Original Stories Fan Fiction / Horror Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction ❯ A Shadowlander's Dream: Book 2 - Policy of Love ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Shinigami_Shimai 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction / Horror Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Romance / Horror | Type: Yuri | Uploaded On: 09.26.2006 | Updated On: 08.29.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 974 | Status: Completed
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction / Horror Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Romance / Horror | Type: Yuri | Uploaded On: 09.26.2006 | Updated On: 08.29.2008 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 974 | Status: Completed
Note: This story is a continuation of ASD: Book One - A Tale of Shadows and should only be read after finishing the first installement. Also a character from this story is also from A Shadowlander's Tale: One's Purpose. So if you wish to learn more about this land of shadows you might wish to read that tale as well. If you have already read both tales then I thank you for continuing with my stories and hope you enjoy this new tale and furture tales.
<b>A Shadowlander's Dream: Book Two - Policy of Love
By Kathryn K Williams
Dedicated in Memory of Justin W. Walker - April 19, 1989 - May 5th 2006 - May she finally be able to peacefully sleep. </b>
<b>Prologue</b>
A long old steam locomotive slowly pulled into the station during the dead of the night, with its string of old wooden passenger cars in tow. The few travellers that dared coming out so late at night, haunting the platforms, did not seem to notice as a small cloaked passenger that disembarked from the back car as they tried to find the best seats. The figure casually moved through the halls of the train station, the moon shining through large domes of glass that canopied overhead, held together with a spider’s web of iron and glass. She swiftly moved up the marble staircase and through the spiralling doors to the outside world. The individual lifted its head to look up at its new surroundings. Light from an overhead streetlight, made of case iron and hanging upon long black chains from posts, cast down on the being revealing the small round face of a young girl, the right side of her face covered in twisting black flames of a tattoo that extended down from her shadowed eyes and along the side of her neck. She softly closed her eyes and breathed in the cool night air, “I’m finally back.” She muttered to herself as a small smile played across her face, revealing a set of fangs that glistened in the light. Abruptly she spun around to face the lights of Whispering Hills Academy off in the distance and quickly the smile was replaced by a frown as she recalled the true reason she was there. Rapidly, the girl moved through the night with her destination in mind, winding her way through the small down and up the large hill in which the school sat, looming overhead.
<b>Chapter One</b>
Jenn lay upon a grassy hill, her eyes lightly closed against the sun as it beat down upon her small body. A cool breeze swept by, lightly ruffling her short black hair around her round pale face. She reached up to push a strain of hair out of her eyes and blinked up at the fluffy clouds as they drifted in front of the sun. A smile played across her face in enjoyment of the weather.
Kimberly lay curled up beside Jenn with her head resting upon the girl’s stomach. Jenn set her hand upon her friend’s lovely soft, red hair, hair so vibrant that they could only be diminished by the ruby shine of her eyes. A fleeting memories of their first kiss still fresh in Jenn’s mind, and a love flowing through her heart. For the first time she felt at peace. Her mother was not around to yell at her, the breeze was sweet and she was in love. Sure she may have only known Kim a couple of days and they were merely eleven years of age, however, it felt like this was how life was meant to be. Just herself and her love resting on a grassy hill with no one to tell them they were doing anything wrong, no one to try to explain that they could not be in love or try to pull them apart.
Jenn beamed as she thought about how perfect life was when Kim began to stir. She sat up and stretched, then turned to glance down at Jenn, love in her red eyes and a grin upon her face. Kim reached out a hand and softly caressed Jenn’s warm cheek. Jenn closed her eyes as her skin tingled against the girl’s touch. She could feel her heart pounding as Kim drew in ever so much closer, her long hair brushing lightly against Jenn’s face. Jenn felt a longing grow in her heart, and she wanted to taste those lips again. She reached out a hand to run it through Kim’s hair, pushing to the side so she could look into those beautifully, mysterious, eyes and licked her lips in anticipation of a kiss. She did not have to wait long as Kim lightly brushed her lips against Jenn’s, then leaned forward to deepen kiss until they both embraced one another. Jenn wrapped her arms around the girl as her entire body was washed over with warmth and a hunger for those lips. When they parted, Jenn could feel a flush of heat throughout her entire body and she smiled up at the girl.
