Hellbent
Chapter 10
Cake on your face
The morning after the carnival, Blake stood in the garden, glancing down at Eleanora’s crystal vial necklace in the palm of his hand.
Blake: “How did Ashley get a hold of this? I thought we lost everything in the fire?”
He muttered to himself.
Blake: “...He’s not ready to know yet…”
He whispered as he dropped it on the garden bed, covering it with the earthly soil. He rose to his feet and turned on his heel to see Ashley.
Ashley: “Buongiorno, Blake!”
He chirped. Blake jolted, startled by his intrusion.
Blake: “Morning, Ashley…”
He said gruffly and forced a smile.
Ashley: “Donut worry, Andreas IS ready to know you want to be his friend!”
He beamed. Blake froze when Ashley overheard his remarks and cleared his throat.
Blake: “I… I’m not sure about that.”
He blurted. Ashley smiled at him.
Ashley: “Why not? Maybe it’s you who isn’t ready to know yet?”
He scratched his head. Blake folded his arms across his chest and drew a short, rough breath.
Blake: “What would make you think that?”
He queried with an edge to his tone.
Ashley: “It’s just this vibe I get… you gotta open your door and let people in, Blake! You’re missing out on cool people like you out there who like metal and stuff and who aren’t like Craig!”
He assured him. Blake bowed his head and harrumphed.
Ashley: “Give people a chance, Blake…”
He sighed, handing him the vinyl record he got from Andreas. Blake took it and glanced it over. He threw his arms up.
Blake: “All right.”
He relented. He recalled having a pleasant conversation with Andreas and connecting with him but didn’t want to deal with the repercussions from Craig. Nevertheless, he agreed with Ashley that maybe he could use someone to see and a small break from this madness.
He saw Maxx in the house and smoke billowing out of the microwave. Ashley froze and screamed.
Ashley: “O-OH NO!”
He was paralyzed in a traumatized panic, reliving the events of the night their house burnt down.
Blake: “WHAT THE FUCK?!”
He marched in and saw a small fire in the microwave. Blake swiftly grabbed the fire extinguisher and sprayed it on to put out the flames.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! MY BURGER!!”
He cried. The door to the microwave opened and Blake and Ashley saw Maxx trying to microwave a hamburger still in its aluminum wrapper.
Blake: “You stupid jester fuck!”
He punched Maxx out. Ashley trembled with fear, holding Keke close to him. Blake heaved a sigh and tried to console Ashley.
Blake: “It’s okay. It’s been taken care of.”
He reassured him.
Blake: “We’ll have to use that clown’s money to replace our microwave.”
He grumbled.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! I’m not a clown! A-Rad did it!”
He whined, stamping his feet and pointing at Ashley. Ashley froze, taken aback by his shift in attitude towards him. Blake laughed.
Blake: “Yes, it’s so very characteristic of Ashley to microwave leftover food when everyone who knows him well knows he loves fresh food!”
He chuckled. Ashley smiled a bit and nodded.
Ashley: “That’s right and I was out in the garden with Blake!”
Blake: “Now, you’re another story… You’re a joke of a story.”
He sneered.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! You’re just jealous!”
Blake: “Sure, he’s jealous he can’t be a clown as you.”
He shrugged.
~
They arrived at the ‘Hardware Warehouse’ to shop for a new microwave. It was the biggest appliance and hardware store in the country; they had everything ranging from house paint to plants to dishwashers. The building resembled a giant blue tool shed with a spanner logo. There was a long queue for the free sausage sizzle outside of the establishment. Blake turned around to Maxx in the backseat of the car.
Blake: “Wait here while we go in.”
He pointed at him.
Maxx: “Hmph. Why couldn’t I just stay home?!”
He whined.
Blake: “Leave YOU alone in our house unattended?! Yeah right.”
He said dryly and shook his head.
Ashley: “Donut worry, dude, we won’t be long, just in and out!”
He assured him.
Maxx: “Yeah, in ‘n out like my cock!”
He scoffed and laughed. Blake rolled his eyes and got out of the car with Ashley.
Blake: “Whatever, idiot…”
He muttered.
