Falling Into Darkness: The Under Series Book 1

by Dakota Lake

  “Kick it back,” one of them yelled over to us. Caitlin ignored them and started putting her notes away in her bag.

  “I don't do balls. The last time I kicked a ball I landed up on my butt in the mud.” she said retrieving the last of her stuff.

  “Well,” I said picking up the ball up. “I'm not kicking it, I have such bad co-ordination I would probably hit a car,”

  I stepped away from the tree, raised the ball above my head aiming for the boy nearest who was waiting. I let go with minimal force expecting it to land no where near him, instead it sped through the air hitting him hard in the stomach and he fell backwards.

  “Wow how hard did you throw that?” Caitlin asked, handing me my bag.

  “I dunno, I wasn't expecting that to happen.”

  “Neither was he by the looks of it.” Caitlin said, as we both watched the boy struggling to get up clutching his stomach.

  “Don't let coach see you doing that or she'll have you signing up for the dodge ball team, that is one strong arm you've got there.”

  The bell sounded behind us.

  “Come on, just a few more hours and we can leave again.” she sighed as we walked back into school.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Caitlin parked opposite a place called 'Jerry's Tackle' that looked to sell both fishing and camping equipment. We crossed the street and I saw the raven from the corner of my eye. It flew overheard, I looked over at Caitlin but she hadn't noticed it. The public library was tucked around the side of the old building.

  “I would have never found this place on my own.” I said to Caitlin as she opened the door. A small bell chimed as we went in. We walked past the main desk where a scruffy looking boy was face down on the desk, it looked as though he was sleeping.

  “It used to be the whole building but they sold that side, as you can see Jerry's Tackle is out front and the library got squeezed back here, I suppose due to money cuts and stuff.”

  “Wow they certainly have managed to squeeze a lot in back here.”

  The floor space wasn't that big for the amount of bookshelves that were crammed in. The shelves went nearly as high as the ceiling and the only light came from a few windows along one side and a few overhead fluorescent lights one of which was faulty and kept flickering.

  We soon got lost in the books and forgot about the time, some of the books were extremely old and we kept getting distracted from what we were meant to be looking for.

  As we made our way along the shelves towards the back of the room the light started to fade the further away from the windows we moved.

  “How is anyone meant to see anything back here,” I said to Caitlin who was on the other side of the bookshelf.

  I heard the bell at the front door chime, I looked down the aisle I was standing in but didn't see anyone walk past.

  “Caitlin,” I called, wondering why she hadn't answered me. I walked around the corner but the row next to me was empty.

  A pair of loud footsteps from behind me made me spin around, but there was no one there. “Caitlin, where are you?”

  I walked towards the front of the library where the main desk was, the guy behind it was making a bunch of strange sounds in his sleep. I walked past the top of each row looking down trying to find Caitlin, I past four rows when I spotted movement at the bottom, the figure moved to the next row so I moved over to the next row looking down the aisle but there was no one down there. I stepped back away from the bookshelves and bumped into someone.

  “Hey, did you find anything?” Caitlin asked.

  “No nothing, did you see anyone down there?”

  “No, I think it's just us in here and well him.” she said looking at the desk.

  “Huh....I thought I heard the the bell.” I said quietly looking back down the aisle. “Do you think I should even bother asking him?” Caitlin asked looking over at the guy behind the desk that wasn't even aware of our presence.

  “Well there's no harm in asking, but I'm not waking him up.”

  We walked over to the desk and looked down at him, his hair was all stuck up, it looked sticky and unwashed. He was still face down on the desk, it didn't look at all comfortable.

  “Hello.....hello.....excuse me.” Caitlin called over the desk.

  He didn't move so Caitlin started pressing the small bell on the side.

  “Err, make the noise stop.” the guy mumbled not moving.

  Caitlin continued pressing the bell until he looked up at us. He had a piece of flat cheese stuck to his face, from the flattened sandwich he had been sleeping on. He still looked half asleep as he peeled the cheese off his face and popped it into his mouth.

  “How can I help you lovely ladies, I'm James by the way,”

  “Well James maybe you can help me with something. I'm doing an assignment for my history class about Heaven's Point and I need some books on the town and anything you have on fallen angels.” “Yeah and,” he said.

  “And I can't find anything about Heaven's Point or fallen angels, I looked in all the right sections there's nothing,”

  “Hmm,” he said leaning back on his swivel chair spinning himself around like a child would do. “Well could you have a look for me on your computer system or something,”

  He carried on spinning around on his chair. Caitlin looked at me and shook her head frustrated with him.

  “James, could you please have a look for us, it's really important.” I said, trying to be as polite as possible with him.

  “I don't need to look. There isn't anything to look at.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “All books we have on angels, fallen angels or anything relating to angels are all out. And as for the town all books on Heavens Point are all gone too.”

  “What do you mean all gone? Are they all checked out at the moment?” Caitlin asked. “That and they've just disappeared.” he replied.

  “Well when will these books be returned?” Caitlin asked.

