Dangers of the Dark

Chapter 1: Rediscovery of Lost Memories

The whirling wonders of his daydreams had him entrapped again, halting any attempts at an escape back to reality. Not that he minded, the familiar oddity of these recurring visions was preferable to anything that was being said to his body. He was blissfully happy staying in his own mind, but as is common, someone else wasn’t.

“Mr. Wilson!” screeched a voice that could rival a crow’s caw in shocking annoyance, with its hoarse creepiness and pitch. “Please answer the question!”

Alexander Wilson’s lavender eyes blinked in both fright and confusion, looking at his English teacher, Mrs. Thomas. Mrs. Thomas was a short and squat woman with a smashed face and frizzled muddy brown hair. Her mouth was turned in a permanent frown, especially when she was addressing a student. She was currently tapping her bony hand with a meter stick, which noone understood why she possessed, except for threatening to hit her students with.

Behind him, he could hear his classmates murmuring and giggling at him being told off, with the words “Alexandra” and “pretty boy”, mixed in, just loud enough for him to blush at and wish to go back to his complete obliviousness. Alexander, normally called just Alex, knew that his looks were considered very feminine. Besides his large lavender eyes, he had waist length pale blonde hair and skin that could rival milk in whiteness. He was also very slender and short, barely reaching 5\'4\" and weighing barely 110 lbs. Added that his voice was a few notes higher then most males, his true sex often puzzled those who didn’t already know him, and was a cause for constant torment to many who did.

Mrs. Thomas, who was not as heartless as she seemed, cleared her throat loudly at her class’ outburst. “Mr. Wilson can you please tell us the impact that Joe had on Pip’s life (1)” she said, giving him what would have passed as a sympathetic look on a normal human’s face.

“Joe was the first one to ever love Pip and show him kindness and loyalty were others, including his own sister, didn’t. Joe taught Pip the values of morality and humanity that the upper class had pushed down in their continuos deceit of Pip. Without Joe, Pip would have fully fallen to the ways that Estella and Miss Havisham believed that life should be lead.” Alex said, barely loud enough for those sitting close to him to hear, but good enough for Mrs. Thomas.

“Correct,” said Mrs. Thomas, moving down the line to torture the next soul.

“What you say there?” asked Kyle Richards, who sat a few seats, and was chief tormenter to Alex. “I couldn’t hear what your voice was muttering. Could ya repeat that?” Kyle snickered, as did his friends. Kyle knew how much Alex hated public speaking and acknowledgment, and enjoyed causing that discomfort in the boy whenever possible. Before Alex could even speak a syllable, Mrs. Thomas slapped her meter stick on Kyle’s desk, causing him to give a startled jumped.

“Mr. Richards, your use of the English language is appalling!” She shrieked in the same voice she had earlier used on Alex. “And further more if you had been paying attention you would have heard Mr. Wilson’s explanation like the rest of the class!” Although Alex was certain the rest of the class didn’t, they just knew the answer already or didn’t care enough to ask for it to be repeated.

“Yes ma’am. I am very sorry,” said Kyle in a voice that echoed his embarrassment. Some people chuckled, but one dark look by Kyle stifled any humor found in the statement and all relief Alex felt about getting off the hook.

Before anymore damage could be done, the bell announced the end of the period and the start of Alex’s and his friends lunch hour. He threw his books in his bag as quickly as possible and took refugee in the crowded hallway from Kyle and his “gang”, barely hearing Mrs. Thomas yelling at them to read the first two chapters of Frankenstein (2) for homework.

Alex could see Kyle as he ducked down in the hulking mass of students. The boy stood out. Kyle stood out in any crowd. He was well over 6\', and lanky, perfect for his passion of basketball. Along with his shoulder length flaming red hair and piercing green eyes, he was a sight to behold. Luck seemed to have found Alex in that instance, as Kyle was held up by Coach Smith, who seemed to have been looking for him to discuss some new plays. Although Kyle was too young to be the teams captain, it was easy to see that he was the best player on the team, even someone who knew nothing about sports such as Alex could see that.

Alex made his way to his locker to pick up his afternoon books and his bag lunch, before making his way to the cafeteria and the buzzing mass contained inside.

As it was just early February, the weather was too cold and dreary to allow the students to eat outside, meaning the were squeezed together in the indoor area that echoed all the noise tenfold. As quick as he could, he located his four friends that also shared his lunch period, sitting at a small corner table. He made his way toward it, occasionally bumping into another person and object. He muttered excuse me, but no one even notice him normally, as it was common to feel a shove or push from a fellow student.

