Jonathan Strong

It was a rainy evening in New York city. There was thunder, lightning and heavy rain as Chief Inspector Jonathan Wade, waited to meet the Commissioner of Police of New York Police Department (NYPD). Jonathan was one of the most decorated officers of NYPD, having busted key members of various drug cartels and gangs. Under his watch the neighbourhood had been safe. Along the way though, he made many enemies in the underworld.

"Sir, the Commissioner has called", said an inspector. Jonathan sat looking out of the window, lost in thought. "Sir, Sir", shouted the inspector while patting Jonathan's shoulder. "I'm sorry, what is it?" asked a startled Jonathan, like someone who had been woken up from deep sleep. "The commissioner has called you sir", said the inspector. "Thank you", replied Jonathan. He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat off his brow. He walked towards the Commissioner's cabin. "May I come in sir?" he asked after knocking on the door. "Please come in", replied Commissioner Alan. Jonathan walked into the cabin. "Please take a seat", said the Commissioner and Jonathan sat in one of the chairs.

The Commissioner kept all his work aside and sat back in his chair. "How have you been John?" he asked. "I'm fine sir thank you", replied Jonathan. Just then the Commissioner's phone rang, which he answered reluctantly. After he hung up he turned his attention to Jonathan again. "You know why you are here John?" he asked. Jonathan did not reply. He was gazing at the window, at the little drops of water racing down the window pane. "Jonathan, are you with me?" asked Alan loudly. "Yes, sorry, what did you say?" replied Jonathan, startled again. "You know why you are here?" asked Alan. "Yes sir I do but trust me I am fine", replied Jonathan. "No John you are not. The department thinks you need a break. Go see a doctor John. You don't want to see our department doc, that's fine, go to a hospital and see a doctor there", said Commissioner Alan. "But sir I'm fine and I'm quite close to solving a couple of cases, I need to work now", replied an agitated Jonathan. "There is no discussion here. I am informing you about the decision", said the Commissioner firmly.

"Fine then", replied Jonathan. He stood up removed his cap, his badge and his gun and place it on the Commissioner's table. "You know I have to look after my family and myself. You have just put us in danger. Now I can't protect us", said Jonathan. "Where is you wife Elizabeth and your daughter?" asked Alan. "They are in Boston. I sent them to stay with her sister. They are not safe here. I have been attacked three times and survived miraculously. I can't risk it", replied Jonathan. "There have been no witnesses or records of any attack on you John", said Alan. "You think I'm lying, Alan, is that what you're saying?" replied Jonathan angrily. "Just go see a doctor John", replied Alan keeping his composure.

Jonathan left the cabin and the police building in anger and went straight to Jimmy's restaurant, around the corner. It was already dinner time so he ordered some food and drinks. He stayed at the restaurant till late, drowned in grief and misery. At closing time the management asked him to leave. Jonathan was walking home, it had stopped raining but the road was still wet and the puddles shimmered, reflecting the street lights. On a secluded alley on 38th street he stopped on looking at his reflection in a puddle of water. He looked at himself and bent down close to the puddle to see himself clearly. Suddenly, his reflection spoke in a baritone voice. "You look worried Jonathan. What's the matter? Fear for your family and yourself?" he asked. Jonathan just stared in shock. "How is this possible? I must have been drinking too much?" he said to himself. "Don't be foolish Jonathan, only I can save you!" said his reflection. "Come, take my hand, let me save you and your family", said his reflection. Jonathan saw a hand emerge from the puddle, before he could react, it grabbed his hand and started pulling him in. "Stop, let me go", shouted Jonathan but could not free himself. "Help me, help me", he screamed but no one came. Before he knew it, splash! He hit the water and blacked out.

"Wake up Jonathan, wake up", heard Jonathan. He struggled to regain consciousness. He looked around and found himself lying drenched on a beach. He looked up and saw someone he did not expect. "You... You look just like me, only you are bigger and stronger. Who are you?" asked Jonathan to a man he saw standing near him. "My name is Strong, Jonathan Strong", replied the man. "I'm here to save you, get up quickly, we can not waste time. There are enemies everywhere", said Strong and helped Jonathan to his feet. The two scuttled across the beach. Jonathan realised this was Brooklyn beach and he was still in New York city. They left the beach walked across the road. "There's a surprise for you Jonathan", said Strong. They entered a restaurant and Strong pointed across to a table, "look, it's your wife and daughter". "Elizabeth, Margot", yelled Jonathan with joy as he ran across and hugged them both. "I'm so happy to see you both", he said and wept as he embraced them.

