Hellbent
Chapter 21
The full moon
It was the night of Halloween, and the moon was full. Ashley sat in the backyard by the bonfire, surrounded by Blake, Andreas, and Maxx. He was dressed in his black tuxedo cat onesie, wearing the hooded ears over his head and resting his bare feet on the log. He mindlessly munched on candy from the pumpkin bowl.
He looked up at Blake, who was serving everyone pizza. He was wearing his casual attire of a leather jacket and jeans.
Blake: “That one is meat lovers, that one is mushroom chicken, and that one is margherita. It’s on me!”
He explained.
Ashley: “Thank you, Blake!”
He flashed him a smile, taking a slice of mushroom chicken pizza. I should buy dinner for Yvette sometime or cook her something. I feel so terrible about her getting mixed up in me and Makayla’s fight and paying for my meal. What kind of man am I?! He thought to himself, looking up at Blake in shame.
Andreas sauntered up to Blake in a velvet black hooded robe and eyeliner, kissing him on the cheek.
Andreas: “Thank you, Blake. Here’s a twenty.”
He offered, handing him a twenty-dollar bill. Blake held his hand up and placed his hand over his, lowering his hand down.
Blake: “No, I insist… let me take care of you.”
He assured him, stroking his hand. Andreas kissed him. Ashley smiled at them. Andreas is a man, too, and Blake protects and provides for him. Maybe that’s the type of man I am? He pondered.
Ashley swung his gaze over to his veggie patch. Well, I can provide a good meal and protect people from going hungry. I don’t need to pay people in hippie costumes a hundred bucks to harvest and cook stuff, he thought bitterly, eating another slice of Margherita pizza.
Andreas pulled out a leatherbound spell book, placing it on the table. Ashley flicked his gaze at it, thinking of Yvette’s sketchbook. How did Makayla get ahold of that? Who is this friend in the sunnies? Are they a friend?! Why couldn’t she ask me instead of jumping to conclusions and accusing me of being like… HIM?! He thought, swinging his gaze to Maxx as he furiously bit down into another slice of pizza.
Maxx stomped around the bonfire in his pink G-string.
Maxx: “C’mon, dis party sucks! Where’s all da hot lady babes?! Let’s get WASTED!”
He whined, swinging around his goon sack. Ashley sighed and shook his head. Maybe Makayla was just drunk and didn’t mean any of this. He thought to himself as he took a slice of meat lovers pizza.
Andreas: “It’s not a party. It’s a Samhain ritual.”
He rolled his eyes, lighting the candles on the table.
Blake: “Put some damn clothes on!”
He hissed at Maxx.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! This is my rockin’ Halloween costume!”
He protested.
Andreas: “Horror is in the true spirit of Halloween, Blake.”
He quipped dryly, shuddering at Maxx.
Blake: “That’s no excuse.”
He pouted and glared at Maxx.
“NO EXCUSE!” Yvette’s voice echoed in Ashley’s head. She’s right. Even if Makayla was drunk, it still wasn’t ok. People got hurt… and she got kicked out… again. He thought, eating another slice of mushroom chicken pizza.
Maxx: “Pfft, A-Rad ate all da pizza!”
He cackled like a hyena, snapping Ashley out of his daze.
Ashley: “Huh?”
He looked down at the empty pizza boxes on the table.
Ashley: “Oh god, did I eat all of that pizza?! I’m so sorry, guys!”
He gasped and grabbed at his stomach. Blake gaped at Ashley as if he had three heads.
Blake: “...No?”
He stated matter-of-factly, gesturing to the slices of pizza in his and Andreas’ hands.
Blake: “The clown was just fucking with you.”
He grabbed his goonsack and whacked it over Maxx’s head. Ashley frowned at Maxx. Maxx makes mean accusations about me when he’s drunk, too, he thought.
Blake: “Have you been smoking again, Ash?”
He frowned and sighed.
Ashley: “No…”
His voice trailed off as he took a bite of a candy bar.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! He’s just been eating! That's all he wants to do now! It's soooo boring! You’re gonna get as big as da house, A-rad”
He laughed at him, stretching his arms out.
