The hallway went on forever. James wandered along for God knows how long, when he spotted a door. He stopped in front of it. Go in or keep walking? Since he hadn't found any other way out of the stupid hallway, he pushed the door open and walked in. It was a large room, with a lamp hanging from the ceiling, so that only the centre of the room was lit. He heard the door shut behind him, spinning around to see that it had vanished. He growled to himself, turning around again. He jumped about a foot in the air. Daniel was standing in the patch of light.

"Hello, James."

"Meh."

Daniel smirked. "Have you ever heard the story of Persephone and Hades?"

"No," James replied slowly, not sure where this was going.

"Hades was the Greek God of the Underworld. He lived in the shadows, and he was lonely. One day Persephone was out with her friends, picking flowers. Hades saw how beautiful she was and fell in love on the spot. He knew she wouldn't come with him willingly, so he raced up to her on his chariot and took her to the Underworld to become his wife."

"It's just an old story—"

"Are you sure? Anyway, there's another old Romanian story used to scare kids into staying away from strangers. There was an evil witch who met a little boy at the market. He was smiling and laughing, and she knew she loved him. She didn't get any older, so she waited for him to grow up. Then one morning the boy's parents' woke up and their son wasn't in his bed. The witch had taken him away."

James shuddered, despite the fact that he still hated this guy. "That's horrible. If she loved him why would she do that?"

Daniel smiled widely. "Well, that's the thing. I could do what the witch did. Or I could be like Hades, but I'm giving you a chance. You can all get away safely."

"Hold on! You're saying that this whole game is because you're in love with one of us?" James scoffed.

"I'm the darkness, James. The darkness needs the light. And every game has a prize. Winner takes all. And I can safely say that it's not you I want."

"Fine. Bring it on!"

"Now, I doubt very highly you'll win this game, so to give you a head start, I'll give you one friend back for free, no nightmare attached."

"Which one of us do you want if it's not me?"

"That would be telling. But I'll say this." He smiled before stepping into the darkness. "I'm your worst nightmare. You'll see when this is over." Then he was gone.

James folded his arms with a scowl. Where was this free friend he was supposed to get back? Then someone else appeared in the patch of light. A skinny girl with brown hair pulled back from her face. "Stephanie!"

Stephanie looked at James in shock. Then she grinned. "Hi. I take it this is a good thing?"

"Daniel's given us a head start. So yeah, it's good."

"Who's Daniel?"

James briefly explained what the game was and how they could win. When he finished, Stephanie had a wild smile on her face. "We're so gonna kick this guy's ass!"

"Except I don't know what to do now," James replied. "I came in here through a door but it disappeared."

"You mean the door behind you?" Stephanie asked, tilting her head thoughtfully. James spun around. "Yeah, that door . . . what's hanging on it?" He pulled the little square card off the door. It showed a picture of a house. There were lines drawn on the empty space beside it to show it was shaking. "That's mine," Stephanie muttered, taking it and putting it in her pocket. "My nightmare, I mean."

"Earthquakes?"

"Yes." She looked at the floor, and if it wasn't totally impossible James would've thought there were tears in her eyes. "My mom died in an earthquake when I was seven. The house came crashing down on top of her. I watched it happen." She sniffed, drying her eyes. "I've never been able to forget it. I could hear her screaming, and then it all just went quiet . . ."

"Oh, Steph." James enveloped her in a hug, letting her cry on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"It's ok. It happened nine years ago. I'm getting over it, but I'm still scared of earthquakes." She smiled up at him. "One of the reasons I was originally going to try finding fame in Europe instead of California."

James grinned back at her. "It'll be ok. We're gonna win this game."

Stephanie nodded determinedly. "Definitely." Her smile faltered for a second. "You said that Daniel wanted one of us?"

"Yeah. He said he was in love with them. That they were the prize, and then he said something about dark and light."

"Dark needs the light," Stephanie replied simply.

"How did you know?"

"I figured it was something along those lines. Apparently it's always been that way. Opposites attract. Anyway, did he say who it was, or give any hints?"

"I know it's not me, and he wouldn't say who. He just said he's my worst nightmare."

Stephanie giggled, unable to stop herself. "You drew the Shadow man on your card? You really took the game seriously!"

"I didn't draw him, I drew . . ." James gasped. "Oh my God, no."

"What? Did you figure it out?"

James's hands were clenched into fists. "See if you can guess."

"You're the one who sold us the game, aren't you?" Kendall rested his back against the wall of the cage, arms folded across his chest. He'd walked straight to the thin metal bars when he saw Daniel appearing outside the cage. Now he wanted answers.

"I was waiting for your friends to come."

"But why? What did we ever do to you?"

"Nothing."

"Then why do this to us?" Kendall demanded.

"You don't know?"

"If I did would I be asking?"

"No, I suppose you wouldn't. Alright, I'll tell you why." He stepped closer, and now the only thing between them was a couple inches of steel. "I fell in love with you."

