Ascend Into Passion

Ascend into Passion by Gillian Ferry

Cobblestone Press www.cobblestone-press.com

Copyright ©2011 by Gillian Ferry First published in 2011 NOTICE: This eBook is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution to any person via email, floppy disk, network, print out, or any other means is a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines and/or imprisonment. This notice overrides the Adobe Reader permissions which are erroneous. This eBook cannot be legally lent or given to others. This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons.

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Ascend into Passion by Gillian Ferry

CONTENTS Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Author Bio ****

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Ascend into Passion Copyright(C) 2011 Gillian Ferry ISBN: 978-1-60088-695-9 Cover Artist: Sable Grey Editor: Jana Hanson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Cobblestone Press, LLC www.cobblestone-press.com ****

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Chapter One Sam sat on the small balcony outside her flat. It was actually quite a cool September day, but she still wore only a T-shirt and cut-off jeans. She was attempting an air of lazy contemplation: her feet up on the rails, beer bottle in hand, large sunglasses perched on her sturdy nose. Yet in actuality, her teeth were chattering slightly, and she had goose bumps on her arms. The reason for this attempt at late summer lounging was currently striding along the street. Sam kept her face turned up to worship the sun, but her eyes were firmly affixed upon Zach. She couldn't help a sigh escaping her lips as she began to mentally undress him. He was at least six foot six, and being five ten herself, she appreciated the extra height. He always wore black trousers and a dark T-shirt covered by a long, black coat. The impression he gave was one of intensity and strength. She could see how broad his shoulders were by his clothing, and she bet there was a fit and toned body underneath. His hair was jet black and swept his shoulders. His eyes were almost as dark, and he seemed to have a constant expression of grim determination upon his strong features. "Hey there," she shouted down to the street. "Lovely evening if you fancy popping..." And then she stopped talking as he'd already entered the building, only giving her the most cursory of glances on the way past. "Arrogant sod," she muttered. "Not worth the effort." Yet even as she told herself this, she was rushing through her flat 5

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in order to catch him on his way upstairs. She'd just opened her door when his bulky frame stepped onto her landing. "Hi, sorry, I don't think you heard me before. I was wondering if you wanted to pop down for a beer?" said Sam while thinking, keep smiling, lean against the doorframe, push your boobs out. A mental list twirled around her brain. "I heard." And he was gone, up the next flight of stairs to his flat. Sam relaxed her coat hanger smile and went back inside. "Am I really that repulsive?" She strode into her room and looked at the woman frowning back in the full-length mirror. Tall, slim. "I run," she argued, pulling her T-shirt up and standing sideways to look at her stomach. "Well, sometimes I do, but it's pretty damn flat." She turned around. "Nice boobs, juicy bot, not bad for twenty-nine." Leaning into the mirror, she studied her face. She decided "strong features" best described them, obviously there but all in proportion. Her hair was dark brown, and she must admit as she ran her hands through it, that it tended to do its own thing. "Yeah, definitely his loss," she muttered, grabbed a sweater, then put the kettle on for a cup of tea. [Back to Table of Contents]

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Chapter Two It was around midnight when Sam was woken from a warm and cozy slumber by scuffling sounds in the flat above. As her body was reluctantly dragged into consciousness, the noises became ever more alarming until eventually the message reached her brain that something was seriously amiss. She sat up in bed, fear fluttering at the edges of her heart. She could hear Zach's voice, loud and angry, and then another sound. It was the latter noise that seeped inside her, chilling her emotions, and causing her body to tremble. Sam reached for her dressing gown and slippers, then jumped as Zach's voice boomed out again, this time accompanied by a sound that reminded her of dogs' nails on a wooden floor. Her mind screamed at her to move, do something, as her fear told her to go back to bed and pretend she could hear nothing. "Sod it," she muttered. Her mobile was on the coffee table. She picked it up and phoned for the police. Once that was done, she immediately disregarded their advice and headed for Zach's apartment. Taking the stairs two at a time, she didn't stop to think until she was standing outside Zach's door, and by then, it was too late. She had to fight for every breath; the air seemed too thin, and atmosphere of evil was overwhelming. She heard Zach's voice once more, not begging for mercy, she realized, but cursing loudly. 7

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She grasped the door handle and turned it. The door was unlocked, and she pushed it open. The air inside was like a blast to her senses; she immediately bent over, her stomach heaving. The smell was like rotten meat, decay, and death. She lifted her head, catching glimpses of something she could not quite focus upon. When she tried to look directly at it, there was nothing there. The only real light in the room seemed to be directed upon Zach's body being pulled through the floor. The scratching noises were his fingernails as he tried to haul himself back out. He looked at Sam, his eyes wild with fury. "Get out!" he screamed at her. Sam shook her head. The whole scenario was impossible; this couldn't be real. Then only his shoulders, arms, and head were left above ground, and even as he shouted at her not to, her feet finally moved, and she lunged across the floor to grab him. Everything went gray. Sam felt like she was drowning inside a vat of marshmallows. She tried to breathe, but all around her seemed soft and suffocating; the only other sensation was a tight grip upon her wrists. Panic overtook her. She began to flail desperately as colors and shades of darkness, flashed in front of her eyes. Her lungs screamed with the need to draw breath, to clear her nostrils and mouth of the wadding that seemed to be choking her. She wasn't sure she would be able to stay conscious for much longer. Just as she thought her head would explode, she was falling through a different sensation, but at least she was 8

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finally able to gasp in great gulps of air. Now colors streamed before her eyes, blurs of purple, pink, green, and yellow. Then she became aware of the noises mixed together into a long and tuneless melody. She wanted to put her hands over her ears, but they wouldn't move. She wondered if the hell she was experiencing would ever end, but as soon as the music stopped, she was assaulted by a range of smells, some sweet but most repulsive, so much so that she began to retch. Once more she plunged back into the cotton wool vat, making her lungs burn yet again. There were only two constants throughout it all: the tightness on her wrists and Zach's voice, faint but persistent, telling her to hold on. Finally, when she thought she could take no more, her body landed in a bone jolting heap on top of Zach. A coughing fit assaulted her, as she shook with emotion, but Zach's hands held her tightly around the waist. She could hear him repeating the same thing over and over again. "You're okay. Don't move. You're okay." He swayed her slightly as if rocking a small child. Eventually her heart slowed to its normal rhythm, and her body stopped convulsing, but as she claimed more control over her physical symptoms, the enormity of the situation hit. Sam looked around. They were seated in a clearing in the middle of a wood. Everything was bleached gray, even the sky glinted with steel-like sheen. It seemed to bathe all beneath it in its color. The clearing was shrouded in black, and the earth a mixture of gravel and soil. The trees had no leaves, forming silhouettes as on a winter landscape. Their 9

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branches seemed to drip down, like blood running out of a wound; they had curled around each other, as if for support, making an impenetrable barrier. There was no sound—no animals, no birds, and not a breath of wind; it was a dead forest. She leaned back in Zach's arms, searching his face, which was devoid of emotion. "I don't understand. What happened? Where are we?" Zach's voice was cold and hard. "I told you to go away. I told you not to help me." Sam replied, "I was just supposed to leave you in the floor? Shit. You were in the floor. How is that possible, and where the hell are we?" She tried to push away from Zach's chest, but he continued to hold her in a viselike grip. "You can let go of me now." She squirmed as she spoke. "No, I can't." "Get your hands off me." "No." "What do you mean 'no'?" "Because if I do, we will die." Sam immediately stopped wriggling and stared at Zach. What the hell did he mean they would die? Confusion flooded her brain. "I don't know what to think. I mean, is this real? And, what do you mean we'll die? Where are we?" "That's a lot of questions." Zach sighed. "You've been dragged into something, Sam, that your brain will struggle to comprehend, but if you sit still, I will explain as best I can. Just listen and accept that what I tell you is the absolute truth. Your life depends upon it." 10

