Chapter 39

It was 12:30am when Juana heard a movement in her window. No one was in the ward except her. It was like a person was trying to sneak in. She wondered who it was.

"Jesus Christ" she whispered to herself. Her room was on the second floor and the window was really tall, so who could have attempted climbing it especially in the middle of the night? She thought. Whoever it was was very smart and careful.

The window glass slipped open and Juana watched a figure jump into her room. He had lifted the burglary frame with his hands to make a way for him. Juana kept quiet but sat up. She was very scared. The figure moved towards her bed, and dipped its hand into its pockets. It was wearing a hoodie. It then lit a torchlight to expose its face. It was a man, and not a stranger at all. It was Jason-Michael!

Was he going to kill her? Or kidnap her? The last time they had met had ended in an argument that sent her running out of his house in fear, and rejecting her dinner at home because her mood had been made sour by his reaction. This thought heightened her fears.

His expression was blank, Juana couldn't read it. She waited for what would happen next as she was too frightened to make a sound.

He knelt before her and rubbed her fingers, "I'm not here to hurt you, Helen" he said carefully choosing his words. He looked like he was in a trance and did not realize he had just called her by his dead girlfriend's name. Juana's eyes widened in confusion.

"I'm sorry for sending you out of my house the last time. I miss you" She trusted him because his eyes looked like he meant it. She calmed down a bit, and held his hands too.

"Are you okay now?" She asked

"I need you to be better" he said. "Yesterday I smoked and drank because I was lonely. If you come, you can make me stop" he said.

"I still want to talk to you. I believe you didn't put the camera there. I trust you, Juana" he called her name rightly this time. She nodded and looked at his face.

"How did you know I was here?" She asked

He stood up and walked around the room. Then he locked the door from inside. He was skeptical about the safety of his surroundings. He didn't answer her question..

He walked over to the corner of the room as though he just spotted something. It was a camera; he turned it to the other side and damaged a part of it with his fist. "Seems even the hospital is helping the cops look for me" he sighed

"Jason?" She called in case he didn't hear her the first time.

"Don't ask me that question" he said curtly and sat on her bedside

"Why not?" She was surprised by his response. She almost thought he was carrying a weapon and was tempted to ask but resisted the temptation.

"Let me tell you something. That's why I'm here" he said silently. His voice was barely above a whisper and Juana struggled to listen.

"I'm all ears. Speak up" Juana said because he was too quiet. He was very conscious of his environment. Juana thought if he was an armed robber, he'd never get caught.

"Hush!..be quiet" he said and covered her mouth. They could hear footsteps near the room. Someone was inspecting the patients obviously. After a while, every noise died down and he began to talk again.

"I am going to die" he said as menacingly silent as ever. Another thing Jason would be very good at, was acting.

"No why would you say that?" She said slightly louder than normal.

"Be quiet... I'm telling you because you are the only one who cares about me. If I die, it's not going to change anything for any other person"

"What's happening? Are you going crazy?" Juana was scared of him dying. She was scared of Ivy, her best friend dying, and so she transferred all her painful fears on him with her sharp words

"I'm a criminal, a wanted one at that" he said

"I know. What's new?"

"If I don't die, I'll still die. There's no point trying to hide myself everyday. I'll get caught one day, I can't hide forever, you know?"

"I know" she said calmly

"Before I get caught and sentenced to death, I'd like to do something. That's why I'm here" he sighed.

"Do what?"

"Kill my father, and keep you with me" he said it like it was just normal. Juana covered her mouth in shock.

"I can never make peace with him, he led me to this state I'm in. He has to die, for ruining me, for frustrating my precious mother to death, and for deserting me. He sure deserves death" he said. He was suddenly out of breath. Juana could see he was fuming. She didn't know what to say.

"I'll keep hiding my face and identity until I fulfill my mission, then I'll expose myself to the world and get caught. I'm tired of hiding." He said not minding her silence.

"If anyone comes in my way, I'll get rid of him. Whether I still kill people or not doesn't matter anymore, because I'm still a criminal and I'm going to die after all" he said

"Did you kill her? Did you kill Helen?" Juana asked softly. The word 'kill' was literally cutting her tongue

He sighed and paused for a while before saying, "No, I could never do that. She was in my house when she was killed, and because I had a record of murder, everyone thinks it is me.

My aim was to find her killer and hand him over, but there's no more time for that. I don't mind dying in his place, for her" he said.

"I want you to live and start your life all over again" she said

"There's nothing I'm living for"

"Your music"

"It's not worth it"

"Me?"

"I'll only complicate your life. I'm no good for anyone" he said. Juana's eyes were teary.

"But I want you to keep my company while I fulfil this mission. That's all I ask from you. I want to feel good in the few moments before my death because I want to die peacefully. Could you do that for me?"

"Jason, killing your father is not going to give you peace"

"It will. Watch me" he laughed a dry laugh. Juana felt like slapping him hard on the face, but it was not a fair thing to do, so she didn't.