Disclaimer in part 1
The nurse frowned, looking down as Jarod mumbled words softly, his face tensing. Reaching down, the nurse checked Jarod’s pulse before fixing the blanket on top of him, pulling it higher over the sleeping form.
Hearing the door hiss open, the nurse looked over her shoulder to see a woman and two men enter the room, all three pairs of eyes glued onto Jarod.
"Family?" the woman snapped.
Miss Parker looked up from Jarod towards the lady. "Yes."
The woman nodded, making no further comment as she left the room, shutting the door behind her.
"Strange place," Broots mumbled.
Miss Parker hurried over to Jarod’s side, looking down at him. "Must have been bad," she stated, her tone flat. Jarod whimpered softly, twisting his head side to side, clutching the sheets.
"God," Sydney whispered, walking up behind Miss Parker to look down at Jarod. "He’s in worse shape then I imagined."
"Maybe we can get some answers," Miss Parker snapped, turning for the door. "Hey!" she snapped, pulling over a nurse. "Do you know what happened to this man?"
The woman looked over the brunette’s shoulder at the man that lay in the hospital bed. "Hmph-" she huffed, looking down at her chart. "Was in a car accident."
"You don’t think I know that?" Miss Parker growled. "But what happened? What’s his condition?"
"He was thrown from the vehicle as the car had slammed into a tree-"
"People don’t get [thrown] out of cars when hitting a tree," Miss Parker said, tilting her head to the side.
The woman shrugged. "Maybe he crawled out."
"Maybe?" Miss Parker asked, lifting both eyebrows. "You [don’t] know?"
"It’s not my business."
"Make it your business," Miss Parker snapped. Watching the woman look away from her briefly, Miss Parker scowled at her. "Go on."
"Anyway, he was rather delusional and still is, keeps mumbling things. He was conscious a little while the two men that found him were with him. The patient said there was a woman in the car with him, but there is still no sign of her."
"A woman?"
"Yes. He said her name was um...oh it escapes me, but he was certain there was a woman."
Miss Parker looked over her shoulder at Jarod, with Sydney leaning over him and watching with confusion as Jarod squirmed on the bed.
"What’s his condition?"
"Um...nothing seriously broken or damaged, except for a mild concussion. A couple of bruises, scrapes, scars and scratches. He lost a lot of blood due to the head injury, but we were able to stop the bleeding."
Miss Parker inhaled sharply, nodding softly before turning away from her and walking back into the room.
"Well, he’ll survive," Miss Parker said, closing the door behind her and coming up to the bedside. Exhaling slowly, Miss Parker looked over at Sydney. "We should get him ready to go back to the Centre."
"God, Parker," Sydney said bitterly, looking over at her with furious eyes. "He is in no condition to be going anywhere and you damn well know that!"
Miss Parker tilted her head slightly, and opened her mouth to reply when-
"No," Jarod mumbled in his sleep, his brow furrowing. "No wait."
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"Wait, where are you going?" Jarod asked, sitting up. The little girl simply shrugged, looking over her little shoulder at him, her curls wisping her round cheeks.
"You don’t need me anymore," she said.
"[I] don’t need [you]?" Jarod asked, crooking an eyebrow. Pushing back the covers, he stood, for the first time looking around. "Where am I?"
The girl giggled, turning around to face him. "Why you are in the hospital, silly."
"Why is everything so blurry and bright?" Jarod said, blinking. A thought occurred to him suddenly, and he looked away from the out-of-focus scenery to the little girl in a white dress before him, her chin only up to his waist. "Am I dreaming?"
The little girl shook her head side to side, her green eyes boring into him. "Not a dream, Jarod. There is a thin line between reality and fantasy."
"So, I’m on that line?"
"Nope, farther..." she explained casually, smirking slightly. "There is also a line between fantasy and death. You are on [that] line."
"So, I’m dying?" Jarod asked, shocked that the thought didn’t scare him.
The little girl shook her head again. "No, you are going to be okay."
Jarod nodded. "Then, why am I still here?"
The girl merely shrugged. "You go back when you want to."
"I want to," Jarod replied, eagerness in his eyes. "How?"
The little girl smiled again. "Wake up."
Jarod looked around, blinking at the brightness. "How do I wake up?"
Huffing, she took his hand and pulled him towards the bed. Jarod lied down and closed his eyes as she instructed, telling him to relax and let reality come back to him.
Lying there, Jarod stared into the darkness of his eyelids, the bright scenery now dim and dark. A cold breeze caught his skin and he inhaled sharply, opening his eyes after a full minute went by to tell her that it didn’t work -when-
"You’re awake!" Sydney said smiling, setting down his newspaper and scooting the chair a couple more inches towards the bed. Jarod’s brow furrowed, staring up at the older man.
Reality kicked him in the rear and panic filled his eyes, his chest heaving. "Sydney? What are you doing here?" he croaked.