“I... I love you, Kima.” Jenn said, letting out a deep shivered sigh.
Kim grinned down at her first love. Her eyes filled with life and affection. Suddenly the winds shifted, picking up in pace, dragging darkness as clouds moved in to block out the sun. Kim’s smile abruptly twisted to a harsh frown, “I'm not disgusting like you.” Kim unexpectedly glared at Jenn as the winds whipped her hair about her face.
“What?” Jenn frantically scrambled from beneath the girl.
Kim got to her feet and glared down at Jenn, “I said I’m not like you. Leave me alone!” She shouted with anger in her eyes.
““What are you talking about, Kima?” She asked in complete confusion of the change of events.
Kim clenched at her body as if suddenly disgusted by touching Jenn, “Don’t call me that!!” She demanded, “Never call me that again. I hate you!!” She screamed.
Jenn grasped the sides of her head in disbelief, “This can’t be happening.” She clenched her eyes shut against the image, “How can you say that? You said you loved me?”
The winds picked up pace and assaulted Jenn with leaves and dirt and a new voice rang through the air, “And you always told me you loved me.” Jenn’s eyes fluttered opened her eyes to find Kim no longer gone standing before her. The redhead had been replaced instead with a salutary large tree. “You said that you would never leave me. And yet...” The voice continued. Jenn quickly glanced up into the dense branches of the tree to find Kris sitting upon a thick limb, her body clad in white shirt, black vest and long black skirt that covered her long slender legs entirely.
“Kris?!?” Jenn gazed upon her friend in confusion, “What are you talking about?”
Kris turned to face her friend and then leaped down from the tree. A pair of large white wings spread out behind her as she drifted to the ground, landing in front of Jenn. Jenn found it impossible to take her eyes off those shimmering wings, so majestic and beautiful it was as if they were glowing. Kris reached out and ran a hand through Jenn’s hair, “I love you with all my heart.” She reached up with her other hand and took hold of one of the wings and then violently tore the wing off. Blood spring forth from the wound in her back splattering crimson across her stark white shirt.
Jenn stumbled backwards, horrified by what she was seeing, “Kris, I’m sorry... I just... can’t remember...” She explained frantically, “I don’t understand what is going on.”
“You are sorry?” Kris returned, “I gave up everything to be with you and you forgot.” She proceeded to tear off the other wing and held the bleeding wings out to Jenn, “How could you forget?” Anger filled the girl’s eyes as she hurled the wings to the ground, “I stayed beside you no matter what and you ran off with someone else.” She moved close to Jenn, her eyes peering deeply into Jenn’s, making it hard for the girl to turn away. She set one of her blood soaked hands upon Jenn’s cheek, leaving redden finger prints upon Jenn’s paling skin, “You never understand the pains you’ve caused me.” Kris swiftly turned away from the girl, “I’m sorry... good-bye....” Quickly she walked away; blood could be seen dripping down the back of her clothes soaking the once green grass crimson.
Jenn pushed passed her fear and reached out for her friend, “Wait, Kris!” She called out, “Don’t leave me!!!” Just as her hand was about to touch Kris’s back something abruptly shoved her in the chest, hitting hit her with enough force send her hauling backwards, off her feet, and she landed hard on her right shoulder blades. She let out a small yelp of pain as she skid along the dirt ground, her legs swinging over her head causing her entire body to flip end over end until she came crashing down squarely on her chest, nearly knocking the wind out of her. Barely phased by the attack, Jenn immediately pushed herself to her knees and frantically searched for her friend only to see that Kris to had disappeared into the darkness. Jenn began to tremble and wrap her arms around her waist as nothing but blackness surrounded, “Don’t leave me...” She whispered in the gloom.
Suddenly a hand burst through of the dirt ground in front of Jenn causing her to stumble backwards, landing on her butt. The hand, caked in mud and clots of blood, reached out towards Jenn, deep angry slash mark cutting across the wrist of the arm. Another hand quickly followed the first as they clawed at the soil trying to escape their earthen prison. A tangle of blonde hair could be seen breaking through the soil and soon an eye was peeked out at Jennifer through the hair and dirt, “Jenn...ifer...” A girl reached out and grabbed Jenn by the ankle.