"OK, come on now sit down all of you", said Strong, "there's something important we have to talk about". They took their seats and looked at Strong intently. "Shooters sent by the mafia are after all of you. The will kill you unless you do as I say. I'm the only one who can save you", said strong. They sat there discussing when after sometime, suddenly the heard gun shots. "Mafia killers, duck!" yelled Strong and pushed the table up to use as a shield. There were repeated gun shots fired at them. They scrambled to take cover behind the table. "Is everyone OK?" enquired Strong. "Elizabeth, Elizabeth", shouted Jonathan, slapping her cheeks gently as her head rested on his lap. It was was no use, she had been hit, she was no more. Jonathan hugged her and wept. "Listen Jonathan, I'm sorry about Elizabeth, but we must get out now. She is gone but I have to protect you both", said Strong. "Yes, we must go", said Jonathan wiping his tears.

The three of them ran out of the back door into the alley. The shooters followed them, still firing rounds at them. They took a turn and hid behind a car. "Look, we must split. Let's confuse them. You go left and I'll take Margot and go right", said Strong. "Listen carefully Jonathan. Trust no one, not the police, not the doctors, no one. They are also our enemies", said Strong in a stern voice. "How is that possible?" said Jonathan, "I'm a police man myself". "You were. You forgot how you were sent on a 'break'. Don't be a fool, we all know what that means", said Strong. After some moments of thinking he agreed and they split. The group of gunmen followed Jonathan and did not go after Strong and Margot. The chase began, through streets and alleys the shooters ran after Jonathan. Jonathan was getting tired now, but he continued to run. While running, he looked behind to check where the gunmen were. Just then he tripped and fell in a puddle of water.

"Sir, are you alright, sir, do you hear me?" a man asked him. Jonathan struggled to open his eyes. He regained part consciousness and realised he was in an ambulance. A couple of attendants and a doctor were in the ambulance. "Listen Jonathan, do not trust the doctors, they are enemies now", the voice of Strong resonated in his head. Jonathan tried to swiftly get up and make a dash towards the exit of the van. "Let me go, let me go", shouted Jonathan as the two attendants pinned him down. The doctor then injected him with an anaesthesia and put him out. Jonathan regained consciousness a few hours later. He opened his eyes but knew nothing about where he was and how he got here. A nurse entered the room and gave him a nice smile. "Good morning sir, how are you?" she asked while checking his parameters. "I'm fine, but do tell me where am I?" asked Jonathan. "You are at New York city hospital. Your parameters are fine and the doctor would like to see you in his cabin. Come I'll take you to him", she said and escorted him out of the room.

"Good morning Jonathan, please take a seat", said Doctor Charles when Jonathan entered the cabin with the nurse. She helped him sit in his chair. "That will be all, you may leave now", said Doctor Charles to the nurse. Doctor Charles also sat in his chair. "So Jonathan let me begin by asking, do you know how you got here?" asked Dr. Charles. "The mafia are after me doctor, I must get out of here", replied Jonathan softly. "Don't worry you are safe here. Just tell me what happened", said Dr. Charles. "Well, you won't believe it doctor", said Jonathan and started narrating the incidents of the past day, right from the time when the Commissioner asked him to take a leave. He spoke about his fears, about meeting his friend Jonathan Strong and about losing his wife in the firing at the restaurant. He sobbed like a child as he spoke about his wife's death. Doctor Charles got up, offered him a glass of water and consoled him. "Well, what if I told you that your wife is alive?" said Dr. Charles to Jonathan. Jonathan looked confused, he remembered that she died in his arms. "How is it possible?" asked Jonathan. "It is possible and it is true", said Dr. Charles and looking at his watch said, "infact she's on a flight from Boston to New York even as we speak". Just then an attendant knocked and came in, he brought coffee for the two of them. "What about my daughter?" asked Jonathan. "She's on flight too, with your wife", replied Dr. Charles. Jonathan was now very very confused.

