Chap. 3 is here. Sorry for the extremely delayed wait. Enjoy and review.

I was dead. There was no doubt left in my mind about that. Ray would die where she stood. But not without a fight. My heart beat desperately against my chest, and my breath came in ragged gasps. And this, this thing must have seen my terror, because his grim slash of a mouth curled at one edge into a sardonic grin.

"I will not harm you unless you give me reason." He said evenly, golden eyes glittering. And to my utter panic, he slowly walked closer.

I stiffened, prepared for what he had in mind. He stopped the instant I did this. In the same, cool voice, "I see you still do not trust me. Very well, I will extract my information by force." I was going to run for the cover of the woods when he called to some unseen person, "Jaken, come out."

I heard the small scuffles of footsteps coming closer. And the weirdest little creature came out. It was very toadlike, short and green with bug-out eyes. Like a bizarre little mutant.

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru." It spoke obsequiously to my tormentor. It must be a servant of sorts. I had been so absorbed in this new arrival, I had momentarily ignored the one called Sesshomaru. And with liquid speed, he reached out and grabbed my arm.

A cry of protest escaped my throat and I tried to wrench my arm away from his startlingly strong grip. But I was better off trying to escape from a metal clamp. "Let go of me!" I exclaimed vehemently.

Suddenly, I found a dagger gleaming menacingly at my throat. "Struggle further and you will find this buried deep in your throat." Sesshomaru said indifferently, as if my life mattered nothing to him. Which was probably the truth, I thought sourly. But as I looked down at the dagger, I could see my frightened, wide eyes. And I thought I could see the victims who died by this weapon in the dagger's reflection, their blood staining the metal, dripping down… shudders racked my body.

He abruptly yanked me forward, shaking all thoughts from my head, my entire being focused on that glittering dagger pressed lightly against my tender throat. He pulled my two shaking hands together and said to Jaken, "Bind her tightly."

The creature nodded hastily and rushed forward with rough, old rope. He tied my hands tightly together, so it felt as if the circulation in my hands were being cut off. The rope scraped deeply into my flesh, grating against it uncomfortably. When he finished with my hands, there was a length of rope hanging off. Which I later figured out was a leash of sorts when Sesshomaru took hold of it and pulled me to the woods. I followed wordlessly, my mind obsessed with devising a scheme to escape. Despite my comfortable running shoes, I stumbled constantly over the undergrowth, twigs and branches scraping my bare legs, as I was wearing shorts.

We must have walked for an hour or more in silence before we came to a halt. Sesshomaru stood there thoughtfully and announced, "This area will suffice for now. Jaken, put all the equipment here."

This, the toad creature did with great relief. I had watched him struggle with the heavy loads with a faint and distant amusement. In friendlier situations, I would have laughed heartily at the sight.

Without warning, my captor grabbed the length of rope binding me and tied it around a high branch on a nearby tree. As a result, my hands were up and I had to stand slightly on my toes to keep from dangling on the tree. Needless to say, I felt incredibly vulnerable at this point. He regarded me in a cool, calculating manner that made me shudder involuntarily. He finally turned around to do something or the other, and I finally let my stiff body go limp.

Since the branch I was tied on to was high up and I put sudden pressure on it, I heard the wood crackle slightly. Was there a way I could pull hard enough on the branch so that it gave way? I actually make a run for it if the branch did break! But there was still one obstacle: Sesshomaru. Even if he didn't notice me pulling away on the wood, when I did pull free, how would I run encumbered to a large branch? But this was my only option. My only choice if I wanted to live to see another day. Slowly and gradually, I tugged at the branch and gained confidence with each splinter of wood.

"Could you be any louder? Your attempt at escape is pathetic." He suddenly turned around and said.

My confidence rapidly left me. He knew my plan the whole time, I thought dejectedly. And with growing dread, I watched him walk closer to where I stood in defeat. He stopped a few feet from me.

"Like I said, I won't hurt you unless you give me good reason." Sesshomaru spoke in a low, deadly voice, "You hold important information. Do you agree to answer my inquiries?"

A lump of fear developed in my throat, stopping me from being able to talk. So instead, I nodded my consent.