“N... no...M... May...” Jenn frightfully stammered, struggling to free her foot from May’s grasp.
“You betrayed me...” A deformed May snarled as she pulled her body out from her burial ground, “I’m the only one who cares for you.” She raised one of her hands into the air to reveal a long sharp kitchen knife clenched between her muddy fingers, “I’m the only one who understood you. The only one who loves you.” Before Jenn could react, the knife plunged through the air, slicing its way through Jenn’s stomach and tore at her flesh.
Jenn abruptly awoke to the rude realization that she had been having yet another nightmare. Slowly Jenn scanned her surroundings as her mind began to clear. No longer was she in her room at home, nor was she standing on a hill, like in her dreams. Now she found herself sitting upon a small bed in a small dorm room, a digital clock on the dresser at the foot of her bed telling her that it was a little past two a.m. She rubbed her head as the past week began to invade her mind once again, along the multitude of emotions that came with them, fear, pain, sadness, happiness and so much more. She glanced around the dark room with only the moonlight to guide her. Across the room she could see Kimberly soundly sleeping, curled up in a tight ball against the wall, cowering from the creatures that lingered in the shadows. Jenn recalled that first night they curled up together and the feelings that stirred within her heart.
‘I'm not disgusting like you.’
A frown crossed Jenn’s face as Kim’s words echoed through her mind. She tried to shake the complicated feelings from her mind that tried to resurface when a wave of pain impolitely reminded Jenn as to what woke her in the first place. She clenched her stomach with one arm as she threw the blankets off with the other. Quickly, she dropped her feet into a pair of fuzzy tiger striped slippers that she had found in the mysterious box that had appeared in their room upon her arrival to the even more unexplainable Whispering Hills Academy. Carefully she got to her feet and took a moment to glance down at the redhead. She began to reach out to pat Kim upon the head, just to make sure she was not still lost within another nightmare, only to stop herself. If this wasn’t a dream then she did not want to wake the girl when she finally was getting some well-deserved rest. It was painful enough trying to talk to the girl that she would rather save herself the grief if she could.
Jenn grabbed one of the white terrycloth house coats off the hook on the back of the door and silently stepped out of their room and carefully closed the door carefully behind her. She glanced up and down the hall as she pulled the housecoat over her blue striped pyjamas, unsure where she was heading, but knowing she needed to hurry before it was too late. Finally she decided to ask the only person she could think of for help and began to venture down the long dark halls of the Western Dorm till she found herself standing at the door to Jessica and Kris’s room. A small light shone from under the door, taking some of the worry from Jenn’s mind. She didn’t want to disturb the girls at such a late hour of night and the sight of the light told her at least one of them were still awake. She was about to knock when she wondered if it was Kris who was awake. What would she say to the girl? Kris had been avoiding Jenn since they had escaped the horrors of the Western Woods, which only added to the awkwardness of talking to the girl. Ever since Jenn discovered that she was in fact the girl Kris loved all those years ago, but somehow had lost her memories of those day, she has found it increasingly hard to talk to the girl she once considered her closest friend. The fact that it was Jenn that was causing that sad pained look in Kris’s eyes, that she was the very girl that broke Kris’s heart and that Kris has been waiting all that time for Jenn to return to her, made things even harder. Jenn backed away from the door as she tried to think of another alternative when it suddenly opened and Jessica stood before her clad in only boxers and a black sports bra, running a hand through her military cut as she gazed at Jenn.
“Hey Jenn.” Jessica said softly, not wanting to disturb any of the others who might be sleeping, “I thought I felt someone standing out here.” The Dorm head explained, “What brings you to visit so late at night?”
“I...” Jenn nervously stammered as she found herself lost for words. She suddenly felt embarrassed for interrupting Jessica so late at night and seeing the tall slender girl standing before her in only her underwear made Jenn’s words fall from her lips. Abruptly another attack of pains began and she clamped her arms around her stomach in an attempt to stop the agony, however it was so intense this time that her eyes blackened and she staggered backwards against the far wall of the hall to keep herself from falling to the ground.
