Falling Into Darkness: The Under Series Book 1 (7 page)

I barely heard it, I don’t think I was meant to though.
He rolled out from under the truck and sat up looking at me. I smiled trying to act embarrassed as I
would have been if that had really happened, I was cringing on the inside. Just saying it out loud
was embarrassing enough for me.
“I'm sorry I shouldn’t have done that but you know that’s probably why you were so cold. Might
want to put on some clothes tonight and if it helps I kept my eyes shut the whole time.” he said
trying not to smirk.
“Well that’s good to know,” I said whilst backing away. “So this is awkward, I’m just going to go,”
He nodded and shot back under the truck.
Micah was lying to me but why? Who had been in my room? Someone obviously that wasn't meant
to be.
I hurried back to the kitchen and rushed around as quickly as possible cleaning up my mess, then I
practically ran up to my room. I wedged the desk chair up against the door knob deciding I didn't
want another late night visitor plus I didn't entirely trust Micah I would just have to skip brushing
my teeth tonight there was no way I was leaving this room again.

The rest of the week passed by quickly, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Micah came over to
the cabin a lot and I mean a lot but I managed to avoid him each time choosing to hide in my room,
sitting at my window drawing or reading. I didn't see the raven anymore.
Caitlin rang me Wednesday to go shopping with her and Aimee, we travelled to another town called
Copeland Harbour. It took nearly an hour to get there and I would of got lost if I was driving myself
as it was all back roads through the woods. It was a busy coastal town, full of people, shops and
other attractions which included a fairground on the pier. The only things I purchased while I was
there was a top I got on sale and two small wind chimes which I later placed in my bedroom, one
next to the window and one on the door knob.
I slept better that night knowing that if anyone was to enter the room either by door or window I
would know about it.
Caitlin and Aimee picked me up on Thursday night to see a movie in town. Friday night we met up
with boys at Big Dave's Bowl which everyone referred to as The Bowler. I was upset about it being
the last time I would see everyone but I was sure Seth would let me come back as soon as the next
holidays rolled round.
Saturday morning came round and Seth hadn’t even mentioned driving me home once. I made
breakfast on my own, Seth's truck wasn't outside so I assumed he was at work. I spent the morning
cleaning, tidying and vacuuming it's not like I had anything better to do plus it was a nice way of
saying thank you to Seth for letting me stay, I even attacked the oven which was well over due for a
clean.
By the late afternoon I was curled up on the couch with Gunner under a blanket watching anything
that looked half entertaining. The sky had started to turn dark and I could hear the rumble of
thunder in the distance approaching. I made simple cheese on toast for dinner but Gunner insisted
on sharing half of it. The rain started to roll down the windows as the sun faded the storm gradually
moved closer. I kept turning up the volume to try and drown out the noise, Gunner let out the
occasional whimper obviously not a fan of the thunder.
Outside was now a sea of darkness. I checked my cell to see if Seth had sent anything but there was
no service and the house phone hadn’t even rung once. Maybe he would be home soon? I hoped.
Trying to focus on the TV became much more difficult, with the noise coming from outside and the
darkness of the night looking in I found my eyes drifting to the large window nearest me. Each time
the lightning struck it lit up the sky and I got a clear view of the porch and the trees in the distance.
The shrill ring from the phone startled me and had me on my feet in seconds, I hopped over the
Couch to get it.
“Seth,”
“That was quick,” Seth replied.
“Well I’ve kind of been waiting for you to call or message, where are you?”
“I sent you a few messages, I’m guessing you didn’t get them?”
“No the signal is really bad tonight.”
“Well I’m still at work you probably guessed. I stayed longer as they needed the extra hands, I leave
at ten,”
I glanced at the clock on the wall it was 8.55pm. The thunder rumbled loudly right above the cabin.
“Hows the storm your end?” he asked.
“Loud,” I replied.
“Look Rubes I have to go in a minute so listen, there’s matches in the top drawer in the kitchen and
candles under the sink.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“The cabin sometimes loses power during the storms they can get pretty bad up there,”
Great! Like this wasn’t scary enough all the lights might go out any second.
“Okay I really have to go now. You going to be all right?”
“Yeah I'll be fine it's only a little storm.”
The thunder cracked loudly above again, maybe not so little.
“I'll see you soon,” I said hanging up the receiver.
A chill went down my spine from the coldness in the room, I quickly got back under my blanket.
