Laiss: You still haven't expanded my character Phoenix! You said I wouldn't be a fluff!

Phoenix: I'm workin on it Laiss relax!

JOKER: (makes kissy face and talks baby talk) awww but I wike you all fwuffy!

Laiss: THAT'S NOT FUNNY!! ( tries to kick Joker while he's laying on the ground)

JOKER: (grabs Laiss's foot and knocks her over and she starts squealing)

Phoenix: (smacks forehead) Guys seriously! Well I want to thank my loyal readers and reviewers and as a reward here is chapter 4. Oh and if you review I will send Joker to your house naked (smiles slyly).

Laiss and JOKER: What?!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I figured I should add this for those of you who aren't quite sure what "mo anam cara" means. It's literal translation means "friend of my soul" or "friend of the soul". It also can be translated to mean "my soul mate" or just plain "soul mate" so when the term pops up in this story from time to time, I'm using it in the "my soul mate" or "soul mate" context.

Chapter 4:

I can feel the heat from his body pressed into mine as he holds me up against a wall. His hands are forcefully gripping my hips as he grinds himself into me, and my legs are curled around his waist tightly. My arms are wrapped around his broad shoulders and I can feel how muscular he is, even under all his clothing. The power radiating off him in all forms is almost too much to bear. His lips are pressed against mine in a furious and passionate kiss. My eyes are squeezed tightly shut, and I can feel the tears starting to well up in the corners of my eyes from the swell of uncontrolled emotions inside of me. I don't need to see the man I'm holding so tenderly to know who it is. My very soul recognizes his sweet smell, touch and taste-his very essence is imprinted into me. He moves back away from me and I open my eyes and look into his eyes longingly, and then I realize something very odd and startling-he isn't wearing his makeup. I can see his face. He isn't just handsome, he's absolutely stunning. The scars on the sides of his mouth accentuate his breathtaking beauty, and give him a surreal quality. His hair is different as well. Instead of its normal wild, wet dim blonde green tinted look, its actually a shade of light platinum blonde and is well groomed and fluffy looking. The dramatic lightness of his hair matched against the striking black color of his eyes adds more depth to every little detail of his features. I notice he isn't wearing his traditional purple overcoat, or his green vest. He's wearing….a black tuxedo??

His eyes are filled with an emotion I can't even place-could that be…love? He slowly runs his hands up my body to my lower back and picks me off the wall. This is when I realize, I'm not in my normal street clothes. I feel the clothing I'm wearing come fluttering down around his legs. I look down and realize I'm in a shock white gossamer dress made of pure silk and chiffon, but I'm not wearing any shoes. I can feel under the dress I'm wearing absolutely nothing. Oh my god...am I...naked under this!!...am I wearing a wedding dress?? I also realize my hair has been done in one long French braid, and there is something sitting on top of my head…a tiara? My mind starts cranking with a million thoughts and I start struggling to get down, but he only squeezes tighter.

"Going somewhere?" His voice makes me jump. It's not the normal harsh evil voice he has. I've heard this voice once before, when he was comforting me during our first meeting.

"Wha-I-how-where….uh…" the words won't even form. I look up into his face and he's smiling at me. Not one of his insane smiles, but a genuine smile.

"Don't worry, we aren't going to do it right here my love….I just couldn't help myself." He cocks his head at me and gently moves his hands down under me and flips me around so that one of his arms is under my knees and the other under my back. I reach up out of instinct and gently grab him around his neck with both arms, and he curls me up slightly so I'm pushed up against his chest. Hey it's a long way down from this height! I turn to my right and I realize I'm in a long hallway. The walls are cream colored and the floors are a deep cherry wood color, with a thick purple runner carpet down the entire length of the hallway. I can see doorways, some of them with shut doors and some of them with open doors. At the end of the hallway about thirty feet away, is one giant door and doorway. I recognize that door…but from where? I peek over his arm and realize we must of come from down the other end of this hallway and this hallway seems to go on forever. He starts walking forwards toward that giant doorway.

Then what he says hits me and my mouth starts working. "What?! We aren't doing what right here! Where are you taking me! What is going on!!" I'm becoming frantic as I look up into his face. I'm too scared to struggle and barely able to work the courage to speak to him.

