The Darkness Within Read Online Free

night. The only thing that forced her home was that the nightclub was closing. As she stumbled out she found her father waiting for her.
    ‘Dad? What are you doing here?’
    ‘I’m here to make sure you get home safe that’s all.’ It broke his heart that soon after her discharge she was back to square one, but he had to protect her no matter what. She had to help herself, but he had to make sure she was fine.
    ‘I’m fine dad.’
    ‘No you’re not, now come on love.’ He took her by the arm and led her to the car. He turned away and wiped his eyes a moment to make sure she didn’t see he was crying. Crying for his girl. Hoping and praying she’d be okay.
    They got to the car five minutes later. Nicholas opened the passenger door and helped Freya in. The minute her head hit the back of the chair she passed out. Nicholas knew that would happen and couldn’t imagine it happening in a taxi. God only knew what would’ve happened. He was grateful to Loretta for calling Amanda, who in turn called him. He would never abandon her no matter how drunk she was or how much it hurt him. He was hopeful that one day she would change.
    ****
    ‘Darling, you’re home.’ He shook her gently.
    Freya opened her eyes a little confused.
    ‘You’re home,’ he repeated.
    He got out and walked around to her side and helped her out. They walked to the front door.
    ‘Hand me the key,’ he said.
    She fumbled about in her bag.
    ‘Give me the bag.’ He took it from her. While he looked for the key he found a packet of coke. ‘What’s this?’ he showed it to her.
    ‘You know what it is dad. Did you find the key?’
    ‘You need to go back to the hospital. I don’t know why they let you out.’
    ‘I’m fine dad and you can’t force me to go back.’ She took her bag.
    He knew that was true. He took the packet and put it in his pocket to dispose of later. He knew that she’d get a hold of some soon enough, but not tonight. Tonight he would get rid of what she had.
    ‘You can go home now dad, I’ll be fine,’ she said as she stumbled into the house. He hesitated. ‘I’m fine. Go home!’
    ‘Okay. Call me.’
    She shut the door in his face. He dropped his head into his hand to take a moment. Watching her like that was like taking a beating on the back every single moment of his life. It hurt so much that at times he wished his wife was with him to help carry this heavy burden. He put his hand to the door, then left hoping for the best.
    Freya made it halfway up the steps before taking a tumble down them. She lay at the bottom of the stairs gazing up at the ceiling that was circulating. Then she heard it again, just one voice.
    ‘No, no…I don’t hear you. You’re not here, you can’t hurt me.’ She covered her eyes as if that would help stop the voices.
    ‘I can see you, you can’t hide from me you bitch!’ the voice echoed.
    She sat up and rushed for the kitchen cupboard and pulled the bottle of vodka from the bottom. She took a big gulp and staggered back for the stairs, picking up her bag along the way. This time making it for the bathroom where she kept her medication. Medication she knew she wasn’t supposed to take with alcohol, but desperate times called for desperate measures. With urgency she flipped opened the bottle of pills and took two with the vodka. Next she staggered to the bedroom, flung her bag across the room, kicked off her shoes and fell onto the bed.
    ‘I will get you, you can’t get away from me you whore!’ the voice continued.
    ‘No! Please! Leave me alone, leave me alone.’ She pulled on her hair. The more she tried to silence the voices the more they came until they began to fade a little at a time and her eyes shut out the light and everything was dead silent. The voices were gone; Freya had passed out. Everything was peaceful. For now.
    ****
    The ringing phone rudely intruded her dreamless sleep. She opened one eye and felt the sledgehammer headache. ‘God dam it!’ Freya rolled