Jack Part 7

Morning came in a instant, the cold of the night gripping the window and the sill beneath, the glass cooling the air around it. Slowly Jack opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the woman laying against his chest. Carefully he removed her, placing her head upon a pillow as he left the room and headed in the kitchen. The room was bathed in the cool blue hue that accompanied every morning, when the sun had yet to break the mountains.

He felt his chest tighten, as his mind focused on the woman on the bed. For a moment a surge of panic gripped him, an irrational fear that perhaps she was unconscious instead of just sleeping.

“There is nothing we can do...”

Jack grit his teeth. Shaking his head, willing the thoughts away as he headed to the fridge, opening the door to reveal sparsely occupied shelves. He sighed heavily.

“You always waited till the last minute to go shopping.”

Jack jolted instinctively, turning around to see the smiling Maddie standing in the doorway. He chuckled lightly, turning around and closing the door.

“Old habits die hard.”

“Many old habits,” she said, smiling. Moving slowly, she placed her hand on his chest, leaning in close, her lips drawing near. Jack felt a longing surge up his spine, but at the last second pulled away, turning his back to her.

“I'm sorry.” she said quickly.

“No,” he said quietly. He tried not to show it, but a deep guilt began to settle in the pit of his stomach. “Its alright. I guess we both thought that maybe things could be back to the way they were.”

Maddie came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Its okay. We both need time to adjust to one another.”

Jack pulled away, heading towards the door. “Well at least we can make sure the shopping gets done early. Your car or mine?”
“You drive. I spent most of my gas just getting up here.”

Jack nodded, then grabbed a light coat and headed outside, Maddie trailing behind. On the side of the house was his car, a old hand me down from the previous owner of the house. He went to the drivers side door and got inside. It was a bad habit, not locking his doors, but out in the boondocks where he lived there seemed little reason. Maddie got in soon after and after a couple of tries the car started and they headed off, the sun still well below the horizon.

They traveled in silence for several minutes, both finding conversation hard to start. Strangely it was Jack who spoke first.

“There is a nice restaurant in town. Its a little behind the times, but the food is good.”

“I thought we were going to go shopping.” she responded.

“We are, but I figure we haven't eaten together in a while. It might be nice.”
“We don't need to do that.”

“I know, but I want to.”

“I really would rather you didn't. I mean, the money you took when you left, there can't be much left.”

“I'm doing fine.”

Jack!

He felt his skin crawl.

“I can tell you are getting agitated. We will go to the restaurant. It would be nice after so long.”

“Its ok. It's not you.” Jack grit his teeth, a action more audible then he would have liked.

“Then what is it? I can tell when you are upset.”

“Will you stop pushing it?” he barked.

Jaaaack...Jackie boy...

“I'm sorry...”

“Its not your fault, okay?!”

He felt his vision blurring, his head beginning to pound. Mustering what focus he could manage, he pulled the car over. Opening the door quickly, Jack got out and headed off to the side of the road, doubling over as felt his body lurch, a aching series of dry heaves. A hot sweat began to form on his brow, his arms shaking. After a few moments the tremors stopped and his vision began to clear, watching as Maddie exited the car and headed towards him. As she approached the ringing in his head subsided, until at last it stopped completely.

Maddie got down on her knees, placing a cool hand on the back of his neck.

“Jesus Jack. Are you okay?”

Jack started to push her hand away then stopped. Looking off into the fields of sand cast in blue, he breathed a heavy sigh and began to shake his head.

“No...I'm really not. Maybe you should drive.”

Maddie nodded silently, helping him to the passenger side of the car and placing him inside. When at last they were on the road again Jack began to explain to her everything that had happened. The strange voice, the mutilated corpses. All of it.

Maddie listened intently, not uttering a sound the entire time.

When at last he had finished they were nearing the edge of town, the sun finally breaking over the hill, basking the town in yellow light.

Maddie waited several moments before speaking, the sounds of people beginning to grow even in the early morning.

