A Report On The Night - 1193 Words

A few minutes after Anthony had set up the ambush, Ultron disabled the camouflage on him and Loki a few feet away from the tower. They had just enabled the distraction, with Lightningbug leading the charge. It would give them hopefully enough time they needed to break into the tower and steal the files. Report? Ultron tilted his head slightly, activating the installed communication link as the static buzzing in his head adjusted into Lightningbug s voice. A bunch of people are freaking out over haywire toasters. Lightningbug mused, hovering in the air over the building, watching over the panic. I ve already emptied out a third of the hostages. He added, ushering a small child into a safe zone. Might as well make this distraction†¦show more content†¦Odin s beard! He growled, much to Ultron s amusement. This blasted thing is as thick as Yggdrasil s trunk! Loki said, frustrated. If they still had the mind gem in the scepter Loki might ve just blasted the door open, but it was currently in Visorus head so the scepter was only a mere shadow of its former power, now only aided by whatever bits of magic Loki knew. I m guessing that means it s thick. Ultron deadpanned, beginning to scan the lines of code he was examining. While Loki kept trying to break the door open, he would try a more high-tech approach. I ve never actually seen Yggdrasil before it burned, so I assume it s quite bulky. Loki ignored his comment like he thought he d do and Ultron found the code for the security system. You can uh, stop banging on the door like an idiot. A dry smirk came onto Ultron s face as Loki frowned, giving him a puzzled glance. Why? At that moment the door flung open, swinging around like someone had just blasted it open with a tornado. Loki was promptly hit in the face by the left side as Ultron stifled a laugh. How did you do that?! Loki s recovered from the hit and began to massage his jaw with his arm as Ultron hid a smile. Hacking. He deadpanned once more, Loki, feeling jealous, decided not to cast anymore of his sarcastic remarks. Hey, a magician neverShow MoreRelatedA Report On The Night1335 Words   |  6 Pages Everyone sleeps at certain times. Chicago’s imminent seeming glow from the lights is starting to flicker and dim. Windows turn off, second by second. The window cleaning personnel raise themselves up on their scaffolds to start their nightly work; cleaning each window of Willis Tower, home of the Skydeck. An ABC News helicopter flies by with four passengers aboard. I am one of those passengers - a news reporter, reporting a standstill traffic jam. To imagine myself as just a maraca shaped dot inRead MoreBook Report On The Night Sky 1725 Words   |  7 PagesBlog 13 – 5 online slot games that are sure to scare you When the nights draw in, the night sky certainly makes for a beautiful sight. While that’s the case, the darkness of the night is also associated with the unknown. As has been said before, the ghastliest of ghouls come out at night, which means fear is often in the air. Frights and scares are something that we all are familiar with, which is why they make for great online casino game inspiration. Halloween may have past, but that doesn’t meanRead MoreA Report On The Night Of September 241453 Words   |  6 PagesOn the night of January 24, 2009, Ms. Paz de Noboa was waiting outside in line to enter The Zone nightclub, an underage nightclub in Portland, Oregon (Memo in Opp, Exhibit B, Police Report, pp 25-29 of 29) (ER 4, Second Amended Complaint). As she waited to get into the nightclub, Erik Ayala approached the line and shot Ms. Paz de Noboa twice. Id. The injuries were fatal and Ms. Paz de Noboa died shortly thereafter. Id. Erik Ayala had purchased the murder weapon, a 9-milimeter pistol, from 99Read MoreA Report On The Night Of The Second Attack2176 Words   |  9 Pagesable to escape her assailant and notified the police (â€Å"Dennis Maher,† 2016). The description given to the police stated that the assailant was a male wearing a red-hooded sweatshirt and a military-style khaki jacket (â€Å"Dennis Maher,† 2016). On the night of the second attack, Dennis Maher, who was wearing a red-hooded sweatshirt, was stopped and questioned by the police (â€Å"Dennis Maher,† 2016). A later search of Maher’s vehicle turned up a rain slicker, military issue knife and an army-field jacketRead MoreBook Report On The Book The Night 921 Words   |  4 Pagesby a moving bookshelf. Also I have to take care of my family too, my son and my husband. So everyday someone has to unlock the door to the warehouse so that I can get in and sneak upstairs and give them food. If they keep it locked all day and all night they won’t get any food and the Green Police will suspect something. So now it’s been almost a year and one of Otto Frank’s business partner needed to get in but the door was locked and so he