The hunter

Chapter 7

Just as Scott opened the door the shouting became a lot clearer it was a woman with a shrill voice “Chris I know your in there you piece of s**t, I know that you have also been screwing that tramp and don’t you dare deny it” peeking my head out to see what the commotion was, at the opposite end of the landing was a blonde haired women who was wearing shorts that left little to the imagination and a strappy top her black hair tied up in a high pony tail and the breaking nose was from a glass of some kind. The sunlight coming through the window on the opposite side hit the fragments so you could see a mini rainbow further ahead on the well varnished floors. Scott just looked at me and gestured with his hands as if to indicate I told you so way. “Go wait in your room I’m just going to get changed and will grab Josh and Akechetah as I think they could do with getting out away from here for a few hours, instead of putting up with this show.” Gesturing with his thumb at the women who was now slamming her foot into the door, I couldn’t really make her face out to well but I’m guessing she was pretty pissed, see this is why not dating is a good thing. Nodding my head in silent agreement I went back into my room and decided to lock the door and sat on my now new bed and then decided to lie down thankfully it was nice a soft mattress, although made a mental note to get a mattress cover as this was clearly used by someone else. Staring up at the ceiling I looked at the barren lightbulb, thinking how maybe I can ask for a lampshade as well. Mind I still feel guilty that Scott was going to buy everything maybe I can guilt him into letting me pay him back. Maybe Akechetah was right about actually getting to know my Uncle as he is right family love is unconditional. I was pulled from my thoughts as I could hear a knock at my door “Housekeeping, also random room check to see there is no men in there” he tried disguising his voice trying to make it more feminine but wasn’t fooling anyone, though I still couldn’t help but laugh I may have been born at night but not last night.

Finding myself actually looking forward to going out and spending time with him I almost skipped to the door, something I haven’t done in a very long time. Opening the door I was greeted by Scott very well dressed black cowboy boots jeans a black t-shirt finished off with a pin stripped waist coat, the man had style I will give him that. He smiled and gestured for me to join him, closing the door behind me and making sure I locked the door placing the key in my pocket. We made our way down stairs “the lads will meet us at the van, and I do hope your on good behaviour young lady otherwise I won’t buy you a cookie from the bakery ”, even though he was only teasing as soon as he said that my mind was made up I wanted that cookie “I promise I will behave so pretty please can I have a cookie from there”. We both just ended up laughing, I really can’t remember the last time I smiled this much from laughing it actually made my face hurt. Walking out the front door I followed Scott’s lead as I had no idea where we where headed as I couldn’t see a driveway way if any kind. Instead of turning left as I had done earlier we turned right. Even the back of the property was enclosed by trees, but then I saw up ahead a black transit van and two men resting against it as if posing for a magazine cover, and just behind them I could see a drive way that was mainly mud and flattened down bracken. It blended in so perfectly with the forestry it was very much a blink and you would miss it. Walking over to the van I was greeted with a typical man nod from Akechetah , he was dressed in a red flannel hooded shirt the sleeves rolled, the shirt was unbuttoned and underneath was a white T-shirt, topped of with baggy black jeans with a chain at the side and I had to do a double check he was wearing black new rocks. Next to him was someone for no better term of words was built like a brick shithouse, his black T-shirt was ill fitting in the sleeves one move and I swear it would rip from his muscular arms. His hair was jet black and even though it was long on top the side where extremely short. His eyes where quite a murky greenish brown, he was wearing more tightly fitted jeans with pure white trainers. I had no idea how he managed to keep them that white out here but respect to him they looked brand new. What I didn’t expect was for him to come up and pulling me into a hug as if I had known him for years “it’s nice to meet the fresh meat the names Josh”. “why does your name sound familiar.” “ I was the driver last night, as I shall be today now get in as I’m actually looking forward to seeing Scott spend money it’s a rare thing to see, you should see his clothes the same old outfits all the time”. “Josh mate I’ve got an itch right here” and there was my uncle Scott pretending to scratch his cheek whilst really actually flipping him off they both laughed at each other. Opening the door it was the exact same layout as before but what I had never noticed before was that there was also a chested bolted to the floor “spare weapons my dear, can’t leave home without them” how could Scott make it sound so casual, keys, wallet, phone and oh extra weapons this doesn’t feel real but yet it is.