Three of his friends were already seated. Amy, Cody, and Jason were talking to each other over lunch. Amy and Jason as always opted for the lunch line, and both had a heavy plastic tray in front of them covered in a slimy mess Alex guess was today’s special. Cody was eating from his lunch of vegetarian sushi, as his parents were super health freaks that encouraged proper eating habits in their children, which included all organically grown food and no meats.

“So she finally asked you out?” Amy asked, facing Jason, who Alex assumed she was questioning. Upon noticing her friend, she turned her warm brown eyes toward him. “Hey, Alex! Guess what?” She said, shaking in anticipation of delivering news to the her friends. Alex returned her greeting and waved at Jason who was rolling his eyes at Amy and Cody, who was currently more focused on his food then the gossip.

“So can you guess?” giggled Amy, as if she was the keeper of the greatest secret of all time.

“Taylor finally broke down and asked Jason on a date?” Alex replied, getting his sandwich out of his lunch bag. Amy pouted at him, while Jason rolled his eyes more and Cody snickered with his mouth full.

“Who told?” ask Amy, looking huffily. “Jason promised he would let me tell everyone the news!” She glared at Jason, who happened to be her twin brother. Both of them had the same honey brown hair and eyes, except Amy’s features were more rounded and warm then Jason’s. Their hair cut was even the same, cut just below the ears. Amy was the easier to get along with then her twin, willingly opening up to all she knew, while Jason preferred living inside his own shell.

“Maybe Alex is psychic, Ames,” said Cody, finally coming into the conversation. Cody had dark hair he wore spiked and a goatee. He normally dressed in black outside of the school uniform and had been called the token goth of their motley crew.

“Or has third period with Taylor, which is just after she asked me,” supplied Jason, stating the obvious fact, and truth. Taylor was another friend of theirs that had a huge crush on Jason since middle school. She was also a bit of a blabber mouth and couldn’t help but supply Alex with the news. He pitied Taylor a bit. She had such honest feelings for Jason, while Jason held feelings for noone and was against the practice of dating. She had been so nervous and became useless as a Chemistry partner to Alex for that period. Luckily they didn’t have a lab that day, or Alex doubted he would be standing here. Science was his worse subject and he was only passing thanks to Taylor’s brilliance.

“Fooey, Taylor ruined my fun,” pouted Amy, who looked like a three year old about to have a tantrum. Alex chuckled at her face, as did Cody. Jason showed no emotion at all toward his, surprisingly, older twin. Alex knew that Amy was hoping that Jason would see all Taylor had to offer and break down and finally date her. Alex found it hard to imagine Jason doing that, but although Jason seemed cold, he couldn’t stand to see a girl cry, especially his sister, who would be doing that a lot if he rejected Taylor. In the middle of the discussion, their other friend Chris came over, followed by a new boy.

Chris stood a few inches taller then Alex and had dark blonde hair and blue eyes, and was considered the most attractive in their group. The new boy stood at Chris’s height, but was leaner then him with dark brown hair that fell in ringlets to his shoulders and matching eyes. His skin’s color could nearly rival Alex’s in paleness, but his looked more sickly as from lack of light, rather then Alex’s natural color.

“Hey guys,” said Chris, putting down his tray of the mystery goo, and stealing another chair from a neighboring table. “This is Josh. He’s new.” Josh gave a warm smile and nodded at them.

“Hi Josh,” said Amy, in a tone even more joyful then usual. She loved to meet new people. “I am Amy, this here gloomy Gus is my twin Jason, Mr. Looks Anti-Social but is a hippie underneath is Cody, and our resident angel clone is Alex!” She said pointing to each as she announced their name. Jason again rolled his eyes, but waved. Cody gave a thumbs up, and Alex blushed while muttering a greeting.

“Nice to meet you all,” he said, sitting down next to Chris.

“So what is this I heard about Taylor throwing herself at you Jason?” asked Chris, who currently hadn’t run into Amy yet that day, which was common as he was in his junior year, rather then the others who were sophomores.

“She didn’t throw herself at me!” said Jason in frustration. “She just asked me out on a date.”

“Which you probably said no to and broke the poor girl’s heart,” said Chris “I hope you let her down gently.”

“I have no attention of letting her down,” said Jason. “I told her I would, but she was in too much shock to hear, apparently.” That statement caused everyone to freeze at the table, except Josh who just looked beyond confused. Amy even fell off her chair at her brother’s statement.

“Your actually going on a date?” asked Amy.

“Yes,” huffed Jason.

“With a real person?”

“Yes”

“That actually likes you and you at least tolerate back?”

“Amy, for the last time yes!” hissed Jason at his stunned sister. Alex was just recovering from his shock and able to catch the look in Josh’s eye. He turned toward the new boy and said.

