By the time Christmas rolled around, which was noted through the dots Amanda left on one of the cabin calendars left on the wall, the traumatic experience she'd had with Freddy Krueger was largely forgotten.
The Entity had made a few light tweaks to the matches, such as increasing the effectiveness of the Borrowed Time skill and Decisive Strike. The survivors like Amanda and Jake, who had left, and Zarina, who was new, lost or never had the skills, and with Bill and Laurie gone, hadn't been able to regain them. Nea and Kate and Claudette and the rest who had learned them had retained them, but had been unable to teach them to anyone else. At the time, it seemed the only persons with the ability to pass them on were the original bearers of the skills.
The Entity also made a change there, and Nea and Claudette were finally able to teach those important skills to the survivors who did not have them. .
Amanda and Jake were both happy to be able to return the skills to their tool-kit, and both carried at least one of the relearned skill stones into every subsequent trial. The matches returned to normal, at least as normal as one could expect in a situation where they were hunted by an other-worldly, inhuman monster. When a repeat of Amanda's mind-breaking experience failed to materialize again, after a few weeks, the survivors had largely regained their respect for the Entity, and performed up to their usual abilities.
Amanda, Jake, and Ash, for their part, also helped taper the survivors fears by sharing the treatment the Entity had created and provided to recover Amanda from her state. Amanda shared with the group that she had been designated as the survivor who would speak for the Entity if it wanted to relay a message, though lied liberally about the reason she had been selected. No sense in revealing that truth. When Amanda, speaking for the Entity, had communicated to the survivors that the situation had not been a new twist the Entity had put into place, and being able to share that the killer that had perpetrated the event had been severely punished, also smoothed the waters.
She made it quite clear that the Entity, for all of its cruelty, had been just as upset as the survivors had been that it happened, and that it occurred during a brief interval while it had been focused elsewhere. From now on, she had said, as the Entity spoke in her head, the Entity would be monitoring each and every trial closely, making sure that the unwritten, yet official, rules of the trial were not deviated from in any way.
In their trials with the Nurse and the Doctor, None of the three who had spent time with them when they were human saw any remnants of Herman Carter or Sally Smithson, and no leniency was spared to them. They were back to "normal." As for the one who had started the mess in the first place, sometimes Amanda noted Krueger staring at her with veiled resentment in the trials, but otherwise took no action beyond hooks and the occasional Mori.
On Christmas Day, the survivors had donned Christmas sweaters. Amanda had found one folded on her bed that depicted a blue Volkswagen with a Christmas tree tied to the roof driving through the snow. They sat by the fire, singing Christmas carols while accompanied by Kate's guitar. Sometimes some voices would disappear when they were called to a trial. A gift exchange was made, with the survivors gifting other survival items and maps, as well as the occasional ring.
Amanda asked if Kate knew the melody to "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Kate had enthusiastically nodded, and said the Bonnie Tyler song was one of her favorites of the 1980s. Amanda had stood next to her, and Kate strummed an acoustic version of the song. Kate wasn't sure Bonnie Tyler's part was in her vocal register, but it was in Amanda's, so she belted out the Tyler part while Kate joined during the duet, and singing the "Turn Around" refrain sung by Rory Dodd. It was a rousing success, and the two made plans to collaborate on some other duets in the future.
In bed that night, Amanda had slipped on the black lingerie she'd been planning to reveal at the cabin before the real world went to fucking shit. She laid on her side, positively loving the way Jake stared at her body with eyes still brightly lit with lust. She knew well what the best gift was she could provide Jake, and it wasn't a first aid kit.
As he began to move on top of her, Amanda decided to surprise him with one act that, as incredible as it may seem, they hadn't tried yet. She locked her lips with his, broke the kiss and said, "Merry Christmas...Do me up the ass." She passed him a bottle of Astroglide which had been in Jake's toiletry bag. They'd so far never had to use it, Amanda pretty much always got dripping wet in anticipation of him almost immediately, but while out shopping one day during their real world return, they'd simply picked up a bottle once, just in case. It would be well-served here.
