A damp right cheek.
A white pillow.
Some light.
Silence.

Groggily Jenny's eyes prised themselves open. Sniffling and dazed she lifted her head from her pillow. As she looked around she remembered what had happened. As realisation took over she could immediately feel the tears wanting to return. She shook her head vigorously, willing them to go away. Crying would do her no good now. She was here, with Julian, in a world completely different from her own. Time to get my shit together she breathed, choking down the upcoming tears.

Wiping her face on the sheet she forced herself to get up, only to be blinded by how white the room was. Its whiteness was startling: a white fluffy carpet, a huge white wardrobe to her left and another equally large chest of white drawers on her right, white circular lights within the ceiling, and the white double bed with its white sheets and covers in the centre. The only colour came from the walls which were a light shade of lilac, so light that it blended uncomfortably with the white room. Jenny thought the room was very…sterile.

Nevertheless she was curious. Opening one of the doors of the wardrobe she looked inside to find it full of an array of clothes in a variety of colours. She couldn't help herself running her hands along some of the items: orange silk dresses, blue velvet skirts, white lace tops, excessively long evening gowns, tiny bikinis, cute summer dresses, a couple of fur coats, …Jenny had never seen such a variety in a single wardrobe. Eagerly she crossed to the other side of the room where the chest of drawers was. The first drawer she shut as soon as she glanced at it. She wasn't ready for that yet.

Sighing she leant against the chest of drawers, which is when she noticed the door next to the wardrobe. It was lilac, just like the walls, and so had merely blended in with the rest of the room, evading her notice. However, leaning against the drawers she could see a vague outline and a glittering handle. Warily she crossed the room, gingerly holding the handle in her left hand to carefully open it, half expecting some monster to leap out at her like they had in the first game. Yet no such fate occurred and instead the door swung open to reveal a magnificent bathroom.

In the centre sat a Jacuzzi bath tub, literally the size of three baths put together, she thought; next to it stood a white wicker chair with a pile of soft towels; in the top left hand corner was a quaint pearl white dressing table with a mirror, and around the walls were shelving upon shelving of lotions, shampoos, skin care products, dental products, hair products, make up, brushes and nail varnishes.

She couldn't help herself from picking up some of the bottles which looked interesting. Scents of cinnamon, vanilla, and fruits along with smells she had never smelled from a bottle before such as the smell of trees or a sparkly bubble bath concoction which smelled of home baking.

She wanted a bath, she decided, turning on the taps and pouring in a generous amount of bubble bath scented athlaqua; not a scent she had ever heard of but the label showed a dark blue flower floating down what looked to be a river of snow in the picture. Clearly it was not from her world. Yet she instinctively liked the smell; it smelt of morning grass still covered in dew, a smell which reminded her of home.

After undressing herself she gratefully lowered herself into her steaming bath, leaving the taps on, enjoying a sound other than silence. Tilting her head back she felt her body finally relax, letting the steam cloud everything.

For a moment she just lay there, enjoying the feeling of the water sliding over her body, watching it ripple and wave and foam from the running taps as the scent of fresh grass filled the room. She took a deep breath, let it out, and began to think everything through.

She had lost the game, her world, and herself. Lost. And there was a danger of losing herself to Julian with his blue eyes and stark white hair and the way his face could change from extreme hunger for her to amusing and oddly human…stop it! She splashed herself to get her out of her reverie. Remember Jenny! Remember what he has done. Summer! The name was the twist of a knife in her stomach before being heartlessly wrenched out.

Tears starting welling up again in her eyes, but this time she let them fall, allowing them to trickle down her face, fall onto her breasts, and slide into the water.
"I'm sorry Summer", she whispered out loud to no one.
She wasn't sobbing like last night, instead she was remembering. It just made her sad, which was okay. She needed to remember Summer. Jenny remembered Summer in her cute little dresses and shoes, the way her big eyes would look up to Jenny in absolute trust and innocence; her friend, her innocent, blue-eyed, china-doll friend who Jenny was supposed to take care of; a beautiful, fragile bird.

And that fragility had killed her. She wasn't meant for a game where you had to live a nightmare. It demanded strength, a will-power, a determination to win. There was no room for weakness in the Shadow World.

But you lost the game Jenny and you didn't die…Julian let you live, came an unwelcome inner voice. Julian….he had killed Summer. He could have stopped it at any time, even pulled her out from the garbage himself but he didn't. He had been trying to show Jenny that he would win her at any cost. That he had no mercy, that only Jenny interested him.

Selfish, cruel, dangerous – all words which came to mind when she thought of him. He absolutely terrified her. But more importantly, it froze her to her core to think what might happen to her if she stayed here. He would win, no doubt about that. He was too strong. He had always been too strong.
But that doesn't mean I have to give up now…Jenny thought to herself. She needed to figure out what she wanted. And if truth be told she did not know. So much had happened over the last two games, and Jenny herself had changed. She had grown stronger but also more vibrant. The emotions Julian awakened in her gave her a brightness and a strength which Tom had never given her.