Ashley: “I guess I won’t be able to ‘steal’ da hot lady babes from you anymore if I'm as big as da house.”
He said numbly, taking a bite of a candy bar.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! You never stole da lady babes from me, you liar!”
He fired back at him. Ashley rolled his eyes. No, because they never wanted you, dude, and you have to pay that woman with the stinky feet to be around you… with MY money, he thought bitterly, munching on a cake bar.
Blake: “Maybe if you didn’t starve him on your shitty cardboard nuggets, he wouldn’t be so hungry all the time, jester fuck.”
He rolled his eyes at Maxx. Andreas gave Ashley a skeptical look.
Andreas: “I think it’s more than that…”
Ashley paused. Oh no, he better not read my mind with his psychic powers! He will tell Blake and then Blake will be like “I told you so” and he’ll never trust me again and then Maxx will laugh at me and be all like “I told you so, A-Rad, chicks don’t like fatties” Even though Makayla is just as fat as me, but whatever! They’ll NEVER let me live this down, he thought with a long breath, tossing the empty candy bowl on the ground.
Andreas: “What’s troubling you?”
He pressed him again.
Ashley: “Nothing! I’m just hungry!”
He forced a smile. Andreas gave him an incredulous look. Maxx laughed.
Andreas: “Me too. How about we go into the kitchen and make something to eat? I know a good mushroom pasta recipe…”
He rose from his seat, locking his gaze on Ashley. Ashley’s heart sank.
Ashley: “...S-sure.”
Mushroom pasta?! No, it has to be a coincidence, he thought.
~
Ashley and Andreas entered the kitchen.
Ashley: “You read my mind, didn't you?!”
He bowed his head, embracing himself.
Andreas: “I read your energy.”
He explained. Ashley pursed his lips.
Andreas: “You're not at that stupid Halloween party tonight, so I know what’s eating at you… or who.”
He gave him a knowing look. Ashley’s eyes widened.
Ashley: “Huh? What stupid Halloween party?!”
He tilted his head and knit his eyebrows. Andreas sighed and shook his head. He looked out the kitchen window, gazing at the full moon lighting the room with its glow.
Andreas: “It’s a full moon tonight. So perhaps you should take this time to reflect on the full picture.”
He stated, shuffling his tarot cards. ‘The Moon’ card jumped out of his deck, falling on the table at Ashley. Ashley’s eyes widened. The full picture? He pondered.
Andreas: “The moon reflects and sheds light on the water. What is. What isn’t. and what isn’t what it seems.”
He explained, gesturing to the moonlight shining on the water’s surface of the bird bath by the car out the window. Ashley glanced out the window, hanging off his words.
Andreas: “The water is our emotions, like how the moon controls the tides. Water runs deeper than just the surface. So do our emotions. As the moon has its cycle, so do we.”
He further explained. Ashley embraced himself, resonating with his words.
Andreas: “Trust your instincts and intuitions, and you will reach clarity.”
He concluded with his advice, retrieved his card, and shuffled it back into his deck.
Ashley: “Trust my gut, huh?”
He gazed out the window pensively.
They could hear Maxx’s whining and Blake calling for Andreas from the backyard.
Andreas: “I’m needed elsewhere now. Will you be ok?”
He asked him. Ashley waved his hand and nodded.
Ashley: “Go, I’ll be fine! Thanks, Andreas… I know what to do now!”
He flashed him a smile. Andreas smiled back at him and headed back outside.
~
Andreas sauntered back into the backyard. Blake looked up at him from the bonfire.
Blake: “You guys left me alone with THAT for too long!”
He pouted, pointing at Maxx lying on the ground on his goon sack.
Maxx: “What if the stars are BOOBS?!”
He spread his arms out. Blake rolled his eyes at him.
Andreas: “Sorry for leaving you alone with the gremlin.”
He sat down beside Blake, kissing his cheek.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! I’m not a gremlin!”
He whined.
Blake: “Where's Ashley?”
He quirked an eyebrow.