Jessica quickly moved to the girl’s side, “Hey! Are you alright?” She inquired worried for her friend.
“It... hurts...” Jenn panted against the pains.
Jessica nodded knowingly, “You have been in the dreams to long. You probably forgot all about having your period.” She stated simply.
Jenn glanced up at the girl in shock, “How…?”
Jessica gave the girl a knowing smile, “It happens to all of us. I’m guessing it is because we don’t have a period in our dreams and when we return to reality it hits us kind of hard. You probably don’t have any tampons or anything, am I right?” She inquired.
Jenn simply nodded.
“One sec.” Jessica disappeared back into her room and returned with a small box in one hand and a bottle in the other, “Here, I just got some more so you can have the rest. Also, here are some painkillers. Your first after returning is going to be a doozey so you are going to need these.” She handed the items to Jenn.
Jenn took them gratefully, “Thank you.” She scanned at the box of tampons, “Ummm...” She flushed ever so lightly.
“You never used one?” Jessica wondered.
Jenn’s blush deepened, “I just used pads for the most part.” She scanned at the side of the box and read the top headline, “What is Toxic Stress Syndrome? Is it dangerous?” She queried feeling a little nervous.
“Don’t worry about it.” Jessica assured with a grin, “There is a note about it in the box if you are interested in learning more. Don’t worry too much. It is rare and if there is a problem we always have Nurse Amy to depend on.” She half joked.
Jenn glanced inside the box and her eyes came across something pink among the few remaining tampons. She shook the box until the object moved to the side and her flush brightened to the point of covering her entire face and she could feel heat rising up around her neck, “Ummmm....” She stammered and preceded to pull out a small cylindrical object with a Hello Kitty hugging a teddy bear on top, “Is this...?” She hinted with a swallow.
“Oh that...” Jessica swiftly snatched the object from the girl’s hand, “Sorry about that.” She apologized with slight crimson to her cheeks, “It’s just a toy... you know...” She nervously rolled the object between her hands.
“Does that actually work?” Jenn inquired curiously.
“Ummm...” Jessica looked at the thing in her hands, “Sort of... here...” She gripped the cylinder with both hands, twisted the top half and the object came to life in the girl’s hand with a low humming sound, “It is kind of creepy seeing as the Kitty at the top is what vibrates, but it works when needed.” She admitted, partly embarrassed.
Jenn still blushing, “Ohhhkkaaayyy...” She was not able to take her eyes off the strange toy, and then, with a shake of her head, she glanced down the hall in search of an escape and got one as another cramp ripped through her, “I… I need to go. Th… thank you.” She gave Jessica a weak smile.
“No problem.” Jessica assured, “Oh, come to the office later. We have your first allowance for you. You can buy more tampons or whatever you need.”
“Thanks.” Jenn hurried backwards down the hall, giving the girl a quick wave then disappeared around a corner.
Jessica stood in the door, watching Jenn rush down the hall, and then she remembered that she still had a vibrator humming away in her hands and quickly shut it off before returning to her room.
“How is she doing?” Kris asked from her place on her bed. She had the blankets pulled up to her chest, a magazine lying upon her stomach and her arms placed behind her head.
“You going to just avoid her from now on?” Jessica returned as she crossed the room to her desk and dropped the toy in the top drawer then turned to face her roommate, “You can’t just hide from her forever you know?”
Kris rolled over on her side, placing her back to Jessica, “Why does it matter? She has Kim now. She doesn’t need me.” Kris stated in a sad tone, “I’m responsible for destroying her entire live. I can understand if she hates me.”
“So you plan to just suffer from now on, is that it?” Jessica sat backwards on her chair and crossed her arms over the back, “What am I to do with you, girl?” She asked her roommate’s back. When Kris did not respond she let out a frustrated sigh and flicked off the light before dropping into her own bed.
*****
To be Continued . . .
*****
Note: The world of the Shadowlands, Its stories, Characters and ideas are a copyright of Kathryn K Williams.
