A/N: Lisa Jane Smith owns the Forbidden Game Trilogy. I do not. I created only this fanfic story.

This chapter was created by:

Artist: Andrew Belle

Song: In My Veins

Chapter Seven: Confessions

  Jenny kept her focus on Tom.

It was as if she were dazed, two figures colliding within vision and sharpening into one. Before her focus swayed to Summer whose wide blue eyes remained dumbstruck on Thomas's presence.

"Summer," she cleared her throat. "I think Tom and I need to be alone." She tried to focus on the steadiness in her voice before attempting to stand, and falling back instantly. "Ah, damn my head."

"Summer... please." came Tom's voice.

Jenny rubbed at her eyes. The onslaught of a headache had formed.

"What? Yeah, right time to l-leave," Summer ended with a hiccup. With her balance off kilter she finally scrambled off the couch and ducked out.

Tom strode over then. With his green-and-gold flecked eyes no longer trained on Jenny he sat down, gazed fixated at the Nikes on his feet.

But the frustration was palpable.

Jenny swayed before righting herself as the sound of Summer's door closed. At least her friend was giving them the courtesy.

"Hooow much did you hear of that?" She grit her teeth as the words slurred, carefully propping her head up with one hand, elbow tucked in the cushions.

"Enough," Tom answered in a stiff tone.

"Hooow much, Tomm?" she pressed.

"All of it."

As Tom kept his eyes averted, Jenny sighed with a roll of her eyes. "Would you please at leeeast look at meee." Hesitant but touching his skin nonetheless, her fingers pressed into the grove of a cheekbone, drawing his attention back to her. "I am here... not there."

As emphasis her eyes flicked to the floor and back at him

Tom sighed and the silence grew.

Jenny knew it wasn't the alcohol evoking the paranoia that crept in. "Tom?"

"Jenny, you are not up to having a conversation right now. I think it's best we talk after you sober up. For now I guess I'll just..." Tom's words trailed off. In a huff he got up and took her and Summer's glasses from the coffee table. "Think I'll go clean up the mess left in the kitchen."

Summer was not known for her tidiness. Jenny just shook her head muttering sarcastically, "How peachy..."

As her eyes closed, she waited for the sound of Tom's return...

The light had shifted to the opposite wall once Jenny awoke. A distinct throb pulsed behind her eyelids.

Wonderful.

She winced, straightening her jaw. "Ugh..."

"And sleeping beauty awakes." Tom reappeared from the kitchen with a cup of iced water in hand.

Jenny took it with a muttered, "Thanks". The cold seemed to revitalize her senses. She stretched her legs out as Tom pulled both feet into his lap. "How long have I been out?"

Tom shrugged. "Two hours or so."

"How's Summer?"

"Out like a light."

"Please tell me you took the bottle from her."

"Yes, whats left of it. Zach called, said he'd check in on her later tonight."

She groaned, hearing the lecture now. "Great. So I'm in for an ear full."

"Possibly."

"And I am about to get one from you."

"No."

"No?"

"I mean, I can't say I'm not slightly irritated." He squeezed her foot and sighed. "I was told you were sick. Then I come to check on you and hear you talking about those godforsaken creatures. Which we promised a long time ago would never be brought up again. Least of all in front of Summer."

Jenny held her hand up to silence him, her patience thinning by the resonant pounding in her skull. "All right, I get it."

"Do you?" Toms shifted a little closer. Reaching out he grasped her hand, his thumb rubbing over the engagement ring given. He sighed. "Then... there's last night. I admit, I didn't sleep well. I couldn't shake this feeling that something was off." Those warm flecked eyes settled on her. "So hearing how you truly feel..."

He exhaled heavily before continuing, "Did I jump the gun? I know now I might've been too hasty at the restaurant. But can you fault a guy for being happy? For wanting to move forward into our future?" His brow furrowed, "But after Summer called I had that gut feeling again, to come check on you. And well, I guess I was initially right."

"Well I did throw up."  Jenny snapped, irked Tom would even entertain the idea she'd faked being ill. "If that is what you're implying. And I think we do need to talk. I did even try to at Ramona's."

Those hazel eyes sought hers then. "Oh." He scratched the back of his neck as it flushed, embarrassed.

Did he really not notice?