He looks down into my wild eyes and smiles knowingly at me and shakes his head. "Seriously Laiss…are you going to start that again?"

"Start what again?! You put me down right now Joker!" He stops in his tracks and gives me a strange look.

"Joker?" he cocks one eyebrow at me as if he's mocking me and licks his lips.

"Jack…his name is Jack…" I hear a voice in my head say.

"Jack?" I look around swearing that voice came from around us somewhere.

"That's better…" he looks up and continues walking forward and we are almost at the door.

Oh God…this is insane! I must be dreaming! I have to dreaming! I've fallen asleep in the back of the car on the way to…where was I going? Wait…what??

"And here we are…" he says as he reaches up and opens the door and pushes it open. He walks in and its pitch black inside the room and its cool. It makes me shiver slightly and curl tighter to him. Then I smell the room. I recognize that smell. But from where??

Then I feel something tapping my knee.

"Laiss…Laiss honey…honey?" My eyes flutter open and I realize I'm in the car with my parents still and its my mom tapping me on the knee. I jump awake and my heart starts pounding. It was a dream. It was just a dream Laiss, calm down. I say rubbing my eyes and sitting up breathing heavy. But it seemed so real. I can still feel his lips, and I can still see the desire in his eyes.

"Laiss, we're at Taco Bell. What do you want to eat?" my mom says.

"Oh…I…one soft steak taco with the lime sauce and a medium diet Pepsi." I say yawning and looking out the window at the order screen.

My father orders the food and pays for it as we drive off. The workers all there give us funny looks, they obviously know who I am they see me there all the time when I go spend time with my grandma. He reaches around and hands me my food and I eat it fast in the backseat because man I was starving. The dream is still haunting me as we are driving along. I can almost feel him holding me still. I could of swore I saw love in his eyes. How stupid, that's not even possible. That monster doesn't even know what love is. My eyes start to shimmer with tears. How foolish was I to think that someone like him could ever actually love someone like me. I clench my jaw and my teeth grind slightly at my foolishness and I ball my fists up and I feel my nose flare and I let out a small rush of air out of my nose in frustration. If I ever see that rotten fucker again, I'm going to punch him square in his jaw and all those years of boxing lessons from grandpa will finally pay off.

"Laiss? Are you alright?" my dad is looking at me in the rearview.

"Yeah…" I say trying not to burst into tears or put my fist through the window.

Down the street from my house, the Joker and his five white vans are parked out of sight. The Joker is tapping the steering wheel and humming to himself. He's intently watching the driveway of my house for any cars that might pull in.

"Boss why aren't we inside the house waiting?" A man wearing a clown mask sitting next to the Joker in the cab of the truck says, breaking the Joker's little nonsense humming.

"I thought I told you I don't like repeating myself." The Joker glares at him licking his lips.

"Right. So we don't scare the girl off and she can't run or get away and will lead us to Laiss. I still don't understand what the big deal is with this Laiss girl. I mean its just some bitch and…" he's cut off by a sawed off shotgun shoved into the side of his head smacking it against the window.

"What did you just call her?" The Joker hisses baring his teeth.

"I-I didn't mean it like that boss….I just meant I don't understand why we are after this girl…none of us really do." he says shaking.

"All in good time. You'll all uh thank me when you realize what she's capable of. Oh and, if you ever insult her again, I won't hesitate next time." The Joker pushes the guys head into the glass harder then puts the gun back down by his left side. He would of shot his head clean off but he needs all his men right now, he knows batman is lurking around in this world as well.

Turning down my road, Sadie is fumbling with her radio stations.

"Couldn't there be any good music on for fuck's sakes…" she mutters rolling her chocolate brown eyes and pushing her short brown hair behind her ears. She sighs as she realizes why all the radio stations are either off or doing emergency broadcastings.

Pulling into the drive way, she's unaware of the Joker watching her. Getting out of the car she realizes he could be inside there and starts shaking a little. 'I should of called the police to come with me…' then she shakes her head realizing that if he was in there, the cops would of found him by now since they were crawling all over the neighborhood, and earlier they had been all over the house.

