Beyond the Darkness --Chapter 1--:

A light summer wind passed through the large pine tree that canopied over most of Sammy's backyard and swayed the branches in a rythmic pattern. Samantha closed her eyes and slowly moved the swing she was sitting on.1

It was times like these that she just enjoyed spending time by herself. She always came out to her swing when she needed to think. Her father, Joe Harper, had been killed by a drunk driver when Sammy was nine, but a week before his death he had surprised her with this special wooden swing.2

Right now the sun was setting in the west and Sammy was enjoying the canvas of colors that were boldly painted across the evening sky. It was so beautiful, she was beginning to wonder why she rarely took the time to watch it.3

"Samantha!" she heard her mother, Alice Harper, call her and hesitantly left her swing to go inside.4

When she entered her house the strong smell of spices and herbs filled the air and she felt her stomach begin to growl. Her Mom always made the best dinners as far as she was concerned.5

"Mm, smells good," Sammy said leaning against the kitchen counter and watching her Mom bustle around the kitchen.6

"Greg wanted a special dinner tonight, he has some great news," Alice told her and Sammy silently made a face behind her Mom's back.7

"He's coming tonight?" Sammy didn't even bother to hide the sourness in her voice.8

"I wish you weren't so hostile toward him," Alice said, pulling the cooked chicken from the oven. "He really makes me happy, Sammy."9

"I thought Dad made you happy," Sammy retorted and saw the look of hurt and betrayal cross her Mother's face when she spun around and looked at her.10

"That's not fair, and you know it.," Alice said and though Sammy felt bad for hurting her Mom's feelings, she just gave an apathetic shrug instead.11

"Whatever, I don't like him," Sammy left the kitchen and tried not to feel too guilty for hurting her Mom and headed upstairs to her room.12

When she closed the door behind her she walked over to her dresser and stood in front of the mirror that hung above it. She looked so much like her Mom.13

She did think Alice was incredibly lovely and couldn't deny how she liked their resemblence. She had the same long, wavy blonde hair that fell past her shoulders and the same gray-blue eyes. Her nose however, was definately from her father, but Sammy liked that feature. It reminded her that some of her looks came from him. Her lips, however, were just like her Mom's and so was the oval shape of her face.14

She was a bit taller then her Mom though, which was the only other physical feature that came from her father. She had a younger version of her mother's hour-glass figure and dressed in her own style.15

Sammy didn't like to keep up with the fashion that passed around her school and just found her own look. Which usually consisted of baggy pants and various cute shirts. And she rarely bothered with make-up or hairstyles, as far as she was concerned she didn't like painting on a new face just to impress those around her.16

She was who she was and that was all she, and her friends really needed.17

Sighing aloud, Sammy passed the mirror and plopped down on her bed and reached for her cellphone. It was a modest phone compared to the high-tech kind most of the other students carried around, but she liked that. Her life didn't revolve around her cell phone and she didn't need it to.18

She had two missed calls and about three unread texts, all from her friend Mandy.19

She read through each text and didn't bother listening to the voicemail, having picked up the gist of what her friend wanted.20

Text from: Mandy21

Hey girl! Where are you? There is this massive party tonight, you should totally come!22

Text from: Mandy23

Where are you?? I'm leaving at eight, you have to come! Please don't make me go alone!24

Text from: Mandy25

Ugh, why do you even have a phone?26

Sammy had to smile at the last text and felt a bit of remorse as well for never being near her phone. Normally she would pass up the party, since it wasn't usually her thing, but decided it would be the perfect excuse to not have to be at dinner that night.27

She quickly dialed Mandy's number. "Five minutes before eight? You've got to be kidding me," was Mandy's hello.28

"Sorry, I wasn't--," Sammy tried but Mandy interupted her.29

"Near your phone? Please, spare me the excuse. You never are. So are you going to come?"30

"Well I--,"31

"Please say yes, Sammy! David is going to be there, and I totally need your support!"32

"Alright," Sammy finally resigned. "Let me just clear it with my Mom."33

"Okay, but we're going to see that new Horror movie 'The Undead' if she asks."34

Sammy nodded in agreeance and then realized her friend couldn't see her. "Yeah, sounds good," she finally said. "I'll go ask now."35

