A Shadowlander’s Dream: Book Three - Rules of the Flesh
Written by Kathryn K Williams
Chapter Eleven
Jennifer rolled over in her bed and opened her eyes. Her mind still cluttered with thoughts from the passing day. With a deep sigh she rolled out of bed and sat upon her bed, holding onto the edge of the pillow, her eyes scanning the opposite side of the room where Kim used to sleep. She still could not get over the fact that Kim was no longer with them. The fact that Kim simply faded out of existence did not help matters, if there was a body or something to bide a farewell to then maybe she could let go, but as it stands there was nothing, not even a single strain of her hair. Jenn rubbed at her eyes as the thought of never being able to hold the girl again intruded her mind and she buried her face into the pillow, letting out a tired and pained wail.
Abruptly a pain ripped through her stomach as she was again reminded that her period had just begun that very day. She quickly got up from the bed as she realized that she had not changed her tampon in a while and dug through a plastic bag of items that she had bought earlier that day and pulled out a plastic wrapped tampon, then swiftly ducked out of the room and headed for the nearest washroom, her thoughts occasionally bumping against each other. Why did love have to be so complex and confusing? Why did she have to loss someone she felt so dear for just as she was realizing she was in love? She wondered again if she was destined to be alone, to never be with anyone ever in her life. It had been less then a week since she learned that her mother was dead, along with one of her closest friends, May Young, now she is finding herself having to bury yet another friend and she was not sure she could handle much more. She scratched at her wrist as they twitched and glanced down at the newly healed scars that crossed them. She was starting to understand why she would try to kill herself, a fact that she only recently learned about as well. According to Kris someone had taken her memories of their love, the loss of her mother and a dear friend, along with her feelings of love, weighed so heavily on her heart and a small part of her wished that she had indeed died, then maybe she wouldn’t have to face this suffering again and again.
She turned a corner at the end of the hall and she spotted someone coming her way. At first she considered heading the opposite direction, in an attempt to dodge the person, when she noticed that it was Kima. The change in the girl’s hair had confused Jenn at first, but even with her head hung low and arms wrapped around her waist Jenn could tell it was her friend. She watched for a moment as Kima staggered down the hall, leaning heavily against the wall and sliding along towards Jenn. There was something about Kima’s halted movements that brought up a level of worry inside of Jenn’s mind. The girl reminded her of herself back in school, lifeless and in such pain that she could barely force herself to move down the hall to class. This was not the confidence that she was used to seeing in Kima and that was unsettling to Jenn.
“A... are you alright?” Jenn inquired softly, not wanting to startle the girl.
The girl lifted her head and Jenn was shocked by the sadness that covered Kima’s face, a mournfulness mixed with an intense amount of confusion. Jenn could almost see Kim in those eyes, the old Kim, the one that she longed to hold in her arms and protect from any kind of harm. Was it possible that Kim and Kima had merged together again? She was not sure she wanted that to be true. Kim and Kima were the same and yet at the same time they were so different. Kim was such a soft and shy girl and the very thought of the girl not being around any longer made Jenn’s heart ache. Meanwhile Kima was blunt, upfront and sexual, and wasn’t afraid to show it. It was the sexual nature of Kima that slightly frightened Jenn. However at that moment all her fears were replaced with a deepening amount of concern.
The moment Kim’s eyes set upon Jenn she jumped back, it was as if she did not recognize Jennifer and was frightened by the appearance of the girl, “N.. No... leave me alone...” She cried out in alarm.
“Kima...” She stopped herself as she recalled that this girl preferred to go by a different name, “Kimberly?!?” Jenn quickly moved to the girl’s side, “What is wrong? Its me, Jennifer, remember?”
Kimberly shook her head, “I... I don’t know...” The moment Jenn’s hand touched her shoulder Kim was hit by a new wave of images that struck with such force that Kim’s knees buckled from under her and she dropped to the floor, taking Jenn with her. She clenched at the side of her head as memories invaded her mind, memories of playing with Jenn in a trailer park, kissing the girl in her bedroom and with those came the recollections of her father, the beatings, name calling and the sexual acts she was forced to perform. Another bout of nausea built up inside of her throat and she forced herself to swallow it back.
Jenn pulled the girl into her arms, “What do you mean? Can’t you remember?” She inquired worriedly, stroking the back of Kim’s head to notice sometime wet and warm, she pulled her hand back to see it covered in blood, “Oh my god! You are bleeding.”
“M... my head... hurts...” Kim stated through a stifled sobs, she clenched at her the sides of her head and softly wept as she curled up in a ball.
Jenn lightly placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder only to have her flinch away and glance up at Jenn, staring at Jenn in confusion, “Don’t you remember me?” Jenn inquired anxiously.
Kim’s mouth trembled as she tried to form the words in her head. She reached out one shaky hand and lightly touched Jenn’s cheek, swallowing hard she finally spoke, “I... I remember... a kiss...” Her last words came out in no more then a whisper and Jenn had to strain to hear her.
Jennifer flushed at the words, “You... you... remember that?”
Kim sadly shook her head, “‘I wish I was the one that kissed you.’” She said softly.
Jenn was even more surprised by these words for those were the other Kim’s very last words before fading away, “How could you remember that?” She inquired nervously.
Kimberly set her eyes upon Jenn, such heavy-hearted eyes that appeared much older then their seventeen years. Jenn could see both Kim and Kima looking back at her and she felt her heart ache. Kim wasn’t dead after all; she was sitting right in front of her, whole again. Then she recalled Penny and the way Kimberly snuggled up to the girl and even asked to move in with the girl. She turned her eyes to her lap, unable to look the girl in the eyes any longer.
“Did...” Jenn took a deep breath as she considered what she was about to ask. She needed to know the truth and after the past couple of days of lies she felt she deserved that much, “Kimberly... did you sleep w... with Penny?”
Tears tumbled over Kim’s cheek, “yes...” She said with a squeak as a wail emitted from her throat and she pitched over, clamping her arms around her stomach and she coughed and sputtered.
Jenn wrapped her arms around the girl and pulled Kim into her arms, allowing the girl to cry into her shoulder. A multitude of thoughts moved through Jenn’s mind as she silently held the girl. Part of her knew she could not blame Kim for her actions. She had seen part of what the girl had been through and knew far too well that Kimberly had been struggling with her sexual nature for a long time. Even when split in two part her shyer half still displayed intense sexual needs that Jenn had witnessed first hand that first night they shared the same bed. She had no idea what the girl went through when she entered Penny’s dreams and was faced with Jessica and Penny’s nightmares. From what Jessica told them it was not pleasant and Kim would have had to face the same.
As her mind rolled over her thoughts she noticed something red on the girl’s leg, “Kim... did you cut your leg?” She inquired fearfully.
Kimberly pulled back from Jenn to look down at red blotch that had caught her friends attention, “I... I don’t think so...” Carefully she stood and glanced down to find the crotch of pyjama bottoms and legs were coated in a thick layer of blood. She stared at Jenn with panic filled eyes.
Jenn quickly got to her feet and steadied the girl, “It’s just your period.” Jenn soothed the girl. “There is nothing wrong.”
“I... I...” Kim stammered and she slowly shook her head.
Jenn blinked at the girl, “Haven’t you had your period before?” She inquired lightly.
More tears filled her eyes, “I can’t remember.” She stated through a veil of tears.
*****
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: http://shinigami-shimai.deviantart.com/
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
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