Start from Scratch (JenLisa Adaptation)

27

 'Just One More Thing'

No One's POV

Two weeks have passed since the day of the trial. Lisa, who was normally a light sleeper, woke to the sounds of Jennie crying out in the other room. Looking at her clock as she hopped out of the bed and threw on her robe, she could see it was 3:55 in the morning.

Lisa hurried out of her room into the still dark living room just in time to hear Jennie scream and suddenly sit up on the couch. She appeared to be very disoriented and upset and for a moment her arms flailed as if she was fighting off some imaginary attacker.

Lisa quickly kneeled by the couch, making sure not to touch Jennie. "Jennie. Jen. It's okay. You're safe. It was only a bad dream. Calm down."

Jennie seemed to calm slightly down hearing Lisa's soft voice, but it was obvious she was very disturbed by her nightmare.

"It's okay... just relax, you're safe now."

The feline continued to stare straight ahead, with a somewhat hollow expression.

"Just breathe Jen. You're okay."

After sitting there for a moment, Jennie rubbed her face and fought back a tear. "It was a bad one."

"I'm sorry you had another nightmare Jennie. Do you want me to hold your hand?"

"No. Don't touch me please. Not now."

Jennie then covered half her face with her open hand, this time letting a tear escape her eye, "How foolish I was to think I could ever actually be free of him. He was convicted 2 weeks and sentenced to life in prison 4 days ago and I'm still having nightmares about him."

"I'm here for you. I wasn't before, but I am now."

"Lisa, stop that!" Retorted Jennie quickly. "You did what you could. There's a saying, 'a dog can only bite the hand that feeds them so many times before they're left to starve.' I proverbially bit you more than enough times. Okay, you made mistakes, I'll admit that, but I'm way ahead of you in that department. So stop beating yourself up over it. Just sit with me for a moment."

"Okay." Replied Lisa in a soft voice.

"I dreamed that cops grabbed me and locked me in his cell. He just kept raping me, over and over..."

"You're okay now."

Jennie nodded but remained silent, as she sat there, collecting her thoughts.

"I'm just tired, when I'm tired, worn out or stressed, I have these dreams more often."

"Jennie that's the third one this week. I'm getting worried. I'm not sure what's going on but you've been going out the last few nights and staying out really late. Not to mention you've been spending 4-5 hours on the computer at a time for the last week. It's been wearing you out, not to mention you've been more short tempered than normal. What time did you come home tonight?"

Jennie ran her hands through her hair. "Just after 2 am."

"Jennie, I know you said this had to do with your mysterious project, but I'm worried. Whatever it is, it's not worth it."

"I have to do this Lisa. I just have one more thing to do, then I'm done. It will be worth it. I promise." Jennie said wearily.

"You will tell me what is this about, will you?"

"Yes. I will. I'm fine now. You can go back to bed, sorry for waking you."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine." Snapped Jennie, impatiently.