Chapter Five

Phoebe sauntered over swinging her hips. Her long tan legs carried her gracefully, leaving me wondering why she didn't pursue modelling seeing she was a stunning five feet ten inches tall. Phoebe's thick brown curls rested on her shoulders effortlessly and every strand of hair stayed perfectly in place. She pursed her glittery pink lips and toyed mindlessly with the numerous rings she wore on her fingers. The girl also had a thing for body piercings as well as she sported multiple ear piercings and a small heart tattooed on the inside of her arm.

Her dress was a bit crimped and she smoothened it out with her palms still looking quite curiously at me. I stood transfixed in place only blinking every few seconds, then stared back out the shop window after Blade who was already long gone. She raised an eyebrow questioningly and chewed on her favourite mint gum slowly and watched quietly for a second before she spoke.

"Who's the guy you were talking to?" She asks curiously but with an obvious tint of excitement in her voice and a smile now on her lips.

I scoffed and turned my attention back to where I was in the flower shop before giving her a sharp reply.

"Someone I just added to my murder list."

She only glared looking a bit confused for a bit but didn't say anything else. She seemed to realise I was in a sour mood and thought it'd be better not to say anything to further piss me off. Not that I would get pissed and attack her or anything, because she was actually one of the only girls I could remotely stand to be around.

Grinding my teeth, I got the scooper and cleaned away the sand that the scumbag had dumped on the ground at my feet out of nothing but pure bitterness. Shovelling away the last remaining bit, I headed back to doing nothing in a very unpleasant mood. The only reason I showed up here anyways was that I was being paid to work which I spent very little time doing.

A few men came in to get last-minute gifts for some lady they were probably taking out on a date or something. They didn't pay much attention to me and I was grateful. They didn't even seem to notice I was there since Phoebe was of better assistance than I was anyways. A couple of ladies who had dropped by scoffed at my tepid manner and again I was forced to leave Phoebe to do all the work. I escaped around back taking a seat in the little office Helen sometimes used and found some stationary in the storage closet and busied myself doing drawings and sketches of the many ways I was going to get my revenge on that piece of garbage. I was good at portraits so it turned out pretty decent and I spent time making sure to add every little detail.

The rest of the day rolled by pretty quickly. I was relieved when the clock struck four and I could leave this hell hole. This was the bargain Helen and I made, I worked on weekends like most kids my age, except mine was torture, in return for cash and staying out of trouble. Like I had asked to be kicked out of four different schools in three years.

After approximately a year and three months, I was shipped back halfway across the country to live with Helen. Thankfully I'd never have to bless my sight upon York Castle High ever again, but I did have to show up at John Wickerman first thing Monday morning of the second semester.

What a joke. Like they really think I'd even show.

"Leaving already?" Phoebe asks rather inquisitively.

"I need a change of scenery," was all I replied.

She nodded understandingly and I got my satchel and walked out of the flower shop.

Finally, fresh air instead of all that perfumed garbage.

Tucking my hands into my pocket I started walking. Helen, along with Phoebe and Leah's cars were in the parking lot.

I wish had have driven this morning.

The walk back to the house took longer than I anticipated. I wanted to blow off steam but I only kept replaying the scene back in the flower shop over and over in my head. The house loomed into view some half-hour later. I hurried up the steps onto the porch and went inside. Music was coming from the neighbour's house along with loud barks.

Adam wasn't home, which was a surprise. I had the house all to myself. I got the box of Cocoa Pebbles and poured some into a bowl then headed towards the fridge to get some milk for the cereal. Reaching inside I removed the bottle from the shelf then stared down at the weightless bottle in my hand. The bottle was empty, not even so much as a single drop of milk in it.

I hissed, tossing the empty bottle back inside and slamming the door. The contents on the inside rattled and I walked back to the island and grimaced at the bowl of useless breakfast cereal. After a minute I returned to the refrigerator and got the mac and cheese and sausage and microwaved it. The Mac and cheese tasted rubbery but I didn't mind.

I ate quietly and grimaced.

He doesn't play to lose?

Well neither do I.

As soon as I was finished eating, I went upstairs and changed into some darker clothing with a hooded jacket. I went out to the garage and got the Volkswagen Beetle Helen had gotten me for my birthday. It wasn't my preferred vehicle but it was better than that old beater I'd been driving around in for months. I got the keys for the car and hopped in before exiting the garage and backed out to the driveway slowly before returning to close the garage doors.

The Beetle made its way around the neighbourhood and I peered out the half-open window. I drove past the redhead girl from the day before as I headed back in the direction I had walked yesterday. I found where I was heading quite trouble-free as well and parked along the sidewalk in front of a blue house. The car engine died and I sat with the windows fully up waiting patiently eyes trained on the house across the street. A light-haired woman came walking outside after ten minutes of waiting, accompanied by a little boy no more than six who came hopping outside behind her.

It was the kid from the flower shop, the one I had given an insight into the future. They got into the SUV parked in the driveway and a couple of minutes later it backed out of the driveway onto the street and disappeared around the corner. The clock on the dashboard flashed a couple of minutes to six at this point and the sun had already begun setting. I sat patiently and waited another ten minutes before Blade came strolling outside. His eyes darted to my parked car across the street and I ducked my head, then he started his motorcycle and revved it a bit before riding away. I lifted my head and saw as the motorcycle disappeared in the distance along with his black leather jacket.

