He watched as sheep floated before his eyes, hopping and bouncing around. His focus kept wavering, and the constant changes in his perception were disorienting. The sheep slowly started to transform into white blobs, losing all their defining features like legs and faces. A sharp stinging slap hit him hard across the face.
"WHAT THE FUCK?" Frank shouted.
Leo's vision finally sharpened, revealing the deep blue morning sky overhead, with clouds scattered all around. He felt his back pressed against an uncomfortably cold concrete floor, scattered with bits of rubble. Also, Frank was standing above. His other senses came to life, and an indescribable agony radiated from his right arm.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
With a growl of irritation, he forced his stiff neck to twist. His eyes fell upon his arm, a grotesque sight that made bile rise in his throat. His right elbow jutted inward at an unnatural angle, the flesh contorted and misshapen. Dry blood pooled on the concrete floor, a slaughter had just taken place. His bone protruded from the disfigured limb, a jagged spike threatening to pierce through his skin at any moment, sending waves of searing pain through his already tortured flesh with every slightest twitch.
"Why the hell are you here, man? I saw someone laying here so I ran down and see this," Frank said
Leo clenched his arm, desperately trying to alleviate some of the excruciating pain.
"And seriously, where are your clothes? You know that stuff was damn expensive!"
Leo glanced down at himself and realised he was completely naked, not a single piece of clothing in sight., He was in the middle of an alleyway, with no idea if he was even still in Richmond.
"D-DUDE, CAN YOU SEE MY FUCKING ARM? HELP ME YOU ASSHOLE!" Leo cried out, his voice hoarse from disuse.
"Oh… yeah,"
Frank picked up a ragged piece of cloth from the ground and clumsily attempted to wrap it around Leo's exposed bone, causing more pain.
"Th-Thanks."
He was about to question why Frank wasn't using his own jacket, but he couldn't muster the patience for an argument at the moment.
"Let's get to the hospital, now," Frank urged.
"You're covered for that, the payment won't be a problem but how the fuck are we gonna get there when I'm naked," Leo said.
"Believe me, I don't think I would have paid if there were costs involved. But, in England medical care is free," Frank explained.
"What???"
"Well… let's fucking go then" Leo coughed.
Leo raised his dirty left hand. Frank grabbed it forcefully and helped him up. The process was a struggle for Leo, who was already aching all over, and the effort nearly caused him to lose consciousness, his vision once again threatening to fade.
"You got any spare clothes? My balls are freezing,"
"Let me check," Frank said, his tone tinged with annoyance.
"What were you up to last night?" Leo asked.
As the words left his mouth, a sharp and vivid memory resurfaced in Leo's consciousness. The repulsive and depraved behaviour of the three individuals in that room last night still left him feeling uneasy, even after some time had passed.
"Oh, GREAT NEWS!!"
"I bought my first house, man, and it's so damn huge. Tessa really pushed me to do it; I've got to thank her,"
I'm gonna gouge your eyes out
Overnight, how had Frank managed to form such a connection with a woman he'd known for less than twelve hours? How on earth had Frank acquired a house, one that sounded luxurious at that?
"Are you fucking serious?"
"What?"
"You…. You really bought a house with.. THAT woman?" Leo wheezed out, clutching his right shoulder.
"That's right,"
"How the fuck did you even have the time for that? Jesus Chirst man. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
Frank carried on his task, ignoring the question. Leo felt like the more he asked, the more pain his brain would get, which wouldn't help due to his arm already looking like a chewed pencil. His thoughts followed up with wanting to get his arm treatment and not be naked anymore, in the middle of a chilling alley where he would die to frostbite, not caring about Frank's issues. Leo was tempted to call Frank a cuckold but restrained himself, it was daring considering he dropped to his knees like some peasant.
"Found something" Frank said with abrupt words as he pulled out a piece of clothing.
Then without directly giving the item to Leo, he turned and directly looked at the sky, weirdly enough as if he was a robot.
"Last night was a movie, Where did you even go?"
Surprisingly, now he found it appropriate to ask the most obvious question he could've asked at that moment. Leo genuinely couldn't answer because he couldn't remember, after running off that night his memory went black.
He didn't remember a thing, yet he had a feeling that this was because he'd done something stupid in the aftermath of being mad.
"Babe is that you?" Tessa shouted
"Quick cover yourself" Frank said, voice quick and angry.
