Matthew is not a happy man. On the eve of his 40th birthday, he stands naked before a full-length mirror and assesses what he sees reflected within. Sure, his body is toned and well-maintained. His job is physical and defined muscles are a result of the manual labour. He is handsome. But what good are these things when they house an empty heart? The most upsetting thought is that the older he gets, the less chance he has of ever finding someone to fill that void.<br><br>He runs into the night, fuelled by negative thoughts and looking to end his loneliness -- permanently. But he trips and falls. There is an explosion of pain and then ... nothing.<br><br>He wakes in a place he doesn’t recognize. He lays chained to a bed, in a prison of gray stone patrolled by heavily muscled guards. He is Nowhere, a mysterious place of erotic fantasy.

Nowhere

“As it turns out, ya insensitive little arsehole, no one was asking ya.”


Anton turned his nose up at the rebuke, got off his bed, and left the room in a huff. 


“Bloody little queen,” said Douglas. “He’s another one that wants sortin’ out.”


“Just leave him,” said Matthew. “Unfortunately we’re all stuck in here together. We’ve got to try and get on with each other, not fight.”


Douglas nodded. “Ya dead right there, more’s the pity.”


“More importantly, we’ve got to find out where those Forbidden Doors are.”


Douglas groaned. “Ya not still on about those. After what’s just happened to ya? Ya must be fuckin’ crazy.”


“Ask around for me. See if anyone has noticed which door the Master uses.”


Douglas shook his head. “As if any of them would know.”


“Ask them anyway,” said Matthew. “You never know. Ask the ones you’re comfortable asking. You only have to help me get the information. I’ll do the rest.”


Douglas, who up to that point had been kneeling at Mathew’s bed, got to his feet.


Chapter 13