A Shadowlander's Dream: Book Two - Policy of Love
By Kathryn K Williams
Part Six - A New Home, A New Life
Chapter Thirty
Jenn sobbed heavily into her pillow and punched at the bed, "I'm so stupid." She screamed into the pillow.
Tanya sat upon the edge of the girl's bed and stroked her back, "Your not stupid." Tanya replied, "Kris is the stupid one."
Cherilyn nodded in agreement, "You should try to forget about her." She stated from her spot on a desk chair.
Jenn rolled over and stared up at the ceiling, "No, I was the stupid one" She reiterated, "She kept coming on to me and I was always afraid she was not interested. Always telling myself she was only teasing me. But what do I do? I play innocent and pretend like I didn't know what was going on." She slapped herself on the forehead, "What is wrong with me? I let my fears get in the way and now I've lost her."
"But that is not your fault." Tanya reminded the girl, "You barely remembered where you came from never mind your love for Kris. Your memories were being toyed with by those angels."
"Yeah," Jenn let out a sigh and place her arm over her eyes, "But even when I started to remember I kept pushing it away. Kept telling myself that I was being foolish. There was no way she could ever love an idiot like me."
Tanya pulled Jenn's arm away and looked her straight in the eyes, "You are far from an idiot." She growled, "I hate idiots and could never love one, but I loved you."
Jenn was startled by what she heard, "Love me?"
Tanya staggered backwards alarmed by her own word and glanced at Cherilyn who looked away. She rubbed at the back of her neck in embarrassment.
Jenn sat up to look at the girl, "Tanya? Did you just say you loved me?" She inquired perplexedly.
"It was long ago." Tanya nervously replied.
Cherilyn glared at the girl, "Don't lie." She snapped, "You've always loved her and I know it."
"Cherilyn???" Tanya begged, "You know I love you."
"Yeah, but I'll always be second in your mind." Cherilyn remarked dismally then got to her feet, "I'm going to unpack. I'll talk to you later."
"Cherilyn wait!" Tanya blocked the girl's escape, "You know my heart is yours." She stated affectionately, lightly touching the girl's arm only to have to knocked away.
"You are always running to Jenn and you never think of my feelings." Cherilyn coldly stated, "Every since she has come back it has been Jenn this and Jenn that. I came here to be with you and yet I see that you came here to be with her."
"Cherilyn, you are taking this the wrong way." Tanya stated in dismay, "Anyway, Jenn doesn't love me. She still has Kimberly."
Cherilyn shook her head in disappointment, "So that is the only reason you stay with me then? Because the one you truly love is not available. Thanks a lot." Cherilyn pushed passed Tanya and ran out the door.
"Shit!" Tanya kicked at the floor then glanced at Jenn who shook her head in appal, "Jenn..." Tanya slowly approached her friend.
"Don't..." Jenn curled up in her bed, "Just leave me alone."
Tanya took a deep breath and let it out, "A... alright..." She reluctantly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Jenn glanced across the room at Kimberly's bed and recalled the past couple of days. The girl willingly battled her way through Jenn's nightmares twice to save her and yet she seemed to have no interest in Jenn other then friendship. The memory of Kim's kiss came to mind and Kima. She sat up straight. She did not remember seeing Kima in the lobby with her twin. Where was she?
(She stayed behind with Penny.)
Those were Jessica's exact words before they left the library world. Jenn suddenly got to her feet and walked out of the room. She needed to know what happened to her friend. She needed to know that Kima was alright and needed to know now.
*****
Kim kicked her feet behind herself as she lay next to Penny. She found her new life in the house was not as bad as she thought it would be and their studies were not bad either. She did received a crack across the knuckles with a wooden metre stick for getting a math question wrong, but other then that the lessons were easy. They were taught some math, science and now were reading a chapter of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" as each girl took turns reading a paragraph at a time out loud. Penny snuggled in close to Kim as they shared the same book. Before they knew it the sun started its decent across the sky and Ma'am set down her copy of the book.
"Okay girls." Ma'am clapped her hands to get their attention, "Time for bed." She stood to her feet and started to retrieve the copies of the books from the girls when she came to Kim, "Kimberly, you can keep that copy overnight." She told the girl, "Try to catch up to the rest of us quickly and do not stay up too late."
"Alright, Ma'am." Kim politely agreed and stuffed the paperback in her overall pockets.
