Read Online The Darkness Within by Taylor Henderson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Taylor Henderson
Ads: Link
ago.
“What are you going to do if he comes back and you’re still in there?” She asked, making my blood run cold.
I couldn’t even imagine what I would do if that happened, but I didn’t want her to know that. “I’ll figure something out.”
“ Okay ,” she said, stretching out the word. “I’d say you’re good to go over now. Call me as soon as you get back to your house. If you aren’t back in half an hour, I’m telling my dad to call it in,” Adrianna said. I could tell from her tone that she wasn’t messing around. Her dad wouldn’t be either. I could picture it now, him showing up in his squad car and lecturing me about trespassing on private property. Then my mom would kill me and Mr. Rodriguez would be forced to take her into custody. I shook those thoughts from my mind. Everything will be fine, I reassured myself.
“I will, I promise. Talk to you soon.”
Her voice came through the phone again. “Oh, and be careful, Claire. I can’t just pick out a new best friend from a best friend tree, you know.” She paused, letting her words sink in before she spoke again. “Also, make sure you take pictures of anything weird and put everything back exactly how you found it.”
“I will, and I will. I have to go now,” I said, before hanging up, slipping my phone into my pocket along with an old gift card, and then rushing to grab my sneakers. I held them in my hands as I tiptoed into the hallway, descending the stairs as quickly and quietly as possible. Luckily for me, the bathroom door was closed and the shower was running. I thought I was going to have to sneak out or give Mom some lame excuse about leaving something at Ade’s house. Once I got to the door, I slipped my shoes on, unclicked the latch, and ran out into the breezy night.
The wind rustled the leaves in the trees, and every sound made me feel like my hearing was heightened. The night air was crisp, making the hair on the back of my neck and arms stand on end as I trudged into my backyard, planning to enter David’s house through the back door. The fence separating our yards was small, and I hopped it easily. Memories of a younger me standing at the fence, looking through the chain-links at runaway balls, flooded me. I had lost too many kickballs to this yard out of fear of jumping the fence to retrieve them. Now I was venturing over it for a much more intimidating task.
The long grass in his backyard came up to my calves, and I was immensely happy I was wearing long jeans. Despite my lack of time, I walked slowly, taking in everything around me. I was scared, and still working up the courage to go inside. The urge to turn around and run back to my house was overwhelming strong, but before I knew it, I was standing at the back door.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled the gift card out and went to work sliding it into the doorjamb. It didn’t take long before a small pop sounded and the door creaked open, causing me to wince at the sound. I tried to be quiet, holding my breath as I pushed the door open further; just enough for me to get inside. I didn’t even bother closing the door back, hoping it would make my escape easier. Then I pulled my phone from my pocket and turned on the flashlight, lighting up the kitchen.
I walked around slowly, gnawing on my lip as I ventured further. My flashlight guided my way, creating ominous shadows all around me. My first plan of action was to go into the basement and see what was really down there, but as I neared the door I began to chicken out. There was a lump in my throat the size of a golfball and I couldn’t swallow correctly. My hand shook as I reached forward to grab the cold, metal doorknob. With my hand resting on the knob, I took a deep breath. There’s no one in here, Claire. Don’t be such a scaredy-cat.
I gripped the doorknob, twisting it slightly, only to see that it was locked. A sigh of relief escaped my parted lips as I let go and stepped away. I could look for the box
“What are you going to do if he comes back and you’re still in there?” She asked, making my blood run cold.
I couldn’t even imagine what I would do if that happened, but I didn’t want her to know that. “I’ll figure something out.”
“ Okay ,” she said, stretching out the word. “I’d say you’re good to go over now. Call me as soon as you get back to your house. If you aren’t back in half an hour, I’m telling my dad to call it in,” Adrianna said. I could tell from her tone that she wasn’t messing around. Her dad wouldn’t be either. I could picture it now, him showing up in his squad car and lecturing me about trespassing on private property. Then my mom would kill me and Mr. Rodriguez would be forced to take her into custody. I shook those thoughts from my mind. Everything will be fine, I reassured myself.
“I will, I promise. Talk to you soon.”
Her voice came through the phone again. “Oh, and be careful, Claire. I can’t just pick out a new best friend from a best friend tree, you know.” She paused, letting her words sink in before she spoke again. “Also, make sure you take pictures of anything weird and put everything back exactly how you found it.”
“I will, and I will. I have to go now,” I said, before hanging up, slipping my phone into my pocket along with an old gift card, and then rushing to grab my sneakers. I held them in my hands as I tiptoed into the hallway, descending the stairs as quickly and quietly as possible. Luckily for me, the bathroom door was closed and the shower was running. I thought I was going to have to sneak out or give Mom some lame excuse about leaving something at Ade’s house. Once I got to the door, I slipped my shoes on, unclicked the latch, and ran out into the breezy night.
The wind rustled the leaves in the trees, and every sound made me feel like my hearing was heightened. The night air was crisp, making the hair on the back of my neck and arms stand on end as I trudged into my backyard, planning to enter David’s house through the back door. The fence separating our yards was small, and I hopped it easily. Memories of a younger me standing at the fence, looking through the chain-links at runaway balls, flooded me. I had lost too many kickballs to this yard out of fear of jumping the fence to retrieve them. Now I was venturing over it for a much more intimidating task.
The long grass in his backyard came up to my calves, and I was immensely happy I was wearing long jeans. Despite my lack of time, I walked slowly, taking in everything around me. I was scared, and still working up the courage to go inside. The urge to turn around and run back to my house was overwhelming strong, but before I knew it, I was standing at the back door.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled the gift card out and went to work sliding it into the doorjamb. It didn’t take long before a small pop sounded and the door creaked open, causing me to wince at the sound. I tried to be quiet, holding my breath as I pushed the door open further; just enough for me to get inside. I didn’t even bother closing the door back, hoping it would make my escape easier. Then I pulled my phone from my pocket and turned on the flashlight, lighting up the kitchen.
I walked around slowly, gnawing on my lip as I ventured further. My flashlight guided my way, creating ominous shadows all around me. My first plan of action was to go into the basement and see what was really down there, but as I neared the door I began to chicken out. There was a lump in my throat the size of a golfball and I couldn’t swallow correctly. My hand shook as I reached forward to grab the cold, metal doorknob. With my hand resting on the knob, I took a deep breath. There’s no one in here, Claire. Don’t be such a scaredy-cat.
I gripped the doorknob, twisting it slightly, only to see that it was locked. A sigh of relief escaped my parted lips as I let go and stepped away. I could look for the box
Similar Books
