There were a few things that he could still do. Things, Julian thought, that Ezra had never even thought of and had not planned for.
"Why? Why should we help you?" They asked, their eyes accusing as they looked at him.
"For Jenny," he had said simply and after a few minutes of silent, they both shook their heads in agreement. They would help him……For Jenny.
Yes, there were a few things that he could do still that even Ezra was not aware of.
……………………………………………………………………………
Julian's eyes narrowed as he looked at Ezra. His enemy was laughing at him, he could tell. He tried to clear his mind and think only of the task ahead of him. Ezra and the other Shadow Men were not important. The only important thing was to win the newest game, to get Jenny and Alyx and get out of there. Nothing else mattered.
It came down to this. Julian stood next to Ezra as Jenny was escorted into the room by a group of Shadow Men. The other Shadow Men in the room giggled and whispered to each other in excitement. They knew this girl. She was the one who had gotten away; the one that Julian had given his own existence for. And as each pair of Shadow Men's eyes fell on Jenny, they felt the old hunger creep up into their bellies. She was everything. She was light.
Famished.
Julian gritted his teeth and tried not to notice the hungry looks that the Shadow Men were aiming towards Jenny. And he tried not to notice the pure fear that seemed to line Jenny's face as she hugged her arms around her tighter and walked a few more steps into the room. Julian even shut out the incessant sound of Ezra's laughing in his head as he tried desperately to concentrate.
This was it, the last game. It would end here, with or without Julian being the victor. He would either leave with Jenny and his mortality, or he would be taken out of existence again. At this point, it really didn't matter to him what happened as long as Jenny was free again.
Free.
All he had to do was make her accept him, to take his hand and trust him. But, how could he possibly do that after all she had been through. He could still see the hurt in her eyes when he had stood in her bedroom as Ezra had told her about their 'game'. Yet, it hadn't been a game to Julian. No, he had never meant to involve Jenny in any of it at all. But, he thought darkly, Ezra had other plans.
Julian crossed his arms over his chest and glanced over to where Ezra stood, a cocky smile gracing his lips. Ezra cocked his head to one side and winked at Julian. Julian's blood began to boil. How could anyone be so downright evil, he thought as he hastily looked away from Ezra and back at Jenny? But, a small voice in his head reminded him, you were once that way too. You were just as cocky and as cold as Ezra is now. Not anymore, though, Julian thought quickly as his heart dropped as Jenny caught site of him.
She was standing in the only lighted portion of the room. It was a small circle of light that surrounded her, while the rest of the room was bathed in darkness. The other Shadow Men had slowly faded into the darkness of the room, watching in anticipation of what was to come. Julian and Ezra stood on the very rim of Jenny's circle. The two contestants looking at their prey, Julian thought coldly.
He could just imagine what was going on in her mind right then. Her eyes had gone wide when she had seen him, but now they seemed blank as if trying to hide all forms of emotion. She was standing on one side of the little circle, facing the two main Shadow Men. And her arms had fallen slowly to her sides. She looked as if she were warily waiting for what was to happen next. Julian just wished there was some way to know for sure what would happen next. How was he ever going to make this work? How would he get Jenny to choose him?
"Julian, since I am such a generous person, you shall go first," Ezra said, his voice seeming to echo in the room.
Not even giving Ezra the satisfaction of looking at him darkly, Julian stepped forward into the circle of light and approached Jenny. He saw the slim bit of uncertainty flare up in her eyes as he walked the few steps to where she stood.
"Jenny," he said quietly, allowing her name to roll off his tongue so easily as if he had been made only to say her name. "Jenny, I want to get you out of here."
She stood in front of him, not sure of what to say. Her heart was beating so rapidly, and she felt a bit weak in her legs at all the Shadow Men around her. God, there were so many of them. Jenny couldn't see them, but she could sense them. She knew they were all there for this game.
She looked at Julian, her eyes focusing on his own. Was he lying to her? Was this just a finish of the game they had started years ago when she had come to the Shadow World for the first time? She wanted to believe him. Jenny wanted to believe that Julian really did want to get her out of here. But, could she believe him?
In the past, Julian had hurt her badly, had even come close to killing one of her friends. But, when it came to the very end of that game, he had allowed her and the others to escape while the Shadow Men had taken his existence by cutting his name out of the runestave. And now, years later, he had returned. Jenny had to admit that she had been a bit in awe to see Julian alive again and in her room. But, then the other Shadow Man had shown up and had given away the fact that they were simply playing another game. After that, Jenny had somehow ended up in the prison with the voices in the dark. It had been horrible, but she had gotten through it. And why? Because Julian had come and he had calmed her down. And he had given her a candle, a light.