shattered the window to get in so now the Green Police willRead MoreEssay on Book Report on Elie Wiesels Night4337 Words   |  18 PagesBook Report on Elie Wiesels Night   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elie tells of his hometown, Sighet, and of Moshe the Beadle. He tells of his family and his three sisters, Hilda, Bà ©a, and the baby of the family, Tzipora. Elie is taught the cabala by Moshe the Beadle. Moshe is taken away and sees an entire train of people murdered by the Gestapo. He returns to Sighet and tries to warn them, but no one believes his story. The Nazis come and take over Sighet. Elie is moved to a ghetto, along with all the other Jews in SighetRead MoreEssay about Book Report Night by Elie Wiesel805 Words   |  4 PagesThe novel â€Å"Night† was written by Elie Wiesel and is a memoir of his life during World War II. The book starts with his life living in Hungary with his family. It then tells of how they were taken away to concentration camps throughout the war. During Elie’s stays at the various camps you see the sacrifices he makes and how the experience changes him. The setting of â€Å"Night† is Eastern Europe and during Nazi rule between the late 1930s and the mid 1940s. Throughout the entire story it takes placeRead MoreI Don t Know How Much Longer I? Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesSusan, â€Å"these awful nights of not sleeping. I didn’t get to sleep last night until 2 am, and then I had to be up at 5:30 am to get to the hospital for clinical. That’s not enough sleep. I feel like I’m stumbling through the day.† She said a silent prayer that she would not harm anyone during her clinical shift and continued driving to the hospital. Susan Ambrose is a 35-year-old nursing student, a single mother with two children, and she works part-time as a nursing technician at night in the local hospitalRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Symptoms Essay1088 Words   |  5 PagesClinical Write-up #1 Description: Follow-up after a full-night in lab sleep study performed to evaluate him for daytime fatigue and insomnia. This patient presents with history of sleep disruption and daytime sleepiness with fatigue. His symptoms are multifactorial. REASON FOR VISIT: This 52-year-old veteran returns to clinic for follow-up after a full-night in lab sleep study performed to evaluate him for daytime fatigue and insomnia. HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: The veteran presented initiallyRead MoreNurse Management And The Healthcare System985 Words   |  4 Pagesfunction as a nurse manager. He has to set realistic goals for his unit to accomplish. For example, Justin reports â€Å"the company objective for improving quality care with fall prevention occurring per month on my unit is 1.7. I have to take in consideration of the population on my unit, which are mainly geriatrics. They can be become confused at time, especially during the middle of the night. Some may decide to go to the bathroom and this is when a fall occurs† (J. Gudvangen, personal interview

Relationship Between Antonio And Bassanio - 1609 Words

In William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, there have been two main interpretations of the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio. Some have speculated that the relationship between the two men is homosexual, while others believe that the relationship is purely a male friendship. This conflicting opinion is depicted through the 1973 film production directed by John Sichel and the 2004 film production directed by Michael Radford. The 1973 film portrays a male friendship, whereas the 2004 film depicts a homosexual relationship. These contrasting perceptions of Antonio and Bassanio are emphasized by the actions of other characters, as well as other factors. There are four main scenes where Antonio and Bassanio are seen together. The†¦show more content†¦Antonio joins Bassanio on the bed. As Bassanio describes Portia, the camera switches to her in a dreamlike manner, with music playing in the background. Upon hearing this news, Antonio looks down-hearted and gets up from the bed. Regardless, Antonio somewhat reluctantly gives Bassanio permission to use his credit. With a grim smile, Lorenzo kisses Antonio on the lips. Once the kiss is finished, Antonio stares at Bassanio, in despair. The opening scene of the play present a stark contrast between the films and the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio. The contrast between the two films is instantly noticeable through Antonio’s deliverance of the first lines of the play: In sooth I know why I am so sad. It wearies me, you say it wearies you, But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, What stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn; And such a want-wit sadness makes of me That I have much ado to know myself (1.1. 