"It’s okay Jarod," Sydney said gently, laying a hand on the younger man’s arm and squeezing, flashing him a reassuring smile.
Jarod looked around, his brown eyes still holding panic. "Where’s Miss Parker and Broots and the sweepers? Where are they?" he said quickly, his hoarse voice cracking.
"It’s okay Jarod. Miss Parker, Broots and I are the only ones here."
"Miss Parker? Where is she?"
"It’s okay. She agreed to not take you back."
"Yet." Jarod finished, his frantic brown eyes boring into the man.
Sydney looked down at him carefully, changing the subject. "How are you? You need anything?"
Jarod took a minute to analyze the situation, figuring which spot hurt and which didn’t. His side hurt like hell, his right leg felt like it was on fire, and it felt like he was lying on a rock. His mouth was rather dry also.
"Can I have some water?"
Sydney smiled, nodded once and reached over to pluck the paper cup of water, a red straw sticking out of the top, from the nightstand. Taking the straw, he placed it between Jarod’s lips, allowing the younger man to get his fill of the cold, clear liquid. Jarod closed his eyes, letting the water slide down his throat. [Damn, that tasted good.]
"Thank you," Jarod whispered as Sydney set the cup back down.
"Not even a decent cup of coffee!" Miss Parker hissed as she and Broots entered the room. Both stopped dead in the tracks at sight of Sydney [and] Jarod watching them. Miss Parker was the first to recover. "Oh good, you’re awake, because we have a train to catch."
"Parker," Sydney growled.
"The nurse said there was nothing broken or seriously damaged, so we can go now," Miss Parker said, walking over to Jarod and Sydney.
"Parker, he has a concussion. He shouldn’t be moved."
"Spare the medical shit, Syd. If he passes out, you aren’t as old as you look, you can carry him."
Sydney briefly closed his eyes in defeat, looking down to the tiled floor. [No way you can win this one.]
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"Why are we taking a train?" Jarod whispered, limping along side of Sydney as they made their way down the subway steps. Jarod was now dressed in a simple sky blue sweater and loose fit khakis that Sydney had bought for him. The long sleeves of the sweater hid the handcuffs that were shackled tightly around Jarod’s wrists. Glancing back briefly, Jarod eyed the four sweepers who followed them.
"Because," Miss Parker snapped, walking closely behind Jarod, her hand firmly clasped over his upper arm. "The corporate jet is in the hanger and we weren’t able to get a plane ticket."
"Oh the shame," Jarod huffed sarcastically. "I love to fly."
Miss Parker tightened her grip on his bicep and pushed him faster down the steps, causing him to stumble on the last one.
"Miss Parker, do be careful," Sydney said quietly, grabbing Jarod’s other arm.
"Whatever," she growled. "We have a train to catch."
"Jeez, this place sure is empty," Broots said, looking around the underground subway. "Where is the train anyway-" Broots looked down at his watch- "It should have been here a few minutes ago." All eight made their way to the end of the platform, looking down at the subway tracks below. "Did we miss it?" Broots asked.
"Oh darn," Jarod muttered sarcastically.
"Shut up, Rat Boy," Miss Parker snapped. Now she knew why she hated trains so much...because they were always late...or early. "It will be here," Miss Parker snapped.
[It will be here, my ass] Miss Parker repeated in her head. She clenched her teeth together, concentrating on the subway tracks below; but was unable to take her mind of the way Jarod’s hip kept brushing into hers, the way his muscles felt under the thin fabric of his khaki pants. When they had reached near the tracks to wait for the train, the sudden stop made Jarod’s right side hit against her front. She bit the inside of her cheek as she felt the way the curve of his ass fitted perfectly against her.
She found herself sighing a little, which caught Jarod’s attention. "What’s wrong Miss P.?" he said with that childlike grin of his. God she hated that grin" it was so damn sexy.
"Damn it," she said to herself out loud, which caused Jarod to blink in surprise.
"What?" he asked.
Miss Parker looked at him carefully, her eyes narrowed slightly. "Nothing Rat Boy. Now shut up!"
"There it is," Broots said out loud, watching the lights of the approaching train light up the dim subway tunnel.
Jarod briefly lifted his eyebrows, before looking away to watch the train approach the platform. As the doors slid open, Jarod inhaled sharply as Miss Parker pushed him through the doors, Sydney, Broots and the sweepers following close behind.
Miss Parker pushed Jarod into a window seat, while she took the seat next to him. They sat there in silence, waiting for everyone to aboard the train, Sydney and Broots taking the seats behind them. As the train began to move, Miss Parker looked around the empty car. It had to be about the fifth car back, so maybe people were in the first couple cars. [Maybe]
"Hmph," Jarod suddenly huffed, causing Miss Parker to look over at him in surprise.
"What the hell’s your problem?" she growled.