"Wash up and I'll come check on you in a moment." Ma'am ordered as she guided the girl's to the stairs when there was a knocking at the door, "That must be the boys. Come on, up those stairs." Patted the last girls upon the butts to get them to hop up the stairs.
"The boys?" Kim whispered to Amber as she tried to get a peer at the door before heading to their room only to find the front door was out of view.
Amber let out a depressed sigh, "I was hoping that they would not show up today." Amber muttered as she hauled her feet up each step as if they were made of lead, "I hoped that you would get at least one day of sleep in this house before the nightmare begins again."
"I don't know. So far things seem alright." Kim remarked, holding Penny's hand as they walked down the hall to their room.
"You have yet to meet our brothers." Sarah stated dismally.
Kim took one last glance down the stairs. She could hear the sounds of voices chatting down the hall but could not distinguish what they were talking about. She was curious to learn what these brothers of her were like and considered venturing back down to find out when Penny pulled on her hand. Kim turned to see Penny shaking her head in disapproval, that familiar fear in her eyes.
"Come one you curious puss." Amber teased, "We need to brush our teeth or it is off to the basement for us."
"Alright." Kim allowed herself to be pulled into the room where Caitlin and April were already busily brushing their teeth, "I don't have a tooth brush." Kim stated watching other others.
"You can borrow mine." Penny offered.
"You sure?" Kim inquired uncertainly, "I mean you might get my germs."
Penny laughed, "You don't have germs."
Amber stared at Penny, "Wow!! I've never heard you laugh before." She stated in astonishment.
Penny blushed, "Yes, I have."
Sarah shook her head, "No, Amber is right." She glanced at Kim and smiled, "I thought you two were getting close." She said with a snicker, "First you are sharing the bed with her and now your toothbrush, shame shame."
"It's not like that." Penny exclaimed, a bright blush covered her entire face.
"Ahhh... You're blushing." Amber pointed out.
"Cut it out!" Penny jumped at Amber and the two girls tumbled to the mattress giggling and laughing as they tickled each other.
Suddenly Ma'am appeared at the door and glared down at the girls, "That is enough horsing around girl." She demanded.
"Sorry Ma'am" Penny rolled off of Amber and got to her feet.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am." Amber apologized and sat up on the mattress.
Ma'am scanned the girls for a moment before speaking, "Remember to wash your face and brush your hair before going to bed."
"Yes, Ma'am." The girls piped as one.
The woman pulled out a tooth brush from her pocket, "Here Kim, I forgot to give you this." She handed the girl a toothbrush still in its package, "Now brush up and get some rest. Goodnight girls."
"Goodnight, Ma'am"
The woman nodded and gave the girl's a smile before closing the door and locking it.
Sarah grinned at Penny, "Too bad. Kim won't get to use your toothbrush." She teased.
Penny flushed again, "Leave me alone." She demanded, seeing that April and Caitlin had finished with the sink she took Kim by the hand and headed for the washroom, "Our turn!" She announced before the other could protest. She quickly closed the door so the others could not enter and leaned against it.
Kim giggled as she looked at Penny, "You really are cute you know that?" She stated, "Even more so when you are blushing."
"Don't you start." Penny glared at the girl then broke into a smile and laughed, "I really am glad you are here. I don't know why but I feel safe around you." She explained as she stepped up to the sink and turned on the water.
Kim smiled back at the girl, "I'm glad I'm here too." She said as she opened the toothbrush package, "If not I would have never got to meet you." She watched as Penny splashed water upon her face and picked up a bar of soap. Her heart raced as the fact that they were alone together in such a small room began to set in. She licked at her lips as she tried to control her emotions. All day long she was struggling with urges to touch the girl. When they were laying together in the livingroom she had to control an temptation to place her arm around the girl's waist and pull her in close. She could not understand what would make her feel this way. She was only ten and had only kissed a girl once before as far as she could remember. What was making her feel the need to kiss this girl? She rubbed her head in frustration, feeling tears well up behind her eyes. She shouldn't be feeling this way and yet she could not take her eyes off of Penny.
Penny dried her face and glanced at Kim, "Is something wrong?" She inquired, noticing how intensely the girl was watching her.
Kim shook her head and rubbed her eyes, "I... I'm sorry..." She stepped back until her leg bumped into the tub. She suddenly wanted nothing more then to be out of that room. She did not trust herself so close to Penny and did not want to hurt the girl.