"You have to trust me, Jenny," Julian said now as he stood right in front of Jenny. "Please. It's up to you to make the decision. I won't force you to go, but I can get you out of here if you just trust me."
He looked as if he were about to say something more, but a deep voice behind him made him stop. "That's enough, Julian. It's my turn now."
Julian shook his head once and then his eyes met Jenny's again. "Remember your ring," he whispered and then stepped back into the shadows surrounding the circle.
Jenny's brow furrowed, her eyes automatically looking down towards her hand where the ring in question sat. It was the ring that Julian had given her, the ring that held the inscription, "I Am My Only Master". But, why had he told her to remember that? Why was it important that she remember--------
"Thorny?"
It was one word but it was enough to make Jenny almost pass out from hearing it. She had never thought she would hear it again, at least not in the voice she was hearing it now. Her head whipped up quickly, her eyes searching the darkness for the one person that had had that voice. No, she thought wildly. There is no way. And even as she tried to convince herself of this, she still could not stop herself from asking anyway.
"Tom?"
……………………………………………………..
Alyx opened her eyes and stared into complete darkness. Where was she? She knew that she could not be at home because home would mean that the little numbers on her alarm clock would be glowing red in the darkness. So, where was she?
She tried to think back to what had happened, but her mind felt strangely fuzzy. Her head felt heavy with sleep as if she had been sleeping for way too long. Sitting up slowly, she reached up and touched her head with her right hand. "Ohhh," she moaned, feeling a headache coming on.
Where the heck am I, she wondered as she looked around her again. She tried to discern anything in the darkness around her. Was she in someone's apartment? No, she thought, that can't be right. It doesn't feel right.
Alyx narrowed her eyes and concentrated on the darkness in front of her even more. Why did it look as if it were moving? She shook her head a couple of times as if to get out all of the silly thoughts about the darkness. And then she returned her eyes to the same exact place they had been focusing on before. See? She told herself. There is nothing……
She gasped. It was funny, but she could almost swear she had seen something move again in the darkness. Gathering up all of her courage, Alyx lifted her hand and reached out slowly towards where she was sure something had moved. What is it, she wondered, intrigued.
Her fingers touched cloth and a hand covered her mouth before she could scream.
………………………………………………………………
Julian's head whipped up at the sound of the voice and he stared at the person next to him. It had been Ezra standing there, his dark hair and dark eyes as familiar to Julian as Julian's own hair and eyes. Ezra and Julian had grown up together and at one time, Julian had called Ezra friend. But, that had been a long time ago and so much had changed since then. At one time, Julian had thought he knew Ezra better than anyone. Not anymore. And as Julian stared at where Ezra had stood just seconds ago, he realized he had never known Ezra at all. Ezra, Julian realized, was able to sink lower than Julian ever would have thought possible. He'll do anything to win, Julian thought in shock.
Ezra no longer stood next to Julian. Tom did.
But, that's impossible, Julian thought. Tom is dead.
And yet, there he stood next to Julian, his eyes fixed solely on Jenny. Julian turned his gaze to Jenny, to see what her reaction was. Julian knew what he felt about the whole thing- sick. It disgusted him to no end to think that Ezra would go so low….to pretend to be Tom. All for the game, Julian thought, his eyes narrowing. How could Ezra be so evil?
But, none of that really mattered to Julian. All he worried about was Jenny. She wouldn't know that it wasn't really Tom, would she? She wouldn't know that it was just Ezra playing a trick on her. Jenny would be clueless. And when she found out the truth, when Ezra dropped the mask of Tom, what would she do? Julian hated to think of the pain that would be in her eyes then. The pain, Julian knew, was already growing within her.
Her eyes were wide as she stared at the pseudo-Tom next to Julian. Her face was so very pale as if the shock of seeing Tom could possibly cause her to faint. She reminded Julian of a scared rabbit being trapped by a sly fox. And, he added in his mind, is that really such a farfetched thought? In this game, she was the rabbit and Ezra was so very much the sly fox wanting to trap her.
"Tom?" She asked, uncertain of if she wanted to hear the answer.
"Yes Thorny," the figure before her answered. "I am here."
