The Light Beneath: Helm's Curse Book 1

By October Grae

Viridis Island: an island cursed with endless rain by an ominous sailor in 1947. An island where secrets run so deep that it seems impossible for them to ever be fully unburied. An island where time itself can't be trusted.

Duncan Ray has just moved to Viridis Island, a mysterious town that is

• Language: English
• Publisher: Codes and Hearts
• Release date: Aug 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088206324

Book preview

Part One

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Rain fell relentlessly onto Viridis Island. It was a dark night, but not just because of the blackened sky where not even the moon was shining. Something was in the air. Alec Hasson, sixteen years old with tired eyes, made his way down the sidewalk. He tried to look casual with his hands in his pockets and his hood covering his head to keep dry. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t quite seem to achieve it.

His mind was wandering at a thousand miles an hour. He was on his way to meet up with a man he often saw in his nightmares. He wasn’t quite sure what it was about this man that terrified him. He was distinguished and formal. Almost…elegant. And yet, here was Alec at 11 in the night, shaking as he found the secluded meeting spot they had planned.

He turned into a dark alley, his eyes automatically scanning the path for any danger. The alley was almost completely empty—not even a stray cat. There was just one dumpster, where Alec stopped to keep himself as hidden as he could.

A ringing sound startled him. Alec quickly pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. His hands shook as he lifted the phone to his ear. Where are you? Alec waited for a reply, but static was all that he heard. Hello? Hello? I’m not waiting here all night. Still, there was just more static.

Alec glanced around the alley once more, cautiously checking both ends for new arrivals. As he spoke again, his words were braver than his eyes revealed. If you want it, you should have been here already. I’m going home. He hung up the phone, returned it to his pocket, and headed back down the sidewalk. He didn’t feel brave at all.

The wet walk home was filled with dark thoughts that had been clouding his mind for the last five months. No matter how hard he tried, he hadn’t been able to free himself of the menacing notions that had settled into his core last December. He had discovered things he barely had words for. All he knew was that the island he had lived on for his entire life was not what it seemed. With every footstep that fell to the puddled concrete, he felt himself falling further and further down the rabbit hole.

The one thing Alec knew for sure was that whatever was happening, his sister was in danger. He wasn’t sure what that danger was; the man who had started all of this had not made that clear. His sister, his family, his girlfriend, his best friend who was like a brother to him—probably every person on this island—were all in danger. It was the one thing that kept him going—kept him from running away and hiding like he had wished he could do so many times already. If he quit the work he had been doing, the horrors that would follow, cascading over the people he loved the most, would be more than he could bear.

But doubts crowded into Alec’s mind. He felt like a child—so small and powerless. He didn’t want to be the savior. He wanted to be carried to bed and tucked in like when he was five. He didn’t want to be out in the dark, meeting men who frightened him just by looking at him. He wanted to feel safe. Alec was sure after everything he had been through for the past five months, he would never feel that way again.

Alec stopped mid-step, the sound of ringing freezing him in place. Shit. I really shouldn’t have ended that call, he thought. Fear crawled down his back as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, bracing himself for the wrath that would follow.

But as he looked at the screen, his fear turned to panic. The number that looked back at him was worse, much worse, than the anger of a mere man, no matter how intimidating that man was.

+0 [phone] was a number he had seen a few times before. The number haunted him, taunted him, demanded to be answered every time he saw it calling him. And every time Alec obeyed, the feeling that swept over him was all-consuming. It pulled him toward something that he didn’t even understand. All he knew was that it wanted something. It wanted him.

No. No no no no no, Alec said breathlessly, not hesitating to decline the call and swiftly turn the phone off. As the screen turned to black, the street lights flickered, leaving him in pure, encompassing darkness for seconds that felt like minutes. When the lights finally returned and settled down, Alec couldn’t convince himself to feel relieved.

His eyes darted to his phone as it rang in his hand. His chest tightened as he stared at the phone, frozen by terror that gripped him like a hand from an ancient, seething god. He was certain he had turned the phone off. There shouldn’t have been any way for him to be getting a call.

Maybe there was nothing Alec could do. The realization wasn’t sudden. It had been growing deep within him for months. Alec knew that there was no way to stop whatever was happening. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t end until it got what it craved, or Alec found a way to defeat it.

