For once, he’d actually made his bed, so he got it in straight away without having to fuss around with sheets; he set his alarm, before letting the dreamy world take him in.
Beep.Beep.Beep.Beep.
Jax groaned and fumbled fro his alarm button, he found it and the alarm stopped. Immediately, he jumped out of bed, washed, got changed into his work suit, (pink shirt and black tie with black trousers), before zooming down the lift, and into the uncertain world of work. He hailed a cab and got out in front of Dagenham Daily’s offices. Then, he straightened his tie, and walked in.
“Hey Carol” he said brightly to ‘the women who never smiles’, the receptionist gave him a look of pure venom, he chuckled to himself, before entering the main complex. Various people came up to him, some said hello, others slapped him on the back in a ‘blokey’ way. He looked over at Sofia’s desk. Empty. Hangover he grumbled to himself, before seating himself, at his desk, Jason Stratton leaned over him.
“I want that report Jax….the one about satanic beliefs in Dagenham and I want it today!” barked Jason. Jax sighed, quietly though.
“Right”
Finally…he had space. He switched his computer on and logged into his email client.
To: Sofia4
From: Jax6
Msg: Hey….. Nice nite? : P
Ding.
Jax opened the message.
To: Jax6
From: Sofia4
Msg: The vodka jumped out and bit me :P back at ya
To: Sofia4
From: Jax6
Msg: Yeah rite….Wat ya up to tonite?
Ding.
To: Jax6
From: Sofia4
Msg: Ok….meet you at ur house at about 4?
He waited and waited for a reply, none came. Probably fallen asleep he thought before opening his half-finished report.
Satanic goings-on on Dagenham
Every week, a group of Satan worshipers meet in The Trumpet, the old pub on School road, to carry out certain rituals, as suspected by the School Road residents, who say they hear chanting in strange tongues and see candles in the windows. Phillip Woodard says, “I see men in robes carrying golden candles walking down the road at approximately 12 each night”
Jax sighed, and consulted his guide sheet, before typing a few more lines. Then, the phone next to him started to emit a bleeping noise, Jax picked it up.
“Hello?”
“You sick, sick git, I ain’t leavin’ you alone Jax...you’re scum”
“What?”
“Don’t play all innocent with me”
“No…I really don’t know what I’ve done!”
“You’ve been emailing Sof”
“Yeah…..”
“Oh shut up…I ain’t gonna waste time on you…my friend needs me”
The phone went dead.
Heck
Jax shut off his computer, grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
“Oi Jax! I need your report!” yelled a distant voice. But Jax was in a world of his own, he charged through the door, and hailed the first can he saw.
Five minutes later he was stood in the porch of Sofia’s house, he knocked.
Sandra, the women from the phone, and Sofia’s best bosom buddy opened the door.
“Go away!” she snapped, trying top close the door on his hand, he held it open. Just.
“I want to see her, and I want to know what the hell I’ve done wrong!”
Sandra’s lip curled, before, to his surprise, she let him in.
“You ain’t seeing ‘er…but it would be a pleasure to refresh yer memory!” she snarled, while opening up Sofia’s email client. She opened up the last email he had sent her. He looked at it.
“Oh my god” he muttered staring at the picture in horror. He felt sick, he ran straight past Sandra and into the bathroom, he retched and last night’s curry stained the toilet bowl, he gurgled some water, before spitting it out and flushing. He watched, almost hypnotised by the swirling yellow liquid, slowly turning clear.
“Hell” he whispered, still shaken, he came out the cubicle and…she was there, watching him. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face blotchy and red.
“Sof?” he whispered.
“I’m sorry…I knew it wasn’t you who sent it. Sandra wouldn’t listen……” she rasped, producing a rather dangerous looking tissue which was riddled wit holes.
“But who did?” Jax muttered half to himself. She snaked her arm around his shoulders to support herself, he noticed her knees weren’t stable.
“I don’t want to know…..some saddo in the office” she whispered, her breath tickling his ear.
“Come on…let’s get you in an armchair with a cuppa” he said, walking slowly towards the bathroom door.
“Jax…..” she hissed, her face suddenly grave.
“Yeah?”
