Falling Into Darkness: The Under Series Book 1

by Dakota Lake

  “Ruby stay,”

  “No I have to go,” I tried to wriggle my hand free.

  “You're hearing things, there's no one round here. Now stay princess,”

  My mind was racing with bad scenario outcomes. What if this was something he did all the time? Taking defenceless teenage girls out into the woods.

  “Let go,” I tried to pull my hand free again

  “Ruby stop it, I'm not going to hurt you.” he said amused, but it sounded fake and seriously creepy. “Let go of me then,” It came out almost like a cry.

  I was using my other hand trying to realise his grip on me.

  “No, not until you calm down. Ruby I would never hurt you, you have to believe me.” “Well you are hurting me,”

  The more I tried to pull away the tighter his grip got.

  “Let go of her,” said a familiar voice from behind me.

  I looked over my shoulder to see Mack and he looked angry.

  “This is nothing to do with you,” Cam said to Mack.

  “Maybe not, but if you touch her again I will make it my business and dislocate something of yours,”

  Cam grunted a laugh and let go. I fell to the floor as I had been using my weight to pull away from him. I quickly scrambled to my feet as Mack walked over to me.

  “You can't hide from me,” Cam said looking at me.

  He looked at Mack one final time, if looks could kill that would of been it. He left quickly and disappeared into the trees in seconds.

  “You okay?” Mack asked.

  I nodded not sure what to make of everything that had just happened, and everything that could of happened if Mack hadn't shown up.

  “You're shaking,”

  I hadn't even noticed I was cold, the tank top and jumper I was wearing weren't enough layers and I had left my jacket in Caitlin's car. He unzipped his own hoodie, he was wearing a green and grey striped one today which matched his green hi tops. Underneath he had on a black baggy T-shirt. “Here put this on,” he said handing me his hoodie.

  “But what about you?”

  “I'll live,” he smiled at me.

  “What are you doing this far away from the party” I asked.

  “I noticed you'd disappeared and I don't trust that guy, so I came looking for you,” he said watching me. I pulled on his hoodie which was still warm and smelled of pine.

  “He told me you were trouble and to stay away from you,” I blurted out.

  “And....what do you think?” Mack said in a low tone.

  “I don't know,” I looked at him grateful he had shown up. Caitlin's voice cut through the air loudly. “Caitlin, I need to find Caitlin. I can hear her calling for help, something's wrong,” “Really, where? I didn't hear anything,”

  “Over there I think?” I walked past him leading the way.

  We weaved in and out of the trees, we had been walking for ages and I hadn't heard anything for sometime. I was starting to think we were going the wrong way or I was actually hearing things. The sun was starting to dip and I didn't want to get stuck out here in the dark. I tripped over a branch and Mack caught me by the arm.

  “Helloooo. Can anyone hear me?” Caitlin shouted, this time it sounded near by.

  Mack snapped his head in the same direction as I did and we both rushed over. We found Caitlin at the bottom of a ditch she had her cell in her hand holding it in the air, probably trying to get signal. She was stood over Josh who was either asleep or passed out.

  Mack helped me climb down steadying me with his hand.

  “Ruby, I thought no one was ever going to hear me?” Caitlin said, stepping away from Josh. “I couldn't leave him after he started being sick,”

  “What's wrong with him?” I asked.

  “I dunno he was fine one minute then he said he was dizzy and fell over,” Mack squatted down next to Josh.

  “Did he drink anything?” he asked Caitlin.

  “I don't remember.....no wait he drank my drink. I didn't want it, so I handed it to Josh,” Mack looked up at her waiting for her to catch up, on what had happened. “Oh my gosh I drugged Josh,” “Err, no the person that gave it to you did.” I said, putting my arm around her.

  “I can't believe Brandon would do that what a jerk.”

  “What did this Brandon guy look like?” Mack asked.

  “He had a T-shirt with a smiley face on over a jumper, baggy pants with a red cap on backwards.” “What, that's the same guy that offered me a drink, I'm glad I declined.”