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Sam could only stare at him, momentarily stunned into silence. "Okay. Don't interrupt. I am a maker of worlds—" "You're a what?" His irritated stare silenced her. "I make worlds. I create them for the great and important beings who hire me, then spend my life travelling between them. I created the world we are in now for Carrick, a mystic from another time. Once it was finished, I decided not to give it to him. I hid in your world with the intention of destroying my work. Carrick found me and decided I should enjoy the trappings of my creation." "But what..." Zach again silenced her curiosity with a flat statement. "I'm not answering any questions. It's unfortunate that you are here, but at least with me you have a chance to get out." Sam latched onto his last comment, a sign of hope within the suffocating atmosphere she found herself in. "So we can get out?" "We'll try, yes." "Try? You don't mean we could be stuck here?" She looked around once more, and she felt like her own soul was being stripped of its color already. The whole place was oppressive, the air thick and humid with a strange, cloying sweetness. "We are in a prison, a place for Carrick to put those who oppose him, then watch them perish. There are four levels to this world. We need to survive each level and climb to the next until finally we reach freedom." "But you said Carrick liked to watch them perish." 11

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"It would be extremely unlikely anyone would make it out alive. Watching them try would be Carrick's idea of entertainment." Zach's voice remained blunt and direct. Sam wondered if she was being tested in some way, to see if she would fall apart with the news. "I see." She felt her stomach starting to heave again. "But you designed the prison so you must know how to get out, right?" "I know the dangers, yes. But even so it won't be easy. Plus, I'm disadvantaged by you." "I beg your pardon." Nausea was replaced by outrage. "I'm only here because I risked my neck to try and save yours." Sam pushed at Zach's chest, trying to get out of his grip. "Keep still," he growled at her. Then Sam began to laugh, the irony of the situation hitting her, or perhaps it was hysteria. She'd spent days trying to get the attention of her new neighbor, had dreamed about being held in his strong arms, and here she was, struggling to get away. "I intend to get us both out of here alive. What's so funny?" he asked. Sam could have sworn she saw the twitch of a smile on his lips. "Oh nothing, nothing at all. Just the thought of braving all this in my PJs," she lied. She watched as Zach's gaze moved slowly down her body, across her top which clung to her nipples, and then down her long legs. "I think you look fine," he murmured. Her face flushed. She became acutely aware of the gleam of sweat covering her body. She cleared her throat and concentrated her gaze on his chest, her thumbs gently rubbing back and forth. 12

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"So what's so bad about this level? Why can't we move?" "Hum?" Zach redirected his gaze to her face. "Well, we have to run as fast as we can through the forest until we reach the bog land, then jump into the water. That's very important. Jump into the water, not the land." "Doesn't sound that scary. Why do we have to run?" "Because as soon as we move, the forest will start to come to life. We need to stay ahead of that movement." Sam looked around them at the skeletal trees, their limbs hanging loose. A shiver ran up her body. "What happens if they catch us?" she whispered, almost afraid to hear the answer. "They won't." "But if they do?" Zach sighed. "Their branches are like veins, and they will reach into yours and suck out your blood. Then they'll pluck out your organs and crush your bones to use as nourishment." "Oh," was all she could manage. Zach moved his head closer to hers. "I'm sorry, Sam." His voice, for once, was soft and emotional. Sam felt she had been given a rare glimpse into a side he kept carefully hidden. She breathed in the smell of him, raw and powerful. "Thank you," she said. "Are you ready?" Sam took a deep breath, doing nothing was clearly not an option. "Let's go," she stated. She was not going to fail at the first hurdle. Zach nodded at her, his own expression equally set. 13

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"I'll count to three, and then we run. That way—" he pointed in a direction which looked no different to Sam than the others "—and we keep running till we get to water. One... two..." Zach held Sam around the waist and steadied himself. "Three!" It came out as a yell as he pushed Sam to her feet, then jumped up beside her, grabbed her hand, and pulled her in the direction of their proposed flight. They threw themselves into the trees. Zach let go of Sam's hand to run. "Sam?" "Behind you. Keep going," she screamed. She heard noises at her heels, like the sound of seaweed being slapped against a rock. "Don't look back," Zach yelled, but it was too late. Sam had already looked over her shoulder. The trees were moving—or at least their branches were. Needle-like fangs protruded from their tips. Whenever the limbs touched, liquid squirted from them. Their color had changed, too. Their trunks had become almost translucent, revealing veins running through them. "Oh shit." Sam heaved. Her breath was shallow. Just run, just run, she repeated to herself. Don't think—run. She carried on, but the forest was becoming more difficult to navigate. Again she was reminded of seaweed as the wet and clammy branches stung her body and face. She stumbled as they obstructed her vision of the forest floor. Then she lost sight of Zach, and panic threatened to overtake her. "Zach?" It came out like a desperate sob. "Sam, keep running. Follow my voice." And he began to yell, a long and constant battle charge. Tears streamed down 14

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Sam's face. Zach's voice faded in and out as she tried to force herself onward, the noise of the trees seemed almost overwhelming. "Come on. You're nearly there." "I will not die here," she sobbed to herself. But her tears and the branches were making it increasingly difficult to see. Just when she thought they were thinning out, she caught her foot on something and crashed to the rough ground. "Zach," she screamed. She scrambled backward, kicking at the fangs as they tried to latch onto her. Then she was flailing her arms around wildly as branches lunged down from above. She felt a scratch where the fangs caught hold of her skin. She screamed and began swatting at them; it made no difference. In the end, she had to wrench them from her skin, their hold like that of leeches, but even as she removed one or two, others joined in. "Zach," she yelled once more. "I'm here." He crashed through the foliage in front of her, whipped a knife from the band of his jeans, and began slashing at the branches. Blood sprayed everywhere, and the trees themselves seemed to momentarily recoil. Zach hoisted Sam into his arms and charged his way toward reprieve, throwing them into the water of the marsh. Four levels of this? I can't do it. I just can't." She mumbled, her body numb with shock. "Yes, you can, Sam," Zach's voice was stern with no room for hysterics. It had its effect, and Sam nodded. She struggled but eventually managed to get her emotions under control. 15

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"Besides." Zach smiled. "You're doing okay." Sam eased herself around, unwilling to leave the warmth of Zach's arms but curious as to what lay ahead. It was, as Zach said, a marshland, and it seemed to go on forever. It was still bathed in the same gray light, with black paths of water interrupted by dirty mounds of earth. "Why are we standing in the—oh damn!" Sam looked down and again grabbed hold of Zach. They were standing in less than an inch of water, a hard clear divide between them and the swirling mass of black matter below it. "Are there things living down there?" she whispered. "There could be," Zach conceded, "but they can't break the surface." "What do you mean there could be? Don't you know?" "Once a world is created, it becomes a living, breathing organism. It evolves in its own way. I have no control over that. We need to move. Come on." He turned his back on her, ready to proceed. She laid a hand upon it, causing him to hesitate. "Thank you for coming back for me, Zach." He looked over his shoulder at her, his gaze travelling slowly from her toes to her face. "We get out of here together, Sam." And he held his hand out behind him. Sam moved until she was little more than a few inches away from him; then she took hold of it. In that moment, the silence seemed immense, enveloping them. He squeezed her hand, and she felt his strength. "Yes," she replied, "we do." [Back to Table of Contents] 16

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Chapter Three Sam thought herself ridiculous. Here she was trapped in some nightmare world with no guarantee of escape, and all she could focus upon was her hand in Zach's. She wondered what it would be like to feel his hands upon her body. She imagined them running down her back, caressing her nipples, pushing inside of her. She felt herself grow warm with the notion, and a tingle of desire began to build in the pit of her stomach and pussy. Then Zach yanked at her arm, almost ripping it from its socket. "Damn it, Sam, be careful. You almost touched the soil there. Remember to stay in the water. The land is so full of acid, it would burn away any part of you." "I was...I am...Okay, sorry." She cleared her throat. "How much farther?" "Couple of hours maybe. Can you see the slight rise on the horizon? That's where we are headed." Sam couldn't see any break in the landscape at all but nodded and kept plodding on. Fatigue dragged at her legs, the previous adrenaline rush leaving her emotionally and physically exhausted. She gripped Zach even tighter. "There's something down there." Sam had seen a flash of something just below the surface. "They can't reach you. Don't look down," Zach ordered. Sam pulled her hand away from his, began shuffling round in a circle, and saw yet another flash of white from the murky depths. She crouched down in the inch-high water above the 17

