Got 'Em Page 12

  As Charles chokes, life staggers out of him drastically; he sits here with his head half hanging off, mouth slightly dropped and eyes wide open, bleeding out in every direction the blood could go. I slowly walk away back up the stairs into the warehouse, as Charles’ head falls backwards revealing his sliced arteries, throat tenants and all. I proceed outside for a quick breather and to observe where I had heard the noise from earlier on.

  With blood on my t-shirt, arms and hands, I approach where I heard the noise, deciding to go for a walk down beside the warehouse, guessing that’s where any normal escapee would run for. As I don’t really appear to go down that way much, I have an urge to veer into the forestry park beside the left side of the warehouse. After about a minute walk, I come across the bodies of a dead kangaroo and what I think looks like Bill.

  Opening the eyes of the body and having a good look at it, I come to believe it is one of my escapees. Grabbing the arms of Bill’s dead body, I begin dragging it back to the warehouse. Dragging him inside, grinning with prosperity in a playful evil tone as I play with Bill’s cheeks, “I know who’s coming back for you and shit face,” I pause, “Jackie is!” I playfully laugh out whilst continuing to drag his body down into the basement. Placing him on the chair he was originally tied to, as I tie him back up.

  Grabbing Charles’ head and lifting it back up onto his shoulders, I use the masking tape to ‘sew’ his head back on. Then grabbing the chicken from one of the black bags, I place a piece in front of each chair. As I grab the spaghetti and open the can with my pocketknife to place a portion of that next to the chicken. Sitting down on Jackson’s chair, I yell in a high-pitch voice as I clap my hands psychotically, “Yay! We can play now! We just need one more participant. Then this part is done!”

  Chapter Nine

  A Medicine No One Wants

  Dragging a table on its side, in through the front door of the warehouse, I set it right side up, against the inside wall of the front of the warehouse. I take the sheets of paper from off the chair next to the table and place them onto the table. Bringing the chair over, I pull it in as I seat myself on it at the table and start going through all the plans I have.

  It is now that an idea comes to mind about, What if Jackson comes back for his mates? On that thought, I grab a little piece of wood, wrap a little bit of wire around it, then wedge it in between the basement doorframe metal. Running the wire three quarters of the way down the stairs, I cross it over the step. Attaching some rope to a little rock I find outside, I sit the rock on that piece of wood and run the rope up the doorframe. Then I cross it against the door, on the same side as the door handle so that it’ll pull the door shut.

  So, if Jackson comes back now, he will open the door, not being conscious of anything, and walk or run down the stairs and trip arse over, which will dislodge the door and the rock will weigh down the string and bring the door closed. But in saying that, I’ll set the lock on the door so he can’t open it. That way he’ll be re-trapped in the same basement with his friends.

  With that done, I make my way over to the loading door to grab a seven metre by 140-millimetre framing pole, a floor mount, a few anchor bolts and a spirit level. Placing my material down, I use the spirit level to check for slopes or uneven ground. Finding out the ground is perfect makes my day well. Heading back, I grab a drill. Measuring out where I want to mount the poles, I drill out four holes. I then place each anchor bolt into the ground and place the mount on top of the thread to the anchor bolts and screw the nuts on tightly.

  After that, I head back to get some high tensile bolts and nuts and bring them over and place two, not through but just into one side of the mount. Measuring and drilling out two holes from the framing pole, I heave the framing pole up and place it in between the brackets of the mount and use my foot to smack the bolts through the framing pole and out the other side of the mount. Using the nuts, I tighten them up.

  After a while of drilling and screwing and lining the frame poles up and across, I then look at my finished product hours later and see I have the frame for the wall that starts from the loading door up to the front of the warehouse. After being there for a little while, I make a scout around, and just at the other end behind the warehouse there are heaps of left over colour-bond sheets that are meant for the walls of this warehouse.

  I get into my car and drive down to the little outside shed and grab a whole pile of rope, making my way to the back of the warehouse where I spotted the colour-bond. I approach it and pull up. Doing a U-turn and reversing up towards it, I grab out my long rope and wrap it around a few sheets. Then I hop back into my car, and with a bit of a struggle, manage to drag up the few long pieces of colour-bond that I have hooked up. Nearing the entry of the warehouse, I pull up, and draw open the loading door. Hopping in my car, I come out wide and hook it into the warehouse, untie the pieces of colour-bond then go back to it again.