He chucked the piece of clothing straight at Leo and he frantically caught it, almost letting it drop to the floor. It was a half torn and blacked mark tank top, Leo wore it on as a pair of underpants, half of his bum crack showing due to the rip.
"Well what an odd surprise, Tommy isn't it? What happened to you?"
"Sometimes" Leo said, not caring what she had to say or what his response was.
The last thing he wanted right now was to see that woman's face, he despised her and wanted her to leave. She looked at him confused, as did Frank.
"Can we just get to the fucking hospital? I can't deal with your BS right now. I'M IN PAIN." Leo growled, struggling to breathe.
"You're right, let's get moving," Frank said firmly.
Leo walked out barefoot onto a main road. It was surprising how much better the surroundings looked, with modern buildings lining the streets, easing Leo's discomfort a bit.
"How are we getting there?"
Without a word, Leo heard beeping sounds from down the street, a bit distorted due to the distance. He noticed Frank had a set of keys, gesturing toward the source of the sound. Leo wasn't shocked that Frank had bought a car, but he was eager to see which one it was. He walked over to the noise behind Frank and Tessa, due to the rip in his makeshift underpants being visible. His eyes were immediately drawn to a sleek lime green vehicle that caught his attention. The windows were completely blacked out, offering complete privacy. The tires were smooth and unblemished and the golden rims added a shiny touch to its overall look. Leo recognised the car's make.
"Is this a DIABLO?"
"Yep, brand new and top of the line. Bought and paid for just 2 hours ago!" Tessa explained, draping her arm over Frank's shoulder.
"It's awesome. Let's hit the road." Frank said.
Though It was a two seater, they worked out that it was best for Frank to drive and if Tessa sat on his lap. Unlucky for Leo she had to put his legs on his own lap to be able to sit in the car, Leo felt irritated and weirded out as if he was about to go into a tub of worms. They all got into their positions into the car, its leather seats surprisingly being stiff, forcing the person sitting down to be sat at a specific angle to not hurt their neck. Tessa originally wrote an address down for a hospital in the GPS but rapidly removed it and then put in another one. For the first five minutes the car ride was completely silent, then Frank's voice broke it.
"For your information, Thomas, the reason we were even in this area is because we were looking for some items that can be used for certain activities," he explained, turning to Tessa.
I could fucking kill you, cuckhold
He wanted to kick both of them out of the car at full speed. If words couldn't exacerbate the pain from his wound, they just did. Leo's insides burned, and he had an urge to leap out of the car, but he maintained his composure. As Tessa attempted to kiss Frank, she accidentally thrust her heel right into Leo's arm.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Leo shouted, his veins on his forehead looking ready to burst.
The pain was even more intense than when he first woke up; it felt like someone was sawing his arm off. They were still stuck at a red light, seconds away from turning green. Frank's eyes locked onto Leo's, his face contorted with anger.
"YOU NEVER SPEAK TO MY TESSY LIKE THAT, NEVER, I MEAN NEVER,"
Leo was barely able to stay awake, he looked up and the traffic light had turned green. Cars behind them honked impatiently, tempted to overtake them and run the light. Hearing the nickname Frank gave Tessa made his consciousness partly wanting to shut off by itself, regardless of the pain.
"LOOK, YOU FUCKING MORON, IT'S GREEN,"
He shifted the car into gear and drove off. Leo hadn't even noticed Tessa crying into Frank's arm in the heat of the moment. He kept his eyes focused on the road, watching as the concrete road passed beneath the car, leading them through different neighbourhoods. Leo didn't look, but he was sure Frank was glaring at him from time to time.
As for Tessa, Leo couldn't care less. In fact, he held back a chuckle at her tears, relieved that she had moved away from him. Eventually they arrived at the NHS hospital.
"Okay, I won't be long. Just going to grab a parking ticket," Frank left the car and slammed the door shut.
Tessa promptly took his seat and made herself comfortable. Leo couldn't care less; he just wanted to be dressed and treated.
"I forgive you for your mistake, Thomas. I know you're sorry,"
Leo remained silent, trying to block out what seemed like nonsense.
"Anyway, you've probably noticed Dill and I getting really close. I honestly have feelings for him, and I hope he feels the same way. This might become something serious."
She continued talking about Frank and various other topics about her day. Leo tuned most of it out. It went on and on, as time passed, Leo's anger slowly began to rise, creeping up like a painful ascent up a mountain. Being nearly naked didn't help; he felt completely out of place. Leo understood her true intentions behind talking to him; all the chatter was just a smokescreen, an attempt to soothe him for her twisted game. After all her bullshit, he snapped.
"SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP! I DON'T GIVE A FUCK, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU VILE GOLD DIGGING WHORE!"
"QUIT PLAYING THE VICTIM! YOU'RE MILKING DILL FOR HIS CASH. YOU DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT HIM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU ARE COMING INTO HIS LIFE LIKE A GODDAMN SAVIOUR. DILL'S BECOME A SHELL OF HIMSELF BECAUSE OF YOU AND ALL THIS FUCKING MONEY, YOU DIRTY MANIPULATIVE WHOREBAG."
He panted heavily, his frustration growling from deep within. Not a trace of emotion remained; she simply met Leo's stare.
"Fine, you've figured it out. It was never much of a mystery, was it? He's clearly desperate, and that's why I'm doing this. It's almost comical how easily he can be manipulated,"
"And why call him Dill? We all know him as Frank. Isn't that right, Leo?"
Leo's heart plummeted, sinking like an anchor through his stomach and organs, causing his chest and stomach to ache. His eyes widened, wider than ever before.
"Yeah, it's amazing what alcohol can do to one, revealing all their secrets. Don't worry; I know about George and the incident with his mom. He practically spilled everything to me," she continued, her smile remaining, still laced with malice.
Leo oscillated between panic and anger. He wanted something terrible to happen to her for exploiting Frank to this extent, yet he was terrified of the information she now possessed. If the police got involved, Leo could be looking at a prison sentence."You're not so tough now, are you? You see, I hold your secret and can let them slip away easily if you listen to me closely," Tessa warned.
"You bitch I wil-"
"No no. The police could show up at any moment now. You need to watch your words," Tessa interrupted.
"I'll put your name on the lease for our new house, and you can stay. But you steer clear of any of my affairs. I get to do as I please with Frank, especially when it comes to his money. You don't follow my instructions or interfere with our business, and the police will be paying both of you a visit"
Leo's thoughts were at a road-stop. He didn't want to bow down to this evil person and save his pride also for the sake of Frank's well-being. He didn't want them to drift apart as friends and let Tessa get away with all of this. Leo contemplated this for a couple minutes, he was confused as to whether he would be her slave or a free-man on the run. He came to his conclusion, it drained all his pride. Knowing what he was about to witness in his own home.
"D.. Deal" Leo said, turning his gaze back to the front window.
Then he felt something graze him, he looked down and saw a hand out wearing different gold rings, expecting something to shake it back.
"Shake on it, No other option"
"Fuck off"
"SHAKE IT!, right hand as well please"
He reluctantly extended his mangled hand towards her for a handshake. The moment their hands met, she squeezed it tightly, causing Leo to wince in pain. He gritted his teeth, determined not to show any reaction. He didn't want her to get inside his head.
"No problem here, deal." Leo had never lied more in his life.
They released the handshake.
"You know, this probably isn't your biggest problem. Check the compartment there. I left a little surprise for you,"
Being too angry, Leo forcefully opened the compartment, causing one of the hinges to become loose. Inside, he found a single wrapped-up, long, and narrow package. It was clear from the material that it was a newspaper. He unwrapped the crumpled paper and read the headline from The Richmond Times:
"NUDE MAN CAUSES PROBLEMS ON ABRAHAM STREET AT MIDNIGHT: ALTERCATIONS AND PUBLIC INDECENCY."
It didn't take long for Leo to realise that the "nude man" in the story was him. He couldn't remember it, but he was certain it was him. Who else would wake up in an alley with a broken arm, completely naked? Though they hadn't caught a glimpse of his face, he could surmise that the locals would undoubtedly recognise him after the deed he had just committed. Leo began to realise the extent of his actions: exposing himself, defecating on cars, and getting into fights. He shouted at himself for it, now remembering a man named James who had offered him some hallucinogenic drug.
"Oops, here's Frank. He doesn't remember anything from last night, so you know what to do,"
"Well, Thomas, you can head to the hospital. Tessa and I have some stuff to take care of" Frank said in a serious tone.
Leo didn't utter a word yet violently cursing in his mind. He opened the car door and pushed himself out. He shut the door, and made his way into the hospital for medical attention.
"Mr. Jordan, I'm sorry to hear about this. That 'Tessa' person is evil, isn't she?"
"She's the worst person I've ever met,"
"Well, Mr. Edwards seems to be more troubled than ever. Did it ever cross his mind that Tessa might have been taking advantage of him?"
