Dark World (Book I in the Dark World Trilogy)

by Q. Lee, Danielle

  She nodded. “It was good,” she echoed their sentiments, though, in reality, her day had been outstanding, having been kissed by Rory and all. But being that she wasn’t allowed to date, she felt mildly dismayed that she couldn’t share it with them.

  “Shall we have a movie and popcorn night?” her dad asked, stealing a cookie from the cupboard with one hand and shushing Scarlet with the other.

  “Scarlet is going out with Shelby tonight,” her mother answered, catching him with the cookie and flinging her test noodle at his head. Her dad ducked, leaving the perfectly al dente noodle to stick to the wall behind him.

  “Shelby?” Greg wandered into the kitchen at just the right moment, a crude smirk painted across his face. “I’m gonna get me some of that.”

  Scarlet bristled, glaring at him as he sat across from her at the table. “Shut up, Greg, she doesn’t want whatever diseases you might have from the last hundred girls.”

  He grinned wider.

  “Guys,” her father warned, then looked genuinely disappointed. “Oh…well, maybe we can hang out tomorrow night.” His blue eyes widened, realization dawning. “But tonight is…”

  “She knows, she has to be back early.” Her mother’s tone almost made Scarlet change her mind about tonight. Almost. “Right, young lady?”

  “Yes mother,” Scarlet replied, “I promise I won’t be late.”

  Guilt trickled through her. Scarlet hated lying to her parents. They came by their paranoia honestly. October was notorious for kidnappings in the Edmonton area. Not every year, but too many to go unnoticed. Strangely, it almost always occurred in threes. Three teens in just one night.

  Except the first time. Sybil Kavanagh. That’s where the craziness began.

  In the early 1900s, Sybil went missing from her home in the middle of the night. The only items the police recovered were her clothes and jewelry, found in an undisclosed location. The papers speculated she’d been part of some kind of Satanic cult, but it was never confirmed by authorities.

  Sadly, one year to the day of his sister’s disappearance, her only brother, Vincent, mysteriously vanished as well. Their parents were completely devastated. Their mother wound up in a mental hospital, while their father took to the bottle. Candlelit vigils were still held on the anniversary of Sybil and her brother’s disappearances, even though they occurred almost a century ago.

  The disappearances continued, leaving a community gripped in terror. No one knew why. Or how. They only knew the day. October 1st, by the light of a full moon.

  With help from the internet, the police discovered Edmonton wasn’t alone in their plight, hundreds of cities all over the world were experiencing the same phenomenon. Kids going missing on the same night. Almost always in threes. Their bodies never found.

  Her mom set a plate of spaghetti before each of them. Scarlet wound the noodles around her fork and filed them into her mouth. Courtesy of the new and unsettling ambiance, her food had been rendered tasteless despite the flavor sliding past her tongue.

  An uncomfortable hush fell over the table, a century of superstition and legend thickening the air. No one had to say the words out loud. She already knew what they were thinking.

  Today was October 1st—and there was a full moon.

  After supper, standing before her closet, Scarlet sighed and inspected her lack of options. “What the heck am I going to wear?”

  She posed the question to Seraphine lounging regally on the bed, who in turn raised a single, lazy eyelid in her owner’s direction. Scarlet leafed through a few old dresses, then decided to call Shelby for some advice.

  Quickly grabbing her cell phone and pressing her best friend’s number, she waited for her to answer. Scarlet tapped her foot and paced the room, enduring what felt like an endless stream of rings. “Hey Chickie! You excited or what?!” Shelby’s exuberant voice responded, obviously aware of her caller’s identity, courtesy of call display.

  “Sort of,” Scarlet replied wryly. “I need help…what the heck should I wear?”

  “No problemo, I’ll be there ASAP.” Shelby giggled and hung up, leaving Scarlet to gape at her cell phone. Momentarily terrified, Scarlet tried not to think of what her dear, sweet, eccentric friend might suggest she wear.

  Less than ten minutes later, there was a light tapping on her bedroom window. For years, Shelby had scaled the latticework nailed to the side of the house. Many nights, she would sneak over and the girls would eat junk food, watch chick flicks or play with Shelby’s Ouija board.