This story is based upon my manga of the same name. If you wish to view art from this series please visit my deviant arts site at: <a href="http://shinigami-shimai.deviantart.com/ " target="_blank">http://shinigami-shimai.deviantart.com/ </a>
For more of my stories visit my deviant hearts site at: http://www.devianthearts.com/viewuser.php?uid=159
Also if you spot any typos or other errors please contact me at katwilliams @ rogers.com
<b>A Shadowlander's Dream: Book Two - Policy of Love
By Kathryn K Williams
Dedicated in Memory of Justin W. Walker - April 19, 1989 - May 5th 2006 - May she finally be able to peacefully sleep. </b>
<b>Prologue</b>
A long old steam locomotive slowly pulled into the station during the dead of the night, with its string of old wooden passenger cars in tow. The few travellers that dared coming out so late at night, haunting the platforms, did not seem to notice as a small cloaked passenger that disembarked from the back car as they tried to find the best seats. The figure casually moved through the halls of the train station, the moon shining through large domes of glass that canopied overhead, held together with a spider’s web of iron and glass. She swiftly moved up the marble staircase and through the spiralling doors to the outside world. The individual lifted its head to look up at its new surroundings. Light from an overhead streetlight, made of case iron and hanging upon long black chains from posts, cast down on the being revealing the small round face of a young girl, the right side of her face covered in twisting black flames of a tattoo that extended down from her shadowed eyes and along the side of her neck. She softly closed her eyes and breathed in the cool night air, “I’m finally back.” She muttered to herself as a small smile played across her face, revealing a set of fangs that glistened in the light. Abruptly she spun around to face the lights of Whispering Hills Academy off in the distance and quickly the smile was replaced by a frown as she recalled the true reason she was there. Rapidly, the girl moved through the night with her destination in mind, winding her way through the small down and up the large hill in which the school sat, looming overhead.
<b>Chapter One</b>
Jenn lay upon a grassy hill, her eyes lightly closed against the sun as it beat down upon her small body. A cool breeze swept by, lightly ruffling her short black hair around her round pale face. She reached up to push a strain of hair out of her eyes and blinked up at the fluffy clouds as they drifted in front of the sun. A smile played across her face in enjoyment of the weather.
Kimberly lay curled up beside Jenn with her head resting upon the girl’s stomach. Jenn set her hand upon her friend’s lovely soft, red hair, hair so vibrant that they could only be diminished by the ruby shine of her eyes. A fleeting memories of their first kiss still fresh in Jenn’s mind, and a love flowing through her heart. For the first time she felt at peace. Her mother was not around to yell at her, the breeze was sweet and she was in love. Sure she may have only known Kim a couple of days and they were merely eleven years of age, however, it felt like this was how life was meant to be. Just herself and her love resting on a grassy hill with no one to tell them they were doing anything wrong, no one to try to explain that they could not be in love or try to pull them apart.
Jenn beamed as she thought about how perfect life was when Kim began to stir. She sat up and stretched, then turned to glance down at Jenn, love in her red eyes and a grin upon her face. Kim reached out a hand and softly caressed Jenn’s warm cheek. Jenn closed her eyes as her skin tingled against the girl’s touch. She could feel her heart pounding as Kim drew in ever so much closer, her long hair brushing lightly against Jenn’s face. Jenn felt a longing grow in her heart, and she wanted to taste those lips again. She reached out a hand to run it through Kim’s hair, pushing to the side so she could look into those beautifully, mysterious, eyes and licked her lips in anticipation of a kiss. She did not have to wait long as Kim lightly brushed her lips against Jenn’s, then leaned forward to deepen kiss until they both embraced one another. Jenn wrapped her arms around the girl as her entire body was washed over with warmth and a hunger for those lips. When they parted, Jenn could feel a flush of heat throughout her entire body and she smiled up at the girl.
“I... I love you, Kima.” Jenn said, letting out a deep shivered sigh.
Kim grinned down at her first love. Her eyes filled with life and affection. Suddenly the winds shifted, picking up in pace, dragging darkness as clouds moved in to block out the sun. Kim’s smile abruptly twisted to a harsh frown, “I'm not disgusting like you.” Kim unexpectedly glared at Jenn as the winds whipped her hair about her face.
