The Scene ~ Chapter Nine

Joey said his goodbyes and scored us some shit and we went to the house. It looked like a crack house all windows were busted, doors kicked in; gun shot’s in the walls. 1

Stephanie hugged into me tight and I held her. 2

“Welcome to hell. It’s not so bad, we’ll be okay we just need to fix it up and bit.” Tony said but it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself.3

“Are you okay Steph?” Cody asked. 4

“Yeah I am, hell nothing can scare me as much as what my step dad would try to do to me next.” She said giving a brave but unsure smile. 5

I took her hand and we got out of the car.6

“Hey this ain’t so bad. Tony get to work on the door, the rest of us let’s check and see if we can find something to cover up the windows.” Joey smiled. “Corey man you and Steph take some money and the supra and go see if you can get us some blankets and if we need them mattresses.” He added. 7

We walked inside. Inside was furnished; there was just a lot of graffiti and broken things littering the floors. It didn’t smell too nice either. 8

“Shotguns the couch.” Tony said.9

“No need for the couch man go explore and find a room, and we’ll work out what we need in each one.” Joey said. 10

“We could really get this place looking nice if we cleaned it up a bit, and I’m sure your friend would appreciate it. What the fuck is that smell though?” Corey said excitedly.11

We heard a scream come from the bathroom. Joey and I ran to see what was going on. April was standing in the door way with a terrified look on her face. The room was covered in blood; every wall two inches thick. 12

“Jesus Christ, I guess this is what the smell is. We need to fucking clean up.” I spat. I grabbed April and gave her a hug she was shaking.  13

“Dean! Michael!” Joey yelled out. They came a couple of seconds later. 14

“See if you can find something in the kitchen or the laundry to clean this up with. Get some of the others to help; Steph and Corey go get us what you can before everything closes. Try and get things cheap though.” Joey said.15

“There should be a Salvation Army around here somewhere. I’ll have a look.” I said, 16

“Perfect.” Joey said handing me $500 bucks.17

“Spend $350 and then get us some food from somewhere for the night.” He said.18

I nodded and went back out to the front of the house. 19

“What was all the yelling about Corey?” Melanie asked. 20

“Well we found where one of the triple murders must have been and where the smell was coming from.” I explained. 21

Melanie looked frightened and sat down.22

“Come on Steph we have to go get some blankets and food and stuff.” I said.23

“Be careful ok?” Cody said and smiled.24

“I always am.” I said.25

Stephanie and I got in the supra, she put her belt on while I joined the two main wires to start the car. Stephanie kept looking at me as we drove.26

“I tried to tell you this was not going to be easy.” I said.  27

“I didn’t say anything Corey.” She smiled. 28

“You don’t need to. I could see it on your face you are scared Steph.” I said.29

“I am not scared.” She said and smiled I have you beside me. I have to admit I was a tiny little bit scared but I know we are going to be okay.” She added.30

“You know this is just going to get worse and I can take you home anytime you want. You should not be here with us.” I said. 31

“So you would rather me be at home where he touches me then?” She snapped.32

“No Steph but you are getting out of a bad place to a worse one. Do you have the slightest fucken idea how much trouble we are in Steph? We just ripped of your parent’s house.” I said.33

“We have been over this before; now drop it for fuck sake. I’m not going to change my mind, and I am not going to sit here and keep listening to you lecturing me either. If you want to lose me you are going to right way about it.” She said.34

“I love you, and I don’t mean to lecture you I just don’t want to lose you. I have already lost someone that I love I don’t want to go through that pain again.” I said. 35

“I love you too.” She said and we kissed then got out of the car.36

“So what do we need?” She asked.37

“Blankets probably a half a dozen mattresses and sheets for the beds.” I said. 38

We walked into the store; the lady looked at Stephanie and me and then went through the back. 39

“What is her problem?” Steph asked.40

“She is scared Steph she probably thinks we are going to rob the place or something.” I said. 41

A man came out from out back with the lady a few minutes later.42

“Can I help you with something?” He asked. 43

“Yes actually my girlfriend and I are looking for some blankets mattresses covers and linen for them. We need about 6 of each.” I said. 44

“What size?” He asked.45

“Double.” Steph said. 46

“We should have them, I’ll see what I can find and have a look out the back for you.” He said.47

We followed him into this other room. 48

“So the two of you go to school around here?” He asked.49

“Yeah and we just arrived here a few hours ago. We have a big family.” I said. 50

“Where did you come from?” He asked. 51

“We’re from Melbourne, down near Viztroy.” I said.  52

“Oh yeah what brings you down here?” He asked.53

“My older sister lives down here and we moved down here to be closer to her basically.” I said. 54

He looked at Stephanie. “The two of you live together?” He asked. 55

“No, she has lived here for a while we met on visits here to my sisters.” I said. 56

“Well you seem like good kids and a cute couple. Kids these days have gone crazy. There are some bad sorts around here so be careful.” He said. 57

“Thankyou.” I said.58

“Well look what we have here.” He said and pulled out these quilts and sheets.59

“You are very lucky I actually thought I sold these.” He said.60

“Perfect we also need blankets too about 10 or so, the heater is broken and this town is freezing.” I said. 61

“It only gets worse as winter goes on. You’ll need more than that, hows 20 blankets and all the linen you need for 180 seeing as you didn’t try to rob me, and you bought a lot.” He laughed. 62

“You get robbed a lot hey?” Steph asked. 63

“Yeah you wouldn’t think so since we are a charity store, but people don’t care.” He said. 64

We paid for our things thanked him for the chat and loaded up the car.65

“That was some mighty fine acting how the hell did you come up with all that stuff?” She asked me.66

I opened the door of the supra and we got in.67

“Comes with the lifestyle I guess.” I laughed.68

“We should get pizza tonight, saves doing a shop.” Steph said. 69

“Sounds good to me babe.” I agreed.70