Disclaimer: Same spiel as before, I own nothing, with the exception of the few… things… that make their way out from the bottomless pit that has taken up residence in the empty cavity between my ears.

Author's Note: It is now 12:05 in the morning, and I can't sleep. Rather annoying. Ok, well, I STILL don't know what I'm doing with this story so someone needs to tell me. Capeshe?

Offward with the story…

Jenny tossed restlessly in her sleep. She would be leaving tomorrow. She would get to Pennsylvania if she had to walk there, but her plan was to drive, or bus the way there. She decided if a Shadow Man was stalking her again, a plane didn't feel very safe. Besides, if he really wanted to do something to her, she didn't want him to hurt a plane-full of innocent people, not that a bus was much better. So she settled on driving, at least that way no one else could get hurt.

She had taken to avoiding public places since she had come to the conclusion that Julian was back. Wherever she was, she was a danger to society, because wherever she was, Julian would be sure to follow. And wherever Julian was, bad things seemed to happen. But then again, each time she had met him had been a part of an intricate plan, no, plot, to ensnare and trap her, in the form of one of his Games. His Games had been deadly and treacherous. He had claimed that he never cheated or lied, that he practiced gamesmanship, the art of winning without actually cheating, and that he sometimes- withheld- information.

Waking from her hazy, light sleep, Jenny carefully turned off her alarm, scribbled the still sleeping Kris a note that she was leaving and the time was 4:30 AM, and then quickly changed into some comfortable athletic pants and a baby blue tank top, she grabbed her duffle bag and purse, and quickly left the dorm, heading for her car, ignoring the watched feeling that pursued her there.

Popping the trunk, she tossed her duffel in the car. She circled around to get in the drivers side. When she reached for the handle, her hand just wouldn't go. It stopped about eight inches from the silver handhold, and simply wouldn't go any further.

Julian went bug-eyed.

Ohmigodherhandisonmynuts!

He had no clue that he would still be solid to her. He thought that he would be just shadow to her, not solid, invisible in her high-noon glow.

This was certainly something he did not expect, not that he was regretting it.

What the hell…? This is very strange… Figuring it was probably either her lack of coffee, which in college terms is life-giving energy, or Julian. Deciding that the former was a good idea, but also that the latter was most likely correct, she balled her hand into a fist and punched the air that her hand should be able to pass through. Her hand met (A/N: I know it would be funny (if painful) if Julian got beaned in the balls, but, sadly, I actually (for once) have a point for him not to! Yay! Go me!) the cold steel of her car door.

Stifling a scream that threatened top rip from her throat from the pain exploding in her hand, she whimpered and got in the car, wondering vaguely exactly what part of Julian her hand had been resting on, assuming he was leaning against the door, the handle being about waist hei- OH MY GOD! Jenny shrieked, clapping her swelling hand to her mouth, then quickly regretting it, pain erupting against every nerve.

No time to get it looked at, she thought purposefully, I have to get to Pennsylvania! It doesn't matter if it's broken in a million places or if it's falling off, what I know may just save the world!

Jenny, you think highly of yourself, now don't you? An inner voice murmured quietly. Surely there are other people out there who know just as much as you, if not more. Julian, after all, did say that some people have been able to escape.

Her hand halfway to the ignition, she froze. Was that a voice in her head? Julian never said anything about people escaping, she thought cautiously back.

Maybe not exactly like that, but it meant the same thing. Something about the price often being too high to pay. Not all the time too high to pay. That means that some people have escaped.

Hand still immobile in the air, a disturbing thought occurred to her. No one else would know that but me and Julian, no one unless…

Jenny screamed as a wave of blackness enveloped her, bringing her down into the inky depths of unconsciousness.