Every noise that night had Jess on alert. She hadn’t ever felt the need to one-hundred percent arm the house for movement. Tonight she had set it and almost shot her cat Kitten, when she had gone down stairs to simply use the litter box. When Jess laid back down for the twentieth time Trevor sat up and turned the light on.
“What are you doing?” Jess said exhausted.
“I figured since you’re not sleeping and I’m not sleeping, we might as well not pretend.” He sat against the headboard and pulled her to his chest to cuddle. She slumped herself against his body and he flipped on the television.
“No sleep for the wicked I imagine.” She sighed and he ignored her.
“Shall we N*****x and chill?” They both laughed. Jess was grateful for Trevor. He never rushed her. He didn’t look at her like she was broken. He just loved her, all her flaws included.
“Let’s wa
Walking into the station Jess was met with the all to familiar stares of pity and silence. All eyes were on her as she made her way towards the sheriff’s office. Philip was the first to approach her. “Hey uh... Stupid question but, how ya doin?” He put a hand on her forearm. “I’m fine.” Jess gave him a half smile. “Nothing I haven’t been through before.” “Ya, well. I guess you're right there. He’s on a call right now but go on in.” He nodded towards the door. Jess knocked. “Come in.” Shouted the sheriff from the other side. She walked in and he gestured to give him a minute. She sat on the chair across from him and just listened to the one side of the conversation. “I want all of Belton, Clevlock, and Destor county looking for this guy. He’s a serial rapist, kidnapper and mu
Here we go. Jess thought as she rolled her window down and put her hand out. She let the wind dance through her fingers and inhaled as if she was trying to smell the pine for the last time. The air was crisp, a little cooler than normal at this time of year. As a child she would always roll the windows down and hang out as far as her mother would let her. Little Jess would stretch out her arms as far as they would reach, to her she was flying. She would sometimes have red marks from her hair whipping her in the face, she never cared. To feel that free sometimes it has to burn a little. Jess hung her head out of the window some and let the wind whip her face. She was ready for the burn. She accepted it at this point. She was ready to burn for her freedom when he came for her.
It was a short trip down the ridge and Jess was not one-hundred percent sure where Jay had parked his car. Unsure what to expect she drove slow. As she came around the second to last bend before the main highway, her headlights lit up Jays squad car. Both doors were open and the road spikes where thrown out across the road. She tried to take in the entirety of the situation before jumping out. After all the ball was now in Jedd’s court. Jess was yet again at the mercy of this psychopath. There was no way she could move the spikes, make it to the squad car, locate Jay and be back in the car. She was lucky he wasn’t at her door ripping her out. She opened the door and was hit with the bitter cold. It was always freezing on this side of the ridge because of the river about forty feet down.&nbs
Jess was aware enough to see Jay on a stretcher as he was hoisted up into the ambulance. She also saw them zip up Jedd’s body bag and slide him into the coroner’s van. The sheriff was quick to her side. “Jess.” He grabbed her hand and she held the other one up to have the paramedics wait. “Thank god you are okay.” The look he gave her was that of a relieved father. She pulled her oxygen mask down and put her hand on his cheek and smiled. “How’s Jay?” She asked concerned. “Oh, well he’s in pretty rough shape Jess. He’s lost quite a bit of blood. Don’t you worry about that right now. Go get yourself looked at.” He nodded at the paramedic’s and they lifted her up into the ambulance. “You did good kid, really good.” He shut the door and double tapped it.
After a few very heavily medicated days in the hospital her brain swelling had gone down and Jess was given the all clear to return home. She hadn’t had any horrible nightmares about Jedd or the shadow figure. Jess could only assume the brain trauma was the culprit to her nasty episode. She was pretty excited to get home and start a life Jedd free. She could jump in on her wedding planning. The first thing Jess did when she got home was pour herself a cup of coffee, snuggle up on her couch next to the fire and pull up Expedia on her laptop. With Trevor closing the last contract she had the money to book her dream honeymoon. In just eight short months she would be basking in the summer sun on the island of Santorini in Greece. Bbbring. Bbbring. &n
The ride to the hospital was quite. Jess watched as the rain drops slipped down the passenger door window leaving a trail for the next to follow. She traced a few of them as they fell to the bottom of the door jamb, to then be blown off by the wind as they drove. Her other hand was being held by Trevor, who would every so often look over at her. They had made it to the hospital and he switched off the car and faced her. “You ready babe?” He brought her hand to his face and kissed it. “Trevor, somethings wrong.” She said flat. “Well, that is why we’re here.” He looked at the hospital building.
Jess sat at the end of the hospital bed her feet dangled off the edge, bandaged. She watched as the Doctor examined a film on the light box. He was trying to find something wrong with her brain. It would give them all a scientific reason that would explain away what happen in the dressing room. The doctor scratched his head and crossed his arms. “Uhhem.” Trevor was the first to break the silence. “Well. Jess the great news is you do not have any new hemorrhages. Trevor can I talk to you outside for just a minute.” He nodded to the door. They both left and Jess just sat at the end of the bed looking at her hands. &
Jess arrived at Creekside late in the evening so she was told she would not see the Doctor until the following evening. When Matt checked her in handed her belongings to the intake desk and handed her a gray sweat suit. "This is Nurse Phoebe." He nodded at a short, overweight, older woman. "She is the one that is going to be looking after you the next couple days. "Hello Jessica." She smiled softly. She radiated warmth and Jess was instantly reminded of her own Grandmother. "Think of me as your safe place love." Instantly Jess did feel safe. She waved at Matt as Phoebe pushed her down the corrider. It was very bright in the hallway. Much brighter then the hospital had been.