As they watched the Jumanji movie, Malia and Kitty finally understood what the board game was—and both were immediately excited.
Malia bounced in her seat. "We don't have to finish the movie. Let's just play!"
Kitty nodded eagerly. "Yes! Let's play!"
Allison smiled. "I can't wait to play either, but we already started watching. Let's finish it first. What do you think?"
Malia sighed. "Fine. The movie's pretty good so far. I don't mind finishing it."
Jacob leaned back, but his mind was elsewhere. 'Hey, System. Does the Jumanji game affect the whole world? I was thinking… maybe we could play in Beacon Hills and not finish the game on purpose. Let things get wild. Reveal myself as a dragon and expose the supernatural side of the world. See how humanity reacts. Maybe attract some powerful creatures and fight them. And if things go badly, I could just finish the game and reset everything back to the time before we started. It'd be a perfect way to test the waters and learn what kind of powerful creatures are hiding in this world.'
[Sorry, Host. The Jumanji game does not affect the whole world. Instead, upon the first roll of the dice, the game generates a self-contained, hyper-realistic illusionary dimension. This dimension is limited to an area roughly the size of a small town—Beacon Hills, for example. If you play there, the game will create a pocket realm that is an exact replica of Beacon Hills, complete with simulated buildings, terrain, and even people. To you and any other players, this illusion will feel one hundred percent real—sights, sounds, pain, everything. The game's dangers and creatures exist only within this copy.]
[Meanwhile, the real Beacon Hills and the rest of the world continue on completely normally, unaware and unaffected. And no matter how long you spend inside the game's dimension—days, weeks, even years—when you finish, you will return to the exact moment you started. No time will have passed at all.]
'So, I can't reveal myself as a dragon to the whole world in that illusionary dimension?'
[Correct, Host. That small area which the game transforms into an illusionary dimension becomes the entire world to you until you finish the game. However, you could, for example, go to Washington, D.C., and use the game to turn the area around the White House into an illusionary dimension. Then you could see how the government reacts upon learning you are a dragon.]
Jacob sighed internally. 'Forget that. I wanted to see how the whole world would react, not just the idiots in the White House. They'd just try to use me or drop a nuke on me. Anyway, the game still sounds fun.' He thought for a moment. 'The girls, Kitty, and I want to play. Maybe others too. But isn't the game limited to four players?'
[There is a way for everyone you want to include to join, Host. You can form teams. The team leader rolls the dice, and their team members help them deal with the dangers that emerge from the game.]
'I see. Anything else I should know?'
[The creatures that come out of the game are real living beings from the Jumanji world. However, you cannot kill them while they are in the illusion dimension. When they are defeated, they are simply sent back to their own world. But if they kill you or another player, you will die for real.]
[Additionally, if you roll a dice and the game sends you into the world of Jumanji until another player rolls and summons you back, that world you enter will be the real Jumanji world. And if you kill a creature there, they will die permanently.]
Jacob's eyes lit up. 'Can I bring people back with me from the Jumanji world?'
[You can bring non-living things by storing them in your pocket dimension. Living creatures cannot be brought out yet—not until I can properly locate that world and you can travel there by opening a dimensional portal after the upgrade.]
Jacob sighed. 'That's disappointing. I was hoping to bring back Ruby Roundhouse. She's hot. But if I get lucky enough to go there, I'll find her and get to know her. I just hope you can help me get to that world soon, System.'
[That depends on your luck, Host.]
---
When the movie ended, Jacob explained everything he'd learned from the system about how the game worked.
Allison frowned thoughtfully. "Then we need to be careful. Some of the things in the movie were no joke—giant mosquitoes, that man-eating plant. And Alan said there were much worse things in the game."
Jacob shrugged. "Don't worry. We're strong. Those things will be easy for us." He grinned. "I was thinking of inviting everyone and playing in Beacon Hills. What do you girls think?"
Lydia considered. "Then we should wait until morning. It's dark in Beacon Hills now, and I don't want to fight scary giant bugs at night. I hate bugs."
Malia pouted. "But I don't want to wait until tomorrow!"
Jacob patted her arm. "We could play now, but it might feel a little boring tomorrow when we play with everyone else. Let's wait. I promise we'll play as much as you want after this."
Malia sighed dramatically. "Fine."
Jacob nodded. "Okay. Allison, you go tell your parents about the game. Tell them to rewatch the movie too. Let Cogman and Natalie know as well. I'll tell Stiles, Scott, and Noah."
Allison nodded and left.
