The Don's Wife

40.6 | Jackson : A Proposition

It turned out to be a vacant apartment where the Harley was parked next to. Relatively small, probably about five floors in total. No signs of life, no furnitures, only broken floor tiles, decaying ceilings and walls decorated with cracks, molds, plus a handful of graffiti on the side. If not for the sun that played its role as a natural lighting, Micah would be as good as a blind man.

Floor upon floor Micah ascended, he scouted throughout the building with his gun ready in hand, stealthily checked every room within each level for the rider's whereabouts. It was until he reached the topmost floor that he came across a door which leads to the rooftop. Doing his utmost to not make a sound, he carefully pushed it open, and straight away, there was the rider he's been searching for. Wearing a motorcycle helmet, dressed in all black from top to bottom under the scorching sun, crouching down while holding a sniper rifle in arms, aiming right at the junkyard across the apartment, where the negotiation is currently occurring.

Having a clear idea on who the target was, Micah shot the rider's arm which held the rifle's trigger from behind without any further thought, resulting in the missed shot between James and Tommy.

Before James could deduce who, where, and why, or even thinking about saving himself, all that occupied his mind the second the bullet hit the ground was his wife's safety. So he turned to her and shouted as if it was the last words he could utter.

"Take the boy and get to the car. NOW!"

Knowing better not to argue with her husband in such dire situation, Rosalind waste no time in snatching Jackson's arm and whisked him away from the field of gunfire that took place right after.

Meanwhile back at the rooftop, Micah aimed for a second shot at the anonymous rider's leg in an effort to capture and reveal his identity underneath the helmet. But the rider beat Micah to it as he pulled a gun out of his jacket then shoot it multiple times in Micah's direction.

Unfortunately, due to being unaccustomed to hold guns by his left hand, coupled with Micah's vigilance, prompted him to miss his aim. Though it did bought him enough time to flee from the scene.

"Son of a bitch!" Micah cussed as he rushed to chase the rider down the building by following the trail of blood he left behind from his injured arm.

But by the time Micah exited the building, the rider had already drove off with his motorcycle, away from the site.

"Fuck!" Micah kicked down a garbage bin near him, venting his frustration.

***

"Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen–" Hands covering both of his ears, Jackson chanted aloud to deafen the blaring noise of gunshots outside the car, simultaneously, alleviating his rattling heartbeat.

"Jackson?" Next to him, Rosalind called out, puzzled by his oddness.

"Fluorine, Neon, Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminium–"
His chants gradually grew faster, more intense. And the more he chanted, the more his palpitations grew rapid.

"Jackson!" Rosalind shook his shoulder, trying to reach out to him. Jackson finally burst.

"What? What the fuck?! What in the fucking fuck is going on?!" He unconsciously yelled into her face.

"Snap out of it!" *slap!*

On one hand it was an attempt to genuinely snap Jackson out of his stupor. On the other, his outburst freaked Rosalind out.