Andreas: “I left him to… mull things over.”
He explained, shuffling his tarot deck.
Blake: “Ah, so he's cooking.”
He put his arm around Andreas as he nestled into him.
Andreas: “I guess you could say that.”
He smiled a bit, lighting herbs and coal into a small iron cauldron.
Andreas: “You take everything literally, Blake...”
He teased with endearment.
Blake: “What's wrong with that?”
Andreas: “Nothing at all.”
He assured him, flipping over “The Hanged Man” card.
Blake: “It’s upside down.”
He flipped it up so the man would be upright.
Andreas: “Is it?”
He challenged him. Blake looked at the card again, studying it closer.
Blake: “Oh, wait, he’s hanging upside down.”
He flipped the card back up again.
Andreas: “Interesting…”
He stroked his chin.
Blake: “Why is that?”
Andreas: “The Hanged Man is about pausing to shift perspective and surrendering yourself to wait for the right moment.”
He explained.
Suddenly, Maxx slammed a bunch of tarot cards on top of it.
Maxx: “GO FISH!”
Andreas gaped at Maxx, and Blake glared at him.
Blake: “We’re not playing ‘Go Fish’ Booze-o!”
He huffed.
Andreas: “They’re tarot cards.”
He corrected Maxx flatly. Maxx smiled at him dumbly.
Maxx: “OHHH! DO ME! DO ME!”
He exclaimed, jumping up and down.
Maxx: “Do I get to fuck Jacky-babe?! Do I get more famous than Nuklear assholes?!”
He begged him. Andreas sighed. Alright, I’ll humor this fool and see how he gets his karma.
Andreas: “Let’s see.”
He shuffled his cards, keeping his eyes fixed on Maxx.
He placed three cards down on the table and turned over the first card, which was ‘The Devil’
Andreas: “Gee, what a surprise.”
He rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “You’re trapped in negative patterns, indulging in material possessions and addictions that are detrimental.”
He began, nodding to his goon sack. Blake huffed.
Blake: “Yeah. Detrimental to me and Ashley.”
He said bitterly, thinking of him splurging money on clown clothes and alcohol and racking up hefty bills for Ashley. Andreas turned to him, giving in a knowing look. He pointed to the chains in the artwork.
Andreas: “You’re trying to gain power and control over something… or someone.”
He explained, exchanging a look with Blake as they thought of Ashley.
Andreas: “But…”
He continued, flipping over the next card: ‘The Tower’. Andreas smirked and laughed.
Maxx: “What?! What’s so funny?!”
He pouted. Blake turned to Andreas, curious to know the answer, too.
Andreas: “Structures built on weak foundations will fall apart, and this will blow up in your face.”
He warned him, tapping the lightning bolt, blowing up the tower and the crown falling off.
Maxx: “Pfft, that’s not funny. What’s this got to do with me?”
He pouted.
Andreas: “When you try to control someone, they rebel and want to break free of you.”
He stated, tapping ‘The Devil’ card. Blake pursed his lips and thought back to when he rebelled against Sunshire and his parents and then when Ashley rebelled against him. It seemed Ashley was trying to rebel and break free of Maxx.
Blake: “It means you’re losing Ashley, numb-nuts.”
He rolled his eyes. Andreas nodded. He appreciated Blake’s simple and to-the-point translations, which drove the point across more for idiots.
Maxx: “Pfft, nah-ah! A-Rad would NEVER leave me! He wants to be my best bud! He thinks I’m da coolest person ever and wants to be just like me!”
He exclaimed. Andreas and Blake gave him incredulous looks.
Andreas: “Are you sure about that?”
He challenged and turned over the final card. “Death” in reverse.
Blake: “Ha. Looks like you’re going to die, Jester fuck.”
He taunted him.
Maxx: “Nah-ah! You can’t kill da beest!”
He shrieked, throwing his arms up.
Andreas: “Your refusal to “kill da beest” will be your undoing.”
He shuddered when he repeated that phrase with air quotes.
Andreas: “The Death card is about transformation and endings. In reverse, it means your refusal to accept the end of something and your refusal to change.”
