Chapter 7
Christophe
"There are not much jobs over here for you guys now." the Guild master tells us. "They are either fitted to amateurs, or masters, and you three fit somewhere in between."
"So, you couldn't find us anything?" Gregory asks, sounding as exasperated as I feel.
"Nothing." he says. "You can always take a gap year."
A year without work? I'm not sure if we could afford that. The rent on our apartment is expensive, being in London, we have to feed the three of us, clothe us. And I am not giving up my Mercedes. That car is the closest thing to love I think I can feel. I remember the e-mail that Kyle sent me a couple of nights ago, asking for help. He said weird things had started happening again and, while he usually managed to resolve the problems in his town along with his friends, he wasn't sure if he could do it this time. I didn't want to go back to Colorado, remembering what had happened last time. I do not remember my death, of course, but I remember those dogs chasing me... the burning pain as their teeth and claws found my flesh... the tears in Kyle's eyes as he held me in his lap... But without work, it may be worth the risk.
"We could go back to Colorado." I say, after coming to that conclusion.
"Yes." Gregory agrees with a grateful smile. "As I recall, they had a lack of mercenaries over there."
That's why a bunch of teenagers had to try to purge the town of evil last time. The officials didn't believe us, and I can't really blame them.
"It just so happens that Kyle contacted me last night." I say as an explanation. It was actually about a week ago, but Gregory doesn't need to know that. "There is a lot of crime going on, a lot of... strange things."
Colorado is beginning to sound like a better idea as I think more of the friends that we left behind there. I miss Kyle a lot, and if not for Gregory I think I would call him my best friend. I miss them all to be honest... I just don't look forward to meeting my mother again... Or Kyle's. Gregory's excitement fades too, and I think perhaps he has been thinking the same, until he glances with uncertainty towards Sheana. Of course. He's not the kind to kiss and leave.
"Do you want to?" he asks her.
She nods.
"I'll go where we can get work." She grins. "I haven't been in this business long enough to retire."
For once, Gregory has left me in charge of planning. It's only the journey, but I was still shocked when he told me I could make the calls and book the tickets... Maybe the pretentious bastard is actually beginning to trust me. Or maybe he's still trying to get close to Sheana. Our flight is set to leave at eight thirty tomorrow morning, and it will get us in Denver by six pm. The town, South Park, is just over an hour's drive north of Denver. I e-mailed Kyle, and the amazing bastard has managed to arrange to have us a Mercedes waiting for us at the airport. I decide to get an early bed, because I know tomorrow will be stressful. I am meeting my mother again, for the first time in five years. She left my father to go live in South Park when I was a young boy, and it was her Gregory and I stayed with when we visited the first time together. I had been to the town many times on visits to my mother, and those visits were not pleasant. She is the type of person to go by the spare the rod kind of ideal. It was this that made me despise God. How could he encourage people to hurt children, how dare he? He already brings enough suffering to the world with his diseases and famines and natural disasters, without encouraging his followers to bring more. But of course this hatred just made my relationship with my God-fearing mother worse. I learned quickly that badmouthing Him aloud would only result in black eyes and scars and so I stopped, but I always knew it deep down. Kyle knows how she treated me, for I found myself opening up to him on more than one occasion when I was in the town last. Gregory doesn't, I couldn't let myself hurt him by letting him know. Kyle did offer to let us stay at his house, but he is still living with his mother. Sheila Broflovski, the bitch that started the war... the bitch that caused my death. I would spend an eternity fighting with my mother before I spent even a minute in the house of her. I roll out of my bed and lie beneath it, where I feel safe. I should learn by now to stop thinking about my past. It only fills my heart with worry and anger, and makes my mind rush into an overdrive of paranoia.
The journey to South Park is uneventful and goes off without a hitch. Even the plane was only half an hour late. The snow is heavy when we get to South Park, although it was a warm, sunny day back at Denver only a few miles away. No wonder the people who inhabit the town insist that it is cursed. I'm surprised my mother has been able to live here as long, without going crazy. I drive slowly, half due to the ice and half due to the children that play on the street. Its weird to think that these kids could possibly belong to the people we used to be friends with. I wouldn't be surprised if Kenny had a baby or two in the town. He was quite acquainted with the ladies when I met him last. It's weird being back here, I just can't explain why. I wonder if Gregory feels the same.
"Does it feel weird to be back?" I ask him, and he turns to me with wide eyes.
"Of course if does." he shrugs. "Especially when it looks like nothing has changed, but I know everything has."
God he always has to act so profound.
"Stop being a drama queen." I smirk and Shaena snickers. "I'm sure everyone will be the way you remember them."
"And what about you?" he asks. It takes me a minute to realize what he means.
"Well I thought they were all bitches." I laugh, pulling into my mother's driveway. "You didn't."
With my friends beside me I almost don't feel the panic that grips me knowing that I'll soon be in the company of the woman who haunts my dreams more often than not again.
Gregory laughs as he gets out of the car and I can't help but to smile along with him. He has really grown on me over the years. He's been like a brother to me while we have been working together, so I suppose it is only natural.
"Come on, let's go." he says. "I need a sleep."
"And a shower." Shaena smirks and he rolls his eyes.
I suppose I could get used to Sheana too. She isn't as whiny as I initially thought she would be. But now the panic is setting in because I am two steps from the door, and Gregory is about to open it.
"Come on then." I say, and I am glad that my voice does not waver. "Let's go see maman."
So we're finally in South Park! The main boys will be introduced within the next couple of chapters :)
