The Darker Side: Short Stories Read online

  The Darker Side: Short Stories

  L.D. Hutchinson

  Copyright © 2012 by L.D.Hutchinson

  Published by Midnight Hour Publishing

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  *****

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I'd like to thank one person in particular at first, for always pushing me to write and finish a book and not give up on my hopes and dreams - even when I was more than hard to handle. Thank you so much, Jeremy for never giving up on me no matter how irritating I can get, and always getting on my case about writing something; I got something out there finally!

  I'd also like to give thanks to Cody - I know you're busy with College and other stuff but, thank you for at all taking time out to make me a cover for my book you have absolutely no idea how grateful I am for that!

  Thank you as well to - Tony, Dylan, Maegan, Alexx, Mimi, Mansha and Dhaha! Not only have I been allowed to incorporate you guys into my books, you've given me enough feedback on my work when I'm still fixing it but you've always been helpful in your own ways after as well.

  And lastly, thank you to YOU, anyone who's taken the time to go out and buy this stuff and actually read it at all, that makes me beyond happy! Thank you so so much for that!!

  Immortal Love

  “And through the pain and tears,

  The sun will still rise,

  Though I’m dying inside,

  It still comes,

  Day still comes, and night still follows,

  The world goes on, changing around me,

  While I stay the same.”

  ***

  I sat there in my silence staring at the wooden flooring, the dark and light wood blending beautifully on their own, and each panel a different story to be told, but all glossed off to make the smooth flooring I sat on. Slowly but surely I lifted my eyes enough to look at the plain white walls, becoming coated with dust from their barren state and lack of cleaning, the window’s drapes pulled carefully over the frames to keep the darkness inside.

  My pale skin was growing sickly looking, even in the dark I could see how many shades I’d lost from keeping myself imprisoned in here. My black hair fell over my eyes as I tilted my head to an angle to listen to the business of the outside world.

  Cars drove by, people chattered, birds chirped and leaves bustled, mid-fall probably by now. I pulled myself up shakily losing my balance for a moment and steadying myself on a chair the previous owners had left. I never cared to get around to decorating such a place as this, not like I really lived anyways - Unless you called this living.

  I shifted my weight for a moment, listening to the silence within my home, not even a heartbeat was sounded. That very silence was what drove me nuts, with two quick strides I got across the room to my only possession and carefully clicked on my iPod, listening as the loud guitar riff’s played, followed by the bass and then drums.

  The singer’s deep voice and his screams as he told his story in the song was the only thing keeping my sanity intact, and that was something I was going to need since eternity was a long time for me. My eyes adjusted to the darkness within the house as I sucked in an un-needed deep shaky breath, not that it’d help me any, the tears were normal and they’d come no matter what.

  I lifted my hand quickly wiping away the first streak of tears, my fingers coming back doused in red - blood. I laughed bitterly at the sad excuse of tears I had, seeing what I’d become, and what I’d fought. What I wanted to change, and what I had lost.

  I shook my head quickly, wiping my face with the back of my hand as I heard the soft low voice of Rob Thomas, laughing at the choice of song to come on. I walked into the bathroom quickly turning on the water and humming to the song before I let lyrics slip from my lips.

  “But I’m not crazy; I’m just a little unwell. I know, right now you can’t tell, but stay awhile and maybe then you’ll see, a different side of me. I’m not crazy; I’m just a little impaired. I know right now, you don’t care but soon enough; you’re going to think of me and how I used to be.” I snorted as I’d thought about what I had just sung. “Right...”

  I let my hands slip into the water watching fascinated as I let the water slide down the skin of my palms and tops of my hands, the water hitting the sink tinted a sickly pink color. I let water fill in my hands as I cupped them, splashing water against my face and watching as the pink color changed to a darker pink with small flakes of deep crimson.

  For the first time in almost nine months, I felt lost, and I felt like I finally could just give in and leave this house, and look for the people I had managed to leave behind. Though, most of them probably would accept me back without a thought, some wouldn’t, and one would never let it go no matter what - even if he had said he would.

  I left him, he didn’t leave me. It was my fault not his not anyone else’s’ but I felt like I was doing the right thing then, I still felt like I had done the right thing and if I stayed now I’d be doing the right thing. But, my sanity probably wouldn’t agree with me on that too well.

  I hopped from foot to foot, as I let thoughts drift through my head not even comprehending half of them. Without a thought I bolted out of the bathroom, my inhuman speed getting me into my bedroom with an outfit out in seconds.

  I pulled on the tight black jeans, and loose blue shirt, then my black boots. Pulling my hair up into a loose ponytail I felt good enough to set out, I grabbed my sunglasses putting them on and walking out into the living room. I put the iPod on pause at the end of the Linkin Park song and unplugged it from its dock.

  I grabbed my headphones and plugged them in, turning it back on and popping the ear buds into my ears listening as Hayley Williams’ sweet voice flooded my ears. I set the iPod in my shirt, tucked loosely into my bra - What? It’s safer there than anywhere - and headed out of my house.