With a determined inhalation, Alec accepted the call. He didn’t need to say anything. The staticky voice that spoke knew he was there. It was distinctly non-human, its voice laced with something so eerily foreign and yet so familiar. Alec. Come to me.

And then—darkness. The street lights blinked out, leaving Alec surrounded by blackness once again. He ended the call and stuffed it back into his pocket, hurrying down the sidewalk until his house was finally before him.

Alec clambered up the steps illuminated by the porch light. He closed the front door behind him and for just a moment, all he could do was breathe. He was finally home. He knew this still wasn’t over. Soon, perhaps even tomorrow, the man would be calling him again. Alec wondered if maybe leaving the alley had been a bad decision. Would the man be angry now? He watched the rain fall from his clothes, making a puddle on the tiled entrance.

He knew his sister was watching him. She sat on the living room floor with a photo album open in her lap. Rowan and Alec were twins. They were closer than most siblings. She was honestly one of his best friends. He usually told her everything but lately, he couldn’t. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, or that he couldn’t trust her. He knew he could trust Rowan with his life. But this was something bigger than him—bigger than anything he had known before. His life could be in danger, and he refused to involve his sister.

Finally, Alec spoke. What are you still doing up?

Rowan’s tone was accusatory as she responded, I’m doing my homework. What about you?

Does Mom know you’re up?

Does she know you were out? Rowan retorted.

Where were you?

Taking care of something. Alec sighed and sat down next to Rowan.

Taking care of what?

Alec didn’t respond. He could feel Rowan watching him still, her eyes boring holes into him. She was worried, he knew. But knowing she was worried about him made him feel worse. He wasn’t used to keeping secrets from her. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep quiet before he ended up overflowing and telling her everything.

Alec, taking care of what? Why have you been so secretive lately?

Let’s work on that assignment. I haven’t finished mine yet either.

Rowan was reluctant, still watching Alec as if he might break. With a sigh, she gave in and flipped the page in the photo album. What about this one? They actually look happy.

Alec forced a small smile as he looked at the photo album in his sister’s lap. Dad looks so young.

Rowan flipped the page as Alec glanced over to the window, where the rain continued to beat against the glass.

Do you remember the last time you saw the sun?

Rowan was taken aback by Alec’s question. She hesitated, watching him more carefully still. It’s been almost a year since I even left Viridis Island. She paused. Alec still watched the rain against the glass, beating away like a drum. For a moment, he was reminded of sand in an hourglass, falling and falling as time slipped away. Are you okay? Rowan asked him.

Alec sighed and stood up. He closed the curtains and spoke, ignoring his sister’s question. I’m not bringing family photos anyway.

It’s extra credit.

We can write an essay instead if we want to.

You mean you’re choosing an essay over bringing in photos, really?

Yeah, and you are too. We’re not talking about our life with the whole class.

They’re just photos. A pause fell over them as Rowan waited for a response that never came. Finally, she rolled her eyes. Whatever. We’ll write essays then. I’m going to bed.

‘Night. Alec watched Rowan trudge toward her bedroom as he wished more than anything else that for just one day, the rain would stop. 

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Alec heard a soft voice calling to him. Alec! Alec! Wake up!

Was it a dream? He opened his eyes and it took a moment for them to adjust to his dark bedroom. Something was wrong. He quickly sat up in his bed. Rowan stood over him, her eyes wide in fear. Dark suffocating smoke surrounded them.

We have to get outside, Rowan said with a trembling voice.

Alec rushed to the bedroom door. Down the hallway, he could see nothing but bright flames and smoke. He wasn’t sure whether it was the smoke or the terror suffocating his lungs. Where’s Mom?

Her bedroom.

Is Dad home yet?

He said he wouldn’t be home till morning.

Alec raced down the hallway, Rowan trailing behind him. Before they made it halfway to their mother’s bedroom, bits of the wall and ceiling collapsed, blocking their path. They turned back toward Alec’s room. I have to find another way! Go out the window. I’ll get Mom.

Before Rowan could do anything besides look at her brother in disbelief, more flaming debris blocked their path into Alec’s bedroom. Frantically, Alec grabbed Rowan’s arm and pulled her out of the fire’s way.  He turned back down the hallway. There was only one more door that was accessible.

Alec quickly pulled Rowan through and scanned the room. His eyes fell on the small window over the washing machine. Wasting no time, he jumped up on the machine and pulled on the window. As hard as he tried, it wouldn’t budge. It was stuck. His terror rose.