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divide as Zach urged her back to her feet. While he did so, something hurtled toward them. Sam shrieked, jumping back from the surface. It looked like flesh that had been too long in the water. It was more gray than white and bloated from the marsh. It had very short, stumpy legs on one end with large flipper-type fins protruding from them at odd angles. At the opposite end, there was a large extended jaw filled with sharp teeth. Again Zach grabbed her to stop her from touching land. "What the hell is that?" Sam's body shook as her gaze refused to be pulled away from the depths. Another creature darted up, bumping its body against whatever separated it from them. Sam could feel the vibration in her feet. She started to jerk her body around trying to get away from the spot of contact, but the first form had been joined by many others. Some had turned on each other and were using their fleshy jaws to try and rip the others apart. "Sam, Sam, calm down." Zach had tight hold of her, but she wanted to escape him now. "Please be careful. You mustn't touch the bog land." She heard Zach's voice without registering what he was saying. "Let go, get off me. This is not my fight. Maybe Carrick will let me go." Another creature, then another threw itself against the seal. With each blow, Sam could feel anxiety gripping her throat. "I can't do this. This is not my world. It's a nightmare. Maybe I'll wake up. Yes, that's it. I'll wake up." "Sam, just stop and listen to me," Zach urged. She turned on him, squirming to be free, kicking at him. "Damn it, Sam, stop." 18

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She felt the sting of his hand across her face and froze in shock; then he hauled her onto his shoulder and started marching across the marsh. Sam looked down as she fought to regain control, but she could still see those creatures even if she could no longer feel the vibration of their bodies against the divide. "Close your eyes," Zach spoke to her in a voice that did not encourage any further outbursts. It was twenty minutes before she dared speak again. "I'm okay. You can put me down now." Her voice as steady as she could make it. "You sure?" "Yes," she said with more certainty than she felt. As her feet went back into the water, Sam felt a shudder of apprehension rush through her body, but she was determined to finish the rest on foot. "You're doing really well, Sam. This can't be easy, but I will not let anything happen to you." He moved a stray piece of hair from across her face and tucked it behind her ear. Sam looked up at him, hardly daring to breathe as he brushed his lips across hers and whispered, "Well done." Then his lips nibbled their way down to her neck. Despite everything, Sam couldn't help a groan escaping from her mouth. She leaned into him as his hands slipped beneath her top and brushed across her stomach. A sound like snapping plastic startled Sam and hauled her back to reality. One of the creatures had broken through. Sam wondered if she would ever stop running from the never ending barrage of horror this world could supply. 19

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"I thought you said that couldn't happen," Sam yelled. "They evolve!" The creatures seemed to be attacking the seal with their teeth, then throwing themselves onto the surface. They looked even more repulsive away from the depths in which they lived, using their deformed legs to push themselves along. The cracks in the seal were spreading, and more and more were appearing above the divide. "They can't see. They don't have eyes. Keep away from the jaws and kick them back," Zach ordered. The creatures tracked Sam and Zach via the vibrations of their feet, but as more creatures came up, their senses became confused. They turned upon each other, biting and ripping; the stench was horrendous, rotten flesh and excrement combined. Zach attacked any creatures in their way as Sam kept a fearful eye over her shoulder. One pushed itself toward them. Sam rounded on it and kicked it in the side. It flew several meters away and in doing so, regurgitated the contents of its stomach. Limbs from another of its kind were strewn across the land. It was only adrenaline and fear that stopped Sam from heaving on the spot. "We're nearly at the rocks. They can't hurt us there. Come on," Zach shouted, grabbing Sam and almost throwing her in front of him toward safety. "Just keep going. I'll hold them." Sam launched herself at the rocky sanctuary and had just made it when she heard a great crack behind her followed by a large splash. She turned. She couldn't see Zach. Panic swept through her. 20

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"Zach! Zach!" Tears streamed from her eyes. She ran back to the crack in the seal just as Zach surfaced. He tried to haul himself out, but his hands kept slipping back. Sam grabbed the waistband of his jeans and pulled as hard as she could. Then she caught sight of a creature darting up from below. "Zach, hurry." He was almost out as it charged for his lower leg. Sam steadied herself, then reached down into the water, catching the thing on the top of its body. As it was deflected from Zach, she grabbed it and threw it out of the water, hitting several others who were closing in on them from behind. Then it was her turn to shove Zach to the safety of the rocks. Once there, she continued climbing until finally she collapsed beside him on a rocky outcrop. Her breasts heaved in her top as she panted with exhaustion. "Thank you," Zach said, his words coming in great gulps. "We get out together, remember?" Sam replied as she reached for his hand and held on tight. "Yeah, we do." Sam could have quite happily laid as she was for a while, but Zach wanted to press on. There was still a fair way to climb, and it was by no means an easy ascent. She lost her footing several times, grazing her legs on sharp edges. She was relieved when the ground finally leveled out to reveal a large cavernous space with a waterfall at one end. She ran straight over and drank greedily from the water and then stood beneath it to wash away the stench of the day. Zach soon joined her. 21

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"Over there is the doorway to the next world, but first we need to rest, prepare ourselves for what is to come." Until that point, Sam hadn't realized how gut wrenchingly tired she was. Her whole body seemed devoid of energy, and she simply sank down onto the stone floor. Zach came and sat down beside her. "Tired?" He smiled. Sam had noticed that although he was a man of few words, his tone toward her had definitely softened. "Yeah." She sighed. "You?" He nodded. "You've coped well." He moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders; she could feel the warmth from his touch. He began to massage them, running his fingers up her spine and then into her hair. They felt wonderful on her scalp, and she leaned back into him, sighing with pleasure. "Nice?" he asked. "Oh yeah," she replied. His hands moved back to her shoulders, down her spine, and across her lower back. Sam wriggled against him. The sensation of his touch was divine, but she wanted to feel it on her breasts. Her breathing slowed and deepened as she relaxed into his touch. Finally Zach pushed his hands beneath her top and rubbed them softly across her skin. Sam cradled her head on his shoulder as she let out a soft moan. His fingertips brushed against her breasts. Her pajama top was pulled over her head and discarded on the floor. "You have beautiful breasts, Sam," he whispered in her ear as he placed soft kisses along her neck and shoulder. "And I think this will be my favorite 22

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place." His fingertips rubbed across her nipples causing her to groan once more. Then he ran his tongue along the length of her neck and shoulder blades. "But you know what's even better than having your nipples in my fingers? Having them in my mouth. I want to lick you, Sam, I want to lick and suck and kiss your whole body until this place has been removed from it. Can I do that?" "Oh god, yes," she sighed, her want painful, her pussy soaking wet. He turned her and laid her on her back. "Wait." He pulled off his T-shirt and laid it underneath her body, and then he took off his jeans and rolled them up for a pillow. Sam reached out for him, smoothing her hands over his firm, well-defined torso as his mouth met hers. It was such a sweet, slow, and languid kiss, as if they had all the time in the world and were not trapped in some hellish nightmare. His tongue was gentle, almost hesitant as it swept around her mouth, playfully joining with hers. Then he kissed her eyes, nose, cheeks, and chin before licking his way down her neck. His tongue traced her jawline and was then followed by his lips. They moved slowly down, stopping at her breasts. Sam arched her back, pushing herself toward him as he lowered his head and kissed each nipple gently. She slid her hands along his shoulders and into his hair while he ran his tongue around each tip. Finally he took one into his mouth. She writhed in pleasure as he sucked and nipped at her breasts. He spent a long time enjoying her texture and taste before his fingers ran down beneath her shorts. Sam gasped when his hand cupped her pussy. At first he did nothing but tease 23

