𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐀𝐗 // house of wax (2005)

007: the broken fan belt and the redneck

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CHAPTER SEVEN OF ???

❝ the broken fan belt and the redneck ❞

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THIRD-PERSON POV. THE JANUARY OF 2005. LOUISIANA, AMERICA.

(NAME) FELT A SENSE OF RELIEF WASH OVER HER WHEN THE HAND WAS A MANNEQUIN HAND. The man stumbled backwards after pulling the hand from the arm, raising it in the air. A boyish grin worked its way onto his face. "Anyone need a hand?" the man joked, a Southern drawl lacing his word, as (Name) covered her mouth to laugh a little, "I'm just foolin'. It's not real, see?". The man knocked on the hand, revealing its hollow inside.

Carly went to stand behind Wade, as (Name) laughed a little in disbelief, shaking her head a little. "I found it on the side of the road a few weeks ago," the man said, still keeping the boyish grin on his face, which (Name) thought was adorable, "What are you guys doin' around here?".

The man stepped forward through the roadkill a little. "We were all camping up through those trees," Wade explained. As (Name) locked eyes with the man briefly, before going over to Paige and Carly, with Blake going to stand with Nick, Dalton and Wade, as Paige helped clean the excess blood and liquids off (Name)'s skin with the water bottle she had in her bag.

Dalton approached. "Hey, you guys seen my camera by any chance?" Dalton asked. Paige and Carly both deadpanned at him, telling him no in their own ways. (Name) perked a brow. "That's so weird. My iPod's missing too," (Name) said, "I just woke up and it was gone,". Dalton, Paige and Carly were just as confused as (Name) was. She didn't tell them about the missing piece of hair so as not to scare them.

"Hey, do you know if there's a gas station around here by any chance?" Wade asked. Blake wafted some of the flies that buzzed around the roadkill pit away from his face, as (Name) unzipped her grey hoodie and took it off, bundling it into a ball with the stains hidden as Carly took it.

"I got some gas in the truck," the man offered, an act of kindness which made (Name) smile briefly. Wade cut him off, unintentionally, "I need a fan belt," Wade said, as Carly looked at her boyfriend, confused, "It's just busted,". Carly scoffed an 'Of course'. Things were starting to not make sense. First, Dalton's camera and (Name)'s iPod were both stolen, Second, a piece of (Name)'s hair had been cut and Third, Wade's brand-new fan belt had been mysteriously damaged.

"Bo might have one," the man piped up, as (Name)'s eyebrows knitted, "Runs the station in Ambrose,". (Name) silently smirked at the mention of the word Ambrose, which in Greek Mythology was called Ambrosia, the food and drink of the Gods. Immortality. 

"Where's that?" (Name) piped up, catching the attention of the man and the others, shrugging, "Cool name for a town, super kick-ass,". The man smiled gratefully at (Name)'s comment. "About fifteen miles up the road, sugar," the man answered. (Name) felt her cheeks heat up at the pet name, smiling a little, feeling flustered.

Blake and Wade began to talk about what to do. Blake suggested just getting a fan belt from a gas station in Baton Rouge, but Wade refused to leave his car, concerned the man in the truck from last night would come back and strip it for parts. Wade's argument included that the group was running late and they needed to find a scalper and snag some tickets, as they hadn't bought any. 

(Name) eyed the scenery, ignoring the roadkill pit. She was kinda pissed about her iPod going missing, but just lowly hummed a Britney Spears tune. "I'll give you a ride," the man offered, "If ya like,", offering Wade a ride in his truck to Ambrose. "You serious?" Wade queried. 

"I'll go with you," (Name) offered, catching everyone's attention, "Yeah, I should have admitted that I really don't like football much. Or sports in general. I only really came because I felt awkward and would feel bad if I said no. Sorry, oversharing,". Carly ended up saying she'd come along.

(Name) casually slipped her white tank top off, revealing a white bra underneath. The man checked her out, but Nick, Dalton and Wade covered her up by standing around her. Nick gave a glare to the man, who smirked. (Name) quickly changed into the second white tank top, a pink drawstring hoodie and a denim jacket.

As Paige and Blake departed, Wade and Carly followed the guy down to his truck, Nick grabbed (Name)'s wrist, and she took it from his hold. "Don't touch me," (Name) says, firmly, looking into Nick's brown eyes. "Just...don't do anything stupid, (Name)," Nick warned in an amused tone.

"Me? Do something stupid?" (Name) chuckled, "Dude, I was born to do stupid things. If this is something like a horror movie, then I'm just saying I have the highest chance of survival. Ciao!". (Name) turned and walked down the hill to the guy's truck.

"You're just gonna let your ex-girlfriend, your sister and your sister's boyfriend," Dalton says, gesturing to the roadkill pit, "Leave with a guy who dumps roadkill in a pit for a living?". Nick chuckled. "You clean shit for a living, Mr Spectic Tank," Nick teased meanly, "What's the difference?".

"Well," Dalton chuffed, "I don't walk through it, that's for one,". Dalton and Nick turned and walked away, in the direction Paige and Blake took back to the campsite. (Name) sighed as she looked at them leave. In the back of her mind, she knew something bad was going to happen. In a horror movie, she wouldn't be the final girl, but rather she'd be the one character who would warn the other characters of the impending doom, only to be ignored but proven right later in the movie. 

(Name) turned to see the strange man behind her. "I'm (Name)," (Name) introduced, "By the way. (Name) Anderson. I just thought you'd like to know because you're giving a ride to three complete strangers,".

The man smiled. "Nice to meet ya (Name)," the man introduced, as (Name) shook hands with him whilst Wade and Carly judged them both mentally, "The name's Lester, sugar,". The pet name would've made (Name) fold instantly, but she remained strong, "Have we met before, you look really familiar,"

"Lester," (Name) repeated, "It's nice to meet you too, Lester". (Name) tensed at his final comment, unnoticeably. "I don't think we have met before, I guess I just have one of those generic, recognisable faces,".