The Initiation (Darkness Within Duet 1)

It would make sense.

Stepping away from the shadows, he entered through the garage and snuck up to his room.

One thing his father always taught him was to always be prepared for anything. Right now, he had some ammunition. He just needed to know when to use it.

Chapter Four

Harper’s locker was still empty. She slammed the door shut, pissed off.

That jacket was the only thing she had left of her mother, and she wanted it back. They could keep all the textbooks and other stuff. The only thing she wanted back was the jacket.

When she stepped away from the locker, the whispers still followed her as she made her way down the hall.

She went straight to the cafeteria even though there was a sandwich in her bag to enjoy. She’d sneaked into the kitchen last night to make it. The lunch Hannah prepared for her didn’t exactly leave her wanting to eat. Going vegan was the last thing she wanted to do.

Standing in the doorway of the cafeteria, she checked the tables, noticing the nerds, the jocks, the different groups of people, all of them in their own little circles. She’d never wanted to join.

It pissed her off to see them all looking so happy, so in control of their shit.

Above all else, it pissed her off that they whispered about her and judged her.

Spotting Draven and his little friends, she stormed over to them. He noticed her first and didn’t even move a muscle. He looked almost bored.

“Give it back,” she said.

“What?”

“You know what. You can keep the books and shit. You certainly need it, but I want my jacket back.”

“I don’t have it. Wow, you really have lost your mind.”

“Fuck off, Harper. We don’t have time for dirt like you,” Axel said, laughing.

She glared at Draven. “I want it back.”

“It’s good to want things, princess.”

Glaring at him, she was very much aware of people watching her. “You’re not going to give it back?”

“No.”

“Fine.”

She stormed away. She went straight back to her locker and glanced over at Draven’s.

Don’t do it.

Be the good girl.

The girl that no one expects to make waves.

Be nice.

Be polite.

Don’t cause trouble.

Blood.

So much blood.

Her mother’s lifeless face staring up at the ceiling. Bad things happened to good people. Her mother didn’t deserve to die.

She stepped away from her own locker and stood in front of Draven’s. He was there every single morning. She was always aware of him, of his gaze following her.

She wanted her jacket. He had it. She wanted it. He’d just take what he wanted. Lifting her foot up, she slammed it against his locker.

It hurt. The pain rushed through her entire body as she brought her foot back up and did it again, then again.

Over and over, she kicked his locker, seeing a dent form. The metal wasn’t strong and in fact quite fragile.

Suddenly, she was grabbed and pinned against the locker. Draven had his fingers wrapped around her neck, but he didn’t squeeze.

The threat was there.

He wanted to hurt her.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he asked.

People were watching, but she didn’t care. Something shifted inside her as she glared at him.

“Taking what I want.”

“And what you want is that fucking jacket?”

“Yes.”

He glared at her. She glared right back. Neither of them moved.

“What the hell is going on here?” Mr. Arnold said, walking down the long hallway.

That’s right, teach, don’t run. You may have to intervene.

“What is the meaning of this?” Mr. Arnold didn’t even ask for Draven to remove his hands from her neck.

“We’re talking here,” Draven said.

“Yeah, we are. Back the fuck off, people. Can’t five people have a convo anymore without you nosy bastards listening in? Get gone,” Axel said.

She wasn’t talking to anyone but Draven.

“Give it back.”

“What are you willing to do for it?” he asked.

“It’s mine. I’m not willing to do anything.”

“Finders keepers.”

“Seriously, is that what you want? To dress up in my jacket?”

“I’m attached to it.”

She grabbed his arms and attempted to throw him off her, but he wouldn’t budge. “Let me go.”

The teacher had disappeared, and once she glanced over his shoulder, she saw they were alone.

“Seriously, who are the ones in charge here?” she asked.

“You’re looking at them.”

She grabbed his wrist. “Get your hands off me.”

She didn’t expect him to push his entire body against hers. His fingers were still wrapped around her neck.

“Stop it,” she said. Her heart started to pound as she watched him. The bag on her back was digging into her as he kept her flat against the lockers.

“You know we’ve hurt people for less,” he said.

“You filled my locker with dirt. I wasn’t going to tell. You didn’t need to do that.”

“How do we know you won’t tell?”

“I’m not a damn rat. I know when to keep my mouth shut,” she said.

“You know all of our dirty secrets?” Jett asked.