Reaching in her pocket for the keys, her stomach twinges and her mouth goes dry.

"Get a grip Sadie…" she whispers to herself as she unlocks the door and pushes the door open. She turns over her shoulder and peeks around but sees nothing so she walks in and closes the door. 'Move Sadie move…move...move…move….' She's thinking to herself as she runs up the stairs to my room. She runs into the bathroom first and rolls the shower door back, grabbing all my shower supplies, then reaches up to the sink and grabs my toothbrush and toothpaste. Opening the closet near the door to the bathroom, she pulls out a small toiletry bag and stuffs everything inside. Running down the hall to my room she stops dead when she hears someone rustling around in my parents room. The noise stops then starts again. She makes a mad dash for my room and starts flinging my drawers open as quietly as she can. Her hands are shaking as she's throwing every article of clothing on the bed as neatly as she possibly can. She reaches under my bed and yanks out the tan leather suitcase and starts stuffing it full of clothes. Hearing a car horn blasting outside as it drives by makes her jerk and look out the window towards the afternoon sun. "Jesus H. Christ asshole…'

Reaching under my bed she pulls the lap top and the power cord out and shoves it in the suitcase, and then the cell phone charger from beside the bed. 'Move…move…move Sadie' Her hands are shaking badly now and she can barely pick anything up. Finally she gets everything into the suitcase and zips it up, grabbing it and the toiletry bag she rushes down the stairs and out the front door to her car. Opening the trunk she looks over her shoulder and looks around to make sure no one is behind her or watching. Sure that no eyes are on her, she quickly tosses the suitcase and toiletry bag into the trunk and slams it shut. She runs around the drivers side and jumps in, buckling herself quickly and starting the car at the same time. Flooring it, she squeals out of the driveway and turns right and guns it down the road.

Little does she know that behind her, the Joker and his men are following. And little does the Joker know that behind them, batman is following them trying to stay out of sight.

"No…please I don't want to….I'm not ready….please….stop…" I'm struggling for air with the Joker laying on top of me between my legs holding me tightly by the wrists.

"Oh I think you are…" he whispers in between gently kissing my neck.

I start squirming fiercely but he doesn't stop his ministrations on my neck.

"STOP!!" I shriek out as he sinks his teeth into my neck, biting down only slightly.

He leans up and I look into his eyes. My heart is pounding and I'm panting. The makeup that was on his face is all but smeared off, and his traditional clothing is rumpled. He looks down at me and smiles.

"Please…please don't do this to me….I'm not ready…" I whisper out trying to invoke compassion in him.

"Shhhh…." He whispers as he leans down and tenderly presses his lips to mine, making me squeeze my eyes shut. I try to turn my head but he nips my bottom lip and when I open my mouth to yelp, he engulfs my mouth with his, swirling his hot tongue around in my mouth. I have no choice but to kiss him back.

I feel him take my hands and forcefully shove them above my head and grasp both my tiny wrists in his left hand. I try to wriggle free from his grip but he's way too strong, and I start jerking as I feel him running his warm bare hand slowly down my side. This is when I realize…I'm wearing a long night shirt but I'm not wearing any pants or panties. I start trying to thrash around but he has his tongue so far down my throat I can't barely move or even moan for more than a second.

I feel him lift up slightly and then his hand comes around my stomach and down in between my legs and I start bucking my hips. I can feel the tears starting to well up in my eyes as my chest starts hurting from the emotional rush. Not like this. Please not like this. I don't want my first time to be this way.

He breaks the kiss and tilts his head down, and I hear the most terrifying noise I've even heard in my life. It's the sound of a zipper coming down.

"NOOOO!! Please no….pleaseeeeeee not like this…..please….." I start thrashing around under him and I can feel his grip tighten on my writs causing me to wince in pain. I can feel him shifting around pulling his manhood out of his pants.

"Now stop that…you keep that up and it'll uh hurt…" he whispers tilting his head up and giving me a wicked grin.

"Jack….please….not like this…." My words cause his eyes to soften marginally.

