15

A few days passed, a knock on the door echoed through the house, Sandman jumped up, out of the chair. ‘Who is it?

Kaleen looked out of the window, a man dressed in a baggy sweat shirt and baggy tee-shirt with dark hair. ‘It’s Mark.’

‘Get rid of him.’ Sandman snapped.

‘What shall I say?’

‘Anything.’ He said, grabbing her kissing her quickly. ‘Just don’t tell him I’m here okay! If he tries anything I’ll kill him got it!’

‘Okay.’

He moved away, Kaleen left the room shutting the door behind her. She went into the hall. Took a deep breath and opened the door. ‘Mark what are you doing here?’ she said nervously.

‘I thought I’d see how you were.’

‘What for?’

‘It’s Sandman he’s out of prison.’ He said all in one sentence without taking a breath.

‘I know, the police were round a few days ago they thought it was best to tell me before anyone else.’

‘Can I come in?’

‘No!’ she snapped.

‘Why? Who you hiding in there?’

‘No-one.’

‘I was joking Kay chill.’

‘Look I’m sorry I’ve got to go to work.’

‘Okay.’ Mark said disappointedly. Then quickly getting straight to the point. ‘Have you saw Sandman at all since the night on the beach?’ He said rubbing the back of his neck.

‘Shit what am I going to say? I’ve got to lie to him, or Sandman will kill him, and I won’t be able to stop him. He’s too strong he’ll knock me unconscious.’ She thought. ‘No.’

‘Just be careful the police said he’d got old debts to settle and you know what that means don’t you?!’

Kaleen swallowed. ‘Yeah.’

‘So just be careful okay.’

‘I will.’

He gently kissed her on the lips. She returned his kiss kissing passionately.

He pulled away. ‘Well I’ll see you soon I’ve got to go.’

‘Okay.’

Kaleen watched Mark as he jogged off down the road, she closed the door.

‘Argh, aint that sweat!’ Sandman said startling her.

Kaleen turned suddenly. ‘Shit Sandman! I wish you’d stop doing that!’

‘Freaking you is it!’ He said smiling, knowing that it was getting to her.

‘A little.’

‘What did he want?’

‘He just told me what I already knew, that you were out, to be careful if I see you.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I told him I hadn’t seen you, what was I supposed to say? Oh he’s in the lounge, and by the way he’s going to kill you now I’ve told you.’

He laughed. ‘You’re sense of humour’s coming on!’

‘I wasn’t trying to be funny!’

‘Neither was I!’ He said. With a blank expression upon his face.

They stood face to face.

‘Then it went something like this.’ He said leaning forward placing his lips on hers kissing her. ‘Was that right? Or did it go something like this?’ he pressed his lips on hers.

‘So hot, so hot.’ She thought as the adrenaline kicked in he pushed his lips harder on hers kissing her passionately.

‘Now this is something he can’t do!’ he said smiling.

‘Shit what’s he going to do? Kill me?!’

He took her hand leading her up stairs into the bedroom, he pulled her close grabbing

her tightly she could hardly move as he leaned forward placing his lips on hers.

Kaleen woke, where was Sandman? he was nowhere to be seen, she pulled herself up sitting up in bed.

Knock knock.

‘Yeah.’

‘Can I come in?’ Candice said, popping her head round the door.

‘Yeah sure.’

‘Cheers.’

Candice walked into the room.

‘You know you haven’t got to knock any more you can come in my room without asking this is our place no-one can stop you.’

‘I didn’t want to intrude.’

‘Intrude on what?’

‘I thought he was, and you two were you know.’

Kaleen shuddered. ‘He’s not here so come in and take a pew.’

Candice sat down.

‘So what about you two then?’

‘Just don’t bring it up okay!’ Candice snapped.

‘What’s up sis?’ Kaleen asked knowing that there was something wrong with Candice she only snapped when she was angry, or got PMT!

‘When’s this going to end? I can’t take it any more I feel betrayed.’ Candice said her eyes filling with tears.

