Falling Darkness: The second book in the Falling Awake Series Read Online Free Page B

ground. My brain still wasn’t functioning properly and it took me longer than normal to acknowledge that it was Drake holding me upright. He loosened his grip slightly when I leaned over and retched once more, with barely anything coming up. I groaned and slumped into his chest. There was a quick exchanging of bodies and I was passed over and pressed firmly against someone else. Rough hands cupped my face and I looked up into Caleb’s green-grey eyes. “Have you been drinking?” he asked me, but my body was turning lethargic and like melting goo in his hands. I was losing control of myself.
    “…drugged.” I heard Drakes voice travelling like he was at the other end of a long and hollow tunnel.
    Caleb slapped my cheek gently. “Pria, wake up.” He shook me. “…sleep…were you with?” I closed my eyes and let my head fall onto his chest. I would have to answer his questions later. I was too sleepy.
     
    ***
     
    My eyelids cracked open and I was surrounded by darkness. I bolted upright, instantly panicked and gripped the sheets tightly. I could feel the sharpness of my finger nails biting into my skin through the thinness of the linen. The glow of a light burned out the darkness and the room was filled with a soft golden glow. Caleb sat at the edge of the bed, with his hand on the switch of the bedside lamp. I was in Caleb’s bedroom. I wiped away a thick strand of hair that was plastered to the side of my sweaty face. “What happened?” I asked Caleb.
    “You were drugged.”
    “Drugged?” My voice sounded gruffer than normal, and excruciatingly dry.
    “Drugged,” he repeated. “Who were you with?” I cast my mind back to last night. The memory was fractured, with bits and pieces missing. “I don’t know… Mellissa?”
    “Wrong. She was sitting flirting with some guy all night.” He looked angry and I couldn’t help but feel guilty. Should I not have let that happen? It was up to Mellissa what she done at the end of the day. I wasn’t her mother.
    “Then I don’t know,” I said. “I can’t remember. I just remember feeling really weird.”
    “What were you doing just going off like that? Did you know Mellissa lied to Drake? She told him you were over at her house. Was that so I wouldn’t come looking for you? It was a really dumb move.” His features hardened. “Were you with Nathan? Was this his idea?” He was talking too quickly and my brain was lagging behind.
    “Shut up will you?” I said. I felt groggy, like I was hung-over, and he was only making it worse. “It had nothing to do with Nathan. I don’t even remember seeing much of him.”
    “What were you even doing with him?”
    “That’s none of your business,” I said.
    “It’s my business when you go off into cemeteries with him at night, and end up drugged and passed out. What do I have to do with you? Tie you to the bed and lock all the doors? What can I do to knock some sense into you?” His fists gripped the sheets under me, and I cut him a look of pure hatred. I slid out of the bed, now aware that I was in only my underwear. I didn’t care how I ended up like this, I just needed to get away from Caleb.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” he barked at me.
    “Home.”
    “No you’re not.”
    “What are you going to do to stop me, Caleb? Tie me to the bed?” I snapped. “It’s my choice if I go home.” He stood up and came around to my side of the bed. He grabbed me by my upper arms. “You’re not going home.”
    “I’m going home,” I said calmly. His gaze slid over my shoulder.
    “What is it?”
    He was quiet for a moment, and then he said, “Nothing.” His grip loosened on me and he took a step back. “You’re clothes are in the wardrobe.” He sat back down on the bed with his back to me and I went over to the wardrobe and slid myself into my jeans, and pulled on my black top. I felt more confident now I was fully clothed, and less vulnerable. I couldn’t help myself. I went over and sat