  “I don't think you get what I'm saying all books are gone as in not coming back.” “You're not making any sense. All books are gone, gone where exactly?” she asked getting highly frustrated with him.

  He pulled his chair back up to the desk and moved his mouse around and pressed a few keys on his keyboard. He then turned the screen towards us.

  “Look here some book titled 'Heaven's Point Uncovered' checked out last in 2003.” “2003 that was over ten years ago.” I said, a little confused.

  “Like I said the books are gone they're not coming back.”

  He clicked his mouse some more.

  “And everything on angels has just happened to vanish as well I suppose,” Caitlin said looked at him unimpressed losing her patience.

  “Yep. Here some book on 'Angel Origins' was checked out two years ago never returned.” “Checked out by who, can't you ask them for it back?” I said, wondering why the books were never returned and why the library hadn't taken action to retrieve the books.

  “Well we would if we had any real names to go on.”

  Caitlin and I looked at him waiting for him to explain.

  “See like this last one, which was checked out under someone with the name Mr. Bat Man and no I'm not joking.”

  Caitlin let out a frustrated sigh.

  “Books disappearing are just a small part in the conspiracy to cover it up, they don't want you to find out,” he said.

  Caitlin and I both looked at him then at each other.

  “What are talking about now? You're not making any sense,” Caitlin said.

  “The fallen, they walk among us. They're everywhere you just have to open your eyes. They try hard to blend in with society living among us. But there are signs they're nothing like us, you'd know if you met one they're different to us.”

  “Okay well James was it? We need to be going, thanks for your help,” Caitlin said, nudging me towards the door. “Oh and James maybe you should lay off the bong for a bit.” she said opening the front door for me.<
br />
  He looked at us even more confused then when he had first woken up.

  Outside a blustery wind blew my hair around my face I had to catch it with both hands and hold it down.

  “Great! What am I going to do now?”

  “What about the internet? I mean it's worth a shot there must be something about Heaven's Point and I'm pretty sure there will be tons of stuff on fallen angels on there,”

  “Yeah I guess, It seems like I don't have much of a choice. How is it possible all books are gone it's really strange but not as strange as that guy. I think he was as high as a kite.” Caitlin's cell started buzzing.

  “Damn, it's my mom messaging me. I forgot she needed the car, after school. She must be mad she only uses capitols when she's mad at me.”

  “You should go,”

  “I can't she'll have to wait, I need to get you home first.”

  “No it's fine really, I can call Micah it's not exactly late or anything. Only 4.40pm.” I said checking my own cell.

  “Really, you don't mind?”

  “No go, I'll be fine,”

  I looked around for somewhere to get out of the wind, I spotted the café Caitlin had mentioned further down. “I'll see you at school tomorrow,”

  I waved bye and crossed the street to the café.

  Inside was warm and smelled of coffee and reminded me of my old job. I bought myself a hot chocolate topped with cream, sprinkled with chocolate flakes and found a seat at the front window where a tall bar ran along the length of the window. I hopped up onto one of the barstools, I had a view of the street and would easily be able to see Micah when he arrived. I messaged Micah that there had been a change of plans and I now needed picking up, but I got no reply. I watched the time tick by wondering if he had even got my message, so I tried calling but it went straight to voicemail. I knew Seth was at work and he couldn't just drop that to come and fetch me. A whole hour went by with still no reply, the shops outside were closing and people were leaving off work.

  “Hey sweetie,” I turned to see an older lady with a broom. “we close early on Mondays at six.” she said turning back to her sweeping. I looked at the clock on the wall it was 5.55pm. I checked my cell again still nothing.

  Outside was overcast and dull and looked chilly. I reached inside my bag for my hoodie. “Crap,” I said out loud, it wasn't in there, then I remembered last seeing it at school when we were sitting outside on the grass, it was one of my favourites black with silver stars. I put my bag over my shoulder and left the Café. The lady put the closed sign on the door as soon as I had stepped outside.

  I walked around for a bit hoping I would get a call from Micah at any moment. Everywhere was closing down for the night and I had nowhere to go. I stopped at the bus stop, but there were no buses running this late the way I wanted to go. I sat down on the bench near by and hugged my arms around myself.

  I checked my cell again it was now 6.40 I tried ringing Micah again. Still no answer, I would just have to sit here, fingers crossed he would call soon. There was no way I was going to walk home in the dark on my own, at least here I was under street light. I just hoped I would be safe. I knew the bowling alley would still be open but that was some walk from here. The light was fading fast and I was certain I could feel a few rain drops falling and within seconds of thinking it, the rain started to fall heavily.

  I jogged across the street heading for the shelter of the shops canopy, but just before I made it to the other side, I tripped. My left hand took the worst of it scraping along the floor as I fell forward onto the pavement.

  “Owww!” I moaned.

  I sat up and looked at my hand that was now badly grazed and bleeding. I looked around no one had seen me fall. I got up and ran under the shelter as the rain poured down. I rummaged around in my bag for anything to clean up the blood but there wasn't anything I had to wipe my hand on my jeans, thankfully they were black and wet so it wouldn't be noticeable. The rain fell harder and the coldness started to bite at my face.

