Shelby jumped. Once again she felt something at the foot of her bed. She looked over her covers down at her feet. She squinted into the darkness and searched, but she could see nothing. Finally she sighed and laid back down. She would just have to wait until the morning to investigate. She rolled over onto her left side and closed her eyes. Beginning to think about what she would wear to work tomorrow, she finally started to fall back asleep. She yawned and stretched when she was abruptly woken once more. She felt that warm lump again and decided to kick it. "The Lump", as she called it, grunted. Shelby's heart froze. Since when did lumps grunt? Shelby sat up and pressed her back to the wall her bed was against.

She pulled her blanket to her chest, desperately looking into the darkness. There was nothing. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her knees, and pressed her face to them. She wanted out of the room and away from it, whatever "it" was. Shelby turned her head to where she thought the door was, but the dark made it hard to see. Shelby was surprised; it was painted a bright white. Usually it reflected even the smallest amount of light, but tonight it was as if there was an eclipse.

Shelby stared into the black space that was between her and the door. It wasn't that far. It was possibly two yards- Maybe. It would be a quick escape. Her dad's door was right across from hers. She could run out her door and right into his. Shelby smiled and threw off her blanket. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. As she moved she heard the shuffling of cloth; and it wasn't Shelby making the noise. Feeling her heart race she ran.

She had her fingers wrapped around the knob when two very large arms pulled her back. She opened her mouth to scream but a warm palm silenced her. The other arm was wrapped tightly around her waist. Shelby's hands flew to the arm, scratching and clawing at it. She tried to scream but the hand muffled the noise. Overwhelmed with fear she began to cry. Her fingers dug in deep but her captor was wearing long sleeves. She kicked and struggled but the grip only tightened. He, or so she believed it to be a he, lifted her off the ground. Shelby yelped as she was carried. He brought her back to the bed where she was dropped onto her mattress. He pinned her down. He remained to cover her mouth with his hand, silencing her. His body pressed to hers. Shelby tried pushing him off but her struggles were useless. Whoever he was, he was extremely powerful- And heavy.

As Shelby wiggled back and forth, trying to free herself, she thought she heard the intruder trying to speak. But Shelby just continued to kick and scream. Tears flowed down her cheeks. After fifteen minutes of struggling Shelby gave up. Her now runny nose made it hard to breath and her covered mouth didn't help. She felt her body relax as it gave into what she thought was inevitable. Her chest began to shudder as she began to hyperventilate.

Her captor took off some the pressure then. He leaned down so his face was right next to hers. He lips brushed against her skin, sending chills down her spine. But the voice that spoke to her was warm and even somewhat comforting.

"You need to be quiet, ok?" His voice hinted sympathy, but Shelby did not want to be fooled. She nodded in agreement. The man leaned back and removed his hand from Shelby's mouth. As soon as he did she screamed. But it was cut off. His hand back on his mouth, Shelby started to struggle again. Then he sighed. Shelby slowly stopped. It sounded almost as if he was… Disappointed. He leaned back down and spoke once more.

"Please. You have to be quiet. Please Shelby. Please don't scream." His pleading tone confused Shelby. Here this man had her pinned, to her bed, at night, alone. It just seemed too bizarre. She swallowed, contemplating. She had tried calling for help and that had failed. She let out a sputtering breath and nodded. The man pulled his hand back just enough to allow Shelby to breathe. She took in slow breaths. Her heart had been racing throughout the encounter. Now she tried to slow it. As she got her breathing under control Shelby finally looked up and tried to see her captors face. All she could make out was a dark shadow. He was extremely close, his face only inches from hers. She could feel his breath on her skin. It smelt of peppermint.

"Good." His voice was calm and still didn't seem irritated by her previous actions. He lifted himself off her enough for her to move her arms. She rubbed her nose, and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. She felt the salty tears between her fingers.

Shelby looked up at him again. She could feel him watching her. The thought made her skin prickle. Never had someone intruded into her home. The place she had always felt was safe. She felt an urge to see his face. To see the man who held her captive in her own room. Her hands started to reach up as if to touch his face, but then she suddenly jerked back and held them to her chest. Instead she just stared at that dark shadow.