Smiling, she rolled onto her belly, and felt him spread her cheeks, slippery fingers entering that one place he'd so far never been. She'd been fucked up the ass a few times scoring drugs from some random loser, so it wasn't like she was a virgin, but Jake slowly and carefully used his fingers to ready her for him. Amanda urged him to take her, and he dribbled some of the lubricant on his cock, using his hands to spread it up and down his shaft, coating his trembling member before slowly, gently, easing inside of her.
In the times she'd done it in the past, it hadn't been a great experience, because the guys who had done it were just using her to get off. But Jake, who concentrated on her pleasure as much, if not more, than his own, fucked her so thoroughly that after only a few tweaks of her clit from her finger, she buried her face in the mattress, trembling in her orgasm as Jake moaned and grunted and filled her deeply while having a powerful orgasm of his own. It was an experience so amazing that they repeated it on New Year's Eve.
The next day, Amanda paged back to January on the calendar and made a dot on January 1. For them, it would have now been 2007, but the others had come from a variety of different timelines, and hardly anyone could guess how long they'd been there, save for the newer survivors like Felix and Zarina.
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After a few months, the time was up for two more survivors. Ash Williams was finally going home. As it had done with Jake, it had quietly extended Jane Romero's stay, though Ash didn't know that.
He'd been buttoning his shirt when, without warning, the cabin was gone and he found himself in pitch blackness.
"Do you know why I called you here?" The voice, which raised Ash's hackles the same way fingernails being dragged down a chalkboard would, was the Entity's.
"Uhh...Not a clue. But...I swear, I am not the daddy."
"Your time here is at an end. It's time for you to rejoin the real world, and leave this place," the Entity told him.
"So, I'm just going back?" Ash had asked it, confused. "To where? I mean, like the 1980s? That would be kinda groovy."
"You will be returned to the time you came from, in the future."
No, that wasn't going to work. He would be there, but she would not be. "That wasn't really very scenic, and what about Jane? She came from a different year than I did. I'm not the type that begs...Ok, ok, yes I am the type that begs. Come on, work with me here. I'll never see her again. Hell, I'd rather just stay here with her."
"I have already decided to be fair. In fact, I've decided to be generous. You've served your purpose here well, frustrated a number of my killers, and if I returned Jane to her original realm, she would once again fall asleep at the wheel of her vehicle and drown, as she was going to before I claimed her. A brief turning back of the clock would not erase the effects of the medicine she took that was surging through her system and made her pass out," the Entity explained. What worked for Amanda will not work for her. Also, Amanda needed to return to that particular moment to secure the partial redemption she craved. She needed to completely regain her humanity. Jane Romero was an innocent. Her death would have been meaningless. Since she has nothing to seek redemption for, her return will be different than the one I granted Amanda."
The Entity talked like it was a real-life encyclopedia. "Uh...Ok...So, what's the plan then?"
The Entity said, "I will return her to the same time as you, rather than her original timeline. Once you arrive, you will require no talismans to find each other or regain your memories. She'll be returned right alongside you. I have already spoken to her, and she is aware of my intentions and eager to be returned with you. Good luck, meat Ash."
The Entity didn't like goodbyes apparently. Ash felt himself moving before he could speak another word. He was quickly out of the blackness and standing on sand in the wasteland. Jane suddenly appeared by his side. Ash was excited not only to see her, but to be where he could actually fight the monsters. Finally, he could be the sarcastic ass-kicker he'd been born to be...Well, after he got over being pissed about it.
Jane looked around the sand with uncertainty, but Ash spoke quickly to calm her fears. "This is gonna be great, baby. We're gonna be able to actually FIGHT monsters rather than run from them. First, we gotta find the bunker, The one I woke up in before. We've also gotta find this chick named Lexx, don't worry, I think she's like an android or somethin'. Then we'll get back in the 'ol Delta. It's all tricked-out and ready for Deadite ass-kickin'!"
Jane calmed slightly, and while she appreciated his enthusiasm to pick right up where he left off, she said, "I wouldn't mind a day or two to relax before we...Kick Deadite ass."