  I heard the thud of music which sounded close by, probably some drinking bar hopefully they would let me just use the restroom to clean my hand.

  I followed the sound of the music dashing in and out under shop canopy's trying not to get too wet. The further I walked I realised my ears were playing weird tricks on me again as there was no open bars or restaurants anywhere near by.

  It was just like last time, I thought I was hearing things until I turned a corner and saw a building lit up with a few people moving around outside. There were two guys at the door, they looked like they were paid to be there, so they must have been bouncers. One was talking to a teenager maybe a little older than me he was leaning against the wall smoking under the shelter. Walking down the sidewalk was another teenage boy accompanied by two other girls hurrying to the door under umbrellas.

  I moved closer.

  “You know the rules. No I.D then you're not coming in,”

  “Oh come on I've seen kids younger looking than me going in, you didn't I.D them. And him what about him?” The boy said pointing at the other boy that was stubbing his cigarette out on the wall. “Look kid I don't like repeating myself,” The tall bouncer said taking a step forward so he was in front of the teenager. One of the girls pulled the boy away and the three of them backed off and scurried away.

  “And If I see you back here again I'll rearrange your face for you, looks like it could do with a make over.” The bouncer shouted after him laughing. I watched the two bouncers and thought best not to bother them they weren't going to let me in bleeding or not.

  I turned and left walking back in the direction of the bowling alley when someone grabbed me by the shoulder. I turned around to see the same boy that I'd seen smoking next to the bouncers. He was skinny looking and had short wavy brown hair. He was wearing a dark green military style jacket, jeans and boots. He smiled at me which made him look harmless.

  “Hey, you okay?” he asked.

  “Kind of,” I hugged my hand to my chest.

  “What do you mean kind of? What's wrong with your hand?” he asked, grabbing it and uncurling my fingers.

  “You're bleeding,” he let go quickly like it was contagious.“you should sort that out.” “I fell in the street, I was going to ask if I could just use the restroom to clean it up, but I'm not twenty one, so they're probably not going to let me in.” The boy looked over his shoulders at the bouncers then back at me.

  “Come on,” he said, gently pulling me along by my elbow.

  The boy stopped in front of the bouncers, I took a step back and he reached for my arm pulling me back next to him. The bouncer looked between me and the boy confused.

  “Come on Em, she doesn't even look sixteen, I can't let her in not unless she has I.D and I mean a real one not some fake photocopied piece of plastic.”

  “She doesn't need I.D, look again.” he said, nodding his head towards me. The bouncer stepped forwards and towered over me I had the urge to step back but I felt the boys hand on my back preventing me from moving.

  “No he's right she doesn't need it,” he said to the the other bouncer.

  He moved aside and nodded his head at the other bouncer, who then opened the door for us. “Such a pretty little thing, you might wanna keep an eye on her we have a full house tonight.” the bouncer said looking me over.

  “Sure thing.” the boy said pulling me in front of him and steering me through the door. We walked through to a foyer with bare brick walls and a royal blue carpet, further along there was a set off stairs that led down and nearer to us a corridor led off to the right.

  My wet hair stuck to my face and rain dripped off the ends and my body had started to shake from the coldness. The boy turned and looked at me frowning.

  “Here, put this on.” he removed his jacket. “You can borrow mine.”

  He tried to hand it to me but I politely shook my head.

  “It's okay, I don't bite,” he joked.

  I reached out and took the j
acket and slipped it on, it was far too big and bulky but I was grateful for the extra layer.

  “The bathroom is just over here.”

  I walked behind him looking at the walls at the random pieces of abstract artwork hanging from it. “What were you doing wondering around on your own outside?” he asked.

  “I was waiting for my friend to pick me up, but he's not answering his cell.”

  “Well go and clean yourself up and I'll run you home afterwards.”

  “Why would you do that? You don't even know me,” I asked slightly concerned. The front doors opened and a group of loud guys walked through shouting and laughing.

  “Emmy boy,” called one guy loudly, headed our way.

  “Go on, bathrooms in there.” the boy said pointing me towards the door. I edged the door open watching the other people crowd into the foyer.

  “Where you been Em?” the guy said still walking towards us.

  “Ruby, please just go clean yourself up.” he said pushing the door open for me.

  “Wait how do you know my name?” I asked a little confused and worried, I hadn't told him my name.

  He looked at me a little shocked himself, like he shouldn't have said it.

  “Hey man,” the other guy said only a few footsteps away from us. The boy turned around and let the door swing shut between us.

  I quickly washed my hand and cleaned the blood of myself the best I could. I grabbed a load of paper towels and held them in my hand. I stood looking at myself in the mirror. I didn't look twenty one what were they talking about didn't need it? And how did that boy know my name? The other stranger had called him Em or Emmy.

  I opened the bathroom door expecting it to be crowded still, but it was now empty. The sound of heavy music was coming from downstairs. I walked back to the main front doors and looked around but the the boy had disappeared. I tried to open the front door but it was stuck so I shook it a bit, then it opened from the other side. The bouncer looked at me.