1-7). These lines instantly distinguish the tone of the two films, as well as the interpretations of Antonio’s character. In the 1973 film, Antonio says these lines in a jokingly manner, undisturbed by his unknown sadness. On the other hand, the Antonio in the 2004 film, relays this line in a grim and melancholy way. In accordance to the melancholy 2004 Antonio, these lines have a significant underlying meaning. Lines such as â€Å"I am to learn† gives Antonio the ability to â€Å"pass off his depression as anxiety† (Barthelemy, 134).Show MoreRelatedThe Homosexual Relationship Between Antonio and Bassanio in William Shakespeare’s the Merchant of Venice1673 Words   |  7 PagesThe Homosexual Relationship Between Antonio and Bassanio in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice Tsun-Hsien Tsai Sophomore Student, Department of English National Changhua University of Education There are many pairs of male adults with honorable masculine friendships appearing in William Shakespeare’s popular plays, such as Antonio and Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice, Antonio and Sebastian in Twelfth Night, the two kings Leonates and Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale, and so on. No matterRead More Homosexuality in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice1474 Words   |  6 Pagesan individuals broader identity.† (Columbia University Press). This difference between homosexuality as a â€Å"sexual act† and an â€Å"identity† proves why, during Renaissance England, this theme in Shakespeare’s play was almost invisible. The actual merchant of Venice, Antonio, displays this homosexual identity that might only be recognizable to the modern day reader. Through a close reading of a speech given by Antonio, one can begin to understand the significance of Shakespeare’s word choice and howRead MoreFriendship By William Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1727 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopment. A friend is, â€Å"A person with whom one has developed a close and informal relationship of mutual trust and intimacy; (more generally) a close acquaintance. Often with adjective indicating the closeness of the relationship, asbest, good, close, etc.†(Oxford ) Friendship is the display of trust and intimacy as well as caring for one another. Antonio and Bassanio are the best of friends. Although both Antonio and Bassanio’s characters possess different motivations for their actions, it is theirRead MoreAntonio and Bassanio1173 Words   |  5 PagesAntonio and Bassanio Antonio and Bassanio are mainly presented as a pair throughout the play. Their relationship, reaction of other characters towards them, thoughts and feeling they express are significant factors that contribute to answering the question. In the preformed version of Michael Radford Merchant of Venice there is a strong depiction of homosexuality, which is his own analysis of their relationship. This could alter the audience’s view on the play, as this theme is noticeable andRead MoreThe Merchant of Venice: Self-Interest versus Love Essay1016 Words   |  5 Pagesof self-interest versus love. On the surface, this seems to be the dividing factors between the Christians and the Jew. Shylock is portrayed to only care about money and profits, while the Christians are shown as people who value human relationships more. Examples of this theme are shown through Shylock’s behaviour, the many weddings of the Christian characters, and the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio . The Christian characters view Shylock as someone who only cares about money andRead MoreThe Three Plots of The Merchant of Venice779 Words   |  4 Pagescharacters involved in the bond plot are Antonio, Bassanio, and Shylock, although Bassanio is not as involved in this plot as Antonio and Shylock are. It is for Bassanio that Antonio takes out a loan from Shylock so that Bassanio is able to have enough money to win Portia’s hand in marriage. In the next main plot line that arises, the casket plot, Bassanio plays a much more major role as Portia’s suitor. He and Portia are the central characters of this plot. Bassanio and Portia are also two of the centralRead More`` The Merchant Of Venice `` By William Shakespeare1147 Words   |  5 Pagesof Venice, Antonio, a protagonist, gives himself over to a life-threatening contract with the villain, Shylock the Jew, in order to provide the means for one of Antonio’s friend the opportunity to woo a lady. Over the course of the play, various risky opportunities and events also expose other relationships as means of satisfying their wants, although not all their outcomes are favourable. Risk is the root cause of rewards and punishments in The Merchant of Venice. This is seen between the play’sRead MoreGender Issues In The Merchant Of Venice1359 Words   |  6 