Jenny let out a little cry and she realized that she had been holding her breath, waiting for his answer. Tears welled up in her eyes at the thought of Tom being back. Thoughts fell over themselves in her head. She had never gotten the chance to say good-bye……….she had wished for……but oh, he was there! There before her, just like she remembered him.
"Oh Tom," she cried, wanting to tell him everything. She wanted to tell him how much she had missed him and how she had somehow ended up back in the Shadow World. It never occurred to her to wonder how he had gotten there. It simply did not matter. None of it mattered anymore. He was there. That's all Jenny cared about.
She moved to take a step forward, to walk to him and throw her arms around him, but something stopped her. It was as if a little voice in her head had reminded her to be cautious still, to worry and to question. She stood very still, not moving any closer to Tom. And, how had he gotten there, the little voice in the back of her mind asked. Wasn't Tom supposed to be dead?
"I thought you were dead," she said quietly, hating the words as they came out of her mouth. She hated the fact that she was even saying them; that she had had to push the words past her tongue with all her might just to get them out.
Tom smiled and took a casual step forward. "It was a mistake, Thorny. Just a mistake. I am here now."
But why, the little voice in her mind insisted on asking. How could it have been a mistake? Jenny ignored the voice and concentrated on Tom as he stepped even closer to her.
"Jenny, let's get out of here," he said, as if he were simply suggesting that they leave a dull party. "There's nothing here for us. Let's get out of here. You and me."
Again, Jenny almost took a step towards him, but something stopped her.
"Julian just wants to use you again," Tom whispered to her. "He doesn't love you. I do. Come with me."
Jenny shook her head, unable to get rid of that little voice inside her head. What was wrong with her? Right in front of her stood Tom, her first love. And he was telling her all the things that she wanted to hear. They could leave; they could be rid of the Shadow World for good. She would never have to see Julian again. Oh God, she thought. Julian.
Her eyes flicked over to where he stood a few feet away, behind Tom. His eyes were on her and she just stood there as if he was waiting. He had not said a word or even moved as Tom had talked about him. But……but there was something in his eyes as their gazes met and locked. Pain, Jenny realized suddenly. Julian was hurting and it was not from a physical wound.
Julian broke their gaze and lowered his eyes to the floor. Jenny looked back at Tom, who seemed to be growing rather impatient.
"Dammit Jenny, do you really think he cares for you? Are you that naïve?" Tom yelled and then walked a few steps back to stand next to Julian. "He is nothing and he means nothing to you. I do. Come with me."
Not true, the little voice in her head said and Jenny's eyebrows rose in surprise. The little voice was right, she realized. Tom was the one who was wrong. Julian, surprisingly enough, did mean something to her. And Tom….well, they had not been a couple for so long. Sure, Jenny still loved him and always would, but it was different now. Tom had to know that, didn't he? How could he say that Julian nothing to her? How could he possibly think that?
"He brought me light," she whispered, remembering how Julian had pushed the darkness away for her. And he had taken away her fear. Julian had seemed to care about her then. If he hadn't cared about her, he wouldn't have done all that for her.
"Light?" Tom asked and then laughed in such a way that sounded malicious to Jenny. "Light?!?! Oh please, Thorny, I have given you so much more. I will give you so much more."
Jenny looked at Julian again and found his eyes were back on her. Again, he looked as if he were waiting. Waiting for her to decide…….to choose……..
Oh God, Jenny thought as her eyes darted back and forth between Julian and Tom. So, that's what this is. A game. Suddenly, Jenny knew what was going on. It was all just a game. A game to see who Jenny would choose to be with. And there was no way of getting out of it, she knew. Shadow Men played their games to the very finish.
"Jennifer," Tom said darkly. "Come here right now. We are leaving. You don't need him, don't want him. It's me you want."
Jenny shook her head. "He brought me light," she repeated stubbornly.
"Dammit Jennifer!" Tom yelled angrily. "Get over here!"
As if in a daze, Jenny looked down at her hand where the ring sat. Julian had given it to her as a last present right before he had been taken out of existence by his own kind. The words that were etched on the inside of the ring flashed across her mind. I am my only master.
"Jennifer!"
She'd always been taught to trust her instincts. What were they telling her now?
"But you," Jenny continued as if she hadn't heard Tom's last outburst. Her eyes left the ring and looked up at him curiously. "You have given me so much, right? So much more than Julian ever has. I mean, you care about me. And you do things for me. Like the time, just a few months ago, when you rushed my pet cat to the vet's when she was sick."
