A Shadowlander's Dream: Book Two - Policy of Love
By Kathryn K Williams
Chapter Twenty
Jenn sat upon the toilet, deep in thought. She was sure that she had seen something in the way Jessica and Kris were looked at each other, but was not sure if it was her imagination. Something inside of her boiled over the idea of Jessica going near her Kris, she tried to shake the idea from her mind. She did not think that Kris would do anything of the sort, but she did not trust Jessica. Sure the girl was kinds and helpful, yet sometimes she came across as very sexual. Jenn was not sure if she could trust Jessica with Kris and she grinded her teeth as the image of the two of them snuggling flickered through her mind. She shook her head again. She was not the jealous type so why was she acting this way. Her mind turned to May and the way the girl would treat anyone who showed an interest in Jenn. Was she reacting the same way as May would? She was only thinking of what was right for Kris... wasn’t she?
She groaned in pain as she dug in one of the shopping bags that she brought with her and opened a new box of tampons. The cramps had been steadily increasing in intensity and it was putting Jenn in an even fouler mood. She inserted the tampon with more ease then that morning, pulled up her panties and fixed her skirt before flushing the toilet and exiting the stall. She found Tanya sitting on the counter with her legs swinging back and forth, “Sorry to keep you waiting.” Jenn apologized as she crossed the room to drop the remains of the tampon in the garbage and wash her hands.
“No problem.” Tanya remarked, “How are you feeling?” She inquired deeply concerned.
Jenn glanced into the mirror to see May’s face staring back at her with a bloody stained grin. Jenn staggered backwards in shock only to see that it was her own face that was staring back at her.
“You alright?” Tanya inquired, jumping off the counter to look into the mirror, “Did you see something?”
Jenn blinked at her reflection, lightly touched one of the cuts on her face and wincing in pain, “Is that really me?” She asked staring at the thin trails of blood upon her face. She pulled her blouse open to see more claw marks across her chest, “I look like a nightmare.” She noted uneasily, her mind jumped to Kris and thought of how the girl would think of all these cuts and she let out a deep sigh.
“Nothing a little water won’t clear up.” Tanya assured grabbing a paper towel and soaking it in the sink, “Here.”
Jenn turned to face her friend, allowing the girl to dab at the wounds. “Ouch!” She recoiled.
“Sorry.” Tanya flinched back, “Maybe you should do it. I’m no good at this kind of thing.” She admitted guiltily.
“Thanks for trying.” Jenn turned on the faucet and splashed water upon her face, clenching her teeth against the way the water stung against her skin. She reached out blindly in search of the paper towels to have Tanya hand her a couple.
“Here.” Tanya offered placing the dry towels in the girl’s hands.
“Thanks.” Jenn dabbed at her face and peeked at herself in the mirror to find that most of the cuts were superficial and washed away leaving a few marks here and there, the remaining ones looking as if a crow had attacked her. She unbuttoned her blouse and dabbed at the last few scratched, glad that she had chosen to wear a black shirt instead of white, before tossing out the paper towel. “Let’s go Tanya.” Jenn commanded popping a few painkillers in her mouth, filling a paper cup with water and downing it. She picked up her shopping bags and her jacket before heading out of the washroom
Tanya sprung to her friend side, “Coming.” She replied and fell into step beside Jenn. Together they entered the lobby and headed for the doors out of the dorm.
“Where do you think you are going?” Kris demanded from near the office door as Jenn strolled passed her.
“Tanya asked for my help with Cherilyn.” Jenn explained simply, “Tanya, did you get your forms signed?” She asked her friend.
“Y... yes...” Tanya answer and pulled out the pink paper from her back pocket.
“Do you think that is a good idea?” Kris stated even more concerned for the girl after seeing the stat she just came out of, “Amy should be down soon. You should let her look you over first.”
“I’m fine.” Jenn replied bluntly and with an edge that Kris had not hear aimed at her before. Kris flinched at Jenn’s tone causing Jenn to reconsider her tone, “I’m sorry I worried you, but I can’t just sit around here.”
“But-“ Kris was about to protest when there was a crashing sound from inside the office that made her spin around to face it. Jessica had pulled the blinds shut so no one could see what she was up to and this was adding to Kris’s anxiety. Why did her Aunt have to leave her in charge at a time like this?
“Good luck with your new position.” Jenn scoop up her other shopping bags near the couches, and then pushed through the doors without waiting for Kris’s reply, “I’ll see you later.”
Tanya gave Kris a hard glare as she passed the girl and she followed after Jenn.
“Why does this always have to happen to me?” Kris muttered in distress.
“Kris?” Kima approached the girl cautiously.
“What is it?” Kris snapped, quickly regretting her actions when she saw the hurt look on the redhead’s face, “I’m sorry.” She rubbed her head, “I didn’t mean to snap.”
Kima shook her head and smiled, “It’s alright. Things have been stressful after all.” She then turned to glace at the office, “I’m just worried about Jessica. Is she going to be alright?”
“That is what I am going to find out.” Kris replied hopefully as she crossed the lobby, “You keep an eye on Penny in case she finally wake up.” She stated to Kima, who was already heading back to the girl’s side. Kris stopped at the office door and let out a sign, this was turning out to be quite the morning. She knew that the morning’s silence was too good to be true. Everything had to come apart sooner or later, but did it all have to be at once?
“Jessie?” Kris asked the door softly then followed with a light knock.
“Go away!” Jessica demanded from behind the door.
“No!” Kris replied, “I am not leaving you. You told me that you would be there for me and I’m telling you the same.” No answer came from within the office.
Amy came down the stairs at that moment and glanced around the nearly empty room, “Where is everyone?” She inquired with bewildered concern.
“Amy!!” Kris rushed over to the doctor, “I am so glad to see you.”
