Falling Into Darkness: The Under Series Book 1

by Dakota Lake

I agreed I had nothing better to do tomorrow and Seth said he was working, I didn’t want to stay at the cabin all day on my own anyway. The boys had only stepped outside when Aimee grabbed the menu leaned over the table and started fanning Caitlin with it.

  “Breath girl. He's only a boy.” Aimee said.

  “He really likes you,” I said to Caitlin.

  “You think so? I'm not so sure,” she said taking a sip of her drink.

  “Oh you two drive me crazy, I’ve been telling her for months that he likes her but she won't believe me, it's so obvious.”

  Aimee was now banging Caitlin on the head with the menu in a playful manner. Caitlin looked at me.

  “She's right, it's really obvious.” I said. We were all laughing when Micah appeared out of nowhere. “Time to go little lady,” he said.

  I cringed had he really just said that I wasn't a three year old.

  “We can take her home,” Aimee said.

  Micah looked at her then back at me.

  “I don't know.....I think I should take her home.”

  What was with this guy they would be saving him a journey out to the middle of nowhere, which I was pretty sure he didn’t really want the hassle of anyway.

  “No it's no problem, I don't mind driving her back.” Caitlin said.

  “Plus we just put in an order for one of those massive chocolate ice cream towers, that we need Ruby to help us finish it.” Aimee said smiling sweetly it was a lie but he didn’t know that, so I shrugged and looked at him.

  He scratched the back of his neck.

  “All right but it's quite a trip out of town. You'll probably get lost,”

  “It's fine.” Aimee snapped.

  “Fine but you're to take her straight home no detours and what’s your driving like?” I couldn't believe what I was hearing, this was embarrassing I hardly knew Micah now he was interrogating my new friends.

  “I'm an excellent driver plus it's my mom’s car so I’m extra careful.” Caitlin said looking a little flustered.

  “I want her home by ten,”

  I scowled at him who was he to give me a curfew. He noticed my scowl and returned it. His cell started vibrating he looked at the caller ID then back at us.

  “Fine eleven, I’m trusting you with her.”

  He aimed the comment at Caitlin then stalked off with his cell to his ear and out the front door. I watched him walk past the windows, I turned to see the girls doing exactly the same. “I am so sorry Caitlin, that was really weird I hardly know him,” I said.

  She was taking another sip of her drink staring over the rim at me nodding like it was no big deal. “Actually I thought it was kind of hot.” Aimee said twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. We both stared at her and burst into giggles.

  “I just thought it was creepy. How do you know him again?” Caitlin asked.

  “He's friends with my brother and I only met him yesterday.”

  “Maybe it's a good thing he's not driving you home he's a little.....” Caitlin was searching for the right word.

  “Dominant! I like guys like that.” Aimee said.

  Her eyes we're scanning the parking lot out the window for him but he was long gone. “You know you're lucky that guy rarely comes in here and when he does the girls are drawn to him, like bees to the honey pot but he never has anything to do with any of them. Even I've tried talking to him but he just shook his head, did this little walking action with his fingers and told me to 'run along' and trust me boys don't normally turn this down.” she said pointing to herself. Caitlin just shook her head laughing, she was obviously used to this sort of talk from Aimee. We actually did end up ordering one of the chocolate ice cream towers Aimee had mentioned, it took us half an hour to finish the thing. I felt slightly sick by the time we all piled into Caitlin's mom's car. I was silently praying I didn’t throw up all over the back seat. Caitlin turned the key to start the car but nothing happened so she waited thirty seconds and tried again.

  “What's wrong?” Aimee asked sounding rather annoyed and bored.

  “I don't know? Mom's car has never not started before.” Caitlin said turning the key again. “Should we look under the hood or something?” Caitlin asked us.

  “How should I know? I’m not a mechanic.” Aimee said pulling her earbuds out of her pocket and popping them into her ears.

  Caitlin and I got out of the car lifted the hood and stood there unsure what to do next. “Any ideas?” She asked. I shook my head wrapping my arms around myself to try and keep warm. “Is there anyone you can call?”