“What?” Jenn frantically scrambled from beneath the girl.
Kim got to her feet and glared down at Jenn, “I said I’m not like you. Leave me alone!” She shouted with anger in her eyes.
““What are you talking about, Kima?” She asked in complete confusion of the change of events.
Kim clenched at her body as if suddenly disgusted by touching Jenn, “Don’t call me that!!” She demanded, “Never call me that again. I hate you!!” She screamed.
Jenn grasped the sides of her head in disbelief, “This can’t be happening.” She clenched her eyes shut against the image, “How can you say that? You said you loved me?”
The winds picked up pace and assaulted Jenn with leaves and dirt and a new voice rang through the air, “And you always told me you loved me.” Jenn’s eyes fluttered opened her eyes to find Kim no longer gone standing before her. The redhead had been replaced instead with a salutary large tree. “You said that you would never leave me. And yet...” The voice continued. Jenn quickly glanced up into the dense branches of the tree to find Kris sitting upon a thick limb, her body clad in white shirt, black vest and long black skirt that covered her long slender legs entirely.
“Kris?!?” Jenn gazed upon her friend in confusion, “What are you talking about?”
Kris turned to face her friend and then leaped down from the tree. A pair of large white wings spread out behind her as she drifted to the ground, landing in front of Jenn. Jenn found it impossible to take her eyes off those shimmering wings, so majestic and beautiful it was as if they were glowing. Kris reached out and ran a hand through Jenn’s hair, “I love you with all my heart.” She reached up with her other hand and took hold of one of the wings and then violently tore the wing off. Blood spring forth from the wound in her back splattering crimson across her stark white shirt.
Jenn stumbled backwards, horrified by what she was seeing, “Kris, I’m sorry... I just... can’t remember...” She explained frantically, “I don’t understand what is going on.”
“You are sorry?” Kris returned, “I gave up everything to be with you and you forgot.” She proceeded to tear off the other wing and held the bleeding wings out to Jenn, “How could you forget?” Anger filled the girl’s eyes as she hurled the wings to the ground, “I stayed beside you no matter what and you ran off with someone else.” She moved close to Jenn, her eyes peering deeply into Jenn’s, making it hard for the girl to turn away. She set one of her blood soaked hands upon Jenn’s cheek, leaving redden finger prints upon Jenn’s paling skin, “You never understand the pains you’ve caused me.” Kris swiftly turned away from the girl, “I’m sorry... good-bye....” Quickly she walked away; blood could be seen dripping down the back of her clothes soaking the once green grass crimson.
Jenn pushed passed her fear and reached out for her friend, “Wait, Kris!” She called out, “Don’t leave me!!!” Just as her hand was about to touch Kris’s back something abruptly shoved her in the chest, hitting hit her with enough force send her hauling backwards, off her feet, and she landed hard on her right shoulder blades. She let out a small yelp of pain as she skid along the dirt ground, her legs swinging over her head causing her entire body to flip end over end until she came crashing down squarely on her chest, nearly knocking the wind out of her. Barely phased by the attack, Jenn immediately pushed herself to her knees and frantically searched for her friend only to see that Kris to had disappeared into the darkness. Jenn began to tremble and wrap her arms around her waist as nothing but blackness surrounded, “Don’t leave me...” She whispered in the gloom.
Suddenly a hand burst through of the dirt ground in front of Jenn causing her to stumble backwards, landing on her butt. The hand, caked in mud and clots of blood, reached out towards Jenn, deep angry slash mark cutting across the wrist of the arm. Another hand quickly followed the first as they clawed at the soil trying to escape their earthen prison. A tangle of blonde hair could be seen breaking through the soil and soon an eye was peeked out at Jennifer through the hair and dirt, “Jenn...ifer...” A girl reached out and grabbed Jenn by the ankle.
“N... no...M... May...” Jenn frightfully stammered, struggling to free her foot from May’s grasp.