“Get rid of it”
He nodded, before letting her down onto the sink; she leant against him and gave him small smile as he opened the door.
Jax was ready for it this time. The picture. It looked surprisingly real, like a photograph, the picture was of a dark room, and lain on a plastic slab was Sofia. Dead. Lines of blood covered her body, as her eyes stared up at the light bulb, which wasn’t lit. Jax scrolled down, and was surprised to find words:
Abyassus mortal….this is you…
This is where your lover will leave you,
Revenge isn’t sweet,
But it is necessary.
“Hell” Jax whispered to himself, before closing the email client, he erased every trace, every strand of computer information about the email, before shutting the computer down. He felt sick again. He rummaged in his pocket for his Marlboro and his neon green lighter, with almost shaking hands he lit, and inhaled the fumes. Wow…i've missed you….he put the lighter back in his pocket, and went back into the loo.
“It’s gone, and so has Carol judging by the very unnatural silence” he said softly.
“I thought you’d given up” she said eyeing his cigarette
“Heck, when the hell did I say that…after a few shots I bet” he muttered.
“Jax….” She pleaded, giving him The Eyes. He sighed and made a show of rolling his eyes, before stamping out the cigarette and depositing it into the waste bin. She smiled approvingly. Nagging again, Oh well…least she’s better.
“Are you staying?”
He exhaled.
“I’ve got a match. At The Wet Dog tonight”
“Jax please…i'm scared…really really freaked out ok? Limit reached got it?”
He nodded; but he wasn’t going to miss the chance to win twenty-odd grand just because some saddo was getting a laugh out of his girlfriend.
“I’ll be back later…I promise…” he reached out and tentatively stroked her red cheek, then before she could do anything; he grabbed his coat, before he changed his mind. I hurt him to leave her, when she was like this; he swore that when he found this git sending he’d beat the gall out of him. Jax lazily checked his Rolex, five minutes; he broke into a leisurely jog. Times like this he yearned for his motorbike. It was still in the garage, getting the exhaust fixed, Johnny had promised him he’d have it ready for tomorrow, he still hadn’t called. The sun’s rays gently stoked over Jax, he wasn’t what you’d call fat, but neither thin, he could feel his lungs, first contentedly puffing, now they were working much more feverishly, a small sticky bead of sweat dripped onto his shirt. I could murder a pint. Finally the red-paned door of The Wet Dog came into view; Jax pushed it open and strode towards the poker table. To his surprise, only one man sat there. He looked in his twenties and his straw coloured hair was stealthily sneaking towards his eyes which were a striking hazelnut brown, he wore a black tuxedo and black jeans; he smiled slyly at Jax as he sat down.
“Where’s everyone else?” Jax asked.
“They didn’t show up” shrugged the man. I guessed.
“Guess it’s just the two of us then?”
“Looks like it”
After ordering as pint from a rather greasy looking brunette, he sat back down.
“Jax”
“Duivel” smiled the man.
Duivel dealt, and Jax picked his cards up, while throwing in his blind. Two of diamonds and two of clubs. A pair. Ducks. Jax calmly pushed forward a few chips
“Bet 10”
Duivel rose to twenty. The flop was turned over. Jack of diamonds, 5 of spades, 2 of clubs. Well, that certainly improved the twos. A single bead of tell-telling sweat trickled down and joined with the one already stained down his shirt. Jax was going to be evil, hell he felt lie it, he’d had an evil day, he almost drew another cigarette out of his packet, he tutted to himself. Hell, that s a reflex action...not good. He pushed a few more chips forward.
“Bet 40”
Duivel smiled in quite a mysterious manner, before calling him. The turn card: 10 of diamonds.
“Bet 60”
“Raise 70”
River card: Ace of spades
“Bet 100”
“Check”
Hell. Jax’s eyes boggled at the pile of chips on the table, most were his chips. Oh god…he’s raised me all the way. He’s got something… Jax tuned over his cards. Duivel’s face fell, Jax bit his lip to restrain his traitorous smile, then, in an almost hypnotic manner, Duivel turned his cards face up. King and queen. Jax swore angrily, Duivel smirked at him smugly. Jax felt his hackles rise up, hell, he actually snarled at Duivel, before roughly grabbing the pack and dealing it, throwing the cards rather too aggressively on the table. He picked up his own cards. Ace and King. Second best pre-flop hand possible. He allowed himself the luxury of a very small smile, before flicking back to passive.
