Claws in the Dark | ✔

V

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On the road, Rebecca didn't know exactly where she was going. She was new to the neighbourhood. Lifting her hand from her side, she pressed on her phone to check the time; it was only 11:30 a.m.

She sighed and hugged herself. Although the sun was out, there was still a chill in the morning air. Winter was near. The reddish-orange and yellow-brown leaves, which were almost off of every tree and piling at their trunks, was a clear indication of that.

Rebecca felt cold and hungry. She had not done like her mother had said, and find long pants; she left in the same short, blue pants. However, she did take her jacket, but it wasn't doing much. She exhaled, a wisp of white clouds leaving her mouth.

A vehicle slowed down next to her and looking over her shoulder, she saw Mike's face as he pulled up in the company truck beside her.

Mike was alone and let his left arm hang out the window. "What's say you come take a ride with me?" he smirked.

"Thanks but no thanks. I don't accept rides from strangers." They weren't exactly friends, so she wasn't wrong. "And I'm just walking and taking in the scenery." She looked away and walked like she knew where she was heading.

"You're lost, aren't you?" Mike asked, his smirk growing wider. She blushed, and he could see it although she wasn't completely facing him.

"I'm not lost. As I've said, I'm on a nice, leisurely stroll."

"Riiiight. And I'm not a boy," he said sarcastically. "Look, I know you're lost. I could take you back home." As she thought about it, he continued, "You look hungry too, so how about I buy you dinner on the way?"

She appreciated the offer, but she still looked queasy about getting into the truck. She stopped walking. "I don't know." A pained expression held its place on her face for a few seconds, then disappeared.

"C'mon," he urged her. "You really look like you could use some grub."

She though a little longer, then sighed. "Alright." And she got into the car.

Mike took her to Britt's Diner somewhere across the already-small town. On the outside the building was orange, and inside was red. The floor was covered with pink tiles, and rectangular-shaped tables lined the walls by the windows. They were a seated at a table next to a window. The bar ran along Rebecca's left with high stools.

They'd been talking for a long while about where they were from, the schools they attended and what they planned to do once they graduated.

Rebecca looked out the window and observed the empty street. "Why does this place look like a ghost town?" she asked Mike, who was twirling some French fries in ketchup on his plate. "There's hardly anyone outside."

"After what happened with that couple – the Grimes – people don't want to be out much, especially after dark," he told her. "It reminds them of what happened years ago."

"What happened years ago?" she asked, curiosity sparking inside her.

"Well, there were rumours of...monsters," he whispered so no one but her would hear.

"What?" She looked around before leaning forward and speaking again. "Monsters?"

He nodded as he ate his fries.

"Has anyone ever seen them?" she asked, furrowing her brows. "How could you know if they even exist for sure?"

"That's why I said 'rumours'," he chuckled.

"Do you believe they exist?"

"Please...that's just a bunch of malarkey," he scoffed at her. "I don't even believe in Santa Claus, much less those monsters." He continued to munch on more fries.

Rebecca didn't respond but instead, looked anxious. "I'm ready to go," she said after a while, breaking the silence as she got up from her seat.

"Okay," Mike replied, his brows coming together. He paid for the food and tipped the waitress, then they both exited the diner and went to the truck.

Something moved in the corner near the trees. Darting her head in that direction, Rebecca saw nothing but leaves blowing in the wind and the forest beyond. She frowned but didn't take her eyes off of the trees and buses and they walked towards the truck.

However, hiding behind one of the trees in the forest, something was there, stalking them with dark, cold eyes as they got into the truck.

Rebecca looked at the trees as their leaves drifted to the ground in the wind and looked away as she got into the truck. Her eyes met the trunk of a tree and she saw a black figure just as it backed into the shadows of the forest. Her eyes widened and she breathed out. If anything it was just her imagination because monsters were only myths.

Mike started the vehicle, startling her a bit, and pulled out of the parking space. He drove them towards her home and all the while, Rebecca was looking back.

"You seem on edge," Mike said.

She glanced his way. "No, I'm not. I'm just trying to see everything on the way," she said, smiling.

"Okay," he said and a few minutes later, they were back at the house.

"Don't you find the nighttime a bit...scary?" Rebecca asked as she stepped out of the vehicle, trying to make conversation to ward of the uneasy feeling of the dark.

"No," he said, looking at the sky as the stars twinkled. The truck had been parked on the street, and they sat on the steps leading up to the porch. "I usually feel a sense of peace, since it's quieter." He looked at her and smiled. "Right now, being here with you is making me feel the same."

Rebecca blushed as she gazed into his blue eyes. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek and she blushed even more, then their lips came together.

After pulling away, Mike asked, "Let's do this again tomorrow, the going out part." He laughed nervously.

"Sure. And we can do the kissing part, too," she answered. She continued as they both got up, "Thanks for such a great day. You really turned it around for me, except for the Clawden part."

He laughed. "Yeah, sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you."

"It's okay."

The door opened and Gina stood there smiling at them. They stared at her, pale-faced. "Oh, don't mind me. Hurry up and kiss him goodnight," she joked with her daughter."

"Mom!" Rebecca growled through gritted teeth, her face fully flushed now. She turned to Mike and gave him an awkward smile. "Good night." Waving at him, she ran into the house, up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door shut.

Mike laughed and so did Gina. "I'm Mike," he told her. "I know we met earlier this morning, but it's nice to finally, formally meet you, Mrs. Trenton."

"Please, call me Gina, and nice to meet you, too." They shook hands.

"Well, I'll see you around," he said, backing away to head down the stairs. "Good night."

"Alright, then. Bye, and thanks for showing her around.

"No problem!" He gave her a thumbs up and headed back to his truck, while Gina closed the door.

Upstairs, Rebecca was at her window, looking on as Mike got into the truck and drove off. Little did she know that a Clawden was in the tree by her window, gawking at her with eyes of intent.

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◀ MARDAIS ▶