The TV started to flicker as the sky lit up outside. The next loud bang sent Gunner shooting off the
couch and up the stairs, I was just considering doing the same when everything in the cabin went
black. The power had gone out.
Not good, why did this have to happen the night I was on my own. I got up and felt my way to the
kitchen along the wall and counters to the drawers.
I rumoured through the drawer hastily pulling stuff out and chucking it on the counter half in a state
of panic the other annoyed I hadn't come straight of the phone and found everything ready encase
this happened. Pens, loose change, paper clips, bottle openers where were the matches?
My eyes were starting to adjust to the dark but I still had no idea what was in the drawer, I was still
desperately searching when a gust of cold wind from behind me made me stop what I was doing. I
spun around to find a tall hooded figure closing the door behind them. Who was it? Had they seen
me? I was still weighing my options up, between running away or going for the knife block when
the person removed their hood
“What's wrong with you?” a familiar voice said.
I was so relieved which was strange, the idea of being stuck in a power cut with Micah would have
normally scared me but right now all I wanted to do was hug him for coming to my rescue. I was
freaking out more than I cared to admit.
“I don't like thunder,” was all that came out my mouth.
“Really. I would of never of guessed.”
I was sure I heard him laughing under his breath he was probably grinning at me as well. Gunner's
heavy paws strolled past me, he grunted a bark towards Micah as if saying hello then scurried off
again.
“What are you doing coming in the back door? You scared me just waltzing in like that, you could
have been anyone.”
“Why would I knock when I have a key, Seth gave you the front spare I’ve got the back.” he said
walking over to the sink.
From the cupboard underneath he retrieved something probably the candles, I hadn’t got that far
yet. He then moved over to where I was and stuck his hand in the drawer pulling out something. I
couldn’t see what until I saw the spark from the match he lit, lighting the two candles he put one on
the counter and handed me a half used one that had obviously been used from a previous power cut.
“You stay here, I’ll find some more candles.”
He walked into the other room, I followed behind him anyway, he opened the the cupboard door
under the stairs and started moving stuff around.
“What a mess. How does Seth know where anything is?”
“Do you a need light in there?” I asked.
“No why would I need a light?” he answered back like I had just asked him the most ridiculous
question ever, like what colour was an orange.
“Yes because everyone has night vision.” I said quietly to myself not thinking it was possible for
him to have heard me.
“Well I was a good boy and ate all my carrots.” he replied sarcastically.
I was mistaken, he must have canine hearing as well.
“Did you find anything yet?”
“What do think genius. I’m still in the cupboard aren’t I?”
I had to restrain myself from snapping back at him.
“Where's the box? Seriously how is anyone meant to find anything in here.”
My eyes drifted back to the window. I quietly watched the rain as it dripped down the window pane,
thinking it was probably best not to disturb him again. Another flash of lightning lit up the porch
and I caught a glimpse of a figure walking past the window. Without realising it I had backed
myself up into the nearest wall.
“Micah. Did you bring someone with you?”
The shuffling inside the cupboard stopped. “No. Why?” he asked in a bored tone.
“I think there’s someone on the porch.” It came out as whisper but he had heard me and was by my
side in an instance.
He took the candle from me blowing it out, he walked into the kitchen and the light from that room
went out as well. It was suddenly too dark and I couldn't see a thing. I heard Micah's boots on the
floor. He was back at my side pushing me in the direction of the cupboard.
“What are you doing?” I asked as soon as I realised he was holding the door open for me. “I'm not
getting in the cupboard,”
“This isn’t up for debate Ruby. Get in the cupboard.”
“Are you crazy, can you actually hear yourself right now?”
“You just said you saw someone on the porch, hardly anyone knows about this place. You really
think it's girl scouts selling cookies at this time?”
My eyes went back to the window, he had a point. I was having flashbacks to the figure across the
river.
“I take your silence as a 'yes Micah I agree with you entirely', well okay then.” he said shoving me
inside.
“Don't move,” he said, kicking stuff out of the way to close the door.
“Yes cause I’m likely to find Narnia back here,”
“Funny,” he said, closing the door, making sure the latch was down.
I waited.....and waited patiently, the minutes ticked by and I half expected Micah to open the door
and shout boo at any second. It was pitch black in the cupboard but I somehow managed to find the
box Micah had been looking for full of candles there was even a torch that worked.
It had been far too long. Where was he? What was taking so long?
