Chapter 26: Surprise
1087 Words
The rest of the day was a blur for Jessica. Her mind was fuzzy, and she just went through her duties like a zombie on autopilot. She was sure people who talked to her probably thought she was insane since she was only humming in response to their questions. The reality was that her mind was entrapped to that day three years ago. That day which had changed her life and so many others. She was a coward, she knew, which is why she always had tried to suppress those memories. But Roger had made her remember those times again.
She almost dreaded as the time came closer to her shift ending as that meant, she would have more time to think about her actions. She would not be able to hide from her mother and Evan as well; they could always tell when something was wrong with her.
Jessica changed into her clothes, gathered her items, and walked out. She had refrained from asking Aaron to pick her up; she did not feel like talking to anyone right now. The cool night air enveloped her face and refreshed her senses even though it brought her no relief. Instead, it felt like a slap to her face as if even mother nature was telling her of her wrongdoings.
Jessica had been walking on the street for a few minutes when a taxi pulled up beside her. The driver rolled down the window and yelled out.
"Hey, lady!"
Jessica stopped walking and looked over, “Yes?”
“I was waiting out in the front lobby for you. Even called your name and you walked right past!” The man, who had a thick Boston accent, yelled out while smoking a cigarette.
“You were waiting for me? But I did not even call for a taxi?” Jessica replied in a confused tone.
"I don't know, lady. Someone called me and told me to pick up a…Jessica Brown. Is that you?" The man asked while reading off from a piece of paper.
"That's me, but…"
"Well, get in lady, I don't have all day!"
Jessica confusedly got inside the car. "Who ordered the taxi?"
The driver rolled his eyes. "Probably one of your friends. He told me to pick you up and drop you off. Told me not to tell you where to go because it was a surprise."
Jessica smiled. Okay, maybe it was Aaron then? He was known to have surprised her in odd ways before. She settled in cozily even though the smoke from his cigarette was suffocating her.
“So, you can't even give me a hint?”
"Nu-uh…the man paid me extra to not tell you even if you asked."
“Really? Huh!” Jessica hummed. Now she was dying with curiosity to know what Aaron had planned.
She watched as the buildings soared by and they turned into a more rural area. The lights of the city were behind them now and only the small lights of the houses and village shops illuminated the road. Jessica felt a slight discomforting feeling within her; she was in an unknown place with an unknown man, but she ignored that feeling. She was sure Aaron had thought of everything; he would not leave her alone like this!
“Here is it,” the driver grunted.
“Where?” Jessica looked out. They were in the middle of nowhere! There was no house, nothing in sight! It was pitch dark and she could not even see that far!
“Here, this is the place. This is where he told me to drop you off.”
“But…here? Where? Where is he? There is nothing here!” Jessica grumbled.
"I don't know, lady. You are wasting my time. Why don't you call him?" The man replied in an irritated tone.
Jessica rolled her eyes and started rummaging through her bag.
“Not here! I have a job to do. I can't sit around waiting for you!”
“Okay! Jeez! You're so rude!” Jessica yelled out as she exited his car. She had not even closed the door properly when the man pressed on the gas and sped away, his lights disappearing off into the distance leaving her alone in the darkness.
The quietness of the night was eerie – too eerie. The man must have made a mistake, she thought. There was nothing here.
Jessica started walking and yelled out, “Aaron?” Her voice echoed back to her with no reply.
"Aaron, are you here?" Jessica screamed out again into the night. Again, only her voice echoed back to her.
That feeling of discomfort came back full force. There was something very wrong. Aaron would never leave her here like this – not even as a joke. He knew how afraid of the dark she was. He had always joked about how she needed the night light more than her son, Evan.
Jessica started looking through her bag for her phone. Something was definitely wrong, and she needed to call Aaron. As her hands flitted through the contents of her purse, she did not feel the familiar shape of her phone. Her heartbeat started increasing; where was her damn phone!?
Jessica set down her bag on the dirt road and squinted trying to look for her phone. Where was it!?
She was full out panicking now. She was stranded in the middle of nowhere and she had no phone!
"Oh, f**k!" Jessica yelled out as she remembered she had taken out her phone and left it in her apron pocket. Had she not put it back in her bag? She must have! Damn it! She rummaged through had bag one more time in panic and still nothing!
Jessica whimpered loudly; what was she going to do now?
Jessica stood up and squared her shoulders preparing herself for the mental pep talk.
“Jess, you are a grown woman. You can figure this out. So what, a man dropped you off in the middle no f*****g where. But you can figure this out!”
Jessica looked right and then left and chose to walk the way they had come from. She was bound to reach the city limits even if it took her all night.
______
Ruth smirked as the taxi driver told her the job had been done. Did that b***h Jessica Brown think she was going to let her off this easily? No way!
- Writer