Her relationship with Tom had been a mundane, selfish relationship where Tom wanted and wanted and wanted but never made Jenny feel as wanted as Julian did. It had only struck Jenny over the last few months when he had been such a prick, right when she had needed him the most. I have actually stopped loving him she thought. And her answer felt right to her, liberating. He was not the man she needed. Julian had shown her that, and had sparked unknown passions in Jenny also. Yet that did not change what he was, a monster; a monster who took what he wanted with no regard for anyone but himself.

The means he would go to, in order to have Jenny as his was, quite frankly, horrifying. He had dragged her up here when she had tried to fight him, and again she had lost. She had to stop being so meek and weak otherwise he would have her, and she would be his, and everything would have been for nothing. Summer's death would have been for nothing. And Jenny couldn't let that happen. It was time to show Julian she was not a play-thing. She had no choice but stay here, for now. She would make Julian fear her the way he had frightened her the last two games. It would take time, learning, and preparation. But it was necessary. Jenny did not want to stay here. She wanted to be home with her friends. And possibly with Julian, but he would need to change for that to happen. And she needed to confront him about Summer. If he showed no remorse, then she would have her answer.

She washed her hair with shampoo and conditioner she recognised from home, needing something normal and stable to her, and then stepped out of the now luke-warm bath and wrapped her body and hair in the towels.

Feeling … different she padded her way out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. She hesitated around the chest of drawers but decided to grow up a bit and look inside the top drawer again.

It was filled with lingerie, all neatly laid out and all of it matching. She had only ever worn this sort of thing occasionally with Tom, or rather for Tom, she thought. Perhaps it's time I start doing things for myself… she surmised.

She looked inside the drawer, properly this time. Was that…Is that…? In disbelief she picked up a fur bra. It was exactly the same colour as Julian's eyes; distinct and yet impossible to define. Naturally there were matching pants with it. She dropped it back in. Bizarre she concluded.

Some had sequins, some feathers, some were velvet, silks, lace, reds, blues, purples, greens, blacks, whites, oranges, silvers, and there was even one the exact colour of her hair. That caught her attention and she picked it up to look closer. She had absolutely no idea what it was made of, but it was soft and silky with a lace trim at the top.

"Ah I see you found my favourite drawer."

Jenny jumped out of her skin. Whirling herself around she caught Julian leaning against the wardrobe, arms crossed, smirking at her.

"I didn't mean to make you jump. Sorry." He was actually laughing.

Jenny didn't return the humour. He had crept up on her without her even noticing. That was dangerous.

"What do you want?"

"To help you get dressed."

"Well I'm pretty sure I can manage it myself Julian. I have been getting myself dressed, by myself, for many years now. Shock horror I know."

Julian's eyes narrowed at her sarcasm. Jenny couldn't stop the corners of her mouth in turning upwards in a satisfied smile.

"Very funny. I wanted to see how you were. Last night was…well it wasn't how I had envisaged our first night together going."

Jenny shook her head in disbelief. She could hardly believe him.

"Well Julian, how did you expect it to go? Did you expect me just to fall into your arms after having you rip me away from my home? Perhaps you expected me to forget all you have done and just gladly fall into your bed with you?" She raised her eyebrows defiantly at him, daring him to reply.

"I don't want to fight today Jenny. Just get dressed. I'll be back in 20 minutes."

And with that he strode right out of her room, leaving her there shaking with anger at his assumption over last night. She was pleased with herself though. However, she needed to be careful in not making him angry; when he was angry he would turn twisted and cruel and goodness know what he would do then.

She returned to the underwear in her hand. After towelling herself dry she put the underwear on, and chose a mid-length green skirt and a cream coloured blouse to go with it. She searched for a hair-dryer but could not find one. Sighing she attempted to towel dry her hair, before pulling a hairbrush through the wet tangles, before looking at herself in the mirror.

An ordinary girl stared back at her with honeyed hair and green eyes. But she no longer felt ordinary; there was a fire within her, a form of defiance, and Julian had better be ready.


He sat, alone on the bed, just staring. His face was frowned in thought though. She was so different. Ever since last night she had been much more…strong. But he enjoyed a power struggle. He would win her over. Let her have her fight, her act of defiance. And then he would crush it and she would be his to do with as he pleased. He wanted her, more than anything ever. The fact he was so close to having her as his, properly, not just in the fact she had to stay with him now, was frustrating. And Julian did not like being frustrated and not getting exactly what he wanted. He might even enjoy her struggle to beat him, it was like another game. Julian smiled to himself. He was going to have some fun. And despite the more cruel thoughts which were flooding his mind as he contemplated ways to ensure she became his, he was actually looking forward to showing her the other worlds which existed. He was excited to share new experiences with her in person, not just with him watching over her but to do things which she would enjoy with her. Firstly though, he better let her have her little game with him first. Before his own game began.

