Falling Into Darkness: The Under Series Book 1

by Dakota Lake

  “Breakfast is served.”

  He pulled back a chair and I helped myself. I hungrily tucked into my breakfast, pushing Gunner's head away repeatedly with my elbow every time it made it's way on to my plate. “So this will probably sound a bit random, but do you know where this bracelet came from?” I asked holding my arm up to show him. “I've had it since I was little and now it's bugging me that I cant remember.”

  He smiled. “Yeah I remember. Only cause mom made such a big deal out of it. She was convinced you had pinched it from Grandma Opal's jewellery box, but Grandma had never seen it before. Then mom wanted to get it valued and you screamed the house down cause you refused to take it off.” “So where did it come from?” I asked.

  He laughed. “The story you told everyone was your friend crabby, I think that's what you used to call him, whatever you used to call him apparently gave it you.”

  “Cammy,” I said, remembering the name I had heard in my dream.

  “Cammy, yeah that's it. I didn't think crabby sounded right.”

  “ I still don't understand, who was Cammy?”

  “I guess he was your imaginary friend or something. You used to spend hours in the garden talking to him, you would read stories together, you were always making him things or drawing pictures to give him. I think he had a pet sparrow or something like that.”

  “What?” I blurted out, this was becoming strangely familiar.

  “Maybe it was a parrot, I can't remember it was years ago you had such a big imagination back then.” The dream flashed across my mind of the little girl and the black bird, it looked exactly like the raven I had seen outside.

  “Don't suppose it was a raven?”

  “I dunno, I never saw it, your imagination not mine. But he had a name as well. Please don't ask me to remember that as well, we are going back over ten years here.”

  I sat frozen like a statue. This was probably the weirdest conversation I had ever had with my brother.

  “Does Rocky sound familiar?”

  “Actually yeah, wow you have a good memory, you were only little at the time. Why are you asking me this, you're not seeing black birds are you?” he said joking.

  “No of course not, I just wanted to know about the bracelet.”

  An imaginary friend named Cammy and his pet bird. I thought about my dream with the tall stranger and the bird. I was beginning to think maybe it wasn't a dream but an old memory resurfacing.

  Then my thoughts wondered back to the raven I had seen outside the cabin it had the same markings as the one in my dream, except that one wasn't imaginary cause Micah had seen it, he'd even tried to kill it at one point.

  Maybe that was my problem I was going crazy from spending too much time with Micah and too much time in this cabin.

  I was certain I wouldn't have stolen the bracelet, maybe I had got lucky when digging for treasure in the backyard and I'd randomly dug it up. At least that's what I was telling myself. To say that some stranger who used to visit me with his pet bird had given me the bracelet was just plain creepy and rather scary.

  I spent the day in a daze pacing back and forth between my bed and the window. Nothing could hold my attention I didn't feel like reading and Carly still hadn't emailed me back. Seth went to work in the evening and I was left on my own. I started to question whether I was actually going crazy when I found myself sitting at my window with mixed feelings as to whether I should call out the name Rocky or not.

  In the end I closed the window deciding against it, I was being silly it was just a stupid dream. I still went to bed that night wondering, what if?

  The following morning the school was buzzing with gossip from the weekend, mainly about the after dark activities that went on at The Jump and who they were going on with. I spotted Brandon a few times in the corridor he was walking round with two black eyes and a fat lip. He diverted his eyes every time he spotted me and stared at the floor instead. Apparently he had got beaten up on the way back to his car on Saturday night and Mack's name came up a few times amongst the hushed gossip. Caitlin was convinced Mack had gone back to The Jump and tracked down Brandon because he'd tried to give me a spiked drink. She was convinced that Mack had a thing for me.

  I didn't know what to believe and I couldn't ask Mack because he was making a real good job of avoiding me.