“Jason has never dated before and agreed to go out with a friends who has had a crush on him for years,” Alex muttered, while the others recovered from seeing pigs fly. Josh was wide eyed in understanding and nodded.

“So where are you going?” asked Chris.

“I have no clue, as Taylor spaced out after I said yes,” said Jason. “Can we change the subject? It isn’t that big a deal.”

“Oh yes it is baby bro,” said Amy, pointing to Jason. “You are the first in our little group to date. You, who despise the very thought of relationships are already on your way to wedded bliss! Before your big sister is! Does anyone else catch the irony in this?” Amy was always assumed the first to date of the twins, and all the younger friends.

“Sammy’s dated before,” said Jason. “And one date does not equal marriage.”

“But I never dated a girl for more then a couple of weeks,” said Sammy, in reply.

“And you never apply yourself unless you are serious about something, Jason,” Alex said. Jason sighed. It was know he didn’t take up any cause if he didn’t see a great hope of it working out, which explained why he never volunteered to be a school tutor.

Jason looked at the ceiling for a moment, then gave a sigh. “If I didn’t think we could work something out, I wouldn’t agree to it. Taylor is first and foremost a friend, and I may seem cold, but I am not cruel. I would never hurt her as to lead her on for my own amusement,” Jason was looking at all of them as he spoke. Noone said a thing, knowing that Jason was correct. Noone would willing hurt a friend in their group. They were all each other had in the big bad world.

Lunch continued as normal, with idle chatter about teachers and questions for Josh about his life before St. Elizabeth’s, their private school. They learned that he was a junior who just moved from Virginia do to his mother’s remarriage and was also currently dating a woman he didn’t give much information about. Alex assumed it was probably personal. The bell rung, announcing the trek to the afternoon classes, and the friends dutifully headed off to their classes.

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School went on as usual. By the end of the day, Alex was balancing his books in his arms, making his way out of the school. The rest of his friends rode the bus home, as they lived farther away. As Alex lived pretty close, he normally walked or had a ride from Chris on days he brought his car. Alex enjoyed his walk home, as it was the most peaceful part of his day, walking on the chipped sidewalk through downtown. At home, all he had waiting for him was homework and idle hours of television or internet. His parents didn’t like him going out on weekdays with his friends.

Alex hummed as he walked, passing shops that he rarely noticed or cared about, just soaking in the normalcy and order that his life often lacked. Routine can often be a good thing, as it would keep those with wings grounded. But normal seemed to have fled his path as well as luck, as he was grabbed and thrown against a nearby brick wall.

Alex gasped in fear and surprise. Strong hands were holding his wrist against the wall, and had brought him up so that his feet barely touched the ground, putting pain and pressure in his wrist. A mouth made contact with him, giving a rough kiss that ravaged his mouth. Alex was frozen in fear as the mouth finally drew back and he could see who his attacker was.

Kyle.

Kyle smirked at Alex’s surprised face and futile attempts at breaking away.

“Hello Pretty Boy,” said Kyle, in a mock sweet voice, gazing into Alex’s eyes. “Aren’t we looking lovely as always. With those pretty little eyes and long hair that practically yell gay and screw me. Glad to see I am the first to make the claim.” He then kissed Alex again, a bit gentler, but still harsh. Alex whined into the lips that held him captive. A hard nip on his bottom lip drew blood and caused him to gasp in pain, giving Kyle full access to his mouth again, in which he took full advantage of. Alex was crying in pain and fear of Kyle’s actions. Nothing like this had ever happened to him. A sudden flash broke him out of his shock and Kyle finally stopped kissing him.

“If you don’t let him go right now, I will send this picture to everyone in the school,” said a voice that sounded familiar to Alex. Kyle turned to glare at the intruder and Alex saw it was the new boy, Josh, holding a camera phone.

“You think I care if people thought I was gay?” hissed Kyle, still not letting a squirming Alex go. “Half the members of my team are. Our fine state happens to be very liberal, silly rumors can’t destroy me.” Alex whimpered again. He knew this. If Kyle happened to like boys, which seem the case, noone would speak out against him.

“No, I don’t,” said Josh. “I may be new, but I can see that the school is a lot more open and accepting then my old one. But I do think you care if people thought you were a rapist. And after seeing poor Alex’s teary face while you were holding him against a wall, would allow them to see your attentions, especially your coach.” Kyle growled, and finally dropped Alex, who fell to the ground with a dull thud. Kyle glared at Josh for a second, before grabbing the cell phone and erases the picture on it. Alex feared that without the proof he might continue, but a store clerk came out in time to see Kyle grabbing Josh’s school shirt by the collar.