  ***

  The sunlight was twice as bright as I remembered, even with the sunglasses darkening everything a fraction. I strode out at a fast pace and got out to the car I had practically forgot I owned, opening the door and reaching in grabbing the sleek small phone and slamming the door shut.

  I listened to the song play; lyrics carefully talking about love never lasting, and never truly working, but, how badly she had wanted it to work this time. With a press of a button I turned my phone on, watching as it came to life and waited for it to load.

  I didn’t take longer than a minute before I was alerted of my 139 missed calls, closing out of it I then saw my full inbox of 400 unread text messages, voicemail was lit up and I could only sigh. I began looking through the text messages, a handful from Vayne and Ophelia, a few from Temperance and Esmeralda. Then almost 300 from Fury…

  The smell of dyed hair blasted in my face from the wind; I wrinkled my nose knowing full well it was my own hair, only rolling my eyes. I deleted all but the most recent messages, there were twenty, and then I opened them skimming them quickly.

  I went out of there and began going through my voicemail, I stood there a good hour before I got through all them, the last one dated from the night before.

  “What did any of us do wrong, Narcissa?” I listened to Fury’s voice through the speaker wincing for a moment, “Nine months without a word from you. Are you even alive? Why won't you just call one of us for Christ sake! None of us are going to stop - I won't stop. I’
m not going anywhere, when you want to talk… You know where to find us. You know where we all are, and you know when we’ll be busy… Just come back.”

  I closed my eyes sighing for a moment as I closed out of everything and pulled up my map. This would be so much easier to do just by walking than taking my bulky car - its better when you’re a fast runner. I checked how far I was from the base, memorizing each turn and sign quickly and then slid my phone into my back pocket.

  I barely took in the scenery as I took off, running really was amazing when humans didn’t even see you. I rounded each corner, followed each sign until I was in familiar territory and I stopped. I had been living about three hours away, and they’d never even known it.

  It was already growing to be dusk; by the time I got there they’d be out working. I watched as the lights came on, walking at the normal pace for a human, looking at each familiar place; Temperance and my favorite store, Esmeralda’s obsession - the movie theater. I smiled slightly as I kept my head down just peaking from the corners of my eyes.

  It was definitely mid-fall, I learned that once the sun had fully set, I pushed my sunglasses back onto the top of my head and felt the cold crisp air soon after it was refreshing to feel along my skin was better than the ghost of memories.

  I went down a small alley, looking up the walls and then to see if anyone was around. Once I was sure I leapt up onto a trash bin, only to leap at the wall then the other one grabbing hold of the escape ladder and climbing it to the top. The edge of the roof was in sight, even if it was a nice little six foot jump across from where I stood.

  I backed up as I then ran at full speed, jumping once I reached the end of the platform and grabbing hold of the roof’s ledge hoisting myself up. My favorite area to be; blending in with the night and leaping along the rooftops of buildings.

  ***

  I jumped along the tops of the roofs for god knows how long, enjoying the feeling of practically being free. Though it came to a quick end after my tenth or so roof; I heard chatter below, but it wasn’t normal strangers I knew the voices and it’s what stopped me.

  “Zane! Seriously grow up!” Temperance screeched.

  “I am grown up! God back off bitch!” He yelled then I saw a bright light and a snarl soon followed, “Get off my back Vayne.”

  I crouched down and began crawling to the edge of the roof. I looked down listening in more, they didn’t stay around long though, they took off quickly once the one voice I was afraid of hearing came clear into view

  “Get back to work!” Fury snarled.

  “Fury…” I spoke softly forgetting he was the same thing as I was, I heard his footsteps stop and covered my mouth quickly.

  “Cissa?” He asked softly, then I saw his head tilt up and look straight at me, I just held still hoping he’d think he was seeing things but that only pissed him off, I could tell by his facial expression.

  I stood up, and gave in walking to the ledge and letting myself fall off of it and hit the floor gracefully, I got back up and inched towards him slowly, wearing a unsure facial expression. “Hi?” I said stupidly

  “Hi?” He stared me down. “Nine months, and all you say is… Hi?”

  Idiot. “I’m sorry.” I said quickly, “For everything…I know sorry isn’t enough, but it’s a start right?”

  He only stared at me so I kept talking, “I didn’t mean for any of it to hurt you, to upset any of you like it did…” I looked down slowly “I thought it would have been better if I just stayed away; All I do is cause issues, problems…Pain. I never really meant for any of it, but it still happens, even after all of it you’d think I’d learn but I never do… And then, the things you said to me…"

  "All that stupid shit that went down and happened between us, I couldn’t handle it… You know I can’t handle that kind of thing… So I left, I still think I should stay gone but, I couldn’t and I hate that I’m that weak that I came back again at all and just…” I shook my head as I continued to ramble “I promise you, that I’ll learn from my mistakes… This time around, or I’ll die trying to do so at least… It’s not enough, but it’s a start right?”

