I stayed the night and when I went home on Sunday, I got in big trouble. But, that never stopped me from going to see them. Even if I had to sneak away on a Sunday.

It became time for them to finally go back to they're book. We had planed it for a week. It was going to happen on a Sunday when I come over to Mawmaws, but I didn't want to send them back, I didn't even want to go to church. I had to go, though. Not only to send them back home, but, I also wanted to tell them about my dream.

I cried all the way to the deer stand. When I got there, I hugged Dustfinger and Farid, but wouldn't let go.

"I don't want you two to go home! I will miss you too much!" I cried. Farid hugged me back and so was Dustfinger. I pulled away, tears falling down my face, and looking up at them.

"Lexi. . . You have to. If you don't then our story will not end right." Dustfinger told me.

Gwin climbed onto my shoulder and rubbed his little, furry head against my cheek.

"Even Gwin doesn't want to go!" I was trying to change they're minds, but it wasn't working. Dustfinger just shook his head, saying 'No.'

"Fine. . ." I said. I pulled a little something out of my pocket. I gave one to Farid and One to Dustfinger. Farid's was a bracelet and Dustfinger's was a necklace. Farid's bracelet was a pattern of red and black beads, and in the middle of it was a red heart bead.

Dustfinger's necklace was easy to hide under his shirt. It was two black and one red string braided into one. On it was one little bead that looked like a flame.

After they looked at them, they looked at me in shock. I was barely able to muster a smile.

"I made them for you to remember me by!" Even though I was smiling, I was still crying.

"Lexi!" Farid crashed into me for a hug. He is so cute when he's sad. I shouldn't be thinking that! He shouldn't even be sad. All of us are upset, even Dustfinger is.

"Aw, Farid! You're going to make me cry even more!" I smoothed his hair and rubbed his back.

"Farid. . . It's time to go." Dustfinger said from behind Farid. I looked at him, let go of Farid and hugged Dustfinger. He was shocked by this, but he did hug me back.

"Please. . . Tell me that you'll miss me as much as I'll miss you." I whispered in his ear. He moved his mouth closer to mine.

"I will. . . But. . . Don't tell anyone." I felt him smirk. I smiled into his shoulder.

Boy, was I going to miss them. I pulled away and wiped away my tears.

"Okay. . . I better read you two home before I change my mind. . . Are you ready?" I set my backpack down and grabbed INKSPELL first. "Farid. . . I'm going to read you home first. Okay?" I said.

He looked sad.

"Okay. . . Dustfinger is coming too, right?"

"Not in your book, but you will see him soon. I promise."

He nodded and ran over to hug me, again. I had to hug him back. I pulled away slowly, trying not to cry. I read the story from where Farid was read from. When I knew he was almost gone, I had to try not to cry or I would stop reading and then something bad would happen.

"Lexi. . . He's gone." I heard Dustfinger say. I looked up to see him. Just Dustfinger. I couldn't hold them back any longer so I rushed over to Dustfinger, hugged him and cried into his chest.

"I. . . I can't believe I sent Farid away!" I cried. He just rubbed my back, slowly, trying to comfort me. It worked. Slowly, but it did.

"It's okay. . . I don't know what I could tell you to cheer you up since we will never see each other, so I can't really-"
"You really aren't helping." I said as I pulled back, got on my tipy-toes and kissed him. He must be getting used to me doing this because he kissed back not long after I kissed him.

I pulled away from him so fast that I even took a few steps back.

"Hurry, before I change my mind. . . I don't want Farid to be alone.

He got all his stuff together and waited.

I put INKSPELL back and pulled out INKDEATH, instead. I read it, but I cried. It was hard to read and cry, but I did it. When I knew he was gone, I dropped my book and fell to my knees, crying my eyes out.

"So. . . Have you changed your mind yet?" A voice said from behind me. I jumped, but then I remembered who that voice belonged to. I didn't say a word to him.

"Oh! So, now that I'm not in your dreams, you won't talk to me?"

"What do you want? I didn't even know you were really!" I hissed without turning around to look at him.

"Well. . . Sorry to tell you, but I'm not just in your dreams. . . I am very much so alive. . . So, what's your answer? Will you take my offer or not?" I finally turned to look at him.

"What offer? I don't remember a offer from you."

He cam walking over to me and knelt in front of me. He caressed my cheek while looking into my eyes and grinning.
"You don't remember? Well, I did tell you last night in that dream." He told me. I shook my head.

"I. . . Don't remember."

"Well. . . I'll remind you. . . You were really sad about reading them home. So, to cheer you up, I told you that I could fulfill any wish to make you happy. . . But, it would come with a price. You refused, telling me that your wish had already been fulfilled. Before you woke up, I told you again."

"Who are you and where did you come from?"

"My name is Tristan and I'm from. . . Well, you've read the book 'The forbidden game' right?" I nodded. "Well. . . I am one of those Shadowmen." He told me, while moving closer and closer. I jerked back, staring at him with wide eyes.
No. . . This can't be true.

"But. . . I don't remember you in the book."

"Well, that's because you couldn't read out Julian because he's dead and I was born not long ago so I came out." I gasped. "Oh. . . Are you scared of me now? I knew I shouldn't have told you that."

"So. . . Does this mean that you've been following me everywhere I go? Is that why I've felt like someone was watching me for so long?" He placed his forehead on mine.

Wait! how did he get so close, so fast?

"Yes. . . Yes to all of that. . . When I first heard about Julian loving a human, I thought that he was crazy. . . Until I met you. Now I understand how he felt."

'Lexi! Snap out of it! He's going to kiss you and your falling for it!' I snapped back to the here and now when I heard Zero's voice in my head. I looked away and started pushing him away slowly.

"No. . . I can't do this. . . I'm sorry but I can't right after I sent Dustfinger and Farid home." I whispered.

"Okay, then. . . Tell me one wish that you wish to come true."

"The only wish I want is to either see them again or go to find them in the Inkworld." His grin got even bigger then it already was.

"Then. . . I will give it to you." He reached in really fast and put his lips on mine for a kiss. I did not kiss him back. When he pulled away, he started to disappear, but before he could, I grabbed his wrist.

"What?"

"Wait. . . I just. . . Are you staying around? I just don't want to be alone. . ." I started to get shy, and the way he was looking at me, I think he was thinking that I'm being cute right now.

"Aw. . . I'm staying around. I will not be leaving you any time soon. Alright?" I nodded.

Why am I acting so weird? I haven't felt like this for the longest time.

"Okay. . ."