Out of the Darkness: The Darkness, #2

She ruined me.

The walls I’d built were for a reason; locking myself in my own personal prison was out of necessity. Now, with the rubble at my feet, I could do nothing but watch as she ripped my soul in two, taking the half she owned with her. 

The need to settle down, to find that missing piece, for the all-consuming love, was never Drew’s plan. He’d spent the better part of a decade suppressing all memory of love, of life. He told himself he had the essentials: the impressive apartment, the successful club, the simple, uncomplicated life he’d worked so hard to create. It was all he needed. Until Mia. 

She entered his life like wildfire, burning through his world and destroying all pretence of simplicity, evoking everything he’d fought to deny. 

Longing. Warmth. Love. 

She made him want it all, but Amelia lived in the darkness. It had always been her constant yet terrifying companion. A shadow she'd never been able to out run and one fateful night it finally consumed her, shattering both their worlds and burying them deeper in the dark. 

Drew will stop at nothing to save her, for their happy ever after, but Mia isn’t the only one with demons ... It’s a long way out of the darkness.

Copyright © 2014 Simone Nicole

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any form, or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and are coincidental. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

All products mentioned in this book belong to their rightful owners.

I do not claim any of these products to be my own.

Cover design: © Arijana Karcic, Cover It! Designs

Then ...

Chapter One

~Drew~

Yes, hello? Anne’s sleep-ridden voice greeted me at the other end.

Anne, I’m sorry to wake ye, but—

Drew? What’s wrong? It’s Mia, isn’t it? What’s happened? Is she alright?

Aye, she’s fine. Looking at Mia chewing her nails to the quick, she’s anything but fine.

You had my heart racing a mile a minute there, Drew, calling me so late. If she’d let me get a word in.

Someone is after her. She sucks in a sharp intake of breath and I regret my abrupt outburst. Dinnae panic, he’ll nae get her.

"What do you mean someone is after her? Is she there? With you? You do have her, don’t you Drew?"

Aye, she's ‘ere.

She sighs in relief, Thank heavens, she’s safe.

Aye, she can stay ‘ere, with me, and we'll sort it out.

Yes, it sounds like that would be best. What about her belongings?

I'll come—

I’ll pack a few things and bring them.

Nae, stay home. I'll go the long way to be sure he doesnae follow, and pick up her things.

So he doesn’t follow? Oh Drew, do be careful!

I’ll be fine, Mia will stay ‘ere. I look up.

She’s gone.

The phone slips out of my hand, the sound of it hitting the floor drowned out by my pulse hammering in my ears as I bolt out my front door.

Mia! I scream over the railing at her retreating form, already on the last flight of stairs.

What the fuck is she doing?

I fly down the stairs two at a time, desperate to catch up, but she’s already heading out the security door before my feet reach the last landing.

Mia!

I burst out of my building but skid to a halt, catching the door before it swings closed. Mia is nowhere to be seen, and my keys are still upstairs, unless she has them on her.

Fuuuck!

I couldn't follow after her without locking myself out and damn it, if I’d be any good to her then.

Bollocks, Anne! I run back up the stairs and hope I haven’t given the old woman a heart attack. I can hear her muffled voice coming through the phone as I round the corner and race through my door.

Anne? I puff out after picking up my cracked phone, slightly out of breath.

Drew! What on earth is going on?

She ran. Mia just ran out the door. I have to go. I’ll find her. Call me if she shows up, but lock all yer doors, aye? Just to be safe.

Please find her ...

I hang up without another word. The worry echoed in Anne’s voice twists mine even further but something shiny catches my attention before I have a chance to panic any further. I sigh in relief when I notice it’s my keys on the kitchen bench. I shove them in my pocket and run to the door, yanking my jacket and helmet off the hooks on the way out, sliding the door shut behind me. I’m halfway down the stairs before I realise I haven’t bolted the bastard. But at this point, it’s not like I have anything else to lose.

I press the wee on button on my helmet and shove it on, the unmistakable click of the blue-tooth connecting to my phone reminding me I’d put it in my pocket.

Call Mia.

I hold my breath waiting for it to ring, hoping Mia has her phone on her and not left it at the club in her bag. I make quick work of getting my bike out of my building and onto the street, kicking it to life. The familiar vibration beneath me gives some comfort as the phone finally connects.

Please answer.

You know what to do. Bollocks, it’s off.

