Red Snow

Family comes first -- 4

"Let it go Joey." A soft voice echoed from behind the couch. Julie, clothed and carrying a heavy comforter laid the soft material over Frank with care not to wake him. Ignoring the confused and somewhat embarrassed look Joey was giving her.

"He's only doing this to cover for Susie.. He took her trials just so she can relax."
She confirmed with the other as Joey sat back with a huff, rubbing the stubble of his buzz cut hair. Joining him on the couch, she sat on the opposite side to give room for their passed out 'leader'.

"Relax? Or stop keeping him up with her crying?"
Joey finally mumbled out as he looked to Jules. Watching her shrug and shake her head. Frank was selfish and unpredictable, but he was also loyal to their little family and always put them first before himself, even if he refused to admit it. Often blaming their 'weaknesses' for his actions.

"It's all bullshit Jules.. We shouldn't even be here."
Grumbling he shift forward, hands cold and clammy as he rubbed them to gain some form of feeling or sensation. They always felt this way, ever since they entered the fog. If not for the small cuts and bruises he got from his trials; He was sure there was no blood left in his hands or heart.

"I know, but where would you rather be? If we where still in Ormond, we'd be in jail for murder. You'd never see any of us again. Especially Frank."
Her words stung like alcohol on an open wound. But she was right and they both knew it. If they'd been arrested, Joey's parents would have paid his bail. But would they pay out his friends? Of course not. He'd never see them again.

"You two mind talking about something not so fucking depressing?"
Words cut off as the two looked over to the moving mound of blankets as hazy blue eyes appeared, glared back at them with annoyance. Slowly raising as tattooed hands moved to rub away the remnants of sleep.

"Sorry Frank."

"It's fine Jules, I shouldn't be sleeping so much anyway. It's just too quiet that i can stay the fuck awake." Frank complained as he stretched out and yawned. Refusing to bring attention to the conversation he had easily overheard while covered in the warm and heavy blankets. He didn't want to admit that he was doing favors to protect Susie. In his eyes, She was the baby of their group. Young, weak and somewhat childish. In fewer words, she irritated him. But then again, without her he knew he'd be bored.

"Where is Susie anyway? Still upstairs?"
His voice cut through the thick silence as he flagged his hand at Joey. A motion he often made when asking for a beer or smoke. Listening to Julie as he watched Joey pull out the never emptying pack of cigarettes, he groaned at the simple and obvious response.

"She's painting her wall."

"Why is she so fucking focused on that wall? AND! Why won't she let us see it?"
Frank whined like a child throwing a tantrum. Only earning a choked laugh from Joey and placing a smile on his own lips. He knew exactly why she was so fixed on painting. It was her stress relief. Like Julie's pyromania and Joey's knife collection. It was something to forget the pain. To forget the trials and the hell they where trapped in.

Shifting his weight he sat upright and snagged the lit smoke he was finally offered, hopping up from his seat and throwing off the blankets with a gruff grunt of annoyance from Joey who got covered.

"Where are you going?"
Julie asked as she watched Frank wave her off without much reply other than a thick puff of smoke from his lips as he dug around behind the check in desk of the resort's main lobby. Curiosity however was soon replaced by an excited smile as she watched him raise up a large tape player with triumph.

"LET'S MAKE SOME FUCKIN' NOISE!!"
Frank howled out before placing a hand on the counter and vaulting over it. Watching the other's shoot up with energy as Julie ran upstairs and Joey got up to find the lockers and their collection of many, many mixtapes.

"What're you feelin like bro?"
Joey called out as he dragged over the whole box. Each tape labeled and carefully kept in their own cases. All, but one.

"I need something to get me pumped up. Something to wake my fuckin ass up and get me ready."
Putting the player down, he took the tape he was handed and checked that it was tightened and wound properly before placing it in the player and pushing the reader closed. Cranking up the volume and pressing play.

The music, loud and deafening but just what they wanted as he walked to the far wall of the resort and climbed an old half broken ladder that laid purposefully against the wall, placing the player on a mantle along side some old paintings the group had spray painted over.

Sliding down the ladder without much care, he took a step back to admire his handy work before turning back and joining the others around the fire. Waving Susie over as he watched her make her way down the stairs to join them.

"You sure you have time for this Frank?" Julie asked as she emptied out the pockets of her sweater, dumping the bits of shiny rocks, wood chips, half smoked cigarettes and her knife out onto the table. The entity could call at any moment. Time was something close to non existent in the realm and even if it did exist by chance, they knew the 'entity' would never stick to a schedule.

"That thirty legged fuckwit can call me when ever it wants. But i'm not sitting on a damn couch bored off my ass till it does." Frank huffed as he caught sight of Joey approaching him with a few unmarked bottles. Taking one and tipping it slightly in cheers to the other.

"He's got a point Jules. Ten minutes or six hours, there's no point in waiting. Just sit with us and throw a few back. Or do you need to be in bed before curfew?" Joey teased with the returned answer of a tossed pillow and few slurs from Julie before the group burst out in laughter.

The feeling of time passed slowly as the group drank and shared stories from their memories. Stories of fistfights, robberies and the things they missed. Each one of them with a foot sunk deep into the darkness that had dragged them into the fog in the first place.

"So yeah, this idiot was staring me down from on top of the hill like i couldn't see his dumb bitch-ass." Joey reminisced openly to the other's about one of his more recent trials and kills. His voice barely a whisper above the booming music. His tale however getting cut off as his foot was kicked by Julie's in an attempt to redirect his attention.

Looking up and slightly over his shoulder, his relaxed and happy expression turned solemn as he saw Frank sitting on the end of the staircase, tying his sneakers in preparation for his trial. Nodding to Julie, he got up from the couch as she went to turn down the music.

"It's time..?" Joey asked quietly once he could finally hear himself think. Getting a silent nod from the bottle black haired man before him.

He didn't like this feeling. The worry that sunk in like a rock being tossed in a river. Seeing the other's leave for a trial always left him feeling some kind of ill. Especially when it was Frank. Joey was damn sure they couldn't die. But the stinging reminder of small cuts on his hands and the countless bruises he'd seen Frank return with always left him second guessing himself.

"Chin up bro. I'll be fine." Frank whispered softly as he stood to his feet. Raising a hand to rest on the taller man's shoulder in some hope of comforting any worry. For one of them to leave the group had always felt like a death sentence and they treated it as such. With heavy hearts to watch them go and shouts of joy upon return.

"Frank-"

"I promise Joey. I'll come back." Patting the other on the shoulder, He finally made his way to the girls and said his goodbyes. Tugging a small lock of Susie's hair teasingly before hugging her and giving Julie a last kiss.

"Please come back safe.." Susie called out, receiving a silent wave as she and the other's watched Frank walk out into the snow and rolling fog, from the doorway.  Unsure if this might be the last time they see him again.