Dark Realms(2)

I couldn’t even get lucky in my dreams.

Betsy promised that everything would change in college. There would be guys, parties, and more fun than we’d know what to do with. She said that our lives were just beginning. I prayed she was right. I was all about doing well in college, but I was also ready to start dating. Life was too short.

Pulling my sweatshirt in tighter, I wandered between the buildings towards the pool area. When I arrived at the entrance, the gate was locked.

“Crap,” I mumbled, glaring at the sign. It had closed several hours before.

Annoyed, I turned around and gasped in shock.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” said a man, stepping away from the shadows of the building next to the pool.

I stared at his alabaster skin, which seemed to radiate in the darkness. I swallowed hard. “It’s, uh, okay.”

“Little late for a swim, isn’t it?” he asked, standing in front of me. He appeared to be in his late twenties, high cheekbones, a pointy chin, and dark eyes that burned into mine. Although he was certainly nice-looking, there was something off about him. Something creepy.

I took a step back and forced a smile. “I was just going to buy a bottle of soda.”

His lips, which seemed eerily red against his translucent skin, curled up. “Late night craving?”

“Yes. I guess so.”

“I can appreciate that,” he replied, staring at me so intently, that things became more awkward.

I tore my eyes away, and looked past him, as if searching for someone. “Well, I suppose I’d better get back to my place before my boyfriend gets worried and comes looking for me.”

“Boyfriend?”

I looked at him again. “Yes, boyfriend. His name is Brian.”

His eyes, which were blacker than coal, danced in the darkness. “Brian should have volunteered to get you your soda. It’s much too dangerous for a girl to be wandering out here, all alone.”

“Good point,” I said, feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “With that in mind, I guess I really should get back. Excuse me.”

As I tried to step around him, his hand snaked out and grabbed my wrist. “Not so fast.”

I inhaled sharply and instinct took over. I rotated my wrist, snatched my arm away from him, and then quickly hit him in the jaw with an uppercut. It was like hitting a plate of steel.

“Ahhh!” I gasped in pain.

“Nice attempt,” he smiled darkly. “I do applaud your efforts. It amuses me.” He then smacked me back, hitting me in the chin. I fell backwards, landing on the ground.

In pain, but now more furious than anything, I jumped up and swung my leg up to kick him in the chest.

He caught my foot and dug his nails into my ankle cruelly. “You are a fighter, aren’t you?” he said, grabbing my neck with one of his large, cold hands, holding me in place. “I like that.”

“No, I’m really not,” I whispered hoarsely as I tried to pull his fingers away from my neck. “Please, you’re hurting me. Let me go and I’ll do whatever you want.”

Sighing, he released my neck. “You should have thought of that before you crossed me.”

Crossed him?

I opened my mouth to scream, but he clamped his hand over it with incredible speed. “Uh, uh, uh…” he whispered.

Terrified, I reached between his legs and squeezed as hard as I could.

He roared in pain and released me.

I turned away and began running towards my apartment building, frightened.

“Hey!” hollered a man’s voice from an apartment window above. “You okay down there, miss? You need help?”

Before I could answer, someone grabbed me from behind and I was whisked away into the darkness.





Chapter Two





I slept and my dreams were morbidly disturbing.

I was trapped in some kind of old pine coffin, trying desperately to escape. As I pounded and clawed at the wooden box, I could hear someone digging.

Without a doubt, I knew it was a grave.

My grave.

Each stab at the earth was followed by the sound of dirt being tossed, chilling me to the bone. When the noise of the shovel stopped, I cried out for help, hoping that it was some kind of mistake

“Please!” I screamed again, pounding my fists and kicking my feet against the coffin. “Let me out! I’m alive in here!”

Silence.

“Dammit, I’m not dead! This is a mistake! Someone help me!”

No response.

I sobbed. “I don’t deserve this. Please… let me out of here.”

“Uh, uh, uh…” replied a man, chuckling. “Should have thought of that before you crossed me.”

My eyes snapped open and I sat up. “Oh, my God,” I whispered in horror as my eyes adjusted to surroundings that I did not recognize.