Tom smiled. "Exactly," he said. Of course, he didn't realize his mistake.
"Come with me now Jenny. Take my hand now," he said, his voice forceful. Slowly, he stretched out his hand for her to take.
I am my only master, Jenny thought and she smiled sweetly at Tom.
""Tom," she said and stepped forward.
Julian's heart dropped as he saw Jenny smile at the pseudo-Tom. She doesn't know, he thought wildly, wishing there was some way of warning Jenny. He was helpless. He couldn't do a thing without risking Jenny's life. All he could do was watch as she continued to smile at Ezra with Tom's face. Julian gritted his teeth as he watched Jenny step forward towards Ezra. Game over, Julian thought and he tried to ignore the overwhelming pain in his chest.
Jenny stepped closer to Tom. His hand was still outstretched towards her, but she did not take it. Instead, she stopped only a couple of feet away from him. Close, but not too close. More importantly, not touching him at all. As if realizing that she was not going to take his hand, Tom let it fall to his side.
She was still smiling at him and he returned her smile.
"Tom," she smiled again.
Tom's smile deepened. "Yes," he answered.
"There's just one thing," she continued.
"Yes?" He prompted.
Suddenly, the smile dropped from Jenny's face and her fist shot through the air and struck Tom in the jaw. His head snapped to the side with the impact, a pain bloomed through the entire left side of his face. Tom looked back at Jenny slowly, his eyes wide with shock.
"I don't have a cat. Tom would have known that," she said coldly and then her fist flew out again, this time hitting the pseudo-Tom in the gut. He doubled over in pain, gasping for air.
Tears threatened to leak from her eyes as Jenny watched Tom's face melt away and be replaced with the darker, colder face of Ezra. So her instincts had been right. This person really wasn't Tom. It was all a game, she thought and suddenly her knees felt weak. She had wanted so much to believe that it really had been Tom standing before her, that somehow he had defied logic and come back from the dead. But, he hadn't. He was still gone. Jenny just hoped that wherever he was, he was resting in peace.
"Jenny," a quiet voice said to her left and she turned, seeing the one person who had stayed on her mind for the past few years, even though she had tried not to think about him. He was one of them- a Shadow Man. But, if anything, he had changed. Jenny could see that now. He wasn't the sly, cold Julian that he had been when she had first met him. No, he was definitely different now.
Julian did not say anything else to Jenny as she turned his way. He looked at her cautiously, unsure of what she would do next. Ezra was still doubled over, trying to catch his breath. All Jenny had to do was take Julian's hand and she would be safe. Slowly, Julian reached out his hand towards her.
Without hesitation whatsoever, she clasped his hand with her own and allowed him to pull her close. Julian's arms wrapped around Jenny and she buried her face in his shoulder as the tears ran freely now. Julian buried his face in her hair and held her tightly as relief washed through him. The game was done. It was all over with. Jenny was safe.
Jenny pulled away from Julian just a bit and smiled up at him. The look of being haunted by ghosts was gone from her eyes and for the first time since Julian had been brought back into existence, he could see the old fire in her eyes. This was the Jenny he remembered. This was the Jenny he loved. "Let's go," he said and pulled her close to him again.
Then he heard the sound of rustling as the Shadow Men around the room moved in the darkness.
………………………………………….
"C'mon, let's get out of here!" A voice next to Alyx's ear whispered harshly. Her eyes widened as she heard the voice. She knew it belonged to the person whose hand was still over her mouth, preventing her from screaming. But, who exactly was it?
Alyx tried to calm herself. She needed to think, to try to figure out what was going on. She did not recognize the voice at all. But, she knew it was a female voice. Who was it? And where were they? Alyx still had no idea about that either.
"No, Julian said to wait for him. He said to stay right here and protect her," another voice right in front of her whispered. The movement in the darkness, Alyx thought, it was this person. She wished for a light- a match, a candle, anything so she could just get one glimpse of their faces. Who were they? What did they want? And who was Julian?
The second voice was male, but unrecognizeable to Alyx. A part of her wished that she had recognized the voices, at least she would know who was in the darkness with her. This is crazy, she thought. I don't even know where I am.
She shifted her weight just a little bit and the hand around her mouth fell away instantly. Alyz froze, realizing that she no longer knew where the two people were in relation to her. Everything around her was darkness, she could not see where they had gone. Were they in front of her? Were they next to her? She hadn't heard in sounds of them moving, but then again, she hadn't heard them near her before, either.