“What is wrong now?” Amy had a feeling she knew; she had noted the moment she arrived that there was something going on between Kris and Jessica and the fact that Jessica was nowhere in sight only meant only one thing. “Let me guess. It is Jessie?”
Kris nodded, “Aunt Missy lost it all of a sudden and told Jessie that she was not leaving and that she was being removed as Dorm Head and well...”
Amy shook her head in dismay, “That is what I was fearing. I should have known.” She muttered as she followed Kris to the office door.
“What?” Kris inquired curiously.
“It was about time for Missy to have an explosion.” Amy remarked with a sign, “You girls are not the only ones with problems at this school. I sometimes wonder why Missy was given charge of the Western Dorms considering how attached she gets to you girls.” She explained then stopped at the office door, placed a hand upon the door and closed her eyes. A deep sensation of guilt, shame and disgust permeated from beyond the door causing Amy frown profoundly. She glanced up at Kris who was standing apprehensive over her. She forgot how tall Kris was in comparison and she was taken a back by the girl for a moment and needed to centre herself before speaking, “Are you ready for what you may see behind this door?” She inquired, searching Kris’s eyes for any sign of hesitation.
Kris gave a firm nod, “She has been watching over me so much since I got here.” Kris explained anxiously, “I want to return the favour. I want be there for her.”
“You have to want more then to just be there for her.” Amy explained hesitantly, “You need to want to help her with every part of your heart because Jessica’s issues are darker then many of the girls here. She may not look it but there is a shattered soul within the strong facade.”
“What happened to her?” Kris asked with concerned curiosity.
Amy turned to the door, “That is for her to tell you.” She touched the doorknob lightly and it clicked, “When we enter I want you to do exactly what I say. I do not know how far she has crumbled but things could be rather bad.” With that she opened the door and upon stepping within the tiny office a wave of darkness rushed passed them. Amy easily throw off the feelings at they tried to cling to her heart, Kris however was doubled over in agony as the darkness tried to eat at her already weakened soul.
“Hold together.” Amy demanded coolly, “You said you wanted to be there for Jessica and if you can’t fight passed the emotions that haunt her then what use will you be.”
Kris clenched her teeth, “Get away from me!!!” She screamed and tossed the darkness off of her heart and mind.
“Are you going to be alright?” Amy asked slightly concerned for the girl.
“I fought my way through the Wood more then once.” Kris reminded as she straightened up again, “I will not allow anything to keep me from helping my friends.” She explained boldly.
“Good.” Amy nodded, She turned on a small flashlight that she kept in her pocket and shone it around the room.
There was water all over the floor and broken glass scattered about, the sight of which sent Kris’s heart racing in panic. All she could see was the image of Jenn lying on the ground with a shard of glass in her hand and pools of blood spewing forth from her wrists. She quickly glanced around the gloom to make sure none of her sisters were about. The circle of light finally came across Jessica shaking in the corner.
“Jessie!!” Kris carefully moved around the mess until she was at the girl’s side. Jessica seemed to shrink away from Kris as if she did not know who she was, her eyes held a vacant look to them. Kris scanned the girl to see that there was a bottle of rubbing alcohol lying at the girl’s feet and she was rubbing at her arms while rocking in place and mumbling under her breath. Her nails had already ripped away some of the skin from her forearm causing beads of blood to form on her skin and droplets to mix with the water and alcohol at their feet. Kris picked up the bottle and stared at it uneasily.
Amy seemed to know what Kris was thinking, “She would not drink it so do not worry.” She remarked setting her bag on the counter and digging through it.
“Then what did she do?” Kris glanced around the mess, “What was she thinking?” She inquired glancing into her friend’s eyes, which were glazed over and not even aware of their presence.
Amy pulled out a needle and knelt next to Jessica, “She was trying to clean herself.” She stated taking the girl’s arm with no resistance and plunging the needle into her arm, “She sometimes thinks she is dirty and tries to scrub the dirt clean.”
Kris suddenly recalled the girl’s very words in their room. ‘No one could ever love someone as dirty as me.’ She did not understand what Jessica was meaning until now. Her heart stirred as she tried to fathom what could have happened to her friend to cause her to be so troubled.
Amy dropped the needle back in the bag. “Help me get her out of here.” She asked taking one of Jessica’s arms, what ever it was that Amy had given Jessica seemed to be already taking effect because she did not resist as Kris helped Amy carry the girl out of the office and to a couch.
“Is she alright?” Kima asked quietly, noticing that Jessica was drifting off to sleep.
“She will be fine.” Amy replied, gently setting the girl’s head upon the cushions, “She is strong. She has lived this long without anyone and now that she has people who cares for her she will surely get better.” Amy beamed down at Kris.
“Wha?” Kris blushed at what Amy was issuing.
Amy patted Kris on the shoulder; “Jessie has been talking about you since your first appearance. I am glad to see you show the same concern for her. I just hope that Jenn is able to handle the heart break.”
“I could even tell she loves you the moment I met her.” Kima remarked with a smile.
Kris found herself speechless.
“Don’t worry.” Kima stated, “I will not tell anyone.”
Kris lowered her head and gazed upon Jessica’s sleeping face, “What am I to do?” She inquired, unsure of how to handle the situation.
“You’ll think of something.” Amy glanced around the room then at the office, “Maybe I will stick around for a bit. The office needs a cleaning and I should be here when these two wake up.” She explained, “I need to get a crutch for Alyson first, and some more bandages for Jessica, but will be back quickly.” She turned to Kris, “Is that alright with you?”
Kris nodded, not able to take her eyes off of Jessica, “Thank you for everything.” She said gratefully.
“Not a problem.” Amy said with a smiled then quickly raced out of the dorm in search of the things she would need.
*****
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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