Ahead of the Darkness Read Online Free Page A

me a little while to be able to let go, and I decided I needed more liquid courage to be able to fully enjoy myself. I weaved my way through to the other side of the bar where a short blond girl was taking orders. I wouldn't be distracted and flustered here.
    Three rum and cokes later, I was letting lose on the floor. The rhythm was smooth and inviting, the way it wound through my limbs and out on the floor, stopping me from thinking, and letting me just feel. I felt every drum beat, every piano key, and every lyric as they weaved their way through my body and out my lips, humming and thrumming my way through the night.
    It wasn't until my fifth drink I realised I’d been drinking on an empty stomach. I had been so mad when I left the gym that I’d forgotten to go to the supermarket and opted for a calming bath instead. The alcohol was hitting me hard and I’d lost track of time with a dead mobile as my only source.
    In my lack-of-food induced drunken state, I thought enough time had been spend successfully avoided Drew’s gaze and that small talk would be a brilliant idea.
    “Hello again, doll face. Ye dinnae like the way I made ye rum ‘n’ coke?”
    “Huh? I can’tee understand yar, like”
    He laughed, shaking his head at me. “Aye, that was terrible. How much have ye had to drink, lass?”
    “Oh, you know, it’s all your fault. I’ve only had five... um no six, six rums and cokes, but I’m not a light-weight. At least, I think I’m not. I never used to be. I blame you for distracting me from eating.”
    His laugh was thick and sent shivers down my spine. I could almost feel it vibrate from his chest. He grinned, shaking his head again, and slid me a glass of water. I had the small amount of sense left to keep my mouth closed, smiled weakly and took the glass. I drank it in one go while looking around at the now almost-empty club.
    “Thank you ...”
    “Drew. Ye're welcome Amel ... Mia.”
    The sound of my name on his tongue did funny things to my head. I nodded quickly and scurried off before I could say anything else stupid.
    I stumbled out into the cool night air. I had never been so glad for my ballet flats then at that moment, otherwise I would have definitely been arse over teakettle. I stupidly spent fifteen minutes trying to find my mobile in my little clutch. Giving up, I crumbled to the curb and dropped my phone as I sat. It had been in my hand the whole time.
    Groaning, I picked it up only to discover it was completely dead and wouldn’t turn on. Merde, I broke my phone! Oh ... wait. I remembered a little too late that it had been dead for most of the night. I had no idea what the time was, and then it really hit me. I had no idea where I was and how to get back to Anne’s house. The address was saved on my phone. I groaned again loudly, and threw my head in my lap.
    I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid. Placing my hands on either side of me to push up to a standing position, a firm hand gripped my shoulder. I completely skitzed out, jumping up and spinning around much too quickly. The alcohol fuelling my body did nothing for my momentum and I tripped over my feet, twisting my ankle at the same time.
    “Merde.” Shit. I had a terrible habit of swearing in French, especially when drunk.
    That time I did go kettle over tea-cup, landing once again less than elegantly on my arse. Whatever mortification I had felt earlier in the day was nothing to what I felt at that moment when the gym/bar guy reached out his hand to me again.
    “Ye really need to stop makin’ a habit of falling for me. Ye'll give me a big head like, and I might get the wrong impression.”
    “You scared the living hell out of me! Who does that to a girl? Sitting by herself, in the middle of the...street.” I trailed off, realising how stupid I sounded. I reached for his outstretched hand and started to lift myself up, but as soon as my twisted foot hit the pavement I screamed and fell back on my arse.
    “Baiser!” My