  I looked down at Josh lying on the floor. I would have never known Brandon's intentions when giving me the drink as there were so many thoughts filling the air and I wasn't really paying attention at the time. Now I wished I'd been more alert as I could have prevented this. Mack picked Josh up and threw him over his shoulder like he weighed nothing, then we picked our way back through the trees, eventually making it back to the clearing just in time before the light faded. There were now torch lights set up and lit so the fun could carry on into the night, but I'd already had enough fun for one night and desperately wanted to get out of here.

  “Where have you guys been? You're missing all the fun,” Aimee said trying to get Caitlin to dance with her.

  “What happened to Josh?” Aimee asked poking at Josh as he hung over Mack's shoulder. “Brandon drugged him,” Caitlin said furiously.

  “What, why would Brandon do that? Surely Josh isn't is type,” she said giggling. “Aimee that's not funny the drink was for me.”

  “I've told you before not to take drinks from Brandon, he's a creepy perv.”

  “He's in my history class, I didn't think he would do something like this. I let him copy my notes yesterday cause he was late.”

  “Poor little Caitlin, when will you ever learn,” Aimee put her arms around her.

  “We're leaving, you coming?” Caitlin asked.

  Aimee pouted. “We were just about to roast some marshmallows,”

  “Well you can roast them from home. Anyway it looks like we are the only sober ones left to drive, it's now or never. You know you're on your final warning from your mom about curfew.” “Point taken, lets roll,” Aimee said marching in front like a wobbly toy soldier.

  We all helped get Josh into Caitlin's car, he laid across the whole of the back seat. Aimee climbed in the front, which didn't leave much space for me. I grabbed my jacket from the car and returned Mack's hoodie back to him.

  “Maybe we can push Josh over,” Caitlin said, looking at the seating arrangement. “I'll can take her home,” Mack said. I looked around wondering if he came here on his bike. “Ruby, I'm sure we can shove Josh over if you don't want to err....” Caitlin said to me with her back to Mack.

  I looked over at Mack, he had his hands shoved in his pockets waiting for me to decide. “I live out in the middle of nowhere past Eggy's Diner at the end of a very long dirt track.” “Let me guess old cabin in the woods, backs onto the river,”

  “Yeah.....that's the one,” I replied noticing the sly smile on his face that made me think he already knew where I lived, he didn't need to ask.

  “No problem,” he said walking off leaving me with Caitlin.

  “Are you sure about this?” Caitlin asked.

  “He's not that bad, I'm sure he'll get me home in one piece. Where are you taking Josh?” “Robbie had to spend tonight with his parents, they're actually home for once. So we've arranged to drop him off there. Robbie can keep an eye on him until he sleeps it off. Josh's parents would flip if they saw him like this.”

  “What about Robbie's parents, wont they mind?”

  “They wont even know, Josh will be in the guest house.”

  “Guest house?”

  “I know right who has a guest house. They are so rich it's unbelievable.” Caitlin hugged me goodbye.

  “So glad you heard me calling for help, can't believe no one else did,”

  I was still figuring out how though. It was like she was just around the corner when in reality we walked well past hear
ing distance.

  It was like my senses were going into overdrive. What was happening to me? First smelling the deer from my bedroom and now hearing Caitlin.

  “Drive safe,” I said to her as she closed her door.

  I wondered over to Mack he was leaning up against a large red Jeep.

  “This is nice, for a minute there I thought I was going to have to sit on the back of your bike,” He grinned at me and grabbed my hand pulling me around to the back of the Jeep. “Sorry to disappoint, but the truck isn't mine. This is all mine though,”

  He climbed onto the motorcycle and handed me the only helmet.

  “You can wear it, probably look better on you,”

  “I doubt it.”

  I was still deciding whether riding on the back of his bike was a good idea or not. Seth would kill me if he knew I was about to climb on the back of a random boys motorcycle.

