Into The Red Forest

Chapter 6- Red John & The Red Traitor

Chapter 6: Red John and The Red Traitor

Lisbon didn't know what time it was when she woke up. The room she woke up in was pitch black and she felt groggy as she struggled to wake up and collect her thoughts. I was in the forest with Jane and we saw a deer and then…she thought, but she couldn't finish the thought.

A low moan rose from one of the corners of the room. She shook off the effects of the drug and tried to scramble to her feet, only to realize her hands and feet were tied with zip ties.

She looked around the dark room somewhat frantically. "Jane?! Jane?!"

She heard him struggling to sit up but she couldn't see him.

He looked around for her. "Lisbon?!"

She sighed in relief. "I'm right here. Are you ok?"

He pulled at the cords that bound his hands and feet. "Yes, but it appears we're tied up with zip cords. This is Red John's hideout. I'm sure of it. And I know who the traitor is, it's-"

He stopped as the door opened and someone came in and cut the zip ties that held Lisbon's legs together and dragged her into another room upstairs. They sat her roughly down into a chair and retied her legs to the chair. A few minutes later, she heard Jane being sat down in the chair next to her and tied to it.

A soft, smooth voice spoke next to Jane's ear. "So, Mr. Jane, we meet again. And what a lovely reunion it is because now, your lover is here to join us as well. How sweet."

Red John's assistant turned on a light but stayed in the shadows. Red John stayed behind them in the dark.

Jane's voice was cold. "She isn't my lover. It was a trap and you fell for it."

Red John chuckled, high and cold. "Patrick, do you take me for a fool? I know that you and Agent Lisbon are in love. My assistant here has been feeding me information about you two. And they have reported that you two have gotten rather…close recently. Carrying her back to the campsite and tending to her injured ankle, almost kissing her on the dock when you thought you were alone. She refused you, didn't she? And then when she fell off that rock wall and you were the one to catch her. But silly me, I almost forgot the most important part…the kiss you two shared in the forest right before you were captured. How did it feel, kissing her? Did it remind you of your dearly departed wife? Did you think about how you were betraying her, kissing another woman after she had gone?"

Jane glared straight ahead. "Fine, I love her. It's true, but don't think you're going to hurt her."

Red John chuckled again. "Oh, I beg to differ. You can't stop me. I think I'm going to let you sit here and watch while I kill the only other woman you have ever loved. You can watch the life drain out her eyes helplessly like the dishonest little worm you are and know that there's not a thing in the world you can do to save her. Grace, the scalpel, please, we're going to start slow."

Grace walked into the light and Lisbon's face registered shock and horror.

Grace's eyes looked cold and unlike her. "I'm sorry, Lisbon."

Lisbon's eyes turned sad as Grace handed Red John the scalpel. "Why, Grace, why?"

Grace frowned. "I got tired of being labeled as the "good girl." Because my dad was a famous football coach I was expected to be perfect all the time and when I joined your team, I felt underappreciated. I did tons of work for your team and I barely got any credit. It was always "Cho and Rigsby do this, Cho and Rigsby that." "Grace, stay here and run down phone records." My talents were being wasted, Teresa. Red John showed me my full potential."

Lisbon sighed. "Grace, I appreciated you. I never meant for you to feel like I didn't. Why didn't you talk to me?"

The young agent's voice hardened. "It's too late for that, Teresa."

Red John smiled. "She's right, you know." He looked up at Jane, the scalpel pressing gently against Lisbon's neck. "Are you ready to watch your

girlfriend die, slowly and painfully? I hope you enjoyed that kiss because it will be her last."

Jane watched helplessly as Red John cut Lisbon's neck, shallow but enough to make her bleed. She winced but he could see she was fighting so she wouldn't cry out.

"I can see it's going to take a lot more to break you, Teresa. Just as I suspected. But no matter, you'll break in time and then he gets to watch you die." Red John said airily.

"Like hell I will." Lisbon muttered.

"Ah, feisty are we? Angela put up a fight too, you know, but she lost. As will you. And like Angela, there will be nothing he can do to stop me from murdering you before his eyes." Red John told her, and Jane tried not to look too concerned because he knew Red John would hurt Lisbon more if he detected concern. He cut at Lisbon's cheek, causing her to let out a tiny whimper, but she held strong. He cut deeper into her cheek and she groaned.

Jane willed himself not to say anything, but he watched her bleed on the wood floor and the tears in her eyes and the words came out before he could stop them.

"Kill me, let Lisbon go. It's me you want. Just let her go. Now." he said sternly.

"No, Jane!" Lisbon cried.

Red John let out a mirthless laugh. "Kill you? Now now, Mr. Jane. I don't think you're in the proper position to make demands, but if you want to change the rules, we can. I'm a fair man. I suppose I can just kill her now. Yes, I think that's an excellent idea. Grace, can you be a dear and go fetch my gun out of the car? The Glock should do nicely."

Grace nodded. "Yes, sir."

Once she was outside, Grace sent a quick text on her phone, retrieved the gun and went back inside, handing it to the serial killer.

"Thank you, my dear." he said, turning to Lisbon.

Jane's eyes locked with Lisbon's when Red John wasn't looking, he mouthed "I love you" and then he heard the gunshot.