PagesThe Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare was an in depth play that contains many issues over race, sexuality, and gender. William Shakespeare does a great job at portraying the characters views on these issues. The conflicts between the characters are captivating. This play has constant complications that can be related to modern times. Right off the bat Shakespeare introduces the characters as having values of honorability, love, passion, and religion. The play is in some way trying to teachRead MoreMerchant Of Venice Critical Analysis Essay1001 Words   |  5 PagesThe Merchant Of Venice is structured partly on the contrast between idealistic and realistic opinions about society and relationships. The play tells us mercy is preferable to revenge. Shylock chose revenge over mercy against Antonio and how his choices affected him. The Court of Venice begging mercy of Shylock. Finally, Portia forgiving Bassanio for giving away his wedding band. Shakespeare characterised Shylock in such way that he highlights the inequalities of him, them being ungrateful, vengefulRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet918 Words   |  4 PagesIn this quote, Bassanio describes Antonio as his best friend. Though the audience witnessed how close their relationship is in Act I, the quote is another example of Bassanio directly complementing and describing Antonio, this time in order to explain why Antonio’s situation affects him significantly. Through Bassanio’s heartfelt speech, Shakespeare further delineates the close friendship between Bassanio and Antonio. Furthermore, the speech also conveys Bassanio’s respect for Antonio. Not only does

The Forbidden Game The Hunter Chapter 4 Free Essays

string(41) " box and felt slick between her fingers\." Jenny felt as if a black riptide was trying to suck her underwater. It was him. The boy from the game store. We will write a custom essay sample on The Forbidden Game: The Hunter Chapter 4 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Every detail of his face was reproduced perfectly, but it wasn’t a photograph. It was a drawing, like the snake and the wolf. The boy’s hair was colored silvery-white with blue shadows. The artist had even captured his dark eyelashes. The portrait was so lifelike it looked as if those eyes might blink at any minute, as if the lips might speak. And it radiated menace. Danger. â€Å"What’s the matter?† Audrey was saying. Her face swam in and out of focus as Jenny looked up. Jenny’s eyes fixed on the beauty mark just above Audrey’s upper lip. Audrey’s lips were moving, but it was a minute before Jenny could make sense of the words. â€Å"What’s wrong, Jenny?† What could Jenny say? I know this guy. I saw him at the store. He’s a real person, not some made-up character in a game. So†¦ So what? That’s what they would ask her. What difference did it make? So the game must have been invented by somebody who knew the guy, and the guy had modeled for the picture. That would explain why the box was blank: Maybe it wasn’t even a real, mass-produced game at all. Or maybe the guy was crazy, had a fixation with this particular game, and had bleached his hair and dressed up to look like the game character. Dungeons and Dragons, Jenny thought suddenly-people were supposed to get heavily into that, sometimes even go overboard. That’s the answer. At least, it was the answer somebody here tonight would give. Tom, maybe, because Jenny could tell he wanted to play, and once Tom made up his mind on anything, he was immovable. Dee, because danger always kicked her. Zach, because the game involved art; or Summer, because she thought it was â€Å"cute.† They all wanted to play. A good hostess didn’t get hysterical and ruin a party because she had shadows on the brain. Jenny forced a smile. â€Å"Nothing,† she said, letting go of Audrey’s wrist. â€Å"Sorry. I thought I recognized that picture. Silly, huh?† â€Å"You been drinking the cough syrup again?† Michael inquired from the other side of the table. â€Å"Are you all right, Thorny? Really?† Tom asked seriously. His green-flecked eyes searched hers, and Jenny felt her smile become more stable. She nodded. â€Å"Fine,† she said firmly. Tom got up and dimmed the track lighting. â€Å"Hey,† said Michael. â€Å"We need it dark,† Dee told them, â€Å"for this next part. The reading of the oath.† She cut a glance at them, the whites of her eyes shining like smoky pearls. ‘What oath?† Michael said warily. â€Å"The Oath of the Game,† Tom said. His voice was sinister. â€Å"It says here that we each have to swear that we’re playing this game of our own free will, and that the game is real.