His mouth turned up at the corners into a brittle smile, "Good. So tell me, what time do you come from?"

I gulped and managed to say, "Fr-from the year 2001." I felt my shaking increase tenfold at his question. I wasn't even in the same year! How would I find my family or anyone else I knew? My fears were confirmed with his next statement.

"Truly? You've traveled quite a lot. It is 1398 here." He said with a faintly amused smile at my predicament. He asked his next question, "Tell me, what is the name of your most powerful demon lord?"

At this question I stood bewildered. Demons? Did he mean demons with those little horns and freaky eyes? No matter how I racked my mind, I still couldn't figure out what he meant, "I have no idea what you're talking about. There's no such thing as 'demon lords'."

Emotions broke through his mask of indifference. Was it confusion and panic I saw streaking his pale face? His golden eyes were riveted to my mistrustful ones.

He opened his mouth and said almost pleadingly, "You know what demons are, don't you? A demon, a demon like me."

"No. There are no such things as demons!" Was he calling himself a demon? Was it some sort of cult?

"You lie." He snarled furiously and closed the space between us.

I shrank away as he came closer and bore into me with his intense, fierce eyes. I shook my head, "There are no demons! You're insane!"

"You're looking at one right now. That explains why I look so different from you humans, doesn't it?" He whispered fiercely.

"Even if demons exist now, they're not real in my time!" I said in an anguished voice. This was so unreal, so dreamlike. He finally backed away, seemingly calmer, but I still saw a flicker of unsureness in his eyes.

"Very well. I will take your word for it now…" He trailed off, his mind clearly lost in thought.

"M'lord… this can't be true, demons not existing…" The toad creature was clearly disturbed by the thought. I suppose he was a 'demon' too. What a ridiculous notion, demons.

Shoving all thoughts of demons to the back of my head, I decided to take advantage of the situation. Sesshomaru was obviously distracted, and one powerful jerk on the branch could free me. My muscles tensed before I gave one mighty pull, and the branch finally came free.

My short lived sense of freedom quickly came to an end as I began to dash away. Sesshomaru was obviously back to his senses and made a grab for me. I felt his sharp nails dig into my skin painfully as he pulled me to him.

"You truly believe you could've gotten away so easily?" He whispered ominously. I stared helplessly into his amber eyes. No emotion, no mercy. God, he really isn't human. Please, someone help me. I'm stuck with a mad demon who will surely kill me when he's finished with getting information.

He releases me and turns away, and I give an audible sigh of relief. He stops again and looks at me with something much like curiosity. I don't know, its hard to tell his mood when he shows none of his feelings. "It will be hard to gain your trust, won't it? You know, most humans would be marginally more comfortable after I said I wouldn't hurt them. But you, girl, you-"

"Ray. My name is Ray." I interrupted suddenly. Even I was surprised. Why did I have to tell him my name? Was it really necessary?

"I see. Is that what you wish to be called?" He asked softly.

Alright. I have to admit I was getting suspicious. Just because I told him my name didn't mean he had to call me it. We weren't exactly on friendly terms. But slowly, I nodded my consent. And then his next statement surprised me most.

"I will let you go."

"What!"

"It seems to be the only way I can get you to tell me things properly."

I studied his expression, his eyes, everything. If he was lying, nothing gave it away. Slowly, suspiciously, "What's the catch?"

"You have to come back when you're calmer of course. But it seems a fair deal, doesn't it? Answer my questions for your freedom."

I could have started laughing hysterically. It was the worst deal ever. But I wasn't exactly swamped with options, "How will you make me come back once I leave?"

"If you don't come back, I can easily come through the time rip and find you. Or, I could come to your time and find another human to answer my questions."

At his last sentence, what little color that remained in my face drained away. He had to be absolutely psychotic. He would kidnap some other poor soul if I didn't come back. He had cornered me into only one decision. I had to come back now.

Sesshomaru must have realized my complete inability to do anything but what he told me by the way his lips curved into a grin.

"Fine. Whatever." I finally said in disgust and turned away.

