Forever Dark: Book 1 of the Forever Dark Series

Chapter 11 - Let Me In

The full moon hung in the air, frozen-white and full of promise. Scott took my hand and led me across the parking lot to Red Robin. Inside, we ordered cheeseburgers, fries, and chocolate shakes. We made small talk while we waited for our food. It was awkward because I had as much trouble looking at Scott as I did looking away. One moment, I'd stare deep into his dreamy eyes and the next, I'd have to stop because it was too intense.

Scott grinned. “You OK? You didn't seem shy in the movie.”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “I'm sorry, I just . . .”

“What? Had a good time? Don't be afraid to have fun.”

Fun? Is that all I was to him?

He took my hands in his. “Hey, don't get upset. I really like being with you. I mean that.”

“I know,” I said, fumbling for the right words. “I like being with you too.”

“Then relax. We've got all night.”

Only we didn't. It was almost nine-thirty by the time our food arrived. I took a few bites of my burger to be polite, then said, “I should probably go. I promised I'd be home by ten.”

“You sure?” Scott said. “I thought we could go for a drive. There's this place I want to show you. It's really special, and—”

“I can't. I'm going to Seattle in the morning and gotta get up super-early. Family stuff.”

“OK.” He tried not to look disappointed, but it was obvious. “You need a ride home?”

“No, my parents are picking me up.” What the hell? Why did I say that? Was I really that dumb?

Scott's iPhone rang. He answered and said, “Oh hey, Dakota. Wassup?” He looked at me, then away. “Sure, sounds good . . . How 'bout I meet you and Ted in fifteen? . . . Cool. Later.”

“I'm really sorry,” I said. “Thanks for dinner and everything.”

Scott shrugged. “Don't worry about it. Listen, I gotta run, OK? See ya.” He threw a handful of bills on the table and left.

I sat there in disbelief. I'd blown it! Misery crashed into me like a fist. Misery, and the frantic impulse to chase after Scott. I barely made it to the ladies' room before I burst into tears. My brain was on fire. There were angry flashes of color behind my eyes, savage purple and red. Nothing made sense.

I wept as I changed into my stupid baby clothes and scrubbed the makeup off as best I could. I walked home in a daze, hating myself the whole way. I was a fool to think I could ever compete with Dakota, to ever think I could be anything more than I was.

When I got home, Dad was passed out on the couch, but Mom yelled at me for being ten minutes late. I muttered something I hoped sounded like an apology, then hurried to my room. I wanted to text Scott, to call him, but was afraid of making things worse.

At 10:30, Naomi started bugging me for details. I shut off my phone. I couldn't let her know I'd messed up. By eleven, Mom had gone to bed. I snuck a bottle of vodka from Dad's liquor cabinet and went to my room.

Rudy barked next door. I went to my window and watched the dog stand on his hind legs, his remaining front paw scrabbling against the chain-link fence. I threw the window open, shouting, “Shut up, Rudy!” That only made him bark more. I downed the rest of my drink and threw the glass at him. Rudy whined and ran off.

I fell into bed, wishing for the vampire dream, to sink into that haunting world of whispers and shadows.

As I drifted down, the Voice from the deep came to me. "Why be lonely and afraid? I can help you, but you must tell me what you want. You must say the name to make it real."

I wanted to believe, but how could I trust it when I couldn't even trust myself?

When the Voice spoke again, it was sharper, more insistent. "Say the name, be the name! Say it now, and let me in!"

The word became a deadly flower that bloomed past my lips: “Vampire.”

Everything went ice-cold and dead black. My body was paralyzed. A heavy weight pressed against my chest, crushing its way into my belly. Violating every part of me. The pain was incredible. It forced its way up my throat, flooding my mouth with the cruel taste of copper before moving behind my eyes.

Steel spikes slammed into my brain, puncturing me in ways I could never describe. And when the final spike crunched home, the top of my skull split wide and all my secrets spilled out.

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