He explained.
Maxx: “Pfft, I don’t gotta change! I’m Maxxy Malone!”
He scoffed.
Andreas: “That’s the problem.”
He rolled his eyes, tossing the card back onto the table.
Blake: “Yes, he IS the problem.”
He added. Andreas turned to him and nodded, appreciating his input from other perspectives.
Andreas: “Yes, Blake. That’s right. Your refusal to accept and take accountability for your faults will catch up to you someday. You reap what you sow.”
He warned Maxx.
Maxx: “Da fuck is dat supposed to mean?!”
Andreas shifted his eyes over to Blake. Blake nodded at him and leaned forward to Maxx.
Blake: “You can blame Ashley, me, Andreas, or whoever, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are the problem and the cause of your problems. Ashley is getting sick of your shit and wants out.”
He explained. Andreas smiled at Blake.
Andreas: “Well said, Blake.”
He nodded.
Andreas: “Ashley will destroy you. This will be your undoing.”
He smirked at Maxx. Blake and Maxx both gaped at him disbelievingly.
Blake: “...Ashley?”
He gave him an incredulous look.
Maxx: “Pfft, what with his lame baking?”
He scoffed and laughed. Blake rolled his eyes at him. Andreas shook his head at him.
Maxx: “We’ll see about that! A-RAD!”
He laughed and marched back into the house to get Ashley. Blake glanced down at his watch.
Andreas: “Huh… Ashley has been gone a while.”
He pondered.
Blake: “Maybe he went to bed? He's been tired lately.”
He shrugged. Andreas quirked an eyebrow. Maxx stormed back into the backyard in a rage.
Maxx: “Ohhhh, NAH-AH! He went to da strippers without me!”
He whined, stamping his feet.
Maxx: “He ditched me here with you boring goth assholes!”
He cried, falling to his knees. Blake and Andreas gaped at him.
Blake: “...WHAT?!”
He shot up from his seat. Andreas had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
They marched out to the front yard to see the car was now gone with Ashley.
Blake: “Where the fuck did he go?!”
He growled.
Andreas: “...I have a feeling it's not the strippers.”
He deadpanned. Blake laughed bitterly. Andreas turned to Blake, pursing his lips.
Andreas: “I have a feeling I might know where he went though…”
He sighed. Blake turned to him.
Blake: “Where did he go, Andreas?!”
He pleaded with him, placing his hands on his shoulders.
Andreas: “...I may have mentioned Craig's Halloween party, and he may have interpreted my advice differently…”
He sighed and bowed his head in guilt and shame.
Blake: “WHAT?!?”
He gaped at him and stormed into the house.
Andreas followed after him.
Andreas: “I'm sorry…”
He knit his eyebrows. Blake picked up the phone, shaking his head.
Blake: “I'm calling a cab and going down there!”
He huffed.
Andreas: “What?!”
Blake: “I'm not going to let Craig hurt him!”
He bellowed.
Andreas: “Craig won't hurt Ashley.”
He said matter of factly.
Blake: “Are you kidding me?! Ashley is the perfect target for assholes like him! He dealt with that all through school, and you saw how Craig fought me! Imagine what he could do to Ashley! He can't fight, and he can't protect himself!”
He snapped and trembled, thinking back to a painful time in their lives.
Andreas: “I know Craig. He isn't like that. He only fights people who are a threat to him, and you are because you're with me. Ashley is… feminine, and Craig doesn't hit girls.”
He assured him. Blake sighed.
Andreas: “It's not Craig you should be worried about…”
His voice trailed off.
~
Ashley pulled up to the ‘Nuklear Intoxikation’ house in the Kingswood station wagon. The lawn was scattered with plastic graveyards, beer bottles, and a plastic grim reaper by the door. Loud pumping music blared from the house, and silhouettes of people were jumping around
Ashley: “I've been reflecting all night, Andreas. Time for some full moon clarity!”
He said doggedly as he stepped into the empty street under the full moon. The cold pavement under his feet made him realise he had forgotten his sandals. Damn, what is wrong with me? He thought. Oh well… I’m here now, and this is way more important than whatever I’m wearing.