  As she opened the window and helped Shelby inside, Scarlet eyed the knapsack on her friend’s arm with trepidation churning within.

  “What’d you bring?”

  “You’ll see,” Shelby said with a naughty twinkle behind her chestnut eyes.

  “I don’t want to look like a slut or anything,” Scarlet warned.

  “Trust me, will you?”

  Shelby tossed her bag onto the bed, earning a glare from Seraphine, unzipped it and began pulling out various items: a couple of very short skirts, a pair of tight, black jeans, and two or three small sweaters, but it was the black boots she yanked out that made Scarlet sweat. What exactly did Shelby have in mind? All Scarlet hoped was that Shelby didn’t leave her looking like Lady Gaga.

  “Will you stop looking at me like I’m a serial killer? I promise, you’ll look hot!” By throwing one of the skirts onto the bed, she gave Scarlet the signal to start trying things on. Scarlet warily removed her jeans and long sweater. After sliding the first skirt over her hips, she was officially horrified.

  “Shelby! I can’t wear this! It barely covers my butt!”

  “You waxed, didn’t you?” she teased, breaking into a giggle. “Don’t worry. You’ll be wearing thick, black tights.”

  “Nullus,” Scarlet remarked, implementing her Latin fluency and shaking her head. She shimmied out of the short, black skirt and threw it back on the bed. Reaching for the next skirt, she knew right away it was the one. Mostly because it was longer than the last. She zipped it up and breathed a sigh of relief. Though she was a bit concerned that it was candy apple red, it looked quite respectable.

  “Oooo, I like that one! It’ll look awesome with the boots.” Shelby’s eyes widened and she grinned like the Cheshire Cat, nodding as she looked Scarlet up and down.

  Finally, after debating with Shelby about which sweater to wear and how many buttons to leave undone, they came to an agreement. Scarlet stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself in amazement. She actually looked, as Shelby would say, hot.

  Scarlet took in a shaky breath.

  “What’s up?” Shelby’s eyebrows drew together.

  “Just nervous. What if he decides he doesn’t like me after all?”

  Shelby shook her head. “Not possible, you’re too awesome.”

  “But…what if?” Scarlet thought she might cry. Whether it was from nerves or simply lack of confidence, she wasn’t sure she could go through with it. “What if it’s just not meant to be?”

  Seated on Scarlet’s bed with a sympathetic expression, Shelby patted the space of mattress beside her. “Come, sit. Give me your palms,” she ordered.

  Scarlet sat, delivering her open hands as requested. Shelby peered through her glasses, inspecting the tiny lines and cracks that marked her friend’s hands. After several minutes of humming and hawing, poking and prodding, she looked up. Her expression read like that of a true fortune teller: mysterious and foreboding.

  She cradled Scarlet’s right hand within her own and pointed to a long line running from her middle finger to her wrist. “See this line, it’s your Line of Fate,” she explained. “It’s very straight and deep.”

  “So…what does that mean?” Scarlet asked, skeptical.

  “It means,” Shelby stated with a confident grin, squeezing her friend’s hand reassuringly, “that you have an amazing destiny ahead of you, so quit worrying so much.”

  “Wow!” Rory’s eyes lit up, scanning Scarlet from head to toe
. “You look amazing!”

  He slid his hand around her waist, the heat leaving an invisible burn beneath her clothing. Pulling her to his side, he led her through the entrance of the theater. Her heart was pounding so hard against her ribcage, she worried he might actually be able to hear it.

  Guiding her to the lineup to purchase tickets, she stole a glance at his handsome face. His strong angular jawline, dotted with dark, freshly shaven hairs, flexed as he chewed a piece of gum. His eyes, ocean blue with glints of amber flecks, gazed forward. Light toffee waves feathered over his ears, curling ever so softly at the tips. His scent. His eyes. His hair. All of them made her weak. Breathless.

  He caught her drinking in his beauty at least once, responding by leaning over and brushing her forehead with a soft kiss. Warmth invaded her cheeks and she wished she knew how to act cool.