~
Blake and Ashley entered the store together. The retail workers were dressed in blue overalls over button shirts with steel-cap boots and a tool belt around their waists. The aisles towered over them, filled to the brim with various items down each of them. Ashley’s eyes sparkled at the plants section. Blake tugged at him.
Blake: “We don’t have time to get distracted by the shiny now, Ashley. Let’s just get this microwave and go.”
He said gently, but firmly. Ashley sighed and nodded and they made a beeline through the store, searching for the appliances aisle.
Blake: “Ah, there it is!”
He pointed across the store and they made their way towards it. Suddenly, they were stopped in their tracks by someone, jumping in their way.
Craig: “HEY! Watch it!”
He huffed.
Ashley: “O-Oh! Uhh, you jumped in our way?”
Blake: “What do you want, Craig?”
He huffed.
Craig: “Oh, uh, nice microwave!”
He rubbed the back of his neck and whistled.
Ashley: “Thank you! Its a beamingsun5000!”
He beamed. Blake glared at Craig.
Blake: “Cut the crap, Craig. What do you really want?”
He pressed.
Craig: “N-Nothing! Hey, lil’ mate, you make cakes, right? Would ya make a big, big cake for Andreas?”
He beamed and gave Blake the side-eye. Ashley gaped at him.
Ashley: “...Y-You want me to bake something? I thought you said baking was sooky drongo stuff?”
Craig: “Uh, did I, mate? Sorry, I had the flu and I wasn’t thinkin’! I was delulu!”
He stammered. Blake’s scowl deepened.
Blake: “You’re so full of shit.”
He huffed.
Ashley: “Uhh, I’m confused… isn’t Andreas your ex-boyfriend and totally done with you?”
He asked, scratching his head. Blake folded his arms across his chest and looked over at Craig.
Blake: “Good question, Ashley.”
Craig: “Andreas ain’t done with me! He’s just aloof, he’s like this to everyone! Look, I need ya to make that cake! Andreas’ birthday is comin’ up ‘n I wanna surprise him ‘n make his day!”
He pleaded with him. Ashley scratched his head.
Ashley: “Uhh, what about Veronika? Isn't she your girlfriend?”
He paused and his head spun with confusion.
Craig: “So?!”
Ashley: “Well, what about getting something for her? She’s your girlfriend!”
He tilted his head.
Ashley: “Or is she? Wait… I’m so confused! Veronika came to me wanting me to get her a date with Blake and now you’re coming to me wanting a cake for Andreas? I don’t understand?!”
He rubbed his temples.
Blake: “Neither do I, Ash.”
Craig gaped at them and his fury soared.
Craig: “...WHAT?!”
He turned and glared at Blake. Blake drew an exasperated breath.
Blake: “I don’t want to date Veronika, Craig.”
He said sharply.
Craig: “And what about Andreas?!”
He hissed at glared at him between clenched teeth.
Blake: “I don’t know him. I’ve met this man once, Craig.”
He sighed exasperatedly.
Craig: “Yeah, well, don’t meet him again then! Stay away from him!”
He pouted. Blake furrowed his eyebrows at him.
Blake: “You can’t tell me what to do!”
He rasped. Craig flared at him and huffed.
He then turned to Ashley with a wide grin.
Craig: “Make that a triple-layered cake, mate. I’ll pay ya three-hundy dollary-doos!”
He instructed Ashley and gave Blake the side-eye. Ashley’s eyes widened and Blake gaped at him.
Ashley: “...Wh-What?!”
He gasped.
Blake: “Are you fucking serious? Do you think giving Andreas an expensive, elaborate gift will change his mind? It’s not. He told you he’s done with you. Save your money for someone who reciprocates your feelings. Otherwise, you’re looking like a fool and desperate!”
Craig pouted.
Craig: “Fuck you, mate. You dunno what you’re talkin’ about! You don’t know Andreas ‘n dunno what he’s like ‘n dunno what we have! We got a long ‘n complicated history together you know nothin’ about ‘n it’s got nothin’ to do with ya! So, why don’t ya mind ya own business ‘n fuck off?!”
He fired back at him.
Blake: “Okay, Craig, it's your money to burn.”
He shrugged. Craig scoffed.
