SPOILERS: The Forbidden Game Trilogy
DISCLAIMER: The Forbidden Game Trilogy and all it's characters are owned and created by L.J. Smith
SUMMARY: Jenny encounters a hidden world between Earth and the Shadow World with someone waiting her for her presence.........
RATING: PG
While waiting for the stop light to turn green, Jenny Thornton looked over the letter that Tom had mailed her. It was the middle of the summer, just a few months until she'd be on her way to college. Actually Junior College, it seemed rather a rush to be jumping ahead with decisions on a career and finding an apartment, besides, Dee and Audrey were already registered for the first semester, at least she'd know some people on campus. But for now she was on her way to give Tom a surprise visit. Currently he was residing at a lake house three hours away spending time with a few friends from old high school. In the letter he mailed her he mentioned how much he wished to see her, and how he missed her. Jenny had planned to go with him but wanted to spend more time thinking of a college career. She felt disgusted with herself now. She couldn't understand why she hasn't decided to go with him when he asked. Shaking her head to herself, she thought, what's done is done I can only make up for it now.
Glancing at the time on the radio Jenny made a guess that without stopping the car she'd arrive in an hour in a half, maybe less if going over the speed limit. Though with no cops out in the country and no cars around, who would care. Then suddenly she heard the familiar tone go off signaling that she was almost out of gas. But I thought I filled it six days ago, she pondered. Looking at the scale there seemed enough to go at least to the next town which was only twenty-five miles away. However she couldn't help worrying about being stuck in the middle of no where with no one around to help her. Her worrying didn't last long when she spotted a gas station just ahead. With relief washing over her face, she pulled in next to the only available pump. It was rather weird or maybe it wasn't to see a lone gas station in the middle of no where land. Looking through a sandy glassed window she glimpsed movement inside the station. I'd better phone my parents so they at least no how I am, she thought. When she walked through the door an old man at the counter gave a wrinkled smile
"How are you today Miss? Can I help with anything?". Jenny grinned with shyness.
"I just need to make a quick phone call and fill my car outside." she pointed at the black jeep cherokee parked outside. The old man nodded
"I'll get started on that and you can make your call, holler if you need any assistance." Then he walked outside to work the pump. Jenny found a pay phone in the back of the shop near the restrooms. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out her parents' phone card in order to save money from a call out of town. After dialing the first three numbers it was then that she felt an icy cold hand cover her mouth. Fear rose through her body as she attempted to pull away the hand that kept her from screaming. With an arm circling her waist she couldn't move, then someone put a blindfold over her eyes. Oh, god! she though, what's going on! Her muffled protests apparently didn't get a response from her kidnappers.
The strong arms holding her lifted her off the ground and she felt herself being carried away. The terror was too much to handle, and instantly Jenny felt her conscience drift away.
As her vision came around she found her eyes opening to stare at a soft, short ceiling. But the room was moving, wasn't it? Twisting her head to one side she saw a shaded window, then realized she was inside another car, a rather large one. In fact, it appeared to be more like a limousine. Her body lay flat on the ground of the car, obviously in the back seat. Her muscles were sore and tense as she attempted to move. A headache was pulsing through her skull and her mouth felt dry and sticky. Jenny felt her eyesight getting better and looked towards to seats to find someone gazing over her. The memories were coming back, she had been kidnapped. Not wanting lock eyes with the stranger staring over her she tried to get up but she was in too much pain to move anywhere.
The eyes looking down at her were green. A sort of jungle green, or fluorescent color, almost glowing, almost... inhuman. He looked young, her age or a little older. He was dressed in all black, a turtleneck, jeans, boots, even leather gloves on his hands. But his skin was milky white, unblemished and smooth. His mouth had a sensuous shape, the lips had a faint color of pink in them. The hair like his clothes were black, looking like stringy oil or liquid ebony. With his hair divided in the middle, long bangs fell over the sides of his head, a few shocks dangling over his eyes. He looked like a dream guy from a dark fantasy, or a prince of darkness.... prince of darkness? New memories were flowing endlessly through her mind now. The young man handed her a cup of water, and helped her sit straight to drink it. The liquid moistened her throat and eased most of the tension in her body.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked hoarsely. The boy in black only grinned with amusement in his eyes. Then the car stopped. His arms enveloped her and carried her out of the car. Jenny glanced at the surroundings about her, it was night already, how long have I been out, she wondered. There were tall trees all around, the stars sparkled by the hundreds scattered across the sky. The boy holding her was walking onto the doorstep of a fancy house, or mansion. In the dark it was hard to see how big it was. The driver of the car arrived beside them and opened the door for them. After entering the house, she was carried up a winding staircase and then taken into a room that in her perspect seemed more fit for a rich girl. There was a king size bed with satin sheets, a mirror that enabled anyone to see their whole body, a chest which had make up of all types in exotic shades of color as well as perfume and even a box with pieces of jewelery glistening under the candle light that decorated the immense room. The boy in black laid her gently on the bed. Jenny sighed with comfort feeling the softness of the bed under her, and the coolness of the sheets. Jenny heard the door shut. She was alone in the room. As she pulled herself into a sitting position on the bed, the door opened again, but Jenny was unprepared for who was coming in.
A young man walked slowly towards her wearing a white shirt with a black vest, black pants, and black boots. His haired glittered in the candle light looking like white jade. The skin appeared smooth and soft, but then came the eyes, electric blue with silver points and the look of a starving tiger.
"No...." Jenny barely made her voice work.The familiar face was now leaning against the front of the bed where her legs dangled. She could his full face less than a foot from her own. Her blood begin tremble within her veins.
"Yes Jenny, I've returned." And before Jenny could say anything else he silenced her with one of the things that haunted her the most, a kiss.
