hurt you?", he asked.

Her eyes grew wide.

"Not that I know of, why?"

"Because I think you might be in danger", he said.

"Now your starting to scare me. What aren't you telling me?


"Do you think someone is out to get me?", she asked.

He looked her in her eyes and nodded slowly. She sat back in the booth, sliding down as if the air was slowly seeping out of her.

"Amy, this is serious. I know this comes as a shock to you, but you need to be completely honest with me. Has anything strange happened to you? Even if it seems crazy, I need to know. Even the smallest detail could be important."

She sat up straight, smoothing back a strand of hair that had fallen out of place.

"Something strange has been happening for awhile now. But its going to sound weird."

"Im all ears", Jackson said.