Craig: “I'm supportin’ your lil bro!”
He pointed at Ashley.
Blake: “Well, better in his pockets than yours. Go on, bake that cake, Ashley. Let this be an expensive lesson for him.”
He said, placing his hand on Ashley’s shoulder. Ashley smiled up at him and nodded.
Ashley: “Okeydoke! When is Andreas’ birthday?”
Craig: “Jan 31st!”
He grinned. Blake took mental note of this.
Ashley: “...Oh, tomorrow?!
He forced a smile and he blinked mutely.
Ashley: “Uhh, I dunno if I can get a huge cake like that finished by tomorrow, Craig…”
He awkwardly fiddled with his ombre tresses.
Blake: “He can't.”
He said firmly and matter-of-factly.
Craig: “Yes, he can! I believe in ya!”
He grinned and swung his big muscular arm around him, crushing him.
Blake: “Don't push your problems onto him. He already has enough of that with that clown. Like you have that money anyway. You're as poor as we are.”
Blake narrowed his eyes into slits, dubiously scrutinizing him.
Craig: “Hmph, oh yeah, smart guy?!”
He grinned smugly, pulling out his wallet and handing Ashley a rolled-up wad of cash. Blake’s eyebrows rose, surprisingly. Ashley’s jaw dropped.
Craig: “HA! How do you like them apples?!”
He grinned in Blake's face.
Ashley: “Apples?”
Craig: “Here’s his address! Deliver it to him tomorrow!”
He said, handing them one of Andreas’ Måneravn cards. There was an address written on the bottom of it listed as the location for private tarot reading sessions by Andreas Ødegaard.
Craig: “Enjoy ya new microwave, fellas!”
He grinned at them and walked off. Blake and Ashley exchanged a look with each other.
Ashley: “Blake…”
Blake cut him off and held his hand up.
Blake: “Let me handle this…”
He nodded to Ashley and glanced down at the card. Ashley sighed and bowed his head.
~
Later that day, after dropping off Ashley and Maxx at home, Blake drove through the streets of Selene Valley alone. He glanced down at the address on the ‘Måneravn’ business card.
Blake: “This is the place.”
He mused to himself, pulling over at the weatherboard house with a triangular roof obscured by a tall fence and growing vines. He got out of the car entered through the gate and approached the veranda. He paused and drew a long breath, hesitating to knock on his door for a moment.
Blake: “Maybe this isn’t a good idea…”
He said to himself and turned on his heel to leave. He was startled by the snapping of twigs and leaves on the ground and turned in the direction of the sound where he saw Andreas emerging from his backyard.
Andreas: “I was wondering when you would show up again. I expected you would soon enough. Are you here for a reading?”
He nodded to the card in his hand. Blake froze and turned to him.
Blake: “Actually, I needed to talk to you about something.”
He began.
Andreas: “Sure, would you like to come in?”
He walked over to his door and gestured for him to come inside.
Blake: “It's ok, I don’t want to be a bother. I don’t want to take up too much of your time!”
He held his hand up.
Andreas: “You’re not a bother and you’re not taking up my time. I insist.”
He waved his hand. Blake’s eyebrows rose surprisingly.
Blake: “Alright.”
He nodded and followed him into his home.
Andreas led him to the kitchen table where they sat down together.
Andreas: “So, what brings you here? What did you need to talk about?”
He pressed him. Blake parted his lips and drew a breath.
Blake: “It’s about Craig…”
He twisted his mouth. Andreas’ mood soured.
Andreas: “What did he do now?”
He sighed.
Blake: “He wants Ashley to bake you a ‘three-hundy-dollary-doo’ cake for your birthday tomorrow.”
He rolled his eyes. Andreas shook his head.
Andreas: “...Why?!”
He groaned.
Blake: “He thinks there’s still something between you two and this will somehow change your mind and make you love him again.”
He shrugged. Andreas sighed.
Andreas: “There isn’t and it won’t.”
He huffed.
Andreas: “He can’t change my mind. My mind is made up. I’m done with him. He needs to accept this and move on, and I don’t know how clearer I could be that I don’t reciprocate him.”
He stated. Blake nodded and listened.