  After quite a few trips of going and getting the colour-bond and bringing it back inside the warehouse, I manage to get all of it. I then start measuring what I’d need and where it will go. As such, I knew I had plenty to go where I want it to go. Drilling a few more holes up along the framing line, I drop an anchor bolt in each hole. Grabbing the pile of colour-bond, with the rope going the same length to the colour-bond height and still attached to the car, I align the middle of the colour-bond sheets with the anchor bolts and start driving. As the colour-bond comes in contact with the anchor bolt, it stalls from getting up a little, then pulls up and sits itself against the top framing pole that runs from the loading door to the front.

  A few hours go by as I shift every piece of colour-bond up towards the doorway. I could only do one piece at a time and they are really heavy to manoeuvre as they are large four-metre wide pieces.

  Meanwhile, over in the sanctuary of Andrew and Amanda, they both awaken from their lovely night’s rest. As Andrew says to Amanda with a slight tenseness to his voice, “Oh shit, I’ve got to go! I forgot to tell you, I have a job interview today.”

  As he gives her charming kisses, “mwah, mwah.” Amanda puts her hands together between her thighs and smiles with a sense of dignity to herself and wishes Andrew luck, “Bye baby, good luck.”

  Driving off, Andrew receives a call from Marnie. She, in an arrogant and disgusted manner, yells, “Where the hell are you? You’re late, Andrew!” Andrew sighs in contempt of being late and poses to Marnie, “I’ll be there soon. I just got caught up.” Marnie, already on high top, tells Andrew to hurry, “I bet you got caught up! Stop thinking with your dick and put that clever little brain to use and get your arse over here pronto!”

  Ending the call, Andrew persists with driving, “Fuck.”

  Amanda, oblivious to the fact that Andrew is not going over to a job interview but in fact is going over to Marnie’s to plan an evening—or better said—a double date, with an extra tip of delight. Amanda makes her way to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. Heading to the bowl cabinet, she pulls out a bowl and grabs a random packet of cereal and pours it into the bowl as she grabs the milk from the fridge before sitting down and eating it.

  Andrew makes it over to Marnie’s and Clifford’s house in next to no time. In a hurry, he pulls into the driveway, and quickly turns off his car and rushes to knock on the door. As he approaches to knock on the door, Marnie is already there awaiting him and opens the door suddenly. Welcoming Andrew into their house, she gets him to sit down on the couch beside her, facing their TV.

  Marnie looks at Andrew and says delightfully, “We have fixed a plan to how things are going to play out.” Andrew sighs and nods his head to comply with what Marnie is about to say as she continues, “Umm, so when you go back home, just say you received a call from me and Cliffy saying that we want to go out on a double date.”

  As Marnie turns her head with seriousness, Andrew hums out, “Hmm, okay.”

  Marnie continues, “Then we will, eh, all have dinner together and, umm, dessert or whatever.” Andrew nod
s his head as she continues, “Then I and Cliff will leave early and go around to where our van will be parked, yeah? And wait for you people to go by.” She takes a quick pause and sighs, “Then you’ll notice us and hopefully Amanda will see if we are ‘okay’ and come over to check on us. As you follow behind her,” Marnie grabs a black eco-friendly shopping bag and holds it up; she continues, “Then you’ll grab this,” holding up the black shopping bag, “From beside a bin and place it over her head and we will rip her into the van.” Ending the conversation with, “Is that cool or what?”

  Andrew replies, taking a gasp of air, “Yeah, okay.”

  Looking at Marnie with a smile, he suggests that he ought to leave, “Well I’m going to leave, as I told Amanda that I was going to a job interview just around the corner; she’ll be questioning where I have gone soon.”

  Marnie, picking up a cigarette from the ashtray, sends him off neatly, “Yeah, okay. Tell Amanda we are having dinner tonight.” As Andrew walks out the door, Marnie rapidly gets up as Andrew had already opened the door, holsters his arm with her hand to pull him back as she brings her mouth close to his ear and finishes what she’s saying in a whisper, “Because tonight, it’s happening.”