"I promise to be gentle…I'm a man of my word Laiss…" he says softly to me as I feel him shift up. Then I feel something very hard against my sweet area and my eyes grow wide. His manhood is massive and its burning hot. I feel him move it so that it's poised and ready for penetration.

"Please Jack…don't…do this…to me…" I gasp, my voice shuddering violently.

"Shhhh…." He says pushing forward slightly looking into my eyes.

"NOOOO!!" I start jerking at the feeling of slight pressure on my most delicate area.

"Laiss….Laiss!" I hear my fathers voice as I come out of the dream and I jump awake my eyes wild and my heart beating fiercely. That was too real…

"Laiss we're here….come on honey." My mother is standing on the outside of the vehicle. I sit there for a minute wiping away the sweat that has beaded up on my forehead. "Laiss are alright?" my mother leans over and looks in the car at me.

"Yeah….I'm alright." I whisper stumbling out of the car on shaky legs. I can still feel him on top of me, whispering to me. I can still smell him and I can taste his sweetness in my mouth. This is when I realize how wet my panties are. I was actually very aroused at the thought of him deep inside of me, making me his. I shake my head to clear the dream out and then I look up.

Oh how I love this place. In front of me is a lush green lawn, a lawn I spent most of my childhood playing in. The familiar straight stone path way stretching out almost forever. Two Victorian style fountains spraying cascades of sparkling water high into the air. I smile at the memories of the stern reminders my grandpa use to give me about swimming in them. I'm home, I think to myself as I look fondly upon the old crimson colored Victorian style mansion sprawled out in front of me like a silent old friend. The dark green vines that wind up the front and sides of the house make it look like an old castle. Pine trees heavily line the edges of the property, as does a chain link fence behind the pine trees. An instant feeling of serenity and comfort wash over me as I began walking up the walk way.

As I'm walking up the steps to the porch, I hear that voice in my head again. Disembodied and unclear, like a million voices murmuring something to me. My knees get weak and I start to wobble. My father puts his arm under mine to steady me.

"Laiss are you alright?" I look up at my dad.

"Yes…just…tired I guess." The voices are still buzzing in my head.

"You've had quite the ordeal. Let's get you inside and you can take a hot shower and hopefully Sadie will be here soon with your clothes." My mother walks up and strokes my hair and then walks towards the door to ring the door bell.

After a few seconds the door comes open and the familiar smell rolls out of grandma's house. Like apples, cinnamon and incense.

"Laiss…" My grandmothers voice is so soft and sympathetic. Her all-knowing silver eyes look deep into me, and I can tell she is already aware of the situation. Her long silver hair is pulled back in a braid, and she's wearing her traditional white pagan style robe. "Come in my children…" She says motioning us into the house. We walk in and my grandmother closes the door and then takes me in her arms and holds me. Her warm and comforting embrace brings me to tears. Burying my face in her shoulder, I finally let the tears that have been pent up inside me flow. I can feel her motion my parents to go into the family living room and let us be for a minute.

"I'm so scared grandma…" My voice is weak, and I'm shaking as I'm clutching her.

"There, there my child, it's going to be alright…" She's whispers as she's softly petting my hair.

"No…it's not…I'm in real trouble…he's after me…people are dead…I don't know what to do…I don't know how this happened…" my voice is wavering.

"Shhh…it's going to be alright Laiss…Why don't you go up and take a nice hot shower and relax. Your robe is up there. We will talk as soon as you are done." I lean back and look at her and she can tell I'm afraid. "You're safe here, as you always have been." Her smile and soft eyes are so reassuring.

"Ok grandma…" I smile at her and slowly make my way to the grand stair case and make my way up the stairs to the master bathroom.

My grandmother watches me go up and waits until she hears me walk down the hall then makes her way into the family living room to my mother and father. They are both sitting on the white couch and they turn to look at her.

"Can I get you two anything to drink? Tea? Coffee? Soda?" she says as she walks in and sits in her silver chair directly across from my parents. She reaches down and runs her hand across the coffee tables lace cloth while she's looking at my parents.

"Not right now mom maybe when Laiss gets done we can all have some tea…" my mother says rubbing her forehead.

"Alright then. Now…is this situation as bad as its saying on the television and radio?" she says leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs.