"Well, I'm not trying to rile you up or pick a fight with you about it." He squeezed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "Look, Jen, it's taken us awhile to get where we are now and..." He ran a frustrated hand through the cropped locks clearly struggling. "Then I find you here talking about..."

His voice trailed off as he shook his head.

Jenny exhaled. "I'm not trying to get angry or pick fights either. But what I've wanted to say since last night—"

"About Julian right?" He inhaled sharply as if the name itself were a curse. "And the dreams you still have with him. But didn't think to tell me, your fiancé. But you could tell Summer," he interjected.

Great, she told him.

The sheer irritation prickled her voice, "Okay, are you going to let me talk?"

Tom looked down pursing his lips.

He nodded.

"Okay," she sighed exasperatedly. "Tom, from the beginning you flat-out told me you didn't want to know. Especially because of what you of all people went through."

Tom threw up his hands. "You mean watching that sadistic... person or whatever the hell he is, torment you game after game."

"He redeemed himself when he saved us. From stuff you don't want to speak of."

"Gratefulness only extends so far, Jenny. But from what I've gathered about your last dream—"

"The same dream where I remained very loyal to you, as always."

"C'mon, Jen. Look, I get it. I once said I did. Except, we're not kids anymore. I think it would be best for our relationship if you finally cut ties with... Him."

" You understood; you know our history. If this is some jealous—"

"I know of the strange connection between you two, Jenny." Tom removed his hand and bowed his head his elbows resting atop his knees. "I saw it the day he passed, tried to come to terms with it for a time. But... we're growing up and it just doesn't feel right, anymore."

Jenny stared at his hunched-over form, bronze, muscular forearms lined with tension. Guilt gnawed as she witnessed just how much this affected him. "Look" she began softly, "it's you I loved not Julian." Jenny pushed herself over to him, gently placing her hand atop his arm. The balm that often calmed him in the past.

She took a breath, "If I am being truthful, I wasn't prepared for your proposal."

Tom tensed beneath her touch.. In a low voice, he murmured, "Do you realize what you just said?"

Jenny looked at him, genuinely puzzled. "I believe so."

Tom lifted his head, a pain unveiled behind those eyes that cut. "The term loved is used in the past tense. The past."

Jenny's breath caught, "Wait, what—"

Tom shrugged off her hand and stood, his voice hardened. "Do you even want to marry me, Jenny?"

Jenny looked up at him and the way he was regarding her. "Well, I did."

Tom's brow rose, "Did or do?"

"What difference does it make?"

"It makes a huge difference!" His resonated off the four surrounding walls, startling Jenny. She'd never seen him lose his composure in such a way, ever. His hands flew to his head as he squeezed his eyes shut.

It flared Jenny's defensive mechanisms. "What did you expect, Thomas?! You," she pointed sharply, "sprung this at the most inconvenient time!"

"Oh for you?" Tom dragged a hand down his face, exasperated. "We've been dating since grade school, Jenny! Shit, how long do we need?!"

"Things have happened between those years!"

"And it's been finished for how long, now? Julian's not coming back or the other Shadow Men. Yet I find you talking about them, again and this isn't the first time. After one of the most important nights —least to me—of our lives!"

Jenny fingered the ring strung around her neck. She looked down unable to bridge the thoughts racing through her mind. "Oh I'm so sorry for inconveniencing you, Tom!" She smoothed a hand across her forehead before her eyes raised, narrowing. Her lips trembled with betrayal palpable in her voice as she gritted out, "You know I have supported you on everything, everything! If you had even a doubt about the Shadow Men I would stand by you!"

Tom threw his hands up fingers folded over his head tilted to the ceiling, "And here we go again."

"It's what started this fight in the first place." Frustrated tears pricked the corner of her eyes as she stood. "Going to call off the engagement now? Is this the make it-or-break it high school sweethearts have? I'm not ready for a lifetime commitment. How can I when I don't even know what I want to do with the rest of my life?!"

He eyed her, chin tilted away with uncertainty. "Listen to yourself, Jenny. How is this good for your health?"

Jenny bristled as if she'd been slapped across the face. "Are you saying... I'm crazy?"

Tom's tone switched to reasoning as he took a step forward. "Jenny I am just saying—"

But Jenny cut him off with a sharp, "No. Of course you don't believe this, none of it." Jenny backed away, shaking her head in disbelief. "None of this is registering with you."

