The Nightmare Game (36 page)

“Of course,” I said, both flattered by and
suddenly uncomfortable with so much new attention; I simply wasn’t used to it.
“Listen, guys, you’re getting way ahead of me. I haven’t even had a chance to
get my bearings around here yet and it just might be a moot point anyway.
Nobody’s really sure if I’ll be allowed to stay or not.”

“Oh, but it’s a done deal,” Robert declared,
unwrapping his embrace. “Haven’t you heard?”

“I was going to tell her on the way out,” Ben
said. “But since you bring it up, Ashley, the good news is that I spoke with
Arrosha this morning and she tells me that you are formally accepted to our
group. We thought as much when she let you take essence last night, but now
it’s official. It’s only your decision now as to whether you want to stay or
not.”

“Congratulations, my dear,” announced Robert,
followed by similar kudos from the rest.

“Thanks, I guess,” I replied, not knowing how to
take these tidings. “So the pressure’s on me now to make a decision. But I
don’t know see how I can possibly make up my mind since my memory’s so shot
that I can’t even remember my own life. It’s like asking a five-year-old to
sign a contract.”

“Oh, but Ashley, you must stay,” Robert replied.
“You absolutely must. And once you join us, I most certainly hope you won’t
mind if I pursue you.”

“Can I please get my memories back first?” I
pleaded, feeling quite out of my depth.

“Of course,” he said, “I didn’t mean to pressure
you, dear. Please take all the time you need. I’m a very patient man. However, I
can’t help but hope that you decide on me.”

“Whatever you do, Ashley,” Ricky remarked, still
smiling broadly, “Don’t set your sights on Ben.”

“C’mon, guys, cut it out,” Ben good-naturedly
objected.

“That’s very good advice,” said Robert, ignoring
Ben’s protest. “For you see, Ben’s taken as well.”

“Even if he weren’t,” Ricky added, “it wouldn’t
help you anyway. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your equipment’s just
not the type for his liking.”

“Cute, Ricky, very cute,” Ben shrugged.

“So you see,” Robert continued the ribbing. “If
you fall for Ben, he will just break your heart. He has eyes only for Geoffrey.
Always has, always will. Isn’t that right, Ben?”

Ben rolled his eyes upward in mock annoyance.
“Give me strength, please. See what I have to put up with around here, Ashley?”

“But it’s true, Ben, you have to admit it,” Illea
added.

Ben clapped his hands and scolded playfully,
“Children, children, that’s enough for now. Why don’t you all scurry away and
play so that I can continue showing Ashley around.”

The three of them smiled mischievously and,
holding hands, skipped down the hallway.

“This is us, scurrying,” they said in unison
before breaking into a run and flying down the stairs, laughing.

“Wow, they’re really in a good mood today,” I
remarked.

“They usually are, especially the day after
essence. Robert and Ricky are like peanut butter and jelly, almost as much as
Kenny and Antonio. They tend to get a little goofy when they’re around each
other.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. So, Ben, what are we going
to take in today?”

“First of all, I want to show you where our indoor
recreational area is since we have to pass right by it on our way out. I don’t
want to spend too much time there because once you know where it is, you can
always come back to explore it another day. After that, I’ve only got three
spots on the agenda for this afternoon: the games arena, the water sports area
and the reflecting pool. There’s more to the grounds than that, but I think
it’ll be enough for a start.”

“Sounds good,” I told him. “I’d rather be outside
anyway. I feel like I’ve been cooped up too much these days.”

“Wonderful,” he said. “I have to warn you, though,
before we go out there that Geoffrey’s playing tennis today.”

I groaned audibly.

“I know,” Ben conciliated. “He made a lousy first
impression. I don’t know what got into him that put him into such bad form
yesterday. I mean, he was working even my nerves and that takes a lot. Ashley,
I really am sorry that he wasn’t nicer to you.”

“Did I do anything offend him, Ben? He seemed to
dislike me right off the bat.”

“Of course not. You haven’t been awake long enough
to offend anybody,” he said, smiling.

“True enough, but I still don’t think he likes
me.”

“Geoffrey doesn’t know you. He’ll warm up. Just
give him a chance.”

“You think?”