We meet again Jax……
Jax’s body froze, he looked around him, the pub’s occupants were happily drinking themselves to an early grave, not one human or drunk was looking at him. Heck, you’re in my head.
Aye…well done. You’re learning…
Who the hell are you? Thought Jax furiously.
Never mind that now...that is one nice hand Jaxxy boy…..
Jax’s concentration slipped back into the game, Duivel was staring at him.
“You all right?” he hissed. Jax nodded. Duivel grabbed all of his chips and pushed them into the middle of the table.
“All in”
“Yeah I can see that” replied Jax feeling incredibly bitter.
Oooh…what yer gonna do Jaxxy?
There was a pause, that sounded almost like and intake of breath, as Jax listened to his brain, time itself seemed to freeze.
You know…I love poker. People get so involved in it you know? People can bet anything, even their life, for the turn of a card, money is life, Duivel has bet his…would you bet yours? Bet your life?
Jax tensed, feeling slightly sick, he eyed his cards warily. Then time awoke.
“Fold” he said softly, dropping his cards as though they were burning him.
Oh…I see you’re a coward. What a joke. You’re just a big joke Jax…
Duivel turned over his cards: Six of spades and three of hearts. Hell…I’d have won £20,000 big ones……Jax’s blood bubbled fighting the barriers of his veins, his brain thumped, still working yet crying out for some TLC.
Just a big joke.
Duivel dealt, Jax picked up his two cards and stared at them. Two Jokers. His blood was no longer bubbling for freedom. It already had it, it was roaring through his body at 500mph, his whole body turned red hot, and his stomach twisted inside out. He shot up and sprinted to the men’s, before bending over a urinal and coughing up his ham sandwich with extra pickle that he ate for lunch, he washed the evil tasting liquid out of his mouth and looking into the dirt-smeared mirror before him.
“What the hell has happened to me?” he whispered as he stared at the rather green face in front of him.
Nothing…..yet
Somewhere, deep within the infinite depths of his brain, a voice laughed, Jax’s stomach tightened. Ever so slightly. And somewhere else, even deeper then the depths was the slow, almost mesmerising sound from the tap behind him.
Drip. Drap.
You know…I actually quite admire you, coming here, leaving your beloved behind…
Drip. Drap
Especially dafter I sent her that little message…
“You rotten b-,”
The voice interrupted him.
Going to swear at me Jax? One day your anger will be your downfall.
What was that revenge thing about? Jax snarled.
Drip. Drap.
You have wronged me Jax…..
What! When? How?
You will not remember…two years ago.
The strange thing was that Jax couldn’t remember two years ago, he never had been able to, it was like he was a manuscript, with a huge ink blot at its beginning, the earliest memory he had was being thirty-five years old and moving into his flat in southern London.
Drip. Drap.
Jax went back outside into the pub, and sprinted to the table and Duivel.
“You win” panted Jax, “Sorry I-I have to go”.
One of Duivel’s eyebrows lifted, then seemed to decide it wasn’t worth the effort, and sank lazily back down again.
“Oh…guess I get my money back then” he smiled. Jax didn’t bother to ask, there was only one thing on his mind and that was Sofia, he didn’t know what this voice was capable of, but it certainly managed to change his cards. He ran into the cold night, on a direct course to Sofia’s. He reached for his phone, and dialled her number as he ran.
“You’re late”
“Sofia! Thank God…you’re ok right?”
“Oh...i got beaten up and stabbed a few times but yeah…relatively normal”
“That’s not funny”
“Good”
“I'm on my way”
“Good” she hung up.
Five minutes later, and under the light of the newly fledged full moon, he entered her home.
Drip.Drap.
“Your tap’s dripping” he whispered.
“Yep it’s been doing it for the last hour” said the sofa. He sat down next to her.
“Are you staying tonight?” she purred, staring into his caramel eyes pleadingly. He sighed.