"No, not once. He was completely under her control, until that moment."
"Mr. Jordan, could you please shed some light on what 'that moment' means?"
"It was the moment when Frank finally saw through everything,"
Leo underwent treatment at the hospital for a couple of days. The moment he arrived, his condition got the attention of the hospital staff. His right arm was confirmed as broken and encased in a cast. He was informed that it would take at the very minimum 3 months for it to heal properly due to the severity of the accident. The hospital provided him with a fresh set of clothes, and he set out on his way.
However, he had no clue where he needed to go, as neither Tessa nor Frank had provided the location of the new house. He decided to ask the receptionist for help.
"Excuse me, Miss. Could you please tell me my address? My name is Thomas Lee," He asked somewhat embarrassed.
"Don't you know your own address?" the receptionist responded with a concerned look.
"No, it's a new house– I have a terrible memory,"
"Alright, I see it's Forty nine Eve- Evermount Drive," she replied, squinting her eyes.
"Thanks!"
He hurried through the sliding doors, his cast remaining steady during his quick movements. He frantically waved down a black taxi that had just pulled up outside the hospital, got in, and took a seat.
"Where are we headed mate?" the taxi driver asked, glancing at Leo through the rearview mirror.
"Forty nine Evermount Drive,"
"Woah…alright. That'll be sixty pounds mate"
Thinking quickly, he said, "Charge it to a credit card under the name 'Dill Doe.' I can assure you there's no one else with that name," Leo said, suppressing a laugh.
The taxi driver didn't turn around but Leo could see a smirk in the rearview mirror. The card was charged, and they left the hospital, back onto the main road. The journey was surprisingly short. They rolled onto the sacred roads of Evermount Drive. Every single house along this street seemed like a slice of heaven, each with its own tall, ten-foot-high gated fence to ward off unwanted intruders or curious onlookers. They reached number Forty nine, which was the largest house on the block. It had massive front windows dwarfing the hotel they had stayed at earlier. The entire mansion was painted in pristine white, an ethereal quality. Leo got out of the car, thanked the driver, then proceeded to walk over to the front gate. He stepped on the sleek pavement and pressed his thumb against the small, silver buzzer.
"Who's there?" Frank's voice blurted out, sounding half-asleep.
"It's me," Leo replied in a monotonous tone.
Frank granted him access, and Leo walked through the once imposing iron doors that had swung open. He trod across the gravelly ground, the tiny rocks beneath his feet making a faint noise with every frantic step he took. Closer and closer he got to the front door until he finally reached it. He knocked on the oak. There was shuffling from behind the door, a woman with pink hair and dressed in a robe appeared. It was Lana. Leo hadn't realised she was moving in but at this point Lana could have whatever she wanted.
"Hey, cutie, are you living here with us?" she asked.
"No, I'm here to take a shit on your front door."
"Now, is that any way to talk to a lady?" Tessa chimed in, coming up from behind and hugging Lana.
"Apologise,"
Before he could respond, a thought crossed his mind. Wasn't Tessa supposed to be with Frank? Then again, this was a woman who could pass for the devil's daughter.
"Sorry."
"You may enter," Lana said.
The door opened, revealing a spacious mansion foyer. Leo saw a two-metre-high shoe cupboard overflowing with designer shoes. A coat rack held an array of pink and purple jackets. There was also a convenient bathroom right by the front door. His attention travelled to a massive living room with a giant flatscreen TV mounted on the wall and comfortable-looking sofas. Leo felt an irresistible urge to bury his head in one of those sofas and take a nap, given how uncomfortable the hospital bed had been. But before he could explore the place further, Tessa grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.
"This way," she said, avoiding eye contact.
After three flights of stairs, they reached the top floor.
"You take the very last room. Don't complain; all your stuff is there,"
She made her way back down the stairs as Leo walked towards his own room. He had to use a bit of force to open the jammed door and when it finally gave way, he caught himself from stumbling forward. His room was quite plain, containing only a bed and a decently tall closet. His suitcases were undisturbed and intact. Leo assumed this was Frank's doing rather than Tessa's. He slammed himself onto the bed, desperate for some much-needed rest.