† Tom turned the lid of the box around for them to see. On the inside cover, above the printed instructions, was a large symbol. It was like a squared-off and inverted U, the two uneven horns of the letter pointing downward. It was deeply impressed in the cover and colored-as well as Jenny could tell in the dim light-rusty red. I will not ruin this party, I will not ruin this party, Jenny thought. I will not. Tom was reading from the instructions: † ‘There is a Shadow World, like our own but different, existing alongside ours but never touching. Some people call it the world of dreams, but it is as real as anything else’†¦ and then it says that entering the Shadow World can be dangerous, so you play at your own risk.† He grinned around the group. â€Å"Actually, it says that the game can be hazardous to your life. You have to swear you understand that.† â€Å"I don’t know if I like this anymore,† Summer said. â€Å"Come on,† said Dee. â€Å"Live dangerously. Make it happen.† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Summer was taking this seriously. She pushed soft light curls off her forehead and frowned. â€Å"Is it getting warm in here?† â€Å"Oh, swear, already,† said Michael. â€Å"Let’s get this thing over with. I swear I understand that this game may kill me before I’m old enough to get a McJob like my brother Dave.† â€Å"Now you.† Dee stretched out a black-spandex-covered leg to nudge Zachary. â€Å"Swear.† â€Å"I swear,† Zach said in bored tones, his thin face unreadable, his gray eyes cool as ever. Summer sighed, capitulating. â€Å"Me, too, then.† Audrey adjusted her houndstooth jacket. â€Å"Me, three,† she said. â€Å"And what about you, Deirdre?† â€Å"I was just about to, Aud. I swear to have a great time and kick the Shadow Dude’s ass.† Tom had gotten up and was lurking over Jenny. â€Å"How about it, devil woman? I swear-do you?† Normally Jenny would have jabbed an elbow upward into his ribs. At the moment all she could manage was a colorless smile. They all wanted to do it. She was the hostess. They were her guests. Tom wanted it. â€Å"I swear,† she said and was embarrassed when her voice cracked. Tom cheered and tossed the box lid in the air. Dee’s foot flashed out, kicking it back toward him. It fell on the floor by Jenny. You jerk, if you really cared about me, you’d care about how I felt, Jenny thought in a rare moment of anger toward Tom. Then she squelched the thought. It was his birthday. He deserved to be indulged. Something about the box lid caught her eye. For just an instant the upside-down it looked as if it were printed in red foil. It had-flashed-Jenny thought. But of course it couldn’t have. Everyone was kneeling around the table. â€Å"Okay,† said Dee. â€Å"All the little dollies in the parlor? Then somebody’s got to turn a card. Who wants to be first?† Jenny, feeling that if she was going to do this she might as well do it thoroughly, reached out and took the top card. It was glossy white like the game box and felt slick between her fingers. You read "The Forbidden Game: The Hunter Chapter 4" in category "Essay examples" She turned it over and read: † ‘You have gathered with your friends in this room to begin the Game.'† There was a pause. Then Summer giggled. â€Å"Sort of an anticlimax,† Audrey murmured. â€Å"Who’s next?† â€Å"Me,† said Tom. He leaned over Jenny and took a card. He read, † ‘Each of you has a secret you would rather die than reveal.'† Jenny stirred uneasily. It was just coincidence, because these were pre-printed cards. But it did sound almost as if someone were answering the question she’d thought of earlier. â€Å"My turn,† Summer said eagerly. She read, † ‘You hear the sound of footsteps from one of the rooms above.'† She frowned. â€Å"But there aren’t any rooms above. This is a one-story house.† Tom chuckled. â€Å"You’re forgetting yourself. We’re not in this house. We’re in that house.† Summer blinked, her large blue eyes traveling over the pastel, basket-adorned walls of the Thornton living room. Then she looked at the Victorian paper house, with the seven paper dolls neatly arranged in the parlor like a group of guests too polite to go home. â€Å"Oh!† She was just putting the card back when they all heard the noise from above. Footsteps. A quick light patter, like a child running on a wooden floor. Summer shrieked and looked in terror at the ceiling. Dee jumped up, her dark eyes blazing. Audrey stiffened. Michael grabbed at her, and she smacked his hand away. Zach’s face was turned up; even his ponytail seemed to be tense. But Tom burst into laughter. â€Å"It’s squirrels,† he got out finally. â€Å"They run on the roof all the time, don’t they, Jenny?† Jenny’s stomach was knotted. Her voice wavered slightly as she said, â€Å"Yes, but-â€Å" â€Å"But nothing. Somebody else take a card,† Tom said. Nobody did. â€Å"All right, I’ll do it myself. This is for you, Mike.† He flipped a card. â€Å"‘You go to the door to get some air, but it seems to be stuck,'† he read. He looked around at the group. â€Å"Oh, come on. It’s a game. Here, look.† He stood up in a fluid motion and went to the sliding glass door that looked out on Jenny’s backyard. Jenny saw his fingers moving, flipping the locks on the handle. A sense of dread overwhelmed her. â€Å"Tom, don’t!