He marched across the lawn and approached the house. This feels like deja vu, he thought to himself, scrunching his face at Craig’s stinky boots on the porch. He knocked on the door and could hear footsteps approaching. A figure dressed in a black robe and a distorted skeletal mask answered the door. Ashley jolted and staggered back.
Figure: “Prepare to die, hippie!”
The voice cackled like a witch from beneath the mask.
Ashley: “...V-Veronika?!”
He stammered. Veronika laughed at him and took off the mask.
Veronika: “Well, well, what a pleasant surprise to see you here. The entertainment has arrived.”
She smirked at him and gestured for him to come inside. Ashley tilted his head.
Ashley: “Entertainment?”
He peeked into the living room, which was full of people dressed as monsters and ghouls covered in red paint.
Veronika: “Makayla didn’t mention you were coming.”
She quirked an eyebrow at him and grinned. Ashley bowed his head.
Ashley: “We kinda had a fight…”
His voice trailed off, and he looked away.
Veronika: “Oh no, that’s too bad!”
She gasped, feigning shock.
A tall figure in a ‘sexy lion’ costume with his chiseled bare chest exposed came marching towards them.
Craig: “OI! The fuck are you doing here?!”
He huffed at Ashley. Veronika rolled her eyes at Craig. Ashley stumbled over, laughing at his costume.
Ashley: “Nice costume, Craig.”
He giggled. Craig scoffed.
Craig: “Fuckin’ oath, I look damn sexy!”
He grinned, flexing his muscles. Veronika groaned.
Veronika: “You were supposed to dress up as something from a horror movie, Craig!”
She growled at him.
Craig: “Oh yeah, what about him? He’s a fuckin’ cat!”
He pouted, pointing at Ashley.
Ashley: “Lions are cats, too!”
He declared. Craig paused and blinked. Veronika rolled her eyes.
Craig: “Whatever! The fuck are you doin’ here? You better be here to tell me Andreas broke up with your brother or somethin’.”
He huffed, folding his arms across his chest. Veronika glared at Craig.
Ashley: “Me and Makayla need to talk.”
He sighed. Craig pulled a face and he cracked up laughing.
Craig: “Good luck with that. This I gotta see!”
Ashley: “Huh? What do you mean? Why are you laughing?”
Veronika glared at Craig, covering his mouth.
Veronika: “Oh, nothing. Go talk to her.”
She smirked. Ashley gave them both suspicious looks.
Ashley: “What the hell was that about?”
He scratched his head, making his way through the party to look for Makayla.
~
Blake and Andreas emerged from the taxi outside the ‘Nuklear Intoxikation’ house. They were both dressed in Andreas’ black velvet robes, with their faces obscured by the large hoods to blend in and not draw too much attention to themselves. Blake approached the Kingswood Station Wagon, placing his sun-tattooed hand on the bonnet
Blake: “It’s still warm. He hasn’t been here for long. Let’s go!”
He nodded to Andreas, taking his hand and approaching the house.
The door was ajar, and they snuck into the party, looking around for Ashley. They were alerted to Craig’s booming voice.
Craig: “Stay away from my sister, or I’ll kick ya ass! She don’t want ya, fat cunt!”
He rasped. Blake marched over towards the commotion, seething. Andreas grabbed his shoulder and shook his hooded head, pointing at something. Blake looked to where he was pointing and saw Bobby O’Sullivan. He was dressed up as Varg The Viking, a children’s cartoon featuring a goofy Viking character with enormous feet.
Bobby: “Yes, she does! Larry told me she’s that kind of girl!”
He laughed and took a swig of his beer. Craig’s ire soared.
Craig: “FUCK YOU!”
He rasped, punching Bobby across the lawn. He fell into the garden bed like a bowling ball, knocking over the cactuses like pins. Veronika snaked her arm around Craig, cackling like a witch. People laughed and cheered. Blake grabbed Andreas’ shoulder.
Blake: “We need to find Ashley, NOW!”