"Mia. Call me back, or better yet, come home. Please, let me keep ye safe."

I press the end button on my handlebars and accelerate at the same time. I have to find her before her bastard father does. Would she go to Anne’s—the station!

I take a sharp left, my knee grazing the asphalt as I round the corner heading for the train station. Mia cannae drive—well she can, I made sure of it. But she doesn’t have a car so the first place she’d go, if not to Anne’s, would be the station.

I ride almost right up to the ticket booth. I’ve not got time to fuss about as I see Libby’s fuming expression. I leave my bike running and jump off, kicking the stand in place before I make the short dash to the window, almost breaking my visor in my haste to get it up.

Drew McKinley, what are you playing at?

Libby, I need ye to do me a favour, like.

Alright, Drew? Her forehead bunches as she takes in my strained tone.

Sorry, Lib, I’ve nae got time to explain. If ye see Mia, call me instantly, aye?

Will do. Fill me in later, yeah?

Aye, will do. Thank ye. I throw the words over my shoulder as I swing my leg over the bike, I’ll owe ye a drink. Slamming my visor down, I ride off before I hear her reply.

Call work. I highly doubt it, but Mia might have gone to work to pick up her stuff. It’s worth a try, but the phone just rings out. Fucking hell, Jules. Answer the bloody phone.

I take a right and head back to the bar. Please be there. Please. I’m there in ten minutes, kicking my bike in place down the side alley. I flip my visor up and sneak in the back, surprised I don’t find it busier inside. Good, Jules can close early.

Drew!

Jules, ye dinnae answer the bleeding phone, and where the hell is Georgia? It comes out a lot gruffer than I intended as I head towards the staffroom.

Ah, sorry mate. G went home, it was too quiet, and I was talking to Angus here and didn't hear the phone.

I skid to a halt and head for the bar, desperate to know what Angus found out. Tell me.

I’m sorry ta say, son. I lost him. Got to the outskirts of town, I did. But he got in a car and drove off.

Bollocks. Dinnae be sorry; ye did good. How long ago?

Took me twenty minutes ta get back, it did. So, about an hour or so. Jules nods in agreement.

OK, good. He dinnae get Mia, but he’ll be back, no doubt.

He got in a bleeding Volvo. Huh? Oh. Maybe ...

Jules—

Yah, I’m on it. Jules calls back as he reaches for the work phone, one step ahead of me. What colour, model ... anything else ya remember Angus?

Blue. It was a dirty blue colour and um ... an old model?

I walk off, knowing Jules will do everything he can to find that car. The bastard cannae have gone far, next town over maybe, but the real question is will he still be with the car? I need to find Mia, before she does something daft, like leave. I cannae lose her, not now.

I bust her locker open and get out her wee bag. She cannae be going far without this, I hope. Ah bollocks, it even smells like her, the soft sweet scent tightening my chest, making it even harder to breathe. I have to find her.

Jules, lock up when it gets quiet, aye? I yell out as I burst through the staff door.

Sure, boss.

"Oh, and if Mia comes in, I dinnae care if ye ‘ave to hog-tie her

—dinnae let her leave, and call me."

Well, in that case, I hope she does come in. Jules’ face lights up, no doubt with the image I just painted for him swirling around his thick skull. I’ll pummel him later.

I don’t even bother to waste the time on a retort. I’m already out the door, slamming my visor down, before he has a chance to say anything else that will make me stop and deck the wee bastard.

Call Mia. I try again as I tuck her bag in my jacket and start my bike back up.

You know what to do. Bollocks!

Damn it, if it doesn't sting hearing her voice. I hang up without leaving a message. It would just be some sad sack nonsense.

Mia ...

I make my way to Anne’s. She has to be there. I go through a few of the obscure back roads, hoping I either come across Mia or go undetected by the bastard, if he’s still around—well as much as you can with the roar of a bike. But naught. No news is good news, right? The thought brings me wee comfort as I finally pull up outside of Anne’s house. I’ve not heard from anyone and it’s been a good half hour since Mia left—more, even, maybe forty-five? She should be here.

I don’t get the chance to knock. The door swings open as soon as I’ve dismounted, pulling my helmet of and hanging it on the handlebars. I mask my disappointment as Anne comes rushing out to meet me. This cannae be good.

Drew—

She’s nae here?

You didn’t find her? we say in unison.