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it, causing her to move her hips. She wanted to feel his fingers. Slowly, he parted her sex and pushed his fingers inside, stroking her G-spot. Darts of pleasure fired inside Sam's body, and she moved her hips faster, wanting more of it. His lips kissed their way down her body as his fingers slid out and pulled off her shorts. Her eyes were closed and her head back, heavy with desire. Her nipples were flushed, dark pink in color, and her hips moved invitingly, her legs parting in a silent plea. He ran his tongue up the inside of her thigh, then slipped it between her folds. He licked along her pussy and focused upon her clit, circling and flicking it with his tongue. Sam could feel pleasure building inside of her, and she strove toward release. When she came, her orgasm flushed through her whole body, filling her with calm and well-being. She reached for him and pushed his underwear away; his penis slid inside her open and inviting warmth. His mouth found hers again, a little more forcefully this time. She wrapped her legs around his waist and urged him toward his own release. It wasn't long before she felt him empty into her, groaning with fulfillment. Exhausted, Sam curled onto his stomach as he lay on his side, a protective arm around her waist. [Back to Table of Contents]

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Chapter Four Zach looked at Sam's face a little longer before he woke her with a kiss. She smiled as if awaken from a peaceful slumber in a comfortable bed and stroked a finger along his brow, down his nose, and across his lips. Zach caught her hand, then placed soft kisses on her palm. He too was looking closely, his eyes fixed on Sam's face. She'd gotten under his skin, started to break down the barriers that encased his soul, and he wasn't sure how. She had a casual attractiveness that she seemed completely unaware of and was extremely sexual and sensual, but he thought it was her spirit that drew him toward her. She'd accepted the situation—sure, she'd had a few tears—but overall she'd shown resilience and fortitude. He sensed he may have found someone he could let into his crazy existence and trust her to stick by him. He'd only made that assumption once before, and it had not ended well. Anger and sadness threatened to overwhelm him at the thought. "We need to go," he stated and started to turn away from her. "Hey." As he turned back to her, she placed her lips on his. It was a kiss that only lasted a second, but it was tender and reassuring. "Okay. Now we'll go." They dressed quickly; Sam didn't have a great deal to put on. She grimaced as she stepped back into her PJs once more. 25

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"In the next level, we'll be able to shower, maybe get you some other clothes," Zach said. Sam assumed he'd seen the distaste with which she had dressed. "Doesn't sound too bad. What's the catch?" Zach sighed. "If somehow a prisoner had survived this world, what sort of things would he really want in the next?" "In an ideal world, not a scary prison world?" "Yep." "I don't know. Err, I guess clean clothes and a shower as you said. Food, water, a normal environment, somewhere warm, cozy and safe to sleep?" "Right. You can get all of those things there. Except once you lay your head down to sleep, you condemn yourself to death. The whole of the next level is geared toward making you want to do just that. It will take us two days to cross it, and during that time, we must stay awake. You nod off for so much as a second, and you're gone." Sam became silent as they climbed the stairs, apprehension at the unknown crowding in on her. She had resisted the urge to beg Zach to let them stay in the relative safety of the cave for a little longer. She knew that was not really an option, however attractive the proposition seemed. The first thing that struck her as they emerged from the cave onto the next stage was the color. She had to shade her eyes to its brightness having become used to the monochrome of the previous level. It was like a cartoon world; all the colors were ultra bright and cheery. It reminded Sam of The Wizard of Oz. The grass was extraordinarily green, the sky clear blue, the sun a perfect, shining globe. In 26

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fact, the whole thing was perfect. Every flower had the same amount of petals and was in full bloom. The trees had ripe fruit hanging from their branches, their shape just how you would draw them as a child. The apples were round and ruby red with a single leaf on top. Peaches and nectarines looked juicy and moist. Sam's mouth started to water. "Can we eat the fruit?" she asked. Zach frowned. "I'm not sure." He picked an apple, ran his fingers over its skin, then held it to his nose. "Well?" Sam urged, her stomach growling with hunger. Zach shrugged and took a bite. She immediately grabbed his arm. "Zach, are you okay? How do you feel?" "Horny as hell but otherwise okay." She slapped him on the stomach and took a bite from the offered apple. "Oh my." Sam groaned. "I have never tasted an apple like that before." She groaned again as she took another bite, juice running down her chin. Zach took her face in his hands and bent down, licking the juice from her skin, then kissing her hard on the mouth. "You taste gorgeous," he whispered. "These apples taste gorgeous, you mean." Juice and apple transferred from one mouth to the other as their tongues went deeper and deeper. Zach pulled her over to the peach tree, pressing her against the bark. Sam raised her head as he lowered the fruit to her mouth; she was already groaning and rubbing herself up against his leg. She had one hand beneath his shirt, massaging his chest, the other stroking the bulge in his jeans. 27

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Zach teased her with the fruit. She reached, trying to lick the soft, furry skin. His hand cupped her chin, and his fingers ran along her lips, playing with her tongue. He fed her the peach. She sank her teeth into it and moaned. She unfastened his zipper and her hand reached inside his trousers to grasp his cock. Zach gasped, smearing the juice from the peach beneath her top. His mouth met hers once more, feeding from her, taking the peach into his own. He pulled the remaining fruit apart in his hands, giving one half to Sam. Pulling off her top, he used the other half to rub round and round her breasts; then he bent to lick it up. Sam thought she was going insane, her want was so intense. The fruit was intoxicating. She yearned for Zach's tongue and mouth, wanted to feel him inside her. She fumbled for his button, pushing down his jeans for Zach to kick to one side; then she did the same with her shorts. He thrust into her as she stood back up against the tree, their mouths fighting each others in their lust, digging her nails into his back as she held onto his body. "Oh, harder," she gasped. He moved faster. Sam encouraged him. If she didn't come soon, her body would not withstand the bolts of pleasure thundering through her. She could feel her climax building around the edges of her pussy, and she could sense the tension in Zach's body as he fought to hold on. "Just a little...a little..." She cried. "Oh." Her body convulsed with sensation as her climax flushed through her. Just as she came, she felt Zach let go. 28

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They held onto each other, chests heaving, their bodies still shuddering with the power of their orgasms. Zach kissed her forehead and stroked her back. Sam felt drained and weak. They were startled out of their embrace by a polite cough. Zach reached for his jeans and hurriedly put them on, then placed himself between Sam and the interloper. Looking over his shoulder, Sam had no idea what to make of the thing that stood before her. "What is that?" Zach frowned. "That is a servitron." "Correct, sir." It spoke in a warm, melodic voice. After the horror of the level they had just escaped from, Sam had not known what to expect, and she certainly would not have dreamed up the thing that stood before her now. It was shaped like a bowling pin; the fat part of its body was covered in swirling patterns of yellow and orange, and it rested on a wheel that accounted for its swift movement. Its face was drawn upon the thin part of the skittle. It reminded Sam of a cherub's face as it was indeed very childlike in design. "Would you like to follow me, and I'll show you somewhere you can rest and recuperate." Again the sweet flowing voice, although the lips on the face did not move as the whole body seemed solid in design. "That would be fine. Lead on," Zach answered warily. Sam could sense the tension in his body. It travelled from him into her as she felt her own muscles tense in readiness. "We don't have far to go," the servitron stated, and as they made to follow it on the impossibly orange path, they 29

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noticed a building straight in front of them. It was like a sugar frosted house, all pale greens and blues, with no hard edges or defined lines. Everything flowed from one section into the next. Sam whistled. "Wow. I wonder if you can eat it." The servitron led them into a large welcoming area with calming colors and serene music and a faint hint of lavender hanging in the air. "Please, go upstairs and freshen up. Your room is ready." "Come on." Zach took Sam's hand and led her up the stairs. "How can our room be ready?" Sam asked. "I don't know, but I need a shower. Then we eat, drink, and leave. Hopefully." "Hopefully?" "Yeah, hopefully. I'm not quite sure how this is going to play out yet." They opened the door of a large bedroom, and Sam just stopped and stared. This really was a cartoon world. The room was huge and bathed in the most beautiful golden light. The carpet reflected the color, and as Sam let her feet sink into it, she felt like each step was a massage to her aching soles. The far wall was made of glass. In the middle were two huge doors leading out onto a balcony where a large, freestanding bath stood, filled to the brim and ready to be lounged in. Another wall was taken up by a huge white sofa that looked like it was made from cotton wool. But the room was dominated by a bed, large and luxuriously dressed in white and pale gold. 30