He refused to give up, even as his heart thudded against his ribs helplessly. He jumped down from the washing machine, his eyes frantically searching the room for anything that could be of use.

But there was nothing. There was no way out. The hallway outside the laundry room was filled with smoke and flames. The house was burning away. Burning pieces from the ceiling already blocked the doorway.

With a horrendous splintering sound and a flash of bright flames, the laundry room began collapsing in on itself. Rowan cried out in pain as a piece from the wall came crashing into her, covering her arm in the searing fire. 

Alec reacted instantly, grabbing a blanket off a shelf and wrapping it around Rowan, extinguishing the fire that tried to engulf her. She nearly collapsed before Alec grabbed a hold of her and held her up. He looked around the room once more, desperate for anything that could help them. But the fear was taking over. There was no escape from this. This is how he would die, with his sister beside him, barely conscious, unable to save her.

Then, he heard a voice.

Is anyone here? Call out!

His hope was reignited. In here! Help! He held onto Rowan tightly, her eyes slowly closing as she faded into unconsciousness while two firefighters cleared a path into the laundry room.

1

The airplane was close to landing. Duncan Ray was less than an hour away from touching his feet to east coast ground for the first time in almost fifteen years. He knew he shouldn’t still have the idea that this would change his life for the better, but at this point, where would he be without that hope?

Beside him sat his younger brother, Taylor. His face was almost bored compared to Duncan’s beaming smile. Taylor wasn’t so excited about moving to Viridis Island. He loved their home in Inverness. He loved the ancient castles and the stray dog that visited him for food. That was something Duncan envied. He never felt at home anywhere. He was always the outsider, the person looking in and never seeing a place where he could fit. Cheer up, Tay, Duncan said. Viridis Island won’t be too bad.

How do you know? I’m tired of moving all the time.

It’s good for you to travel a lot. Besides— Duncan turned in his seat. A few rows behind him sat his father, Adri, reading a novel. His mother, Stephanie, sat beside her husband, her eyes wistful as she looked out the window. Viridis Island was her home. This is where she had lived before everything she knew was traded for what she had hoped would be better. Now Duncan was the one trading everything he knew for what he hoped would be better.

There had always been a longing inside of him for something, but he could never figure out what exactly that something was. He searched every place he lived, looking for something to fill that longing, but he was always disappointed. He put all his hope into finding it in this new town.

Duncan met Stephanie’s eyes, gentle and lit from within. Her smile made Duncan pause. It was the first genuine smile he had seen on her face for months. He returned her smile.

Duncan turned back to his brother and continued. It’ll be good for her. She needs this more than we do.

It’s easy for you, Taylor replied. You actually enjoy this. You’d move to a new city every week if you could.

Duncan sighed. Viridis isn’t Inverness, I know. But you never have a problem making yourself at home. You’re better at that than I’ll ever be.

If you would just stay still for once in your life, maybe you could finally make yourself at home somewhere.

Duncan grinned. Where’s the fun in that? Taylor rolled his eyes, but Duncan could see the smile on the corner of his lips. His little brother could pretend, but Duncan knew he was amused by him.

As the pilot began an announcement over the intercom, Duncan listened eagerly. Folks, we have begun our descent to Riverbrough International Airport, where the weather is 51 degrees Fahrenheit and cloudy. We will be at the gate in about twenty minutes. Thank you for flying with us today.

Didn’t Mom tell you that it never stops raining here? Taylor asked.

Yeah, she might have mentioned that.

And don’t you hate the rain? he said with a raised eyebrow. It wasn’t a question.

I don’t hate it. Adapting to any and all situations is a good skill to acquire. Besides, I bet my most prized possession that she’s exaggerating.

Taylor snorted. And what’s your most prized possession? The teddy bear that Clara gave you?

Duncan winced. Clara was his ex-girlfriend. Or, at least, he was pretty sure she was his ex-girlfriend. The thing was, Duncan hadn’t quite broken up with her. He just left the country without a word. He felt awful about it, but under the circumstances, he thought it was for the best. Clara had loved him far more than he was able to love her, no matter how desperately he wished he could. He spared her a breakup. It was the least he could do.