Ash snaked an arm around her. "I totally get it, hon. Sorry, just a little excited after that 25 years of running. Having to hide in lockers and be completely defenseless, now I can stand and fight again." Ash looked at her, and his expression became one of embarrassment. "I mean...I've told you all my stories, and I know you believe 'em... But words are words and actions are actions...I'm looking forward to really showing you what I'm made of."
He stared at the sand. "For however long we were there, I couldn't do much to protect you. I mean...I know you didn't need it, but that didn't mean I didn't do it as much as I could...I'd never have had a woman like you show me any interest before the realm, and...I'm just excited to...You know, prove myself to you. You're awesome, and even after all the time we've spent together, you're still way out of my league, you might always be...Anyway, with us being back here...Now I can be the guy I've always wanted to show you I can be. A hero."
Jane smiled and tweaked his nose. "You'll always be my hero. And don't let my current comments fool you, I'm looking forward to letting out some of my pent-up frustration on some Deadite ass myself. I'll do to them all of the things I couldn't do to that annoying asshole Bubba." She winked at him. "Come on, it's hot out here. We're going to burn up if we keep standing here." She started walking and Ash followed her.
Jane got her two days off. In fact, she got more than two days. After about two hours wandering in the sand, they found a bunker, though not the one Ash was looking for. It was deserted, but there were plenty of MREs and water available, so the two set up camp after making sure they were the only ones in it. It had some clean, uncomfortable cots to sleep in, running water, with showers. The bathrooms held soap and shaving cream and razors, so she'd be able to shave her legs and armpits when needed. No nail polish though. Shame, she'd miss her bottle of bright red.
As Jane explored, thinking the Bunker was like a two-star hotel, enough amenities to be comfortable, but not very fancy. She didn't know who the bunker had been built for, nor why it was empty, and didn't care. The door was locked, there was no one else here, and so it was theirs. Finders keepers.
Ash started looking for a way to power the place. After about 30 minutes of searching, he found a generator. With all the years he'd spent repairing them in the realm, Ash had been able to start the bunker's solar-powered offering in no time, the surging electricity triggered the multiple electric water heaters next to it, and they came to life, heating up the long-cooled water in the tank.
Ash found Jane in the dining hall and switched on the lights with a each snagged an MRE from the stacked rows on the metal shelves in the bunker's dining hall. Jane washed a pan and some silverware with the slowly warming water, then put some in a small pot and heated it on the stove. She carried the boiling water to the table containing their MREs. They opened them up, scooping the hot water with their spoons into the freeze-dried offerings. Ash put a dribble on something that was flat and white, then took a forkful enthusiastically. As he chewed it, he grimaced. "Man, this stuff tastes like toilet paper."
Because it was, she realized. Jane opened her mouth to tell him, then simply took a bite of the powdered potatoes she'd fluffed with a bit of water. Sometimes, it was better to let him figure things out on his own, she thought with a smile. But, Ash being Ash, he finished the TP without ever realizing what he was eating. Jane forced herself not to laugh when he said the taste grew on him, before he dribbled some of the hot water on the dried peas.
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For the first few weeks, they took a different direction from the bunker and went out in search of the one Ash was looking for. After they spent their first night, they found a small armory, and strapped a holster containing a 9 mm handgun across their waists, while both slung M-16s over their shoulders. Ash showed her how to fire one, and while she'd never used a gun before, she figured she could handle the automatic rifle if she pointed it in the right direction.
Ash collected a compass as they went out the door, and Jane had to admit he had a good sense of direction. They would walk for a while, but when they did not encounter it, Ash would call the trip quits after a few hours, and they'd follow the compass back to the bunker they'd claimed. While it reduced visibility, they kept to traveling at night to avoid the blistering heat of the sun. In addition to not finding the bunker, they also didn't see anyone else in their travels, it almost seemed like they were the last two people on Earth.
What had happened here? It was a thought that had plagued Jane since their first trip out from the bunker. Also, how far into the future were they? It wasn't some sort of nuclear holocaust, But then, it couldn't have been anyway, Ash wouldn't have let the Entity send them back here if they would eventually die from radiation poisoning. She wished she had an answer, and knew the year they were in, but until they found another survivor, she knew she wasn't going to know.
