An Intangible Pattern - Fate Bound.

New friends

He looked at her with a dazed expression which was only broken when she shivered under the freezing water. He blinked and adjusted the taps until warm water flowed over them and pulled her in against his body. She wriggled free from his grasp and frowned as she pressed her hand to the back of her neck. No pain. She drew hand forward and observed her fingers. No blood.

She glanced up and saw Noah was looking at her anxiously. He shook his head and whispered, "I didn't. I wanted to, but I didn't."

She climbed out of the shower, hurriedly dried with a hand towel and threw her dress back on. With her heat sated, her mind was once again clear. She swept her eyes over the soaked and bedraggled Noah and sighed, imagining the questions which would follow if anyone saw the state he was in.

Seeing that his sanity had returned to him she fetched a pair of scissors from the cabinet over the sink and helped him cut away the knots binding his arm. He flexed his fingers painfully as blood returned to his hand.

"Wait here," she instructed and then unlocked the bathroom door. She peered through the crack and, satisfied the hall was empty, darted across the hall to her bedroom. She quickly changed into her Halloween costume and snatched a dressing gown hanging on the door. She carried it across the hall and tapped the door.

"It's me."

Noah opened the door a crack and peeked out at her.

"Put this on and come across the hall," she whispered passing the dressing gown through the opening. Without waiting for a reply, she retreated back to her room and began to dry her hair.

A few moments later Noah slipped into the bedroom carrying his clothing wrapped in a towel. He closed the door behind him then visibly blanched, reaching out an arm to steady himself against the door.

She turned off the hairdryer, "what is it?"

"The smell."

"Smell?" She asked feeling more awkward than she already did.

"Your smell."

She understood his meaning and stared at him warily. Seeing her reaction he drew breath slowly and reassured her.

"Its under control. You don't have to worry. It just took me by surprise."

He looked her up and down and raised a brow curiously. "What are you wearing?"

"I'm the ghost of Christmas future." She said, indicating the red and green pyjamas and the Christmas jumper emblazoned with a large reindeer complete with flashing nose. " People hate being reminded of Christmas at Halloween."

His mouth twitched and he turned away to hide a crooked smile, "That's actually quite funny."

"I'm glad someone appreciates it. Cat hasn't really spoken to me since last night." she replied dryly.

"I bet." he chuckled and sat down on the armchair by the bed, untangling his hair with his fingers.

She glanced away, feeling awkward. Was she crazy? She was joking with a man who had raped her. They were talking casually as though they had not, only moments ago, fucked like animals. If she could not feel the trace of him in her body, she could believe it never happened. It was all too strange.

I must not forget what this man is - She thought, and turned the hair dryer back on to cut off further conversation.

No matter how friendly he seems, no matter how much he doesn't mean to, he can still turn on me in an instant.

Sensing her guard was raised again, Noah remained silent while she dried off. She roughly combed her wavy dark hair back into a ponytail and turned, holding the hairdryer out to him.