by Jill Sanders
“Maybe we should start with who you are?” Mason stepped forward.
Joleen’s mother spared him a glance. “Jenna Martin. As Joleen has already guessed, I’m her mother.”
“I’ve met Joleen’s parents,” Mason said, taking Joleen’s hand in his. Somehow the light touch leveled her.
“I was lucky to find Mary and John Hughes and that they took Joleen in when they did,” Jenna said. “It’s a little difficult to explain. Right now, I bet you’re both hungry. I see you found a change of clothes.” She eyed their new outfits. “It wouldn’t do for the pair of you to run around in your pajamas.”
“Hold on.” Joleen held up her hands. “You. You’re the one who’s been talking to me all these years? How?”
Jenna smiled. “Our world is far more advanced in some areas than the one he comes from.”
“World?” Mason stepped forward. “Mine versus yours?” he asked.
“I’ll explain as we eat,” Jenna said. She turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
Mason stopped Joleen from following the woman into the other room.
“Did you know?” he asked her.
“What? That I’m from a different world and my mother is… that my parents weren’t really my parents?” she said with a sigh. “No, no clue.”
“Hey.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “I’m here for you,” he added gently.
“Thanks.” She leaned up on her toes and ran her lips over his. It felt good just knowing that he was there. It felt right somehow.
They stepped into the kitchen together and another memory surfaced.
Joleen standing on a stool in the kitchen, stirring a bowl of pancake mix. She smiled over at her mother, who was watching her from the kitchen sink.
A loud sound followed by a shock wave caused the young Joleen to fall off the stool. She was crying, her mother holding her as she screamed and the world around them grew black.
“What happened to this place?” she asked, standing in the doorway. It looked just like it had all those years ago, throwing her off.
Jenna glanced over at her. “I’ll explain, in time,” she said with a shake of her head. “Come, sit, eat.” She motioned to the kitchen table.
Her stomach let out a loud growl, and they moved to sit down.
Her mother set a large plate of pancakes in front of them.
“Sorry, I’m all out of bacon and eggs,” she added dryly.
“This looks wonderful,” Mason replied. “Thanks.”
For the first few moments, they all sat in silence as they ate.
Joleen watched her mother and wondered why, up until now, she hadn’t remembered the woman.
“How old was I?” she asked, knowing Jenna would understand the question.
“You were six,” her mother answered, “when the world went dark.”
“What happened?” Mason asked.
“We thought, initially, that it was some sort of attack,” Jenna replied. “My husband…”
“My father? Where is he?” She glanced around, suddenly realizing that she hadn’t even thought about the man. She could now only remember a blond man with kind eyes.
The look on her mother’s face told her instantly that the man was gone.
“He died, shortly after… the darkness came. He was trying to get back to us. I found his car in the field not far from here.”
Joleen felt an overwhelming sadness consume her. Her mother reached out and touched her hand. “He loved you so much. He would have done anything to get back to us.”
Joleen wiped a tear from her face and nodded. “Go on.”
“The abbreviated story is, shortly after the darkness, there was a… way to send you somewhere safe. I chose to send you there, to save you.”
“A way?” Mason asked, leaning forward.
Jenna sighed. “I’ve always had a knack for science, but...” She shook her head. “When all this hit, I was working on a pet project in my lab that would make interdimensional transport possible. I was close to figuring it out. Then the darkness came, and something… changed.” She turned to look at Joleen. “It was as if the darkness was drawn to you. No matter how far I went or how well we hid, it seemed to come after you.”
“What happened to everyone else?” Mason asked.
“Some left, others… didn’t make it.”
“Left?” Joleen asked. “Left to go where?”
Her mother swallowed. “After you left, I found a way… along with several other scientists I’d been working with. We sent them someplace safe.”
“Is that how I ended up with Mary and John?” Joleen asked.
“No.” Jenna shook her head. “No, you had left before we found a way out.”
Joleen shoved her plate away and waited.
“How did she leave then?” Mason asked.
Jenna turned to her. “You left on your own, shortly after he came for you.”
“He?” Mason and Joleen asked at the same time.
“Thanatos.” Her mother wrapped her arms around herself. “He’s the reason for all the destruction here. He’s the reason I’m the only person, the only living thing left on this world.”
“He’s real?” Joleen asked, feeling her heart sink. “He’s… here?” She frowned.
“We were led to believe that he was trapped,” Mason added, looking over at her.
“Trapped?” her mother asked. “Where and by whom?”
“The moon, by a witch and her friends,” Mason said quickly.
Her mother was quiet for a moment. “Come with me.” She stood up and left the room.
Both Joleen and Mason followed her out of the back of the house.
Spot was curled up on the back porch on what looked like a massive dog bed.
“He saved our lives,” Mason said to Jenna.
She smiled down at the animal. “You saved his first. Somehow, the other night, he got… lost.” She turned to Joleen. “You rescued him and sent him back here. Thank you.”
“What is he?” Joleen asked.
“He’s a Mimic,” Jenna answered as if that explained everything.
“A… Mimic?” Joleen asked.
