I couldn't look the king in the eye. His butler and I had just made out...in the rain. Jam was standing in the corner of the room with a thousand yard stare. We were having dinner and Bethany had stayed true to her word. The king was none the wiser. So far so good.

"OK. What is it?"

I looked up. The king was looking at me expectantly.

"What do you mean?"

"None of you have said a word so far, you keep stealing glances at Jam, Bethany has been picking at her food and Jam doesn't look like he's paying any attention at all. What is it?"

Uh oh. I heard Jam walk quickly toward the door.

"Jam," interrupted King Piter, causing Jam to visibly flinch. He turned around. Before the king could say anything, I intervened.

"Go if you want."

Jam didn't need telling twice. Before anyone could stop him he was out of the room like he was being shot at. The king looked to me.

"Erec...please. I'm worried for you."

Bethany looked up. "I'm gonna go find Jam," she said. She left me with the king. She might as well just have pulled out a gun and shot me right then and there. I knew that the truth had to come out now. I turned to my dad. He was staring at me worriedly.

"Nothing's wrong, dad,"

"Oh, sure. Seems like it."

"Don't worry. I promise that if anything is bothering me, I'll tell you." That made me a little guilty, but I refused for the moment to tell the truth. Not now.

"Promise?"

"Swear."

...

I found Jam in the room I'd seen him arguing with Luke. He was scrunched into a ball against the far wall. Bethany was nowhere to be seen.

"Jam?"

He looked up. "You told him?"

"No."

Jam sighed. "OK."

I walked over to him and crouched in front of him. I pulled his head up by his chin. "I love you. Nothing can stop that." I brought my head down and he turned his head slightly. Closing our eyes, we lip locked once again. It felt so good being with Jam...I couldn't describe the feeling. I remembered how we were caught last time and pulled my mouth away. Neither of us were happy about that. His hands were still wrapped around me.

"Where's Bethany?"

"I do not know, sir. She never came here."

"She said she was going to find you."

"I did not see her."

That worried me. "We should probably go look for her, then."

We got up, stretched and left the room. Bethany had to be somewhere nearby.

...

We still hadn't found Bethany and it was dusk. Both of us were fully worried now.

"It's not like she could've gone too far..." I mumbled desperately.

Jam had a far a away look when turned to him. Then he gasped sharply and cried "No!"

"What?"

Jam turned to me. "Remember Luke? How I was fighting him? He told me that he would take something of value that I had. I did not know what he meant but now I see. I think I know where Bethany is. Luke told me that if I ever wanted to have revenge, he could find me where I used to stay in that alley."

"So we're going?"

"I should think so."

...

We told the king where we were off to, and found a Port-O-Door.

"So...where exactly is this?" I asked warily, not knowing what to expect.

"London. The outskirts."

I had always wanted to go to London, and I wished we were going on happier terms. We ended up behind a building that was worn down and was suffering from broken windows and chipped paint. It smelled like mold, mustiness and death. There was a fire escape leading up to a door that had been propped up by a wooden plank; it's hinges we're gone.

"What is this place?" I hated to admit it, but I was scared. I'm sure it came out in my voice, for Jam took my hand and held it tight.

"Welcome to building number one."

"Building number one?"

"We never knew the names of these places, sir, so we called them by numbers. Number one, three, four, seven and eight are the absolute worst and most dangerous."

"We're aiming for one of those buildings, aren't we?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

I was right. "The alleyway between numbers seven and eight, sir. That's where I spent most of my days. Now listen," Jam leaned down and spoke right into my ear. "When I pull you away from this door, you are to run. Run as quickly as you can. I promise I will be following right behind. I must, for you see you can't just sprint right out into the streets. When you get too close, sir, I will stop you before you get in harm's way."

"That seems dangerous..."

"Welcome to my old life."

...

I did what he asked. He gave me a small push and I shot off like a bullet from a gun. Who knows what else could be chasing me right now? As I reached the end of the alley, I felt Jam almost tackle me. It almost felt like my arm was being ripped from it's socket. He pulled me back and held me close.