Tom made to reach out to her. As if thinking better of it he retracted his hands. "As far as the Shadow Men go. Unless Julian is resurrected or we were to mess with the runes again, I don't believe it's possible. No."

"And what if that's what happening?" Jenny persisted. "You always believed me before."

"Jenny, Julian is dead."

"Unless he is resurrected." She enunciated. "Which doesn't leave out others feeling vengeful after what we did."

"Have you taken your medication today?"

"What? Yes!"

"Do you honestly hear yourself?" Tom's voice raised, incredulous. "Dammit to put all your focus on the past instead of our future. Like you'd rather prefer it."

"What?!" That accusation raised Jenny's hackles like none other and she could feel her anger boiling as she shouted, "You take that back right now, THOMAS JAY LOCKE!"

Although it was evident Tom was hurting, he nevertheless backed down. Holding his hands out placative, the sincerity evident. "You're right. Shit, I'm sorry that was out of line. Look," He exhaled a long, shaky breath, "the truth is, I've been holding on for dear life, Jenny. I've been working and saving to build our lives together. I know we're young but I don't care. I know what I want." He pleaded. "And I want us."

"Tom... I... you think I don't want some semblance of normality?" Jenny took a step forward her lip quivering as the anger receded. "How about not having to deal with horrific nightmares, anxiety, and PTSD? That everything I have been through hasn't, somehow, left me irreparably damaged?"

Tom shook his head, his jaw set as he took a step towards her. "You are not crazy, Jen. In the past I was undeserving of you, I know that. Even seeing that trinket around your neck—bothers me. It's like you're holding on to someone who tried to take you away from me."

"Oh, Tom." Jenny looked at him in earnest. "I had my chance and I locked him in a closet, remember?"

"Jenny." Tom blew out a long, tired breath. "Let me... let me just ask this then," Tom swallowed; the uncanny seriousness of his gaze unsettling her. "If, if you were sure right now, would you marry me?"

" Tom, please don't make me answer this right now."

"No, I need this. I'm talking about right here, right now, Jenny Thornton. Committed for life, forever."

"Tom it's not that simple anymore it's—"

"It's a simple answer, Jenny, yes or n—"

"It's what I used to want, okay?! But I don't see that picture-perfect life anymore!" Jenny's voice carried for a moment, her face taut with anxiety.

The silence grew and the tension could've been sliced with a knife.

Slowly, swallowing hard, Jenny met Tom's gaze.

Those eyes were hard and now, guarded. However, his words remained soft-spoken when he spoke again. "From the moment we walked out of your grandfather's basement, I knew something had changed. Yet I fought to get back what we had. And we nearly had it, Jen. Until the earthquake and you went away again. You didn't even try. I guess... my effort alone wasn't enough... not this time. Hell, all I wanted to hear were three simple words."

I love you.

I... I stopped saying it.

Jenny pulled a breath sharply into her lungs as she clutched at her chest. Tears spilled from her forest-green eyes upon his raw confession. It cut through her like a serrated switchblade.

Because he was right.

"T-Then why," she sniffled. "Why stay with me if we're so different now? Why live with that pain any longer?"

The muscle in Tom's jaw twitched, brows furrowed before he said, "Because that's what you do when you love someone. Except you never give up on them..."

Jenny sucked in a breath as her gut twisted, painfully. "Thomas just tell me..." She grasped his hands as a sliver of desperation seeped into her words. "Tell me there's a way to fix this. We were meant for each other. Only to end up what... apart?"

"I honestly don't know anymore." Tom's voice was so quiet Jenny barely heard him. He seemed to stare through her and the resolve she found, scared her. "But this isn't what I pictured. Not like this."

Jenny sniffled again, wiping the excess on the back of her hand. Fighting to regain her composure she cleared her throat and bowed her head. Long ago Jenny had learned honesty was the best policy. "I think... you should take the NFL offer."

Tom nodded seemingly more so to himself.

Before Jenny could retort he fiercely pulled her against him, trembling beneath her hands.

It felt as if a needle had punctured her heart. Fresh tears cascaded down her face.

Always had Tom been her rock. Yet here he was leaning on her. As she breathed in the familiar cologne, many childhood memories flashed behind her eyes.

The needle dug in further.

Slowly, leisurely, Tom pulled away, his eyes rimmed in red. With a raise of his hand, he took ahold of Jenny's. Brushing a soft, forlorn kiss on the back of her knuckles, he slipped the ring off her finger.

