“We’ve gotten a little sidetracked again,” Nick finally says. “So, after I entered Jamyria, I received my power, my markings.” He holds up his partial hand, and Margo can’t help but wince. “My whole hand was covered then.” He keeps his eyes on his hand, reminiscing.

“I thought I was going crazy, too. One minute I was in my house, the next I was in this wintry forest. I wandered, searching for any type of shelter — the ice was harsh, as you know. That’s when I saw a tower of smoke in the mountains, so I headed that direction. When I grew closer, a man cut off my path. I was so relieved to find someone else that I didn’t even think to fear him. But before I could ask him for help, he struck me to the ground. I surrendered hoping that he would either kill me quickly or at least bring me to warmth — you’re willing to do almost anything in a moment so desperate.”

Margo shivers remembering the icicle in her hand, the hot blood spilling down her hand.

“But I was lucky. I was brought to the pillar of smoke which was coming from the Queen’s house.” He pauses, watching for Margo’s reaction. “He took me into a grand white room lined with scarlet drapes. And directly in front of me she sat there watching me with a cold grin on her face, but she still managed to come across as beautiful. Her smoky-grey eyes…somehow they drew you in, making you almost believe she was good.”

“But,” Margo says interrupting for the first time, “she’s not, is she?”

“No.”

Margo guesses she should have realized this, but from the way he describes this queen, she almost believes differently.

“Does she do anything besides just take people in?”

“Far worse,” he replies somberly. That is the only answer Margo will receive for now. “When I met the Queen, I was not afraid — not of her at least. She greeted me politely and introduced me to Jamyria, much like Janie just did for you. She also explained that there was no way possible for me to go back and that I would have to get used to life here.

“I became her servant in the beginning, helping her with whatever task or assignment she had for me. I watched her bring in more people, too. Some of them she became more attached to and hired to work for her as protection rather than as mere servants — her Crew, as she calls them. So we servants, along with some of her Crewmen, were ordered to build the castle. It took us many years, but once it was finished, the Queen had no further purpose for most of us. She released us into the jungle.

“It was a relief to be free from the life I had been forced into, but as Janie said earlier, we are only free to a certain extent. We are still extremely limited. I, for example, was never allowed to return to the castle without the Queen’s request. And returning to the Real World is impossible. The only chance of that happening occurs every fifty years.” They both stare at Margo again. “Are you making the connection, Margo?”

But Janie speaks first. “She’s just a girl, Nick. She isn’t ready for this.”

“Fate certainly thinks she is,” he says. “About a year before the Queen released me,” he continues. “Rumors began to spread of a prophecy stating that every fifty years the New Marked One would enter. That one of these New Marks would free all of the people of Jamyria.”

And now it all makes sense. The click in Margo’s mind as she makes this connection is nearly audible. “So you think I’m this ‘New Mark?’” Margo cannot help but to burst into hysterics at that.

“You are the New Mark, Margo. The question is: are you the one who will save this world?”

Margo gives this a generous thought of about thirty seconds before she replies, “No thank you,” and scoots her chair out to leave.

But before she can rise to her feet Janie reaches out for her hand. “Wait. Please, just consider it.”

“Consider what?” she snaps. “I’ve barely been in this place a day, and you’ve already got my life mapped out. I don’t even know who you people are!”

“We’ll help you as much as we can —”

“Why didn’t you free everyone?” she shouts at Nick. “And if it’s every fifty years, isn’t there another one out there somewhere?”

Nick’s face slightly drops. “I was injured,” he says, quietly glancing down at his hand.

Margo is suddenly ashamed of her reaction. Of course he would have tried. He’s been in this world — she will have to get used to saying that — for over a hundred years.

“I still have some power left, but I’m no longer a match against the Queen,” he adds ruefully. “As for the previous Marked One, they found him not long after he discovered his marks. He was executed immediately.”

Margo cringes. So that means that if this Queen were to find her, she will be put to death? Perfect.

“There’s nothing to worry about, though. I have reason to believe that you will be the one to fulfill the mission. There’s just so much about you that’s different than us previous Marks. Yes, I have much faith in you.”

Janie’s sweet face is still lit up in excitement or awe. Tears well up in her eyes.

“Well,” Margo breathes. “That’s an interesting story.”

“Ha!” Nick bellows. “Story? Sorry to be so forward about this, but it’s no story. It’s reality. And you’re the center of this reality. Do you realize how many people are waiting for you? Depending on you?”

She grits her teeth. There is obviously no way around them. “Let me think about it.”

“Excellent,” Nick says.

Janie squeals.

“No, no!” Margo says firmly. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I just agreed to consider it. Nothing more.”

“Fair enough,” he says getting to his feet. “I think we’ve put enough on you for one night. Janie, do you mind if she stays over at your place tonight?”

“It’s pretty late, Nick,” she says still smiling. “She could just stay with you. I mean, we don’t want anyone to notice her, right?”

“Sure, of course. As long as you’re okay with that, Margo.”

“Yes, it’s fine.” Margo agrees, though she would have preferred to go with Janie.

He leads Margo into the tiny spare guest room, which is more of an art studio than a bedroom. He clears off all the sketches and bits of charcoal on the bed allowing enough room to sleep and offers to get anything Margo needs. She assures him she is fine and only needs a little peace after such a long day.

He shuts the door on his way out, and Margo prepares herself for the most tears she’s shed in a quite some time.