“You betrayed me...” A deformed May snarled as she pulled her body out from her burial ground, “I’m the only one who cares for you.” She raised one of her hands into the air to reveal a long sharp kitchen knife clenched between her muddy fingers, “I’m the only one who understood you. The only one who loves you.” Before Jenn could react, the knife plunged through the air, slicing its way through Jenn’s stomach and tore at her flesh.
Jenn abruptly awoke to the rude realization that she had been having yet another nightmare. Slowly Jenn scanned her surroundings as her mind began to clear. No longer was she in her room at home, nor was she standing on a hill, like in her dreams. Now she found herself sitting upon a small bed in a small dorm room, a digital clock on the dresser at the foot of her bed telling her that it was a little past two a.m. She rubbed her head as the past week began to invade her mind once again, along the multitude of emotions that came with them, fear, pain, sadness, happiness and so much more. She glanced around the dark room with only the moonlight to guide her. Across the room she could see Kimberly soundly sleeping, curled up in a tight ball against the wall, cowering from the creatures that lingered in the shadows. Jenn recalled that first night they curled up together and the feelings that stirred within her heart.
‘I'm not disgusting like you.’
A frown crossed Jenn’s face as Kim’s words echoed through her mind. She tried to shake the complicated feelings from her mind that tried to resurface when a wave of pain impolitely reminded Jenn as to what woke her in the first place. She clenched her stomach with one arm as she threw the blankets off with the other. Quickly, she dropped her feet into a pair of fuzzy tiger striped slippers that she had found in the mysterious box that had appeared in their room upon her arrival to the even more unexplainable Whispering Hills Academy. Carefully she got to her feet and took a moment to glance down at the redhead. She began to reach out to pat Kim upon the head, just to make sure she was not still lost within another nightmare, only to stop herself. If this wasn’t a dream then she did not want to wake the girl when she finally was getting some well-deserved rest. It was painful enough trying to talk to the girl that she would rather save herself the grief if she could.
Jenn grabbed one of the white terrycloth house coats off the hook on the back of the door and silently stepped out of their room and carefully closed the door carefully behind her. She glanced up and down the hall as she pulled the housecoat over her blue striped pyjamas, unsure where she was heading, but knowing she needed to hurry before it was too late. Finally she decided to ask the only person she could think of for help and began to venture down the long dark halls of the Western Dorm till she found herself standing at the door to Jessica and Kris’s room. A small light shone from under the door, taking some of the worry from Jenn’s mind. She didn’t want to disturb the girls at such a late hour of night and the sight of the light told her at least one of them were still awake. She was about to knock when she wondered if it was Kris who was awake. What would she say to the girl? Kris had been avoiding Jenn since they had escaped the horrors of the Western Woods, which only added to the awkwardness of talking to the girl. Ever since Jenn discovered that she was in fact the girl Kris loved all those years ago, but somehow had lost her memories of those day, she has found it increasingly hard to talk to the girl she once considered her closest friend. The fact that it was Jenn that was causing that sad pained look in Kris’s eyes, that she was the very girl that broke Kris’s heart and that Kris has been waiting all that time for Jenn to return to her, made things even harder. Jenn backed away from the door as she tried to think of another alternative when it suddenly opened and Jessica stood before her clad in only boxers and a black sports bra, running a hand through her military cut as she gazed at Jenn.
“Hey Jenn.” Jessica said softly, not wanting to disturb any of the others who might be sleeping, “I thought I felt someone standing out here.” The Dorm head explained, “What brings you to visit so late at night?”
“I...” Jenn nervously stammered as she found herself lost for words. She suddenly felt embarrassed for interrupting Jessica so late at night and seeing the tall slender girl standing before her in only her underwear made Jenn’s words fall from her lips. Abruptly another attack of pains began and she clamped her arms around her stomach in an attempt to stop the agony, however it was so intense this time that her eyes blackened and she staggered backwards against the far wall of the hall to keep herself from falling to the ground.
Jessica quickly moved to the girl’s side, “Hey! Are you alright?” She inquired worried for her friend.
“It... hurts...” Jenn panted against the pains.
Jessica nodded knowingly, “You have been in the dreams to long. You probably forgot all about having your period.” She stated simply.