She took the stairs down two at a time and headed back into the wonderful smelling kitchen. It sucked she wasn't going to be there to eat dinner there, but Sammy decided some drive-thru would suffice for her growling stomach.36

"Hey Mom, Mandy invited me to go see 'The Undead' with her, can I go?"37

Alice was very curt with her answer, which told Sammy she was still upset with her. "After dinner."38

Sammy took a breath to calm herself, knowing if she started begging or whining the answer would definately be a 'No'. "But Mom... they're leaving now."39

"Then I guess your not going," Alice replied and turned her back on her to season the vegetables.40

Sammy turned out of the kitchen in frustration and put the phone up to her ear when she was in the other room. "She totally isn't going to let me," she told her friend. "All because Greg is coming over. I really hate him, Mandy."41

Mandy gave an overdramatic sigh on the other end, "How unfair! Why don't you tell her that?"42

Sammy took a seat on the living room couch and fell back against the soft cushions. "I have. She doesn't care what I think." Mandy was quiet a long moment and then suddenly piped up.43

"Oh, I have an idea! Let me talk to her. She'll say yes to me."44

"I doubt it," Sammy mumbled but walked back into the kitchen regardless. "Mandy wants to talk to you," she said and handed her Mom the phone.45

"Yes, Mandy?" Alice gave Sammy a quizzical look that told her she already knew what her friend was up too. Sammy couldn't hear her friends voice but saw her Mom start to loosen up. And then finally, Sammy's friend had pulled off the miracle. "Alright, Mandy, she can go. But you two be safe," there was a pause before she added, "And don't scare yourselves too much."46

The smile Alice had on her face almost disappeared when she handed Sammy the phone, "You can go. But you better work on your attitude, young lady."47

Sammy rolled her eyes and took the phone from her Mom, "Thanks," she muttered and left the room. As soon as she was out of earshot, Sammy went running up the stairs and said in surprise, "How on earth did you do that?"48

"What can I say?" Mandy replied, "I'm gifted."49

Sammy laughed and after telling her friend goodbye hung up the phone. She only had about fifteen minutes to get ready and though she wasn't into parties she still wanted to look nice. Who knew when a cute guy might show her some attention?50

Quickly picking out her favorite, low cut jeans and a cute red top, she dressed and stood contemplating the outfit in the mirror. It looked modest but not too much so. After she decided the outfit was perfect she threw her hair up into a pony-tail and painted a very light shade of red over her eyes. Not dark enough to really notice, but enough to exencuate her eyes. And last by not least, a light shade of red over her lips.51

She stood admiring herself in her mirror for a few minutes, while she waited for Mandy. It wasn't often she dressed up, but when she did, she was always confident she looked alright.52

Sammy saw the headlights on Mandy's car when she pulled onto her driveway and after one last glance in the mirror grabbed her purse and headed downstairs. "Bye, Mom!" she called and was just about to open the front door when it opened for her and Greg poked his head in.53

Sammy stopped in her tracks and waited for him to walk through the doorway passed her. "Hey, Sammy!" Greg said, with a genuine smile that lit up his face. "Where're you headed?"54

Greg was a big guy. Not fat, just big. He reminded Sammy of the football players she would see on tv, with bulging biceps. He was just downright huge. But he had a sweet face and she supposed that was why her Mom liked him.55

"Movies," she said, averting her eyes from his.56

"Oh- that's too bad." He looked disappointed, but Sammy did her best not to show that she cared in the slightest.57

"Yeah well, see you later." Sammy eased passed him as quickly as she could and was almost in the clear when he called out to her.58

"Sammy!"59

She stopped and bit back her irritation and turned to face him, "What?"60

He hesitated and Sammy sensed he saw her dislike for him in her eyes. "Have a good time," he finally said, and then closed the front door behind him.61

Sammy just rolled her eyes and headed down to Mandy's car and slid into the passenger seat. "Wow, Sammy, he is really trying to get you to like him."62

Sammy buckled her seat belt and shrugged, "Yeah, it's really irritating."63

Mandy smirked and looked behind her as she pulled out of the driveway. "You could really take advantage of it, you know." She took the car out of reverse and put it in drive, "Emily does that to her Mom's fiance. I almost feel bad for the guy."64

"Yeah, but that's because she doesn't really care if he's in her life or not. But I do. I don't want him taking the place of my Dad." Sammy grew quiet a long while and just looked out of her window, taking it all in.65