"So glad you agree." He said with an edge of sarcasm. Without another word, he headed back the way from which we came. Back to the 'time rip' as he called it. His little green servant followed him wordlessly. The journey back went by quicker than it had before since the path was now clear of any underbrush to hinder me.

"Be back by sundown tomorrow. If you're not here by then, well you know what will happen…" he finished, leaving me to interpret his meaning in any way my imagination would allow.

We were back at where we had started: the time rip. As I looked at it, I remembered when I first entered it. The feeling of it gave me the chills. And I had to go back into it. But hey, I should be glad to be getting away.

"By sundown tomorrow." Sesshomaru repeated as I walked closer to the time portal. I nodded mechanically. Without looking back, I plunged into the swirling blue and black time rip.

I'm floating again, so slowly moving forward. And it was freezing in here! When I came out the other side, I was shivering from cold instead of fear. Looking behind me, I hoped to see the portal had disappeared, so I never had to go back. But it was still there, that swirling hole that had cursed me.

I looked around me to see it was sunset, the sun washing everything in a crimson glow. Another sickening thought occurred to me. Mom and dad must have noticed I've been gone for a really long time. They know when I go out to run, I'm usually back in a half hour. Maybe Mom had to work overtime, I thought hopefully. And Dad would be out or something. As I walked home, my dread only heightened.

That's why I didn't notice a junky old car coming from behind me. "Ray! What's up?" Zeke's voice broke me from my reverie.

I groaned inwardly as I turned to face him. He was in his car, his window down so he could talk to me. Of all the times, he has to show up at the most inconvenient one.

His smile soon faded as he looked at me. I was suddenly aware of my disheveled hair, scratched and muddied legs, and my haunted expression.

"Wow. You look like crap. What happened to you?" He questioned, and I was surprised by the concern in his voice.

I stuttered, "I- um, was r-running and sort of fell…" That was incredibly lame, and I was acutely aware of it.

Needless to say, Zeke was unconvinced, "Uh-huh. Right. Well at least let me give you a ride home, you're in no condition to walk all the way."

This day just got stranger, I thought to myself. Zeke Geller, the irritating twit who only seemed to car for himself was offering me a ride home. "No. That's fine, my house isn't too far away. I can walk." I desperately hoped he would buy it and leave me alone.

"Get in the car, Ray."

I bristled at his demand. I didn't have to listen to him, I thought stubbornly and began to walk away from him. I heard him yell my name from behind me. His car started again and he was now driving beside me at the slowest pace he could go.

"C'mon. Its not safe, just let me see you home." He pleaded with me.

I still couldn't figure out if he was genuinely concerned, or just goofing around. Casting him a suspicious glance, I ignored him and picked up my pace.

"Ray! Tell me what happened! Did someone try to hurt you?" He asked, still driving beside me.

I was sure he could see right through me, he could tell what had happened to me in the past few hours. To my utter mortification, I felt tears well up in my eyes, fogging my vision. My legs felt wobbly all of the sudden, and I was sure they would give way under me. I finally decided to cave in and take the car ride Zeke so persistently offered me. Wordlessly, I opened the door the passenger's seat in his car and sat. I managed to hold back the tears in my eyes from overflowing. I tried to look as calm and collective as possible. I made myself speak, "I live two streets down. I'll point it out."

The only good thing I could say about the ride was that it was short. Zeke kept up a steady stream of conversation to distract me from the turmoil roiling in my head. I spoke little, if at all. I was out of the car before he had stopped it in my driveway.

"Thank you." I said shortly before turning away.

"Wait Ray." He said. And I decided to humor him.

"Yes?"

"Well, um, you can tell me what happened, you know. I won't tell anyone else."

If I told you what happened, you'd think I was a real lunatic, I said inwardly. But in response, "I've already told you what happened. Don't make a big deal over it." And I broke into a run for my house before he could say anything else. And so he wouldn't see the hurt and fear in my eyes. I opened the door and shut it behind me.

It was very quiet inside. It was a good sign. I wandered into the kitchen to find no one there. I noticed a note taped to the fridge. It said 'Ray, me and your father have gone out for the day. Be back by 8:00. Love you.'

I felt overwhelmed by relief. They were out and I was off the hook for being late. But right now, I realized, that was the least of my problems