"I will explain what happened", said Dr. Charles, as his phone rang. While he was on call, the attendant put his cup of coffee on his table and walked towards Jonathan with the other cup. "Good morning sir", said the attendant. "This voice is strangely familiar", thought Jonathan. He looked up and was shocked to see it was Jonathan Strong. "Quiet, only listen", he whispered. "Don't trust them, I'm here to get you out. I will come to your room and take you from there. For now, just play along and do as he says", said Strong to Jonathan. The doctor was done with his call, the attendant winked at Jonathan and walked out. "You will have to be strong Jonathan. You know where you were found?" asked Dr. Charles. "While I was running away from the Brooklyn restaurant...", Jonathan was saying but was interrupted by the doctor. "You were found by some men in a puddle of water, in an alley, on 38th Street", replied the doctor firmly. Jonathan recollected that's where his image spoke to him. "What do you mean to say?" asked Jonathan. "Preliminary data suggests, I don't know how to put it simply, that you suffer from schizophrenia. You are seeing people and experiencing incidents that are not real. They are created by your mind", said Dr. Charles. "What? I remember what happened so vividly", said Jonathan. "Jonathan Strong, is just a projection of your mind", said the doctor. "He looks like you, you told me, just stronger, that's because you always thought only you could protect yourself and your family. The mafia hunting down your family is your greatest fear so your mind created that senario. It's was just like a nightmare Jonathan, your wife is alive and that's proof. Also there are no reports of firing anywhere in the city", said Dr. Charles. Jonathan broke down. "Be strong Jonathan, I know it's difficult when suddenly you come to that know what you see and experience is not real, but this is the truth", said Dr. Charles. Jonathan just sat there a little scared, a little confused, finding it hard to comprehend. "Go to your room and rest now Jonathan, don't put too much pressure on your mind. Once we complete some other tests, we will start the medicines. Till then two attendants will always be with you", said the doctor as he showed Jonathan out of his cabin. Two attendants escorted him to his room.

Jonathan lied down on his bed and closed his eyed thinking about what the doctor said. "Who do I trust, who do I doubt, what do I do? Oh God please help me", said Jonathan to himself. After an hour the two attendants looked at Jonathan and one of them said, "he's asleep mate, let's go grab a cup of coffee". Slowly the two got up, and quietly left the room. "Jonathan, Jonathan", he said as he shook and woke him up. Jonathan opened his eyes and saw Strong standing there dressed as an attendant. "Go away you're a lie", said Jonathan as he covered his eyes. "Look at me Jonathan, you think I'm fake. What have they told you?" yelled Strong moving Jonathan's hands away from his eyes. "They told me I'm sick and you're a lie", said Jonathan. "I told you don't trust them, they must have also told you Elizabeth is alive. Didn't they?" asked Strong. "They did, how did you know?" asked a surprised Jonathan. "Because they are liars, all of them. Now do you want to get out and go to your daughter or no?" asked Strong. "Yes, please take me to Margot", cried Jonathan. "Listen I know a way out, I'll open the emergency window and you follow me" said Strong. He scuttled to the emergency window and opened it. He indicated to Jonathan to follow him and jumped out of the window. Jonathan got out of bed ran to the window and jumped out. A few seconds there was a loud thud! The attendants and doctors ran to Jonathan's room. They saw the open window, looked down and were both shocked and sad to see Jonathan lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Jonathan died falling off the fifteenth floor window.

The police were called and the commissioner came personally because he had lost of his best officer. He went to the security control room, accompanied by doctor Charles. "Show me the CCTV footage of Jonathan's room. A nurse passing his room said she heard him talking to someone. If the attendants were not there, I want to know who was it", said the commissioner to the head of security. They played the recording and what they saw shocked them all. Just after the attendants left the room Jonathan crept out of bed, opened the emergency window and slipped into bed again. After a few minutes he opened his eyes and talked to, well no one, he was alone talking to himself after which he ran and jumped out of the window.

The End,
Part 1.