Penny approached Kim only to have the girl recoil, "Kim?" She worriedly looked in the girl's eyes, "What is wrong?" She lightly place a hand upon Kim's hand.
The softness of Penny's touch broke the dam inside of Kim's heart and she started to cry, "I'm sorry." She sobbed, the desire to kiss Penny was growing so strong that it made her stomach hurt, "I'm sick..." She stated through the tears.
"Did you eat to much?" Penny probed placing a hand to Kim's head in an attempt to check the girl's temperature.
Kim's mouth quivered against the girl's touch and she felt as if her chest was on fire. She looked affectionately into Penny's eyes and softly touched the girl's cheek, "I... I'm sorry..." She whimpered then quickly leaned forward to place a kiss upon Penny's lips.
Penny was taken aback by Kim's actions and step back from the girl. Her eyes filled with bewilderment. She blinked at Kim a few times as if she was trying to figure out what just happened then shook her head, "You..." She lightly touched her lips and and she stared at Kim, "I... it really was you... at the ball.... You kissed me." She stammered in disbelief.
Kim's face twisted as she tried to hold back another bout of tears, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you..." She reached out towards the girl.
Penny rubbed her head in confusion, "You are my prince..." She stated in confusion, "My prince is a girl..."
Kim gave a weak smile, "I..." She could not find her voice. It felt as if a vice was clamped down upon her heart and twisting it. She clenched at her chest and let out an anguished sob, "I'm sorry..."
Concern overcame Penny and she rushed to the girl's side, "Kim!!! What is wrong?" She inquired anxiously.
"I hurt you..." Kim mumbled, "I never wanted to hurt you."
Penny shook her head in disagreement, "You didn't hurt me." She said pulling the girl into her arms, "You never hurt me. Just surprised me."
Kim looked into the girl's eyes, "R... really?" She inquired nervously.
Penny let out a sigh, "I always thought my prince would be a boy and he would rescue me from this place." She remarked, then looked down at Kim, "I guess I should have known better considering the way my sister was."
"Sister? The girls out there?" Kim inquired.
Penny shook her head, "Jessie was my real sister. We were together for as long as I can remember..." She face grew long, "Until today."
"I'm sorry..." Kim let out a shaky breath, "I never knew she was your sister."
"Guess she didn't love me like I loved her." Penny remarked miserably, "Or she wouldn't have left me alone."
Kim looked the girl in the eye, "You are not alone." She reminded the girl, "I'm never leaving you."
Penny looked into those red eyes with scepticism, "How can you promise that?" She asked.
"I do promise." Kim stated firmly, "I won't leave you and we'll find your belt too."
Penny blinked at the girl, "You remembered that?" She asked insecurely.
Kim nodded, "I promised I would find it and I meant it."
Tears filled Penny's eyes and she hugged the girl, "Thank you." When she pulled back Kim was looking at her with love in her eyes.
"I..." Kim reached up to touch the girl's face and pulled back, "I'm sorry." She tried to control her heart and tell it to stop pounding.
Penny brushed the back of her hand against Kim's cheek causing the girl to shiver all over, "I'm not." She leaned forward and kissed Kim. Lightly at first, then with more passion, quickly to two girls became caught up in the kiss as their tongues touched each other every now and then. Penny's fingers moved through the short hairs at the back of Kim's head causing her to tremble in pleasure. Kim hungered for more and she leaned into the girl causing her to roll onto the ground. The world around them forgotten.
The door suddenly opened and Amber gazed down at them in shock, "Penny?!?" She exclaimed.
Penny quickly sat up and wiped at her mouth, "I..." She glanced from Amber to Kim in embarrassment.
"What is taking them so long?" Sarah inquired peeking into the room to see the Kim lying on the ground in front of Penny. She gave them a sly grin, "Well, what do you know."
Penny quickly got to her feet, she could feel a flush covering her entire body and it made her want to hide, "I... Kim... Ummm...."
"We will not tell Ma'am." Amber said giving the girls a reassuring smile, "Right Sarah?"
Sarah shook her head in disbelief, "I never thought Penny had it in her." She remarked with a smirk, "I always thought she was the straightest one of us."
Penny sat heavily upon the edge of the tub and placed her hands in her hand, "What have I done?" She inquired shaking her head.
Kim set a hand upon Penny's leg, "You've not done anything wrong." Kim stated.
Amber entered the room and sat down next to Penny, "It's alright." She gave the girl a tight hug.
