Kraal

Chapter 9: Rose

The knocking became more persistent.

"No." My eyes rolled in my head as I tried to push Ethan away.

He turned as the knocking on the door became a pounding, slow and loud, interlaced with a splintering of wood.

In the darkness, I saw the door fly open and then I felt Ethan being dragged away from me.

I heard a thud and a groan and then everything went quiet.

A few minutes later, a figure appeared by the side of the bed and for one terrifying moment, I thought it was Ethan. But the hands that pulled me into a sitting position were gentle. An arm hooked under my legs and cradled me against a strong chest.

I was carried across the landing and down the stairs, then the delicious, cool air hit me. I tried to focus on the face of the person carrying me, but my eyes rolled back in my head and then everything went black.

I blinked in the light shining through the unfamiliar window, my mouth was dry and I had an ache tearing through my head like a knife. I clutched at the strange bedsheets and fear gripped me.

I relaxed a little when I heard the chatter of a child's voice downstairs. I sat up slowly. The room was small, but tidy and on the wall opposite there was a poster of a scantily clad girl straddling a motorbike. Thankfully, I was still fully dressed.

The bedroom door opened and I clutched the duvet to my chest. My mouth fell open when Josh stepped into the room carrying a tray laden with food.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

I puffed out my cheeks. "Not good. What happened?"

He set the tray down on the end of the bed and slid it towards me.

"You should eat something." He said.

I picked up a glass of ice-cold water from the tray and gulped it down greedily. My stomach rolled. "Josh, is this your house?"

"Yes." He perched on the end of the bed, his eyes scanning my face, my hair, that had no doubt settled into a matted mess during the night. I wondered if he had slept beside me last night and I almost ask him.

"I don't understand, what-"

"Rose, eat something and I'll tell you everything."

I scowled at him and picked up a piece of toast from the tray. There was fruit too and a steaming mug of tea. I swallowed down a wave of nausea.

He watched me carefully. "I arrived at the party just as you were disappearing upstairs with Ethan. At first, I thought he was putting you to bed, but when he didn't come back down, I got worried."

"I didn't see you there."

Josh rolled his eyes. "You were pretty out of it by then. Anyway, I dealt with Ethan and then I brought you here where I could keep an eye on you. I slept on the floor by the way."

He smirked and a feeling of shame started to creep over me. "I don't usually drink. I only had a couple, but they went straight to my head and as for Ethan-"

Josh held up his hand. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I mean, I know you're usually pretty sensible."

I pulled a face. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You just seem kind of...conservative." He smirked.

I chased a piece of toast down with a mouthful of tea. "You don't know me."