Chapter 24

The sound of a single gun shot rang out as it sliced thru the air and pierced her skin. She cryed out in pain, her eyes wide with shock as the blade fell from her hand, clattering to the floor. He'd only shot her in the arm. Only to scare her, slow her down. She held her right arm with her left hand, blood sliding down the length of her arm.

"I..I cant believe..you shot me", she said slowly as she moved backwards, stumbling into the table behind her.

"I cant believe you dont take me more seriously", he said.

Leaning against the table she began to slump to the floor, still clutching her arm.

"Too much blood...my blood..not my blood", she stammered.

Jackson walked over to her slowly. She leaned over to the side, her head hit the floor. Switching on the safety Jackson pocketed his gun and kneeled over Orchid. He lifted her head. Placing two fingers on her neck he took her pulse. She was fine. Apparently she had passed out. He eased her head back down and stood up. He looked around the room for something to tie around her arm. He had to stop the bleeding. Not having any luck, he rip the sleeve of his shirt to use to tie her arm. After that was done he picked her up and lay her on the bed. Taking a seat in what he was beginning to feel like his chair, he prepared himself to wait, until his cell phone rang.

Chapter 23

"No!", Orchid said as she jumped up.

"What now", Jackson asked.

"You think Im stupid dont you. I fall back and you tell Amy everything I just told you! I worked way to hard to keep this little duo in tact and I am not about to let you come along and ruin everything I dont care how sexy you are!"

Jackson stood up, thrown off by her sudden out burst. He watched as she walked quickly to a table on the other side of the room, pulling open a drawer, she started to toss things onto the floor until she found what she was looking for. She turned around slowly, a switch blade she held tightly in her hand. His breath caught in his throat. Reaching in his pocket he pulled out his gun, stopping her in her tracks as soon as she started towards him.

"Stay right where you are!", he demanded.

She looked surprised, yet she still held on to her weapon.

"Drop the blade or I'll shoot."

"You wouldn't shoot me. You may not like me very much, but I think you have a soft spot for Amy. You hurt me..you hurt her."

"You dont know me as well as you think you do. Make one more step in my direction and I'll shoot you."

Orchid laughed. Clearly testing him, calling his bluff. She moved towards him again. Jackson pulled the trigger.

Chapter 22

"Im listening", Jackson said.

She scooted back until her back was leaning against the head board, pulling her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees.

"Amy has had a hard life. Terrible things have happened to her. Things so horrible that the only thing that kept her from completely loosing it was to basically create someone who could handle the things she couldn't."

"She couldn't cope, so she created another person in her head?"

"Yeah..I guess you can put it that way. But its much more complicated.

She unfolded her legs and turned towards him, leaning in as if she was about to tell him a secret.

"You see Amy was so severely traumatized that she became catatonic. She just...checked out. But I fought for her. Ugh..how do I put this so you can understand? I guess you can say I have always been a part of her..that strong part of her that fights and never gives up. But some how she lost that part of her. She gave up. She stopped fighting. Even tho she lost sight of that part of her, it never died. I was not about to die, so when she checked out, I took over. She truly did wake up another person. Everyone kept using the word amnesia. But they didn't realize Amy was still asleep. Her family..well, I guess you can say our family kept doing things to try to jog her memory. The more they pushed and reminded her, the more that old part of her started to wake up. I wasn't very happy about it. For awhile, I fought it. I was afraid once Amy was back, she'd remember everything and push me away again. I had lay hidden deep inside her for so long..I was afraid if shoved down again, this time I would truly die. But thankfully for me and her both, she never remembered those horrible things that led her to that point. She doesn't even remember being hospitalized. Maybe now you can understand why its better that we keep Amy in the dark."

Jackson just sat there for the longest time, not sure what to say or do next. Snapping back into focus when he felt Orchids hand caressing his face.

"I think Im ready to talk to Amy now", he said.

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."

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."

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.

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.