He whispered to Andreas. Andreas nodded, keeping his hood down.
~
Ashley wandered through the house, looking around for Makayla. He headed down the hall towards Makayla’s bedroom door. He stood in front of her door, swallowing hard and bracing himself. He could hear his heart pumping in his chest. This moon energy ends now, we need to clear the air. He twisted the knob and slowly opened the door. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped when he saw Makayla on the bed, embracing someone in a kiss.
Ashley: “WHAT?!”
He cupped his mouth, snapping their attention to him. It was as if a dam had broken. Tears filled his eyes and gushed down his cheeks. They broke the kiss, and he could see the Korean woman with teased black hair with pink bangs and raccoon tails in her hair. She wore heavy blue makeup on her eyes and had a curvy build with wide hips and long legs. She was taller than both him and Makayla. She looked familiar to him, but he couldn’t place where he had seen her before.
Makayla: “Ashley?! What the hell?! What are you doing here?!”
She gasped, rising from the bed. Ashley stepped back, and his bottom lip trembled.
Ashley: “I came to talk to you about what happened! But I don’t even want to talk to you at all now!”
He huffed, looking away from her. The pink-haired woman flicked her gaze to him.
Pink-haired woman: “Aww, diddums! Now you got a taste of your own medicine! Not so nice, is it?”
She cooed in a condescending tone. Ashley gaped at them both.
Ashley: “...You think I did this to you with Yvette?!”
He shook his head.
Makayla: “I SAW you, Ashley! You were holding each other and confessing your feelings for each other! The same song and dance you did to me the night before!”
She fired back at him. Ashley gaped at her.
Ashley: “It was just a hug between friends, Makayla! THIS is not just a hug between friends! I never kissed Yvette or anyone! …I only ever kissed YOU!”
He embraced himself and looked away from her. Makayla pursed her lips and drew back.
The woman scoffed at him disbelievingly.
Pink-haired woman: “Yeah, right. Don’t buy any of those lies, Makayla.”
Ashley knit his eyebrows.
Ashley: “It was you… You’re that woman in the sunglasses!”
He said in a low voice.
Pink-haired woman: “Umm, what are you talking about, Trashley?”
She laughed at him.
Ashley: “...Trashley?! Who even are you?”
He gaped at her owlishly and unimpressed.
Pink-haired woman: “Pfft, you don’t even know who I am?!”
She scoffed at him.
Ashley: “No… and I don’t want to.”
He pouted, folding his arms across his chest.
Pink-haired woman: “I’m Krystal Killah Queen. Thank you very much!”
She said loftily. Ashley gaped at her. Something about her vibe rubbed him the wrong way.
Ashley: “Uhh, you’re not a queen?!”
He laughed bitterly. Krystal glared at him.
Krystal: “Excuse me?!”
Ashley ignored her and turned back to Makayla.
Ashley: “...You accused me of being like MAXX–”
He hissed with hurt in his tone. Makayla interjected.
Makayla: “I wasn’t talking about him!”
She countered.
Ashley: “Who else would it be?!”
He threw his arms up. Makayla went to speak, but he cut her off.
Ashley: “What gets me is you accused me of doing THIS to you, but you did it to me and with a female MAXX!”
He snapped through tears. Makayla froze, too stunned to speak. Krystal fumed at him.
Krystal: “WHAAAAT!?”
She shrieked.
Ashley: “Peace out, Makayla!”
He cried and stormed out of the room. Makayla bowed her head. Krystal marched after him.
Krystal: “Ohhhhh, NO, Girl! You did NOT just say that!”
She huffed, pulling off her long, fake nails and tossing them onto the floor. People turned to look in their direction. Blake and Andreas approached the commotion. They both gaped, taken by surprise when they saw Ashley.
Krystal: “How dare you compare me to that trash clown!”
She shrieked, shoving Ashley. Ashley gasped, taken aback as he pounded against the wall. The party burst into wild cheers and laughter. Veronika and Craig turned to them. Craig burst out laughing with amusement, and Veronika smirked widely.
Veronika: “CAT FIGHT!”