  A Loup-Garou's Start

  I woke up, late that night, usually I would get up maybe a hour or two after I fell asleep but this time, this time I slept for almost five hours straight, and the only reason I had woken up in the first place was the shrill scream I thought I dreamt.

  I was a little delusional at that moment in time; I had taken several different sleeping pills to help me fall asleep so that I could forget the events that had happened earlier that day.

  Getting to go out on a date with Evayanna was amazing until she decided to take me to her friends; A group she called her 'Pack'.

  I was fine with it at first. That is until they decided to tell me that I was one of them; I was a Loup-Garou and that a Loup-garou was rare. They were a group of 10 Werewolves and two other Loup-Garou.

  At first I thought they were joking until Killian, the group leader's best friend, grabbed me and decided then and there that he was going to beat the living shit out of me. I fought back, any man with a shred of dignity would, but then I saw something that scared me.

  His eyes, they were this bright, uncanny yellow. An inhuman snarl slipped out from his lips, his grip tightened and I swore I could feel his bones snapping and changing underneath of me.

  That had been it for me, I threw him off with one slight push, pulled myself up and took off running back towards the end of the woods, and I hit the end faster than I thought it would have taken me before, but I didn't think anything of it for a minute. I kept going until I reached the house once it had come into view, making my way inside I didn't even remember the moments of getting to the house.

  ***

  I managed to get inside though, took 3 sleeping pills and hit the bed, and I didn't wake up until now.

  Yeah, my day was becoming completely and totally fucked, not to mention the creepy guy I saw that kept staring at me all day in school earlier, but that wasn't the issue right now, what was is the scream I heard.

  I sat up in my bed still clad in a tight t-shirt and jeans listening intently for the scream again, I tilted my head from one side to the other then I heard it again; the shriek, and then a loud thump.

  I flew up from my bed and charged towards the room across the hallway; my step-sister Ophelia's bed room. She was curled up in a corner, blood soaking her t-shirt on the entire left side, her eyes were bright yellow like the boy's had been earlier but at that moment, I didn't care. I cared about what was hovering over her.

  A nearly seven foot tall beast hovered over her snarling loudly and snapping it's jaw's Ophelia snarled for a moment but then recoiled farther into the corner, All I could do was stare for a moment before I felt the sudden surge of anger consume my body, and just like that I flung myself at the beast.

  He turned and snapped at me. Drawing his arm back, flinging me across the room with ease. I slammed against the bedroom wall and could just barely make out Ophelia screaming.

  "Vayne! VAYNE!" She screamed. "You stupid bastard if you kill him! If he's dead, it's your fault Adrian!"

  The beast made a noise close to a snicker and snatched her, and like that i was back on my feet again only consumed by pain of my bones cracking and changing, something that scared me more than her dying, but just like that he dropped her and turned to examine me, almost amused looking.

  When the last of the spasms were done, I felt weird, but I didn't care, I was in a red haze and all I could see was him, I charged at him and barely remembered what occurred after; I just knew when I was back to normal again he was on his back panting, in his human form and covered with bits of the wall and broken glass.

  Within seconds I could hear the bay of other animals or beasts coming in the direction of our house, feeling Ophelia pull on my sleeve, "We need to go, mom and dad they're dead. We need to go now Vayne!"

  I stared at her and shook my head, "There's no way out of here th
ough!"

  "There is always a way, especially when you have help." I turned towards the voice and saw a boy standing in the door way he looked maybe nineteen at the oldest.

  His dark hair was shaggy looking and hanging; within was his eyes that were an eerie blue that you could make out easily. He had on a black leather jacket with a blood red button down shirt underneath it, dark blue jeans and a pair of sneakers.

  Then it hit me, he was the guy who I saw staring at me earlier in the day, that I couldn't help but feel an urge to hit every time I saw him.

  "A loup-garou and a werewolf, god do they love to send me after the hard cases." He sighed, "Well come on, you two want out of here alive. Don't you?"

  "Who are you?" I sneered, narrowing my eyes.

  "Kasper." He said simply smiling a little bit, "A Vampyre and you do best to listen to me if you want to get away from these guys. Two babies don't need to get surrounded by adults who will in fact kill 'em within' a split second."

  "Why the FUCK should I let you help us, you've been following me all day!" I growled.

  "Because, to put it simply. I’m here to help, now. Come on." He said his voice hardening

  "No." I pulled Ophelia behind me, staring him down. "Get out."

  "You'll just die." He shot back with a cold tone. "I rather die than have to worry about how YOU will kill us while we're cornered."

  "You're a fool!"

  "I'm no fool."

  "Clearly you ar-"

  Before he could finish, the wall caved in beside him; two more beasts came barreling through as well as two more of these half turned monstrosities crashed through another of the walls. I froze, ready to fight but Kasper got in the way first.

  He grabbed the first two, smashing their heads against one another's. Within a quick glide, he had threw them into a corner, and grabbed the others, before I could even glimpse what he had done, one was laying limply on the ground and the other snapping it's jaw at him.