"Worse." My father says shifting in his seat.

My grandmother lets out a heavy sigh. "That's what I thought. I should of seen this coming. Laiss wasn't quite herself last time she stayed here and she hasn't been in contact with me as much as usual."

"What do you mean you should of seen this coming? You mean you knew some psychopath was after her and you didn't say anything?" My mother eyes grandma suspiciously.

"No I didn't know that some psychopath was after her. And of course I would of said something if I knew that. I meant I could tell something was drastically different with her. I could tell she was in…well the girl is in love."

"In love?!" my father almost jumps out of his seat.

"Indeed. We will talk more about it when Laiss is done with her shower. There is much we all need to discuss." Grandma says as she gets up and walks out of the room towards the kitchen.

My father sighs. "You don't think this has anything to do with…what we are…do you?"

My mother looks at him and the realization finally hits her. "My God Harry…I hope not. That would mean…" she stops and gasps.

"That would mean her abilities have started developing…and that he could be…oh good Lord…" my father says running his hands through his hair and setting his head in his hands.

"He could very well be her mo anam cara…" My mother sighs and puts her hand over her face.

Grandma's hands are shaking as she's filling the tea pot with water from the tap. She slowly walks over the stove and turns the knob until the fire ignites and the burner is on. Setting the tea pot down she sees a shadow moving out of the corner of her eye and she looks over towards the entrance way to the kitchen and out into the dinning room. Her eye brows furrow when she doesn't see or sense anything there.

I'm standing in the shower just letting the water run down my back with my eyes closed. I've washed and rinsed everything and now I'm just relaxing and thinking. I can still feel his hands on me, his lips pressed into mine. I shiver and open my eyes to get away from the visual. After a few minutes of enjoying the hot water, I decide its time to get out. I open the curtains and rinse my feet off then step out onto the mat and reach around and turn the knob so the water shuts off. I reach over to the sink and pick up the white towel I've set on the edge. I pick it up and start to dry off, then wrap the towel around my hair. I slip my robe on. Boy I hope Sadie hurries up with my stuff…better yet I hope she's alright. If he hurt her…I swear I'll jock his jaw. I brush my teeth with the toothbrush and toothpaste I leave here for when I spend the night and thenI pick up the comb and head down the stairs. I can hear my mother, father and grandmother murmuring softly to one another. As soon as I come into view around the corner they go quiet.

"Ah Laiss there you are. Come, sit my child and have a cup of tea." My grandmother motions to the other silver chair that's sitting right next to her. I always loved this living room. In the late afternoon, the sun always shines through here illuminating the room until its absolutely glowing. If it weren't for the central air, this room would be roasting in this summer heat.

I walk over to the chair and sit down slowly. Reaching for the coffee table I take the silver tea pot off the silver serving tray and fill a porcelain tea cup, then plop a tea bag in to steep.

I notice everyone is staring at me and I look up. "What?" I say looking around at everyone. I can tell everyone wants to speak but doesn't know where to start. They are all looking at each other as I lean back to settle in my chair. Finally my grandmother speaks.

"Laiss, there is something we should of told you years ago. And I believe now is the perfect time to explain a few things to you." She says leaning forward.

"Mom…" my mother is shaking her head.

My grandmother looks at my mother. "No Denise. Its about time the girl knows what she is and where she came from." She looks at me and takes a deep breath. "Your mother, your father, and I as well as many of your other ancestors and family members, are string walkers. Laiss are you at all familiar with string theory?"

"Somewhat. I'm not exactly certain what you're talking about." My eyebrows are together.

"It's a very complicated theory. The part of the theory you need to be aware of and taught about is the fact of parallel dimensions, or universes. They do in fact exist. And there is no set number on how many of them there are. No one can see them, or can get into them. No one…but a string walker."

"Wait…you're telling me….that parallel universes do exist. And that people can go to them?" I say closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Not just any one Laiss. Only a string walker can walk into parallel universes. Only a string walker can…bring a person or an object into our world from that other parallel universe. Only a string walker can combine two universes into one. Only a string walker has telekinetic abilities. A string walker is a very powerful being…" she pauses waiting for a response from me.

