Chapter 9

As the streets became more familiar to her, Shilo struggled to occupy her mind. She looked at Graverobber. His mouth was set in a grim line and, though clearly sullen and unhappy, his guard was back up. The air was thick with tension and an uncomfortable silence had settled. Taking a chance, Shilo pressed herself against his side. It was the only thing she could think to do to comfort him at the moment.

He looked down at her. Though his face didn't betray him, he was somewhat surprised by her actions. For the most part she liked to keep a safe distance between them, except at night when she found solace from her nightmares in his arms. Had he been in a less stressful state, he probably would have contemplated when he should make his move on her. As it was, he merely smiled to himself and put his arm around her shoulders. They walked in silence in the dull pre-dawn light for a little while.

Shilo said nothing at first, merely snaked a pale scrawny arm around his waist and held him close as they walked. She squeezed his side gently and gathered up her courage before shattering the stillness that had settled around them. "What's your name?"

Graverobber was surprised by her question. He didn't miss a beat answering her.
"Graverobber."

Shilo let out a sigh. "Whats your real name?"

"Well then, how about Robin Graves? That has a nice ring to it don't you think?" He smirked and looked down at her.

"Forget it," she said tiredly.

"What does it matter to you kid? Why is a name so important? It's just something to call someone by, not a glimpse into their soul or anything meaningful like you want it to be. Besides, my name is probably the most honest one you'll find in this city. Graverobber... it's simple, it's truthful, it's what I am."

"I guess you're right," was all she said before letting the subject drop. She was still uneasy at the thought of going back to her fathers house. There was nothing left for her there except the ghosts of the past and she wasn't entirely sure she was ready to face them yet. She made another attempt to strike up a conversation with Graverobber to keep her mind off of her father and the lies he had told her. "Are you okay?"

"I'll live."

"But the fire...."

"I have everything that's important," he interrupted. "I wouldn't a stayed there much longer anyway. It was time for me to find somewhere else to set up camp, I just wasn't expecting it to be tonight. I never stay in one place for very long, Amber knew that. She just wanted to screw me over to show me she means business, inconvenience me a little. I'll find a new place as soon as I can, I promise."

Shilo smiled weakly. "Thank you. I'm still sorry about tonight though. I feel like none of this would have happened if it weren't for me. Maybe you should go after tonight. I'll be okay I guess, but... bad things happen to people when they get close to me."

"Forget it kid. I'm stuck with you now," he said perhaps a bit too bluntly. "Just because you're with me doesn't mean anything bad's gonna happen. Amber woulda fucked with me anyway. It was inevitable, she's on a power trip now." He didn't bother to tell Shilo that she had only made things worse. She didn't need to know that.

"But... if it weren't for me my mom would still be alive." There was a pregnant pause before she continued. "And my dad, he wouldn't have died and Rotti wouldn't have been able to make him be a Repo Man. Maybe Mag would have been better off without me too. I think you're better off if you go."

"I'll decide what's best for me. None of that shit was your fault and you need to stop blaming yourself for it. If Rotti hadn't been such an unstable bastard in the first place your parents and Mag would be fine and his kids wouldn't be the psychopathic fucks they are." He pushed open the gate and walked up the front steps stopping in front of the door.

Without even realizing she was doing it, Shilo tiptoed up the walk as though she were still afraid that her father would catch her wandering around outside unprotected. The house loomed over her, a giant full of secrets and nightmares. The porch creaked under her slight weight. She felt so small standing there, so helpless.

Graverobber tried the doorknob and was satisfied to find that it was still locked from his last excursion. He dug around in his pocket and curled his fingers around a small leather case. He pulled it out and opened it to reveal a few simple lock picks and went to work. After a few seconds he replaced the tools in the case and placed it back in his pocket before swinging the door open and making a slight bow as he gestured Shilo inside.

Shilo stepped inside with the air of a condemned prisoner being led to the gallows. Holographic portraits of her mother stared at her lifelessly from the walls. She could almost seem to hear them the way her father must have. They seemed to speak in her mind. Some praised the young woman that she was growing into and begged her to chase her dreams, others sang warnings of her father and accused him of heinous deeds. Over the voices in her head purred a louder masculine voice. "Forgive and forget kid. Forgive him for the crimes he committed against you and your mother, he was only trying to keep you safe. He tried to save her too, don't forget that. Forget what he did as the Repo Man, it wasn't his choice. Remember him as the father that loved you more than anything."

Graverobber spoke low and quiet into her ear. She looked over at him. "C'mon kid. Now isn't the right time to deal with this. I'll help you through it in the morning but right now it's been a long hard night and its time to get some rest." Shilo made no attempt to move. Graverobber bent down and picked her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to her room. She clung to him until he pushed aside the plastic curtains and set her gently on the bed. She sat herself up as he made for the door.

"Wait!"

"What is it kid?"

"Aren't you gonna stay?"

"It's ok kid, I can grab a bed in another room, or even the couch. I'm not picky." He smiled and bowed and reached for the doorknob.

"But..." she stopped. "I've gotten kinda used to having you around. I don't have as many nightmares when you're holding me. Besides, I'm not sure I'm ready to be here yet... alone."