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"Wow—" Sam walked further into the room "—wow." She couldn't think of anything else to say; she was mesmerized by the place. She wanted to lie in the bath, then lay her head down on that wonderful bed and feel her body eased of its stress and worry. "Sam. Sam," Zach's voice pulled her back to reality. "Maybe we should leave now. You can't be taken in by this place. Remember their goal is to lull you into sleep and then oblivion." "Please, Zach, let's stay a little. I'll concentrate, I promise. I really need to get cleaned up and try and find some new clothes." Even as she thought it, she noticed a wardrobe she was sure had not been there before. Opening the doors, she grinned with happiness, running her hands along the soft, inviting items. Zach caught hold of her hand and pulled her away just as she was breathing in their fresh, clean smell. "Am I going to have to pick you up and carry you out to get cleaned?" A wicked smile played across his lips. She smiled back, jumping up into his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist. "Yes please," she whispered. She tongued around his ear, then bit at his lobe. He carried her out to the balcony and stood them both, still fully dressed, under the shower; it started immediately at just the right temperature. "Who thought water would feel so good," she murmured. As he lowered her down and stripped off her clothes. She was quick to reciprocate, then reach for the soap. She lathered it 31

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over his body, feeling his muscles beneath her touch. He crouched so she could wash his hair. She smiled as she ran her fingers across his scalp. "Your turn." He reached for the soap. Sam felt like a cat as she stretched her body into Zach's touch, arching her back as he rubbed the suds over her breasts and stomach. It was divine. She leaned back, resting her head on his chest as he washed her hair, and then he parted her legs in order to rub slowly between them. She felt warm and cherished. The shower stopped, and a warm breeze drifted over their bodies. Sam turned into Zach's arms. A deep sigh flowed from her lips. She moved her hands to his chest, feeling its strength, and then she kissed it, letting her fingers brush around his nipples. She moved her mouth over them, covering them, licking and biting. Zach groaned as his hands found their way to her hair. Her lips moved down across his stomach while her fingertips traced up the inside of his thigh, cupping his testicles in her hand. She felt his body shudder with pleasure so she followed with her tongue, licking at his balls. She wanted him so much, wanted to make him happy. She finally took his penis into her mouth. Her hand and lips worked rhythmically together. She moved faster as she felt his body's urgency, taking him as deep as she could, sucking, licking until he came. His whole body shuddered. "Come on." Her voice was low, husky. He let her take him by the hand and lead him into the bath. Then she sat at the opposite end. Sam felt the water sooth her, the oils further relaxed her senses. She felt languid, her body enveloped in a slow, burning sensuality. 32

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"Sam, I think we should get out," Zach stated, but with little effect. Sam was groaning, her head back, her hands rubbing over her breasts. "I want you to see how you make me feel, Zach," she murmured, her body gyrating in the water. "How I love your mouth on my breasts, on my nipples." She ran her fingers around their tips, pinching the ends. Another moan escaped her lips. "But most of all, I love you here." One hand slid under the water as she let out a gasp of pleasure. "Why do you love me there?" "Because you make me so wet, so excited," she murmured. Sam pushed her fingers deep inside her body. Her other hand trailed down to join in, both hands circling her clitoris. "Let me see." Sam stood up. Stepping over the side, she lay down on the floor, her legs braced on the rim, her body open to him. "God, you're beautiful." Zach reached for her foot, massaged her arch, and sucked on her toes. She was moving her hips faster as her fingers rubbed harder around and into her body. Sam could feel her orgasm building in intensity until finally it washed over her, and she was left struggling for air, her eyes wide, staring straight into Zach's. "Come here." His voice was full of emotion. She stepped back into the bath, still at just the right temperature, and laid against him as he kissed her. Finally she sighed. "I want to stay just like this forever." She snuggled into him, closing her eyes. "Sam." He shook her hard. 33

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"What?" Her voice still lazy with the desire for sleep. "Get out of the tub." He pulled her out and marched her around the room until she was alert. "Christ, I was nearly under myself." "Damn, I can't believe we could survive the last level and almost die here in cartoonville," she exclaimed, shaking the last of the sleep from her body. "This is just as dangerous, and I let us get sucked in. Let's get ready, get some food, and hit the trail." She could see Zach was annoyed at himself. Perhaps that would keep him alert, she thought, because she was doing a lousy job herself. Ten minutes later, they were walking away from the house, Sam more comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt. They each had a rucksack stuffed with food and anything else they could take without the servitrons seeing. They had managed to persuade them they were going for a walk and a picnic before finding another house to settle in for the night. Zach set a hard pace, but Sam could keep up easily enough. Zach started whittling sticks into sharp spears, tying them to the top of his rucksack. Sam tried, but the knives from the house weren't sharp enough. "We'll eat on the go," Zach stated. "We need to keep moving." Sam struggled to keep up at times, especially when crossing fields of chamomile, which invited her to lie down and sleep in their hazy scent. Moments later, she had stopped walking once more. "Oh my. Zach, look at that." The sky was resplendent with the most glorious sunset. 34

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"It's not real. Remember that. It's just there to illicit a reaction from us." "I know. But it's still lovely." And in no time at all, she was looking at a crystal clear sky, full of a thousand stars and a moon that was bright enough to walk by on a warm and quiet evening. Zach interrupted her state of bliss. "We'll stop for a moment." Sam nodded in gratitude. A chance to finally rest her weary limbs. "Zach?" "Yes?" She saw him scan the horizon, eyes constantly on the move. "How could you create something as terrifying as this? Why would you?" His head snapped to the right, and he was instantly on his feet, pacing in front of her. "I think I have a right to know as I may not get out." He immediately turned, grabbing her arms. "You will get out. I will not let you die here." His voice was intense, full of emotion. Then he turned and continued walking, his head down. Sam had to run to catch up. "I fell in love, or at least I thought I did." "Oh," was all she replied. "She was a creator, like me. I mean, I'd had plenty of relationships before but nobody who understood, who shared my worlds like she did. She seemed to compliment my every mood, my every whim. I was completely intoxicated by her. Then one day, she was captured by Carrick. He threatened to kill her if I did not make this prison for him. It took me six 35

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months to complete, and every week he would send me a message, urging me on. Sometimes it was just the sound of Nadia screaming." He stood silent for a moment. Sam came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It's okay. I understand." "No, Sam—" he pulled away from her once more "—you don't. I finished early, and I wasn't convinced that Carrick would keep his promise to let Nadia go, so I travelled to his fortress in the North. I was hoping to free her without having to hand over my creation. When I got there, I found out she was a mystic, like Carrick. In fact, she was his mistress. She'd played to my ego, molded herself to my every whim to create my perfect soul mate. I've been travelling in and out of different worlds for a year, trying to stay undetected long enough to unassemble this place." "It's not over. You'll still get your chance to do that." He gave her a resigned smile. "You think?" "I think," she replied, moving back into his arms and standing on tiptoes until he lowered his mouth to meet hers in a tender kiss. "Will you be requiring a bed for the night? Sir, madam?" Zach pushed Sam behind him as he faced the servitron. "No," Zach replied, "not yet. We're going to enjoy the night sky for a while." He pulled Sam alongside him at a brisk pace. "But sir, you must be tired." "Not really." "How about you, madam? Can't you feel yourself getting sleepy?" "Now he mentions it, I am a little tired." Sam yawned. 36

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"Sam, keep moving," Zach barked at her, shaking her arms. "Yes, madam, you're very sleepy. Your eyes are getting heavy. You can hardly keep them open." "Shut up," Zach shouted. "Sam, you are not tired." But her head was already starting to loll. "Yes, madam, very—" Zach threw all his weight at the servitron, unbalancing it. But it just wobbled around on its base and stood back up. "Sleepy..." Sam had fallen to the floor. The jolt had revived her a bit, but she was still in danger of going under. She saw Zach pull one of his spears from the rucksack, and as the servitron made its way to her, he stuck the piece of wood in its wheel, making it swing back and forth like a pendulum. Zach grabbed her arm, half carrying half dragging her away from the machine. Its voice continued in the night. "Very sleepy..." On and on, Sam plodded as Zach told stories of other worlds he'd visited and his role as a creator. He asked her about life back home, and she bemoaned her misfortune in love and told of the joys of working in an accountant firm when what she really wanted to do was travel. Zach kept the conversation going until night turned back into day with an equally spectacular sunrise. "Why do I feel so rough?" Sam asked. "I've stayed up plenty of nights before and gone on to do a full day's work, but at the moment, I'm having trouble even talking." 37

