Blood In The Snow: Book 1 in the Crimson Falls series

Ariella

I was woken up by a stupid beeping noise. That wasn't fair I was sleeping! I breathed in through my nose and smelt bleach.A lot of it.Huh, even I don't use that much when my father hurts me.

I wanted to go back to sleep but by this time all my senses were waking up.I felt a pain in my hand and I think it's an IV.Great, they drugged me, I thought. I felt the crisp, clean sheets underneath me and the scratchy dress thing I was wearing. Where the hell was I?They undressed me, drugged me, what the hell?I gave up on trying to go back to sleep and I listened for once.That was when I discovered I wasn't alone.

I peered through my eyelashes and saw the guy, wait, the boy that had saved me from the wolves.He looked tired and had purple bags under his red eyes.I mean, literately red, the irises were a bright crimson.But who was I to judge with unusual eye colour?I opened my eyes all the way.

''Hey.''I croaked. His head snapped up from looking down at his hands and he smiled with relief at my open eyes.I tried to smile at him but It hurt.

''How are you feeling?''He asked.Wow, his voice.It was like it drew me to him. I shook off that feeling, confused.

''A bit crap to be honest.You stayed.''I said, letting some shock creep into my croaky voice.

He nodded,''Of course I stayed, I promised, I always keep my promises.''He passed me a cup from the table next to me.I looked around the room quickly and saw that it was a hospital. Great, father won't like this.He'll probably hit me again.I call him father because he doesn't deserve to be called a dad. He never has.

"How long was I out?" I asked him. His black hair was sticking up like he'd been running his hands through it. He didn't look like this when I first saw him.

"Just under a week, that's good seeing as you were in ER when you first got here." I didn't hear the last part though.

"Shit! My dad is gonna kill me!" I panicked and sat up. Pain shot through me like a bullet and I had to lie down again.I heard my heart rate speed up and even the boy looked worried.

''Shh,it's okay.I went to your house and called your friend Jessie. She's Scott's ma...I mean girlfriend.She got you some clothes and stuff.She said you had a message from your dad that he won't be back for another two weeks.''He said soothingly and I leaned back on the pillows.

''Does he know?''I asked and took another sip of water and tried sitting up again. And failed.

''No, do you want to call him?''He asked and his eyes softened.

''No!''I shouted. He raised his eyebrows,''Um, I mean...he's on a very important business meeting.''I said quickly. Shit.

''Are you sure you don't want to call him?''He asked again, looking into my eyes.

''Yes, he doesn't like hospitals, not since my mom....died here.''I whispered the last part and looked down.

''I'm sorry, my mom died to, I never knew her.It must of been hard for you.''He said and moved closer, so he was closer to my head.

''It's okay, it not like it was your fault.''I said.Yeah, it was mine. That's what my father said. I cried a lot as a child and she went out a lot when I was five. She was attacked by an animal in the woods.She survived, but died a few hours later.A part of me was angry at her for leaving me with my father who beat me whenever he was home.

''What happened?It hasn't come back yet.''I said and lifted a hand to my face and felt a raised line on my forehead,''What's that?''I asked, horrified.He opened his mouth but I held my other hand in front of his face to silence him.Then it hit me like a truck load of horse crap.

''I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner. I just couldn't find you soon enough.''He said and he had so much emotion in his voice I looked at him again.I couldn't help but think that there was another meaning to those words.

''Why were you in the forest anyway? Because lots of girls our age have been attacked in those woods.And now me. Anyone else would stay away.''I said and folded my arms,''I'm not going to drop it until you tell me.''

He looked a little anxious, then his face smoothed out,''Your living room.I saw the pictures.''

''That's not an answer.''I said, arms still folded.

''A normal family, especially one with a single parent, would have pictures all around the room. There isn't one picture in your house of you apart from in your room.Why?''He asked and stared back at me with his red eyes.