Chapter 3

Someone sighs loudly in annoyance. "I know what I said. But this is too soon, too close. What will the police think? She lives close to the woods!" a guy hisses, anger lacing his words.

"I couldn't help it! It just—happened!" someone else exclaims. This one sounding younger, but just as frustrated.

Again there's a sigh, this one saying 'what am I going to do with you?'

I open my eyes and look around the room. The room had red walls, or maybe they were really, really hot pink, I didn't know. The dark crimson curtains were pulled closed, a faint glow coming from the crake between them. A small dresser at across from the bed I was laying on. The door was closed, a thin crack of light seeping under the door.

I sit up, clutching the blankets to my chest. I was wearing a plain black shirt which was too big for me and no pants. I was relived to find my underwear still on.

I must have looked like a hot mess when they'd found me. I shivered, imagining finding my body torn up, my stomach ripped open. It would have been gruesome. I lift my shirt, expecting to find a bandage wrapping my stomach.

But there's no bandage, only my smooth stomach covered in thin red scars.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed, thinking it odd that I was healed. Had I been in a coma or something for the past few weeks? There was no way I could be healed. I walk to the door, noticing the voices had vanished.

The door creaks open and quickly slam it at seeing a guy walking down the hallway naked. I hear a door open then close after a minute. I reopen the door, relived to find the hallway empty. I step out and look around the brightly lit hall.

One way lead to a dead end and the other lead into what looked like another room. The sound of laughter drifts from the other room, instantly inviting me to go that way. I pad down the hall and towards the sound.

I see a pool table, with a few coloured balls dotting it. Two people were standing around its edge. One was a girl, sandy blond hair falling down her back and the other was a guy, also with blond hair. "Sorry babe, but you're going down," he laughs and taps the white ball with the stick.

"No, no! That's impossible.' The girl groans as the white ball shoots around, hitting two edges then taps a green ball which rolls into a whole.

"Not for me." The guys reply's moving around the table to get another shot but as he does his eyes seem to spot me and he straitens. "Looks like your awake," he comments smiling.

I nod as the girl turns around. She appeared older then I through she would be. Not old, old, with wrinkles. But from the way she had stood somehow made me think 16 or something. But she appeared to be in her early 20's.

"Hey. Let me guess, you're hungry? Come on, I'll get you something to eat," she says motioning down the stairs which branched off the side of the room. Well, it wasn't really a room, just a balcony that was large enough to be a room. I saw what appeared to be a lounge room beneath us.

"Hey? What about our game?" The guy calls, jabbing a stick towards the girl.

"What about it? We both know you're going to win" she grins before leading me down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Oh by the way, my names Carson and the guy kicking my ass up stairs was Sky."

"Irana..." I say awkwardly.

Carson looks at the pantry for a minute before pulling her head back out. "Do you like Mac and Cheese?"

I nod my head, wounding when I should ask what I was doing here, or when I could go home.

Carson dances around the kitchen, grabbing a pot, shrikes as she nearly drops the pot on her foot, nearly drops the packet, then results to pocking things with her spoon as she sways on her feet like she was drunk.

I jump onto the counter as she cooks, seeming to be enjoying herself. Carson glances at me, flashing a warm smile. "Carson...Why am I here?" I'd meant to ask 'why am I here and not at a hospital?' But I didn't know if I could trust my voice for that.

Carson glances back over her shoulder at me. "Um....well that's... Nice timing Bray. Care to tell..." Carson shakes her head "Iana why she's here?"

The guy who'd just walked in, Bray, shakes his head and smirks. "I'm leaving that up to Ash." He laughs walking over to the sink. I frown at them. Who the hell way 'Ash' and why were they making him tell me?. "Nice to meet you though Arana," Bray says filling a glass with water.

Before I can say anything Carson turns on him, eyes narrowed and her look only semi-playful. "Irana," Carson corrects pointing a spoon at him like a weapon.

"My apologies, Irana, it's nice to meet you," he says bowing, and then walks out, not giving me any time to reply.

Carson stares after him for a minute, her lip caught between her teeth.

"Carson, you're going to burn it." I motion towards the pot sitting forgotten on the stove tops.

"Crap!" Carson mutters turning to it.

A few minutes later I've eaten all I can eat and Carson's grabbing my bowl to wash it. "Talk to Ash," she says when I try to protest.

I frown at her. "Where is he?" I ask glancing towards the lounge room.

Carson points towards the door with a sponge, sending a small spray of water over the floor. "He'll come to you," she muses and starts humming song. I watch her for a second, washing the bowls. I had to admit she was really pretty, with warm tanned skin ashy blond hair that seemed to be dead strait with slightly lighter high lights streaking it.

I shake my head and go towards the lounge room, feeling self-conscious.

The sound of people talking, sound of a TV and the tapping of buttons as they were pressed fiercely drifts from the room. I hear guns and small explosions floats from the room, along with people shouting over the game. Intense music played in the background, a fast, rhythm that made you heart chase the sound, like it was trying to stay in time with the music fast pace.

When I walk in I find there's only Bray and two others were playing some war game. Bray was on the armchair, arms crossed over his chest while the other two took up the couch, shoving at each other and laughing. "No! Dude, no! Where on the same team! Come on!" One of the guys says throwing up his hands. "You just killed me! What was that for! I was soon close to winning!" he groans and slouches on the seat.

The other guy laughs, still pressing buttons rapidly on the remote in his hand. "I told you to watch your back!" He smirked instantly watching the screen.

"Yeah, but you didn't say from you!" The first one mutters glaring.

Bray glances at me before turning towards the two guys. "Ash, get your ass off the couch, you got explaining to do."

'Ash' didn't look up, he waves a hand dismissively before returning it to the controller. "Give me minute, I've nearly won."

"Now..." Bray snaps so harshly I nearly flinch.

Ash pauses the game, the guns and screams cutting off in the middle of their loop, plunging the room into an eerie silence. Ash turns to look at Bray. Well, look was a bit too kind of a word. He seemed to be somewhere between a glare and disapproving.

Feeling awkward I hunch my shoulders and look around the room. It had soft white carpet and dark furniture. The walls were deep blue with black trimming around the bottom.

Finally, after a long staring contest Ash stands up. He walks into the other guy's legs making them fall off the blood wood coffee table where they had sat but Ash however seems unfazed.

Ash stopped in front of Bray, looking down at the older man like he was ready to choke him for telling him what to do. I was suddenly afraid they were going to starting throwing punches at each other.