Jackson Clay Did It

Prologue: Eleven Years Ago

November 3, 2005

  In the dim hall, a young boy with shaggy blond hair stands, his back pressed against the wall. A sinister glint shines in his emerald eyes, he is waiting for the headmistress of the orphanage to wake up. Slowly an evil smirk forms on his face, behind his back the glint of scissors shine. The sound of clicking heels down the hall causes his muscles to seize. His hand tightens around the scissors, Mrs. Catherine walks down the hall. Her wrinkled face showing a peaceful smile. "Good morning Jackson, are you going to surprise Mrs. Ketch again?" She asks when her blue eyes land on the tense boy.

  Jackson gives the old woman a bright smile, "Yes ma'am!"  He speaks with forced happiness. Mrs. Catherine pats his head and continues down the hall, slowly the boy's smile falls. "I'm sure she will be in for a big surprise." He mumbles. The sound of shuffling from the door next to him sends a shudder of excitement down his spine. A blood-curdling scream echoes down the hall, laughter erupts from the child. Light floods into the hallways when Mrs. Ketch rips her door open. Her gray hair was unevenly cut, one side was shorter than the other. Her wrinkled face was red with anger. Jackson's laughter abruptly stops. "You!" She screams, Jackson's stomach drops. He sprints down the hall. The scissors clatter to the floor. Later that day Jackson had gotten a good hiding for what he had done and was sent to his room. He stared blankly out his window.

  His tear stained face was void of any expression. He sat and stared at the other children running around happily. Unlike the other children, Jackson knew why his mother abandoned him all those months ago. She was scared of him, always saying he wasn't her son. Alexandria Clay was an ill woman, always claiming her child was a changeling. She brought Jackson here to Black Water and left him, she left him hoping the Lord would give her the real boy back. The memory played perfectly in Jackson's young mind, "Come back, mama! I'm not your mother and you're not my baby!" His mouth sets into a grim line. He was her baby, he looked just like her. He gently prods his cheek. He still has the same flawless pale skin like her. He moves his hand to his hair, it's still the same shade of blond. The grim line turns to a frown, his green eyes narrow at a little boy on the swings.

  Slowly Jackson begins to creep down the stairs. He creeps his way outside, he sneaks over to the slides. The boy he was staring at begins to climb the ladder. Jackson quickly climbs behind him, before the boy could go down the slide, Jackson pushes him from the platform to the ground below. The boy begins to cry loudly, Miss Jewel runs over to the crying boy. Jackson stares down at him emotionless, "What on earth happened, Tommy?" Asks Miss Jewel. Tommy whimpers as he holds his swollen right arm. Slowly he uses his left hand to point at Jackson. "J-Jackson Clay did it!" He says. A sinister grin forms on Jackson's face, "I didn't do anything."