  The week passed quickly and Mack managed to skip every English class we had together. He had even walked the opposite way when he saw me walking down the corridor towards him. I know he said he was going to stay away, but I didn't think he meant it this seriously. Cam on the other hand was everywhere I went, it was like he was lurking around every corner I turned. Even after school at the The Bowler, he would be there somewhere in the background. Each time I saw him and we made eye contact a chill would creep up the back of my neck. I got the feeling he was actually following me but I tried to brush it off as me been overly paranoid at least I hope that's what it was. Each time I had no other choice but to pass him in the corridor I would keep my eyes pinned to the floor. We hadn't spoken much and I wanted to keep my distance from him.

  Every morning he would catch me at my locker before the first bell and say 'Good morning, princess'. I wasn't sure whether I should tell anyone about him and his weird behaviour. Monday morning rolled round and I was awoken early to the sounds of the forest, birds chirping and the trees rustling in the wind. I had grown somewhat found of the sounds that came from outside the window. The noises usually stirred me awake every morning that my alarm was no longer necessary.

  I got myself washed and dressed like every other morning, ate breakfast by myself and waited on the porch for Micah to turn up. Seth left for work early most mornings, with the occasional late shift where I was left on my own all night. Even though I didn't see much of Seth, I still didn't feel as alone as I did living with mom, I actually looked forward to Seth returning from work. I heard Micah's trucks before it came into view. He swung in next to Seth's truck, got out and switched to Seth's truck.

  The ride was quieter than normal. He wasn't saying anything and he kept fidgeting. He usually commented on my messy untamed hair or made jokes about my dress sense. But today we drove in silence. This wasn't like him I think I preferred him picking holes in me. He pulled up outside school and waited for me to get out. I said bye to him and got no response. I climbed out and started walking towards school, I had only gone a few steps when I realised he was following me. “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “I thought I'd walk you in.”

  “I'd rather you didn't.” I noticed people were looking at us. There were all sorts of rumours going round the school about the older guy that dropped me off each day. People thought he was my boyfriend and we had got in a jealous row last week and that's why I had a bruise on my face. Obviously that wasn't true and him following me would only make the rumours look true. “Okay,” he said falling back a few steps but still following me.

  “Stop it. What are you doing?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Stop following me, it looks weird. Go away.”

  “Fine.”

  He turned and headed back to the truck. I didn't know what was wrong with him but he was acting strangely, not that he ever acted normal in the first place but he seemed worried about something. I had just got my locker door open when my cell started going off in my bag, I rummaged around trying to find it. I finely dug it out and looked at the caller I.D Micah was ringing me. “What do you want?” I asked.

  “If I tell you to do something, will you listen and do it with no questions asked?” “I dunno. Depends, is it legal? I'm not going to jail for you Romeo.”

  “I'm heartbroken. Now listen carefully there is a corridor in your school with a display cabinet full of trophies and photos,”

  I knew the cabinet he was talking about it was just around the corner.

  “Yeah what about it?” I asked as my eyes searched the corridor then made their way back to Mack's locker. I was quietly wishing he woul
d walk round the corner.

  “Stay away from it don't walk anywhere near it.”

  “Huh...what!”

  I realised I hadn't been listening to Micah.

  “Just don't walk anywhere near it today or the rest of the week. Do you think you can manage that?” “Wait what are you talking about?”

  “Have you been listening to anything I've been saying,” he was speaking too quickly and his tone had gone up a notch.

  “Sorry I was distracted, say again,”

  “The cabinet, don't go anywhere near it. Avoid walking past it today or any other day this week, you got that?”

  “Right.” I said, still having no idea what he was going on about.

  “You know I think you've been drinking too many of those energy drinks they're killing your brain cells.” I joked.

  The bell sounded loudly above.

  “Ruby do as you're told for once and stay away from it.” was the last thing he said before he hung up.

  I shut my locker and walked over pausing at the end of the corridor he had been talking about. I looked down at the cabinet everything looked fine to me, people were rushing back and forth like normal. I had no idea what he was worrying about but it didn't matter, I had no reason to walk down there I could easily take a different corridor there were so many.