† she said. Before she knew what she was doing, she jumped up and took his arm. If he didn’t try the door-if he didn’t try it-the card couldn’t come true. Tom was jerking at the handle, ignoring her. â€Å"There’s something wrong with it-there must be another lock.† â€Å"It’s stuck,† Michael said. He ran a hand through his rumpled dark hair, an oddly helpless gesture. â€Å"Don’t be stupid,† Audrey snapped. Dee’s sloe eyes were glittering. Her hand darted out and she took a card. † ‘None of the doors or windows in this house will open,'† she read. Tom went on yanking furiously at the door. It wouldn’t budge. Jenny caught his arm again. She was trembling all over with a sense of danger. â€Å"Take another card,† Zach said softly. There was something strange about his thin face-it was almost trancelike. Zombied out. â€Å"No!† Jenny said. Zachary was taking the card himself. ‘Wo,† said Jenny again. She had to stop this, but she couldn’t let go of Tom. â€Å"Zach, don’t read it.† â€Å"‘You hear a clock strike nine,'† Zachary read softly. â€Å"Jenny doesn’t have any clocks that strike,† Audrey said. She looked at Jenny sharply. â€Å"Do you? Do you?† Jenny shook her head, her throat clogged. Every inch of her skin seemed to be raw, waiting. Listening. Clear and sweet, the chimes rang out. The chimes of the clock at the game store, the clock she couldn’t see. It seemed to be coming from far above. It began to strike the hour. One. Two. Three. Four. â€Å"Oh, God,† Audrey said. Five. Six. Seven. At nine, Jenny thought. See you later-at nine. Eight†¦ â€Å"Tom,† Jenny whispered. The muscles in his arm were hard under her hand. Now, too late, he turned toward her. Nine. Then the wind came. At first Jenny thought the riptide had gotten her. Then she thought it must be an earthquake. But all the time she had the sensation of air rushing by her, as if a hurricane had come in through the closed sliding glass door. A black, roaring hurricane that burned even as it froze. It hurt her like a physical thing, shaking her body and blinding her. She lost track of the room. The only thing real was the fistful of Tom’s shirt she held. Finally she lost track of that, too. The pain stopped for a while, and she just drifted. She woke up on the floor. It was like the only other time she’d ever fainted, when she and Joey had both been home sick with the flu. She’d jumped out of bed suddenly to tell him to turn down that stupid cartoon-and the next thing she knew she was waking up with her head in a wastebasket. Lying on the carpeted floor of her room, then, she had known that time had passed, without being sure how she knew it. This was the same. Painfully Jenny lifted her head and blinked to bring the far wall into focus. It didn’t work. Something was wrong. The wall itself, which should have been pastel-colored and hung with weavings and baskets, was wrong. It was paneled with some dark wood, and an Oriental screen stood in front of it. Heavy velvet curtains obscured a window. A brass candlestick was attached to the wall. Jenny had never seen any of the things before. Where am I? The oldest question in the book, the biggest cliche. But she really didn’t know. She didn’t know where she was or how she had gotten there, but she knew that whatever was going on was all wrong. Was-beyond her experience. Things like this didn’t happen. It had happened anyway. The two ideas jostled in her mind. She was already disoriented, on the verge of panic. Now she began to shake, and she felt a swelling in her throat. No. Start screaming now and you’ll never stop, she told herself. Don’t think about it. You don’t have to deal with it. Just find Tom. Tom. For the first time Jenny looked at the floor. They were all lying there, Zach with his blond ponytail streaming out behind him (on a moss-green carpet worked with cabbage roses, but don’t think about that, don’t think about that now), Summer with her light curls cradled protectively in her small arms, Audrey with her French twist coming loose. Dee’s long legs were sprawled near the window, and Michael’s stocky body was curled in a ball beside her. Tom was lying against the wall-where the sliding glass door should have been. As Jenny got up unsteadily and began moving toward him, he stirred. â€Å"Tom? Are you okay?† She took his hand, and when his warm, strong fingers closed around hers, she felt better. He groaned and opened his eyes. â€Å"Hell of a headache,† he muttered. â€Å"What happened?† â€Å"I don’t know,† Jenny said in a small, precise voice. She was still close to having hysterics. She hung on to his hand hard enough to bruise. â€Å"We’re not in the living room anymore.