Jenny knew it was best not to fight it, nor did she have the strength to. Her eyes fluttered closed as lips pressed gently to her forehead. It lingered there as unspoken words passed between them.

"I love you," Those croaked words would be his last before her eyes opened.

Before he was gone.

In that moment Jenny felt the chapter of Tom and Jenny falling apart at the seams. Through blinding tears Jenny fumbled for the house phone, fingers shaking as she punched in the numbers to Dee's hotel. Withholding her sobs, she was finally put through to her room.

The phone started to ring.

And ring.

Finally, Jenny collapsed to the floor, the cord left dangling off to the side. After the sixth ring, she gave up and trudged to her room. Soon as the door clicked Jenny wilted back to the floor. A strangled sob broke through her lips and she cradled her head in her shaking hands.

For all she'd accomplished never had she felt more incredibly lost. Tears slipped between the cracks of her fingers, a small puddle forming on the hardwood floors. How long she remained there, she didn't know. When her whole body felt spent it was dark in her room.

Puffy-eyed and red-faced, she retired to her bed, exhausted. Moonlight filtered through the curtains of her bedroom window, her necklace glimmering in the silver light. Without second thought Jenny yanked it off and thrust it atop her nightstand. She curled into a ball and faced the wall, wishing this was all but a dream.

But the reality wasn't that kind to her.

"Jenny..." a voice whispered.

Summer must've heard her. But Jenny wasn't in the mood to divulge with Summer about the events just yet. "Summer," she responded groggily, "g-go away, please."

As she felt a lick of cold brush up against her leg, however, Jenny rolled over. "Summer wha...?"

Except her words tapered off once she realized no one was there. Jenny swallowed, shaking her head with a sigh. "Maybe I am going... crazy."

"Jenny..." There it was again.

Where was it coming from?

"Is someone there?" Jenny pulled herself out of bed, looking around as the darkness in her room thickened. The moonlight had disappeared.

Was she still somewhat hung over? Maybe the medication had mixed with the alcohol?

But she'd taken it hours ago.

"Jenny..." The voice was soft, melodious.

Now she knew she'd heard it.

Quickly Jenny snatched up the umbrella propped against her nightstand. Suddenly she felt wide awake as she held it out in front of her. "Show yourself!"

"Jenny..."

The whisper tickled the hairs on the nape of her neck.

Jenny spun around.

She could practically feel breath against her skin. No, something was caressing her skin. "I'm not afraid," she whispered as if to assuage herself. "I'm not afraid."

With sickening horror shadows detached from their surrounding shapes and stretched towards her. A masculine-like figure molded from out of the darkness, hooded as smoky tendrils of darkness curling towards her.

Jenny backed away.

Trembling fingers searched for the doorknob to end this nightmare as her breathing began to accelerate, heartbeat becoming erratic. "No... n-no... n-n-"

"Jenny."

"B-breathe... o-one... t-t—"

Her breathing shallowed. Jenny gasped as ice-cold fingers wrapped around her neck. It  was as if the oxygen became suctioned out of her lungs. Her legs buckled as her eyes rolled upward before she saw no more.

"My, what soft skin you have," he said quietly to himself. His lip curled in mockery, the ancient
folklore spun by those who had met the Shadow Men. Hence how folklore had flourished throughout the ages with parables such as the "Big Bad Wolf" the villain in "The Three Little Pigs".

A bright blue shield dissipated before him, visibly only to his naked eye. A clever safe guard Julian had instilled to keep his precious human safe in death. Now, his hand was able to touch her flesh. Smooth and kissed by the sun. A foolish girl for rejecting such a gifting one could easily meddle with.

His eyes snapped to the gold ring thrown in her fit of torment. "Julian, you fool."

At this, she made a sigh in her sleep.

He glanced back down at her and a smile crooked in mild bemusement. "Yes, dream, Jenny." he cooed. "His shield no longer holds you from us." He pressed the ring to his lips as his breath ignited the rune embellished on the inside.

Unbeknownst to a mortal's naked eye.

It glowed like a bright, fiery ember.

He smirked.

Slipping the ring onto her finger he bowed with a sneer, "The pleasantries won't last long my dear." With a swish of his cloak, he was swallowed into the shadows once more...