Every day had a familiar pattern. Spend the day indoors, eating, washing, sleeping, and regularly screwing, though she and Ash had decided it best he pull out for the time being. After all, they were uncertain of the future, and they no longer had access to the birth control of the Entity's realm. At various times, she got to feel Ash's sperm on the skin above her pussy, her belly, her tits, and in her mouth when she sucked him off after he had made her cum, and quickly pulled out of her at the threshold of his own orgasm. He'd fall on his back and she'd rush to wrap her mouth around him. With all the sperm she was feeling and swallowing now, she figured it must be what it felt like to be a porn star.
After the first week, they started venturing out sooner, so they could travel and explore for more of a distance before having to return to the bunker before the full heat of the sun burned their skin from its powerful heat. Traveling farther revealed a handful of abandoned buildings, and wrecked cars slowing rusting to nothing in the sand, but nothing else. After one more week of leaving in the early evening, while the sun was still warm, but not unbearable, and returning as the sun was just beginning to be uncomfortable, Ash was visibly concerned. There was no sign of anyone, or anything.
While discouraging, one good thing came out of it. The MRE's were edible, but not very fattening, and all the walking they did at night, the weight almost poured off of them. Ash dropped at least 20 pounds, which was no small feat for a guy is age. Jane lost even more than that, being younger. As the powered low-calorie food and constant walking melted the weight off of her that years of running in the realm never could, Jane's body turned into a shorter, and only slightly thicker version of some of the curvier actresses she'd seen in the movies like Sofia Vergara or Eva Mendes.
Ash loved her curves, and had never once not thought Jane was sexy as Hell with her extra weight. But as the weight dropped off, he saw her occasionally checking herself out in the dusty mirror in the sleeping quarters, the smile she had on her face told Ash she was thrilled. A bronze goddess with curves now all in all the right places. More importantly, it had happened naturally, and not because she'd ever felt that she needed to because Ash didn't find her sexy and beautiful as she was. In his old days, he might have, but the realm had mellowed him. He wanted Jane as she was, however she was.
There was another plus. While she lost weight everywhere else, Ash noted with no small pleasure that she lost no weight in her breasts. Her stomach got flatter and flatter, and her ass became smaller, and the slimming of her frame made her large tits stand out even more on her chest.
After the first month, while digging around the bunker, Jane had found a black top and bottom that looked almost like a leather bikini somewhere out of "Mad Max." Had this bunker been made for warriors, or a commune of sexial deviants?
Still, it looked nice, and she was sure having skimpier clothing would feel a lot more comfortable than the clothes they'd scrounged from the bunker. She hesitated a moment, but felt a rush of confidence. She was a new, sexy Jane. She stripped and tried it on. It was as close to a perfect fit as she could have imagined. She also found a pair of black boots that stopped just below her knee, and slipped them on. They were only a size too large. Smiling, she walked into the mess hall where Ash was eating a bowl of bran cereal with condensed milk, and stood with her hands on her thighs.
After a moment, she cleared her throat as Ash took a bite. He looked up, saw her, and choked on the mouthful of bran. Jane smiled. "I take it you like the look."
Then she strutted to the table, knocked the bowl of cereal to the floor and laid down on the wooden top, moving the bottom of the leather "bikini" bottoms to the side of her wet pussy as Ash dropped his pants and screwed her passionately.
She noted as she looked at his hairy chest and belly while he thrust in her that, while far from a six pack, Ash's gut was almost entirely, and quite sexily, flat. He probably hadn't been this slim since his 30s.
The renewed confidence in their bodies fueled their passion even more greatly, and after she peaked, Ash pulled out of her and, leading over her, came across her belly. He put his hands on the table on either side of her, leaning and catching his breath. The table, finally abused too much, collapsed underneath them, sending them both to the floor in a laughing heap.
After that, the "bikini," or whatever it was, and the boots became Jane's uniform. She felt empowered by it, like a warrior woman from some post-apocalyptic film. She never put her hair up, letting her black locks brush her shoulders. She was far from the woman who had regularly done her shows in a pantsuit with her hair in a bun.