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"It's this place. It's the air, the colors, the warmth, everything." "It is...yeah." "You're slurring." "I swear, I'm so tired my mouth doesn't want to open properly." "Good morning, sir, Madam. Can I interest you in some breakfast?" "Where the hell do these things pop up from?" She stopped as fresh coffee and warm toast hit her nostrils. She reached for a mug. "Sam, don't. Just keep moving." "Surely sir would like a cup?" "No, sir wouldn't," Zach stated firmly, knocking the tray from two long levers extending out from its body. The action made Sam jump. "Zach, really I..." But Zach was backing away. "Let's go." Sam followed his line of sight to the servitron. The swirls on its body, previously such calming colors, were changing to blacks and purples, but its face chilled her the most. The cherub's grin was being replaced by a down turned mouth full of jagged sharp teeth. Its eyes were black, and harsh zigzag-like eyebrows struck out from their corners. "Oh my." Sam broke into a run behind Zach. "I don't think the servitrons are our friends anymore." "Looks that way. We must be closer to the cave than I thought. They're getting worried we may get away." "Why did you knock the tray out of its arms?" 38

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"If you wanted someone to go to sleep, would you give them coffee?" "You think it was drugged?" "Like I said, I think they're starting to get desperate." After another few hours of stumbling through chamomile fields, Sam had to stop. "Two minutes, please." She had sung tuneless and nonsensical songs to keep herself awake for the last few miles, but now she knew she was ready to crash and burn. She was so tired she didn't even care about the consequences if she did. "Can't," Sam continued, "can't, might not...can't, don't know if I can." "You can." Zach swayed in front of her. He took out a canteen and what little was left of their water and poured over it her head. "Can." Then Sam saw him frown, and she followed his gaze to the horizon. "What is it?" "Don't know. It's...can't see quite but... Shit! Servitrons, lots of them. Leave the bags! Go!" Sam felt her adrenaline start to flow just enough to get her into a jog, but she knew it wouldn't last. Zach had hold of her hand; he was only moving slightly faster than she was. "I can see the cave. It's not far." She pushed, ordered her legs to move, but it felt like she was trying to run up an impossibly steep incline. "Come on. They will not catch us now." Zach's voice thundered in her head. She knew he was right, and she knew 39

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it was important; she just couldn't quite remember why anymore. Stumbling, her leg give way beneath her. "Sam, what is it? Damn." She had a dart sticking out of her calf. "The servitrons are shooting tranquilizers at us. Sam, don't go to sleep, baby, please. We're nearly there." She could hear the desperation in his voice. "Let's sing a rhyme. 'Mary Had a Little Lamb.'" For the second time since they'd entered this place, Zach slapped her across the face, "Come on." "Mary...Mary...had...little...lamb." "That's it." Her legs felt like jelly and were struggling to take her weight. "Ouch, shit." She heard him shout. She tried to ask him what was wrong, but her tongue felt too big inside her head. "Its fleece..." she continued. "Was white," he encouraged, but Sam could tell by his voice that he too was now fighting sleep. He cried out once more, and they both stumbled to the ground. Only then did she see the darts sticking out of his body. "Oh," she groaned, rolling onto her back. "As snow..." She was forcing the words out now. Zach was on one knee behind her, pushing her to stand. "Get up," he pleaded. Sam hauled herself to her feet, using a cavernous ledge in front of her to do so. She turned to Zach; he was sliding down her legs, muttering. As the black engulfed her, she climbed onto the stone shelf and then reached down. She grabbed his hair, and twinning it around her fingers, she 40

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pulled with all her remaining strength, falling over backward in her effort. She heard a scream, and then it went dark as she fell fast asleep. [Back to Table of Contents]

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Chapter Five Sam opened her eyes slowly; they felt like they were full of grit. Her head was pounding, her mouth dry and parched. She tried to move, but nausea threatened to overcome her so she brought her hands up to her head, working to steady herself for her next attempt at movement. Instead she stared at her hands. Her fingers had tufts of black hair wound around them. Fear shot through her body. Black hair, servitrons, Zach. Where was he? Despite her head, she screamed his name, "Zach! Zach!" She remembered him pushing her, could remember grabbing him. But did he make it? She didn't know. She moved unsteadily to her feet. "Zach?" "Hey, it's okay." He was there rushing from further in the cave, taking her in his arms. "It's okay," he whispered, "we're okay. Well, apart from a seriously sore head." Sam sobbed with big heaving gulps and clung to him. "Come on," he soothed and led her farther into the cave. There was a clear pool of water, almost an indoor lagoon, but without the spectacular surroundings. It merely sat there in the gray gloom, still, calm and clear. "You can drink it. I've already tried, and if your head is anything like mine, you'll need it." He stroked her hair as he said it. He went with her and sat at her side as she leaned into the water, drinking her fill, and then he wiped her mouth with his finger as she sat back up. "Better?" he asked. 42

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"Yes," she answered quietly, her emotions still raw. Lifting her hand, she stroked his cheek. She knew in that moment she wanted to be nowhere else in the world but with this man. She ran her hand down his T-shirt, then moved to straddle his legs. It was like she was on auto-pilot. She didn't have a thought in her head; she instinctively knew what she needed to do. "Sam?" She touched his lips with hers, ever so briefly. "Shush." She pulled her T-shirt over her head, removed her bra, and stood up to take off her trousers and underwear. She sat back down across his lap, shivering slightly and watched with a feeling of inner calm that was reflected in her still body as Zach removed his T-shirt. Then she stood once more, allowing him to take off the rest of his clothes. Zach trembled slightly as he sat back cross-legged on the ground. This time he took Sam's hand as she sat back down and cuddled into his body. She raised her head, her gaze meeting his, and she held it there for a few seconds. They knew; this was it, they were meant to be one. Tears began rolling down Sam's face again; Zach's body quivered with suppressed emotion. Then it erupted, a fiery, simultaneous want. His mouth engulfed hers, but she matched him in his want. She sucked on his ear as Zach reached for her neck, her jaw, anything. There was no choreography to it; nothing but need and desire. Sam grabbed at his body, drawing blood, as she tried to pull him closer to her, and she could feel the pressure from 43

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Zach's fingertips as he tried to do the same with her. He pulled Sam down upon his penis; she gasped at the width of it, and then pushed with her hips in order to feel more. She was still in his lap, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. She folded her arms around his neck, biting his shoulder blade, matching him thrust for thrust. Her whole body shook with the need to orgasm, her muscles were tense. She almost forgot to breath as she chased the need to come. Zach held her waist, urging her to move faster, harder, to give more. She cried out with want, racing and pushing for relief. When finally it came, Sam yelped in pleasure. Seconds later, Zach did the same. Then Sam held onto him, needing to reassure herself that, for the moment, they were still alive. **** "On this level, you will find yourself in your fantasy world, except to you it will seem like reality." Zach handed her a rock from the cave floor. "Keep hold of that tight in your hand and when you wake up look at it, concentrate upon it, think about where it came from and will yourself to come back." "Okay." She hesitated slightly. "But I'm frightened, Zach. What if I can't get back?" He took her in his arms once more. "You will because you will come back to me, and I will not carry on until you do." "Zach, if I get stuck, you've got to go." "I won't leave without you, and you will come back to me. Concentrate on the rock. This may seem like an easy level, being transported to your ideal life, but if you don't recognize 44