† It was just the truth, and she had to say it. She needed to share it with someone, the way Summer had needed to share about her dog being put to sleep. But Tom scowled. â€Å"Don’t be stupid,† he said, and Jenny felt the little needle stab she always did when he snapped at her. â€Å"We can’t be anywhere else. Everything’s fine.† All his good humor had vanished, along with the rakish charm of his smile. His neat brown hair was just slightly mussed, and his green-flecked eyes looked both dazed and angry. He’s defensive, Jenny realized. Scared that it’s his fault. She tried to squeeze his hand, but he was getting up. So were the others. Dee was rubbing the back of her neck, looking around with quick, alert movements. She reached down and pulled a groaning Michael to his feet. Audrey was standing, too, her hands automatically going to fix the combs in her auburn hair even as she stared at the room. Summer was cowering by the spindly-legged table that had taken the place of Jenny’s mother’s coffee table. Only Zach didn’t seem frightened. He was standing and his clear gray eyes were open, but his lips moved soundlessly and he looked-entranced. As if he were moving in a dream. Nobody said a word. They all looked around stupidly, trying to make sense of their surroundings. They were standing in a Victorian parlor, lushly carpeted, furnished with Gothic Revival tables and chairs. A green lamp with a silk fringe hung from the ceiling. It looked like the perfect place for a seance. Jenny recognized it. She’d seen the pattern of the cabbage-rose carpet printed on tagboard. Zach had cut out the paneling with an X-Acto knife, and Audrey had put together that mahogany table. They were in the paper house. It had come alive around them. They were inside it†¦. Jenny’s hands came slowly up to cover her mouth. Her heart had begun a deep, sick pounding. â€Å"Oh, my God,† Summer whispered. Then, with gathering force, â€Å"Oh, my God, oh, my God-â€Å" Michael began to giggle hysterically. â€Å"Shut up,† Audrey said, breathing hard. â€Å"Both of you, shut up!† Dee went to the wall and touched a candlestick, fingers dark against the bright brass. Then she reached up and stuck her fingers in the candle flame. â€Å"Dee!† Tom rapped out. â€Å"It’s real,† Dee said, looking at her fingertips. â€Å"It burns.† â€Å"Of course it’s not real!† Audrey said. â€Å"This is all-some kind of illusion. Like virtual reality-â€Å" Dee’s eyes flashed. â€Å"It is not virtual reality. My mom’s a computer expert-she knows what real VR is. Not the Pac-Man kind you get with video games. Even they can’t do anything like this. Besides, where’s the computer? Where’s our helmets?† She smacked a flattened hand against the wall. â€Å"No, this is real.† Michael was feeling a chair, still half giggling. â€Å"So maybe it was some of Audrey’s mushrooms. What were they called? Shiitake? Maybe it’s a judgment on us.† â€Å"Take it easy, Mike,† Tom said. He looked angry, which Jenny knew meant he was feeling uncertain. She watched him, all the while stroking the smooth mahogany of a tabletop. She felt the same compulsion that Dee and Michael obviously did-to touch things here. She kept expecting them to feel like cardboard, but they were real. â€Å"Okay,† Tom said, â€Å"we’re not in the living room. We’ve been-moved somehow. Somebody’s playing a joke on us. But we don’t have to just stand around like idiots and take it.† â€Å"What do you suggest we do?† Audrey said acidly. Tom strode over to the parlor doorway, which opened on a dim hall. â€Å"The guys can come with me and scout around; you girls stay here and keep your eyes open.† Dee threw him a scornful look, then turned narrowed eyes on â€Å"the guys.† Michael was tapping on the walls, muttering, and Zach was just staring, the skin of his face drawn tight over bones. Jenny wanted to go to him, but she couldn’t move. â€Å"Good luck,† Dee said to Tom. â€Å"Hurry back to protect us.† â€Å"Don’t anybody leave,† Summer said, her blue eyes wet. â€Å"You protect Jenny,† Tom snarled at Dee, thrusting his face close to hers. Jenny felt an instant of throbbing warmth, which was immediately swept away by coldness. How could anyone protect anyone here? Dee crossed the room and put an arm, hard as a boy’s, around Jenny’s shoulders. â€Å"Right,† she said. â€Å"I think we should stay together,† Michael said nervously. â€Å"Oh, what’s the difference?† Audrey said. â€Å"It’s not really happening anyway. We’re not here.† â€Å"Then what is it?† Summer asked, on the verge of hysteria. â€Å"Where are we?† â€Å"In the Game.