  The morning couldn't have gone by any slower I tried to focus on work but found myself clock watching counting the minutes down until my English class started, in hopes Mack would be there. The new rumours circulating was he had dropped out completely or had been expelled for fighting. But he never showed up. I was starting to think the rumours were true. The bell sounded at the end of class and I sluggishly gathered my books together. Caitlin walked over to me and pulled an over the top glum looking face.

  “What's with the sad face?” she asked.

  “What sad face? I don't have a sad face,”

  “Really, every time I turn around I see you pulling this sad puppy dog face staring at the empty stool next to you.”

  “I do not do that, I'm not that pathetic.”

  She gave me a questioning look.

  “Okay maybe once or twice. I'm just curious as to where he went. He's been gone over a week now and no one seems to know where he is,”

  “Maybe he got an S.T.D or something,” she joked.

  “Funny Caitlin.” I said playfully back to her.

  As we left the classroom we noticed the corridor was filled with more people than usual. I could hear peoples thoughts, all were the same about some girl called Millie. We waited at the edge, out of the way looking for Aimee and wondering what was going on.

  Caitlin got bumped from behind and knocked into me, we both looked up to see a rather guilt stricken Brandon looking back at us. Since the weekend at The Jump none of us had really seen much of Brandon at school and the rest of the time he avoided us like the plague. “I'm sorry.” he stuttered.

  “For what, bumping me or trying to drug me?” Caitlin asked all smiles erased from her face. “Both. It was a mistake there was a mix up with drinks. But what I did was wrong. I'm sorry.” “Well you're still a jerk. Did that hurt?” she asked pointing at his face. His bruises had faded but a few healed cuts remained visible.

  “Not as much as my arm, it got twisted pretty bad. It's still sore.”

  “Oh really where?” Caitlin asked.

  I looked at her wondering why she even cared. He pointed to his shoulder area. Then without warning she punched him in the shoulder. She must have hit him pretty hard as he staggered back a step.

  “What the....Caitlin I already said I'm sorry.”

  “That was for Josh and it made me feel better. Oh and don't bother asking to borrow my notes again.”

  “You're as crazy as that psycho Mack.” Brandon said as he walked away.

  “Still think it wasn't Mack?” she asked, looking at me sideways.

  “I can't believe Mack. What sort of person goes around beating people up like that,” “I dunno, this is Mack we're talking about. You've heard the rumours as well as I have, maybe some of them are true. Maybe he's in anger management and that was him falling off the wagon.” “Why do I feel like it's my fault Brandon got beaten up,”

  “Does it matter? Brandon deserved that for what he was doing or attempting to do. I think Mack likes you, to have gone and done that. He clearly wasn't doing it for me. Do you not see the way he looks at you?”

  “No I haven't noticed cause he's not even been here and he's probably not even coming back.” “Well he looked at you differently, you just didn't see it. Well Brandon deserved it. Jerk.” “I can't believe you're condoning this type of behaviour.”

  “Admit it, you secretly love the whole bad boy who would do anything for you act.” “Okay. Who are you and what have you done with Caitlin?”

  “I don't know punching Brandon has unleashed my alter ego.” she laughed.

  Aimee walked over to us pushing some girl out of the way to get to us quicker.

  “Can you believe this. I mean it's Millie who cares no one really likes her anyway, she's an anorexic twig and now she's got everyone talking about her again.”

  “What are talking about, what's going on?” Caitlin asked.

  “You seriously don't know yet? What are you like the last two people to join the party,” “We were talking to Brandon. What's going on with Millie?” I asked.

  “Light fitting fell down hit her on the head, knocked her clean out. They just drove her out in an ambulance.”

  “Oh my goodness, that's terrible. Is she going to be all right?” Caitlin asked shocked. “Who knows, who cares. But it was to be expected karma is a wonderful thing, what goes around comes around. That skinny bitch had it coming.”