"It was a long time ago, Sam," Mandy finally said quietly, very serious now. "Maybe it's time you let your Mom move on."66

Sammy grew silent, which told Mandy she was not going to talk about it anymore. Knowing her best friend too well, Mandy sighed and turned on the radio to sooth the atmosphere that had thickened between them.67

Finally a song came on they both liked and Mandy turned it up, already starting to move and sing along. Sammy glanced at her, just in time to catch her doing a silly version of an 80's dance move and laughed.68

"Come on," Mandy said, "Don't make me look silly on my own."69

The tension rolled out of Sammy's shoulders and she started to follow Mandy's lead, dancing and wiggling on her side of the car.70

They finally pulled up to the house with the party and it was obviously way under way. The music already pumping through the atmosphere, even partway down the street.71

The two got out of the car and headed up to the house that was already jam-packed. "I'm so nervous!" Mandy said, grabbing onto Sammy's hand. "David told me he couldn't wait to see me here! Oh, Sam, what if he asks me out?"72

Sammy squeezed Mandy's hand, "Then I guess that means you'll have to say yes." They both giggled at the thought and entered the house. "It's so crowded!" Sammy called out to Mandy as they pushed through the crowd, and she was reminded for the second time why exactly she didn't do the party scene.73

"Yeah, but that's the best part!" Mandy called back, and Sammy couldn't help but wonder how Mandy could truly believe that. They pushed their way out into the backyard, that was only a little less crowded from the inside, which didn't say much.74

And then Mandy saw David, in the corner of the back yard and nearly squealed in excitement. She squeezed Sammy's hand, "Wish me luck," she said and before Sammy could protest Mandy left her side and eased over to David, who gave her a huge smile and wrapped his hand around her shoulder in a breif hug.75

That's good, Sammy thought and then looked around at the crowd of her peers and wondered what exactly she was going to do now. She hadn't realized Mandy was going to just ditch her, and though she knew her friend hadn't intended, it still happened.76

"Now what?" she muttered to herself and walked back into the house and grabbed a can of coke out of one of the coolers. She was certainly glad they had non-alcohol drinks there, since she wasn't a drinker. Although she knew most of the other kids there prefered the beer that was obviously also supplied.77

She walked to an empty seat on the couch and took a seat. As long as she stayed invisible, she'd be just fine.78

"Coke, huh?" Sammy jumped at the sound of a guy's voice and looked over to the source, finding Jeremy Carson taking a seat beside her. They shared a few classes together, but she had hardly spoken to him before.79

She nodded, "What can I say?" she said, "I like Coke."80

"Can't go wrong with that," he said and she noticed he had one too.81

She gave him a smile and opened her can. "We're in a few classes, right?" she asked, trying to make conversation. She was already starting to get a little nervous, it wasn't often she talked to a guy. And she hadn't really noticed how cute he was before. He certainly wasn't the next Brad Pitt, but with his short, spiky hair, brown eyes, and crooked smile, he seemed to have his own charm.82

"Chemistry, History, and...," he trailed off and thought about it a moment.83

"English," Sammy supplied for him. It was the only class she could remember him in.84

"Right," he said and sent her a disarming smile and she couldn't stop her heart from pounding against her ribs with nerves.85

"So.. are you with someone?" she asked.86

He raised an eyebrow at her in question and a deep shade of red darkened her face when she realized how her question sounded. "If your asking if I'm single, then yes," he said, and Sammy's face reddened even more.87

"No--no, I didn't mean it that way."88

"Oh, so you don't want to know if I'm single?" Jeremy could tell he was making her uncomfortable and grinned to himself and took a sip of his coke. "I'm sorry, I'm just teasing."89

Sammy nodded, unsure how to handle herself now. "I did come with a friend," she said, desperately trying to change the subject. "But she ditched me for some guy."90

"Now that is messed," he said and then smiled at her, "Same thing happened to me--only he ditched me for a girl."91

"So that's what parties are all about!" She said with a hint of sarcasm, "Now I know why I hate them so much!"92

Jeremy laughed and leaned back against the couch. "I don't really care for parties either," he admitted.93

"Looks like we have alot in common," Sammy replied and felt a little less nervous now.94

The two of them talked for the next few hours and Sammy was glad she had met him. Once they started talking, her nerves eased up and she realized they really did have things in common.95