  “I'll try my dad, hopefully he hasn’t gone to bed already.”

  She scrolled through the numbers on her cell.

  “Can I be of assistance,” said a voice from behind us.

  We both spun around to find rather cute looking boy watching us.

  He was tall with floppy layered blonde hair and even in this light I could see it had been bleached that way as his eyebrows were dark. He had on scruffy looking jeans, boots and a short grey sleeved T-shirt.

  “Do you know anything about cars?” I asked him.

  “A little, here move out the way, let me have a look.” he said.

  I glanced over at Caitlin hearing her thoughts she's was more worried he was going to break something else. I moved to the side to let him past pulling Caitlin with me.

  “It won't hurt for him just to look it's not like he can make it worse.” I said trying to reassure her. He leaned over the car, I noticed a tattoo on the inside of his right forearm it was a black sun with black flames and I caught a light scent coming from him. It smelled like roses I remembered the smell from when I was little we had a small rose bush at the bottom of our garden and the smell was exactly the same. He turned to Caitlin.

  “Try it now,” he said.

  I found myself smiling for no apparent reason at the sound of his voice. I quickly stopped when I noticed Caitlin looking at me.

  I nodded my head to her approving what he had just said. She scurried round to the drivers side. I turned back to find the guy looking at me with a smirk on his face. The first word that popped into my head was 'hot' he definitely looked hot. I was surprised Aimee hadn’t got out of the car and jumped on him.

  “I'm Cam by the way,”

  I realised I was over staring at him, more like drooling. But I couldn't bring myself to look away from his eyes they were so dark, they looked almost black. I'd never seen anyone with black eyes before, maybe because it was dark outside it was making made them seem blacker then they actually were, I wasn't sure though. And his voice I was sort of memorised, it sounded amazing to me and some what familiar. I stood up straighter trying to compose myself.

  “I'm Ruby,”

  I couldn't stop staring and he didn't stop grinning at me, but the engine roared to life breaking the connection between us.

  I stepped away from the car and he shut the hood. Caitlin lowered her window.

  “Wow.....you are a life saver thanks so much,” She called to him, he nodded in her direction then promptly turned on his heel and started walking away. I stared at the back of him even the way he walked was hot, seriously what was I thinking this wasn't like me.

  “Thank you,” I called out.

  He spun around and carried on walking backwards grinning.

  “Night Ruby. It's nice to finally meet you again.”

  I stood there for a moment wondering if I heard him correctly. When the car horn startled me. “Ready?” Caitlin asked. I nodded putting on my belt.

  “Wait...who was that?” Aimee asked. All of us staring out the window watching the back of Cam disappear around the corner.

  “Well it's too late now Aimee. You should have got out of the car anyway I think Ruby called dibs on that one.” Caitlin said pulling out of the parking lot.

  “Not fair,” Aimee sulked.

  “Seriously calling dibs. I’m only here for the week, I doubt I’ll ever see him again.” I said looking out the window, secretly hoping
I would run into him again.

  We were halfway back to the cabin when I realised I hadn't heard his thoughts. We arrived at the cabin after a very up hill bumpy ride. We took a few wrong turns there were so many different turns off the main road and I couldn’t remember which one was the right dirt track. Caitlin didn’t seem to mind though, I just hoped they would find they're way back okay.

  Seth's truck was parked out front but the motorcycle that had been round the side of the cabin was gone, he must of switched and taken the bike. The temperature outside seemed to have dropped even more, maybe it had something to do with been on higher ground. The inside of the cabin didn't feel much different though. I didn't like the idea of trying to light the fire myself I’d never done it before, I would most likely set fire to the cabin or myself.

  I decided to hop in the shower to warm up hoping there would be some hot water. Thankfully there was. I let the shower warm up as I collected my clothes opting for leggings, a jumper and a pair of my favourite stripy socks that pulled up to my knees there was no way I was going to bed in my vest top and panties like normal, I’d probably turn into an icicle.

