STALKER

Chapter 106 - 14th May

"I have a plan." Weirdo, Ben and I sat around the table in my room. I went on, trying my hardest to not show how much pain I was in.

"We have a dead body and an unconscious murdering bitch in the hallway."  I'll never be able to look at the hallway and not picture the scene as it is now.

I looked at both of them. They were both red-eyed and pale. They were barely holding back their tears. We've had an hour to get our heads around what happened. A fresh bottle of scotch sat on the table in front of us and I happily puffed away my tension.

In my mind, it's all a bit of a blur. It happened so quickly, like a tornado hitting our home, the aftermath leaving us gutted, battered and bruised. I'd made my decision to jump back out of desperation.  I suppose if I had more time to think it through it could have worked out better.  But it's not something I want to do over.  

"I know you've both been through a lot tonight but we need to focus." Both sets of eyes stared at me in disbelief.

"WE'VE had a hard time???? Your body is lying in the hallway for fuck's sake." Ben whimpered at Weirdo's harsh words. I was strangely calm. I couldn't explain it, perhaps you get to a point where nothing freaks you out anymore. Or more likely it will hit me later and I'll turn into a puddle.

I took his hand and squeezed tight. "For now we need to talk about how we are going to fix that mess out there....so one last bit of weirdness for the night. I don't know if this will work.  Here goes nothing."  Weirdo warily looked at me as if to say I've had more than enough for one night. I slid my other hand into Ben's. He guessed what I was doing and managed a small smile.

The room started to fade around us. I felt Weirdo try to pull his hand free but I held on.  I saw the panic in his eyes. "It's OK." The familiar darkness gathered around us quickly and held us close.

"Just take a breath."  I urged Weirdo who looked like he might hyperventilate.   He looked around fearfully.   His eyes landing on Ben with a start.  

"First of all...let me introduce you to your biggest fan...Ben." The look on Weirdo's face was hilarious but it wasn't long before a smile slowly spread across his face and that wonderful light that I adore started to burn in his eyes again.

"Ben meet Weirdo otherwise known as Master Peter." Well, there was no keeping him down, decorum be buggered. He sprang out of his chair and charged around the table to hug Weirdo like a long-lost brother. His thin arms wrapped around his neck. Weirdo winced in pain. He buried his face in Weirdo's wild mop of hair as if he had longed to do it.

"Master Peter. I never imagined we would ever converse face to face, let alone share a hearty embrace." He squeezed and squeezed until Weirdo's ears and face were red. Ben beamed down at him and Weirdo stared up at the face of someone he never expected to meet in this life.

"It's a pleasure, Ben." He stood up and lifted the boy off the ground with his one good arm and swung him around. "Jeez, you're just a kid." He was a little shocked at how young Ben was, he'd pictured him differently, not this little redheaded waif.

"OK, our little bonding session is over." I filled our glasses with Scotch. Weirdo and I were both in pain and this was as close to pain meds that we had. Ben looked at the glass and sniffed it.

"Drink up Ben, you're going to need it. We need an extra pair of hands." 

"To do what?" He squeaked. I told them my plan. I expected an argument but none came. It looked like we were all out for revenge.

.....

The three of us regrouped in the hallway. We had come prepared with plastic paint sheets left over from re-painting the house, rubber gloves and mops and buckets.  All I can say is that it was a nightmare scenario I wouldn't want to wish on anyone. It was impossible not to stare at the superman doona covered in blood. It had soaked up a lot of the blood that had pooled around me. No one moved, no one wanted to be the first to touch it and me.