Behind the Mask

Chapter 78

Darkness Ahead...proceed with caution

Multiple POVs

Marissa's POV

My eyelids felt so heavy. I tried to sit up and simply couldn't. I heard garbled voices whispering. Assuming it was the guys, I tried to call out to them, but my voice didn't seem to work and soon the darkness consumed me again.

The next time I woke, I heard the familiar beeping of monitors. I opened my eyes expecting to see Sean and a hospital room only to see a dark-haired man, messing with an IV line and a plush room. "Good morning, Mrs. Porter," the man said softly. "I'm Dr. Murdoch. How are you feeling?"

It took me a moment to process what he'd called me. "Where am I? Where are my fiancées?"

He shook his head, "Your fiancées? I'm not sure what you're talking about ma'am. Let me go get your husband." He quickly walked out of the door and I began taking in my surroundings. I had an IV attached and a monitor belt around my stomach. I watched as the baby's heartbeat thumped consistently.

"Marissa?" Jackson's voice came from the doorway. I felt my chest tighten and I began to panic as the reality of my situation started to set in. It all came flooding back - the courtroom, what my father had said, the gunshots, then I'd passed out. "Marissa," take a deep breath. You need to calm down, this isn't good for the baby," he said, placing his hand on top of mine.

"Funny, I thought kidnapping wasn't good for the baby either," I snapped at him, jerking my arm away.

"I didn't kidnap you, Rissa. You're my wife. If anything, those men took you away from me." His jaw clenched. "It's high time you start behaving like a wife."

"I am not your wife," I growled.

He grabbed my hand and pushed it in front of my face, showing me an obscenely large diamond solitaire ring. "I beg to differ." He then kissed the back of my hand and I flinched. "I know we started off the wrong way, Rissa, but this can work." I watched as the man who called himself Dr. Murdoch came back in and began to inject something into my IV line.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, but he ignored me.

"Shh, Rissa. It's just something to help you relax," Jackson said, his voice sounding distant. My vision began to swim as he eased me back against the pillow. "I promise you it won't hurt you or our daughter, love." He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and I let out a whimper. My body felt heavy as I tried to stay awake, but it was useless and darkness took me again.

Jackson's POV

She looked beautiful as she slept. When Judge Roberts called and told me she had shown up at Dalton's trial, I was elated. It was the perfect opportunity and as usual, the Academy had all the bases covered. The added distraction of her lover being shot helped divert their attention just long enough. I ran my hand down her cheek and grinned when she leaned into my touch subconsciously.

"She'll sleep for several hours," Murdoch said as he placed the band over her ears. "I'm starting her off slow so that we can monitor her EEG readings as well as the baby's heart rate. I don't want to push her too quickly." Marissa let out a low moan and shifted in the bed. The doctor chuckled, "Judge will be here tonight. We'll need to make sure she eats before taking the stimulant. He wants to make sure she's compliant but fully conscious of her actions."

I nodded. She moaned again and I asked, "What exactly is she hearing?"

He gave a wide smile, "This time, she's basically hearing porn. Some sessions are just sounds, while others are frequencies and subliminal suggestions embedded in familiar sounds. When accompanied by the right stimulation, they help to embed new thoughts, memories, and skills. It's a type of operant conditioning training the Academy is using now." He reached down and pinched at her nipple making her arch and gasp but not wake. "Give it a few months and she will have a completely new set of memories. She'll think you two have been together for years and no doubt in her mind that you are the father of the child." He started for the doorway then stopped, "She'll be head over heels in love with you and look to you for guidance in everything, Jackson. Just be patient," he said, then left, closing the door behind him.