“Are Mimics common around here?” Mason asked.
Jenna chuckled and turned to keep walking towards a large metal garage-like building in the back of the house.
“No, he came before the darkness. Thankfully, he was friendly. Actually, correction, we are the only living things left on this world. I’m the only one originally from here,” she said over her shoulder. “It’s in here.” She opened a steel door to the building. “This was my lab.”
When they stepped inside, Joleen heard Mason gasp, then let out a small sound of appreciation.
“You like?” her mother asked Mason.
“I only wish I had a setup this impressive back at the campus.” Mason walked around the lab. “What is it you said you did?” He turned to look at Jenna.
“This and that. Mainly I studied quantum entanglement.”
“Who do you work for?” Mason asked, walking around the lab.
Joleen was completely lost in the beakers and tubes. She felt out of place and stood against the door, trying not to knock anything over or, as was the case in her high school science class, set anything on fire.
“Used to,” Jenna said with a frown. “GeoTech. It was a local company that… never mind.” She shook her head. “Shortly after the darkness came, everything was relocated here, since the main lab… didn’t survive the initial attacks.”
“Attacks?” Mason asked.
“Thanatos was very thorough in his genocide,” she said dryly. “What he didn’t take care of… the humans filled in the holes.”
“What did you want to show us?” Mason said after the silence.
“It’s in the basement.” She walked through another doorway.
They followed her down a narrow set of stairs and through a couple of thick metal doors.
“How did all of this survive?” Joleen a
sked when they stepped into a long hallway.
“It’s bigger down here,” Mason pointed out.
“Yes,” Jenna answered. “We’re in the tunnels now.” She turned to them. “This is where we hid and how we survived.” She motioned to the thick black walls. “It’s Proxinium. We’ve called it black rain.”
“Proxinium?” Mason stopped and touched the walls of the cave. “Never heard of it.”
“It’s very rare, even for this world. It’s one of the reasons I purchased this place years ago. These caves”—she motioned around her—“had everything to do with my work. It’s why GeoTech built its main facility just outside of town. The area is rich with the mineral.”
“This is what circles the property?” Joleen asked.
“Yes.” Her mother smiled. “My theory is that it’s what drew him to this world. I believe it acts as a tether, somehow, drawing him in, but for some reason, when it’s laid out in a barrier, he can’t seem to cross the line.” She shook her head. “We have survived by sticking close to the property.”
“The darkness,” Mason said, drawing their attention, “we saw it in town. When we first arrived, it was all around me, then Joleen touched me.” He ran his hands over his temple where she’d touched him. “And suddenly it was gone.”
Jenna turned to her. “Is this true? The darkness followed you?”
“I didn’t see the darkness, then or later in town when it came for us. Mason and Spot could see it, though,” she admitted.
“You never could see it,” Jenna said. “Even before…”
“How did I leave? You said earlier that I left before everyone else.”
“The first time you left, I was with you. Back then, you helped me see the different worlds like you did with Mason. I was blinded until you helped me,” Jenna said, opening another metal door that led into a larger room. The place looked like an army base and a summer camp rolled into one.
Joleen assumed that it was some sort of base of operations for the group her mother had mentioned.
There were tons of computer screens along the main wall showing images of the outside from every angle. There were obviously cameras set up on every inch of the property above.
“The second time you returned, I sent you alone.” Her mother turned back to her. “Now, it’s time for you to rest.” She motioned. “You can stay here for tonight.” Jenna stopped just outside a smaller room. “There’s a bathroom for you to shower off, along with fresh clothing, water, and whatever you need.” Her mother motioned around the space. “Make yourselves comfortable.”
Mason glanced at his watch.
“That’s probably off by a few hours,” Jenna said with a nod. “Time is different here.” She smiled. “Sleep, we’ll finish our discussion in the morning. I have to head out for a few things.”
“Wait.” Joleen grabbed her arm. “You’re heading out there? Alone?” Joleen shook her head as fear for her mother spiked.
“It’s okay.” Her mother touched her arm and smiled. “I’ve been doing so for years.” She smiled. “Besides, the Mimic will come with me. He keeps me safe.”
“His name is Spot,” Joleen offered.
Jenna chuckled. “You always did want a pet named Spot.” Her mother touched her face gently.
“Was it really you all these years? Talking to me?” Joleen asked.
“Yes, and I’ll show you how after you get some rest. For now, I need to head out. It’s almost sundown.” Her mother hugged her and, for a moment, she enjoyed being held by the woman who had given up everything for her. “I’ll be back at sunrise.” She turned to Mason. “Make sure she stays inside.” She nodded before turning and leaving.
Her mother shut the heavy metal door, and Joleen heard the distinct click of a lock behind her. She walked over and watched her mother ascend back up from the cave and disappear into the darkness outside.
“So,” Mason said, getting her attention, “that was your mother?”
A burst of laughter escaped her. “Appears so.”
He walked closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I was so busy psychoanalyzing your parents, I didn’t pay any attention to the fact that you looked nothing like them.” He sighed and then placed a kiss on the top of her forehead. “There’s no doubt Jenna is your mother. You two could be sisters.”
