BEFORE YOU READ THE NEXT CHAPTER ...

Hi guys, before you read the next couple of chapters, I have been advised to inform you all that 'Single Red Roses', the story, the characters and the dialogue have been copyrighted, this is to protect what is known as 'intellectual property'. As many of you will know, 'Roses' is semi-autobiographical, so why anyone would want to rip a story off which details a part of my life, to me seems ridiculous, but anyway, here goes...

CHAPTER THREE: NOW

She lay on a cold, hard floor, shivering uncontrollably. She opened her eyes to complete and utter blackness, no shadows, just darkness. She squinted to try and adjust her vision, but nothing. Her body still ached, but she could move now, easier. She held her arms out in front of her until she came to what appeared to be a wall. She slid her aching, shivering body across the hard floor until she could prop herself against it. The room had a smell about it, that was familiar, but she couldn't place yet.

The buzzing had disappeared from her ears and the blackness was eerily quiet, she thought she'd heard a shuffle, but convinced herself otherwise. Still shivering, she tried to pull the small cardigan she had been wearing around her; the cardigan was wet and sticky, but she couldn't see what it was and it felt as though it had been torn. A shuffle again. This time she was certain, her throat was dry and sore but she managed,

"Who's there?"

She felt a presence, getting closer,

"Who the fuck's there and where am I?" She yelled with a raspy voice.

She shocked herself because she never swore, but this time the circumstances allowed it.

"Who's there?" She pleaded, her heart was nearly beating out of her chest, at least she knew she was alive! She could have sworn she heard a whisper, but the beating of her heart rang in her ears and she couldn't be sure.

"Who's there?" She repeated.

Then a whisper, so close the breath blew her hair from her cheek.

"Hello."

She jumped, facing the direction of the whisper, the voice barely audible yet she knew it was a man.

She had stopped shivering and although she should be terrified, a sense of calm overwhelmed her.

"Who are you and Where am I? she asked.

"I'm Seamus," He whispered, "I've come to meet you, don't be afraid."

CHAPTER FOUR: THEN

Catherine entered her house and kicked off her shoes, making a mental note to herself never to wear such ridiculous heels for work again. She toyed with the idea of a cool shower to wake her up but decided this would take up too much energy. She was hungry but even making a sandwich would seem like a chore, so she ignored her grumbling stomach, walked into the lounge, turned on the TV and snuggled into her dad's chair. Everyone was out so she decided she would catch forty winks before the chaos of everyone arriving home from work. She needed no rocking, and it wasn't long before her eyelids became heavy and she began to give in to sleep. No sooner had she dropped off, the phone rang out. She sit there, eyes still shut, thinking she would just let it ring, but whoever it was, was persistent. She climbed from the chair, still half in slumber and answered the phone,

"Hello?"

"Hiya Cathy, it's only Flo love, are you out at the quiz tonight?"

"Hiya Flo ... I don't know yet, I'm knackered, I've done a double shift and I just want to sleep. Besides I haven't rang our Dave yet."

"Oh, well I'm going out so I'll save you a seat shall I?"

"I don't know yet Flo, I just said I'm knack..."

"Okay then Cathy love, I'll see you about half seven... Bye"

And she'd gone. Flo was an older woman in her sixties and Catherine hated it when she did things like this, she'd have to go now because she'd never hear the end of it.

Although Flo was much older than Catherine, she was a good friend and a real character; most people would avoid her, she was disabled and in a wheelchair and tried to convince everyone she was a psychic! Her wheelchair was a mini pharmacy and shop; whatever you needed, Flo had it somewhere on her wheelchair! Her life had been sad one, but she never let it get her down; she was loud and opinionated, she smoked dope ("for medicinal purposes you see") and most people gave her a wide berth, but not Catherine, Flo irritated the Hell out of her, but she loved her.

So, Flo had decided Catherine was going out tonight so she better make an effort and get in the shower before the gang got home and there was a queue for the bathroom! She'd also better ring Dave, her uncle; for the past year the quiz on a Friday night was what they did, their ritual, and they frequently won! Catherine was the eldest of three and the only girl; Dave was her mum's brother and the youngest of six, so they were closer in age and more like brother and sister. Catherine looked up to him and loved spending time with him and his friends.

CHAPTER FIVE : NOW

"I'm not afraid," she said, "I just want to know where I am and what do you mean, 'come to meet me?'

"Shhh, now, don't worry, it wont be long now and your eyes will adjust." Seamus whispered.

"But where am I? I need to get back for Joseph, if he wakes up and I'm not there he'll be scared."

"Joseph's been taken care of don't worry, you'll see him later, there's just a few things to do first." He reassured her.

"But who are you? Do I know you? You sound familiar."

"We've met before, a long time ago."

It became apparent to her that the smell was coming from Seamus. She knew this smell and she knew the soft Irish lilt in his voice but she couldn't place where she knew him from. Although she felt a lot calmer than before, she was worried about Joe, her two year old son; she'd left him earlier that night with a babysitter, she had no idea what time it was, but she knew if he woke and she wasn't there, he wouldn't settle for the rest of the night.

Seamus placed a hand gently on her shoulder,

"Don't worry about Joseph, he's safe. Now close your eyes ... it's time."