“You boy,” yelled the clerk, an elderly old man, that was holding a broom like a sword. “Leave those fellows alone. Go on and get you hoodlum!” The clerk was waving his broom frantically at Kyle who just sneered at him.

“Whatever you old fart,” shrugged Kyle, with a smug look on his face. “Bye bye Alex, I will catch up with you later.” He walked back toward the school without a pause. The old man dropped his broom and sighed. He shook his head in disapproval at Kyle’s vanishing form. “Boys like him should be kept away from society,” he muttered more to himself then to Alex and Josh. Josh meanwhile was helping Alex to his feet. Alex was a bit dizzy from his attack. The clerk finally taking notice of them gasped.

“I am sorry boys, I should be helping you inside my shop so that you can check for injuries instead of complaining about your attacker,” The clerk said. Josh took the hint, and helped Alex to his feet and into the shop, while the clerk propped open the door. Alex was still in some pain, but his curiosity seem to overpower it.

Though he had lived in this town all his life, he had never been inside this shop. It was similar to most of the old shops in this area, a two story wooden and brick building with hard wood floors that had a few water marks on them from floods of long ago. Alex had never really noticed the inside of one before, but he saw the different areas of wear in the shop, and the attempts to make it appear more modern and stylish, most likely not the idea of the elderly clerk.

Everything else in the shop was overshadowed by the rows of worn books. Shelves and shelves full of books, ranging from nearly new to nearly dust. Alex was so entranced by the shop, he didn’t feel Josh place him on a step ladder.

“Anything hurt?” Josh asked Alex, breaking his concentration.

“No, just in a bit of shock,” murmured Alex. He started rubbing his slightly bruised wrist subconsciously. Still glancing around the store.

“Yeah, first time I saw it I couldn’t stop looking,” chuckled Josh at Alex’s wide eye expression. “Something here is almost magical, but then again I am a bit biased. This is were I met Sam at.”

“Sam?” asked Alex.

“Oh, my girlfriend,” said Josh, nonchalantly. “I have a picture of her in my wallet.” He took out his black leather wallet and removed from it a small folded photograph. Alex accepted it and opened as delicately as he could. It was a picture of the shop. In it was Josh, a little younger then he was now and wearing dark clothing standing with his arms around a pretty young girl. She had long reddish hair and was giving a smile halfway between giddy and embarrassed. She too was in dark clothing, but she shone with a light of joy.

“That was taken a few weeks ago, on my last weekend trip up here,” said Josh. “I come up here a lot due to my step-dad. I met her after I was turned down by another girl. Sammy is my world now.” Josh smiled sweetly, and Alex returned it.

“What is the damage Joshua?” said the old man, coming into their field of view.

“A few bruises and some shock, I recommend a good night sleep and some relaxing time,” said Josh. “Also a restraining order.”

“Since when are you a doctor?” asked the old man, shooting Josh a smile.

“Since I said so,” he laughed back. “Well I have to go. Mom is probably worried about me staying out so long. Need to go before I am reported missing.” Josh waved at them before leaving through the front door.

“That boy,” the old man shook his head, then noticed Alex again. “I am Henry, my boy. Who are you?”

“I am Alex, sir,” Alex said and extended his hand in greeting. “It has been a pleasure in meeting you, and thank you for the save.” Henry shook his hand with great enthusiasm.

“Pish posh,” he said. “It was all my pleasure. That boy is nothing but trouble as it is.” The door opened again and some college students came in. Henry nodded a farewell to Alex and went to wait on his other customers.

Alex knew he should just leave and go home to do what Josh had suggested, but he couldn’t. Alex loved books, but normally bought new ones at Borders or of Amazon, he rarely ever came down town, though he passed through it nearly every day.

Alex wandered about the shop, spying a few of the other patrons, most reading from big dusty volumes with obscure titles. Near the stair well that lead to the other level a battered sign announced that the fantasy and science fiction books were on the second level. As those were the ones that Alex loved. He walked up the rickety old steps into the small attic like room.

What surprised Alex was that the room’s windows were boarded up and the only light came from the overhead. There were the same shelves from downstairs arranged in orderly rows, and a small reading area with a few bean bags near the stairs. A young girl set in one of them.

She was a couple of years older then Alex and a bit heavy set. She had long black hair braided and was wearing a white turtle neck and light pink knee length skirt, with silver high heels. She looked at Alex upon his arrival. She had a friendly face and shiny bright hazel eyes. All in all, she was what you would refer to as cute or adorable, rather then pretty and beautiful.