‘I don’t know sis, and why you got to feel betrayed?’

‘Don’t you blame me?’

‘No it’s not your fault you weren’t to know.’

‘But you said you recognised him from somewhere.’

‘I know, but he made a good excuse that I never had.’

‘Why do we always fall for bad boys?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘I just don’t know if I can take much more of this he thinks I’m some kind of machine set on one programme he thinks I’m only programmed for sex and nothing else.’

Kaleen let out a slight laugh. ‘I’m not surprised you two are at it like rabbits!’

‘Stop it, just stop it! The thought of it makes me feel sick it just aint funny!’

‘I know they’re as bad as one another. They only care about themselves, they’ve only come back to make our lives hell, the police came round the other day while you were sleeping they said that Justin and Mackenzie were here to get old debts paid.’

‘You mean us right!’

‘I suppose there isn’t anyone else is there?’

‘What are we going to do?’

‘I don’t know, I just don’t know.’

‘I’m scared sis.’

‘So am I!’

Candice looked at Kaleen tears sat under her eyes, almost bloodshot red colour.

‘Are you okay?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Sure?’ Kaleen asked as she got ruddily interrupted.

Ice shouted echoing down the landing ‘Come on babe, I’m missing you already.’

‘If I was you I’d dry my eyes first, don’t want him to know that he’s got to you even if he has. You’ve got to be strong girl we can get through this if we stick together.’

Candice quickly dried her eyes. ‘Coming.’ She said getting up, looking at Kaleen and smiling.

Kaleen returned the smile they both could see the fear in each other’s eyes.

Candice turned and walked out the room and into the room across the landing.

‘What is it?’ she snapped.

He held his arms out. ‘Come here babe and give me a hug.’

‘Is that all you called me for?’ she snapped frustrated that he’s destroyed her conversation with Kaleen.

He smiled an eerie, sly smile, a come back to bed and shag me smile.

‘Here we go again. When is this ever going to end?!’

She walked over to the bed and sat down next to him. He placed his arm round her. ‘Relax babe, I aint going to hurt you.’

‘Yeah-right easy for you to say you’re not the prey are you! You’re not going to die if you don’t do what you’re asked to do or what you want us to do’

He leaned forward, moving her hair. ‘You know you’ve got the most beautiful eyes, I could die in them.’

‘Well hurry up and do it then! Then everything can go back to the way it was before I met you!'

He placed his lips on hers kissing her hard and powerful with his ice cold lips, at one stage she thought they’d stick to hers never to move ‘what a horrible thought!’ She returned his kiss what choice had she got He’d lay himself on top of her.

Kaleen had gone down stairs to find Sandman spragged out on the sofa. ‘Make yourself at home why don’t you!’

‘I will.’ He said. ‘Come, sit down.’ He pulled himself up tapping on the empty space next to him. ‘Come on, I promise I won’t bite!’

He laughed.

‘Yeah- right and pigs might fly!’ she said sarcastically.

He frowned at her.

‘He’s giving one of those frowns again, why’s he got to make out that everything’s so serious for? Apart from the situation he’s brought on himself.’

She slouched on the sofa sitting next to him, he slid his arm round her sitting closer to her. ‘When are you going Sandman?’ She asked, not meaning for it to sound so harsh but meant every word of it.

‘When the debts are paid, then and only then will we leave.’ He replied smiling.

‘And I suppose I’m one of them?’ She asked, her voice shaking.

He laughed. ‘Look if I wanted to kill you I would’ve done it by now. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.’

‘Who?’ She asked curiously.

‘Ask no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.’

‘And what about Candice?’

‘She’s safe, and so are you just keep stum and you’ll be fine.’

‘Well that makes me feel A whole lot better, not! But who’s he after if it’s not me and Candice I thought it was only me and Candice he was after no-one else, who hates him that much he has to go looking for them?’

He leaned over placing his hand on her face. ‘You know I still love you and I’m sorry for all that stuff on the beach. But that’s life aye!’