Calmly he got up and climbed up the stairs to where her temporary room was. He had placed her on the third floor, to give her space but also to make sure he was between her and the ground floor and the front door. Although it was extremely unlikely she would get out, he feared more the possibility of something else getting in. Plus it gave her an entire floor to herself. At the moment she needed some space to collect herself. Later though, she would join her on his floor, in his room, in his bed…and what fun he would have. With her. And with Tom.

He hated that sulky, moody boy. And he hated the fact Jenny had shared so many first experiences with him first. Never mind, he would show her new things that she could never even imagine. And if he got jealous, he could always pierce the veil between the two worlds and torment Tom every now and then, to make him feel better.

Julian had tried to make the house as light as possible, to make it more to Jenny's liking. He wanted her to like the house. But if she didn't he would re-do it in a heartbeat for her.

Walking down the landing towards her door he was very excited. He was going to share his first ever breakfast with someone. How human he smiled to himself. Pausing outside of the door he knocked three times.

She didn't come immediately, which irritated him. However he wasn't left waiting longer than about 30 seconds before she opened the door and was standing in front of him. She looked lovely, he thought. Exactly how his Jenny ought to look on a relaxing morning. He very much approved of the skirt which matched her eyes, and her towel-dried hair was adorable.

"You look lovely Jenny" he told her.
She was actually taken aback by his very genuine compliment. "Thanks Julian" and she even smiled at him. She couldn't help herself.

"Would you like some breakfast?"

"I am actually pretty hungry," she even giggled which made Julian want to take her there and then. But instead he wolfishly grinned.
"Would you do me the honour of escorting you to breakfast Miss Thornton?"
"Gladly Mr. Shadowman" and she playfully took his arm and let him lead her down the hallway and down the two flights of the grand staircase to reach the impressive foyer.

"Woah" she involuntarily gasped as she looked around the foyer, almost as if she were seeing it for the first time. It was stunning. Last night she hadn't appreciated how grand it all was. The lamps which adorned the walls had flames of different colours coming out of them. One was blue, another green, another purple, one orange, one pink, one white, and one yellow. The chandelier above her was glittering different colours across the room like a rainbow.

The room itself was of a lightly coloured wood, but it looked tasteful and expensive. There were photographs on the walls of what Jenny could only assume were different worlds: beaches where the sea was a bright pink, a world covered in snow and ice, another covered in the blue flower which looked very much like the blue flower on the bottle of bubble bath Jenny had used earlier. She would ask Julian about all of the photographs later, because despite her frustration and anger, she was intrigued.

However what struck her the most about the foyer was the ceiling. It was a bright sunny day, with just the merest wisp of a cloud in it. It lit up the whole room in a beautiful, seemingly natural daylight. "Julian what is this?"

"Oh that. I thought you might like that. It's to give our house some daylight and as the day goes on, the sky will change accordingly. Although in my world we don't have night and day, in your world you do and I thought you would like to know roughly the time of day. I thought it might make you more comfortable in settling in."

Jenny nodded briefly before continuing to stare up at it. Until she heard and felt Julian whisper in her ear behind her, "Do you like it?"

His whisper sent electrical currents pulsating through her whole body. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest, and Julian could too. "Mmmm?" Julian questioned and then Jenny felt hot lips against her neck kissing ever so gently, teasing her. Her breath caught in her throat and she involuntarily inclined her head to expose more of her neck…

"Come, let's have some breakfast" he whispered against her neck before pulling away, leaving Jenny taking shaky breaths, wanting so much more.

Summer, Summer, remember Summer!

She had to focus. Deep breath in, deep breath out, deep breath in, deep breath out. It didn't stop her heart from beating furiously against her chest though. Julian just excited her.

"This way" and he clasped her right hand in his left and started leading her away from the foyer down another hallway, and into the first room on the right.

The room was of the same coloured wood and also had lamps on the walls; however instead of multi-coloured lights coming out they were all a very natural yellow, the normality of which settled Jenny slightly.

"Take a seat Jenny", Julian commanded, pulling out the chair facing away from the door. Jenny sat down, taking in her surroundings. The room was rather small and intimate, with an average sized mahogany table in the centre, and deep indigo drapes hanging over the table. On the table was a white tablecloth, a single daisy in a pale blue vase, silver cutlery, a collection of white china plates decorated with a border of pale blue flowers, two orange juices, and a basket of French pastries.

"Mmmm" Jenny involuntarily vocalised her appreciation as the smell of the fresh pastries wafted to her.

Julian was smiling satisfactorily as he sat down opposite her.