"Don't scream," a voice next to her commanded. Alyx jumped at how close the person was. It was the female voice. "If you scream, they'll know we are here."
Alyx felt foolish looking into the darkness where she was sure the voice was coming from. It was not as if she could actually see someone there. It was simply a voice that she wanted to communicate with, to ask all the questions that had accumulated in her brain since she had awoken there. She wondered which one to ask first. There were just so many that needed to be addressed. First thing is first, she thought.
"Who are you guys?" She asked.
There was a soft chuckle to her right and she turned, staring into the darkness over there.
"My name is Zach and that's Dee. We're here to help you……and Julian," the voice said.
Alyx's brow furrowed. There was that name again. Julian. "Who is Julian?" She asked and then was surprised when the two voices were silent. Why weren't they answering? God, she wished she could see their faces. Had they left her?
"You really don't know, do you?" Dee, the female voice answered. "You don't know what is going on at all?"
Alyx was about to shake her head, but she realized they would not have been able to see her do it if she had. No, she had to answer them with sound. "No," she said quietly, hating to admit that she had absolutely no clue what was going on around her.
She waited as another pause of silence ensued. Where were the voices? She wished that Zach and Dee would answer her question about this mysterious Julian, but they seemed almost hesitant about it. It was as if they weren't sure whether or not to tell her the truth.
"Please tell me," she whispered.
Another silence and Alyx began to think that perhaps the two voices, Zach and Dee had left her. She felt dread at being alone in the darkness start to enter her chest. And it was only then that she realized that she had relaxed a bit when they had first started to talk to her. Sure, she had still been very nervous about the two unknown people in the dark with her. But, she had been reassured that she was not alone. Now, though, there was nothing again. They aren't going to answer, she thought and shook her head in disappointment. They apparently knew the answers to her questions, but were just not willing to tell her.
"Julian is………..," Dee started after the long pause, but stopped when not being able to find the right word.
"A friend," Zach provided. "He is a Shadow Man and we are in the Shadow World. See, it all started a few years ago……………….."
Alyx listened intently as Zach settled in to tell the story.
…………………………………………………………..
The Shadow Men moved in the darkness. Julian's arm tightened around Jenny's waist as he noticed the Shadow Men surrounded where they stood. His eyes narrowed, as he tried quickly to figure out what they were up to. The whole lot of them had not said a single word as they had moved. And that, to Julian, was a bit worrisome.
Their leader had lost a game. The Shadow Men would be angry at that for sure. Ezra definitely would have some explaining to do to them. But, that wasn't what concerned Julian. He was only worried about what they would do with Jenny and himself. Would they let them go? Would they keep them as prisoners even though they had won the game? Julian knew that the Shadow Men took their games seriously and they did not like to lose. He also knew, though, that the Shadow Men liked to twist the rules a bit to their liking. Hadn't he done that while playing a game with Jenny years ago? He knew how the Shadow Men acted and he knew that whatever was to happen next, it would not be good.
"Famished," One Shadow Man whispered and the whispered echoed though the crowd.
Julian's grip on Jenny tightened. If he had to, he would give his existence for her again. All for Jenny. It always had been as far as Julian was concerned.
"Famished."
The Shadow Men crowded closer and closer, taking their time, making their prey sweat a bit. The game was over and done, but now their time to really play had started.
From where he still laid on the ground, Ezra smiled. He saw his fellow Shadow Men coming closer and he heard their little chant of only one word. It could only mean one thing, he knew. Someone was going to lose a greater game than the little one he had just played with Julian.
He watched as the Shadow Men came closer to Julian and Jenny. He could see the fierce look in Julian's eyes and Ezra realized that the stupid boy would give his life- his existence- for Jenny. How pathetic, Ezra thought. He deserves what he gets.
A part of Ezra was relieved by the turn of events. Sure, he had been so sure that he was going to win the game against Julian, but then Jenny- that little wench- had tricked him. He supposed that he should give her credit for that one. But, as he had lay gasping for breath on the ground, a tiny bit of his mind had wondered what would happen. Would the other Shadow Men hold him responsible for losing the game? Surely they would understand that the girl had tricked him, wouldn't they? The game had been a fair one until the end when she had made him think that she would pick him…..and then she didn't. Surely they would see…….
And apparently, Ezra thought, they have seen. He smiled devilishly up at Julian and Jenny. There was nothing for him to worry about, he knew. The Shadow Men realized that perhaps he had lost the game, but he had been tricked.
