VIC

The hissing slide and muffled thump of snow falling off the roof right outside her bedroom window finally roused her from sleep. It felt like swimming through dense heavy water until eventually she reached the surface and consciousness.

Afraid to open her eyes, she licked her lips with a tongue that felt dry and leathery, and the headache pounding behind her right eyeball was a much more familiar hangover pain, rather than the other kind that was responsible for a lot of her short temper and attention span. She groaned just a little and wondered how the hell she could feel so awful on what she was fairly sure was one double bourbon and coke.

Bowing to the inevitable she cracked an eyelid, and then the other one, and waited for the view to come into focus. OK she was in her bedroom a quick patting of the hands verified she was still wearing yesterdays clothes too. There was no way she was responsible for the single lit lamp or the waste bin conveniently next to the bed. Obviously she had passed out and Walt had found her, and carried her to bed. Well nothing to be done about it now, so she carefully levered herself vertical and not quite tottered into the bathroom in search of soothing hot water.

The shower had been amazing, a huge rose in the ceiling and jets surrounding her on three walls, all adjustable. Eventually she tired of playing and just leaned on one wall, letting the water pour down her back and body until she felt capable of facing the world.

A cold breakfast of pastries, fruit, yoghurt, cold meats and cheeses sat covered on the dining table, next to a jug of freshly squeezed orange juice. The dispenser on one of the industrial fridges gave chilled water and icecubes, and the headache eased as she nibbled and enjoyed the juice and dutifully drank a tall glass of water, knowing dehydration was part of the cause of the headache.

She stood staring out at the landscape, unrecognisable under the thick covering of snow. The sky was grey and heavy and low, threatening to dump more white stuff across Durant, and as she pondered the view, flakes swirled and skittered in the rising wind. Vic sighed, clearly they weren't going anywhere today if the snow continued. Chancing the trip in clear weather was one thing, in a potential blizzard, even she knew it was a stupid and dangerous choice. It didn't stop his Royal Sheriffness climbing his way up Tensleep though, saving the day, getting the guy, and being the hero yet again.

Where was his Royal Sheriffness anyway she should remember that, he would HATE being called that clearly he was up well before she was. Noting the time on her phone, well most people were up before she was, it was nearly 11am. Vic stared at her phone for a moment longer, her brain slowly clicking into gear, in the time she had been here she had no calls or texts, and the tiny one bar of reception appeared the reason why. Holding her phone up in the air she walked across the room, to see if there was any improvement. Nope, in fact the other side of the room had no service at all. Interesting.

Realising her mother was probably wondering how she was doing, she returned to the windows, and sent a quick text [Got to Durant fine, snowing heavily, hardly any cell reception in the ass end of beyond!] left her phone on the dining table to catch any possible reply, she went exploring, not…really… looking for Walt, but curious all the same.

Hello lovely readers, I'm going away for work for a couple of days so here is a short update to tide you over. The next bit would be too long otherwise.

I'm loving all the feedback and questions, know that I started this story knowing the end and the beginning (in that order) and some key scenes in the middle. The rest is still telling itself to me and its heavy stuff in places so I am giving it the time and space it needs to be the story it wants to be. So your patience is appreciated, we will get there in the end. The good news is Pt 1 of my assignment is 3/4 done and should get it finished this weekend. So only Pt 2 and the EXAM to go!

Song Inspiration

In the Dark - The Birthday Massacre