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it as a dream, you will be stuck there forever and not even realize you are encased inside a prison of your own desire." "Okay." Sam gave a grim nod. "Let's go." Then they climbed the stairs and stepped out of the cave on level three. Sam sat on the beach; it was such a beautiful day. She closed her eyes and tilted her head up to the sun. She felt its warmth soaking right through her body, wonderfully warm, peaceful, and relaxed. She sighed deeply as she looked out across the ocean. The waves rolled in and out with barely a splash, just a rhythmically calm whoosh. She dug her toes into the white sand, watching as the grains ran across her tanned feet. Her whole body was bronzed and lean. She felt healthy and attractive in a way she never had before. She stretched her arms above her, a salute to the setting sun. Finding a stone in her palm, she threw it into the ocean, the noise it made seeming to shake her perfect life just for a moment. As she turned from the sea, she could feel the looseness of her limbs under the white cotton fabric that billowed around her body. The sand was hot as she made her way up the beach and through a little opening between the palm trees. In front of her was a bungalow—its exterior a little ramshackle—but she pushed her way through great double doors into the interior. It was so cool inside as she walked barefoot across the dark wooden floor. In front of her, she saw two brown leather sofas facing each other across a wooden coffee table. Beyond that, double doors led out to a pool. 45

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She walked across the floor, enjoying the cool sensation on her skin from the ceiling fan above. As she reached the bedroom, she stood as her cotton dress fell from her body, leaving her naked. The room was very minimal: white walls and a bed. Sam slipped between the cool white sheets, laid on her side, and stared through the glass doors left open to the night air. The pool was still; the evening calm and quiet. Fairy lights twinkled round the edges of the water, as it disappeared into the trees and exotic flowers. Sam felt calm, peaceful, at rest. She sighed deeply as an arm wrapped around her body. Now she also felt safe and cared for. Zach. The name echoed in her mind. Zach? Sam sat on the beach; it was such a beautiful day. She closed her eyes and tilted her head up to the sun. She felt its warmth soaking right through her body, wonderfully warm, peaceful, and relaxed... She stretched her arms above her, a salute to the setting sun. Finding a stone in her palm, she threw it into the ocean, the noise it made seeming to shake her perfect life just for a moment. Zach? She frowned and looked down at the hand that had held the stone. Studying her palm, she moved her fingers over it as if she looked hard enough she would be able to see something. But what? She shrugged and turned from the ocean, noting the looseness of her limbs under the white cotton fabric that billowed around her body... Sam sat on the beach; it was such a beautiful day. She closed her eyes and tilted her head up to the sun. She felt its 46

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warmth soaking right through her body, wonderfully warm, peaceful, and relaxed. She stretched her arms above her, a salute to the setting sun. Finding a stone in her palm, she threw it into the ocean, the noise it made seeming to shake her perfect life just for a moment. Zach? She frowned and looked down at the hand that had held the stone, studying her palm she moved her fingers over it as if she looked hard enough she would be able to see something. The stone had cut her hand. Tiny droplets of blood seeped through the wound, so she walked down to the ocean and put her hand in the water. The salt stung, and she pulled it away, tucking it in close to her body. But it was okay, she reassured herself. Zach would make it okay. She closed her eyes. Yes, she thought, Zach would make it okay. Her body was flooded with yearning. "Sam? Sam?" A voice, anxious and frightened cut through her thoughts, and she opened her eyes. "Oh thank God," Zach cried and pulled her up and into his arms. "I'm back?" Sam's eyes were wide, as if reborn. "Yep, you're back." "Wow. I remember sun and sea and calm. How long have I been gone?" "Three days. You had me worried." He gave her a long, hard kiss. "As if I would ever have forgotten that." She smirked. [Back to Table of Contents]

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Chapter Six Sam lay molded against Zach's body as his fingers stroked her bare belly. "Just one level to go—" she sighed "—we're so close that I'm beginning to hope we might make it. At the same time, I'm scared to hope in case we don't." Zach kissed her shoulder. "We'll make it." "Do you actually have a home? Or parents?" Zach laughed. "Of course I do. I am human. My family has always been creators of worlds, but unless you are brought into this existence, you would never know it was here. All those times you think you see someone or hear them and there is no one, means another world has crossed your own. It's just a case of training yourself to see it." "So I could go into the worlds you've created?" "With me to guide you, yes." "And they would be proper worlds, like Earth?" "Yes. I create the template; then they evolve and grow. People are born into them who also have no idea any other world exists." There was a long pause. "Will you take me if we get out of here?" Zach rolled her round to face him, stroking a finger along her chin, and kissed her gently on the mouth. "When we get out of here, I won't be going anywhere unless you are with me." And he kissed her slowly and deeply. "Much as I hate 48

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myself for saying this, I think we should get dressed and get moving." Zach led the way up another set of stairs toward the final level. "What's going to happen?" Sam asked, her body already tense waiting for the reply. "There's a maze. In the extremely unlikely event anyone got this far, they would have to find their way through it, which is impossible. In theory, they will then be received by Carrick who would look mercifully upon their plea for release." Sam only picked up on one word. "Impossible?" she echoed. "Of course, I designed it—" he grinned at her "—which means I know the way." They came out of the cave into the next level, and Sam gasped. She stood looking down upon the maze, and despite Zach's reassurances, she felt any optimism he'd inspired simply drain away. The maze was enormous, stretching almost to the horizon. It was made of interweaving branches with long, sharp spikes protruding from them just in case anyone attempted a shortcut. And where the maze ended, the black, threatening sky began, creating an air of oppression and doom. "How long will it take us?" Sam shuddered, unable to tear her eyes away from the view. Zach grasped her hand. "Three, possibly four days," he stated, his voice calm and quiet. "But we have no food or water left. What if we get lost?" Zach moved to stand in front of her, breaking the maze's spell. "We don't have a choice. We can do it, Sam." 49

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He drew her gaze up to his own. "Yes." They'd made it this far. "Damn right we can." She took a long deep breath, to steady her nerves. "Let's go." The maze wasn't wide enough for them to walk side by side so Zach led the way. Sam could see the tension in his broad shoulders and back as she plodded on behind him. She felt as if she were entombed within a wall of thorns, no matter in which direction she looked, nothing else could be seen. She couldn't understand how Zach could navigate his way through but desperately needed to believe he could. She imagined what it would be like spending your last days walking round in endless, monotonous circles. Zach stopped abruptly. "What the hell was that?" he muttered. "What?" She was immediately on alert and struggled not to panic. "Did you feel that?" He knelt on the ground, placing his hands flat on the earth. She watched his face change, noted the horror in his eyes. He sprang up, grabbed her hand, and yelled, "Run!" They charged along the path and dodged around corners, too fast to avoid all the thorns. Sam saw them tear into Zach's arms and legs and shouted as they nicked her own. Still she didn't know what she ran from but knew to trust Zach without question. She began to stumble a bit, and she realized the earth was shaking. The vibrations were getting worse. Sam screamed as a thorn sliced the hand she had put out to save herself from falling. Zach stopped. Turning around, he pulled Sam behind him. 50

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"Shit, we can't outrun it. Damn." He turned to her. "I'm so sorry." He braced himself in front of her, knife drawn. Sam stood her ground. Whatever it was, they'd face it together. The earth shook violently as a mound of soil was forced up by whatever was tunneling toward them. Flashes of black and red and large powerful jaws appeared. Zach and Sam stood firm. A loud shriek filled the air, and Sam clutched her ears. The walls of the maze seemed to concertina inward. Sam's head spun as she struggled to grasp the shift in reality. It was as if they had zoomed in on the present, then just as quickly whooshed into the future. As movement and sound settled, she realized they were on the other side of the maze, shaken but unharmed. "What happened?" Sam stood up, looking around her. "I don't know," Zach murmured. Sam followed his gaze, but there was nothing to see. Red earth led to another cave, and the same black sky rolled above. "Well, well. Found yourself a distraction, have you?" Zach and Sam spun around at the sound of the female voice behind them. "I must say I have enjoyed watching you, Zach." She prowled toward him. "Made me feel warm and wet." She brushed against him, trailing a finger along his shoulder. "Hey," Sam barked, taking a step toward her, fists clenched. Zach stood, his face set. "Sam, this is Nadia." She was the most beautiful creature Sam had ever seen. Her body was long and lean, her hips and breasts shapely, her face was perfect, her eyes like a cat's and a mouth that 51

