Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 07:12:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Author James <authorjames2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Shadow Chapter 22 Iris

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 22 Iris

	After the group got to safety, the Shadow disappeared into the
night.  He knew what he had to do.  He had one final penance to serve, the
one his victim called him to do.  But before that, he wanted to reconcile
everything with Jacob.  He wanted to open himself up to Jacob, to
experience the feelings Jacob brought out in him, to experience what Jacob
felt toward him.
	The Shadow found the hotel room and knocked on Jacob's door.
	"Just a minute," Jacob called out.  After hearing several clicks,
the door opened and Jacob stepped back allowing the youth to come in.
"Sorry about the locks.  We've all been keeping ourselves locked down
tight.  After what happened, we've all been a little paranoid."
	"I understand.  It freaks me out, too.  I never thought anything
like this would ever happen.  I thought it all was confined to fiction."
	"Yeah."
	Both started to talk and then stopped.
	"Listen," the youth finally said, "there's something on my mind
that I've wanted to tell you.  And I want to say it without interruption at
all.  You're the first person to see past the physical appearance of me.
That has meant a lot to me.  You are a wonderful person, Jacob.  I know I
haven't acted like I've had any feelings for you.  The truth is I have.
I've been afraid to express them because something happened in my past that
has caused me to reject any type of feelings.  I just want you to know that
I really like you..."
	The sensation he's felt for the past several days which led into
singing moved over him.  'It seems Danu's spell has some lingering
effects.'  And his sentence continued, but turned into song.

	"And I'd give up forever to touch you
	Cause I know that you feel me somehow
	You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
	And I don't want to go home right now

	And all I can taste is this moment
	And all I can breathe is your life
	And sooner or later it's over
	I just don't want to miss you tonight

	And I don't want the world to see me
	Cause I don't think that they'd understand
	When everything's made to be broken
	I just want you to know who I am

	And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
	Or the moment of truth in your lies
	When everything feels like the movies
	Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

	And I don't want the world to see me
	Cause I don't think that they'd understand
	When everything's made to be broken
	I just want you to know who I am"

	The room remained quiet for several moments as Jacob looked away,
out the window, at a nearby picture, anything but the youth who just sang
his heart to him.  After what seemed an eternity, Jacob took a breath and
began.
	"Wow, that was... revealing.  I respect that."  He took a breath,
and continued.  "However...God, I don't want to do this."
	"Do what?" the youth asked confused.
	"You're a real sweet, sincere guy.  I've seen your soul in the past
few days and it has been unbelievable.  I can honestly say you are rare and
wonderful.  And I truly loved your soul."
	"Loved?"
	"The truth is I don't have those same feelings for you.  I can't...I
can't get back to what I felt before.  Once the spell-thingy wore off..."
	"You saw me for what I really look like," the Shadow completed.
"What you fell in love with, what you saw, was a reflection of my inside as
a physical form.  That's why you were attracted to me.  But now that you
see my true, outer appearance, the feelings you had for me disappeared."
	Looking at Jacob's face, the Shadow knew it was true.  What Jacob
felt for him was real, in a sense.  But, like most people, he couldn't
truly move past the cover in order to love the book.
	Without a word, the Shadow stood and moved toward the door.  Jacob
didn't make a move to apologize or stop him.  The Shadow wouldn't have
given him the opportunity if he had.  'It's okay,' he thought.  'It makes
what I have to do that much easier.'  And silently he left the hotel never
to set foot in it again.

	The Shadow broke into the drug store and looked around for what he
needed.  The night before when he looked up the ingredients for the potion
to stop Danu, he also looked up the best medication needed to mete out
justice for Greg, pills that he could take that would do the job of both
making him suffer and still be sure to end his life.  He found the
medication and went back to the gym.
	"This is where it started," he said as he opened the bottle.  "This
is where it will end."  And he dumped the pills in his mouth.
	After a few moments, the pills kicked in and pain shot through his
chest.  It felt as if his heart were going to explode.  He fell against the
wall and clutched at his chest.  Then his stomach burned and he held his
stomach as well.  Pushing away from the wall, he ran out the back door and
fell into a pile of trash bags and trash cans.

	Rob got the address from someone who recognized his best friend and
told him the place his best friend frequented.  "I think he stays there,
too," the person replied.
	Rob hailed the nearest taxi and got in.
	"The name's Moe," the driver said.  "Where to?"
	Rob gave him the address of the gymnasium and the cab sped away.

	To Be Concluded...