Darker London

Saturday afternoon found Stephie standing on Cherry Orchard Lane. It was a cold day, but Stephie’s hangover was sending flushes of heat through her. She had big black coat on over a collection of last night’s party jeans and a couple of tops she’d borrowed from Josie. Her lack of underwear was uncomfortable but not unbearable.

Stephie definitely did not have a plan. She hadn’t realised she was coming here till she found herself heading for the tube station instead of across the park toward Victoria Lane. She didn’t even know if Jinx would be home, didn’t know what else he was doing with his life these days. Maybe Yvonne had taken him back to Manchester, maybe he was driving cross country with Lucas. Stephie didn’t know. It had only been a couple of weeks and already she felt disconnected from him.

( Trust me mine is better )

Irena's cheek vibrated with a steady hum and she stirred, reaching under her pillow to pull out the mobile phone that rarely worked as a phone but instead served as an alarm clock. The bedroom was steel vault-dark, sunrise not for another handful of hours and even then it would be weak and cloudy - at least, that was what the weather last night had suggested.

( There were signs all around )