I open my eyes and look at her. "Does this mean…that I'm…that I can…"

"Yes Laiss. You are a string walker. You have abilities that you weren't aware of. I think you may have started something that only you can finish. Tell me, have you had any strange dreams lately?"

I look at my parents then to the floor. "Only every time I close my eyes. Every time I sleep…there he is. I can't get away from him. I can't tell the difference between reality and the dream world anymore. I've even pulled out objects from the dreams…" I stop and look up at her.

"I had a feeling this was happening to you. You are going to be eighteen in February and its only natural for your abilities to mature as you do. I know its very cliché, but your eighteenth year is when you fully mature as a string walker. Your abilities will be hard to control and you will want to do things with your abilities that you are going to know are wrong. This is why I was against hiding this from you all your life. But your parents wanted it hidden from you. This is why I've always been after you to do the right thing…"

My mother cuts her off. "Mom we hid it from her because we thought it was for the best." My mother looks at me. "You aren't just any string walker Laiss. You are what is known as a one hundredth generation string walker, or a golden string walker. Every one hundred generations, a string walker is born that is so powerful…they have no limit to their power. Most string walkers such as your father and I, have limits to our abilities. For instance, a string walker can normally stay in a parallel universe for only one week before they start to become weak and sick. The strain against the natural world where ever they are and their own world begins to break down the very fabric of time and space. The two universes collapse on themselves causing a catastrophic chain of events. A golden string walker has an unlimited amount of time…"

Grandma cuts her off shaking her head. "No they don't. They have a full six months which is an extraordinary amount of time."

"Your telekinetic abilities will start to show themselves as you get closer to eighteen." My father leans forward.

"You mean you guys are all telekinetic?" I look at all of them.

Out of no where, the coffee table slowly rises off the ground. "Oh yes Laiss. We just know how to control it and not let it get out of hand. Plus are abilities are extremely limited." My father says as the table slowly moves back down to the floor. "A golden string walker is so powerful, there is no limit on what you can lift. Or throw. Or destroy. Or blow up." My father says as he reaches for his tea.

I lean forward and set my head in my hand. "You mean to tell me, I'm some sort of freak? And I can blow things up with my mind?"

"We aren't freaks. And neither are you Laiss." I look up at my grandmother.

"Well this is all a bit hard to swallow. After all that's gone on….and now this…" I shake my head and take the towel off and begin to dry off my hair and then comb it.

"And that's something I need to talk about with you Laiss…" I look over at my grandmother. "Tell me exactly how you brought him to our world."

"How did you know…" I can't even finish.

"Laiss, I knew what was going on when I talked to your parents. I knew you pulled the Joker into our world. He does in fact exist, that's obvious. Not in our world of course. A lot of ideas for things such as movies that we get are actually channeled from other universes. The Joker is a real person. Just as you are a real person here, he is a real person in his world."

"This is totally unreal…" I say finishing combing my hair and then fixing my tea.

"I understand how overwhelming this all is to you. But we need to know exactly how he came to be in this world." My grandmother says as I'm working, and then reaches down and sips her tea.

"Well…" I take a sip of my tea. "It all started when I first saw the previews for the movie. I started having….very strange dreams. Nothing serious. Then they became increasingly intense. After I saw the movie, they were so real I could taste and smell and feel in them. I actually grabbed a knife from the dream to throw at him, and I woke up with it in my hand because my alarm clock woke me up before I could chuck it at him. And then last night…." I stop squeezing my eyes shut. "He came for me…"

"How did he come for you? Where were you and what were you doing?" My grandmother says, clinking her tea cup to its saucer.

"I was getting ready to go out to watch the movie with Sadie, and she had set me up on a date with Patrick. I figured it was going to be me, her, John which is her boyfriend, and Patrick…but turns out she was setting me up on a solo date." I open my eyes and look at my grandma. "And when I was getting ready she called and was picking on me about never having a boyfriend. And I was looking at the pictures of the Joker on my mirror, and I was sad because he wasn't real and if only he was no one would pick on me because I'd have a boyfriend. I know, I know….school girl stupidity…." I stop trying not to cry.

