A Dark Secret

Chapter 1 | Just get through with a smile.

Hello everyone!  Welcome to my story 'A Dark Secret'. I hope that all of you will enjoy this story. I wanted to give a disclaimer that this story will contain violence, s*x, gambling, etc. So if you do not like content like this, I must advise you to not read this story. However, if you are still reading, I hope you will enjoy! 

"Marina." Marina heard a female voice echo which awfully lot sounded like her mother's voice. She tried looking around but even though, she knew that her eyes were open, she only saw blackness. It took her a second to realise that she was surrounded by nothing than just darkness. 

Marina tried to walk but it felt like no matter how long she walked, there was no end to this. Her heart craved for the tiniest light but there was nothing than just an endless darkness. She couldn't go anywhere, even if she tried to.

"Marina." She heard the same voice echo in the dark surrounding. Marina was looking around but every effort of hers was in vain. She couldn't even see something. Her eyes were open but it still looked like it was shut, it was pitch black. 

Marina wasn't sure whether the voice was her mother's but the energy she felt from it made her want to believe it was. She wanted to believe that this was her mother's voice. She gathered every single courage in herself and closed her eyes.

"Mum?" She asked and slowly she opened her eyes to looked around, hoping that she would find at least a bit of light here but again, all her efforts were in vain. Nothing seemed to work. Marina thought maybe calling out to Mother  would change something but it didn't really. 

Everything was still pitch black.

A couple of minutes passed away when she shouted for her mother. Now the voice of the woman was gone too. That was the only thing that was  guiding her and her only hope to get out of this nightmare. Nothing else was here to help her.

Marina started to feel anxious and frustrated but more terrified. Her heart started to race and could feel her breathing increasing.

"MUM!" Marina shouted and now her voice was echoing around but again there was no answer back. Her mother or whoever this woman was, decided to not answer back.

"Marina, wake up." She heard a voice that confused her and it somehow calmed her down. Marina frowned and looked around, thinking that her best friend was here but again, nothing than just blackness faced her.

"Marina, wake up." Marina heard Valerie’s voice say. When she opened her eyes, she loudly gasped and stared into the bright blue eyes of her best friend, Valerie. Her blonde locks were all over her face and that's when Marina realised that Valerie was half laying on her. What the hell was she doing?

"God, why are you so jumpy? Again a nightmare?" Valerie asked and Marina just nodded as Valerie got off her. Now everything made sense. She was just trying to wake her up.

It wasn't the first time that Marina got a nightmare... They have been recurring since her mother's death. No one really knew why and she didn’t care explaining it either. It wasn't as if someone would understand it... Hell,  she didn’t even understand her own nightmares.

"You can call it like that." Marina said softly as she tried controlling her breathing again.  She didn't even realise that she was sweating. She removed the blanket from her body and her body start cooling down immediately. Marina was sitting down on the half of her bed, looking out of the window.

Her father's car wasn't parked so she assumed that he already left for work. Autumn had started and the leaves of the massive oak tree in front of their house was losing it's colourful leaves. It was beautiful and somehow relaxing to watch.

"What are you doing here?" Marina asked confused as she looked over at Valerie. Valerie looked at Marina as if she was going to kill her right here and now. It looked like Marina had forgot something that she shouldn't be forgetting... 

"You do know that we are moving out tomorrow and you haven't even packed something." Valerie said annoyed and crossed her arms as she looked at Marina. Marina could see the anger in her eyes. She sighed. She totally forgot... Valerie couldn't shut up about it. She would talk about it everyday. It was the only thing on her mind but even her talking about constantly, Marina still forgot about it.  

Marina couldn't blame herself. She had so much on her mind… so much more than she could actually deal with… 

Marina was excited that they were moving out of Mooresville. They were finally leaving their boring town and living their life in Los Angeles with their parents permission but when the accident happened of her mother and she lost her to it, Marinabcouldn't think about anything else. She was a mess... She wouldn't come out of her room and would cry everyday.

Who wouldn't cry if they had lost their parent? Marina’s mother was more a friend to her than her actual mother. Yes, she had those nature skills of a mother and she would work on Marina’s nerves but she could talk with her about anything without really getting into trouble. They weren't the wealthiest family but somehow, her brother and Marina, and their parents. They were good. As long as they had each other. 

Marina’s mother was killed... She was a officer in their small town. Everyone knew everyone and her mother was always loved by everyone. 

Her mother was a officer and never has Marina ever been terrified that she worked in a lane like this. Mooresville was a small town. Nothing bad would happen here, ever. Everyone knew everyone so it was hard to do something that no person was supposed to do. Marina knew that her mother would have been safe because Mooresville was safe. 

About two months ago, some people ended up dead. Every time, the police would confirm that these were animal attacks. The police advised to stay away from the dark forest or otherwise known as the haunted forest. Mooresville has been safe for decades now but before that terrifying stuff happened. The history of Mooresville almost sounded like a ghost s********e said it was true and some said it was just bull s**t.

Last month, Marina’s mother was late. She didn't think of it much. She just thought her mother had a lot of work in the office and she just stayed over at Valerie’s, having fun like any other normal teenager. The next morning, Valerie’s father told Marina that her mother was in accident. The same thing. An animal attack...  