Jarod looked over at her. "Don’t you find it funny that a little town like this has a run down police department, an old hospital and unfriendly people...yet they seem to have a brand new subway?" Miss Parker blinked a couple times, looking around the empty car again, watching the lights on the tunnel walls outside the train fly by. It [was] a little odd. And why would a small little town like this spend all that money on a subway when they didn’t even ride it? They could have used the money to fix up their more ‘important’ buildings. Suddenly the lights flickered off, causing Miss Parker to gasp slightly.
"What the hell?" she snapped, only the lights outside the train lighting up the car as they went by. Grabbing Jarod’s arm through the dim light, she pulled him to his feet along with her, handcuffing him to the pole in the middle of the aisle way with another pair of handcuffs.
"What are you doing, Parker?" Sydney asked, also getting to his feet.
"I am going to find out what the hell’s going on," she said through clenched teeth, before taking off towards the sliding doors that lead to the car in front of them.
All four sweepers stood, surrounding Jarod like vultures. Jarod smiled, leaning his forehead on the pole, holding back the laughter. "I am handcuffed to a blasted pole, guys," Jarod said slowly, still not looking at them. "Go find something else worth guarding." All four men in black suits exchanged looks, but still stood their ground.
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"Hello?" Miss Parker called, stepping through the sliding doors that lead to the first car. Making her way down the dark aisle way, she caught her foot on a chair leg and stumbled. "Damn," she muttered, catching herself with the back of one of the plastic chairs. "Hello?" she called again, starting on her way again. "Is anyone here?"
Walking through the sliding doors, she stepped into the conductor’s car, a cool breeze catching her skin. Gasping, she stared at the dark haired man that sat, cross-legged, in the engineer’s chair, staring at her with a devilish grin.
"Are you the engineer of this train?" she asked, her icy blue eyes boring into the man with the peculiar expression spread out over his tough face.
He shrugged casually, piercing his lips. "Maybe," he said, uncrossing his legs and leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. His eyes roamed up and down her legs.
"Hey buddy," Miss Parker snapped. "I’m up here."
Lifting his bushy eyebrows, the man’s beady eyes landed onto hers. "I see."
"Yeah well," Miss Parker growled. "If you want someone to fuck, go find a dog in heat."
The man’s lips broke out into a smile, his throat giving a deep chuckle. "I’ll keep that in mind."
Miss Parker blinked a couple times, stepping back slightly as the man stood, his full height towering over her, even with her heels.
"Who are you?" Miss Parker whispered.
The man’s eyes widened a little. "I am the devil, my sweet. I am what children fear at night. I am the one who feeds nightmares to your dreams. I am the dark little corner in your mind and soul, screaming to be released." He smiled, leaning forward, his face inches from hers. "But you can call me Darry."
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"What’s taking her so long?" Broots asked, sitting down beside Sydney, who was watching Jarod closely. The younger man seemed to be rather tired, the way his tall form leaned against the pole, eyes shut. His forehead was against the cold metal, bobbing slightly from the train’s vibration.
Sydney sighed softly, looking over at the balding tech. "Maybe you should go look for her."
Broots winced slightly. "Me? Why me? Send one of those black suited guard dogs to do the dirty work."
Sydney smirked, looking over at the group of sweepers surrounding the now pale prisoner. Getting up from his seat, Sydney gestured for Broots to get up as well, letting him step into the aisle way. Pushing through two of the sweepers, Sydney came to stand beside Jarod, placing a hand on his shoulder. Jarod flinched slightly, looking up through his eyelashes at the older man that stood beside him, wearing a expression of concern on his aged face.
"You okay?" he whispered.
Jarod nodded. "Yeah, just tired."
"You look as if you are about to faint," Sydney said, flashing a sad smile.
Jarod smiled weakly as well. "Are you offering to catch me?"
Sydney chuckled softly. "Only if I have to." Turning towards the sweepers, he told them to back off. Watching as the sweepers took their seats, still surrounding Jarod, Sydney turned back to the handcuffed prisoner. "There, I got you more air."
"Thanks Syd," Jarod muttered.
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"Well, [Darry]," Miss Parker said mockingly, slowly inching her way back towards the sliding doors, the tall man following her every move. "Why are you, my friends and I the only ones on this train?"
He smiled. "You’re the only crazy ones."
"Oh?" Miss Parker asked, keeping calm even though this man scares the hell out of her. "And what about you? Aren’t you crazy? Or are we the only crazy ones to be on this train with [you]?"
Darry smiled, still walking along in front of her as she backed through the sliding doors. "Precisely that last one."
"And why would we be scared of you? Because you are what...the devil?" she asked, forcing sarcasm in her voice.
He flashed her all teeth. "Yeah." Just then, his eyes bore the red-hot fire of burning flames, his mouth sprouting fangs. Miss Parker screamed, leaping back and yanking her gun out from the holster on her waistband. She shot at him four times, all four bullets racking into his body. Miss Parker spun around on her heel and took off down the dim aisle way before he even hit the ground.