Bollocks!

Oh, heavens.

He doesnae have her, but if she’s nae ‘ere, then where is she?

Come inside. I’ll fix us some tea, and you can tell me what on earth is going on. I’m going out of my mind here waiting. Waiting for what, I’m not even sure.

The English and their bleeding tea, the cure of all things. I humour the old bat, when all I really want to be doing is riding around and finding Mia. But I’d be doing naught but going in blind and right now Anne needs some comfort.

Anne ushers me inside, bolting the door behind us and I struggle with what to tell her. I don’t know the half of it, but I’ve worked out most.

Anne ...I’m nae sure what to tell ye. Mia, has nae even told me the half of it, I blurt out as we head for the kitchen. I cannae help but stare at the closed doors at the end of the hall. Wondering which one is Mia’s room, and picturing her buried under the covers, typing out the late-night text messages we’d often have before we’d sleep. Me, still trying to convince her to come sleep with me.

I need sleep ...

We both know u dinnae sleep, so dinnae be lying woman.

Ah, but you see I have this tyrant of a boss and he’ll whip my bum if I fall asleep on the job ;)

Besides, you sleep better with me, here, naked and well sated ;) And I’ll pummel your boss if he lands one hand on that arse. It’s mine, and mine alone to play with. I dinnae care how good looking he is :P

My smile dies before it completely forms and my chest clenches painfully tight, feeling as if at any minute my heart will burst, the splattering fragments coating the inside of my empty shell of a body.

God, man up, you pussy. I’m turning into a daft cow. Get it together.

Drew? Anne’s voice breaks through.

Sorry, I dinnae hear ye.

Would you like to look inside? There might be something to help you find her. Her soft tone is almost painful to hear and I regret my moment of weakness. I should be comforting Anne, not the other way around.

I cannae invade her privacy like that. She’d have my bollocks if she found out. Besides, there’d be naught to find. She’s too clever, keeps it all inside. I’ve seen it, eating her away at night.

You would know her better than anyone, Drew. Anne gives me a small smile as she continues on into the kitchen.

Aye, that may be so, but she’s made it her mission to keep me at arm’s length for a good long while. She was just starting to let me in. Did I push her too hard? I only just got her back. I didn’t mean to say that aloud, but before I have a chance to take it back, Anne throws her arms around me and sobs into my chest, gripping on to me for dear life. I don’t know how to handle this. I awkwardly pat her back as she continues to sob. Finally she pulls away, and looks up at me with tear-stained checks.

She didn’t leave you, dear. I am sure of it. You will get her back; don’t give up. She’s crying for ... me?

Anne ... I’m at a loss for words. That’s never happened before. I nod my understanding instead.

Anne motions for me to sit down at the island bench, frowning when I refuse. Bloody hell, I sit, giving her the satisfaction of doing something, even if it is only for a minute. I watch Anne make tea and try to suppress Mia’s presence here. It’s unmistakable, the feeling of her in this very spot. No doubt having watched Anne as I am. It’s unnerving and makes me even more conscious that I need to leave. I cannae keep sitting here, doing naught.

I let Anne's words seep in. My own swim around in my head, and I desperately try to make sense of them all. If I know Mia best, then why cannae I work out where she is? She didn’t leave you, then why did she leave? Think. I have to know this.

I start replaying what happened just before she ran. I was on the phone to Anne when she bolted. I replay the conversation in my head, but I cannae think what—

Everyone I love dies. I can’t ...

Mia.

Don’t.

Nought’s going to happen to me. I promise.

You can't know that. What if he hurts you, or Anne?

I bolt upright, knocking the stool in my haste. The sudden clang of metal hitting the tiles rings out. Anne spins around, clutching at her chest in fright as the cup in her hand falls, shattering across the floor.

Ah, bollocks! I’m so sorry, Anne. I dinnae mean to scare ye.

Heavens. I wait while she composes herself and try to find a dustpan, opening all the cupboards.

"I think I worked out Mia. I mean, she was going on and on about how I cannae know that naught will happen and that he’ll hurt us, not her. It was nae until I called ye and said I was going to keep her at mine when she fled. I think, somewhere in her daft head, she’s trying to keep us safe. I dinnae know if she’ll risk coming ‘ere at all, but she’s got naught on her but a phone." I pull out Mia’s bag from my jacket and hand it to a slightly stunned Anne.