"And then what?" my father chimes in.

"And then I got off the phone with her, and laid on the bed, and I was sad….and I cuddled my pillow and then looked at the Jokers picture hanging on my mirror and whispered out I wish you were real and then…"

My grandmother cuts me off "Oh dear God in Heaven…" All three of them have the same look of lost hope as they realize he is my mo anam cara. "Wait…did you say the picture was on the mirror?"

"Yes…why?"

"You mean the mirror on her dresser that's been passed down for generations?" My grandmother says looking at my mother and tapping her fingers on the arm of her chair.

"Oh shit…the portal mirror…." My mother puts her hand over her mouth.

"Wait….portal mirror?" I say confused.

"That is no ordinary mirror Laiss. That's no ordinary dresser. That mirror and that dresser were built by a crazed string walker about fifteen generations ago. It was a sure way to always be able to access another universe. We thought it was sealed. Apparently, its not sealed or you opened the seal. Most likely the later, since you are a golden string walker." My grandmother says looking at me. "What happened after you wished him here?"

I shudder at the memory. "The picture he was in….it moved. I mean it was like it wasn't a picture. It was as if it was a television and he could see me. I ran out of the room and there he was. He chased me into the living room at our house and when I backed up into the wall…I backed right into and through another mirror. A giant wooden edged mirror and it was glowing around the edges. He shoved me back through that same mirror and I landed on my rear end in our living room. That's when mom and dad came home and scared me and I ran out of the house and that's when I got in the accident because I was on my way to see you…"

"He had a mirror too?" My grandmother says slowly, obviously thinking. "He must know you're a string walker. And he must know about the mirror. There was a story that came with that mirror. It had a counterpart mirror in the universe he was trying to always be able to access. That must be the counterpart mirror. If that's true, he's know about you your entire life because the other mirror was never sealed and I will bet any amount of money he can see everything going on through that mirror. And he's just been waiting for you. Only thing that doesn't make sense to me, is why you would of went through the living room and not through your mirror. Unless there was a disturbance of some sort to make that happen, you should of went through the mirror on both ends…" she stops as we all hear the front door bell chiming through the house.

"I'll get it…" my father says getting up.

"Its probably Sadie. Thank God I want to get dressed." I say sipping my tea. "Mom…there's something I don't quite understand. If you and dad are telekinetic, why didn't you blast him when you saw him at the hospital?" I say putting my tea cup down.

My mother sighs. "Laiss, our abilities are very limited in that area. Your father won't be able to do anything for a while now since he decided to show off and lift the coffee table. We can't just move things and blow things up at will. It's an enormous strain on us. The only string walkers that can use that power almost unlimited are golden string walkers. When you near your eighteenth birthday, your powers will increase. You will need to learn to harness and control them. Also, never ever use them in front of others. The council would have a fit."

"Council? What council?" I'm so confused.

My grandmother leans forward and I look at her. "There is a council of elders that make the laws and the rules that govern all string walkers. They are the police of the string walker community for lack of a better term. They are also the judge, jury and Lord forbid, the executioner. If a string walker breaks the rules set down many years ago, the most likely punishment is death. Some have gotten away with life in hiding. Its enough to make any string walker strictly obey the laws. You are still young yet, and the rules still don't apply to you. When you reach eighteen the laws apply to you. It's our job as your family to teach you about the rules. The main rule is never use your abilities in public. The second rule is to never, under any circumstance, harm an innocent person with your abilities. There are other rules and most of them are common sense. OH and there is something very important you need to know about this Joker person, he is…" My grandmother stops as my father and Sadie come into the room.

"Sadie! You made it! Are you ok?" I say jumping up and walking over to her to hug her.

"Yes I'm alright, I'm just glad you're alright." We hug quickly.

"Alright, I'm going to go get dressed. Sadie come with me. I will be right back." I say walking out of the room and taking Sadie by the hand. I stop and look at my grandma. "Is it ok if she stays the night?"

"Of course Laiss, you know your friends are welcome here. But we still need to talk when you are done. There is much we still need to discuss." She smiles as she waves us upstairs.