  I spent a little longer than necessary standing under the water it was so warm and the idea of stepping out into the cold made me stay there longer. I heard the house phone downstairs ringing for the third time since I had stepped into the shower. I ignored it and my thoughts drifted to Cam, his face kept appearing in my mind on reply I couldn’t seem to turn it off. His smile, his eyes, his voice everything about him was so....so familiar.

  “Ruby stop. You're never going to see him again.” I said out loud to myself. I didn’t want to become one of those silly teenage girls infatuated with one boy overnight like they did in the movies. I heard the phone ringing again I groaned not wanting to leave the shower but thinking it might be Seth panicking that I didn’t get home okay, so I shut off the water and quickly towelled myself down. The phone had since stopped and started yet again. I opened the bathroom door hopping along the landing trying to get my other leg into my leggings, my socks would have to wait. “Hello,” I said out of breath from running down the stairs so quick.

  “Ruby. Why weren’t you answering the phone? What have you been doing, it's gone twelve?” It was Micah and he sounded really annoyed.

  “Sorry I was in the shower trying to warm up this place is freezing,”

  I heard a voice muffled in the background.

  “Yeah she’s fine, just cold.” Micah said.

  His voice had gone a lot quieter. It sounded like he was holding the phone away from his ear trying to cover the mouth piece. I was straining my ear to hear what was been said.

  “How should I know I'll ask her....Ruby,” Micah had put the phone back to his mouth. “Yes,” I replied curiously wondering who he was talking to, maybe it was Seth? But why hadn’t Seth just phoned me himself?

  “If you're cold light the fire.” he said in a sarcastic tone.

  “I would if I knew how and I don't think Seth wants me setting fire to the cabin seeing as it's made out of wood and all,”

  I waited for his response but he'd gone quiet again.

  “I’ll go over and sort it,” said the other voice.

  I didn’t recognise it, but definitely not Seth.

  “No that's a bad idea. You're meant to be staying away from her remember,” Micah said. If he was meant to be covering the phone with his hand he wasn’t doing a very good job of it. “Ruby you still there?”

  I was preoccupied listening to see if I could hear the other voice.

  “RUBY! Are you listening?” Micah practically shouted down the phone.

  “Yes what is it you actually want? Is that Seth with you?” I asked.

  “Listen keep the doors locked, don't answer the door if anyone knocks, you got that,” Micah knew as well as I did this place was isolated why would he say that? No one was likely to knock on the door and definitely not at this time of night, I got the feeling he was trying to scare me, he really was a douche bag.

  “Sure Micah, I won't answer the door not even if it's the little old lady from next door asking if we've got sugar.”

  “Ruby, I’m not joking around,” he barked back at me.

  “Micah stop it. I don’t know what you're doing but you're starting to scare me.”

  “Just go to your room Ruby. Read a book or something Seth will be home later.” Then the phone went dead. He'd hung up.

  Seth would be home later. It had already gone twelve what was he out doing? I put the phone down and decided to make a hot chocolate to take to bed but not before I raced around the house locking the doors and checking all the windows were secure. Micah had actually made me panic a little and I was suddenly very aware that half the windows downstairs didn’t have curtains and if anyone was outside they could very easily see in. I didn’t waste much time after having those insanely crazy thoughts hurrying back upstairs with my drink. At least my bedroom had curtains. I stood at my window holding the mug between my hands to warm myself, outside was dark but I could faintly see the outline of the trees as they swayed in the wind. I was been ridiculous there wasn’t anything scary outside the only thing that had frightened me was Micah, I was already starting to dislike him and I hardly knew him. I still shut my curtains though. I left my nightstand light on and got under the covers and put my earbuds in, the music helped to drown out the sound of the howling wind. I closed my eyes waiting for sleep to take over and the last thought I had was of a blonde haired boy with black eyes and a devilish smile.