  About an hour goes by as Andrew has left Marnie’s and Cliff’s house to make it back home. Amanda is sitting on the couch watching TV as Andrew walks in and notices she is doing just that. He approaches her and asks what they are doing tonight. Andrew vomits out in a cute love felt voice, “Hey, so what are we doing tonight?”

  Amanda replies, quite bubbly, “Hmm. Umm, I don’t know baby, what do you have planned for us?” as she throws her arm up on top of the couch.

  Andrew looks into her eyes as he gets down on his knees and suggests, “So, umm, Marnie and Cliff asked us out on a double date not long ago, so I thought I’d come home and see if you’d like to go out on that double date?”

  Amanda replies, “Sure that’ll be fun,” in her bubbly voice, clearly hiding something she knows that Andrew hasn’t yet noticed.

  A few hours go by as Andrew sits down with Amanda to watch some TV shows. Just as he starts to get comfortable, throwing his arm around her in a kind and comforting manner, Andrew’s phone starts ringing; he forgot to let Marnie know what Amanda has said. Excusing himself from the room as he picks up his phone and walks off into the kitchen to answer it.

  Answering the call from Marnie, Clifford answers and asks, “So what dinner would you like to go to?” he shoots off some names. Andrew replies, “We will go to that Chinese restaurant on the corner, you know the one? Umm… about ten minutes away from you guys, just on the main there?” Clifford replies, “Okay, so she obviously said yes.”

  Marnie yells in the background, “Fucks, yes! This shit’s happening!”

  Andrew replies actively, “Yes! She’s all up for it! So, we will see you at six tonight, yeah?”

  Clifford replies, “Uh, hold on a minute.”

  As Marnie and Cliff fight over the phone, Marnie snatches it and continues, “What time did you say?”

  Andrew replies, a bit frustrated, “Six?”

  Marnie replies, “No dramas, man! See you and Amanda then. Don’t be late!” Hanging up the phone, Andrew takes a deep breath as he walks back into the lounge room to Amanda.

  Five o’clock comes around as Amanda pipes up and suggests that they’d better get ready for the date. Agreeing with her, Andrew hops up and they both walk their way into the bedroom to get ready. Amanda picks out a nice dark purple dress with a bow on the shoulder strap. As she walks over to the mirror and strips off to put on the purple dress, Andrew compliments her with a wolf whistle. Amanda thanks him and pulls out her jewellery and makeup; after applying her makeup and some red-purple lipstick, she puts on her charm bracelet and a gold thin-chained necklace as she lets him know she is ready. Andrew states, “It’s about time!”

  Heading out to the car, Amanda puts on her high heels and closes the door behind her. Mumbling to themselves like a couple, on their way to his car, Amanda makes her way to the passenger door and opens it to hop in. Hopping in, she places her seatbelt over her as Andrew starts taking off out of the driveway and onto the street.

  Making their way over to the restaurant near Clifford’s and Marnie’s place, he starts getting nervous and not feeling too well about what plans are actually taking place tonight. As they pull up in front of the restaurant, Andrew notices their car there on the sidewalk, and also the black shopping bag. Viewing Andrew’s car from outside the restaurant, Marnie suggests through hand gestures as to where they should park. Taking Marnie’s advice, Andrew moves the car across the driveway and into a park, just so everything goes according to plan. Andrew and Amanda hop out of the car and walk across to meet Clifford and Marnie in front of the restaurant.

  Greeting them with delight, Marnie says, “Hello, Amanda,” as she gives her a selfishly warm hug and looks at Andrew and smiles, distinctively flirting, “Hey, Andrew,” as she pauses and looks at both of them she exclaims with excitement, “Oh, I’m so thrilled you both could join me and Cliffy for dinner!” as Clifford opens the door and they all walk in.

  Reaching the counter to order, Marnie and Clifford order what they want first as Andrew and Amanda wait patiently behind the two of them, looking at the menu to see what spikes their interest. Amanda, not actually overly keen on Chinese food, decides to pick when they finally get to the counter to order. “Oh, umm, I’ll just have the combination fried rice,” as she smiles politely.

