For this scene I've used some facts from the book Wolf Creek Origins by Greg McLean. It gives you a real insight into Mick's childhood and the reasons behind his murders. If you've not read it I'd defiantly recommend you give it a read. There is also Wolf creek desolation game by Greg McLean the second of his books.

Mick always took the regular bandage changes like a champ, very little complaining clearly not very bothered about the pain it must cause him. Sophie was always very caring, always gentle partly because she genuinely didn't want to cause him pain but mostly because she was in fear of Mick's wrath if she did hurt him. Part of her felt sorry for him he had risked his life to claim Sophie as his own even though it was for his own twisted reasons. The days had become easier as time went on, Mick got more bearable to live with, she was used to him now. She knew what signs to look out for when his temper was about to blow so she knew when to quickly avoid him. But she also knew how to get him in a good mood, how to manipulate him to get what she wanted as long as it was within the confines of the house.

The first time she had to sleep without clothes next to Mick had made her skin crawl like she was infested with a thousand ants but it had nowhere near been as bad as she had imagined. She may be able to stretch it as far to say it was cosy. For that short amount of time she had felt safe, after all where was safer than in the arms of a deranged killer with a rifle if she came to any harm she was sure that Mick would protect her. After all he'd done it before. She had lain still afraid to move for fear of waking the sleeping dragon that lay pressed against her. Mick had enjoyed it, oh yes Mick had enjoyed it. He could touch whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and she had just laid there and let him. She had been a good girl he had to admit, the few days wait had been worth it, she hadn't complained, resisted or recoiled in disgust at his touch (it had taken some will power for her not to do so) but he could have sworn Sophie had laid there purring like a kitten. Sophie hated to admit it but his touch had felt good to her, once she had got passed the massive hurdle that it was him that was touching her.

That night had put him in a good mood, Mick laid their wide awake with Sophie held tightly to him. A bright full moon shone a silver light through the window lighting the room enough to see. Sophie could sense his good mood and decided to do a bit of probing into the world of Mick Taylor.

"You know Mick since we're here together for quite some time; don't you think we should get to know each other a bit?" She said innocently turning around to look him in the eyes.

"What you talking about girlie think we know each other quite intimately after that"

"Yes but I want to know more about you, you intrigue me, I want to know about your life, why you kill tourists, your childhood"

"I don't talk about that" his face scowled and his voice suddenly turned more dark and sinister.

"A husband shares everything with their wife, there are no secrets"

"I SAID I DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT!" he shouted raising a hand to hit her. Sophie flinched at the aggressive tone expecting punishment but none came.

"I hear you at night Mick, I hear the nightmares you have, and I lie awake listening to them" Sophie said softly in a worried tone. She needed to get Mick to open up to her; she needed him to trust her enough to let her delve into his past.

"Tell you what then you seem like a man that likes to make deals" Sophie said "So I'll make a deal with you, you tell me why you kill and about your childhood and I'll become your little play thing tomorrow" She hated his phrases but she knew if he spoke his language he'd get her point. It wasn't the deal that she wanted to make but it was the best thing she could offer to persuade him.

"I kill people because I want to and because I can" Mick growled.

"That's bullshit and you know it, who's the girl you dream about Mick Hmmm? Your mum? Your sister? I know that's why you kill tourists Mick. What did someone do to her for you to despise tourists so much?" Her heart pounded in her chest, she knew she was pushing some serious limits.

"You know nothing" He growled she could tell his temper was peeking and he was trying to control it. But she had to keep probing she had to make Mick know he could trust her.

"Come on Mick you can tell me, it might help to talk to someone about it. Who's the girl in your nightmares Mick what happened to her?"

"She was my sister ALRIGHT! Some foreign bastard in a black Cadillac killed her and my father beat the shit out of me for it OK! You happy now?" His temper bubbled over his voice was raging. Mick got out of bed and punched the wall; the plain grey plaster cracked and broke chunks of plaster fell to the floor.

"FUCK!" he shouted, sitting on the bed elbows on his knees, face in his hands.

"Fuck it's all my fault, I should have saved her but I was too much of a cowardly cunt to go after her" Sophie crawled across the bed and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Mick, I, I'm so sorry" Mick could hear the pity in her voice.

"You happy now huh? You happy now you've found out I'm this chicken shit bastard, happy now you've heard the story of old Mick Taylor"

"But you're not like that now, you're strong and brave and a fearless vicious hunter, your sister made you into the man you are today"

"Yeah the man I am today that can't even get a woman without kidnapping her"

Sophie put her arm round the back of his neck and snuggled closer.

"I never took for a man with regrets Mick"
"All men have regrets, I just regret less things than others" He turned to look at her and looked deep into her eyes. "Kidnapping you though isn't one of them" Sophie was glad he had confided in her about his past even if it was somewhat forced out of him but she could tell by his eyes that the burden he had carried alone all those years had faded. Maybe there was something human in Mick Taylor after all.