Ahead of the Darkness by Simone Nicole

the job? I wasn’t sure ...” What he wanted.
    “Aye. Ye did great. Ye beat me at a bleeding cocktail battle. Ye damn quick, woman.”
    “Um, thank you? You just need more practice.” I shrugged He’d been too busy watching what I was doing rather than concentrating himself.
    “I’ll take ye up on that one time, but aye, ye’ve got the job if ye want it.” Did I want to work for someone so hot and cold?
    “Okay, tomorrow?” Apparently I did.
    “Aye, six?”
    “Okay ...”
    “Did ye need a lift home?”
    “Ah, no. The answer is still the same.”
    “Oh, right.”
    “Good night, Drew.”
    “Aye, night.” I’d turned to leave, but was stopped again. “Wait. Ye best take the club numbers. Ye know, in case.” He scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to me. I frowned at the two numbers on the paper. “In case ye get yerself lost, or in trouble on the way home, like.” Oh ...
    “Okay.” I walked out of the club and shook my head. I wasn’t sure who was crazier. Drew and his changing moods, or me, for willingly agreeing to come back tomorrow. Both, equally.

Chapter Seven
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    M y skin started to prickle with an odd sense of dread as I made my way to the stairs. I crept up them at an agonising pace, my heart hammering faster with each step I took, and every time they creaked I’d become more on edge. I’d never noticed they creaked before. It was then I realised I couldn't hear anything else; the house was completely still. That in itself was odd. Where was Oscar? He always greeted me at the door.
    It's just because I'm early, I told myself. It's just ‘cause I'm early, and he’s curled up asleep on my bed. I finally reached the top step and turned right, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans and slowly opened the door to my room. A shattering scream tore from my throat as I crumbled to the floor ...
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    M y eyes snapped open and I closed them again with a sigh, my pulse hammer in my ears. I slowly pulled myself out of the dream and checked the time. It was only 7:45, and I had hours to kill before my second shift.
    My heart still raced as I dragged my lethargic body out of bed and into the steaming hot shower. I dressed casually and packed a gym bag. It was one of the few things I could find solace in, and it would kill a few hours. I wish I could sleep all day instead. I'd always wondered what that felt like.
    I tiptoed to the kitchen in an effort not to wake Anne. I still hadn't really shopped, so I just stared aimlessly into the fridge at my almost-empty shelf. Half a packet of cheese and some celery sticks did not a breakfast make. Not a winning combination.
    "I'm afraid, dear, that the longer you stare, the less appealing the inside becomes." I jumped about a foot.
    "Oh gosh, Anne, you startled the living daylights out of me." I desperately tried to still my racing heart for the second time. At the rate I was going I’d likely die of a heart attack.
    "Sorry, dear, you've been staring in there for a good few minutes."
    "Oh. Sorry." I promptly closed the fridge.
    “You might fancy doing some shopping, dear. Sadly food doesn’t just appear.”
    “Yes, I got distracted yesterday.” And the day before. “Looks like I’m going out for breakfast.”
    "Ah yes, there is a good little café near the gym, make great coffee, they do. Can't remember their name, though. Family-owned, friendly bunch."
    "I'll give them a shot. Thanks. Have a nice day.”
    “Yes, you too dear. Take note of the name, if you remember for me.” She yelled the last part as I walked out the door.
    Something in Anne’s manner gave me pause. Did she want to come with me? Or, wished I would stay? I was never good at listening to problems, if that’s what she needed. I wasn’t even good at reading. It was a good thing I didn’t have any food. I didn’t want to sit around the breakfast bar making fake small-talk, or pretending to listen. I felt a little off about leaving, though.