Chapter One: First Contact
Incredibly intrigued by the prospect of what possibly lay ahead over the next few days Gemma waited patiently for her contact to make themselves known to her. Drawing a deep breath to steady her nerves she had to admit to feeling more than a little apprehensive, she was taking a chance this was the first time she had dared to do anything remotely risky. To meet a complete stranger on the strength of an advert placed in an obscure magazine was on the face of it insanity, but how else would like-minded individuals meet otherwise. Though thoroughly intrigued by the idea, her common sense still told her to flee while she could. Even so she waited exactly as the now damp letter that was gripped tightly in her slightly trembling hand had instructed her to do.
Little did she know the contact she was expecting was observing her carefully from the relative security the darkness of the car park gave them. Fascinated as Gemma was she felt increasingly uncomfortable and anxious by the wait, she began to pace back and forth nervously in the service area's brightly lit foyer. Perhaps they were watching or even testing her, whatever if her contact was much later she would be gone. Her anxiety was clear, she looked odd, already the cafeteria manager had eyed her suspiciously once or twice as her passed her.
Reaching a decision about the girl's suitability the unseen party finally left the security of their vehicle; trying to seem casual the individual cautiously approached the foyer doors ever watchful for any sign of danger or entrapment. At first she paused momentarily just outside the brightly lit area keenly assessing her surroundings for any threat she may face. Reaching out with all her senses he felt no alarm and saw no hint of danger so proceeded, even so constantly scanning her surroundings as she entered the foyer. The anxious girl was at the far end of the foyer now and was turning towards her as she moved through the automatic door; even at this distance she sensed her turmoil of mixed emotions.
Insane as it seemed to her at that moment a few weeks ago Gemma had answered an obscure personal advert placed in an underground Gothic magazine she had picked up at a concert. The ad had requested for individuals that may be interested in "Participating in intriguing Occult role-playing games" to contact a given Post Office box number, the advert had caught her eye. More than a little interested in the occult horror and the supernatural in general already she had smiled to herself as she remembered the last farcical amateur attempt at role-playing she had been daft enough to take a part in.
After a little thought at first Gemma dismissed the idea, initially she laid the magazine aside but over the next few days she had kept returning to look at the ad and each time the thought of replying to it grew more tempting. Finally Gemma succumbed to the increasingly insistent urge she felt to apply, what did she have to worry about, after all she could assess the reply she got. When the reply came if things seemed at all odd or too weird she wouldn't respond again she decided. Laughing to herself Gemma scrawled a quick note; she popped it into an envelope and mailed it. Whatever she thought when she received the reply she would act upon, it could be a real laugh, after all the chances of it being serious were small.