  I woke up to the sound of tapping over the music. I took my earbuds out and pulled the cover down slowly. The room was dark, the light I had left on was now switched off. I leaned over and quickly switched it back on. Then I noticed the purple furry blanket was draped over me, which I knew I hadn't unfolded from it's place at the bottom of the bed. The tapping continued and seemed to be coming from the window, I slowly moved my legs over the side of the bed and stepped onto the floor. My heartbeat had sped up and was on overdrive. I moved carefully to the window and reached for the curtain. I took a deep breath and pulled the curtain back. I let out a small squeal falling backwards at the same time, landing on my backside. I looked up at the window to see a crow hoping around on the ledge pecking at the window. No not a crow it was bigger. It looked extremely similar to the bird that had landed on the deck earlier. I stood up and moved closer for a better look at the bird. It wasn't entirely black though it looked to have a white splotch of colour on it's head so I wasn't sure what it was. I banged on the window and shooed it away, it took off into the night. I shut the curtains again. Stupid bird.

  I checked my cell it was gone two in the morning Seth must be back by now, he'd probably come into my room to check on me and covered me with the blanket, I knew for a fact I hadn’t. My door was half open and I straight away realised the house seemed a lot warmer then earlier and even smelled warmer.

  Downstairs the fire was lit and crackling.

  “Seth you up?” I checked all of downstairs which only took seconds as there was only the walk in living room, kitchen and a small back room where he did his laundry. I raced up the stairs and threw his door open without bothering to knock first but all I found was an empty bed. I sat on the couch unsure what to make of it all. All I could come up with was Micah must have come over lit the fire found me asleep and covered me up. Well whoever let themselves in meant me no harm, which helped calm my nerves and the dog had never barked he was curled up in front of the now burning fire. I eventually gave up thinking about it and fell asleep on the couch.

  Chapter Six

  I woke up to sunlight streaming through the window, I slowly sat up squinting. There was a bag dumped by the front door Seth was back but I'd never heard him come home. The smell of cooking drifted through the room and I could hear someone moving around in the kitchen. I got off the couch stretching as I walked into the kitchen. I was expecting to see Seth, instead I found Micah standing over the cooker.

 
There were groceries bags along the counters. Seth had been food shopping or maybe Micah had? I knew he'd seen me standing in the doorway as he had glanced at my feet a second ago but he carried on cooking and continued to ignore my presence.

  “What are you doing?” I asked as I walked over and sat down at the table.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” he said sarcastically, chewing gum. What was his problem? He didn't have to be so rude.

  “Where's Seth?”

  “He's in bed. Don’t disturb him,”

  “So what are you doing and don’t say 'what does it look like', I can see you're cooking breakfast. Don’t you have your own place to do that?”

  He didn’t reply, I stood up and the chair grated along the floor.

  “Sit,” he said, it sounded as if he was speaking to the dog.

  I sat back down and started tracing the patterns of the wood grain in the table waiting for him to say something else.

  “What have you got planned for today?” he asked with his back to me.

  “The girls that I met yesterday have asked me to go with them to watch their friends play soccer,” “Do you need a ride?”

  “No they’re going to come and get me.”

  Why was he asking me what I was doing? It was none of his business, I didn't even know why I had told him. I stared at the back of his head but then quickly diverted my eyes. I didn’t want to pass out and fall asleep on the kitchen table for ten hours like last time in the truck.

  He glanced at me scowling. I gulped like I had just been caught cheating blinked and pretended something out the window had caught my eye. What if he could read my mind?

  I quickly shut my thoughts off and did what Seth seemed to be getting quite good at lately and started singing full volume in my head and the first thing that popped into my mind was a nursery rhyme I learned when I was younger. I thought this was probably the worst choice at first but then I realised if he could hear me singing 'Old MacDonald had a farm' he was probably going to wonder what on earth I’m doing and show some sign he could hear me. Wasn't he? I started singing and slowly moved my eyes back to him but he just carried on regardless, it wasn’t working. I stopped and thought of the one thing to get a guys attention.... there's a naked lady at the window! I said trying to sound as shocked as possible in my head but Micah didn’t even flinch he just carried on like normal and walked back to the fridge returning the milk. Huh...maybe he couldn’t hear me? He picked up the plate of food and walked to the doorway pausing.