  I took one finale look at the bike before putting the helmet on. Just hoping I would get home in one piece.

  Thankfully the ride home wasn't as scary as I had first thought it would be, holding onto Mack was probably helping. I was probably holding on far too tight though but he didn't show any sign he minded my arms around him.

  The sun had completely set by the time Mack pulled up near the cabin.

  He parked behind a tree just out of view from the cabin. The porch light was on, but over here we were hidden by shadows. I got off and looked around the tree expecting to see Micah with his nose pressed up against the window, but no one was looking out.

  Mack swung off and leaned back against his bike.

  “Thanks for the ride and for getting me home in one piece,” I handed him back his helmet. “Well I prefer you in one piece not all separate bits, this is much better.” I wasn't sure whether he was flirting with me or joking.

  “So do you like that guy?”

  “Who Cam?” I asked. He nodded kicking a stone across the dirt. “I don't really know him,” “You looked like you were enjoying his company,” he said, no emotion showed on his face. I wasn't sure if he was annoyed, upset or not even bothered.

  “So earlier you were really spying on me,” I lightly joked. I knew he'd said he'd come looking for me but I didn't know how much he had seen of what happened between me and Cam. “I think it would be a good idea if you stayed away from him, like really far away,” he said not smiling.

  “And why is that?”

  “I don't like him, he's not right. And I don't think he had any intention of letting you leave earlier.” “Yeah it got a little scary at that point.”

  “You should definitely stay away from him. I don't want him luring you into the woods again.” “You make him sound like a real creep,”

  “He is. And what normal girl goes into the woods with some freak she doesn't even know,” Mack said, looking straight at me.

  “The first day I sat next to you in class, you weren't exactly friendly to me yourself and earlier you said you'd followed me to see where I'd gone. Maybe I should be staying away from you,” “Oh, so I just rescued you from the creepy janitor and you think I'm the bad guy here,” He shook his head half laughing half annoyed. “You want me to stay away from you fine,” He pulled his helmet on.

  “Ruby,” Micah called. He had spotted us and was walking this way. I groaned.

  “Mack I didn't mean it like that....”

  He cut me off. “I have to go there's something I need to take care of,”

  He climbed onto his bike, I quickly moved out the way and Mack pulled off in a hurry. It was my fault I'd upset him, I couldn't blame him wanting to get away from me.

  He had driven me home safely and I had somehow managed to accuse him of stalking me even though he had really rescued me from Cam.

  Even if he had been following me I knew deep down I didn't care for some reason, I liked the idea of Mack following me. Probably because I liked the idea of Mack.

  “Who was that?” Micah asked having quickened his pace to get over to me.

  “His names Mack, but don't worry I don't think he'll be coming back.”

  “And where did you meet this Mack?”

  “At school. I sit next to him in English.” I brushed past him towards the cabin.

  “I thought Caitlin was driving you home tonight?”

  “She was, but Josh was passed out in the back seat of her car and there wasn't really much room for me. So Mack offered me a ride.”

  “Why was this Josh boy passed out?”

  “He drank something that had been drugged, I guess,”

  “What! Where on earth were you? I thought you were going bowling?”

  “I never said that did I?” I replied innocently.

  “Yes you did,”

  “Okay well I might have accidentally lied about my location.”

  “Accidentally lied. There's no such thing. Where were you?”

  “Just this place called The Jump,”

  “Seriously. Seth would hit the roof if he knew you were there. That place is well known for it's after dark illegal activities.”

  “It wasn't that bad and I knew if I told you I was going you'd tell Seth and stop me,” “That's not true. I would of just gone with you,”

  “That would have been worse than not going. Do you know how odd it would look you following me around all night. Not to mention you don't know how to be normal. Look I don't want talk about it anymore today has been really weird.”

  My eyes wondered in the direction of the dead deer from this morning. I looked at Micah, he probably knew what I was thinking.

  “Don't worry I took care of it,”

  I frowned wondering what he had done with it?