"You look beautiful" he told her, staring at her. He wasn't touching her at all, but Jenny could feel his eyes touching her, undressing her, as she sat there, uncertain how to react, feeling slightly embarrassed. When she bowed her head in embarrassment his hand reached under her chin and lifted it back up. His eyes of two blue pools beneath a snowy mountain of hair looked her in her own green eyes as he said, "Don't be embarrassed Jenny. Don't ever be embarrassed with me. I want you. Everything. All that you are. I love you".

"Julian…I-" Jenny shook her hand out of his grasp, her mind dizzy and confused. He always made her lose her track of thought, especially when he said things like that.

"Julian, I can't love you. I can't."

"But you do Jenny, I can see it." He was actually smirking as he lounged back in his chair. So confident of himself, the arrogant prick Jenny thought to herself. His certainty irritated her.

"You're a monster, why would I love you?" He looked as though she had slapped him across the face. He had definitely not been expecting that answer. She was being more cruel than she wanted to be. But she needed to loath him, she had to! Otherwise Summer's death was all for nothing.

"You murdered my friend Julian. Killed her. In that stupid game of yours. Why couldn't you have just asked me out like a normal guy. Knocked on the door, taken me out for dinner, maybe even bought me some flowers? I don't know. Do it the traditional way!" She was shaking, just like she had last night when she had gotten herself worked up. And just like last night, she carried on going.

"If you love me so much, why did you kill her? You promised me you would never hurt me, but you did Julian. You did." She stared defiantly back at him, her green eyes glittering.

There was silence. Jenny didn't move or break eye contact, and Julian sat there, a blank expression on his face. Much to Jenny's surprise he lowered his eyes. She waited in anticipation.

"She's not dead Jenny" he whispered.

"What?" she whispered back, in disbelief.

"Come, I'll show you."

Before Jenny had time to process he was lifting her from her chair and taking her out of the room, back up the staircase, and into a room further down the hallway from her own room. Julian opened the door for her and warily Jenny stepped through. She had no idea what to expect; perhaps Summer asleep on the floor, drugged into a deep coma, or perhaps she was restrained like Tom had been in the first game...or…Jenny did not know what to think. What she didn't expect however, was a white leather couch and what looked to be an enormous TV, literally the size of a single bed. It was huge.

Jenny looked round at Julian quizzically. Julian led her so she was standing directly in front of the screen. "Put your hand on the glass and say the name". Jenny just stared at Julian, bewildered. at which point Julian sighed impatiently and placed his own hand on the glass before saying "Summer". She had forgotten how impatient he was. But all thoughts of that was driven out of her head when she saw it. The screen changed to show a white room with a tiny figure in it who was unmistakably Summer, covered in a pale blue blanket. Even though she was covered up, Jenny could clearly see the face which was definitely Summer's.

"How…what…?" Jenny stammered, turning around to Julian.

"I could never hurt you like that Jenny" he pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"But where is she?" Jenny was so confused. This changed everything, about Julian, about her, about how she should feel, how she did feel…

"She wasn't safe after the game. My ancestors outside wanted to keep her after the first game. I couldn't let that happen though. I know what she meant to you, still does mean to you. I had to isolate her elsewhere. She's safe, and she's in a deep sleep. She is comfortable I promise you that. It's difficult to explain but just trust me Jenny, please. It broke my heart when I saw how upset you were when you thought she had died, but I couldn't tell you then."

"Why?"

He paused.

"Why Julian? Why did you let me believe she had died?!"

"Because I thought if you felt more alone you would come to me. I'm selfish, I'm sorry Jenny."

He shrugged, at a loss. "I'll be back downstairs having breakfast. Join me when you're ready."

He turned and walked out, leaving Jenny standing there in perplexity. There was so much to process. And she had so many questions. But first she wanted to connect to her world. She was fascinated with the screen. She placed her hand on the screen and muttered "Mum". She said it so quietly she wasn't sure if anything would happen, but it did. She saw her mum with her dad at the table with a police officer, obviously trying to work out where she, Jenny, was. For the first time since being taken Jenny felt the sharp pain of loss in her chest.

"Dee" she murmured next. Dee, Audrey, Michael, and Zach were all sitting together. They were talking animatedly but Jenny couldn't hear what they were saying. No doubt they were trying to get her back – Jenny smiled a lonely smile to herself. It was of no use now.

She had not failed to notice someone's absence though.

Hesitating, uncertain of what she wanted, the final name she whispered was, "Tom."


Julian was walking downstairs slowly, smiling a cruel smile to himself. He had her. She was here, with him. He had her all to herself. No interference from her friends, no interference from that good for nothing Tom, and he could see he excited her. He would claim her all, and soon, he was determined. And as long as she believed Summer was alive and safe, he would succeed. As long as she never found out the truth, she would love him. He had her, he was sure of it.