Andreas: “This isn’t about me. It’s him wanting something he can’t have. Big, elaborate, and expensive gifts are a Craig thing, not a me thing. He wants his idea of me and doesn’t know me at all.”
He added. Blake pondered on the question on his lips.
Blake: “I gotta ask… why did you date Craig?”
He pressed, observing his surroundings and scrutinizing him. There were missing pages here. What would someone like him see in someone like Craig in the first place? He wondered. Andreas sighed and lowered his head.
Andreas: “It was a foolish teenage mistake. I was a shy, and timid kid alone in a foreign country and Craig brought me out of my shell and protected me… or so I thought. He was what I needed at that time. That was then. Not now. He was my first love, or so I thought… You don’t betray someone you love.”
He explained.
Blake: “Sorry that oaf cheated on you.”
He frowned.
Andreas: “No, I was the ‘dirty secret’ he kept from the world.”
He pursed his lips. Blake’s eyebrows rose surprisingly.
Blake: “Are you shitting me? No offense, but I’d be ashamed to be seen with Craig, not you! Craig should be ashamed of himself.”
He ranted and folded his arms across his chest. Andreas’ eyebrows rose and he blushed a bit.
Andreas: “Oh? Really? Well, thank you… I'm glad to hear that you wouldn't do that…”
He said softly, locking his gaze on him. Blake froze up, catching his gaze and realising what he just said.
Blake: “...N-no, of course not…”
He softened.
Blake shifted his eyes and shuffled uncomfortably. He cleared his throat.
Blake: “So, yeah, just wanted to let you know what Craig was up to.”
Andreas quirked an eyebrow at him.
Andreas: “Well, that’s kind of you to go out of your way to tell me this.”
He challenged him.
Blake: “I felt you needed to know and I'm looking out for Ashley. He doesn't understand a lot of things and he needs me. He's already got one clown putting his problems on him, he doesn't need another.”
He huffed.
Blake: “It's Craig's problem to deal with if he wants to pine after someone who doesn't love him back. But now he's dragging Ashley into this, so now it's our problem, too.”
He grumbled. Andreas drew a breath.
Andreas: “I'm sorry for this… let me handle Craig. This isn't your problem, or Ashley’s.”
He sighed and held his hand up.
He then looked up at him, locking his gaze on him.
Andreas: “I don't think that's why you came here to see me, Blake... Ashley understands a lot more than you realise and is more capable than you allow them to be.”
He challenged him. Blake paused, taken aback by his statement.
Blake: “...What do you mean by that?”
Andreas flicked his gaze over to his tarot deck, picking it up and placing it on the table in front of him.
Andreas: “Allow me to show you.”
He declared, shuffling his cards. He then placed three cards on the table, face down. He turned over the first card, ‘The Devil’ depicting a satyr creature sitting on a throne surrounded by chains.
Blake: “So, I’m a devil-worshipper, huh?”
He remarked skeptically with a dubious laugh. Andreas shook his head.
Andreas: “No. Quite the contrary, actually...”
He flipped over the next card, revealing ‘The Sun’ depicting a smiling sun face beaming over a child riding a white horse surrounded by sunflowers, waving a red flag. Blake’s blood ran cold and he glanced down at the ‘Sunshire’ tattoo on his thumb.
Blake: “...I see.”
Andreas glanced up at him, observing his discomfort when that card was revealed. He then flipped over the third and final card, revealing ‘The Hermit’ It depicted a cloaked figure standing on a mountain, shrouded in the darkness, shining a lantern with a star inside of it.
Blake: “What does this all mean?”
He couldn’t deny his curiosity despite his skepticism. Andreas studied the card combination and observed Blake.
Andreas: “The Devil represents the psychological chains that bind us and hold us back. It asks us to set boundaries. You set a boundary somewhere and you were treated as the bad guy. What was your sin, exactly?”
He pointed to the sun.
Andreas: “The sun. You spoke up and shed light onto the shadows. I noticed that you and Ashley both have those sun tattoos. Ashley mentioned you were raised in a family commune, right?”
He pressed him. Blake twisted his mouth.
Blake: “Yes, we were raised in a family cult.”
He said bitterly.
Andreas: “That’s the impression I got.”