‘Yeah-right a psycho’s life not mine!’

‘Forgive me!’ He said, giving her hid puppy dog eyed look his bright blue eyes blazing into hers. The look that she once could never resist.

She smiled as if to say ‘okay I give in, you win, but not for long!’

He leaned forward pressing his lips against hers, he pushed her back onto the sofa kissing her passionately. She felt sick inside wishing he hurry up she hated him, hated kissing him, and hated having sex with him it made her stomach churn the thought of him touching her made her stomach knot.

Thursday hadn’t come round quick enough for Kaleen and Candice they’d both gone to work at the rock house which consisted of two bars Candice worked behind the bar on the lower level where she’d met Ice the night that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Kaleen worked behind the bar on the higher level of the club where the music was a lot heavier than the lower level. Both floors had their own dance floor the band played on the lower level then people vacated to either level depending on their taste in music.

She’d told Sandman ‘It’s nice in there you should go.’ Then in her next breath. She’d add a little sarcasm. ‘Oh, I forgot you can’t!’

‘No I can’t.’ he replied then bit back. ‘But maybe one day I’ll pop in and see you!’

He said as she left the house.

Her sarcasm had got the better of him, she smiled all the way to work knowing she’d got one over on him and for once she’d won. But he’d got other things on his mind, tonight was the night debts were about to be paid, he and Ice left the house shortly after Kaleen and Candice waited till it was dark then headed out. They waited outside the Rock Emporium until closing to wait for Jaden, who they knew had grassed them up through their contacts whilst they were inside, they knew just how much he hated them and that he’d told the police exactly where to find Ice. He’d hated them since they’d started working there, and he swore that they’d regret the day they’d ever looked at him.

But, tonight would be the night he’d regret ever meeting them!

Kaleen had arrived at work placed her bag in her locker and hanged up her coat then closed the door.

‘Hi Kay.’ A cheerful voice said.

Kaleen locked her locker and turned an eighteen year old boy stood there his hair long with black and blue highlights, purple eyes, baggy Pantera tee-shirt, and baggy skater pants with a chain hanging from them to his pockets, Cat boots, and black nail varnish on his nails, an eye brow piercing. ‘Hi Seth didn’t hear you come in.’

‘I didn’t startle you did I?’ he asked getting closer.

‘No.’ she answered. ‘Shit not again!’

‘Good.’ He said, gliding his hand through her hair. ‘You know he was a fool to let you go.’

‘Who?’

‘Sandman. Freak I knew there wasn’t something quite right with him, and his brother.’ He said getting too close for comfort.

‘You know them?’ She asked curiously.

‘Who doesn’t? They were the ones no-one ever messed with at work, but they had to be taught a lesson.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Just say they deserved all they got.’

‘You grassed them up?’

He winked as he got in front of her face.

She pushed him away. ‘Are you crazy he’ll kill you, he’s nuts!’

‘He’s behind bars he can’t touch me.’

‘You just don’t realise just how wrong you are! Do you! You shouldn’t really be telling me this he has ways to make people talk, he’ll get you like he got me!’

He moved forward to kiss her, she quickly pushed him away. ‘How many times have I got to tell you I’ve got a boyfriend!’

‘Where is he now? I don’t see him.’

‘He’s at work!’ She snapped angrily, almost losing her cool.

‘Look Kay I like you. I can make you happy so much happier than you are now.’

‘I am happy.’

‘No you’re not. I’ve seen the way you’ve been acting the past few weeks so unhappy, so sad.’

‘I’m fine bad day that’s all!’ She snapped.

‘Fair enough. I get the hint. I’ll stop talking to you.’ He said getting really upset.

‘You don’t have to do that just don’t get so touchy feely.’

‘I can’t help it I’m really attracted to you.’

‘Look I like you, but just as friends nothing else okay.’

‘Yeah sure no probs. Coming.’

‘Yeah.’

He moved away from her and they both walked out of the staff room to the bar.