Sarah smiled down at Kim, "So how does she taste?" She inquired causing Penny to abruptly look up at Sarah in shock.
Kim blushed and lightly touched her lips, "Wonderful." She breathed feeling herself quiver at the thought of Penny's kiss, "Like nothing I've felt before."
Sarah knelt beside Kim, "Well just make sure you don't get caught by Ma'am." She warned, "She has a thing against gays."
"Yeah, she will put you in the cupboard if she finds out." Amber added with a shudder, "I hate that place. It is worse then the basement."
Kim gave the girl a perplexed look, "You like girl's too?" She inquired.
Sarah laughed, "There is an understatement." She giggled, "I still remember how angry Ma'am was when she found out too."She said unhappily.
"How did she find out?" Kim asked curiously.
"Jessie kissed her while they were cleaning up the yard." Penny explained.
"Jessica?" Kim noticed a frown cross Amber's face.
Amber forced herself to smile and ruffled Kim's hair, "You'd better brush your teeth because if Ma'am does one of her surprise inspections or we could all be sent to the basement again."
"S... sorry..." Kim quickly search the floor for where she dropped her tooth brush and found it still partly in it's package and quickly removed it.
Penny wrapped her arms around Kim from behind and hugged her, "Thank you." She whispered into the girl's ear.
Kim grinned, "I should be thanking you." She looked at the girl lovingly.
Amber smacked Kim on the butt causing her to let out a small squeak, "Stop with the gooshy stuff and get to brushing." She commanded.
"Yes Ma'am." Kim responded and grabbed the toothpaste.
*****
Natalie let out a sigh. They had been sitting in the lobby in silence for an hour and the silence was beginning to drive her nuts. Jessica seemed to be lost deep in their own thoughts while Amy spent much of her time in the office cleaning up and sifting through files. Natalie figured that Amy was probably looking for something that will help her with Jessica because she kept glancing at the girl from time to time. Alyson slept curled up upon the couch. Natalie had asked if she wanted to go back to her room but she wanted to let Misty be alone and Natalie figured she was right. Kim also had no room to return too with Jenn upset so was curled up on Natalie's lap. She considered turning on the television when Jenn slowly entered the room.
Natalie cocked her head curiously at the girl, "You alright?" She inquired noticing the way Jenn's eyes flickered to Jessica as she crossed the room.
Jenn approached the couches and glanced down at Kim then to Kima, "I only came to see how Kim and Kima were doing." She stated coldly, making sure that Jessica heard her. She knelt next to Kima and lightly touched the girl's forehead, "She feels cold." She commented worriedly.
"Actually it is a little cold." Natalie agreed, rubbing her arms, "Are their blankets down here?"
Jessica pointed to the storage closet next to the entrance, "Back there." She muttered softly.
Jenn moved around the couches to the storage room and opened it. The room was actually rather large with many shelves and boxes scattered about. She found the blankets on the shelf closest to the door and piled a few in her arms before closing the door behind her. When she returned to the girls and handed one to Alyson.
"Thanks." Alyson took the blanket groggily and pulled it over herself.
"How is your leg?" Jenn asked looking at the bandages as she walked around to Natalie.
Alyson shrugged, "I don't notice the pain much." She remarked with a half smile, "Thanks for asking though."
Jenn placed one blanket on the coffee table as she unfolded the other and placed it over Kim, "How is she doing?" She inquired worriedly.
"She is strong." Natalie replied, "I hear she arrived just in time."
Jenn gave a weak smile, "Yeah, she is always rescuing me when I wanted to be the one to rescue her."
"She is strange like that." Natalie stated with a soft laugh, "I've been trying to rescue her for years and always seem to get there after the action is over. What a pathetic hero I'm turning out to be."
Jenn shook her head in disagreement, "You are a true hero and a good friend."
Natalie gave a warm smile, "Thanks." Her smile suddenly turned to a frown as an intense pain ripped through her chest.
"Is something wrong?" Jenn concernedly ask.
"I... I don't know..." Natalie clenched at her chest, "M... My ch... chest feels like it is on fire. Like someone is trying to rip my heart out."
"I'll get Amy." Jenn was about to turn around when Kimberly's eyes suddenly fluttered open and she let out a howling scream that was a mix of agony and pain.
"Kim!?!" Jenn dropped to the girl's side.