Kendall stared at him in shock. Out of the million reasons he's suspected, this wasn't one of them. He'd imagined being eaten, or used as a slave, or something gruesome. He definitely wasn't expecting love to be involved.

"Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. I first saw you when you were little—five, I think. You were such a cute little thing; when you smiled it was like there was light shining all around you."

"Who the hell are you?"

"Who do you want me to be?" Without waiting for an answer, he went on. "I love you, Kendall. I came from my world to get you. I've been watching you as you grew up to what you are now. I'll be whoever you want; I'll give you anything you want."

"You're insane." Hysteria was threatening to take over his head. Dear God, help me. I'm sorry for everything I've done; please just get me away from him . . .

"I could make your wildest dreams come true. Ask me for anything, while I'm still in a good mood. It'll be harder to get on with me later. I don't want to hurt you, and if you give in to me now, it'll be easier. I'm going to get you eventually."

"Oh, really?" Kendall's head snapped up to glare into those piercing eyes.

"I never lose, Kendall."

Kendall felt anger surging up inside him. He always liked a challenge. "I'll never give in to you," he snarled. "I'll die first."

"I was afraid you'd say that. From now on, your friends are playing to save you. And they might get hurt."

"Wait a minute—"

"I warned you. I'll be back soon enough, and we'll talk then." Daniel vanished without another word. Kendall felt his knees give way underneath him as he fell onto the ground. If any of his friends got hurt, he'd never forgive himself.

James and Stephanie soon spotted a small figure ahead of them, sitting on the floor with their back against the wall. As they got closer, the figure became recognisable. "It's Carlos!"

They ran up to him. He looked up at them in surprise and joy. "James! Stephanie!" He leaped to his feet and hugged them both. "I was wondering when someone else was gonna show up! I've been sitting here for half an hour."

"There weren't any doors?" James asked.

"No . . . oh, wait! There's one over here!" He led them a few more steps down the hall. Without hesitation, Stephanie pushed it open and walked through. "What did you draw as your worst nightmare?" she asked Carlos. "Cos whatever it is, we have to face it in here." She frowned. "It's the same hallway!"

Carlos and James followed her, the door slamming shut behind them. It was the same hallway, completely identical. "Well, it looks like we won't be facing my nightmare," Carlos said, scratching his head. "Oh darn."

James rolled his eyes, scratching the back of his neck. "It'll probably show up eventually." He sat on the floor, sighing. "So, what did you draw?"

"Oh. Uh . . ." Carlos and Stephanie sat down next to him. "It's kind of embarrassing. A kid's thing."

"It can't be that bad," Stephanie smiled, scratching the back of her wrist. "It'll help if you tell us."

James nodded in agreement, feeling another annoying tingly feeling, this time on his arm. He scratched it angrily, looking down at his tan skin. He stopped, staring in horror. There was a green spot on his arm, and it was growing. In an instant he'd jumped to his feet, shaking his arm furiously. "What the heck . . .?"

Carlos and Stephanie jumped up too. Carlos was whimpering as he pulled up his sleeve. There were leaves growing on his arm. There was green growing on all three of them. James's was like moss, Stephanie's like little thorns. Carlos was screaming. He yanked his shirt over his head. There were leaves covering his chest and stomach as well. He went hysterical.

"Get it off me! Oh my God GET IT OFF!" He shrieked in pain as Stephanie took hold of a sprig and yanked at it. "I don't care how much it hurts, just get it off me!"

They all pulled at it, but James could see tiny roots connecting it to his skin. He was starting to bleed. "Carlos, we can't keep pulling it, it's gonna take your skin off!"

"I don't care!" He kept pulling, sobbing as the plants starting growing on his neck. "I can't take it . . ."

"What do we do?" Stephanie asked James frantically. He shrugged helplessly, looking around the hallway. "The candles!"

Carlos dived straight for one of the candles in the wall, and stopped in mid-lunge. There were long white roots attaching his feet to the floor. He didn't scream this time; he just cried. James reached up and grabbed one, wordlessly holding it to the plant on the small Latino's chest. Instantly, the leaves started melting away. He smiled. "Steph, get another one." Together they got rid of all the leaves they could see. Once they were done, the little patches on their own arms vanished too. And the door opened.

They all smiled shakily at each other. "Nice work," Carlos grinned; suddenly back to his old self. "Shall we continue?"

James couldn't help laughing. "We shall." He picked up a paper card off the floor. There was a bush drawn on it, with arms and legs sticking out. No head. He shuddered. "Yeah, that was my nightmare," Carlos said shyly. "Turning into a plant. You know what I was like as a kid; always covered in dirt. My dad said if I didn't keep myself clean things would start growing on me. He didn't mean anything by it, but it really freaked me out. It's silly."

"No, it's not. It's horrible." Stephanie smiled sweetly. "But you were really brave."

Bad ending to the chapter? I'm sorry. Please review!