The Lady's Game (Completed)

3 - Silent Tear

Chapter 3

Jack.

I whimper in fright and freeze.

He doesn't say any-thing, but his eyes seem to say everything and yet reveal nothing. He takes in my pathetically shaking figure in one predatory sweep of his gaze, and then settles his attention back to my face. His silence makes my shaking worst, and yet his eyes stay blank and impasive, not revealing the black anger that I know is just below the surface.

I glance behind him, only to find that he's alone. Unease settles inside of me as I remember Eddie stopping Jack last time. Who will stop him now?

I look back at Jack, hugging my small figure and stepping back against the wall, trying to put as much distance between us. His gaze follows my every movement, sending a clear message: You're not going any-where.

'W ...what do you want?' I whisper, trying to hold his gaze but failing miserably. 

He doesn't answer, not that I expeced him to. I shiver as the intensity of hatred in his gaze gradually increases and seems to make the temperature drop noticeably.

His straight face splits into a chilling smile. 'Hmmm ... wot do I want,' he murmurs, trailing his hand down to his belt and suddenly bringing it back up to reveal something shining mockingly in the faint light. 

A knife. 

I gasp and squeeze my eyes shut, my hearing drowned in the estatic beat of my heart. Regret fills every pore on my skin; from my panicking, muddling mind all the way down to my frozen feet which refuse to move and run. Why did I leave the house?

'Wot I want is some-thin' real special,' he hisses, leaning forwards. Tears pool my eyes even thought they're closed, and trail down my cheeks agonizingly slowly, leaving a path of fright and shame in their wake. 

'Do yer wanna know wot I really want?' he continues, bringing the tip of the knife to the soft surface of my neck. I flinch, trembling, but don't reply.

'I want-' 

'Bessandra dear!' chirps a high-pitched voice from around a corner. 

My eyes snap open as hope makes my heart soar. I turn, trying to catch a glimpse of her angelic face from my angle, but the constant threat of the knife at my neck restricts most of my movements. 

'Aunt Maria?' I croak, not believing my luck. I hear shuffling, coming closer and closer to where I am, and turn to look at Jack. I flinch from his thunderous face, but nothing short of my death can tamper my hopes now. 

'Yer go hide behind yer Aunt's skirts,' he sneers, releasing the pressure on my neck, 'but ye'll never be safe from me, I'll make sure of that.' 

I hold my breath as he steps back, eyes boring a hole into my face. The sound of approaching footsteps makes me turn my head away from the storm of anger inside his eyes and look at the corner, were the shadow of Aunt Maria is cast imposingly on the dirty, brick wall. My heart beats loud in my chest, but from happiness and hope this time, until she turns and I catch sight of her face.

Suddenly, the three months that I had turned my nose down on her on the inside melt and lay discarded at the pit of my mind, never to have a place in my judgement again. How could I have been so stupid as to not have seen how she cared for me?

Happy tears take the place of the old ones and I push myself off the wall and run to her, throwing my arms around her waist and hugging her.

'Oh, aunt, I'm so glad you came!' I cry, hugging her even tighter.