  Surveying her environment, she squinted in attempts to read the various posters hanging about the foyer. Shelby had insisted that Scarlet not wear her glasses, which in hindsight seemed kind of stupid considering they were going to a movie. The mascara and fake lashes Shelby forced her to wear were irritating her so badly she had to concentrate on not bringing her fists to her face and rubbing to kill the itch.

  “Would you like some popcorn or a drink?” Rory asked softly, leaning against her as he spoke. His warm breath tickled her ear, leaving her delightfully woozy.

  “Sure,” she replied breathily, trying to resist his hypnotic eyes.

  “Cool.”

  After buying some snacks, he led her into the darkened theater. Still oblivious to what film was playing, she waited until they found a seat to ask.

  “So, what are we watching?” Scarlet peered around the room, the dimmed lights barely penetrating the darkness.

  “Howler, it’s a horror movie. I hope you like scary ones,” he replied, tossing a piece of popcorn into his mouth.

  She tried to sound sincere. “Oh yeah, great.”

  Having been plagued by nightmares since she was a child, watching a horror movie was the last thing she needed. The occasional thriller wasn’t bad, but anything remotely gory could cost her weeks of sleep. A moment later, he casually slid his hand onto her thigh, quelling her apprehension over the movie.

  He’s worth it, she told herself, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. So worth it.

  “What did you think of the movie?” Rory asked, holding the passenger door open for her.

  Honestly, she thought it was disgusting and was thoroughly grateful she’d left her glasses at home, but in attempts to sound pleasant, she replied, “It was pretty good.”

  With a hearty chuckle, he watched her slide into the seat, then closed the door. After climbing into the driver’s side and starting the engine, he turned to her. “You still up for some stargazing? We can come back for your car later.”

  A shiver of excitement slid up her spine as he stared right into her eyes. “Yes, of course,” she said, trying not to sound as excited as she felt.

  God, he’s good-looking!

  Feeling awkward, she looked away and watched the bright lights of the city twinkling by. Edmonton’s Whyte Ave was alive with Friday night excitement. Throngs of people from all walks of life strolled the length of the boulevard. From coffee shops to night clubs, hemp boutiques to antique stores, the patrons flocked to the highlight of Edmonton’s night life. Bright eyes, smiling faces, no indication that anyone was worried about it being October 1st, so why should she be?

  Stealing a sideways glance at Rory, she suddenly wished Shelby was there to brighten up the conversation. Were first dates always this awkward and uncomfortable? Or was it supposed to be easy and laid back like she’d always dreamed it would be? For years Scarlet had longed for this moment. Pined for this chance to be so close to Rory, to hold his hand, to be his girl. But something didn’t feel right. A seed of self-doubt had sown itself in her stomach and was growing too fast for comfort.

  Eyes trained on the darkened sky, lost within her thoughts, Scarlet barely noticed when they turned onto a dirt road.

  “What’s your favorite constellation?” Rory asked suddenly as he switched on some tunes and rested his palm on her thigh.

  The heat from his hand burning through the red skirt made her dizzy. She searched her mind to remember the name of any constellation, let alone her favorite.

  “Um, I’d have to say…the Phoenix,” she stammered.

  “Oh yah,” he replied nonchalantly, bobbing his head to the blaring music.

  After clearing her throat, she asked, “And you?”

  “What?” He shot her an odd look.

  Heat flushed through her face. “Which constellation do you like best?”

  “Oh, um, you know…the Big Dipper. Want some gum?” Abruptly, he took his hand from her leg and reached for a pack of gum in the console.

  Politely accepting and placing the gum into her mouth, she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach she couldn’t quite identify. An instinct trying to claw its way to the surface of her awareness. Before she could explore it further, he pulled the car onto the side of the road.

  “Ready?” he asked sharply, exiting the car before she could answer.

  “Sure,” Scarlet responded to the empty driver’s seat. The tension inside knotted tighter—something wasn’t right.

  She watched as he heaved a large duffel bag out of the trunk. After slinging it over his right shoulder, he nodded curtly to the right. “This way.”

  A shudder rolled over her, prompting her to pull her thin jacket tighter around her. Scarlet stared down the dark, country road. The distant city lights dotted the pitch horizon like a miniature galaxy.