  “Aimee shhh! Not now,” Caitlin whispered noticing a few people had overheard Aimee and were looking at us.

  “Whatever I'm out, see you guys later. I've go a hot lunch date with my laptop.” Aimee said in a cheerily tone, bouncing away.

  “I'm so sorry, she's never liked Millie or anyone else for that matter. And she doesn't care who knows it.”

  “It's okay I get it, she's anti social unless it has a hot smile and a pair of wheels.” “Yep that pretty much sums up Aimee. I mean sure Millie wasn't the friendliest person to me and she used to chuck bubblegum in my hair but I would never wish her any harm. I hope she'll be all right. It could have been me, I walked that way for first period. Do you mind if we eat lunch outside today?” Caitlin said looking at the light fitting nearest us.

  We found a spot at the front of the school under a large tree. The sun was out and I could feel the warmth on my face, it was a nice change compared to the dull drizzly weather that normally engulfed Heaven's Point. I took my hoodie off and wedged it between my back and the tree as I leaned back.

  Caitlin pulled out her pre-made sandwich and started tucking into it. I picked at the chicken wrap I had just bought from the cafeteria but I'd suddenly lost my appetite.

  Everything Micah had said this morning was starting to make sense, he didn't want me to go down that corridor because he somehow knew something bad was going to happen with the light. He was trying to protect me from it.

  But how did he even know something like that was going to happen in the first place? Caitlin started pulling books from her bag, her sandwich was hanging out her mouth.

  “I've got so much to do,” she said still chewing her food.

  “For what?” I asked.

  “History Assignment.”

  “Assignments already,”

  “Yes and Mr. Stewart expects a lot from us. So I'm getting a head start on this assignment.” “What's it about?” I asked picking up a lose piece of paper with Caitlin's scribbled notes. “Heaven's Point.” she said.

  “Heaven's Point as in the town?” I asked.

  “Yes. I could think of a million other things I'd prefer to be researching. We have to research the towns history and find out as much as we can about the town and it's history in
cluding it's name and all that silly nonsense surrounding it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You know about how the town got came by its name?” she said unscrewing her water bottle. I shook my head, I'd never heard anything said about the towns name before.

  “Surely you've heard about it or your brother has mentioned it?”

  “No, not that I can remember,”

  “Okay, well supposedly the town got it's name 'Heaven's Point' because it's the place where all the fallen angels fell to from heaven, they all I dunno, landed up here. It's been the towns history since forever dating back decades. I know it's completely ridiculous, but you ask anyone's grandparents and they will tell you the same thing because most of them believe the stories are true. All the older generations believe it, but not ours so much,” she shrugged her shoulders. “It's crazy right?” “I don't know. I've never heard anything like it before. What do you think about it, do you believe it?”

  “Well my grandma Dorrie believes every word about it, but my parents think she just talks crazy rubbish half the time. I mean just think about it, if it was true, where are these fallen angels and Nephilim, are they just walking around with us. I mean do they even look like us, like humans?” “What's a Nephilim?”

  “It's the name given to any offspring from a fallen angel. All fallen are male and if they mate with a human woman you get a Nephilim. Half angel, half human. But it still sounds a bit far fetched for my liking. But if you ever meet my Grandma Dorrie just agree and nod your head it's easier than trying to reason that it's all a load of rubbish.”

  “Neph-il-im.” I said to myself.

  The word felt strange saying it out loud, but also a little familiar.

  “I need as much info I can find on the town and fallen angels but the school library is somewhat lacking. I'm going after school to see if the public library has anything I can use. You can come if you want, I mean you don't have to but I thought we could stop off at that small 'Mocha Choca Café' afterwards, they do great hot chocolates. I can give you a ride home later,”

  “Sounds great, I have nothing else to do anyway. I just need to message Micah.” I finished my lunch and sat there lost in my own random thoughts watching the clouds over head drift by. I was soon distracted when a ball rolled up near my feet. We both looked up to see a group of boys near the parking lot looking back at us.