"What is wrong?" Amy ask as she rushed out of the office to see what the commotion was about.
"H... hurts..." Kim gasped as she grabbed at her chest and rolled off of Natalie's lap to the floor.
Natalie also grasped at her chest and buckled over as a wave of sorrow engulfed her heart.
"Nat?!?" Alyson reached out for the girl, "Nat, are you alright?"
"K... Ki... ma..." Natalie gasped as she struggled with another wave, this time of intense fear, "Some... thing... is happening to her."
Amy ran around the couches and knelt beside Kim, "Where does it hurt?" She inquired, trying to figure out how to relieve the girl of her pain.
"E... Every... where..." Kim sobbed. She quickly rolled over and puked on the floor, then collapsed to her side crying.
Amy pulled Kim's eye lid back to look into the girl's eyes, "This is not good." She stated trying to keep her calm. Suddenly the girl's face flickered and for a second Amy thought she could see through the girl. .
Natalie glanced at Amy, "K... ki.. ma..." She stated, struggling against the pain that was trying to overwhelm her, "S... she... is in trouble..."
Amy shook her head in disbelief, "This can't be happening." She watched as Kim flickered again and this time stayed see-through, almost like a ghost, "What the hell?" She quickly got to her feet and glanced between Kima and Kim.
Jessica got to her feet and rushed over to see what was happening, "Is she going to be alright?"
"Kim is dying." She explained in despair
"What? How?" Jenn exclaimed looking between the two redheads.
Amy rubbed her temple in frustration, "I never told you girls before, but Kima is not Kim's reflection." She explained sitting heavily upon a couch.
"Then what is she?" Alyson curious to learn more about the mysterious mirror girl.
Jenn eyed the nurse, "I thought she was Kim's inner feelings. The stuff she pushed aside."
Amy rubbed the back of her neck, "She is so much more." Amy gazed at Kima the to Kim, who was fading with every second, "But it is Kim that is the reflection."
"What?" Jenn stared at Kim in disbelief, "How can that be? I mean Kim was the one to save me from my dreams. Kima didn't show up until after we arrived here."
"That is true." Amy agreed, "However, Kim never existed. She was created by Kima so she could cope with her past. Giving her someone to protect and with there being two of her Kima did not feel she needed to restrain herself as much because she knew being sexual was expected of her."
Natalie struggled to stand, "That is insane." She stated, not believing a word she was hearing, "Kima had a cut on the opposite arm as me. If Kim is not the real one then why was I mimicking her pain."
"Not mimicking." Amy explained, "You were mirroring her pain. You thought Kim was the real one because she had the same wounds as you, but in fact the real Kim would have opposite wounds. You never considered that before so you rejected Kima before getting to understand her. Now she is finding a home inside Penny's dreams and had no reason to return or a need for Kim anymore."
"There must be a way to wake her up." Jenn stated desperately searching for some kind of answer.
"If we wake her now we risk losing her mind entirely." Amy stated calmly, "We also risk hurting Penny and Jessica."
Jessica nervously rubbed at her face, "I can feel her in there. She is taking my place in that nightmarish world." She rubbed at the back of her neck in frustration, "You have to get her out of there."
"I want to help her." Jenn exclaimed, "How do I get into that dream?"
"You can't" Alyson remarked calmly, "You are not a dream walker. You are only a dreamer.
"What about Kris?" Jessica asked starting for the door.
"No, You are the only one who can get to her." Amy bluntly stated, "You share Penny's experiences and dreams. You are the only one who can get in there safely. If Kima is in as deeply as I think, Kris could cause more trouble then help. We need someone who was from the dream originally."
Jessica shook her head, "I can't..." Jessica clenched at the side of her head, "I can't go back there."
"You have to." Amy returned, "You said it yourself, Kima is taking your place in your dream. She is losing a piece of herself every moment she is there and without her Kim will simply disappear."
"Why is that my problem?" Jessica shouted at the nurse, "She was the one who invaded my dreams. I did not ask her to come after me."
"It is not your dream." Alyson stated numbly, "It is Penny's." She nodded at the girl on the couch. Penny was trashing about and moaning.
"You must go back." Amy insisted, "You are the only one who can stop this. You have to free her of that nightmare. You have to save them all."
*****
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 visit my site and see some of the art based on this series at http://www.KatAndNekoManga.ca
Also if you spot any typos or other errors please contact me at Kathryn@KatAndNekoManga.ca
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