Scott got in first and sat at the very end of the row of seats and patted the seat next to him, as if we where both kids going on a school trip and he was doing the signal as if to say I saved you a seat climbing into the van I took my assigned seat. What I was surprised about was Akechetah came and took the other seat I would have assumed he would of sat up front. Josh winked at me before closing the door on us, I could tell he was a bit of a live wire but in a good way he gave of this air as if he was a impulsive naughty schoolboy. Josh clearly had got into the drivers seat as you got hear the door slam “Ladies and gentlemen I am you designated driver for today, so music will be dealers choice so how about some Taylor swift” all three of us responded in perfect synchronicity “no”. Letting out a mock huff in the front “fine radio it is then your all so boring” one of Queens songs came on and Josh was singing along giving Freddy Mercury a run for his money. “Right missy, we won’t be going anywhere local as you can’t be seen it will be a two hour drive so hopefully we will get there by five this place is open till ten so we have plenty of time, plus we can eat there”. “Sound like a plan mind what exactly are we getting I mean can’t someone go to my place and grabs clothes and other things”. “No, everything even clothes and have to stay there, so we need to get you a whole new wardrobe, think of it as a brand new start”. Looking down I noticed Akechetah had a very intricate tattoo on the inside of his left wrist of a compass with dot work to shade it and such beautiful scripted letters. Nudging me with his shoulder I responded in kind and he just smiled then decided to start poking me right where I’m ticklish so I started to squirm “don’t make me sit the between the two of you, dude behave and hands off”. That was it we both started to laugh “Sorry I will behave after all I want that cookie” so I looked at my Uncle with puppy dog eyes. “Wait, you’ve promised her a cookie what about me man I want a cookie”. “Then get your own family only mate”, “I’ve saved your butt how many times when we have been out without not even a thanks, so you owe me at least one cookie” then smiling as if he was a kid who had managed to one up his parents and I noticed he’s two canines where well defined, like mine and if I actually thought about it so was Scott was this a genetic trait that we all carried.

Josh had stopped singing and shouted through “right gentlemen whose in a betting mood loser has to do all our laundry for a month”, Scott and Akechetah smiled and nodded at each other “we’re in, what’s the bet”, “Chris’s latest romantic drama, his room is right next to me did you hear the show earlier and what she throw at his door this time, I tell you that Becca has a set of lungs on her I swear she could give a Banshee a run for there money”, “There both as bad as each other he screws around with her gets bored starts screwing Lauren then returns to Becca, I will be glad when Lauren moves to her new site with her soon to be husband, I actually feel sorry for the poor bastard that marrys her”, “Also can anyone explain what attraction the guy has as I’m failing to see it , the guy is full of himself, he’s lazy a sloppy fighter and a couple of times he left his blind side wide open, as wasn’t paying attention, that’s a mistake and a game changer”

“ So as Lauren only has about two three weeks here I say he will be fooling around with her then as soon as she goes he will creep back to Becca”. After thinking for a moment “Nope your wrong I bet him and Becca will have kissed and made up already, and the night before Lauren leaves he will screw around with her”. “ Nah your both wrong he will be at it with both of them, he needs his ego fed and plus no offence Scott, there’s fresh meat for him to prey on so he will be wanting to make himself look as irresistible as possible”. “If Chris even attempts to make a pass at her the guy will be on the receiving end of my fist”. “ you know I am able to tell him to do one myself the guy looks like a major Douche lord”. “Douche lord, lord douche I love it gentlemen I think I found my new favourite name for him, might even print of an image of a name plaque and stick it on his door, Riles I like your style”. “Josh man you don’t need much encouragement, for anything do you, though got to say glad my Niece as her mothers sass in her”. “Guys admit it, that would piss him right of so is totally worth it, the guy has always been a jack ass, but ever since he moved on to the council taking his dads place where he retired he’s gotten worse, he’s power hungry and small minded” , “it was bad enough Becca and Lauren got palmed of to us every other sector pushed them out there poisonous and don’t even help with the fighting they might chip a nail no wonder they where permanently put on the watch group”.

“Anyway, as that is the bet out of the way, I want to move onto a more interesting topic, Riles spill the tea”. Okay definitely what I wasn’t wanting to do I could see Scott’s interest had been raised as I’m sure he will also want to know. “There’s not really that much tea to spill I’m not exactly the most interesting of people”. Josh let out a scoff clearly not believing it “Yeah right so you weren’t walking around late at night dressed up in cos play, fess up you’re a wild one, so come on into please, boyfriends, music, books, what do you get up enquiring minds want to know”.

“First up yeah okay I was in cosplay me and my mates thought it would be a good laugh to attend comic con, and it was actually, in regards to boyfriends no, books horror and fantasy so interview with the vampire, Salems lot, The shinning, oh and flowers in the attic series, music cradle filth, avenged sevenfold, The Rasmus, Him happy now”

“Riles, not enough more and why boyfriends no, so no man on the scene, give over you’re a good looking girl, and Scott you can’t threaten me as you know my type and women isn’t it”

“No, there has been no boyfriends for well over year”, “Okay but why, what could possibly put you off dating”. “ something I really don’t want to share I get the interest but it’s just not something I want to discuss”. “What was his name and address, I think I should be having a word with him by the feeling I’m getting right now so spill”. “Scott it’s fine I promise, you have nothing to worry about I’m a big girl”. He didn’t seem to convinced by this and I get the feeling that this maybe an issue he will be revisiting with me. Sensing there was tension I got poked again and again till I startd to giggle, the more I tried to shield my side the more fun the game became. I tried grabbing his hand to stop him but he always managed to break free from my grip so he changed his tactic and actually attempted to tickle me. So much so that I started to lean further and further into my uncle and I looking up at him could see he was somewhat bemused he then shot my tormentor a look as if to say behave. Which then caused us to laugh even more.

