44. Jack
FORTY-FOUR
JACK
It was still early, but Jack’s body was reminding him he’d been traveling hard and far all day.
It was times like these when Jack was tired beyond all reason that he wondered how his father was able to keep up.
His father was in excellent shape for a man his age.
Still, he endured the harsh pace all day without so much as a complaint.
Jack smiled as he thought of his father being chided by Elizabeth earlier.
The young girl was obviously out of her mind, but there were glimpses of intelligence, maybe even genius somewhere deep underneath.
As Jack lay in bed, he stared at the ceiling, replaying the events of the day and all the information they discovered.
Was Doctor Livingston the responsible party?
Was he the head of the snake or just a pawn in this game?
A game? Was this all it was to someone? A game where people’s lives were spent like currency and the playing pieces were advanced killing machines and assassins?
Jack tossed and turned as his body tried to find the sleep his mind wouldn’t allow. It was while in the middle of a dream Jack would later forget that he heard the first tick.
At first, he thought it was part of his dream, but it came again, and this time, louder. It was a sharp slapping noise coming from his window. Jack squinted in the dark, throwing off his thick blanket.
He stood in the dark, making sure he wasn’t hearing things. It came again. Someone was throwing pebbles at his window. Jack’s heart caught in his throat, not in fear, but at the hope of who it might be. Slowly, Jack opened his curtains peering into the night.
Just as he had anticipated, Abigail was there with a look on her face somewhere between a cross of happiness to see him and fear that they would be seen. She put a slender finger to her full lips and motioned for him to come down.
Jack gave her a quick nod. He turned and grabbed his boots and jacket. Slowly turning the handle to his room door, Jack gently stepped over the wood floors and down the winding staircase. The room was dark save a single candle blazing near the front door entrance.
Jack tiptoed through the room, praying with each step taken a wooden squeal wouldn’t give him away. His luck held. Jack exited the large manor, escaping into the cool night.
He rounded the house and made his way along the white picket fence separating the Ahab residence from the house where he and his companions now made their headquarters.
Abigail was there waiting for him. She was wearing a tight-fitting copper dress with long sleeves that opened at the bottom. Her dark hair fell beside her face. The moon was high in the sky and every curve of her body was accentuated by shadow.
“There he is. I thought you were going to sleep right through my requests for an audience with the famous sorcerer from New Hope.”
“I wish I was from New Hope,” Jack admitted, searching her face for any sign of strain. “Are you okay? Is everything all right?”
“I just wanted to thank you for being so kind to my sister.” Abigail took a step closer to Jack. “You and your father were all she could talk about when she got home today.”
Jack bit back his first question. Did Abigail know about the secret laboratory? Jack didn’t think she was involved. Had Elizabeth told her? For her own safety, it was best she knew as little as possible. Jack decided to leave the secret cave laboratory alone and instead simply accept the gratitude.
“Of course. Your sister was a huge help to us today. I didn’t know that you two were related.”
“Yeah, I love my sister, but she’s not the first person I usually mention when I meet strangers. She’s—” Abigail opened her mouth, but no words came out as she struggled to find the right terminology.
“She’s special. I can tell that deep down she’s actually really smart.”
“She is, isn’t she? Most of the time, she’s off talking about secret caves and biological animals, and other times, I think she understands me better than anyone else.”
Jack did an awkward half nod as he fought not to say anything.
“Jack, you seem like great guy. Not just because you’re so kind to my sister, but because of the way you’ve been raised. Can I ask you a question? You have to promise not to read too deep into what I say?”
“Sure.”
“If I knew something that would help your search for the animal causing these attacks, but it would put someone very dear to me in a harm’s way—what should I do?”
“My father would say that if you have the opportunity to do something to help others, then you are morally obligated to do it.” Jack took a deep breath peering into Abigail’s large, dark eyes.
“That’s why he and I are here in the first place.
The Queen asked for our help. He volunteered without a second’s hesitation.
My dad has this weird superpower of always being able to do the right thing. ”
“You have no idea how lucky you are to have a father who cares for you so much, Jack.” Abigail lowered her head, unwilling to maintain eye contact. “Is it strange that when I talk to you, I feel—safe?”
Jack was so far out of his comfort zone while talking to the opposite sex, he wasn’t even on the same planet. He’d managed to do a good job disguising his awkward tendencies toward Abigail so far. Now Abigail’s last question was too much for him to handle. “I—ummm—I mean, no?”
“I wish I had the same courage you and your father do. To do the right thing no matter what position it puts you in. I’m not sure when the time comes I’ll be able to make the decision I know is right.”
“When the time comes for you to do the right thing, I know you will.” Jack could feel his heart racing a mile a minute as his feet took on a mind of their own.
He stepped closer. Before he knew what he was doing, he was brushing a strand of dark hair away from Abigail’s cheek. “And I’ll be there to help you.”
The look Abigail gave him made Jack feel like he could take on an entire army. He could feel the blood rush to his face like a bright sun shining down on him, and then, as their lips gravitated toward one another, a blood-curdling, inhuman scream tore through their perfect moment.