He raised an eyebrow in surprise and gave her a cocky grin. "As you wish." He gave her another little bow and returned to Shilo's bedside. As he removed his boots Shilo kicked off her own and set her bag next to the bed and slid under the covers. Graverobber bunched up the sickening tee shirt and tossed it in the trash. He'd get rid of the pants in the morning, for now, he was too tired and still aching to care. He settled back onto the bed next to Shilo and rested a hand gently on her hip.

He looked at her for a moment. She wasn't just beautiful, she was quite possibly the last natural beauty in his world. Now that he could finally stop running and relax the night was beginning to take its toll. His eyes grew heavy and just as he was on the verge of sleep Shilo's voice echoed through his mind. "Graverobber, will you tell me a story?"

"A story?"

"Yeah. Sometimes when I was little my dad would tell me a story when I couldn't sleep."

"What kind of story?"

"I dunno," she shrugged, "any kind I guess."

"You want a fairy tale or a true story?"

"How bout a true story? Maybe one about you?" She asked hopefully.

" A me story? Hmm... lemmie see." He thought about it for a minute and then began. "Once upon a time there was a young Graverobber and he made the mistake of catching the eye of the Kingdoms Princess, Amber. Now, the young Graverobber didn't know that he'd caught her eye and because of that he did some foolish things. One day he decided to visit the castle and Robin-Hood some of the Kings gold. All would have been fine if the Princess hadn't been watching him and sent her brothers, the two psychotic, creepy princes of the realm, after him."

"Uh huh," Shilo said incredulously.

"Well if you're gonna be like that, kid...."

"Nonono... go on."

"Well, the idiot young Graverobber ducked..." His voice trailed off as he remembered that day and looked at Shilo who was listening eagerly.

"So the young dumb Graverobber ducked aaaaaand?"

"Ya loved that I added that didn'tcha kid?"

"Just a lil."

"Well the foolish young Graverobber ducked into the nearest room and came face to face with the queen and her maiden, both of whom were much more fair and beautiful by far than the kingdoms princess and nearly as captive as criminals." Shilo tilted her head to the side, slightly confused, but Graverobber continued his story without pause. "The brown haired queen hid her giggles behind her hand and turned to her maiden. "We seem to have company," She said to her companion. "Who is it?" Asked her blind companion. "It seems to be that roguish Graverobber that the Princess speaks of so often." The dark haired maiden smiled. "Is he really as handsome as the Princess claims?" She asked. "He is," the queen said.

Shilo giggled a little. "What? You don't think that I'm handsome?" Graverobber asked her.

She smiled, "I never said that. I just think that you're a little full of yourself sometimes...You are handsome though," She added in a whisper which he only smiled at and pretended not to hear.

"Anyway.... "Have you gotten yourself into some trouble Mr. Graverobber?" The queen asked as the prince screamed in the hall. "Not too much trouble, ladies," he said. "You might want to stay in here until the prince has calmed himself with the GENtel ladies," the raven haired maiden said. "Might be wise," the Graverobber agreed. "Might I know who such beautiful and kind ladies as yourselves are?" The Graverobber asked. "I'm the kings fiancée, and this is my lady in waiting." The queen told him as she offered the Graverobber a chair and a tray of pastries." "I believe I've seen your friend singing on the holoscreens," the Graverobber said, "and you too if I'm not mistaken. But screens and speakers don't do either of you justice, If I may say." "Such a flattering rogue we have here Mag." "We should be frightened Marni, to be sitting with such a hardened criminal and be so defenseless."

Shilo let out a sharp gasp. Could it be true? She wondered. Did he really meet my mom... and Mag?

The look of silent shock on Shilo's face did not escape Graverobber's notice. He would be a damned poor criminal if he failed to notice something that obvious. "You asked for a true story kid, and thats what I'm giving you." He continued his story.

"I wouldn't harm a pair of true princesses such as yourselves," the Graverobber assured them. "And you're far from defenseless. All the two of you have to do is smile just right and you could send even the worst criminal crashing to his knees." Eventually the princes gave up their search and the princess grew bored and the queen and her maiden were able to help the poor young Graverobber escape."

"And that," Graverobber said, "is the story of how I met your mother, and Blind Mag. Your mother was a good woman kid, real sweet, her and Mag both."

Shilo swallowed hard, a lump began to form in her throat. "I know. I mean... its what my father always told me. And I knew Mag was... even if I didn't really know her for very long."

"I saw yer mom a couple times after that, once after yer mom and dad were married and she was pregnant with you. She was prouda you already kid, said she knew you'd go on and do great things. You remind me a her kid, sweet and beautiful, and real." He paused and took a good hard look at her. "Tell you what though, yer even prettier than she was. I saw Mag too over the years. I tried to get her to come with me, get her outta GeneCo, but she wouldn't leave. I guess you could say I had a bit of a crush on her... once upon a time. You remind me of her. She had a strong will right up to the end, you saw that. Wouldn't let some Repo Man take her out, did things her own way, got out in the end. It's a shame it ended the way it did for 'er. You got that same strong will, I can tell. I saw it that first night. That's why I won't leave ya high and dry kid, GeneCo's ruined the lives of too many good women already. Now, get some sleep, it's been a tough night on us both." With that he placed a chaste kiss on Shilo's forehead and closed his eyes.

Shilo blinked the moisture out of her eyes. It touched her to finally hear something about her mother, not from her guilt stricken father or the envious Rotti Largo, but a man that had no reason to lie to her, and nothing to gain if he did. She smiled weakly and curled up in Graverobbers arms.