  The order taker replies, “Is that all you would like?” in a Chinese-English speaking accent.

  Amanda replies gracefully, “Yes, uh, that’s all for me thank you!”

  Andrew looks strangely at Amanda and asks, “Are you sure that’s all you’d like to eat?”

  Amanda replies edgily, “Yeah,” as she shrugs her shoulders and continues, “I’m not too hungry, is all.”

  Stepping away from the counter, Andrew closes the order with ‘combination fried rice, sweet and sour pork and butter chicken’. As he pays there, he steps back to Amanda, who is waiting for him to finish up the order. He says to her with a deranged look in his eye, “Are you sure that’s all you want to eat? Or don’t you like Chinese?”

  Amanda, looking at him with the thoughts running through her head, I really don’t like Chinese, but I’ll say this to him—as she opens her mouth, Andrew continues to talk, “Alright, I get it! You don’t like it, we won’t come here again. We will just get another form of takeout.”

  Amanda instantly feels shunned as he didn’t let her speak, so she walks with him to the table which Marnie and Clifford are already occupying. Pulling out both of their seats on the opposite side of the table, Andrew lets Amanda in first, of course, as Amanda sits across from Marnie. Andrew and Clifford sit across from each other also.

  About fifteen minutes go by as Marnie is talking constantly about work with Amanda. Otherwise, she could accidentally spill plans as she is a bit of a big mouth. Meanwhile, Andrew and Clifford are using code words Amanda wouldn’t quite get; as food arrives at the table they are still talking about ‘the planning’. Marnie pipes in with a loud and obnoxious, “SHUT UP! And eat your damn food!” as Clifford grovels and nods his head.

  A little time goes by as they finish up their meals. Marnie pops up and says, “Well, this is a well-deserved meal, thanks Cliffy,” as she leans over and gives Clifford a kiss on the cheek. Marnie continues as she takes a deep breath, “I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but I have things to do so, uh, Cliffy? You ready to go?” As Clifford is trying to stuff the rest of his meal down his gob, she slaps his arm intentionally, “So, Cliffy,” nodding her head back and forth in sarcasm, “Are you ready to go?”

  Clifford replies, disturbed, “Alright woman! Geeze! Can’t a man eat?” Sighing, Marnie gets up to insinuate her meaning of ‘let’s go’ to Clifford.

  Standing up, Clifford moves out from the table and pushes his chair in for Marnie to get past him. Marnie, of course with h
er strong presence, pushes past and makes her way to the door and opens it to exit; Clifford follows accordingly. Reaching their car, Clifford has installed a button that disables the car from firing over… but the car can still sound like its turning over and ‘almost firing’. Marnie and Clifford hop into their car and wait.

  Andrew finishes his meal, as Amanda gets up and excuses herself to go to the toilet. Approaching the order-taking lady, she asks, “Excuse me madam, where are your toilets?”

  The lady looks up at her with contempt and says, “We don’t have toilets here.”

  Amanda replies awkwardly, “Oh, okay, umm.”

  The order-taking lady continues, “You go outside, turn right, go down the alley and toilet on your right.”

  Amanda grins and thanking the lady as she heads towards the front door. Andrew looks up and sees her heading out the front door and is heading into the alley.

  Amanda, turning the corner to head down the alley, notices that Marnie and Clifford are still there. Approaching the driver’s door of the van, Clifford frightens up by her presence as Amanda concerningly asks, “Hey guys? Is everything okay?”

  Clifford responds, “You scared the daylights out of me!” then continues to say, “Though our car won’t start.”

  Amanda replies, “Oh, okay, what is it doing?”

  Clifford stuck the key in the ignition and goes to start it, as Marnie gives off a filthy look as to why her plan isn’t going according to her, and asks, “Where’s Andrew?”

  Amanda replies, “Oh, he’s just inside and I’m just going to the toilet.”

  Clifford turns the engine over and it doesn’t fire. Amanda replies, “Oh, this sounds familiar—” as she looks in the cab of the van she continues, “You see, David’s Pop taught me that the sound of this is because there’s either a kill switch installed, or there’s lack of firing to the spark plugs.” Clifford looks at Marnie with a worried expression on his face.