† The voice came from the corner of the room, from the shadow behind the Oriental screen. It was a voice that didn’t belong to any of the group, but one that was familiar to Jenny. She’d only heard it once before, but she couldn’t mistake it. Like water over rock, it was full of elemental music. Every head turned. The boy stepped out of the shadows. He was just as beautiful as he had been in the store. But here, against the backdrop of this quaint and fussy room, he looked even more exotic. His hair shone in the dimness like white cat’s fur or mountain snow. He was wearing a black vest that showed the smooth, hard muscles of his bare arms, and pants that looked like snakeskin. His eyes were heavy-lidded, shielded by long lashes. He was smiling. Summer gasped. â€Å"The picture. The paper doll in the box. It’s him- â€Å" â€Å"The Shadow Man,† Michael said hoarsely. â€Å"Don’t make me laugh,† Tom said. Lip curled, he looked the apparition up and down. â€Å"Who the hell are you? What do you want?† The boy in black took another step forward. Jenny could see the impossible daylight color of his eyes now, though he wasn’t looking at her. His gaze swept over the others, and Jenny could see it affect them, like a wave of cold air that caused them to draw together. She could see each of them reacting as they looked into his face and saw-something there. Something that caused their eyes to go wide and suspicion to turn to fear. â€Å"Why don’t you call me Julian?† â€Å"Is that your name?† Tom said, much more quietly. â€Å"It’s as good as anything else.† â€Å"Whoever you are, we’re not scared of you,† Dee said suddenly, letting go of Jenny and stepping forward. It sounded like the truth, as if Dee, anyway, was not afraid, and it seemed to encourage the others. â€Å"We want to know what’s going on,† Tom said, loudly again. â€Å"We haven’t done anything to you. Please just let us go home,† Summer added. â€Å"You can’t go home again,† Zach murmured. It was the first time he’d spoken. He was wearing a strange half smile. â€Å"Bud, you’re in worse shape than I am,† Michael told him in a low voice. Zach didn’t answer. Only Jenny stayed back, not moving, not speaking. Her sense of dread was getting stronger all the time. She was remembering a look like a starving tiger’s. â€Å"At least tell us what we’re doing here,† Audrey said. â€Å"Playing the Game.† They all stared at him. â€Å"You agreed to play. You read the rules.† â€Å"But-playing? What playing? You mean-â€Å" â€Å"Don’t talk to him about it, Mike,† Tom interrupted. â€Å"We’re not going to play his stupid game.† He’s so scared, Jenny thought. He still thinks this is all his fault. But it isn’t, Tom, it isn’t____ â€Å"I mean,† the boy in black said to Michael, â€Å"that you all swore you were playing of your own free will and that you knew the Game was real. You invoked the rune Uruz.† He sketched a shape in the air with his finger, an inverted U. Jenny noticed that the snake tattoo she’d seen on his wrist in the store had vanished. â€Å"You pierced the veil between the worlds.† Audrey laughed, a sharp false sound like glass shattering. Michael breathed, â€Å"This is nuts.† Dee’s expression said that she agreed. â€Å"What’s a rune?† Audrey opened her mouth, then shut it again tightly, shaking her head. Julian’s lip quirked and he lowered his voice. â€Å"It’s magic,† he said. â€Å"A mystical letter from an ancient alphabet. In this case designed to let you walk between the worlds. If you don’t understand it, you shouldn’t be messing with it.† â€Å"We didn’t mean to mess with anything,† Summer whispered. â€Å"It’s all a mistake.† The fear in the room had heightened. Jenny could sense it like a yellow aura enveloping them all. â€Å"No mistake. You chose to play the Game,† the boy said again. â€Å"Now you play until you win-or I do.† â€Å"But why?† Summer said, almost sobbing. â€Å"What do you want from us?† Julian smiled, then looked past her. Past all of them, to the one person who hadn’t said a word since he’d entered the room. To Jenny. â€Å"Every game has a prize,† he said. Jenny met the impossibly blue eyes and knew she’d been right. They stood for a moment, looking at each other. Julian’s smile deepened. Tom looked back and forth between them. Understanding slowly dawned on his face. â€Å"No †¦Ã¢â‚¬  he whispered. â€Å"Every game has a prize,† the boy repeated. â€Å"Winner take all.† â€Å"No!† Tom said and launched himself across the room. Tom lunged at the boy in black-and drew up short. His eyes were fixed on something at his feet. Jenny couldn’t understand it-it was as if he saw something terrifying there on the carpet. He turned to get away from it and stopped. It was behind him, too. Slowly he backed up against the wall. Jenny was staring at him in dismay. It was like watching one of the mimes out at Venice Beach. A very good mime-Jenny could tell that the things Tom was facing were small, that they were trying to climb up his legs, and that he was terribly afraid of them. But there was nothing on the carpet. â€Å"Tom,† she said in a thin voice and took a step. â€Å"Don’t come near me! They’ll get you, too!† It was awful. Tom, who was never afraid of anything, was cornered by empty air. His lips were drawn back from his teeth, his chest was heaving. â€Å"What is it?† Summer whimpered. The others were all staring in silence. How to cite The Forbidden Game: The Hunter Chapter 4, Essay examples