“You go to St. Elizabeth’s don’t you,” she questioned, upon seeing Alex’s navy pants and vest, with the yellow and red school seal on the right breast area.

“A, yes,” Alex replied, a bit shocked of the strangers question. He had a feeling that this girl was a bit talkative.

“I have a friend that just started their, his name is Josh,” she said, her eyes going back to her book, which was written in a language Alex realized was Greek. But he was more shocked that the boy he had just met was friends with this stranger.

“Yes, I know him,” said Alex, his voice a bit strained do to confusion. “He was here.”

“I know, he just left me a few minutes ago,” she said. “I am Clara by the way.”

“Alex,” he said.

“Looking for anything in particular?” She asked. “If not I have a few suggestions.” She put her book down and lead Alex to a shelf near the back that read ‘Vampires and Other Beast of Legends’ in overly dramatic lettering. Alex was curious about these books, as the appeared vaguely familiar. He took one off the shelf and opened it. He realized why it was so familiar when his childish handwriting of ‘Property of Alexander Wilson’, peered up at him from the cover.

“These use to be mine,” he muttered, not even realizing he said it aloud. “Until my mother sold them...” Unknown to him Clara was giving him a overly pleased smile that had a hint of sadness to it.

“Take them then,” said Clara. “They have been here for years and I have read them all. And, they are yours.”

“But I can’t,” Alex said, looking startled at the girl. “They aren’t mine anymore, and I haven’t the money to pay for them.”

“First, the woman who brought them here never took any money, so officially they don’t belong to the store,” she said, holding up one finger, then another shoot up. “And secondly, my brother owns the shop and told me that if this Alexander Wilson ever showed up I should give him back his books.”

Alex looked at her still in shock. “Okay,” he said. “But, isn’t Henry too old to be your brother?:”

“I am not her brother, young one,” said a voice coming up the stairs that belonged to Henry. “I just work for him. He owns several of these shops, and you can normally find Clara after school at one of them. And Mr. Phillips did say for Clara or me to return these books to the rightful owner.” Alex was still puzzled, but Clara worked fast and soon had all the books that belonged to him packed into two cloth satchels bearing a book that had a fighting dragon and knight popping out of it, surrounded by the stores name of “Twice Told Tales”.

“Thank you,” whispered Alex. “I don’t know what to say.”

“How about good bye and I will come back again,” giggled Clara. “As it is nearing four.” She pointed at an old grandfather clock to proof her point. Alex looked surprised at the time and quickly saying what Clara had suggested left the store in a hurry.

“I must say Clara, you have outdone yourself this time,” said Henry smiling at the young girl. “Then again, you are always right in matters of the heart. Alex will make a wonderful campion for your dear Nicholas.” Henry laughed with pleasure while Clara just looked sadly down the stairs.

“Of course, but I can just feel sad that Nicholas won’t be mine,” said Clara. “But who am I who foresees it to get in the way of destined love.” Henry patted Clara’s back in sympathy as she just sighed and allowed a tear to drop.

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That night as Alex laid in bed dressed in his red pajamas, he read over the books that he had reclaimed that afternoon. The stories were still familiar after all these years. He was lucky his parents had been caught in traffic with either a dead cell phone or on a business call so they didn’t find out about his excursion this afternoon.

Alex had stashed the books in his room and all through his homework, chores, and dinner had thought about them. Now, it was finally night and he could read them. Mixed in with his childhood memories, he found a book that wasn’t his. It was once a expensive leather journal that had seen much age. And hand written across the front in very lovely and old fashion script was Diary of Vampire. Alex looked shocked. He was about to place it on his night stand and write a note to remind him to return it to Clara or Josh, but a note fell out from the cover. Alex picked it up and read it.

Alex,

I think you might like this book, it is one of my favorites. Return it after you have finish and tell me what you think!

Love,

Clara.

Clara’s handwriting was a bit messy, but still easy to read. Alex glanced at his alarm clock that read a quarter to midnight and suddenly felt very tired. He placed Clara’s book next to his lamp and was about to rise up and turn it of when he fell asleep. Unknown to him his light suddenly burned out and a shadow entered his room, pulling the covers over him and gently kissing his temple.

“Sleep well little one,” it said in a voice as rich as clover. “Until I can hold you in my own arms all night.” And as quickly as it had came, the shadow was gone.

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Author\'s Note: From my account on fiction press under the same name. First post on aff, forgive me if anything goes wrong with it.

1- Talking about Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. About an orphan blacksmith apprentice that comes into a large fortune.

2- One of the most famous gothic horror books. Written by Mary Shelley. About a ingenious man that through his search for the perfect specium, creates the prefect monster. Will probably be used for a comparisonlater on.