Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2004 08:48:44 -0800 (PST) From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com> Subject: The Shadow Chapter 21 Bring Me to Life Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. I do not know the sexual orientation of any of the celebrities who will be appearing in the story. WARNING: The character does not have a happy life and will not have very many happy events in his life. If this kind of stuff bothers you, I do not recommend reading. Otherwise, enjoy. The Shadow created by Street and Smith, Walter B. Gibson. Copyright Advance Magazine Publishing Inc. Author's email address: authorjames2002@yahoo.com Chapter 21 Bring Me To Life The Shadow stepped into the night thinking about what he's experienced in the last few weeks. He never planned for his life to turn out the way it did. He always knew he would be alone. His mind never even caught a glimmer of him being happy. He didn't think it was possible, not after what he had done. He felt he didn't deserve it. But Jacob...Jacob's persistence forced him to hope. Jacob would not let the youth back down. Jacob would not let him keep himself from feeling good. Jacob seemed to know there was something wrong and he wanted to fix whatever it was. When Jacob looked at him... How can you see into my eyes like open doors Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb Jacob looked around though his head didn't move. He was aware of what was going on around him, but he could not control his body. He felt as if he were in a dream state, looking through someone else's body, unable to control where he was going o what he was doing. In his heart and mind he called out for the Shadow. The Shadow continued his song Without a soul My spirit sleeping somewhere cold Until you find it there and lead it back home (Wake me up) Wake me up inside (I can't wake up) Wake me up inside (Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark (Wake me up) Bid my blood to run (I can't wake up) Before I come undone (Save me) Save me from the nothing I've become The Shadow turned down a street and walked past the teeming prostitutes, pimps, and patrons of the many shady stores and bars. Now that I know what I'm without You can't just leave Breathe into me and make me real Bring me to life (Wake me up) Wake me up inside (I can't wake up) Wake me up inside (Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark (Wake me up) Bid my blood to run (I can't wake up) Before I come undone (Save me) Save me from the nothing I've become Bring me to life The Shadow turned and walked down an alley. His mind spoke even as his heart sang. "I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside." The Shadow climbed up to the rooftop and looked out into the night, but in his heart, he was singing to Jacob. Frozen inside without your touch without your love Darling only you are the life among the dead Inside the theater, Jacob thought about the young man he developed feelings for and his heart went out to him. All this time I can't believe I couldn't see Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me The Shadow moving across the rooftops... I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems Got to open my eyes to everything Jacob in the theater... Without a thought without a voice without a soul Don't let me die here there must be something more The Shadow jumped from the roof of the building down toward the street, singing as the wind rushed past him... Bring me to life (Wake me up) Wake me up inside (I can't wake up) Wake me up inside (Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark (Wake me up) Bid my blood to run (I can't wake up) Before I come undone (Save me) Save me from the nothing I've become Bring me to life "I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside." Bring me to life Danu controlled the young men, forcing them to open up their pants and pull out their sex organs. She smiled and licked her lips. "I tried to get it through depository. That didn't work, so the only other recourse I have is getting it direct. Luckily, I have five strapping young men with nice sized dicks to ensure the delivery of their life essence." Danu unbuttoned her dress and let it slip to the floor revealing her naked body to the young men. None of them could control their physical arousal as it was all part of the spell she placed upon them. "Come and sample me, boys. Come and receive what it is you hunger for." `God, I need help,' Jacob said as he got in line behind Ashley. Dan was the first to place his lips upon her lips where he tongued her for several seconds. Next came Erik who lingered for a bit causing Danu to moan. Trevor was third in line and he dove right into her, licking wildly like a dog that had not drank for weeks. Ashley came next and was soft and gentle with her. `I really don't want to do this,' Jacob thought. As Ashley moved away and Jacob had to step up, the doors flew open but no one was there. "Do you really think you can be invisible to me?" Danu called out. She lifted her hand and lightning shot out from her fingers. The bolts hit everywhere throughout the end of the room and wrapped around an invisible form that quickly became visible. The Shadow fell to the floor convulsing with the electricity. "Told you so," she replied as she cut off the electricity. She stood and walked past the five young singers who were completely oblivious to the Shadow's presence. "How did you...?" "I'm a sorceress, remember? Isn't that what you uncovered on your computer? I thought you were smarter than that. All the trouble you've caused me and you still haven't figured things out?" "I don't...believe in magic." "Really? How do you explain the lightning just now? Or the fact that you can make yourself invisible to others?" "I've been invisible to others all my life," the Shadow replied struggling to get to his feet. "People not seeing me physically present is no different than what I've gone through before." "Boo hoo," Danu sarcastically replied as she wiped her eyes. "You chose to live that life. Nobody forced it on you." "Nobody WOULD force it on me. I was guilty, am guilty, of horrible things. And no one punished me for it. I know what waits on the other side of this life. I had it. But my so-called friends pulled me back. And now, after what I did, there is no hope for me to get back to it. My life is nothing!" "Then why do you fight? What makes you struggle so much against me? If you said something sooner, we could have avoided all this. I would have gladly punished you for whatever perceived wrong you felt you committed." "Sorry, being punished by an evil bitch just doesn't feel like soul-cleansing to me." With that, the Shadow jumped to the side and pulled out his guns and fired. He rolled as Danu threw a ball of energy at him. The energy hit the floor where he stood only seconds before and blew a hole into it. `I've got to find a way to get this on her. It will reverse everything she's done. But how?' The Shadow ran across an open space as a bolt of lighting shot out at him and hit the floor right behind him. He worked his way toward Danu, dodging lighting bolts and energy hurled at him from the stage. Finally, he was near the stage, but not close enough to hit her with the potion. `Just a few more feet. I've got to find a way to get this to her. All I need is a distraction.' The Shadow then heard his name called. Not `The Shadow', but his real name. Then the doors opened and the voice called out, "Are you in here? It's Rob!" Danu smiled and raised her hands up. "Not Rob!" the Shadow called out as he ran out from his hiding place and threw the vial on her. The vial broke and the liquid poured out on her. "No!" she screamed as her body shook and purple energy formed around her. The Shadow looked in Rob's direction and their eyes met. Rob knew that it was his best friend looking back at him through the goggles. He heard his voice and knew. Danu's scream caught their attention and the two looked back as the energy dissolved her. The five singers fell to the floor unconscious. The Shadow jumped to the stage and ran out the back as Rob approached the singers and checked to see if they were okay. Once finding out they were fine, he ran up the stairs to the stage and out the back. But his friend was nowhere to be found. To Be Continued...