Over the next couple of days, Leo spent most of his time outdoors, exploring the town and covering every inch of. Anything to keep him as far away from that house as possible. The few times he did enter the house, he observed random people coming in and out of Tessa's room, accompanied by strange noises. He was pretty sure Frank wasn't even in the room, and Tessa was bringing in whoever for her disgusting activities. Leo happily avoided her room altogether, heading straight down the stairs and out of the house. His stress and anger seemed to dissipate the farther he was from that place. After he had explored everything, there was nothing to do and he was on the verge of boredom. After his last day of searching for distractions, he returned home exhausted and longing for sleep. He knocked on the imposing doors once more, and Frank answered.
"Hey mannn, wassuppp," Frank greeted him with a funny, intoxicated voice.
Leo now heard multiple people in the background, along with music playing. It seemed like some sort of party was going on.
"Can I get through? I really need to sleep" Leo said, sighing, realising he would have to deal with whatever was happening inside.
Frank appeared as though he might pass out, slumping against the doorframe. Tessa then emerged from behind him.
"Hey Thomas. Yeah sorry, it's Lana's birthday. Go away and come back some other time,"
"Are you kidding me? WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO SLEEP?"
Tessa slammed the door in his face. Leo felt like banging his forehead against the wall nearby, painting the emptiness with the colour red. He started to breathe heavily, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly to calm his racing heart. He was on the brink of a panic attack, and he realised the best course of action was to leave. He wandered through the town, aimlessly navigating the dark streets in search of somewhere to sleep. Leo found the scenery oddly relaxing; it was just him and the darkness, free from anyone bothering him. As he passed by a bar with an open seating area, Leo had a faint recollection of being in this area before.
"OI LADS, IT'S THAT BLOKE WHO PISSED ON MY CAR. GET EM!" yelled a bald, shirtless man holding a beer bottle.
At least fifteen people got up from their seats, fists raised and shouting profanities at Leo. They screamed death threats, and one even threw a half-eaten burger that missed terribly and hit a lamppost a metre away from Leo. Leo's adrenaline kicked in, and he sprinted for his life. He couldn't think of anything else but running. He darted past numerous houses and cars, not paying attention to where he was going. He cut corners in the streets, nearly slamming his casted hand into nearby objects as he changed directions. After ten minutes of relentless running, Leo was sure he had lost the fat drunk degenerates. He was drenched in sweat, his feet throbbed to the point of numbness, and his casted arm ached slightly. Leo's legs burned from exertion as he wandered down an unfamiliar street in Richmond. The evening air had turned crisp.
After running for miles, he found himself in a part of town he didn't recognise. He scanned the area for someplace to rest, his eyes settling on a bench.
"You here for another syringe? I wouldn't if I were you. It's a big mistake, especially when you're the laughingstock of the town right now,"
Leo turned to see James walking toward him. Leo hadn't expected to see anyone he knew in this forgotten corner of Richmond. But it made sense with this person. He shared a laugh and lowered himself onto the bench. James joined him and Leo noticed he smelled of body odour.
"You know man ever since I came here, I've been dealing with problems, and honestly, I've got nothing to do,"
"I feel completely disconnected from this place and my own life, you know?"
"Look, lad, I don't know you well, but you've got the same kind of problems as a thousand other blokes around here."
"Visit this place tomorrow at sunrise; it might not be much, considering this thing right here," He tapped Leo's cast with a grimy finger.
"But it's a start."
James reached into his pocket, rummaging past trash, before finally getting a crumpled piece of paper. Tobacco crumbs fell from the folds as he handed it to Leo, who took it and attempted to read the scrawled address in the poor light. It meant nothing to him, just another unknown location.
Leo folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket. Their conversation lulled again, and James made a joint. He lit it up, the small flame briefly showing the deep creases in his weathered face. After taking the first puff, he turned to Leo with raised eyebrows. Leo hesitated only briefly before nodding. James passed him the joint, and he inhaled deeply. The effect was almost immediate, a wave of relaxation washed over him, easing the tension in his muscles and quieting the anxious thoughts that had been his constant companions. This was far better than the syringe James had given him previously. It was a gentle float rather than a chaotic tumble. For the first time, Leo's mind cleared thoughts of Tessa and Frank and all the complications they brought.
"Haha, yep. That's the fucking magic of it,"
The stars seemed brighter somehow, the distant pinpricks of light piercing through the glow. Leo found himself staring upward too, marvelling at the vastness above them.
"Man, if there's one thing I've learned," Leo said with a lazy smile.
"It's not to trust a bitch with purple hair."
"I know a thing or two about that," James laughed, taking the joint back from Leo's fingers.
They both continued laughing, the joke feeling funnier than it probably was. The night stretched on as they passed the joint back and forth.