But as that first month had passed, Jane saw Ash's confidence was waning. No Lexx, no bunker, no deadites, no other signs of life. He also missed his former Deadite-hunting team of Kelly, Pablo, and his daughter Brandy, wicked bad. Jane herself was supportive, the bunker would be comfortable for a long while, and she tried to reassure him that even though they had no luck finding the place he wanted, they were still in a nice, safe, comfortable place for the time being.
However, if given the choice, she also knew that she wouldn't mind returning to the world in the decade she had been collected from. Ash, before coming to this future, had been in 2018, a few years later than when she'd left and entered the realm, but still, close enough. Her sudden reappearance after disappearing for five years or so wouldn't be too suspicious in the eyes of her fans, or the board of executives of her product line, JR.
She found him sitting in the empty dining hall, staring at the wall, a twinge of sadness on his face, lost in thought. Jane sat across from him, setting her rifle on the table. "I know this hasn't been easy for you. If you'd found your bunker and Lexx, you'd have been able to keep yourself distracted from things. But with nothing to distract you but this empty bunker and me...You're really missing them, aren't you? Kelly, and Pablo, and Brandy."
Ash sighed, and then he nodded.
Jane decided to use the window that had just opened up. "It looks like we're going to have to leave the safety of this place and risk dying in the sand if we're going to have a chance to find the place you're looking for. I mean the only other alternative is for you to think deep into your mind and try to remember the words that woman Deadite told you that would return us to 2018."
A lightbulb seemed to turn on in Ash's head. It's been a long time, but...If we stuck around here, and I just focused on that, thought back to that conversation in the bathroom all the time, I...I mean it's possible I could remember it. She said them a buncha times."
"I would be happy to keep on searching, and take the risk we'd need to find that bunker...But I wouldn't mind returning to the past as well. Find your friends, team up, and be back in a decade where there are still houses and restaurants."
Ash was reinvigorated. "That's home. I mean, I wasn't here long enough to really settle in. And if we go back to 2018, maybe then I can figure out what I need to do to stop it from happening. I'm gonna try it. Thanks Jane, you've shown me how to break out of this funk. You really are motivational." He kied her.
Ash's brow furrowed, thinking, thinking...Finally, he said: "Quazar...Quixote,...Starburst."
He shook his head. "No...Farha...Ferengi...Fickle...Damn it...I'm gonna get this, I know I'm gonna get this."
It went on that way for the next two days. Ash would think quietly for several moments, before saying three words, and cursing. After the first few hours, he remembered for sure that the words had been in Latin, and started repeating a mishmash of words that he thought were Latin, but Jane knew weren't.
His routine of eating, drinking, showering, and sleeping remained the same, but the rest of the time he was awake, he would be silent for awhile, before uttering three words of random gobbledygook, then repeating the process when nothing happened.
Jane was reaching the point where she was wishing she hadn't made the suggestion. He was trying, she knew he was trying, but hearing him do the same thing, probably thousands of times, was grating. As she fell asleep waiting for the sun to come up on the third day, Ash had been sitting in a chair, a portable lantern by his side, thinking and muttering.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep before Ash suddenly shook her awake. He was grinning from ear-to-ear, his eyes filled with excitement.
"I think I've got it...Really. This time, I think I've got it." Jane saw by his eyes that he truly believed it, and she smiled herself, sliding out of bed in her black leather warrior garb and sliding her boots over her feet.
Ash wrapped his arms tightly around Jane. He had her hold onto his belt. He was being extra careful, and wasn't going to risk leaving her behind as he prepared to say the three words that had risen from the depths of his memories and filled his mind as his heart had beaten with excitement.
In a commanding tone, Ash said, "Intrabit...Entitas...Imperium."
They closed their eyes. It felt like nothing had happened. They kept them closed, almost petrified to open them and confirm it. They were like Indy and Marion after the Ark had been opened. They were wallowing in the disappointment both were feeling. But then they felt the slight breeze. Taking a deep breath, they opened their eyes together.
Trees. No darkened bunker. They were in the fresh air, standing in a cluster of trees. The sun shined on their shoulders, but was not the uncomfortable, blistering heat they'd felt when they'd first returned to the future.
"I DID IT!" Ash released Jane to pump his fist in the air. "I knew it would come to me eventually. I did it. My God, Jane, I did it."