The Shadow Men kept moving, their chant getting louder as they got closer to their prey.
"Famished! Famished!"
Julian held onto Jenny still and glanced around him. What would they do? Would he be able to bargain himself for Jenny's freedom? He couldn't bear to think what could possibly happen to her if they took her.
The Shadow Men kept moving.
Julian's head turned this way and that, trying to keep all of the Shadow Men in his sights. He didn't want any surprise attacks. If they were going to take anyone it would be him. And maybe that will give Jenny enough time to run, he thought grimly. He turned Jenny's face away from the closest Shadow Men and moved slightly so that she was in between him and Ezra.
The Shadow Men were so close to their prey…………… They- all of them- reached out with their wrinkled hands, their knobby fingers with the long yellow nails……………
Jenny closed her eyes…….Julian clenched his jaw, waiting………..Ezra stopped smiling…….
"Famished!"
As one their hands closed over their victim, squeezing tightly on his neck, holding him down………..
Julian gasped and Jenny opened her eyes, expecting the worst. Then she turned away in a mixture of fright and disgust.
Ezra screamed.
"Famished!" The Shadow Men cried once more and then they were on top of Ezra. He tried to stand, to cast them off from himself, but there were just too many and he fell back again. He screamed again, and Jenny knew that she would never really forget that scream of pain that had just come out of his lips.
"No!" Ezra yelled. "I am your leader……."
The Shadow Men giggled obscenely and continued about their work.
Julian couldn't believe what was happening. He had been so certain that the Shadow Men would take him or Jenny instead of Ezra. Ezra had been their leader. But so were you, a little voice in his mind said, before you lost a game. Shadow Men didn't like to lose games. So now there would be a new leader for the Shadow Men, but it would not by Julian. No, he wanted something a bit different. And now that the Shadow Men's attention was diverted, he had a small chance.
"Let's go," he whispered into Jenny's ear and as one they ran off into the darkness.
…………………………………………………………..
"They took Julian out of existence?" Alyx asked.
Dee smiled. "Yeah. So, you can probably guess how surprised Zach and I were to see him standing outside the door to our room. We didn't think he existed anymore."
Alyx shook her head. It was all so much to take in. How did they expect her to believe such a story? It seemed too farfetched. A Shadow Man? Alyx had never heard of one of them, not even in fairy tales. But, then again, how else could she explain everything that had happened to her and where she was? The guy in my dreams, she thought quickly, I'll bet he was a Shadow Man too. If, she added quickly, I decide to believe all this stuff.
"So, what did Julian say to you guys?" She asked. At least she could get the whole story out of them. And if it somehow seemed to make sense, then so be it.
"Well," Zach started, "he was in a serious rush. He told us how the new leader of the Shadow Men, Ezra had brought him back into existence and how Ezra had taken Jenny back to the Shadow World. He said that he needed our help to get her back. At first we were a bit apprehensive. I mean, this was the guy who had tricked us so many times before…but we could tell that something was really wrong."
But, how come he couldn't take care of this guy on his own?" Alyx wanted to know.
Dee smiled a bit sadly into the darkness and laid a hand on Alyx's shoulder. "Because Jenny was not the only one that Ezra wanted. That's where you come in."
Dee was about to continue, but the sound of feet pounding against the ground made her hesitate. She grabbed Alyx's arm and held on tight, knowing that a fight might be coming. If she had to, she would fight the Shadow Men off when Zach and Alyx went through the door. No big deal.
She felt Zach's hand come to rest on her shoulder and she forced herself to stop being so tense. If she were going to fight, she had to be at least semi-relaxed. She had to be ready to do her best.
"Dee? Zach?" A voice in the darkness whispered and Dee felt her heart drop to the vicinity of her feet. She knew that voice and she had to admit that it was the nicest sound she could have heard at that moment.
"We're here with Alyx," Zach whispered back and Dee was grateful for him being there. There was absolutely no way she would have been able to push any words past her throat at that point. Her heart was beating so fast and loud that she was sure every Shadow Man would be able to hear it.
"Is Jenny with you?" Zach asked and Dee could hear the catch in his voice. What if Julian had failed? What if he hadn't been able to get her out?
"Oh Zach, Dee, I'm here," Jenny said and Julian squeezed her hand. She felt someone else take her other hand and for a minute she felt fear that perhaps it was another Shadow Man. But then she felt the reassuring squeeze from the new hand and she knew exactly who it was.