“Sure. He’s just the moody sort and as much as I
hate to admit it, he’s been a real little turd lately. Try not to give it a
second thought. He’s been sullen and temperamental for the last few weeks, long
before you ever showed up. Just try to remember that whatever’s going on is
Geoffrey’s problem and not yours.”

“So it was just my imagination that his rudeness
was directed at me?”

“Not really. He definitely did have a bee in his
bonnet about you last night and it had more than a few of us raising our
eyebrows. But I can assure you that it was nothing really personal.”

“How can it not be?”

“A few reasons. First of all, you weren’t
officially approved by Arrosha until this morning and Geoffrey probably saw you
as an interloper. You see, only our group is allowed to take essence. It’s
never given to guests.”

“I definitely picked up on that, but I get the
feeling there was more.”

“You’re right. Now Ashley, don’t get your feelings
hurt when I tell you this, but like I said, it’s Geoffrey’s problem. He can be
a real snob at times. He always has been and lately it’s gotten worse again.
You need to understand that he grew up dirt poor and as a result, he’s entirely
too impressed with trappings and appearances. You see Arrosha’s touch
definitely leaves its mark on us for the better. It gives us a more regal –
je ne se quoi
is the only way I can describe it. I
think he was reacting to that quality, that seal of approval, not being present
in you. I’m sure his rudeness will be temporary, though, and that once he sees
you again, he’ll start being nicer to you soon enough.”

“Now that I’ve been accepted?”

“Of course.”

“And now that the essence has made me more
‘presentable’?”

“I was trying not to go there, but sad to say,
yes. In Geoffrey’s mind, that is definitely a factor, a major factor to be
honest. As much as I love him, I have to admit that at times he can be very
superficial. And now that you are both officially accepted and more
‘presentable’ to him he’ll eventually come around.”

“Oh, wow, lucky me,” I said, mustering all the
sarcasm into my voice that I possibly could.

“I know. I’d feel like that, too if I were you.
Please try to be patient, though, and try not to take him too seriously.”

“Alright, Ben, but only for your sake.”

“Thank you. And if it helps at all, let me tell
you that last night’s essence improved his spirits so much that he’s been the
epitome of ‘Good Geoffrey’ ever since. I really want you to get to know that
side of him. He can be so funny and charming when he’s being ‘Good Geoffrey’. He’s
been a bit difficult lately, so I think something really must have been eating
at him. I have no idea what it could be, but I think that he finally worked his
problems out last night. At least, I sure hope so.”

“I hope so, too,” I agreed, although I wasn’t able
to imagine a “Good Geoffrey”.

“So you see, Ashley, he should be a lot nicer to
you today.”

“Should?”

“Yes, that’s the best I can offer. You have to
realize that if he still insists on being a jerk, there is always the
possibility that he’s jealous of you.”

“Jealous? Of me?” I asked, surprised.

“Sure. He thinks I’ve been ignoring him since your
arrival, so he resents it. At first, Illea and I spent most of our time tending
to you in the sickroom and since your recovery, I’ve been busy showing you around.
I never spend that much time with new arrivals to our group. I help them orient
a little, but they come here already prepped to a large degree. Geoffrey’s not
used to having to share me with anybody else when there’s no soiree around to
keep him otherwise occupied. He’s extremely possessive, despite the fact that
I’ve never given him any reason to doubt me. It’s actually quite hypocritical
because, given his nature, he thinks its perfectly alright for me to have to
share him.”

“Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Sometimes. In my first life, it used to hurt me
to the quick. But Geoffrey’s a changed man since his arrival here and so am I.
Since I’m a lot more secure within myself now than I was in my first life, and
since his dalliances are no longer serious, I don’t let it get to me for too
long. Besides, experience over the years has taught me that it takes a long
leash to make Geoffrey a happy Geoffrey. When he’s happy, I’m happy. As long as
he doesn’t try to run past his leash, I can generally put up with his habits. I
guess it’s just not in my nature to be jealous.”

“He’s lucky to have you,” I commented.

“I know. But as for you, young lady, don’t let him
get your goat. He’ll come around eventually. I can’t wait for you to meet him
when he’s ‘Good Geoffrey’, Ashley, because he’s such delightful company then.
It might take a little while, but he’ll come around. And once he does, you’ll
get to see what the rest of us see in him, because when he’s not being an ass,
he’s actually very entertaining and a whole lot of fun.”

