Tainted Souls

Chapter 4: Her name is . . .

The nights seem longer to Jack whenever Riddick works. Sometimes she’d sleep the day and brake night waiting for him. Riddick told her not be silly and rest, but she just can’t sleep without him.

Everyone in the house is asleep. Jason tried to stay up with Jack but fell asleep on the couch and hour ago. Jack simply covers him with a quilt, he’s grown so much in the past few months and he’s taller than her, now with manly features. Saia will have to fend off the girls knocking on their door soon. Jack smiles; she will have to go through the same thing when Ryan grows up. Rhianna is another story; Riddick will deal with her when she gets older. She’s already daddy’s little girl. Jack can’t imagine what Riddick will do when she brings home her first boyfriend.

Jack makes her self some coffee, throws on a robe and heads outside to the terrace. On nights like this she would usually sit on her reading window and appreciate the night sky, but tonight the darkness is alluring and she needs some cool fresh air. She sits on the woven sofa, crossing her legs close to her body. She begins to think about the day’s events and realizes they haven’t heard from Deacon in a while; she makes a mental note to call him tomorrow. After finishing her coffee she places the empty cup on the floor next to her and lays her head back on the sofa. Her eyes close and she concentrates on the sounds surrounding her. The wind softly blowing, the trees ruffling, the lakes gentle waves swaying. She takes in a deep breath and her body relaxes; she loves it here.

Far away Jack hears a faint rustle of brush. She doesn’t bother to open her eyes, she ignores it, believing it to be a stray cat, dog, or even a raccoon.

Again, a scrambling noise, this time it’s louder and accompanied by a smell. Jack opens her eyes and sniffs the night air, “Ammonia?” In the far distance, the trees, the lake, all seem ghostly silent. Jack’s senses something is out of order. She has the weirdest feeling she’s being watched; she is. She stands up and walks over to the stairs that lead to the patio. Squinting her eyes Jack tries to spot any movement amid the bushes and tress; nothing. She decides she better go inside and turns her back, when she hears her name being called.

The voice isn’t threatening. It’s welcoming and Jack knows the person is standing behind her. How? She doesn’t know, she didn’t even hear them walk up. She turns slowly and makes eye contact with the most penetrating hazel green eyes she’s ever seen. A slim petite female with long auburn hair, that seems to glow. Once again she hears her name being called. No lip movement, but yet she hears it.

“My lovely Jack” the voice is sultry, sexy and appealing.

“How do you know my name?” Jack asks. She doesn’t feel threatened, or frightened.

The scent of ammonia grows stronger.

“The same way you know mine.” She hisses. Jack finds it strange, but she does know her name.

“You will not understand the purpose of our meeting right now, but you will soon” She drifts closer as Jack remains motionless. Her full rosy lips part, exposing her sharp white fangs. Without notice she strikes like a snake, quick and swift. Jack feels a pinch and nothing else.

***********
After the discovery of the dead miner, all the workers are sent home until further notice. Riddick is thankful, something isn’t right, he can feel it, but he can’t pinpoint it. He rushes home, anxious to tell Jack what he witnessed. Its close to dawn and the horizon is beginning to turn scarlet.

Riddick reaches the front door to the house and grasps the door handle, but doesn’t feel Jack’s presence. He feels his body go rigid. He steps away from the front steps and goes around to the back, following his instincts.
Cautiously, he walks to the patio looking around. His attention goes for the tress and bushes in their yard; nothing there. Riddick walks up the stairs of the back porch, and then he sees it; blood. By the smell he can tell its Jack’s blood. From the corner of his eye he can see a body lying on the woven sofa. He turns his head slowly and Jack lays there, in a fetal position. She’s alive, weak, but alive. Quickly he checks to see if she’s hurt, but he finds no injury.

Riddick picks her up and carries her inside, glancing once again towards the shadows in the trees.

Inside their bedroom, Riddick lays her down on the bed. Jack is shivering uncontrollably and he covers her with a thick blanket. Regardless of all the commotion Jack is sound asleep. Riddick moves next to her and hugs her; unsure of what is happening to his wife. He checks her for a fever, but her temperature is fine. He debates whether he should wake up Saia and Jason, but doesn’t want them to worry.

Jack begins to whisper in her sleep and Riddick talks to her.

“I’m here baby, I’m right here” Riddick consoles her. Jack never talked in her sleep. He listens intently as she speaks again.

“Her name is . . . her name is” Jack is panting and Riddick becomes even more worried.

“Who? What’s whose name Jack?” he questions, feeling silly asking a sleeping person any question.

To his surprise she answers him, “Her names is. . . Heidi” she whimpers then remains quiet, falling completely asleep. Riddick remains silent.


To be continued . . .