She’s not the only clever one, it would seem.

I’ve already got someone keeping tabs at the station, and the lads at work will nae let her leave if she comes to get her bag. I can already see Jules, his face lighting up as she walks in. Bollocks. I’ve got to get back to work before he hog-ties my woman. I’ve got to go.

You really have thought of everything. What do I tell Mia when, or if she comes here first?

Call me as soon as she arrives. If ye cannae, prank my phone and I’ll be ‘ere in a heartbeat. Dinnae let her leave, Anne.

Alright, Drew; I’ll do my best. That’s if she comes home.

Aye ... If she comes home. I don’t know if Mia thinks of this as home; I doubt she even remembers what one is. I’ve not heard her call it that, only ever Anne’s. My heart twists painfully again.

I thank Anne for the tea and make my way out of the kitchen, sparing a glance for the rooms at the end of the hall before continuing on to the front. I pause at the front step, unsure what to say or do. Anne holds back a sob as she smiles up at me. Be careful, won’t you, Drew. I want you back safe too.

Aye, dinnae worry about me, like. I can hold my own. I swiftly turn and jump on my bike, kicking it to life.

I'll find her, Anne, ye can count on that. Her bottom lip trembles as she nods.

I muster up the strength to give her one last reassuring smile before putting my helmet on, hoping it comes across stronger than it feels. I slam my visor down and ride off, the gnawing, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach getting bigger the further away I ride.

Seven minutes later, I’m letting myself in the back door. The bar looks almost empty—good. I need to think and I need Jules. I catch his attention as I make my way to the office. He raises his eyebrows, the question plain on his scruffy face. I give him the nod he needs.

Alright, you drunken lot, last call, he bellows out as I enter the staff room on the way to the office.

I collapse into my chair and groan, raising my head to the roof. The thoughts race in my head—I can barely hold on to one long enough before the next is taking over, spinning me out of control. My phone rings and I jump to my feet, my heart slamming to attention and my stomach settling in my throat. I pull it out of my trouser pocket, my hands shaking as I try to make out who’s calling through the cracked screen. Blasted phone. My heart sinks for all of two seconds when I see it’s not Mia, but kicks straight back up when I see its Anne.

Anne! I rush, but it comes out chocked. I clear my throat of the lump and try again. Ye’ve got her?

I’m so sorry, Drew. My heart stops beating at the desolation in her voice and I collapse, falling into my chair. She left.

W ... what?

I tried, Drew. I tried to call, but you were right. She wouldn’t hear sense; she didn’t want you to see her. She pauses for a reaction but my heart still hasn’t restarted. I’m so sorry but she left.

I dinnae understand ... She left me?

She took my car, and—

WHAT? I’m back on my feet, my heart thundering back to life, the anger boiling within me. Whose car, Anne? Ye gave her yer bleeding car? She dinnae have a license. The daft cow. What’s she playing at? If she gets caught ...

You’ve said so yourself that she’s a good driver, and it’s late. If she sticks to back roads ... She started strong, but the strength in her voice wavered as she trailed off.

"When did she leave? I’m nae letting her leave; she cannae leave. I know she can be persuasive, but I dinnae care. Which way did she go?" It all comes out gruffer and quicker than I intend, but I cannae believe Anne just let her leave with some crazy arse trying to find her.

I understand you’re mad and hurting, but I was trying to do the only thing I could to help. She was so adamant she had to leave, and I wasn’t to tell you. She seemed to know—

"She dinnae have a clue what she knows. Ye said so yerself—I know her best. Well, I’m telling ye, she’s better off here, with me. I can keep her safe. I cannae protect her if I nae know where she is, and what’s to stop the bastard from following her, finding her first?"

I’m sorry, Drew. Tears are present in her voice.

Ah, bollocks. Dinnae cry, Anne. The rage comes to an abrupt halt. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I’m sorry. I’ll find her and drag her stubborn arse home. Aye? She sniffs loudly and the corner of my mouth twitches as I picture her nodding her head on the other end of the line. I’ll keep ye posted. Try and get some rest and I’ll call ye first thing in the morning. I’m going to make this right.

Drew ... you’re a good man. Mia is lucky to have you. She doesn’t seem to think so.

Thank ye. It comes out forced and frigid. If only she knew ...

Good night, Drew. She sighs.

Try and sleep.

I pull the phone away, my