Jacob pulled out his phone and sent a few quick messages. When he finished, he stood and scooped Lydia into his arms. "Now, let's go to my room. I need to punish you for overthinking things when I took you to watch Scott and the others help Jackson."
Lydia winked, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "I thought you forgot."
Jacob smiled back. "How could I forget? Tonight, I'll remind you just how much I love you."
With that, he teleported them both to his bedroom, where they spent hours together until Lydia finally passed out—thoroughly exhausted, a satisfied smile still lingering on her lips.
---
The next morning, Jacob and Lydia shared a quick shower, then headed to the dining room for breakfast. Malia and Kitty were already there—along with an unusually excited Cogman.
Cogman rushed to Jacob the moment he saw him. "Good morning, sir! May I participate in the Jumanji game as well?"
Jacob smirked. "Sure." He kissed Malia and sat down beside her.
Soon, the room filled. Allison arrived with her parents and Natalie. Stiles, Noah, and Scott filed in. Melissa was the last to join.
As she walked in, Scott's jaw dropped. Beside him, Chris, Noah, and Stiles looked equally stunned. Across the room, Victoria and Natalie stared, their eyes going wide as they took in Melissa's youthful new form.
Scott found his voice first. "Mom… what happened to you? That can't just be one of Jacob's nano masks, right? Because it's not just your face—your whole body has changed."
Melissa smiled serenely. "No, I'm not wearing a mask. I'm young again." She tilted her head. "The only thing that makes me look old now is you." Her smile widened. "So from now on, when we're outside, you should call me Melissa. Not Mom."
Scott clutched his chest dramatically. "Are you trying to disown me?"
Melissa's smile turned wicked. "Yes. I raised you into a man. You can take care of yourself now."
Scott glared at Jacob. "I blame you for this."
Jacob grinned. "Even though Mel doesn't want you to call her Mom anymore, I wouldn't mind if you called me Dad. In fact, I'd love that." He leaned forward, anticipation shining in his eyes. "Go on, son. Call me Dad. Let me hear it."
Scott's eyes flashed. "Screw you."
Melissa laughed and walked over, ruffling Scott's hair. "Relax, sweetheart. I was just messing with you. You can still call me Mom."
Natalie stared at Melissa, her eyes wide with wonder. "Melissa, how did you become young like that?"
Victoria leaned forward. "Are you a supernatural creature now? Or did Jacob give you something to eat or drink?"
Melissa smiled. "He gave me something to drink."
Both Victoria and Natalie turned to Jacob with hungry eyes. They walked toward him, and Victoria cleared her throat, attempting her sweetest, most maternal tone. "Jacob, honey… can you give me what you gave Melissa? It's the least you could do. After all, I gave you my precious daughter."
Natalie nodded eagerly. "Can I have some too?"
Jacob raised an eyebrow, then produced two cups of Fountain of Youth water. He handed one to each of them. "Here. Take it." He looked at Victoria with a slight shudder. "And please—never act all nice and sweet like that again. You scared me." He held up his arm. "Look. Goosebumps."
Victoria snatched the cup from his hand. "Do you think I like being nice?" She pointed at her own arm. "Look—I have goosebumps too." Her expression softened, and a genuine smile broke through. "But… thanks. Now I think I love you more than my stupid daughter."
Allison pouted. "Mom!"
Victoria shot her daughter a teasing wink.
Natalie held the cup in trembling hands, her eyes darting from the water to Jacob. "Thank you, Jacob."
Jacob nodded. "You're welcome. Now drink up."
Victoria and Natalie raised their cups and drank. Everyone watched as the magic took effect—wrinkles smoothing, skin firming, bodies returning to the vibrancy of youth.
Chris and Noah stared, pleasantly surprised—and suddenly feeling very old.
Lydia and Allison immediately surrounded their mothers.
Allison beamed. "Wow, Mom. You look beautiful."
Lydia studied Natalie with a grin. "You look gorgeous, Mom. If people saw us now, they'd think you were my sister."
Lydia and Allison exchanged a glance—then their eyes widened in unison.
"Oh no," they said together.
They turned to look at Jacob.
Jacob was casually eating his breakfast, but his gaze kept drifting toward Victoria and Natalie. He studied them up and down, nodding appreciatively, his eyes lingering on their faces.
'I knew they might have been beautiful when they were younger,' Jacob thought, 'but this is a surprise. Both of them look so hot. Even Victoria. Too bad they're Allison and Lydia's mothers. And they're both in relationships.'
[Don't even think about it.] Allison's and Lydia's angry voices rang in his mind.