"Dee….," she said in a soft sob and she felt the relief flow through the other girl's hand.
"Let's get out of here," Dee managed into the darkness and then holding onto Alyx's arm, she started towards where the door was.
In the darkness, the five of them linked hands, Jenny holding onto Julian and Dee. Dee's other hand was holding Alyx's tightly and Zach was on the other side of Alyx. One by one, they passed through the doorway back into the mortal world. It had never looked so beautiful to any of them. Suddenly, Dee realized that she had missed it for the short time that she had been in the Shadow World. And the Shadow world had been so dark. Now there was light! So much of it, daylight, flooded around them as they stepped out of the door and into the woods behind the college.
Right before Julian stepped through the door, he heard a scream. For a second, he almost paused, almost ready to run back. But, he knew that he couldn't. There would be no saving Ezra now. He had gotten himself in deep with the Shadow Men and they would only be appeased by one thing. Julian shuddered with the thought. There was no doubt in his mind what the Shadow Men planned to do with Ezra. It won't be too long now, Julian thought as he slipped through the doorway. It won't be too long before Ezra is taken out of existence.
To the casual observer, it would have looked as if five people all of the sudden appeared out of thin air, in a small clearing in the woods. Of course, they would not ever think that the place was actually a doorway to the Shadow World. As soon as everyone was through the door, Julian shut it with his mind. He traced some runes in the air, making it virtually impossible for any Shadow Man to open the door and enter the mortal world again. Of course, there were other doors that they could use. But, at least that one, the closest to Jenny would be closed for good.
A slight sob sound from behind him made him turn in time to see Dee and Jenny fall into each other's arms. A slight smile came to his lips automatically at the sight. She was happy, he could tell. And that was all that he wanted, had ever wanted.
"Julian," a voice whispered to him. His eyes looked over the little group in front of him, looking for the speaker. But, they showed no signs of even hearing the quiet voice. Had he imagined it? Julian had never been one to imagine things like that and immediately he tensed. Who was talking to him? What did they want? Dread overwhelmed him and he was about to go to Jenny's side, to be ready to protect her if necessary. But, the voice stopped him.
"Julian," it said faintly and then Julian felt the overwhelming pain in his gut.
Zach wrapped his long arms around them both and closed his eyes as he tried to calm his heart. They had done it. They had saved both Jenny and Alyx. Everyone was out of the Shadow World. It was all going to be okay.
"Oh God," Jenny said, her voice full of anguish. "I thought I would never see you guys again." She pushed Dee's hair away from her face and watched as one single tear fell down her friend's cheek. She laughed, thinking how Dee was always so strong and how that most likely the only tear that she would shed on the subject. It was such a small part of Dee, but Jenny loved it. It was so familiar to her and to see it again when she had been so sure that she would never see any of her loved ones again………
"Well, we weren't exactly going to just leave you there," Dee said, trying to sound like her natural-tough self, but failing when her voice cracked a bit with emotion.
Jenny laughed again and turned to wrap her arms around Alyx and Zach. "Zach," she murmured, as more tears dropped down her cheeks. He had cut his hair since she had seen him last and it made her smile to think that she was able to see it. That she had gotten out alive. And Alyx. She pulled back from Zach and stared at the girl who most likely did not know all of what was happening around her. One look in her eyes, though, told Jenny that she knew enough. "Oh Alyx," Jenny smiled.
"I…… don't understand everything that happened," Alyx confessed. "But, I am glad that you got out of that place." She shuddered and Jenny reached forward to hug her again.
"Someday, we'll tell you the whole story," she promised as she held the younger girl closer.
"How did you guys manage to get out of there?" Zach asked.
Jenny smiled as she released Alyx from her embrace and stood to face Zach. "Well, the other Shadow Man, Ezra, set up one last game for me. And Julian had to……..," her voice trailed off as she caught sight of Julian over Zach's shoulder.
His face was dead white, his icy blue eyes wide with shock and pain. A slender hand rested on his stomach and Jenny could tell he was gritting his teeth against some type of pain. He looked up at her, as if surprised to see her there. "Jenny," he managed to say through the pain before he fell to his knees.
"Julian!" Jenny screamed and then rushed to his side, the others right behind her. She touched his shoulders, resting her hands on them. "What's wrong?" She asked as she watched absolute pain seep into his eyes. Suddenly, he looked tired. So very tired. Her eyes traveled over him frantically, looking for some kind of wound. If he is in pain, there has to be a wound, her mind told her. Oh God, what was wrong with him?