  “Me and Gunner had a bonfire.” he grinned.

  Seth opened the front door. “What are you two doing? Micah you're missing the best part,” I followed Seth into the house he was watching some action movie. I left the pair of them downstairs watching the movie and went to the bathroom looking for any form of pain relief for my head that was now pounding.

  I stared at myself in the mirror. I needed to talk to someone about what was going on, I really wanted to talk to Micah but I knew he wouldn't give me any answers and he didn't want me bothering Seth with whatever was going on with me.

  Seth was waiting until I turned Eighteen but why? Micah made it seem like Seth still viewed me as a child and I couldn't handle whatever it was he wanted to tell me.

  Things were happening and I couldn't explain them, I felt lost.

  I switched on my laptop and waited for it to load up, then I sent Carly an email letting her know everything. I knew she wouldn't have the answers to anything that was going on but it felt good to write it all down.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was a sunny day and a little girl sat on a red blanket shaded by trees. She had lined her dolls up in front of her and was feeding them crumbs from her plate. She picked up her toy teapot and was about to fill the cups in front when something caught her eye. She looked up and smiled as a tall hooded figure appeared out of nowhere.

  “Do want a cup of tea?” she asked the stranger.

  “I better not, otherwise there won't be enough for the others.” he replied in a friendly voice. “How about some cake?” she asked.

  “But then there won't be enough for the teddy bears.” he said gesturing to the bears lined up at the other end of the blanket.

  “Did you bring me my present?” the girl asked.

  “Of course I would never forget your present.”

  “Where is it?”

  “Well let me see,” he said patting his pockets down. “that’s strange I was sure I put it one of these pockets,” he held up his hands. “I can't find it, someone must havee taken it out of my pocket.” “Oh, now I won't get my present.” she whined.

  “It's okay because I think I have a pretty good idea who took it. See if you can guess. He's black and has feathers. Makes a lot of noise most of the time.”

  “Rocky took my present,” she huffe
d.

  “I think it's because he wanted to deliver the present to you himself.”

  “Where is he?” she asked getting upset.

  “I don't know, why don't we call him. On the count of three. One, two, three.....” “ROCKY,” Out loud they called at the same time.

  They both looked around waiting. After a few minutes a large black bird flew down and landed on the blanket. It had a white spot on it's head.

  “Rocky,”she said excited.

  The bird was holding a red ribbon between it's beak, the ribbon had a bracelet attached to it. The bird dropped the ribbon in front of the girl. She stroked him and picked up the bracelet. “Is this my present?”

  “Sure is, I made it just for you little princess.”

  He knelt down next to the little girl and unclasped the bracelet.

  “Here it's adjustable so you can always wear it. It's a very special bracelet made from something called black rock it's very rare found only where I come from and as long as you are wearing it I will always be able to find you.”

  “It's very sparkly.”

  “Is that a good thing?”

  “Yes I love sparkly things. It's really pretty. I'm never going to take it off. Thank you Cammy.” The little girl held her arm up in front of her admiring the bracelet, as it glittered like diamonds against the sunlight.

  I opened my eyes and rolled over in bed, the sunlight was shining through the gaps in the curtains. The dream was still vivid in my mind. I pulled my hand out from under the covers looking at the bracelet I had on my own wrist. It looked exactly the same even in this dim light the black stones glistening like diamonds. I wore it everyday and had, had the clasp replaced a number of times loosened from wearing it everyday. I tried to remember where I had originally got the bracelet from, but I kept coming up blank.

  I pulled on my dressing gown and found Seth in the kitchen attempting to flip a pan cake. “Want one? Don't worry this one hasn't been on the floor,”

  “Sure, they look great.”

  “I wasn't sure how you eat your pancakes anymore so I laid out everything.”

  I sat down picking up a lemon. Gunner trotted over and rested his chin on the edge of the table trying to see what was on the plates. Seth placed a plate overloaded with pancakes down on the table.