She nodded and turned away from the screens.
“There’s a few rooms to choose from.” He motioned to a couple doors. “They are all set up like bunkers, except that one.” He nodded to the door her mother had stopped outside. “It’s got a single queen-sized bed.” He ran his fingers over her face. “Then again, we could both use a shower. You’re covered in dust.”
“So are you.” She reached up and wiped a smudge from his chin.
She felt her knees buckle as he leaned in and kissed her. She may not know what world they were in or how they were going to get home, but she knew that whatever happened, she was very thankful she wasn’t alone.
“Mason.” She whispered his name next to his lips, took his hand in hers, and pulled him into the smaller bedroom. “Please, I need normalcy.”
His smile flashed as he gripped her hips and tugged her against his hard body. When he kissed her, he slowly backed her up until her knees hit the edge of the bed.
“It’s a good thing I grabbed a box of condoms from the store,” he said against her lips.
She chuckled. “They’re probably expired.”
He frowned. “I hadn’t thought of that. They looked okay.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I guess that’s what matters.” She nudged him closer. Whatever happened now, she knew she didn’t want to go without being with him. He was everything she’d dreamed of. Not to mention they had gone through so much together, even if it had all happened in such a short time.
She’d never felt the desire she was feeling for Mason for anyone else. It was almost as if she had known him longer. Like she’d been waiting for him her entire life.
“Are you sure? I mean, we’ve only known…”
She stopped him by placing a finger over his lips.
“What happens off world, stays off world,” she said, and then she leaned up and kissed him.
Chapter Fourteen
Mason couldn’t move fast enough. He hoisted Joleen up into his arms, and she straddled him and continued to kiss him as if the world were ending.
Then again, one look outside, and he knew it already had. His hands moved across her hips, her butt, holding her against his growing desire. He couldn’t remember feeling this… overwhelmed with need before.
Joleen’s hands moved to push his shirt off, then they were falling onto the mattress as he nudged her shirt up over her soft, perfect skin. Bending, he ran his mouth over the flat line of her belly, trailing his mouth up as he exposed more skin. She arched into him, her finger tangled in his hair as he took his time enjoying the tastes of her.
“Mason,” she cried out as he trailed lower to run his tongue over the hem of her jeans.
“More?” he asked with a smile as he undid her jeans and nudged them lower on her hips.
“Please,” she begged.
He freed her from the denim and leaned back to enjoy the view of her long legs. Running his hands over her soft skin, he smiled at her.
“No wonder you were faster than me, long legs,” he said, looking into her eyes. Seeing the heat there, he glanced down at the sexy pair of red underwear. “Did you find these in that store?” he asked.
“You’re killing me.” She groaned and reached for him.
“We have all night.” He dodged her and leaned back just out of reach. “I wonder…” He nudged her shirt up over her head and smiled at the matching bra. “Perfect,” he sighed as he trailed his fingers over her exposed skin.
“Your turn.” She reached for the buckle of his jeans.
“Soon.” He gripped her wrist and held her hands pinned to the bed.
She smiled. “Too bad those sexy
glasses didn’t make it with you,” she purred.
He chuckled. “I found a pair at the store.” He nodded to the bag he’d set just inside the door to the room.
“Mmm,” she moaned. “I’d like to see you in them, like this.” She motioned to his bare chest.
“That might be arranged,” he said with a chuckle. “Right now, I’m enjoying these.” He ran a finger over the red triangle covering her sex. Her eyes closed as she sucked her lush bottom lip into her mouth and bit it between her teeth.
He felt his dick jump at the move and wondered what those lips would feel like wrapped around his cock.
He brushed his finger over the lace, and she arched and squirmed under his touch. He let his finger trail over her slowly until he felt the material grow damp with her want. Only then did he nudge it aside to feel her perfect silky skin underneath.
“Mason,” she moaned. “Please.”
“Soon,” he promised. Leaning down, he ran his lips over her chilled skin. His hand ran higher until he cupped her breasts as his mouth trailed lower. When he dipped his tongue below the red panties, he felt her jerk under him. Her thighs tightened around his shoulders as he dipped his tongue into her heat. Tasting her sweetness on the tip of his tongue, he wondered if he would ever be able to get the taste of her from his mind.
She was like a live wire under his touch, moving slightly with every touch of his. He should have known she would be more desirable than he’d known was possible. When he nudged a finger into her, he marveled at the feeling of heat, of her legs wrapped around his shoulders.
“Mason, I’m going to…”
“Let go,” he begged against her heated skin.
“I…” She moaned and he felt her convulse against his mouth.
He slipped on a condom and then traveled up her body, trailing kisses over her skin until he covered her mouth and slid slowly into her.
When her legs wrapped around his hips, he clasped her hands with his and kissed her as he moved in and out of her, forcing her pleasure to grow again with his own.
“Please,” she begged.
“Joleen,” he sighed as he felt himself on the verge of bursting. “Come with me,” he begged against her lips.