Jenn glanced up at the girl in shock, “How…?”
Jessica gave the girl a knowing smile, “It happens to all of us. I’m guessing it is because we don’t have a period in our dreams and when we return to reality it hits us kind of hard. You probably don’t have any tampons or anything, am I right?” She inquired.
Jenn simply nodded.
“One sec.” Jessica disappeared back into her room and returned with a small box in one hand and a bottle in the other, “Here, I just got some more so you can have the rest. Also, here are some painkillers. Your first after returning is going to be a doozey so you are going to need these.” She handed the items to Jenn.
Jenn took them gratefully, “Thank you.” She scanned at the box of tampons, “Ummm...” She flushed ever so lightly.
“You never used one?” Jessica wondered.
Jenn’s blush deepened, “I just used pads for the most part.” She scanned at the side of the box and read the top headline, “What is Toxic Stress Syndrome? Is it dangerous?” She queried feeling a little nervous.
“Don’t worry about it.” Jessica assured with a grin, “There is a note about it in the box if you are interested in learning more. Don’t worry too much. It is rare and if there is a problem we always have Nurse Amy to depend on.” She half joked.
Jenn glanced inside the box and her eyes came across something pink among the few remaining tampons. She shook the box until the object moved to the side and her flush brightened to the point of covering her entire face and she could feel heat rising up around her neck, “Ummmm....” She stammered and preceded to pull out a small cylindrical object with a Hello Kitty hugging a teddy bear on top, “Is this...?” She hinted with a swallow.
“Oh that...” Jessica swiftly snatched the object from the girl’s hand, “Sorry about that.” She apologized with slight crimson to her cheeks, “It’s just a toy... you know...” She nervously rolled the object between her hands.
“Does that actually work?” Jenn inquired curiously.
“Ummm...” Jessica looked at the thing in her hands, “Sort of... here...” She gripped the cylinder with both hands, twisted the top half and the object came to life in the girl’s hand with a low humming sound, “It is kind of creepy seeing as the Kitty at the top is what vibrates, but it works when needed.” She admitted, partly embarrassed.
Jenn still blushing, “Ohhhkkaaayyy...” She was not able to take her eyes off the strange toy, and then, with a shake of her head, she glanced down the hall in search of an escape and got one as another cramp ripped through her, “I… I need to go. Th… thank you.” She gave Jessica a weak smile.
“No problem.” Jessica assured, “Oh, come to the office later. We have your first allowance for you. You can buy more tampons or whatever you need.”
“Thanks.” Jenn hurried backwards down the hall, giving the girl a quick wave then disappeared around a corner.
Jessica stood in the door, watching Jenn rush down the hall, and then she remembered that she still had a vibrator humming away in her hands and quickly shut it off before returning to her room.
“How is she doing?” Kris asked from her place on her bed. She had the blankets pulled up to her chest, a magazine lying upon her stomach and her arms placed behind her head.
“You going to just avoid her from now on?” Jessica returned as she crossed the room to her desk and dropped the toy in the top drawer then turned to face her roommate, “You can’t just hide from her forever you know?”
Kris rolled over on her side, placing her back to Jessica, “Why does it matter? She has Kim now. She doesn’t need me.” Kris stated in a sad tone, “I’m responsible for destroying her entire live. I can understand if she hates me.”
“So you plan to just suffer from now on, is that it?” Jessica sat backwards on her chair and crossed her arms over the back, “What am I to do with you, girl?” She asked her roommate’s back. When Kris did not respond she let out a frustrated sigh and flicked off the light before dropping into her own bed.
*****
To be Continued . . .
*****
Note: The world of the Shadowlands, Its stories, Characters and ideas are a copyright of Kathryn K Williams.
This story is based upon my manga of the same name. If you wish to view art from this series please visit my deviant arts site at: <a href="http://shinigami-shimai.deviantart.com/ " target="_blank">http://shinigami-shimai.deviantart.com/ </a>
For more of my stories visit my deviant hearts site at: http://www.devianthearts.com/viewuser.php?uid=159
Also if you spot any typos or other errors please contact me at katwilliams @ rogers.com