-flashback-

Alice was sitting, cross-legged, at the foot of Jesse's hospital bed. She had a book open and was reading to him.

The nurses wouldn't tell her, but Alice knew that Jesse could hear her. She could just feel it. Despite their differences, they were still having that strange connection that twins had. She suddenly looked over her shoulder as a nurse came in to check on Jesse.

"Good morning, Miss Alice," he said as he touched her arm. "What're you reading for Jesse today?"

She giggled and showed him her book on dogs. "I read him a book on cats. He didn't like it. So, I'm reading dogs. He likes dogs."

He laughed and checked Jesse's medicines. "Well, since you practically live here, Jesse seems to be getting better. Is your father coming today?"

"I don't know." She crawled up and climbed under the blankets next to Jesse. "I hope so. Jesse wants to show him how strong he's getting."

The nurse gave her a little hug before he left. He quietly closed the door.

Alice curled up next to Jesse. She closed her eyes and tried to open her heart to his connection.

They met in the dreams again.

Alice ran to Jesse and gave him a hug. "I missed you! Did you like the dog book?"

Jesse nodded and sat in the grass. "Should we wait for dad today? I want to play a game with you, if that's okay. I hope you'll let me duel you some day."

Alice suddenly noticed there was a black aura coming off Jesse's back. It spread like wild fire and the whole area behind Jesse became more like a war zone. Alice felt the white aura come shooting off her and she could feel the forest and music of a festival coming from behind her. She slowly scooted back as the blackness came for her.

Alice heard her own voice from the white mist.

"Don't die."

"Come home to your death. It's your time."

Jesse suddenly screamed and the black aura began to consume him when Alice ran to him. A fire came off her finger tips and illuminated Jesse's body. She wrapped her arms around Jesse and her fire spread to him, keeping the darkness off him. "Let go! I don't wanna stay here anymore!"

She shed a tear. "I need you to stay. I can't face father like this."

Jesse gasped and the blackness consumed Alice. She saw the world in all it's negativity. The darkness in the world.

A white mist reached out to her and Alice's eyes snapped open.

Jesse's eyes were open, but fogged. He was coughing and a few nurses came running in as the monitors beeped and alarmed them.

Alice quickly jumped off the bed and plastered herself to the wall. She ducked behind a chair in the corner and began to cry. She felt so lonely and so much more distant from her brother. She sobbed softly as she heard her father demanding something.

-end-

Alice sighed and smiled at Jim. "Since then, Jesse's been susceptible to dark things." She looked back at his hand. She had her right under his left hand. She slowly set her left hand over his palm, gently pressing down. "But he and I have both shared the power to see and communicate with the Spirit of the cards." She closed her eyes and a dark aura began to rise of her. "We both can read the thoughts of our enemies in combat, but it also keeps us from opening our hearts to someone. We can tell when they're lying to us. But I can see and feel somethings that Jesse can't."

Jim watched the aura. "Like what?"

"The evil intent of some people. I can see the motives behind dark actions people take."

Jim rested his right hand atop her's. "Do you see what I see, then?"

Alice nodded. "Now, when you feel guarded, you leave me a portal inside." She suddenly withdrew her right hand and it touched Shirley. When she opened her eyes, they were black, through and through. "Now, you will show me what I desire to know."