Enough was enough I wasn’t the sort of sit and wait person, I had to know what was going on. I
switched the torch on and searched for anything thin enough that would fit through and lift the
latch. I was lucky enough to find a pocket knife with extra attachments, it looked old with the
initials J.M scratched into it, it would do. I lifted the latch pushing at the same time against the door
and I fell onto the living room floor with a loud thud.
Outside the storm had moved on, all I could hear was rain and scratching.
I put the pocket knife in one hand and the torch in the other and crawled quietly on my hands and
knees to the kitchen. The scratching was Gunner trying to get out the dog flap. I had purposely
started locking it after dark, I didn't want other animals coming in through it. I slowly stood up
feeling like an idiot for crawling around on the floor.
I walked over to the front window and carefully peeked out trying not to expose myself too much. I
got a clear view of Micah, he was standing in the rain by his car waving what looked like a baseball
bat around in the air. I wasn't sure whether I should go to him or not. What was he doing?
I put the pocket knife in my back pocket and unlocked the front door closing it quickly to make sure
Gunner didn’t escape, I walked onto the porch and shone the torch over at him.
“What are you doing?” I shouted.
His head snapped in my direction and immediately lowered the bat trying to conceal it behind his
back.
“I thought I told you to stay in the cupboard?” he called, jogging over to the porch.
“You were gone ages. Did you see anyone?”
“No.” he said tapping the bat against his leg.
“What were you doing with that?” I pointed at the bat.
“What this, I was.....just.....you know..... encase I needed it....”
“No I meant what were you doing waving it......” I never got to finish that sentence, the raven with
the white splodge landed on the railing next to me squawking at Micah.
“There you are,” Micah said swinging the bat at the bird, narrowly missing me.
I jumped back and the bird hopped to the side avoiding Micah's bat.
“Are you crazy.....”
Before I knew what had happened I was on the floor, the pain shooting across the bridge of my nose
and eyes was horrendous. Micah had swung the bat behind him to take another swing at the bird
and accidentally hit me instead. My hands immediately shot to my nose which was bleeding
everywhere.
“Owww!”
“Ruby. I’m so sorry. Does it hurt?” he asked squatting next to me.
The bird still hopped along the railing squawking at us.
“Off course it hurts I think you broke my nose,”
“Lets get you inside,” he said trying to pull me to my feet.
“Don't touch me. I can do it myself.”
I got to my feet and he opened the front door for me, I made my way in the dark to the kitchen and
sat on one of the chairs. He followed me through. I heard him shuffling around in the drawers as the
lights flickered back on.
“Here use these...whoa that's a lot of blood, you're gushing everywhere.” He handed me some paper
towels to mop up the blood.
“What the hell were you doing?” I said snatching them from him trying to stop the bleeding from
my nose.
He didn’t answer.
“Micah what were you doing? Were you trying to kill that bird?”
He still said nothing as he handed me a cold cloth from the sink.
“I can't believe my brother thought I would be safe left alone with you. You're crazy,”
“Now you're just being mean, wasn’t I just outside in the rain may I add checking the perimeter to
ensure your safety cause you thought you saw someone.”
“Yes someone. As in a person on two legs not the feathered variety, you nearly killed that bird and
in the process you have broken my nose.”
The last bit came out high pitched and whiny, I was trying not to break down in tears it hurt so
much.
“It's not broken,” he said grabbing my face roughly and inspecting it.
“How can you tell? You're not a doctor,”
“No but I've seen a lot of broken bones. Just wait a bit until the swelling goes down, it doesn’t look
broken.”
He went over to the freezer and retrieved a bag of frozen peas then he moved back and pushed them
onto my face.
“Ouch...careful,”
“Look I said I was sorry. Okay.”
He picked up the cloth and cleaned round my face.
“I start senior year next week. What’s everyone going to think. Like it isn’t hard enough making
friends at a new school now I look like this. I will be the center of gossip and staring. So yeah
thanks Micah. You still haven't answered me. What has that bird ever done to you to provoke that
kind of reaction?”
He turned away and went to the sink rinsing the blood out the cloth.
“The place where that bird comes from isn’t, well lets just say it's owners aren't the sort of people
you want to get mixed up with. It will only attract trouble and that's the last thing we need at the
moment,” he said looking at me. “That bird will lead them straight here,”
“And that’s bad because?”
“I just told you trouble. That bird will attract trouble. Don't ask me any more questions about this
and if you see any more of those birds you need to tell me. And lets keep this whole thing between
you and me for now, Seth doesn’t need to know about this.”