"Thanks grandma!!" I say walking out with Sadie in tow.

"She wished him here…there is no doubt in my mind now that he is her mo anam cara. Why didn't I see this coming!" My grandmother says getting up and pacing the living room.

"Mom there was no way any of us could of known. I mean yes she's a golden string walker but that doesn't necessarily mean…"

Grandma cuts her off. "Denise…a golden string walker's mo anam cara is always from another universe. You know that. It's the way things work. Every one hundred generations, two universes combine to recycle the energy and make room for brand new universes. This one is dangerous though. I've seen that movie. And if he's anything like his movie counterpart, we are all in big trouble…"

"That man has no empathy….no sympathy…no compassion….doesn't understand the meaning of love. How can you say he's out daughters mo anam cara?" My father strains out, leaning up in his seat. "How in the name of all that is sane can you even suggest that mad man is her true love?!"

"I don't make the rules Harry! Damn it! If its written in the damn stars that he is her mo anam cara then he is and he will be her perfect match!" My grandmother is flailing her arms around.

"Alright let's not fight with each other that isn't going to do us any good. The question is what are we going to do about this? Is there any way to undo what has been done?" My father sinks back into his seat.

"I'm afraid not. Once her heart has founds its other half, everything is set in motion. They were destined to be together, since even before either one of them were born."

"How can we let out daughter marry someone like that? He will abuse her….he is insane…" my father is getting really upset now.

"We don't know that Harry. I doubt Laiss would tolerate an abusive mate. You know how she is. You know her personality. She's a sweet girl and will probably tame him….at least we can hope." My grandmother is looking out the window and her eyes go wide at what she is seeing. "Oh no…" she breaths.

"You weren't followed were you?" I say as I let her hand go and we walk up the stairs.

"No I don't think I was. I didn't see anyone behind me. Well not out of the ordinary anyways. My God what a cluster fuck this all is!! Did anyone figure out who that maniac is yet?" She whispers as we are walking down the hall to my room.

"Oh yeah. It's the Joker." I say nonchalantly as I walk into the room I stay at when I come over to grandmas. I turn and look at Sadie and she's looking at me like I have two heads.

"Oh very funny Laiss! Now who is it?" She says coming in and flopping down in the arm chair near the wall.

"I'm serious Sadie. It's the Joker. He comes from his own world and I pulled him into this world. It's a long story." I say as I look over at the bed and realize her and my father must of carried my bags up because they are laying on the bed.

"You're serious aren't you?" She says as I open the cases and pull out my powder and deodorant.

"Dead serious Sadie. I told you it's a long story. All I really know is that he really does exist, and that I pulled him out into this world somehow because I apparently am something called a string walker…" I stop as I look at the expression on her face. "What?" I say taking my robe off and putting my deodorant and powder on then I pull out some clothes.

"Nothing its just…my mother use to tell me a story when I was a kid about people called string walkers. She said they were magical beings that could walk between the dimensions. And that they had a higher life expectancy than most humans. And that they were...they could throw things without touching them…I thought it was just a story…" Her eyes are wide.

"You mean telekinetic." She shakes her head yes, and then it hits me. "You and me have been friends since birth right?"

"Yeah…"

"I bet your mom and dad know about my mom and dad since they knew each other before we were born." I say getting dressed and stuffing my little brush and cell phone into my pockets.

"I bet you're right. I bet that's why she use to tell me that story. Just so when this day came I wouldn't freak or not believe you." Sadie says laying her head back and closing her eyes. "Wow this is so fuckin unreal…"

From downstairs, we hear a thundering crash and both of us jump and look at each other. Then I hear my mother scream and my heart jumps into my throat.

"What the fuck…" Sadie starts getting up.

"No…stay here. I will go see what the hell is going on." I slip out of the room and down the dark hallway to overlook on the stairs and listen.

From the living room where my family is, I can hear voices. Then I hear the voice that makes my blood run cold.

"I asked you all once. Where is Laiss." The Joker hisses. No one responds. "Come on now. I just need to talk with her about something….something little. No?" I hear my grandmother gasp.

"Oh God….how did he find me!" I whisper out, tears starting to well up in my eyes.