Soulmate in the Midnight Darkness

by Christine Buckley.

chapter one

It was 6:07 p.m. when I decided to take a walk down to the docks. I was bored out of my skull and it wasn't even that dark out—yet. When I got down to the river, fog had just started to roll in with the breeze of twilight. The eeriness of the docks at night had never bothered me before, but something about tonight was different. I pushed my anxiety back down and kept walking towards the river. When I got down to the docks, I saw something that caused me to stop in my tracks. There was a boy standing on the river bank, tendrils of fog curling about his figure.

He had long grey hair and looked to be around my age; somewhere near sixteen or seventeen. He glanced my way—a shiver ran down my spine, making goose bumps appear all over my arms. There was something about those eyes… I quickly climbed up a nearby pine tree, looking for a way to escape that wonderful, yet terrifying gaze and hoping he hadn't seen me. I sat in that tree for maybe five minutes, but it seemed like forever had passed before I allowed myself a peek at where he had been standing. However when I looked at the docks, he was gone! I sat there staring awestruck at the spot the grey-haired boy had just occupied. Worried that maybe he had left and I hadn't even the chance to say hello.

"What are you looking at?"

"Aah!" I jumped at the sound of the voice, and lost my grip on the branch that I had been holding onto for support. I almost fell out of the tree, but luckily I regained my balance. I looked down to where the voice had come from and gasped in surprise. It was the grey haired boy!

"Um…I can explain." I said hesitantly, his eyes boring holes into mine.

"No need, but you can explain why you're in a tree." He said, a small smile placed on his lips.

"well, if you were spying on someone you wouldn't want them to see you now would you?" I said sarcastically to the boy.

"So you were spying on me then? And, I guess not, but what's it matter." He laughed out loud. "By the way my names Ash, what's yours?" He asked.

"You really think I would tell someone that I don't even know my name? You've got some nerve." (This kid must think I'm stupid or something!)

"No, actually. I don't." He said.

"…Don't what?" I asked taken aback. (What the hell…?)

"I don't think you're stupid." He said. "Now come, get down from that tree before you hurt yourself." He called from the ground.

"Yeah right! That's just what you want me to do isn't it. Tell me who the hell you are and why you're here or else. I know you don't live around here because I've lived here for eleven years and I've never seen you around here before." I was putting on a tough act. I knew if he chose to call my bluff that I was a sitting duck. I was starting to panic, I had to act quick. Every survival instinct I had screamed for me to run, yet at the same time, something was drawing me in as well.

"As I said before, my name is Ash. I just moved into one of the river lots down here." He said. I looked down about to tell him that I hadn't known of any lots being open, but when I looked down he was gone again.

"I'm right here." I felt his breath on the nape of my neck. It made the hairs on my neck stand up. He was in the tree…but how? I jumped down from the tree and started running. (How the hell did he move so fast? I swear he was on the ground just a second ago!) I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, faster than I ever remember running before. Adrenaline was pushing me. I got down to the lower part of the river. Slowing my pace, I hid behind a spruce with low hanging branches. Hoping it would be enough cover to hide from him in. I sat there…I didn't hear anything. I turned around ready to walk home. And bumped into a hard body.

"Ahh! What the hell!" There he was; the grey-haired boy…Ash I think? "Would you stop that?"

"Stop what?" He asked innocently.

"Stop sneaking up on me!" I said.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He said.

I scoffed. "Yeah, and I'm sure Jack the Ripper said that to his victims too, and will you cut that out!" I yelled at him.

"Cut what out?" He asked. (oh, as if he didn't know)

"You very well know what I'm talking about. Stop it with all the mind reading crap! Oh, and you're so not good at hiding what you are." I said.

"Hmm..really? You think you know what I am?" He got this really creepy look in his eyes. "Okay, go ahead and guess, but I was telling you the truth when I said that I wouldn't harm you. I promise." He looked me in the eyes.

"Now, Go ahead…guess what I am."