“Okay,” I acquiesced. “I’ll have to take your word
for it.”

“Besides,” Ben declared, clapping his hands
together, “we have much more important things to decide today other than how to
handle Geoffrey. For example, which do you prefer to take now, stairs or
elevator?”

“Stairs, definitely. We did elevator yesterday.” I
was happy to leave the subject of Geoffrey behind and get on with more
agreeable topics.

“A fine decision, madam,” he agreed. “A fine
decision indeed.”

With Ben at my side, I sailed down the Grand
Staircase with far more grace and ease than I’d ever have thought possible.

“I just love this place, Ben!” I announced with
glee. “It’s phenomenal! I feel so elegant here. I feel like a movie star going
down these steps.”

“Magnificent, isn’t it?” he agreed. “Barring the
obvious pratfall, this staircase is an instant grand entrance. I’ve been told
by many of our party guests that our little group is quite an impressive sight
as we descend together. Oh, Ashley, regardless of your decision, I do hope you
decide to stick around at least long enough to attend one of our galas.”

“I would love to, Ben. I can’t think of anything
I’d like better than to attend one of your galas. In fact, I can’t imagine a
single thing urgent enough to make me want to leave any sooner.”

We reached the bottom of the staircase and turned
right, then took another right down the hallway at the far side of the
elevator.

“This is the hall that goes past our indoor
recreation area before it reaches the back door,” Ben explained, “When we get
there, I’ll just give you a quick synopsis of what it has to offer. Now,
Ashley, if you ever want to wander on your own, this shouldn’t be hard for you
to find, right?”

“Nope, I’ve got my bearings for everything you’ve
shown me so far except for the hookah room; I’m still a little fuzzy on that
one. I think it’s the disappearing doors that throw me off.”

“Ah, well, we have quite a few more of those at
various places about the mansion to keep the strangers at bay, but they’re all
open today because we’re not expecting visitors any time soon. Another day,
I’ll show you where the rest of them are, although they shouldn’t be a problem
to you any longer. Now that you’ve taken essence with us, you’ll be able to see
the door triggers very easily.”

Our walk came to an abrupt stop just prior to
reaching an intersecting hallway.

“Okay,” Ben said with anticipation. “This is it.
Are you ready?”

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to be ready for,
but I guess I’m as ready I’ll ever be.”

“I tell you what, close your eyes.”

“Do I have to?” I protested. “I always hate it
when somebody asks me to do that.”

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad. I just want you to
get the full impact.”

Since I trusted Ben, I did as he requested and let
him lead me by the elbow for a few feet until we stopped.

“Alright, then, here it is. You can open them now.
Don’t freak out and don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said.

Intrigued at what I might find after this
cautionary comment, it was with care that I ventured a look. He had led me into
the spot where the two halls crossed. When I looked both ways down the new
passage, I could not believe my senses. At either side, this new corridor was
unending.

“It’s impossible.” I told him. “What is this? Some
kind of optical illusion?”

“I told you the floor plan was tricky,” Ben
replied.

“This is way beyond tricky,” I said in awe.
“Really, where does this hall go?”

“Nowhere. In both directions, I might add,” he
said, enjoying himself immensely with his new show-and-tell. “The recreation
rooms begin here at the corners, near where we’re standing. The hallway doesn’t
end because all of our rooms don’t exist yet. They probably never will until we
run out of new desires for entertainment and amusements and that’s likely never
to happen.”

“You mean that if I start down either side of this
hall, I’ll never reach the end?”

“That pretty much sums it up.”

“No, way.”

“Yeah, way. For all I know, this corridor has no
beginning and no end, at least not one that any of us has been able to find.
When Geoffrey first got here, he rode one of his Harleys down this passageway
for a week each in either direction and never came close to anything even
resembling a far wall. We’ve all been met with the same results. This hallway
is endless. Of course, past the last of the entertainment areas, the doors stop
and the corridor becomes empty. At that point it’s simply ready to be filled
with whatever kind of room that you would like it to have with any kind of
amusement that you would like to indulge in.”