  What if he’s taking me out here to rape me?

  It would be the perfect place for him to attack her, they’d driven at least twenty minutes from the city on a dirt road.

  Sybil…

  The urban legend of missing teenagers invaded her thoughts.

  You’re just being silly!

  She gave her head a shake, pulled in a centering breath and forced herself to enjoy the odd excursion.

  “So, you come out here…often?” she inquired through chattering teeth, hoping he wouldn’t get them lost and they’d freeze to death. A smile tugged at her lips as she imagined them huddling together to keep warm. It would, at the very least, be a romantic way to perish.

  “Yes,” he replied curtly, leaving Scarlet to wonder if she’d insulted him somehow. They continued to walk in silence for what felt like hours, her romantic daydream of cuddling to keep warm dissolving with every step.

  The dark path ahead, lit only by the intermittent glow of a clouded moon, seemed to be luring them into a world of unforgiving shadows. Without her glasses, she was being led blind into a hostile wilderness. Her trust in him, this boy she really didn’t know, was waning.

  Fallen branches and dry autumn leaves crunched beneath their feet as he took her deep into the heart of the forest. With no idea where she was, she suddenly realized how stupid she was for allowing him to take her somewhere unknown. No one knew where she was.

  No one—except Rory Dean.

  The Dark Path

  The branches reached for her like the outstretched arms of rapacious mummies. Their spindly wooden fingers entangled in her long, brown hair, pulling strands out by the roots. Tears welled into the corners of her eyes. Even though this was her first date, Scarlet was now convinced it was probably the worst in recorded history. Rory wouldn’t answer any of her questions. In fact, he hadn’t acknowledged her but once since they’d left the car.

  What the hell is going on?

  A sick sensation rolled through her stomach with the realization that she was in serious trouble. If he was going to rape her, she should at least come up with a plan of escape. But how? The woods were thick and dark and she hadn’t paid attention which direction he’d driven from town, not to mention she didn’t have her glasses.

  “Rory, please, you’re scaring me,” Scarlet pleaded as he trudg
ed ever silently ahead of her. Upon receiving no answer, a surge of anger raced through her. She planted her feet solidly on the ground, her fists balled tight. “Rory! I want to know what the hell is going on! Now!”

  He stopped and exhaled sharply, spinning around to glare at her. “We’re going to look at the stars. I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  His expression was so fierce, Scarlet trembled. “I want you to take me home…right now.” She tried to sound assertive, but couldn’t still the quiver in her voice.

  He narrowed his eyes at the moon as if searching it for guidance, then turned and began marching through the woods again. Bewildered, Scarlet knew she had no other option than to follow him. It was either go with him or freeze to death, lost in the forest. It was in that moment, when the tears began gliding down her face, that she heard laughter ahead. As she squinted and focused on the winding path before them, she could distinguish a light flickering through the network of trees.

  A fire? What the…? Is he taking me to a party?

  Confused, and becoming even more terrified, she pressed through the dense foliage. Sharp branches and thorny bushes tore her nylons and sliced at her knees. While it didn’t appear any blood had been drawn, thin scratches welted at the top of her shins. For once, she was thankful for Shelby’s fashion sense; if she hadn’t been forced to wear these boots, everything from her ankles up would be slashed.

  “Rory! You made it!” a voice rang out from near the blazing bonfire.

  “Barely,” Rory responded through gritted teeth, tossing an irate glance at Scarlet, igniting a fresh burn of anguish in her heart.

  She gaped as she watched him high-five three beer-toting jocks. What was this? It was obvious they’d been expecting him. Was this all a setup? Was this going to be some kind of gang bang? A mixture of fear and disgust coalesced in her stomach, threatening to make her vomit with every terrifying churn.

  Her thoughts flickered to Sybil Kavanagh, the teenage girl who’d gone missing from her home so many decades ago. Was this a scene from her life? The last scene? Scarlet’s imagination wandered dark territories, leading her through a labyrinth of horrifying destinations, all of which resulted in nothing but dead ends and unfathomable nightmares.