“I’m starting to get the feeling you where a little devil growing up missy”, pretending to look offended I replied “me never I was a good girl honest, never got dentition or in fights, I like going out but I’m also quite happy staying in and watching a film, sometimes I bake, I’ve just been a bit shut of from the world recently”. “Happy now, anyway what does Josh mean by watch?”.

“They keep surveillance for lack of a better word but they stay up on the roof if they see anything they report it through on the radio, everyone else also has to do night as well however we all don’t stay in one location”. “Also say if there was a wolve we would all be hands on deck minus them, everyone has the potential to be a strong fighter but just because we have advantages, it does not come naturally like if you where a super hero one minute your normal the next you can lift buses. We all need to train and learn to access and harness it”. “Sadly some people are just lazy and think everything should be handed out to them, life is not like that”

Then out of nowhere Josh had burst into song again clearly approving of the song playing on the radio presently. The rest of the Journey continued in this pattern and before I knew it we had reached the outlet village.

After being out in the woods for not even a day I still felt like everything was just crowded and noisy my new home just felt quiet and peaceful even though I doubted that was really the case.

Once we where parked up and out of the van we made our way inside and I was hit by the over bright fluorescent lighting. People where running around as if shopping was a life or death situation “so apart from normal everyday clothes, I would also suggest work clothes for better sense of the word, and I would recommend what we all have combat trousers plain t-shirts and hoodies, and a sensible pair of boots”. “Don’t wear jeans you don’t get good flexibility and you will be restricted in your movements”. “I suggest before we go shopping we get some food, I’m in the mood for KFC but open to other suggestions” we all nodded in agreement and headed towards the map so we could locate the food court, turned out it was on the ground floor. Making our way to grab the food Josh and Akechetah decided to take it in turns playing knocking each other. “So about this ex I get the feeling that he is the reason for you shutting yourself away spill”. Stopping in my tracks and looking at him head on “It’s not that easy, I’ve pretty much spent the past year actively trying to lock it all away in a box”. “You can’t just lock things away they have a way of coming out and in not such a nice way, Riley what happened”. Not wanting to look him in his eyes instead I looked to the floor and I could feel him just staring waiting for me to respond “He hurt me okay please I really don’t want to talk about this right now” I could feel Anxiety rearing its ugly head and I think he finally realised how it was not the best time to discuss it and just said “ By the way your being I take it hurt means physically, I’m so sorry I won’t push it any further but I want to know exactly what happened some point in the future come here” I was then pulled into a big hug where he just rocked me for a few minutes and tenderly kissed the top of my head. “Come on you two I’m starving” Josh called out so we caught up with them.

Making it finally to the food hall it was packed Scott pointed at me and Akechetah advising us to get a table “I know what you want, but Riley what about you can I have there toasted wrap meal with gravy and Diet Coke please” we then went our own way to find a table luckily there was a booth free so we headed to the back wall and sat down next to each other.

“ So The Rasmus, what about Apocalyptica did you check out there most reason album?”. “Yes I loved it didn’t think you’d like that type or music, not sure really what yours is but I did not expect that”, “That’s because I’m full of surprises” again he flashed his trademark smile.

“Okay Riley who have you seen play then and which was your favourite show”

Before I was able to answer we where joined by Scott and Josh, I couldn’t wait to tuck in and looked like my uncle choose the same meal whilst the others had chicken burgers. Happily munching on my chips that I dunked into the gravy, moving onto the wrap I too, a bite out of it then got the pot of gravy and poured it into the wrap. Then I could hear two of them laughing at me I looked at them “what is so funny it’s good” Josh trying to stifle his giggles “ that’s not why we are laughing, it’s the fact you both do the exact same thing.”. I could then say they where right from the tell tale signs of gravy that had dropped onto the outside of his wrap “see great minds think a like that’s why”.

Then the next thing I know my pot has been stolen by the man who constantly tickled me and he’s pouring the gravy inside his burger taking a bite he looked surprised “they have a point it’s really good” not believing it Josh followed suit and came to the same agreement “see told you, up there for thinking and down there for dancing”. Once we had finished we cleared the rubbish and made our way back to the front of the centre to plan out our shopping course so that the last one we visited was close enough to the entrance that we could then be on our way home.