His hands were on either side of her, but now she felt them move. It was the left she believed. It was moving towards her. But then the strangest thing began to happen. In his cupped palm the tiniest of sparks sprang from his skin. It flickered out and then burst into more sparks. Finally a white colored flame took life in his hand. It was no bigger than thumbnail, but her whole room was illuminated. It shed an eerie light. It wavered and cast dark shadows. Shelby watched as his hand guided the flame up to her bedpost. His palm turned, pouring out the white flame onto her bed post. It flickered there, not burning the wooden post, but instead hovering above it. It was the oddest, most unbelievable thing she had ever seen. Shelby was still watching the flame when the man holding her down spoke again.

"Look at me Shelby."

Shelby's blood froze. Being held down was one thing, but to see his face was another. Shelby was afraid to look. She was afraid of what she might find. Instead of turning and looking at him she closed her eyes and cast her head down.

"Come on Shelby. Look at me." He was still calm. Not even a tad frustrated.

"No," she said, shaking her head softly. Her gut told her not to look, and so she didn't. With a small sigh of slight exasperation his hand touched her face. Shelby felt goose bumps rise on her skin. His finger tips just barely touched her cheek. She felt them glide along her cheek bone and then gently touch her skin. A single finger slipped under her chin, slowly raising her face to his. Despite his gentleness she did not open her eyes.

"Shelby, just open your eyes." His voice pleaded.

The tone in his voice melted Shelby. She had never heard anything so- Persuasive. Shelby swallowed, once and then slowly let her eyes open. The sight before her was quite the surprise.

She almost burst into laughter when she saw his face. Not only was this mysterious man not a man, but he wasn't mysterious at all. This dark figure was in fact just a boy- Barley older than her own sixteen years. Shelby guessed him to be eighteen or so. He had shaggy black hair and his skin was tanned from working in the sun. His nose had a tiny indent in it, something no one would notice unless they knew what they were looking for. But hit was his eyes that gave him away. They were the lightest grey, almost white. They made him appear as though he was blind, but Shelby new every well that he could see. Now she remembered his voice. She had played it in her head hundreds of times. She almost broke out with the giggles at the unnecessary fear she had felt. But there was one question she just had to ask.

What the hell was he doing here?!

His name was Michael. He was a story character of hers, born of paper and ink, but never flesh and blood. Shelby had drawn him many times and written about his many adventures. But never had she thought she would actually see him. He read the surprise on her face. A grin full of white teeth spread across his face. Shelby returned it with a smile of her own. Then Michael began to chuckle. Shelby laughed and jokingly punched Michael in the chest. He got off her and sat down on the bed. Shelby turned to sit on the edge of it next to him. They laughed together, entertained by the craziness of it all. After a few, brief happy moments they relaxed.

"So what brought you here?" She asked.

"You." Michael said. He looked at her side long. His demeanor suddenly changed. He seemed saddened.

"Me? What about me?" Shelby asked.

"Shelby, there's some things you need to know. Something has happened."

"What do you mean?"

"Something has happened in Tishian." Shelby's heart froze as soon as she heard the word. The way Michael spoke sent chills up her arms. His voice was remorseful. Something was wrong in her Tishian. He saw her cast her eyes down at the floor. Michael gently cupped her face and made her look at him. Shelby looked into his eyes. This time, she really looked into them. Not just at what color they were. She felt a sudden paralyzing warmth flow over her. His eyes were soft and they looked at her with a fondness she was not used to. He gently stroked a cheek with one of his big thumbs as Shelby blushed. Her cheeks turned a rosy pink tone, visible even in the dim light. She cast down her eyes once more. Then Michael's two big arms wrapped around her.

"So tell me, what's going on?" Shelby spoke into his chest. Tishian was her creation. Michael released her from the hug slowly. He gazed into her eyes once more. Then with one more sigh he began describing the horrific events taking place in his homeland.