He nodded and glanced down at the cards.
Andreas: “So, you were tied down and held back, but you broke away from the chains binding you in your family and you were treated as the devil for shedding light on their sins. Here you are waving that red flag, calling it out, and riding off on your white horse, leaving the sun representing ‘Sunshire’ behind you.”
He explained, analyzing the illustrations in the cards. Blake froze and felt a chill wash all over him.
Andreas: “And this is where you are now. The Hermit. You’re isolated from your family and you’ve retreated into solitude away from the world. You seek a deeper truth and wisdom in your life. Here you are holding that lantern as a guiding light. You’re trying to be that guiding light for Ashley, but you should watch where you’re going and focus on your journey. Be careful you don’t become this to Ashley. The very thing you rebelled and broke against…”
He warned him, holding up the ‘Devil Card.’
Blake: “What do you mean by that?”
Andreas: “You think of them like a child. I heard that announcement at the carnival and you told me yourself you don’t think they understand anything and that they need you. You’re trying to shield them from the world and fix their problems for them, but in doing so, you're keeping them in a tower. You’re trying to prevent them from dealing with life’s scratches and bruises. Not unlike Sunshire. You need to let Ashley out of the tower and allow them to suffer and grow.”
He said firmly. Blake froze when he pointed this out and wondered if this was true. Am I being like Sunshire? He pondered.
Andreas: “I also feel you use Ashley’s problems as a shield not to face your problems and to feel like you have some control in your life. Control is a myth. We don’t have control over the world around us. We can only control our own actions.”
Andreas: “I know it’s comfortable here in the Hermit where you are right now, but you have to come down from your mountain and connect to the world again and I think deep down you want to do that, but there’s fear surrounding it because of all of this.”
He stated, gesturing to ‘The Devil’ and ‘The Sun’ cards.
Andreas: “That’s why you’re here right now. It’s not because of Craig or Ashley.”
He concluded and called him out, picking up the cards and putting them back in his deck. Blake’s jaw dropped, taken aback by his observations.
Blake: “...Maybe you’re right. Ashley told me I should do this and encouraged me to reach out to you…”
He said softly, shifting his eyes. Andreas’ eyebrows rose surprisingly when he admitted it and he smiled at him.
Andreas: “As I said, Ashley understands a lot more than you realize and is more capable than you allow them to be.”
He nodded. Blake pursed his lips and nodded.
Blake: “I guess you’re right about that, too… why do you keep referring to Ashley as ‘them’?”
Andreas: “No offense, but I wasn’t sure if Ashley is male or female.”
He said earnestly.
Blake: “I understand that and see why… but Ashley is my brother so he’s a he.”
He replied.
Andreas: “I see.”
He said dubiously.
Andreas: “Well, I’m glad you wanted to come down from your hermit mountain to connect with me.”
He smiled at him. Blake smiled back at him.
Blake: “Me too.
~
The next day was Andreas’ birthday. Craig paced around outside Andreas’ house, impatiently looking around for Ashley with the cake.
Craig: “Come on, come on! Hurry up, mate! Where are you?”
He huffed and kicked up dirt. He heard a car coming down the street and turned in the direction of it. He grinned widely when he saw the orange Kingswood station pulling up with Ashley and Blake. Blake was seated in the driver’s seat with Ashley beside him who looked exhausted. The cake was sitting in the back of the station wagon and took up the entire space.
Craig: “Fuck yeah, wicked sick! You’re a bloody legend, mate!”
He grinned widely at Ashley.
Ashley: “Oh, uh, thank you?”
He smiled a bit. Blake turned to Ashley.
Blake: “Stay in the car, let me handle this.”
He said to Ashley, stepping out of the car. Ashley sighed and pouted.
Blake opened the hatch at the back of the car, presenting the cake to Craig.
Blake: “Well, here you are, Craig. Your ‘three-hundy-dollary-doo cake.’ that Ashley spent all night baking for you.”
Craig grinned widely, rubbing his hands together.
Craig: “Fuck yeah, Andreas is gonna love this! Cheers, fellas, I got this!”
He said, leaning in to pick up the cake. He grunted as he carried the heavy cake out of the car and over towards Andreas’ house.