“No”
“Why?”
“Because…..” he hesitated, “Because for the last two years, I’ve abused women for my own pleasure….and i'm not treating you like that”.
“I wish you would”
He grinned wickedly.
“I've got a blindin’ headache”
“Aw……” she said slapping his shoulder playfully. He gently stroked her cheeks, now back to their usual healthy complexion, she shuddered slightly at his touch, he slowly pressed his lips to hers, and kissed her.
“I love you” he whispered, finding her ear. Suddenly a pain shot through him, like a needle had sliced his heart in two, he screamed, somewhere in his head a bull was stamping, it was angry, furious, and each stomp sent shockwaves through his brain down to the rest of this body. He stood up and got away from Sofia, keeping his burning head clasped in his hands.
I have a line Jax, a line of molten fire...and you have just crossed it.
He screamed as his veins coursed with adrenaline, his nerves felt as if they had burst into flames, he felt her touch him, her yell of pain, he wanted to comfort her, to help her, stop her pain, but he had pain of his own, he could feel his heart struggling under the pressure, her clawed at his face with his hands like a demon, but the energy possessing his fingers wasn't his own. He howled clutching his cheeks, as the blood slowly and almost lazily trickled on a steady path down to the floor; he dived for the mirror on the mantelpiece and looked at himself. Two deep blood-ridden cuts went from his eye to his chin. The mirror also caught Sofia; she too had the same marks. Just like the picture….
“What the hell gives you the right!?” he roared angrily.
I need no right…
“When I find you. Whatever or whoever you are. I swear…I will wring every drop of blood from your sorry carcass!” Jax snarled
Oh really…
Drip. Drap.
Jax stood up, he looked at Sofia, she was unconscious, the blood had stopped flowing, her wounds had clotted, so he presumed his had too, carefully he picked her up and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. He tucked her up and quickly scribbled a note:
In next room. Don’t worry. I will not leave you. Love Jax XXXXXX
He kissed her forehead and pulled the duvet up to her chin, before drawing the curtains. As an afterthought, he put his Swiss Army knife on the table beside her, along with her phone with his number ready to dial, then without another word, he shut the door and entered the spare room where a small bed was nested in the corner. He grabbed his phone and dialled.
“Hello, Directory Enquires”
“Hey, I’d like to know the number for Dr Stefan; he runs surgery in Dagenham, London”.
“Ok lemme check”
There was the sound of typing on a keyboard, and slurping of a hot beverage.
“Ok...its 02736 74250”
“Ok thanks”
“Bye”
The phone went dead. Jax would leave it till morning before ringing Stefan, he settled on the pillow uncomfortably as his cuts stung, yet soon the uncertain world of sleep took over him.
Beep. Beep.
Jax groaned, but perked up when he realised the sound was his phone ringing. He answered.
“Hello?”
“Hey Jax…fixed yer bike, new exhaust, listen I weren’t sure where yer lived, so I dropped it off down by the church”
“Right thanks mate”
“I’ll send yer the bill” The mechanic hung up.
Oh thanks thought Jax bitterly, before washing and getting dressed, he ran downstairs and switched the kettle on.
“Sof?” he yelled into the silence.
“Yeah?” she said five seconds later.
“I’m collecting my bike, back in a sec, kettle’s on”
“Okay” she yawned.
H grabbed his jacket, swung it over his shoulder, and walked to the church, ignoring the twenty-odd birds observing him from the safety of the telegraph pole. The vicar was tending to his beloved hanging baskets.
Jax ignored him and peered into the canvas of cars that made the church car park. And there it was. It was literally gleaming. He caressed it gently, no new marks, flawless. H pushed it to the end of the road, passing the imposing church entrance with its giant oak cross pasted above it. Suddenly, the ground seemed to open before his very eyes, his knees wobbled, and suddenly they sighed, before giving in and thumping rather sadly to the tarmac, Jax felt sick again, he whimpered in a mardy kind of way before rolling onto this back to stare a the oak cross, then…blackness, sheer deep creamy blackness.
He awoke the find himself back inside Sofia’s house, he was slumped against the wall and opposite him was Sofia, who was shaking gently, her eyes once again bloodshot, she was muttering words underneath her breath.