"Marina?" Valerie asked, again annoyed. Marina blinked a few times, getting out of her thoughts and looked at Valerie. Her blue eyes were piercing into hers and honestly, it sometimes scared Marina how angry Valerie would look. She knew that she wouldn't do something to her but she was still terrifying. 

Marina loved Valerie with all of her heart but somehow, Marina felt like she had no clue how much she was suffering inside. Marina lost her mother, someone close to her and it put her off guard. It was understandable that she has been caught off the world but she would never just tell Valerie that she was struggling with something. Marina just never did. Valerie would mostly find out whatever was bothering her but somehow now she didn't or she just didn't care about it.

Maybe she was tired of her.

Valerie was a lucky girl. She was in a orphanage as infant before her adopted parents decided to take her in. Her parents were both fathers and they really wanted a child. She somehow won a golden ticket. Both her parents were lawyers and insanely rich. Every time Valerie wanted something, she would get it. Marina remembered being jealous of her, who wouldn't.

Valerie and Marina met in secondary school. They were both around five years old when they met. In school, they had a fight about who would could carry the baby doll. Of course, both of them wanted that desperately but somehow found a way to play together. Since then, they have been friends.

Over the years they grew closer to one another and even though high school had changed Valerie, they remained being best friends. Valerie loved to know that she had a good reputation and she was somehow one of the popular children in their school but the people she used to call friends, made fun out of her behind her back without  her knowing. 

"Earth to Marina." Valerie said as she was waving her hand close to Marina’s face which made her kind of snap out of her thoughts again. Marina looked at her best friend, who was clearly annoyed with the lack of interest she was giving to the conversation Valerie was trying to have with her. 

"If you don't want it anymore, let me know because it looks like you are not into it at all." Valerie said and she was standing up to leave. Marina quickly shook her head as she grabbed Valerie’s hand.

"It is not that, Val. I love to go with you but I am just not in the right mind now." Marine said and she saw Valerie looking at her. 

"Then what is it? You don't talk to me." Valerie said and Marina sighed. It was true. This past month, she had been just distancing herself from everyone. Not just Valerie.

"It is my mum..." Marina spoke out softly and now she saw that Valerie’s eyes softened. Her anger seemed to be washed away with Marina’s sadness. She walked closer to Marina as she still hold on to her hand. She sat down on the corner of Marina’s bed.

"Marina... I am sorry." Valerie said softly as if she had realised now why she had been acting in the way she has.

Marina knew that she was zoning out and Valerie wasn't the only one who had realised it. Marina’s brother, James, had been trying to get her to her normal self. It didn't really work out... 

"It is okay." Marina said with a smile. Valerie was still looking at her with guilt in her eyes. Now, Marina had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She felt guilty for bringing up her mother now... She didn't want anyone to feel sad for her but just realise that nothing was easy for her...

"I should have known... I am being so selfish." Valerie said and Marina shook her head.

"No, Valerie... You are not selfish... I didn't tell you..." Marina said and she heard Valerie sighed. Valerie wasn’t sure how she should be comforting Marina. She wanted to be there for her but she just didn’t know what the right approach to it was. 

"For what is is worth, I know your mum is your guardian angel now... I know she is looking after you and you are never alone... Even when you do, come to me or look up to the stars... You will be fine." Valerie said with a smile, hoping that Marina would be able to find some comfort in her words. Marina nodded as a small smile appeared around her lips.

"Thank you." She said with a smile and hugged Valerie tightly. She sighed out of relief and felt the stress of her shoulders fall down as if this was the only thing she needed. She needed Valerie more than anything... 

"When are we leaving tomorrow?" Marina asked and Valerie looked at her as if she was dumbfounded.

"We are not going. Not until you feel better." She said determined and Marina shook her head.

"If I stay here, I won't feel better, ever... I need a break from all of this and LA can give that to me." Marina said and Valerie looked a bit concerned. Marina just hoped Valerie won't make her see a therapist. That's a sort of thing Valerie would do.

Valerie was a caring person and sometimes she would care too much. It could drive some people crazy.

"Are you sure?" She asked to confirm whatever Marina just have told her. Marina nodded.

"I am sure." She answered. She knew that being away from Mooresville would make her feel less suffocated. Maybe somehow, it could stop her nightmares... She was getting sick of them... 

"LA it is." Valerie said with a smile. Before Marina could say anything, she heard a phone ringing

"Who is it?" Marina asked when she saw a smile on Valerie’s face. She smiled and looked up from her phone. She was clearly blushing.

"Euhm, it's Noah." She said shyly and Marina frowned.  She never heard of a Noah.

"Noah?" She asked confused. Did she really miss out on so much? Why didn’t Valerie tell her about it?

"It is a guy I met on this app and I swear, he is amazing." Valerie said and Marina smiled.

"As long as he makes you happy but be careful. You never know who he is behind that screen." Marina said and Valerie just nodded. 

"Come on, get your ass out of bed. We are going shopping." She said and Marina laughed softly.

 That's the best friend she remembered. Marina did as Valerie said and got out of bed as Valerie walked down. Marina walked towards the bathroom and when  She reached in front of her small mirror, she looked at herself.

"You can do this." She said to herself.

"You can be happy."