She hollered out, drawing the attention of the party.
Ashley: “NO! I don’t want to fight you!”
He held his hands up, backing away from her.
Krystal: “Aww, are you scawed?!”
She taunted him, stepping forward.
Ashley: “No, I’m just DONE! Just leave me alone!”
He cried at Makayla. He turned around and bolted out of the house.
Blake and Andreas exchanged a look. Andreas pondered on what they witnessed.
Andreas: “Hmm… perhaps he made the right interpretation, after all…”
He smiled and thought of “The Hanged Man” shifting perspective. And maybe that card was for us both? He thought, looking over at Blake.
Blake: “ASHLEY!”
He called out, marching after him. Suddenly, he was grabbed by someone and pulled back into the house. He turned around to see Veronika on the other end of the grip.
Veronika: “Well, well. What do we have here?”
She smirked, pulling off his hood to reveal his face. Craig gaped and glared at him.
Craig: “OI! The fuck are YOU doin’ here?!”
He flared, marching up to Blake and getting up in his face.
Blake: “We were just leaving. Stay away from Ashley! BOTH of you!”
He glowered at Craig and Makayla. Makayla sighed, and Krystal scoffed.
Craig: “Stay away from Andreas!”
He fired back at him, shoving him. Someone shoved Craig down from behind.
Craig: “HEY! Fuck you, dickhead!”
He rasped at the hooded figure above him. Andreas unveiled his hood to reveal his face.
Craig: “A-Andreas?!”
He stammered, changing his tune.
Andreas: “No, Craig. You stay away from me.”
He said firmly. Veronika saw red when she saw Andreas.
Veronika: “YOU!”
She seethed at Andreas with hatred.
Andreas: “I don’t want Craig, and Blake doesn’t want you, Veronika.”
He rolled his eyes.
Blake: “Let’s just go.”
Craig blocked the door with his bulky frame.
Craig: “Where do ya think you’re goin’?”
He taunted them.
Blake: “Out of our way, Craig!”
He huffed exasperatedly.
Craig: “Nah.”
Blake rolled his eyes at him and punched him in the stomach. Craig wheezed and fell to the floor.
Blake: “Out of our way!”
He bellowed, stepping over him. Veronika’s eyes widened, and she fanned her blushing face with her reaper face mask.
Veronika: “Oh fuck, that was sexy!”
She purred at Blake. Andreas glared at her, taking Blake’s hand and leaving with him.
Andreas: “Let’s go.”
When they left and got outside, they saw that the Kingswood Station Wagon was gone.
Blake: “GOD FUCKING DAMMIT!”
He huffed and stamped his feet. Andreas sighed and looked at the cluster of lights coming from the main road.
Andreas: “Let’s walk to the main street and catch a cab there.”
He nodded. Blake sighed and nodded.
Suddenly, blue and red lights came down the street. Police cars pulled up outside of the Nuklear Intoxikation house. Blake and Andreas turned to the commotion. Jaclyn shoved past them as she stormed out of her home.
Jaclyn: “Ugh, out of my way, boganic peasants!”
She huffed. Blake glared at her.
Blake: “Watch yourself, Mrs Maxx.”
He fired back at her. Andreas chuckled.
Jaclyn: “How DARE you!”
She turned on her heel and stormed over to the Nuklear Intoxikion house next door.
They watched the commotion as Jaclyn put on the water works.
Jaclyn: “ARREST THEM, OFFICERS! IT’S MY FABULOUS BIRTHDAY TODAY! TODAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT ME! THEY RUINED MY BIRTHDAY WITH THEIR BOGANIC TORTURE!”
She wailed and sobbed on the lawn. The officers all exchanged exasperated looks.
Andreas: “They’re all thinking not this shit again.”
He narrated as they watched the scene unfold.
Blake: “This has happened before?”
He laughed disbelievingly. Andreas nodded in confirmation.
Andreas: “Yes. And not just for parties. Over the dumbest things. One time, she called the cops on me for doing a smoke ritual when I was living there. She claimed I was smoking pot. I was burning incence.”