Now that he was gone, it was time to make my move. I opened the car door and exited before crossing the street over to his house. There was no one around and the street lights were just coming on. Making sure not to draw any attention to myself, I hurried up the front porch in my hoodie. I rapped twice on the front door quietly and listened for any sound, instead, nothing but silence met my ears. I peered over my shoulder quickly before checking if the door was open. It slid open effortlessly and I held it ajar and peered over my shoulder again before quickly slipping inside.

The door closed behind me. The house was nicer than I remembered.

Too bad that piece of thrash lives here.

I crossed the space and headed towards the staircase then I climbed slowly to the top looking around and listening for any sounds.

The sound of motorcycles came cutting through the quiet air. I stood frozen in place and listened closely trying to figure out if it was Blade and he was back already. Then came the sound of engines dying followed by footsteps and voices.

My heart thumped again and the front door flew open, just as I dodged to the side with my back firmly up against the wall. The heavy masculine footsteps stopped down below and I decided to sneak a peek and only narrowly missed being discovered.

Blade was back and he wasn't alone. His boots stomped around loudly and I peered down the hall looking for somewhere to hide. There were a couple of bedroom doors, and I only had one shot at this or I'd be discovered. Quietly I slipped down the hall pass two doors, listening to his steps moving closer, as he began ascending the stairs.

I fumbled with the doorknob, and the door opened quietly and I slipped inside. The door closed behind me, just as he had finally reached the second floor. I eyed the bottom of the door for any sign of him approaching. The footsteps came closer and closer before they stopped outside the door. I looked quickly around at the room I was standing in.

It was his bedroom. The doorknob turned slowly and I backed away from the door going deeper to the centre of the room. I had to hide and quickly. I spotted a closet not far from me but I wouldn't make it in time to slip in and close the door.

The room door opened an inch and I fell to my hands and knees and with no other option, fell flat on my stomach and slid underneath the bed quickly. Peeking out from there I watched his black boots enter. He flicked the lights on and closed the door behind him.

Blade sniffed the air and his boots trudged across the room and my eyes followed the bottom of his shoe like a hawk. He stopped in front of the closet and the door slowly opened. I held my breath careful not to make a sound. I hoped the idiot hadn't thought to check beneath the bed. He closed the closet door and walked steadily back across the room. Another door opened and my eyes continued following him. It looked like a bathroom from what little I was able to see.

He sniffed the air again. I couldn't quite see him clearly from underneath the bed but his eyes seemed to be travelling the distance of the room. He entered the bathroom and I heard him sniff.

Buzz!

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I slammed it with my hand to silence it. I peered out again from beneath the inch of space left by the bedsheets. He hadn't heard the buzz because of the running water.

The phone hadn't buzzed again but chances were if and when it happened again I wouldn't be so lucky. Blade walked back out and his boots stopped in the bathroom doorway. I watched his shoe to see where exactly he was heading and a minute later his feet moved and he disappeared back into the bathroom. The door was ajar and the water was still running. I quietly crawled out from under the bed and tiptoed towards the bedroom door. I could still hear the distinct sound of water running as I leaned against the wall keeping my eyes trained on the bathroom door. My hand reached out towards the doorknob to quietly turn it.

The door flew open on its hinges before I could turn the knob and I was forced all the way up against the wall. Another pair of heavy masculine boots entered the room, and the door shadowed me from the person who was standing with his back turned.

"Yo Blade hurry up!"

The brown-haired boy, Jude or whatever didn't even check behind him once. I stood transfixed in place holding my breath as he stood with his back turned and I occasionally peeked out from behind the door. He was standing ahead of me in the room looking down at his cellphone. I held my breath once more and took slow precise and calculated steps out from behind and moved quietly towards the open where my escape was. He was completely engrossed in his cellphone and I tiptoed out into the hall quite unnoticed. Once I was in the hall I didn't bother checking behind me and only hurried quietly down the hallway and the stairs.

The front door was only meters away.

I was listening for any boot sounds approaching but there wasn't any. I reached the front door and without making a sound moved to open it. Another quick check over my shoulder for either Blade or Jude then I was making my getaway. The door opened quietly and light from outside came rushing in.

Glancing ahead of me, I expected to see my freedom instead I came face to face with Luka who had been standing outside and now he was staring down at me confused. He raised an eyebrow and he seemed to be lost as hell. Sooner or later footsteps would be coming down the stairs and Luka still looked as confused as ever. I made sure not to look up or he just might recognize me under the hoodie. I couldn't think of any way he'd just let me walk past without saying a word and not get suspicious at all. The only way was if Blade had another sibling and at this point, it was pretty obvious he didn't, only the little kid from the flower shop.

"Who are you?"

Without thinking I dashed towards him, shoving him in the chest then jabbing him in the groin with my knee. He howled at the top of his lungs and doubled over in pain.

I ran around him taking off at top speed towards the Beetle parked across the street. He was still bent over when I reached the car and hopped in fumbling with the keys before starting the engine. The car started and I pulled off of the sidewalk just as Jude came rushing outside.

I looked up at the rearview mirror just as Blade too arrived down the stairs and he ran out into the street. He stood watching the Beetle speeding away and I stepped on the gas just in case he decided to pursue his Harley.