Into the Darkness (Darkness #1)(9)

“Yeah, sure.”

“What the…?” Jared’s voice cut off around the corner.

I hurried in his direction, only to slow with an absurd amount of blinking as I stared at the lime green station wagon parked in his spot. Jared was holding a note in one hand and a business card in the other.

“What did we do last night?” he asked with a trembling voice.

Fear tingled my scalp as I stepped up next to him, peering over his shoulder at the shaking note in his hand.

Dear Self,

I wrecked my car last night. It is in David’s Body Shop. Here is his card. Insurance was notified. This is a loaner. Be more careful next time.

Signed,

Disappointed Me

Memories fluttered, battering against my brain. There was something there. Something to do with the car. It was just out of reach. I couldn’t quite grasp the memory.

“I remember dinner.” He shook his head. “I remember walking out. That’s it. Walking down the steps holding your hand. Then…nothing.” His eyes probed mine searchingly. “You didn’t spike my drink to shake things up, did you? Slip me Ecstasy or something?”

I took a step back. All I could manage was, “What?”

“I just… I don’t know. I mean, why else wouldn’t I remember… And all the sex…”

Forcing my breath in deep, even puffs, I used a calm tone. “I don’t remember anything, either. You think I like waking up with dirt all over my back, as if I was scraped against the ground? You think that’s a good situation for a girl? How the hell would I even navigate you? You weigh fifty pounds more than I do! Think about what the hell you’re saying before you start throwing verbal stones, basically saying I’m a shady, untrustworthy creep! Comments like that will get you dumped, quick!”

So, not as calmly as I would’ve liked, but I made my point.

The breath went out of Jared’s lungs. “Yeah.” He glanced back at the note. “Well, I’ll call this number. See if this is a prank or what.” Shaking his head in defeat, he stepped away as he dug out his phone.

“I’ll wait at the bench,” I muttered, still taken aback by Jared’s mistrust. I had no idea he thought of me that way. That he would suspect I’d do something so disgusting in a strange pursuit of this supposed reckless lifestyle. As a person who always followed the rules so as not to be noticed, I found the allegation as absurd as it was offensive.

I meandered to my familiar waiting spot in the park, a stone bench in the middle of a large copse of trees at the edge of his apartment complex. It was lush and secluded, rarely visited by anyone besides those looking for a place their dog could poop. I could partially see the evening sky, a couple stars fighting twilight before full night fell. A soft breeze tickled my nose, pleasing me with a spring floral bouquet.

It was then that I felt the disquiet. Something nudging my senses. It was like a weird tug on my chest. I peered into the shadows between two large trees, following the feeling.

Nothing moved. There wasn’t even a flicker. But I could feel it. I could feel the pull of it, whatever it was. I could feel its presence sucking me in.

Another item for the secret box, probably. Imaginary people. I would end up in a padded cell one of these days.

“Sasha.”

I jumped so high I nearly fell off the stone seat. “Jesus, Jared! I didn’t hear you.”

I stood to greet him. “What’d you find out?” I brushed myself off. It was a futile effort. I was still wearing the clothes from the night before, which had dirt smears ground in. “What did we do? Play flag football or something?”

Jared’s gaze caught on my cle**age. He extended a hand slowly, reaching under my skirt.

“What are you…?”

“Just real quick,” he muttered, his voice back to heavy and husky, the need overriding his logic.

Stunned mute, I stayed still; a strange fantasy of doing this outside competing with the fact that…well, we were outside! Where people could see!

Was that me giggling? What the hell had gotten into me?

“C’mon, baby.” Jared wrapped his body around mine, one hand running down my back and cupping my butt, the other working at his zipper.

“Oh my god!” With a wicked smile I peered out through the heavy bushes, seeing no one around. I couldn’t stop giggling! It was so naughty!

“Hmmm, you’re hot.”

I squeezed my eyes shut with a wide smile. I can’t believe I’m doing this!

“Okay, but…hurry!” I said excitedly.

I giggled again as my lust sparked, clutching onto him. As he readied himself, suddenly a strange feeling came over me. Intense guilt. Like I was harming someone. Adulterous.

My thoughts shifted to something about this being so wrong. Not naughty and exciting, like two first loves doing something defiant and crazy, but… damaging.

With a weight on my chest tugging sideways, impeding breath, my eyes swung of their own accord. The shadows moved, dim light flickering off a giant form. Luminescent eyes caught the light, and reflected. A face so handsome it hardly looked real, staring at me…seething.

Bat’s wings now, flapping at my memories. I knew that man, felt connected with him somehow. I knew that unbelievably handsome, earth shattering face. Those deep, dark, penetrating eyes. It was right there. It was right at the edges of my awareness.