“I am not trying to be rude, but how bad has the drinking been, really?”

Jack groaned.

“Its a honest question,” she said defensively.

Sighing, he shifted stiffly in the seat. “I have been drinking, but not enough to make up the corpses. And the voice is there even when I am sober.”

“Okay...well...it could be trauma...”

“What?” Jack said scornfully.

“Listen we both been through hell during the last six months. The nightmares, the sadness and exhaustion. It all takes its toll. I don't doubt the bodies are real, and maybe someone in town can help make sense of that, but the voice in your head might be just that.”

“So you think I am crazy.”

“No,” she said, pulling over. “Not at all. Not ever. But I think you and I are both really hurt, and God only knows how much the pain may be messing with you, especially with you being alone.”

“But you're here.”

“But this might be a long term problem. We'll deal with it how we can. But first, let's get some food in us.”

Jack led them up the street to a little place on the corner. Getting seated soon after arriving, they were placed in a booth near the front window. The seats were covered in red cloth, the sort you would find in a church pew, with a similar collection of dust. The table was covered in scratches, a old scorch mark on the corner. They sat in silence, even though both of them wished to speak. It was as if the fact that things had been laid out on the table had rendered them both mute. Luckily, the locals offered plenty to listen to.

“It's the third one of my herd that has gone missing this week.”

“Any breaks in the fence?”

“A big one. Lot's of blood too.

“Maybe a mountain lion?”

“I thought of that, but it is a bit too far away from where they normally hunt. And they usually stay away from people.”

“Well it has been really dry this year. Maybe hunting is just bad.”

“Well I thought of that too, but there weren't any tracks.”

“The sand could have shifted by the time you found it.”

“But where did the body go. A mountain lion can't drag a cow all by itself.”

Jack listened intently, failing to notice when the waitress arrived to take their orders.

“Sir.” said the woman.

He remained detached, his focus completely on the locals conversation.

“And then I tried to tell the police about it, but they said it was a animal control issue.”

“What did they say?”

“They said that even if there was a mountain lion, all they could do was move it back to the hills. Best advice they could give was to try and reinforce my fence.”

“Sir?” the waitress said.

Jack didn't stir.

The waitress shifted uncomfortably, adjusting her stance.

Noticing, Maddie reached across the table, lightly tapping his hand. Jack seemed lost for a moment, then turned his head.“Oh, what?” he said. “I'm sorry”

“It's ok,” said the young waitress. “Can I get you something to drink?”

Jack looked at her name tag. “Jackie.” it read.

“Just get me a coffee.”

“And for you?” she said, directing the question at Maddie.

“Orange juice please.”

“Alrighty, I'll be right back.”

Jack watched her walk away, noting a light limp in her step and after a moment, returned his attention to Maddie, who looked at him with concern.

“What?” he said defensively.

“You seem really distant....should I be worried?”

“I was just listening to them. Considering what I have been seeing”

“Okay,” she said, shifting uncomfortably. There was silence between them, Jack noting when Maddie started nibbling on her lower lip. Meanwhile she kept her focus on the table, arranging the napkin, then shifting it back to its original position.

“You know I'm not one of those kids you take care of right?”

“Pain in pain Jack.” she retorted. “Doesn't matter if it comes from a third grader or an adult.”

“Hey, you told me we could see what we could find out about the attacks.”

“Yeah, because I thought it would help. But what part of that was important? The mountain lion, or the other stuff?”

Jack sighed, understanding the point she was making.

“All I'm saying is that this “situation” will make sense in a few days. There's always a reasonable explanation. I think maybe we should just, focus on what's going on with you,” she said, extending her hand. “With us.”

Jack smiled weakly, then allowed her to take his hand despite a sense of familiarity.

Maddie smiled back, warmth entering her cheeks. “So basically, I'm here for you. I think...I think everything is going to get better. For both of us.”

Jack nodded, all the while trying to ignore the ringing in his ears.