He rolled his eyes. Blake gaped at him.
Blake: “You’re kidding me.”
He shook his head.
Andreas: “This time, they went too far. They upset the queen bee on the most important and special day.”
He clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Andreas: “I have a bad feeling about this. Let’s get away from here.”
He took Blake’s hand and ushered them away towards the main road. Blake laughed, not taking him seriously.
Blake: “Yes, we need to find Ashley…”
His tone became serious again. When they got onto the main road, Andreas spotted the ‘Voyage Burger’ sign down the road.
Andreas: “I think I might know where he is…”
~
Ashley pulled into the Voyage Burger parking lot. The neon sign hummed in the darkness like a beacon of light. He felt that same sense of déjà vu wash over him again as he entered the diner in a distraught state again. He brightened when he saw Yvette behind the counter.
Ashley: “Hey, Yvette! Can we talk?”
He said in a small voice. Yvette’s face lit up at him.
Yvette: “AWW! Your kitty costume is SO cute, Ashley!”
She squealed, cupping her cheeks. Ashley chuckled.
Ashley: “Thanks…”
He said softly, sitting down at a booth. Yvette tilted her head at him.
Yvette: “What’s wrong? Did you get a Halloween fright?!”
She knit her eyebrows.
Ashley: “Haha… yeah… Trick or Treat?”
He laughed bitterly. His laughter soon turned to crying. Yvette cupped her mouth and sat down beside him.
Yvette: “What happened, Ashley?! Did Makayla do something mean again?!”
She huffed, rubbing his back. Ashley sighed and slowly nodded. Yvette pouted.
Ashley: “She was with this other girl…”
He sighed. Yvette turned to him.
Ashley: “She called herself a queen and tried to fight me…”
Yvette pondered and pulled out her sketchbook.
She flicked back to her pages of drawings of Makayla with the pink-haired bar wench.
Yvette: “This girl?”
She pointed to her drawing. Ashley’s eyes widened.
Ashley: “I thought she looked familiar.”
He gasped.
Yvette: “Oh god… she’s back with Krystal Kil?!”
She groaned.
Ashley: “Back with? What do you mean?!”
He shifted his eyes.
Yvette: “Makayla was SO MUCH worse when she was dating Krystal.”
She explained.
Ashley: “So, Krystal is her ex-girlfriend, huh?!”
He pondered. Yvette nodded in confirmation.
Ashley sighed and turned to Yvette.
Ashley: “I’m so sorry about what happened at Edgy Veggie…”
He pursed his lips.
Yvette: “That wasn’t your fault! That was Makayla’s fault! She ruined everyone’s day, and she stole my forbidden sketchbook!”
She huffed.
Ashley: “Yeah, but it’s my fault, too… She got mad at you because of me, and you paid for my meal because I had no money… I want to make it up to you.”
He sighed. Yvette paused and held up her hand.
Yvette: “Wait… why did she get mad at me because of you?!”
She tilted her head. Ashley sighed and shifted his eyes.
Ashley: “She thought I was doing what she did to me with Krystal…”
He paused and turned to her.
Ashley: “With you.”
Yvette blushed, and her eyes sparkled.
Yvette: “...With me?!”
She gasped, holding her hand on her chest. Ashley nodded in confirmation.
Yvette: “Well… if you want to make it up to me, you can cook for me!”
She teased and smiled at him. Ashley brightened.
Ashley: “I’d like that…”
He said softly.
Suddenly, the doors burst open as Blake and Andreas entered the diner in their robes. Ashley froze like a deer in headlights.
Ashley: “Blake?! Andreas?! What are you guys doing here?!”
He said meekly, shifting his eyes and bracing himself. Blake went to speak, but Andreas placed his hand on his shoulder.
Andreas: “We needed a break from the clown, so we went out for ice cream.”
He explained. Blake and Ashley paused to gape at him. Ashley shifted his eyes and laughed.
Ashley: “O-oh, uh… me too… hahaha.”
He awkwardly rubbed his neck. Blake drew a breath.
Blake: “Let’s take this to go.”
He pursed his lips.
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