Slowly, he reached out a hand and touched her cheek softly. Then fell forward on the ground, groaning as the pain spread rapidly through his limbs, around his heart and up to his head.
Jenny helped Dee and Zach turn him over onto his back. His face was so pale now.
"Julian! What….please, what's wrong?" She asked, the tears back again as she watch him squeeze his eyes shut. Her heart beat so fast, fear was in her throat. What had happened to him? She had never seen him like this. Had never seen him so……human.
"Julian," the quiet voice said again, even fainter this time. Jenny gasped and Julian, through the intense pain, which seemed to be seeping into his brain, realized that she had heard the voice this time too. At the sound of the voice, Julian opened his eyes and stared at the bright blue sky behind Jenny's head. He thought about what he was, a Shadow Man. He thought of how Ezra was most likely feeling as much pain as he was just then. Were they cutting Ezra's name out now? He will understand what it is like now, Julian thought vaguely. To not be in existence.
And was that what was happening to Julian right then? Were they taking him out of existence too? Had they taken his name off the runestave? He didn't know for sure. Last time, he thought, it was so much different from this.
"Julian," the voice said again and Julian felt Jenny take his hand in her own and hold it tightly. How was it that he could hardly feel it, though? One small glance down at her hand showed that the knuckles were white. But, why did he barely feel her touch?
"Julian," the voice said again and he start to felt himself drift into unconsciousness. His eyelids seemed so heavy and finally they fell, leaving only slits of vision. As the voice said his name once again, Julian, this time, answered it.
"Ezra," he whispered. He could hear Jenny crying and he could feel her tears drop on his face. They seemed to burn where they fell, but he ignored the pain. Wasn't that odd, he wondered vaguely. He could barely feel Jenny's touch on his hands and yet his face burned with her tears.
"Ezra" he whispered again.
And then he heard it, two little words that changed everything.
"You win."
And suddenly, Julian remembered what the conditions of the last game had been. He realized that in a way, the Shadow Men were cutting his name out of the runestave right alongside Ezra's name. But, Ezra was sticking to his word, he was playing fair. He was giving Julian his full winnings.
Julian felt the pain suddenly flow from his body as fast as it had come and he opened his eyes quickly. The pain, the fatigue- it was all gone, as if it had never been there at all. His eyes turned to meet Jenny's scared gaze and he realized that she, too, had heard Ezra's last words.
From the other side of Julian, Zach cleared his throat. "Um, Julian, what exactly were the conditions of the last game?" He asked.
Julian smiled, his eyes never leaving Jenny's face. He felt great. No dark, deep yearning for the light as he had had before. No, he felt content, felt like he belonged there. Like he was one of them.
"If I won, Jenny and Alyx would be able to leave the Shadow World," he said and then he reached up and touched Jenny's cheek. "And," he added, after a heartbeat's time, "I would become mortal."
Jenny's eyes widened at his words, and her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but could not figure out how. She grabbed his hand off her cheek and held it tightly in her own. Julian grinned, noting how he could definitely feel her tight grip now. In fact, it felt as if she might actually crush his hand. He welcomed the pain, though, as it was a true sign of what he had become.
"You mean…..you're……I mean……..," she stumbled, trying to make sense of it all. It was just too much to hope for, wasn't it? That Julian could stay with her forever, that he could live right alongside her.
Julian simply nodded as he sat up.
"Oh my God," Jenny said as she lunged towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding onto him tightly. Automatically, his own arms went around her, pulling her closer to him.
He smiled, feeling the new heaviness on his left hand ring finger. He was not surprised to feel it there, as a trophy of him winning the game. It was ironic in a way, he thought. When he had been leaving existence, he had changed the inscription on Jenny's ring. How fitting was it that Ezra had given Julian a ring when Ezra was leaving existence. And Julian knew exactly what the inscription would say, as the words echoed throughout his mind. All For Jenny……
Thank you, Julian whispered in his mind, hoping that Ezra heard his thought before he was taken totally out of existence. As he thought of the inscription that Ezra had put on the ring, Julian hoped that in some little way, Ezra could understand how Julian had felt.
And as Alyx watched Jenny and Julian with interest, she heard five words in her mind, which made her wonder how much of the story she had not heard yet.
"Someday I will find you……..," the voice in her mind said and she could have sworn that it seemed to fade away slowly as the few words were said. As if the speaker were dying. Or perhaps the speaker simply did not exist anymore.
The End.