Jacob's gaze snapped away from Victoria and Natalie. He looked at Allison and Lydia and replied telepathically, [I'm not going to lie—they're both beautiful. And if they weren't your mothers, I might consider going after them. But they are your mothers. So relax. I have no interest in them. I'm just appreciating their beauty. Nothing more.]
Allison's telepathic voice was cold. [Then stop looking at them like that. Your charm ability only works on women you're interested in—and with those hungry looks you're giving them, I think you're very interested. Stop before it's too late.]
Jacob sighed internally. [Fine, fine. I'll stop staring. And like I said—I'm not interested. Don't worry so much.]
Satisfied—for now—Allison and Lydia each grabbed their mothers and teleported out of the dining room to find a mirror.
Chris and Noah finally came back to their senses. Chris stood, walked to Jacob, and cleared his throat awkwardly, extending his hand.
Jacob smiled and placed a cup in it.
He took another cup and looked at Noah, who was still sitting, unable to muster the courage to ask. Jacob walked over and handed it to him.
Noah took it gratefully. "Thanks, Jacob."
Both men drank. The years melted away.
Stiles grinned at his father's new appearance. "Dad, you look great!" He lunged toward Jacob, arms outstretched. "Jacob, thank you! I could just kiss you..."
Jacob's fist connected with Stiles's face. Stiles flew backward and crashed into the wall.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Stiles slid down the wall, groaning. "One day I'm going to kiss you, Jacob. I promise."
Jacob settled back into his chair. "Cogman, beat up Stiles, please."
Cogman's smirk turned wicked as he eyed Stiles. "With pleasure, sir."
Stiles scrambled to his feet. "I'm not afraid of you, you stupid tin can!"
What followed was less a fight and more of a chaotic mess—eye gouging, hair pulling, attempted wedgies, and some truly ridiculous karate moves on Stiles's part that would have made any martial artist cry. They didn't use their super strength, keeping it purely ridiculous. In the end, they both ended up tangled on the floor, kicking, punching, and pulling each other's hair and cheeks like children.
Everyone laughed as they watched the ridiculous spectacle. But soon, the laughter died down. One by one, they shook their heads and returned to their breakfast, completely ignoring the two idiots. They'd gotten used to these childish fights by now.
---
After breakfast, everyone teleported back to Beacon Hills and gathered at Jacob's mansion to begin the game.
They settled in the living room and split into four teams:
- Team 1: Jacob, Stiles, Scott
- Team 2: Allison, Chris, Victoria
- Team 3: Malia, Kitty, Cogman
- Team 4: Lydia, Melissa, Natalie, Noah
Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and produced five small vials. "White Honey Potions," he explained. "Drinking this grants permanent immunity to all poisons." He handed them to Kitty, Chris, Victoria, Natalie, and Noah. "The rest of us have already taken it. Drink these now, just in case something in the game tries to poison you."
They thanked him and drank.
Stiles glanced at his father, a happy smile on his face. Jacob immediately pointed a warning finger at him. "Do anything stupid—like try to kiss me again—and you're out of the game."
Stiles raised his hands in surrender and didn't dare say a word.
Jacob pulled out the Jumanji board. The moment it left his pocket dimension, the familiar drumming began—low at first, then growing louder.
He opened the game and placed it on the table.
Stiles leaned in, reading the engraved words with growing excitement:
"JUMANJI
A GAME FOR THOSE WHO SEEK TO FIND
A WAY TO LEAVE THEIR WORLD BEHIND
YOU ROLL THE DICE TO MOVE YOUR TOKEN
DOUBLES GETS ANOTHER TURN
THE FIRST PLAYER TO REACH THE END WINS."
He continued, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper:
"ADVENTURERS BEWARE:
DO NOT BEGIN UNLESS YOU INTEND TO FINISH.
THE EXCITING CONSEQUENCES OF
THE GAME WILL VANISH ONLY WHEN
A PLAYER HAS REACHED JUMANJI AND CALLED OUT ITS NAME."
Malia bounced impatiently. "Alright, alright! Let's start already!"
Each team captain took their token. The teams joined hands, forming connected chains. The captains tossed their tokens onto the board simultaneously.
The tokens landed—and slid into their starting places on their own, guided by an invisible force. A green light pulsed from the crystal ball in the center of the game, sweeping outward like a wave. It passed through each captain and their linked team members, warming them briefly before settling—acknowledging them as official teams bound to the game.
Jacob looked at Malia. "You go first."
Malia grabbed the dice, a wild grin spreading across her face. She shook them in her hand, then threw them onto the board.
To be continued… 😊