Blake: “We’ll see about that.”
He folded his arms across his chest, watching Craig as he placed the cake down on the lawn and pounded on Andreas’ door.
Andreas came to the door, arms folded and looking unimpressed at Craig.
Andreas: “Oh wow. I’m so impressed, Craig. You stole my heart. Now I love you and want to be with you. You shall be rewarded now. Let’s make love.”
He deadpanned. Craig’s smile dipped.
Andreas: “That’s the reaction you wanted from me, right?”
He said bitterly. Blake smirked and chuckled as he watched it unfold.
Andreas: “Then you really don’t know me at all. I told you it's over and that I’m not interested. You doing this suggests that you don’t pay attention to what I say and that you don’t respect my boundaries!”
He scolded him, his tone taking on a razor-sharp edge. Craig knit his eyebrows and held his hands up.
Craig: “Sorry! I didn’t mean it like that! I was just tryin’ to do somethin’ nice for ya birthday!”
He cried. Andreas heaved a breath and rubbed his temples.
Andreas: “Could you be any more tone-deaf, Craig? Why would you think this was a good idea after everything else? And now you’ve dragged them into this, too?”
He sighed and nodded over to Blake and Ashley. Craig recoiled with hurt.
Suddenly, the roar of a sports car engine came zooming past them, running over the cake, splattering it all over Craig. They all froze, too stunned to comprehend what had just happened. Ashley climbed out of the Kingswood with a loud gasp, crying at all his hard work splattered across the pavement. The Lamborghini Countach pulled up beside them and Veronika stuck her out of the car, cackling like a witch.
Veronika: “SURPRISE ASSHOLE!”
She seethed at Craig. Craig froze and his heart leaped out of his chest. Veronika reached her hand out of the car, placing her hand on Ashley’s shoulder.
Veronika: “Ashley did the right thing in telling me what you were up to, Craig. Here you go, for your troubles.”
She handed Ashley a wad of cash. Ashley’s eyes widened when he saw she gave him double what Craig gave him. Blake gaped at Ashley, taken by surprise at his initiative to tell her. Perhaps Andreas was right that he was more capable of handling problems than he thought.
Veronika: “EAT DIRT, CRAIG!”
She rasped and floored the accelerator, kicking up dirt all over Craig as she sped off. Craig fell to his knees, trembling and defeated.
Ashley turned to Blake and nudged him, looking over at Andreas embracing himself.
Ashley: “Go to him.”
He whispered. Blake closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He stepped forward and approached Andreas.
Blake: “Sorry your birthday started shitty. I hope this makes your day less shitty...”
He blushed, pulling out a small box from his jacket and presenting it to Andreas. Andreas’ steel blue eyes widened and he smiled, taken by surprise. Craig gaped at him and seethed.
Andreas: “You got me a gift?”
He smiled and opened the box to reveal a spice rack he crafted from wood.
Blake: “I noticed you had your herbs and spices across your kitchen table, so I made you a spice rack.”
He declared. Andreas’ smile brightened more.
Andreas: “Oh wow, that’s so thoughtful of you! It’s perfect. I love it. Thank you!”
He beamed and leaned closer into him. Blake blushed and smiled widely. Craig glared at Blake and seethed.
Craig: “A fuckin’ RACK? Are you shittin’ me, mate?!”
He laughed bitterly at him. Andreas rolled his eyes at Craig.
Andreas: “Go away, Craig. We’re done.”
He hissed at him and turned to Blake.
Andreas: “Would you like to come in?”
He asked him. Blake smiled and nodded.
Blake: “Sure.”
Ashley squealed and beamed at them.
Ashley: “Well, I better go home and check on Maxx, I’ll leave you guys to it!!”
Blake nodded and looked over at Ashley.
Blake: “Alright… I’m sure you can handle it.”
He threw the car keys at him. Ashley brightened and gasped when Blake finally handed him the keys. He excitedly climbed into the car and drove off.
Blake went inside with Andreas. Andreas glared at Craig who stood alone on his lawn, covered in mud and cake all over his face, trembling with tears.
Andreas: “Goodbye, Craig.”
He said, slamming the door on him and locking it behind him.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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