They exchanged numbers and myspace information when Sammy realized it was time for Mandy and her to leave, if they really wanted to fool Sammy's Mom about going to the movies.96

Sammy said goodbye to Jeremy and then went off to find Mandy.97

She was where Sammy had left her, only now she was sitting on David's lap. "Hey Sammy!" Mandy said, "Where've you been?"98

"With Jeremy Carson," Sammy said and before she could continue Mandy's eyes lit up.99

She said, "You like him, Sammy?"100

Sammy shook her head, feeling heat rise in her cheeks, "No, Mandy. I just met him."101

Mandy laughed and shook her head, "You know you like him." She looked at David and said, "She likes Jeremy."102

David just kind of nodded like what she said was cute and didn't take her seriously. Sammy didn't really understand why but brushed it off.103

"Mandy we need to go. My Mom thinks we saw 'The Undead' remember?"104

It took her friend a moment before she blinked up at Sammy and nodded. "Oh yeah, okay." She turned to David, "I have to go," she said and then to Sammy's and, she noticed, to David's surprise too, Mandy kissed him. "Goodbye, David."105

He mumbled a goodbye and then nodded to Sammy and then turned back to a friend he was already talking to before hand. How rude, Sammy thought and walked out with Mandy to her car.106

"That was so much fun, Sammy!" Mandy said as they made through the throng of people just outside the house. "We should come here next time!"107

"I don't think so," Sammy replied, "I've had my fill of parties for awhile."108

"What about, Jeremy?" she asked, angling her head over to her.109

Sammy shrugged, "He's not into parties either."110

Mandy suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground. "Mandy!" Sammy immediately went to help her up. "What happened, are you alright?"111

Mandy just started laughing hysterically and didn't seemed all that fazed that her knee was scraped enough to bleed. It wasn't profusely or anything, but it was enough to get cleaned up. "I'm okay," she said and it took her a moment to get to her feet.112

Sammy was a little concerned but followed Mandy out to her car. They both slid in when Mandy unlocked the door, and Sammy immediately relaxed against the passenger seat. "No more parties, Mandy," she said. "Seriously."113

"Your such a black sheep, Sam," Mandy repplied and started the car. It took Sammy a moment before it dawned on her. Mandy's voice was slightly slurred and Sammy thought back to her uncharacteristic kiss, how David had simply dismissed it, and how she had stumbled to the ground without even a solid reason.114

"You've been drinking..." Sammy said, her heart beginning to pound as she glanced over at her friend.115

"What? No! Sam, I wouldn't do that." But Sammy could hear it in her voice now.116

"Mandy, please pull over," Sammy tried to say as calmly as she could. "I'll call my mom, she won't mind coming to get us." She was already reaching in her purse for her phone.117

"No! Sammy, stop. You're overreacting," Mandy said, and Sammy heard a little bit of anger in her friends voice. A tight curve was coming up and Sammy noticed Mandy didn't take it sharp enough and for a breif moment they ended up on the wrong side of the road. Bright headlights and the sound of the car on the other side honking filled the air.118

Sammy screamed and held onto her door handle, just as Mandy swerved onto their side of the road. Barely unscathed by the oncoming car. "Mandy, you need to pull over," Sammy said, tears of fear beginning to shine in her eyes. "Please, just pull over."119

"I'm fine!" Mandy snapped and continued to drive.120

"I'm calling my Mom," Sammy said, "Or maybe I'll just call the Police. You need to pull over!"121

"Just Shut up! I know how to drive!" Mandy insisted, but didn't seem to realize how unsteady her driving was becoming.122

Sammy didn't know what to do. What could the police or her Mom do? If Mandy refused to listen to her, why would she listen to them. So instead she just sat tensely and clung to the handle on her door that was meant to be gripped, and held onto it tightly. "Maybe I could drive?" Sammy suggested, trying to change the tone in her voice.123

"Oh my God, Sam! Just shutup, I'm fi--," Mandy was suddenly cut off by Sammy's scream and her tires screeching on pavement as she tried to get the car under control.124

But it was too late.125

Suddenly Sammy heard the sound of metal crunching and windows shattering. The jolt threw her head backwards and she felt immediate pain erupt through the back of her skull. She felt her vision sway into blurriness, felt the car continue to crunch into itself, and then, fell completely into oblivion.126