Jane looked around, feeling hopeful, but also very slightly worried. The glimpse of the countryside definitely looked like the Earth Jane had been in when she left it, but it seemed pretty rural. "Where is the city? Are we near any towns, or are we lost in the countryside?"
"Ash shrugged. "I'm not sure. We may have a little hike ahead of us, but wherever the nearest city or town is in this place, we'll find it. Or at the very least, find a home with a phone we can use to call someone. The most important thing is, we're BACK, baby!"
He kissed her passionately. Jane laughed, then pulled him back in for another kiss. It felt wonderful to be out of that barren sand. She'd have to let Ash do the talking when they found someone, since she was walking around in an outfit that was no longer apocalyptic survivalist. It was a dominatrix lost in the woods. They walked hand-in-hand through the trees.
A noise could be heard behind them. "People," Ash said excitedly. "Finally, someone other than us. Maybe they've got a car. I hope we're not in Bulgaria. Man, I never want to be in Bulgaria."
As they stood there, a voice spoke from behind them. "Ash?"
Ash gently elbowed Jane. "This is better than I could have expected. I told you I was kind of a celebrity because of how badass I was. Sounds like it's a fan. They recognize me even though I've lost some weight. Must be the chin. AND they speak English. Thank God, we're not in Bulgaria."
Jane turned towards the sound of the voice. The voice spoke again. "Jane?"
Ash's face flashed in surprise, then he beamed. "Woah, baby, they recognize you too. I know you were famous before you came to the realm, with your product line and show. I hope it's just a fan, and not the paparazzi. It's a bit too early to be swarmed by a guy with a camera, wouldn't you say?" He glanced at her. "Although...That outfit is definitely gonna go viral outbreak if someone takes a picture and puts it on the internet."
Jane was silent. She elbowed him.
"Don't panic. I'm here. We'll give them an autograph, and then ask him if he's got a car and we can catch a ride..." Jane elbowed him painfully. "Hey, I'm excited to," Ash said, rubbing his side, "But there's no need to get violent."
Jane grabbed his head and turned it. Ash's eyes moved around before settling on the person who had spoken to them. Ash's smile, which had been frozen on his face, evaporated.
Crouching next to a generator, Jeff Johansen was looking at them both in surprise. "We thought you guys had left. It's been weeks. Where did you come from?"
Ash's eyes went wide. No...No...NOOOO this couldn't be happening. There was no way this was happening. There was no way he'd said the same goddamn thing he'd said before he came here the first time. But the longer he stood there, the more pissed off and unsure he became. Was this why the goddamn words had suddenly sprung so clearly into his head? Because he'd said them before... He refused to believe it. He closed his eyes, muttering, "Nope, this is not happening. We are not back here. No."
Ash heard the sound of a bell being knocked on twice from behind him.
He turned, and his eyes met the wide white eyes of the Wraith.
Immediately he stormed over the few feet of distance between them, waving his finger admonishingly. "No...No way buddy. We SERVED our time. No, you can just go play in traffic, we're done here. We're outta here. Don't you even THINK about trying to swing that thing at me. I'll punch your damn lights out. You just get out of here if you know what's good for you. I'm gonna get a message to the Entity and..."
The Wraith's hand flashed quickly, and the stick in its hand clubbed him on top of his head as Jane, Her black hair streaming behind her, took off into a run, followed by Jeff.
Ash shook off the cobwebs and pain that filled his head. "Look, buddy. I told ya. We're done here. We got the pass. The Entity let us go. We aren't for you to hunt anymore. Now unless you want me to put that club of yours where the sun don't shine, you better be gettin' the Hell out of here..."
The Wraith stared at him, unblinking. "Ok, you asked for this," Ash said, before kicking the Wraith in the groin.
"AHHHHH FUCK!" Ash raised his sore foot, holding it and hopping on his other one. It felt like he'd kicked a wall. "GAHH! I feel sorry for any woman that..."
The Wraith swung the club under Ash's chin, clipping him solidly under his jaw. Ash screamed, did a somersault in mid-air, and landed on his face, groaning. The Wraith stood staring at him, then cocked its head, staring at him silently.