Darlings by Ashley Swisher Read Free Book Online

the outdoor classroom. They won’t be back until
lunch, I’ll show you where the library is--”
    “You need to take me to where they are. Is
Tina in gym too?” Andrew asked with urgency as they walked out of
the empty gym into the hall.
    “No. I can’t take you there, it’s like twenty
minutes from here one way, they’ll be back soon, and yah I think
Tina is there too.” The guy was getting strange, Gwen thought for a
minute. “This isn’t about homework is it?” 
    Andrew looked over his shoulders. His big
brown eyes filled with desperation and torment. He ran his hand
quickly through his hair. “Gwen I..I can’t tell you what I want to
but please know that it’s important and--” Buzz. He was cut off by
the screaming fire alarm. 
    Gwen covered her ears as students flooded the
halls. She turned to join the swarm shuffling out the nearest exit,
when she felt a large hand grab her petite arm. A huge shock ran
through her body stinging her every nerve. Then the warmth. It was
like a rush of warm water spreading like a blanket over her
freezing body.  She’d never felt so calm, so perfect. Then
came the pain. It felt as if a cold fire was burning in her
chest. 
    Andrew gritted his teeth and motioned to the
gym. Gwen wanted to refuse but every ounce of her being was
demanding she follow. They snuck through the big wooden gym doors
and the buzzing dimmed to a tolerant level as the door slowly shut
behind them. Andrew let go of her arm, and the unnatural high began
to wear off, only to be replaced with a pounding headache. The
mother of all migraines. She staggered over to the bleachers and
flopped down.  Rubbing her thin chest in agony she peeled down
one side of her sweater, attempting to examine herself for any
external injuries. Too dizzy to continue she let her head fall into
her hands. Her heart pounded slow and hard. She noticed Andrew. He
had propped his head up on his arm against the cold brick gym wall,
rubbing his pectoral muscle in pain. Massaging her chest, Gwen
began to think more clearly now. What was going on she wondered.
Did he drug her? Should she run? What was happening? Was she hurt?
She wasn’t sure. What happened next would change everything.
Forever. 
    Of course I didn’t drug you. Gwen shot
up, looking at Andrew still leaning against the wall.
    “What did you say?” she snapped at him.
Feeling dizzy Gwen stammered back to her seat.  
    “I’ll explain later but now I have to get you
out of here. They’re here for you.” Andrew fought through the
painful haze and made his way to Gwen. She was breathing hard and
fast, hands quivering. 
    “I’m not going anywhere with you. Who’s here
for me?” Gwen insisted. Andrew tensed. Again he clenched his jaw
and his massive hands turned to fists. He turned toward the gym
door, and back to her. Gwen followed his gaze attempting to see
what he saw. 
    “Gwen, we don’t have time for this. They’re
almost here. It’s not safe for me to fight them alone, not yet
anyway. There are too many. Please follow me. Look at me Gwen.”
Their eyes locked.  Andrew touched his chest. 
    Trust me.   His voice appeared
again in her head. She felt as if she could peer through his eyes…
and into his soul. “Did you just say something?” 
    “Please I beg you don’t try to understand it
yet. I promise I will tell you everything as soon as we get out of
here,” he seemed so sincere. Gwen nodded. They got up and staggered
to the back door of the gym but it was too late. The big wooden
doors flew open, and closed with a bang behind them. 
    They were ugly. Hideous. That was the first
word that came to Gwendolyn Darling’s mind. There were four.
Humans, Gwen thought, maybe, but...odd. They had bumpy rotten
looking skin and large pointy teeth. Their eyes were lifeless
almost like zombies. The leader was the largest. He was bald and
wearing tattered dirty clothing somewhat… pirate like. His fingers
were filthy and he hissed when he