Looking back on it now, he could see how stupid that had been. He hadn’t spared her from any pain at all. And maybe he knew all along that he wouldn’t be able to. He had denied it to himself for days. The only person he had been thinking of was himself. He pretended he was brave and fearless, but under his façade, he was always running.

Running away was the only thing he had ever been good at. And yet he could never run enough. He could keep running and running and in his mind, he’d still see the pair of green eyes that had been following him since he was eleven years old.

He could barely remember the boy to who those eyes belonged. He could remember the name Thomas, laughing while playing tag at recess, hiding under the bleachers during assemblies, but not much else. They had been friends for less than a year before Duncan’s family had moved states. And yet it was that boy that haunted him, serving as an endless reminder of the real reason he hadn’t been able to love Clara.

It wasn’t even Thomas himself that served as this reminder. It was what Thomas represented: the part of himself that he had to hide. The part of himself that his dad would be embarrassed by. The part of himself that cried in the bathroom during lunch period because of the disgust in Thomas’ eyes when he had asked him to the middle school’s winter dance. He could spend the rest of his life forgetting the first boy who had made him realize he was different from other people, but he would never be able to forget the shame that turned his blood to fire, changing him into some foreign creature that kept trying to force himself into the spaces where he didn’t fit.

What does Clara have to do with anything? Duncan asked.

When was the last time you talked to her?

Duncan hesitated. A week ago.

So you never told her goodbye? Taylor was incredulous. You dated her for almost a year, and then just disappeared like you were never even there?

Who says I didn’t tell her goodbye?

She did, Taylor replied. Three days ago. She stopped me in the hall at school and told me to tell you that she had to hear from Julie that you were moving out of the country. I know I told you this already. Did you forget?

It might have slipped my mind.

Taylor rolled his eyes. He was never shocked by Duncan’s antics. Why are we moving anyway? We were only in Inverness for a year.

You know how Mom has been lately.

But things were finally getting better.

Well, they’ll get better here, for sure. It’s a new start. That’s what coming here is all about. 

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The new house was beautiful. It was a large two-story house with elegant wooden arched doorways and polished wooden floors. Around the house were the family’s sealed boxes. Adri and Stephanie were already busy unpacking them.

Stephanie opened a box using a pair of scissors. A nostalgic smile spread over her face as she lifted out a framed photograph. She smiled down at the image of two young boys, about four and six years old. They each had big grins on their faces as they held up a fish together. The taller boy held a fishing pole. Remember this? The boys’ first fish. They had so much fun up at the lake.

Adri glanced at the photograph in his wife’s hands and forced a smile. He wasn’t in the mood for this.

That was the day Duncan spilled his soda all over Taylor. Do you remember? Stephanie let out a chuckle. Duncan was more upset than Taylor was. Stephanie looked at her husband as she finished her sentence and her heart sank. He hadn’t even been paying attention. He continued emptying the box in front of him with no reaction.

For years already, maybe even most of their relationship, there had always been a distance between them. But with both of them running in the same direction, that distance could never get any shorter. Lately, it seemed the distance had grown even further than before. Stephanie gave the photograph one last look before sitting it on the end table by the couch.

She reached into the box and lifted out a glass bowl. It slipped from her hands, shattering on the floor. The heavy atmosphere intensified as Adri’s anger rose. Are you serious, Stephanie? What the— He stopped himself, taking a deep breath and pinching the bridge of his nose. Just clean it up.

With relief, Stephanie pulled over a trash can and began sweeping the mess inside.

Duncan sauntered down the staircase, a book in his hands. His mother looked up from the mess at her feet. Hey, Duncan. Why don’t you help us unpack?

Duncan didn’t stop. He hurried through the room, giving his mother a rushed reply. Sorry. Can’t. Gotta go. He opened the front door and stopped. Oh, where are the car keys?

His father sighed as he gestured to the end table by the front door. On the table.

Stephanie scooped up a pile of glass shards and dumped them into the trash can. While Duncan was hurried before, now he hesitated as he watched his mother’s sullen eyes. His father had turned his attention back to unpacking. Duncan wondered why he wasn’t helping her clean the glass. For just a moment, he considered staying to help his mother, but that would include spending time around his father. He decided against it. He grabbed the keys off the end table and shut the front door behind him.  

Duncan drove his parents’ car down the rainy, foggy streets of Viridis Island. It was a quaint island town with wild waves crashing into the rocky cliffs along the road, located almost