The Cunning

47

Soft sobs and groans disturbed Jase from his sleep. It took him a few seconds to brush away the foggy haze of his hangover and realise the sounds were coming from Madison.

"What are you crying for?" he asked, eyes still closed as he rolled his head from side to side until his neck clicked.

"I have cramps. I don't know why I'm crying," she replied.

Jase grumbled. "You're probably on the comedown of a lifetime. You want some painkillers?"

"Not if they're special painkillers, I don't want any more illegal drugs. I don't like this feeling," Madison replied. Her voice was thick from the pillow her face was buried in. She had curled up into the fetal position in the hopes it would relieve some of the pain from her insides disposing of themselves.

He smiled sleepily. "Just paracetamol."

"Yes, please."

Jase forced his eyes open, blinking back the sleep and yawning as he sat up.

"Any meds you're allergic to?" he asked. Madison shook her head. Jase pulled on his jeans, using his fingers to comb his messy curls away from his face before picking up his cigarettes and shuffling languidly to the door.

The house was surprisingly clean. After last night, Janine and Sam still had so much energy from the cocaine, they had tidied up the whole downstairs. Janine had wiped the blood off the pine cupboards and Sam had swept the glass up from the grey tiled floor.

Jase took out the tub they had filled with different medication they'd collected from the girls over the years. They had everything from Pentasa to Sertraline, but no painkillers. He'd used the last of the paracetamol for a hangover. Grumbling in minor annoyance, Jase took himself back upstairs. Madison was still keeled over on the bed, clutching her lower stomach.

"Is it that bad?" he asked. She hummed in confirmation, unable to rousse the effort required to answer with real words. "Well, we're out of paracetamol, so I'm going to the shop. I won't be long."

"You don't have to do that," she mumbled, burying her face into the duvet. Jase shrugged, pulling a fresh t-shirt on. He wasn't a fan of leaving the house before showering but it was likely everyone in the house would want paracetamol once they woke up. And he owed Sam and Janine for tidying up all the mess.

"I need to get some anyway," he said, grabbing his Nokia from his bedside drawer. He carried out his usual pat of pockets to check her had everything. The last item he pulled out was always the switchblade.