Safety is Relative

Chapter Thirty- A Moonlit Reunion

It’s the middle of the night, and I stare into the darkness of my bedroom with a pounding heart. That was one heck of a dream. As I sit there, trying to calm down, my eyes become accustomed to the darkness, and I notice that there’s a thin strip of light from my curtains casting a band across my pillow.

Sighing, I get out of my cosy cocoon of duvet- somehow I must have wormed my way into it whilst I was asleep- and go over to the window. I open the curtains slightly, and peek through. A huge white orb of a moon hangs so low in the sky it’s almost like it is being supported by the dark mass of forest underneath. I stare in amazement- I have never seen the moon so close or so big before. The full moon is in a few days, so I can only imagine what it will look like then.

It’s like it calls to me.

I pull up my window, thinking maybe that it will clear my head. The cold crisp night air slices my lungs, and my brain wipes away the foggy dregs of sleep.

I have to go into the forest.

It’s like there’s a golden voice in the back of my head, whispering to me. Like when someone is sat next to you on the bus, listening to music, and you can hear the tinny beat but you can’t make out the words. That’s what it feels like. So close, it’s almost tangible, but just out of sight.

I have to go into the forest.

I pull on a hoodie and some boots quickly, and then creep downstairs. The house is so quiet and dark that it seems empty, like I am all alone. As I reach the bottom of the stairs, outside Sorrel’s room, the floorboard gives out a very big creak, and I leap sideways to get off it, crashing into his door. I fall into his room, collapsing on the floor, and cursing inside my head.

Sorrel sits up in bed. ‘Rue? What’s going on?’

‘Shush,’ I hiss. ‘I’m sorry, I was going to the loo. I must have picked the wrong door, I was half-asleep.’

I give an unconvincing giggle, but Sorrel seems satisfied. He nods, and lies down again, pulling his cover up to his chin. I go over and kiss him on the cheek, tucking him even more firmly into bed.

‘Night, Sorrel. Sorry I woke you.’

‘Night Rue,’ he whispers back, his eyes already closed.

I back out of the room, closing the door, and thanking my lucky stars that Sorrel didn’t realise I was wearing outdoor shoes to go to the toilet. That would have been hard to explain.

I rush down the rest of the stairs, making a bit of thudding but mostly missing out the rest of the creaky floorboards, unlock the door with the key off the gateleg table, and pull it shut quietly behind me. Then I lean against the door, grinning with relief and my heart pumping the blood vigorously around my body.

I sprint down the path as well, in case any other members of my family are looking out the window like I was before. When I reach the hedge, I duck behind it, giggling a little with excitement and fear. I’m going to be in so much trouble if I get caught.

What am I even doing?

Come to the forest.

That insistent voice is still there, tugging me towards the murky woods, which look very dark and uninviting. I suddenly remember all of Mayor Romero’s warnings about the vampire attacks. What if it’s a vampire, waiting out there for me in the darkness?

I feel suddenly cold, the grin wiped off my face.

The voice inside my head, the one messing around with my mind. It’s the vampire. Nate. It has to be. He stole me away and wiped my memory, but that wasn’t all. He’s left a hook in my brain, so that when the time is right one tug at the line will have me wriggling helplessly back to him.