PURITY

𝙋𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙙𝙖𝙯𝙚

(Joey's point of view)

I open my eyes and groan at the blinding light coming from the window. Why does it have to get bright so early. I look over at the clock, 5:00 a.m.
I wish I could go back to sleep, but even sleep is a living hell for me. I'm constantly haunted by nightmares and regrets. I would give anything just to feel happy for once.
I drag myself to the bathroom and force myself to take a shower.
The warm water feels like heaven on my bruised body.
I close my eyes and just enjoy the pounding of the liquid against my skin.

When I open my eyes again I realize I have sunken to the floor of the shower. The water sprays on my head and fully incases my body.
After washing my cuts and bruises for the millionth time, I turn the water off and wrap myself in a black and red towel.

After drying myself off I get dressed and brush my teeth.
"I'm all ready for another day in hell," I mutter to myself as I look in the mirror at my appearance.
I grab my keys and start the short drive to the gas station.

As I'm drive by I notice a black van parked on the curb. That van is always parked there every single day. It usually disappears when my work shift ends.
I wonder who the van belongs to, maybe they work in the area.

I park my car behind the gas station and walk in through the back door. I set my bag down and start opening the shop. Working at a gas station sucks ass, especially when you work the opening shift, but at least I like the people I work with.
One day I will get a better job though, one day I will get to see the world and be myself. One day I will get to infect this world with my mind.

I open the cash register and reorganize the money. Who ever put the cash away didn't know what they where doing.

Once everything is in order I grab a broom from the janitor's closet and begin the sweep the aisles. The place is always a mess when I get to work and I'm always expected to clean it.

I flip the sign so that it says open and then I sit down behind the counter.
As I look up at the clock I feel my stomach churn. At exactly 4 p.m. he will come in and punch me in the face and make my life a living hell.
I grab my phone and try to clear my mind, hopefully today will be a slow day.
"Good morning," a sweet voice says.
I look up to see two girls waving at me. One of them is wearing a black mini skirt with fishnet tights underneath. They both are wearing tube tops with there tits hanging out.
I flash then a devilish smile.
"How May I help you ladies," I grin.

The two girls look at each other before walking up to the register.
"Do you think maybe we could have some fun?" One of them asks.
Right when I'm about to reply the door swings open and someone comes dashing inside.
I look over and realize I recognize the man. Me and him used to play guitar together back in high school.

"Joey?" He says as he looks at me.
"Jillian?" I smile.

Jillian pushes the ladies out of the way and pulls me into a hug over the counter.
The ladies scoff and leave the store.
"How've you been man?" He asks.
"Pretty good," I tell him.
"That's good. I didn't expect you to still live in Iowa. With your talent I though you would be traveling the world by now," Jillian beams.
"I wish," I sigh.
"So what brings you here?" I ask.
"Me and my band are touring and we just stopped to get some gas," he tells me.
I nod and try not to let my jealousy show. Jillian was never as good a guitar player as me so it's not fair that he has a band and he gets to tour.

I take Jillian's card and scan it so that he can pay for the gas.
"It was really nice seeing you. Maybe I'll see you again when I'm in town," Jillian shrugs as he brushes his long black hair behind he's shoulder.
"Yeah," I smile.

I watch as Jillian walks back out to his bus.

I wish my life could be interesting and full of excitement but instead I work at a gas station and get beat up all the time.
I sigh and play with the red streaks in my hair. I need to re-dye it, the red is fading.
I decide to get up and look for hair dye, I know we have some because I restocked it last night.
As I walk down the aisles I notice a photo hidden in between the shelves.
I grab the photo and turn it around so I can see what it is.
I drop the picture in horror. The picture is of me and Lola kissing yesterday.
Who would have taken that picture and why would they leave it here?
I pick up the picture again and try to see if I can find any clues. I can clearly tell that the picture was taken from afar but because it was zoomed in, I can't tell where it was taken from.
I look around the shop. Do I have a stalker?

I carefully fold the picture and stuff it in my back pocket.

I grab two boxes of red hair dye and walk into the back. I place them in my bag.

"Jordison! Get out here!" I hear a man scream.
Great it's him. He's here to kick my ass again.
I sigh and peak out the door.
I come face to face with a very pissed off Eric Griffin.
"What do you want Eric?" I ask from the safety of the door.

Eric charges towards me and I slam the door on him as quick as I can but I'm to slow. Eric pushes the door open and grabs me by my collar. He slams me against the door and my back hits the door handle. I howl in pain and Eric smirks.
Once I regain my vision I look up at Eric.
"What do you want from me!"
I yell at him.
"I want you to pay for kicking me out of the murderdolls!" Eric yells back.
I stare at him in shock. That's what this is about.
"Eric the murderdolls aren't even a thing anymore," I tell him.
"I know. But that doesn't mean I can't still be mad at the fact that you and Wednesday replaced me and Acey and Ben!" Eric growls.
I roll my eyes. I really have nothing to say to that.
"Wednesday told me it was your idea so you're going to pay," Eric scoffs.

Great so this is Wednesday's fault. Of course he would throw me under the bus. It was his idea to. I'm going to slap him next time I see him.

"It was Wednesday's idea too," I explain.
Eric rolls his eyes and presses me even harder into the doorknob.

"What's going on in here?" My manger asks as he walks through the back door.
Eric looks at me and then let's me go.
I fall on my knees.
"We're all good here," Eric tells my manager as he walks out of the room.

My manager helps me up.
"You need to stop taking his shit," he tells me,
"I know," I sigh. I'm not in the mood to have people tell me that I need to start defending myself.

As I walk back out into the main room a man walks past me and bumps into me.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" I yell at him.
"Sorry," the man says as he walks out the door.

The man was bigger with a beard and dirty blonde hair. His beard has streaks of gray in it. I give him one last look before I go back to the register.

*end of Joey's shift*

I walk to my car and reach into my back pocket for the picture. When I don't feel anything I start to panic. Where did the photo go? I look through both of my pockets.
Clearly who ever took the picture didn't want me to keep it.

I try not to be disturbed by it as I put the car in reverse and pull out of my parking space.

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Chapter written by me!!!!
Thanks for reading!!!!
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