“Sof?”
She carried on her inaudible muttering.
“Sofia?” he said a little louder, she still didn’t stir. Something didn’t seem right, something was out of place, our of time, he wasn’t sure, but just to make sure, he reached out and grabbed his penknife from the table above him, clasping it firmly against his heart.
“Sofia?” he tried again, louder still. She didn’t stir. Again. Something wasn’t right. Something was definitely out of place; Jax got up and strode towards the door, before opening it and stepping out onto the landing, flicking his pen knife blade open as he went.
“Abyassus Jax…we meet again” hissed the man. Jax’s eyes flickered to the gun pointed squarely at his chest, then to the blonde hair. Duivel.
“You!” snarled Jax, “You all along!”
Duivel ignored him.
“You took what was mine…..I have waited…hungered so long for revenge…..”
“Oh….this is two years ago right? The bit I don’t remember?!”
Duivel nodded.
“So...what did I do?”
“You seduced my soul mate…..my Teri” rasped Duivel, his hazelnut eyes flashing dangerously.
Jax stared at Duivel, then remembering the gun, he shuffled uncomfortably.
“I-I really don’t remember…”
“Teri died for her…” Duivel’s lip curled in disgust, “mistake”
“I’m sorry”
“So…you must pay penance…”
Jax ran his finger along the penknife, wiling himself to be patient, wait for the right moment.
“But….in the past…you have been a willing servant…and so…I will let you die with honour” Duivel made a show of bringing his spare hand up to Jax’s face, who tried desperately not to blink, then, he clicked his fingers. In a nanosecond, everything changed, they were back inside Sofia’s room, Jax’s penknife had disappeared, and so had Duivel’s gun, Duivel grinned at him smugly, Jax glanced at Sofia, who was still happily muttering away.
“What have you done to her?”
“Oh…turned her insane….its a temporary change. don’t worry” Duivel hissed, before taking a few steps closer to Jax, he bent over and his breath tickled Jax’s ear, Jax winced.
“Just two mortals….” He whispered, and then, he was once again four paces in front of Jax. Duivel swung a left hook his way, Jax dodged easily, before launching a counter-punch, which was narrowly dodged by Duivel. Jax had only ever thought before, and it was against a drunk, he’d won easily, as his opponent only threw four punches at him, then wobbled a bit, then collapsed. The fight continued, with Jax weaving and dodging, trying to wear his opponent down, which seemed to be working, Duivel was sweating quite profusely. Jax had found the perfect moment, the most perfect moments could be, he was sure of it, no, he was certain of it after the next punch had come his way, he was going to take a gamble. A very big gamble. In mid manoeuvre of the ‘perfect move at the perfect moment’, a distant, slightly rusty cog in Jax’s brain began to turn, and with that, came realisation, but thirty seconds too late. Duivel could read his mind.
Jax’s attack was foiled, and Duivel had him flat on his back in seconds, as he panicked as Duivel’s hands reached for his throat, he remembered something, something silly, beyond silly even, utterly ridiculous, ‘stare your opponent down’. He’d obviously heard it from some kind of cheesy boxing movie, but as he gasped for breath and his windpipe started to cave in, he decided it was worth a whirl. So he stared. Duivel’s eyes were no longer hazelnut, they were red. Blood red. So Jax stared at the eyes, and there was a link between the two men, it was brief, but enough, Jax had seen what he had been and still was, and Duivel knew that. And it worried him. Jax wriggled and wrestled and wrenched himself free, and the tables were turned. Duivel was in Jax’s mercy, but Jax was beyond mercy, he punched, he kicked, he grabbed hold of his victim’s jacket lapels and smashed his skull against the hard oak floor, and. there was blood, the beast within him roared in victory, he was crazed. He was mad. Sofia’s screams were drowned out by Jax’s own heartbeat.
Derdum.Derdum.Derdum.Derdum.
Somewhere, in the endless abyss, a woman was yelling.
“Jax! He’s dead!” Jax looked at the woman, before calmly letting go of the bloody mess, and striding out of the room, then the house, leaving the woman and the carcass alone.
By Natalie Beard 9AT