We looked warily into the streets.

"Would people recognize you?" I asked.

"Unlikely," was the answer I got. "Many people I knew I expect are dead now."

"Oh...geez that's harsh."

"Every day," I heard Jam sigh lightly. "I watched many people I knew starve to death or have the life beaten out of them, sir,"

I didn't know how to react to that. "Oh..." I saw that Jam had a faraway look on his face. "Hey," I said, bringing Jam back to the present. He shook his head slightly and looked down at me. "Where do we go now?"

Jam leaned down again, and this time kissed my ear before speaking. "When you walk out of this alley, act as naturally as possible, sir; people are easily suspicious here. Don't look anyone in the eye. Don't talk to anyone, even if they talk to you. People will try to talk, sir, but you are not to acknowledge them. They will kill you if you do. Walk like you have somewhere to be in a hurry; like you're late for something. Walk with a purpose, but don't overdo it. Don't look back. I'll come up behind you and walk with you. My hand is going to be on your shoulder at all times. Do you understand?"

I was visibly shaking now. "No," I replied panicky. "No I don't understand."

"I'll lead you."

We walked into the streets and Jam kept his word. His hand stayed on my shoulder, holding it tight. The strange thing was that I couldn't hear Jam's footsteps at all. It was like he was walking on air. They were absolutely silent; the only way I knew he was still there was his hand. A man who looked more like an animal stepped in beside us. I remembered Jam's warnings and kept my head straight and tried not to notice him.
The man looked at me closely, then turned to Jam.

"You, butler," he growled. "Why do I believe that I've seen you before?"

I felt Jam's hand stiffen. When he didn't answer, the man said, "I still think I've seen you...somewhere..." Then he stalked off. Every movement he made looked wild but yet at the same time somewhat graceful. I found that to be strange. We had been walking for a while now, and we stopped at another building that looked almost identical to building one. This one looked a little more well kept, however. Jam swerved us into an alley between that building and the next, which looked the same as well. I let out a breath I had been holding in. Jam was panting slightly. I looked up at him and saw that his eyes were glassy in fear.

"Jam?"

He gasped and looked down.

"Did you known him?"

Jam was silent.

"Jam?"

"N-no," he replied. "I am just startled is all, sir,"

Even though I had my suspicions, I didn't question him. His breathing had become quick and unsteady. I could easily hear each exhale. His grip on my shoulder hurt now, but I didn't want him to let go. Somehow I knew. We were in the alley that Jam had stayed...and was tortured in, day after day. Suddenly a light at on the side of a building went on, and I cringed. I could clearly see patches of dried, old blood that may once have been pools. They were mainly on the floor to our left, but there was some on the walls. I swallowed hard as Jam grunted behind me.

"Welcome, old friend."

A man came into sight. He looked somewhat wolfish as well. What was with these people?

"YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" Jam screamed.

I looked back, startled. Luke even cringed a little bit backwards, away from my friend. "Goodness, Jam. You're the last person I'd think to say that. If your mother were here-"

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

Jam composed himself as Luke smiled, but his voice still had a dangerous aspect. I could tell he was about to snap for real. One wrong move from anyone..."You heard me."

"What if I don't tell you?"

"Good," replied Jam. "So I know you have her."

Luke's face didn't change. "Ah. Good approach to things, old pal. As it seems we were equals back then..."

"We were. But not now. Never again."

"Now. The girl?"

"Mm."

"I do have her, yes, but for the moment you will not find out where."

"Oh?"

"Now before you freak out again, you should know how bloody good it is to see you again."

"Stay on topic. Where is Bethany?"

"So that is her name? Pretty thing, really. A shame she will have to go waste."

"What do you mean?"

"I think you know."

Then something happened that I shall never forget. It caused both Luke and I to look at Jam with astonishment. I heard Jam make a low noise in his throat. It sounded inhuman and wild. His eyes registered a wild look as well. Then I realized it. Jam had just growled...his mouth had opened slightly and an animalistic snarl had escaped his lips.

...

Wow I really made Jam the "kid-with-a-battered-childhood" didn't I?