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was moist and wide. It was all framed by long wavy auburn hair. She wore a light green dress that seemed to flow from shoulder blade to foot. It was entirely see through, and she wore nothing underneath. "Oh, you've told her about me," Nadia simpered. "Did he tell you how we used to make love until he cried with desire?" "What do you want? Where's Carrick?" Zach asked, his voice flat, controlled. "Aren't you going to thank me for helping you get out of the maze?" She stood in front of Zach, running her fingers up and down his chest. Sam could barely contain the fury radiating from her body, but she trusted Zach enough to know he knew what he was doing. "That was you? Why did you help us?" "What, still no thank you?" She pouted, rubbing her body against his. "Nadia!" She sighed. "You used to be so much more fun. It's simple. I want Carrick's empire. I can't defeat his magic. It's too strong for me." "But you got us out of the maze," Sam interrupted. Nadia huffed. "That was Zach's creation, not Carrick's. You're the only person he's afraid of, Zach. You have to succeed. He'll know by now that I've helped you, so unless you kill him, he'll kill all of us." "But I thought if we made it through he would show mercy." Sam grabbed Zach's arm. Nadia laughed. "How stupid are you?" 52

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"Nadia, be quiet," Zach ordered. He turned to Sam. "I hoped I could at least persuade him to let you go." "But I wouldn't go without you." Nadia laughed again. "She's really quite entertaining. I can see why you kept her around." Zach grabbed Sam as she threatened to take a swing at Nadia. "Okay, Nadia. If I defeat Carrick and you get his kingdom, we get to leave, and I destroy this place as planned." "Yes," she agreed. "Deal. Now how about some help in doing so?" "I can't help with weapons. Carrick's the only one allowed to deal with those in his world. Anything else, just shout." With that, Nadia faded away. "Bitch," Sam muttered. Zach looked at her and began to roar with laughter, the tension flooding from his body. Sam smiled. "What's so funny?" "You." He chuckled. "Poised to defend my honor!" "Hey, I could have taken her." Sam prodded him in the chest. "Ouch, you probably could. But listen, Sam—" his voice became suddenly serious "—I want you to—" "Forget it," she interrupted. "I haven't said anything yet," he protested. "You're going to ask me to wait here, and I'm not. We do this together, no arguments." [Back to Table of Contents]

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Chapter Seven Zach and Sam turned to the mouth of the cave; there was not much ground to cover before Carrick would surely meet them. It was a walk of resolute determination that did not slacken even as deafening calls filled the air, accompanied by a cloud of black feathers and talons. They looked a little like crows but were the size of eagles, their bodies malnourished, and their feathers torn and tattered. Their legs were distended, and enormous claws seemed to protrude from them without the need for feet. Their heads were relatively small but for their beaks already dripping with blood. "Nadia," Zach yelled. A rocky outcrop erupted from the earth, causing them to fall to the ground but giving them shelter to squat behind as the birds started their death swoop. A long piece of heavy chain appeared in Zach's hands. "Give Sam one, too, Nadia," he shouted into the air. At least now they were no longer helpless, as the next batch dived down Zach emerged from the shelter swinging the chain around his head. He took two down with his first swing but more gathered as he'd broken cover. There were too many. Sam sprang to her feet and ran across the redden earth. "Sam, no." She heard Zach's voice but carried on regardless. The creatures had seen her break and changed direction. She could almost feel their wings on her back, could hear Zach screaming at her, when finally Nadia provided some cover for her to dive behind. She threw herself toward it but not before she had swung her chain, catching one of the 54

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birds across the neck. It tried to keep flying, but the force of the chain was too great, and it was decapitated. A great shriek went up from the others. Sam watched in disgust as they turned on each other, fighting for the spoils. "Sam, now, come on," Zach called, already heading for the cave's entrance. She followed him. As they approached Nadia provided them both with a staff. Zach removed his belt and fastened his knife to the end of his. "Here." He went to hand it to Sam, but she shook her head. "I think you could do more damage with that than me!" Any argument was cut short by the howling of dogs. They were like wolves but rabid and wild. "Shit," Sam muttered under her breath. Zach turned to look at her, then with a battle cry, he began to run toward the dogs, his intention clear—he would take out as many as he could before they reached her. Retreat never entered Sam's head; she screamed and charged after him. Once more the earth seemed to rumble, and Zach stopped to catch hold of Sam as a crevasse opened up at their feet. The hounds' momentum carried them in, pushing each other over the brink as the earth closed up above them. "No!" A great scream of anguish and frustration came from up ahead, and there was Carrick, blocking their way to the stairs beyond. He was not what Sam had expected; he was actually quite a small and aged man, bald with a sharp, angular face. He wore normal clothes, and if it weren't for the blazing staff in his hand, he would not have stood out as unique. 55

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"You will not escape this time, Zachary." His words came out like darts of venom as a large snake appeared before him. Zach squared up to its head with his makeshift spear, but the tail flew around, knocking him from his feet, his weapon skidding away across the floor. "Zach," Sam screamed as the snake wrapped its way around his body. Carrick momentarily turned on her, flinging her backward into the cave wall with a power surge. She slumped down to the floor. "Sam?" Zach yelled, struggling against the snake as it slowly squeezing him to death. Carrick merely laughed as if he were playing a game which he was confident of victory. "You've allowed yourself to become involved again Zachary, and she will be your downfall, just as Nadia was before her." Sam slowly opened her eyes; a voice was in her head urged her to get up, to fight. It was Nadia, but Sam didn't need her encouragement. She kept to the wall, slowly making her way behind Carrick. He'd moved forward in his excitement at goading Zach. Sam's eyes smarted with tears. She could see Zach struggling for breath; she tried to mouth to him to hold on. "Please," he whispered. Carrick laughed, thinking he was pleading for mercy. But Sam knew he was asking her to go on to safety, without him, trying to protect her, as he had done so many times before in this nightmare world. She positioned herself behind Carrick. One second she was undecided how to tackle him, the next, she was holding a 56

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hockey stick. She had far too much ground to cover to be subtle, so screaming with all her might, she ran toward Carrick. Lifting the stick, she prepared to swing it, but Carrick was already turning around to face her. Instead of connecting with his body, she caught his staff, flicking it from his arms. The spell broke, and Zach fell to the floor, heaving for breath. Carrick's fist shot out, catching Sam on the jaw with a force she would not have thought him capable of. She fell to the ground, her head ringing once more. The mystic picked up her hockey stick. "Crude but effective." Zach was still struggling to get to his feet as he saw Carrick raise the stick above Sam's head. "No!" It was Zach's anguished scream that focused Sam's attention in on Carrick. She tried to order her body to move, but it felt sluggish and slow. Then he simply froze and crumpled in front of her, Zach's homemade spear having sliced through his body via his heart. Sam held tightly onto Zach's hand as they climbed the final staircase, battered and bruised, but still alive, still together. When they reached the top, Zach pushed open a hatch and ushered her through it. Sam was amazed to find herself back in his flat. She flopped down upon the floor, closely followed by Zach, as a tiny box popped up beside them "That's it?" gasped Sam. "That whole terrifying world is contained within that box?" "Yep," Zach answered, smoothing her hair from her face. "Look at you; we need some ice and probably a doctor." 57

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"Later. Let's talk about where you're going to take me first." Zach grinned at her. "Maybe we could do that second?" And his lips met hers once more. The End [Back to Table of Contents]

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Author Bio Gillian lives in a small village in the Northeast of England with her amazing daughter, Grace, and her cuddly cat, Kitty. She had always wanted to write but was recently given the push she needed in order to give it a go. She's pleased she did as this will be her sixth book for Cobblestone Press. **** VISIT COBBLESTONE PRESS, LLC WWW.COBBLESTONE-PRESS.COM ROMANTIC FANTASIES FOR EVERY READER! MAINSTREAM, SENSUAL, AND EROTIC ROMANCE LIT, PDF, HTML, AND MOBI FORMATS AVAILABLE ****

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