Life is Strange with Magic
Chapter V
May 10th, 2010
Chloe made her way toward the front or the road access part of the junkyard as soon as she'd put away her phone. On the short trip, she decided to slip on the mask she'd been wearing for the last year or so. She didn't know if it was to make her feel a little better or to make things easier with Frank. Frank her soon to be ex-drug dealer was a decent enough guy, but you don't want to owe money to anyone in his field of work. So she'd take this job to clear her debt of one hundred seventy-five dollars and be done with that whole part of her life. She was shocked to see the woman who'd been kissing Rachel's father exiting Frank's RV when she finally laid eyes on the mobile drug repository. She filed that away for a moment thinking better of making the drug dealer wait much longer.
She pulled open the door stepping up into the RV before the overwhelming smell of urine overtook her. "Dude. It smells like piss in here."
"Shut up," Frank replied unfussed from the driver's seat.
Chloe coughed slightly before asking. "You have a rough night or something?"
"Every nights' a rough night. I've got a notebook in the back somewhere. Go get it for me, would you?" Frank asked as he turned the engine over starting the RV.
Chloe huffed shooing the man with her hand before turning and making her way toward the back of the RV. "Who was that woman." She stumbled into the kitchenette when the RV pulled out of the driveway and onto the tarmac. "God. Geez, man."
Frank smirked to himself. "Get my notebook, Price. then we'll talk."
Chloe shrugged before heading back toward the bedroom she could have taken a moment to be nosy, but she didn't feel the urge too. Something that was very clear however was the presence of a dog. The pile of dog food was pretty dead give away, but the little puppy that attacked her jeans at her ankle when she opened the bedroom door was too cute. "Hey, there" she reached down petting the little hellion on its head. "It's okay, little guy."
Frank turned his head long enough to see the little dog before turning back to the road ahead. "Aw, shit. Pompidou! Get up here!" he called pointing down beside him. Chloe watched as the pup ran up the length of the on short little legs before circling a few times besides frank who played with the dog a little with a free hand.
Chloe smiled turned and picked up the notebook on the man's bed. She made her way to the front of the Rv putting the requested item on the dash before sitting in the passenger seat. "Pompidou, huh? That's one badass name for a dog."
Frank looked at her before deadpanning. "It's French."
Chloe looked down and the little pup. "Does it mean, like, Tough Guy or something?"
Frank who'd looked away turned back for a moment. "Do I look like I speak fucking French.
Chloe sat back. "Fair point." a beat passed when she thought to ask about that woman she'd seen exiting his RV. "Okay, so who was that woman?"
"What women?"
Chloe pushed on. "The one I saw coming out of your RV!"
Frank kept his eyes on the road. "Oh yeah, I meant to introduce you." he turned to her before gruffly adding. "Her name is mind your own fucking business."
Chloe sat up thinking about Rachel and how she might want some information about the woman. "Dude, I'm just curious. What's the big deal?"
"Idiot. I make money by being discreet."
"No shit, Frank. You think I don't know about hiding things from other people? I'm a teenager." Chloe replied smirking internally at how fun this was getting one over on the adults if it worked out.
"Come on, Price, I gotta protect my clients. Happy customers are the foundation of a good business."
"Your customers like you 'cause you're laid-back. That's why I like you. So you should keep building up that easygoing vibe, you know?" Chloe added, and it was the truth she liked Frank as a person just not a person you owe money too.
Frank relaxed some. "Sure, I guess. So, why are you so hung up on this chick?"
"Come on, Frank. This is Arcadia bay. Gossip is all we have to keep us from hanging ourselves out fo boredom."
"I don't know..." Frank started
"Frank. Talk, and I'll get my mom to make you something special." Chloe added to sweeten the deal.
"Like what?" Frank asked, and when Chloe didn't respond right away he added. "How about that firehouse chili of hers?"
"You got it," Chloe replied waiting for him to spill.
"That woman you saw..." he paused "her name's Sera. Showed up a few weeks ago. Causing all kinds of trouble for all sorts of people."
"Like who?"
"It's a little out of your league, okay?" Frank warned.
"But what kind of trouble, exactly?" Chloe pressed on.
"Forget about it, Chloe! Shouldn't have opened my mouth."
Chloe sat back before adding. "Thanks for telling me."
"Whatever," Frank replied before moving on. "You hear the mill burned down?"
"Oh shit, really?" she asked more than a little sad about the place she'd met Rachel for the first time. That wasn't fair they'd met in the halls and some classes at Blackwell, but they'd never talked, and she'd not had that much fun since Max left. It sucked that the place burned down the fact that they'd started the fire didn't help her feel any better about it.
Crazy. My friend Damon runs the place. He lost a lot of money last night."
"How about you? Did you lose anything in the fire?" She asked hoping that he hadn't.
"No. But I'll probably get pulled into whatever shit Damon's dealing with right now. Lately, he's been doing some stuff that I don't like, but... I don't seem to have much leverage with him like I once had. Anyway, you and I have shit to discuss. I've got a little job for you, open my notebook, last page. Should be some entries for a kid named Drew. You know him?"
Chloe took the book from the dashboard opening it to the last page as requested. "Drew North?" Yeah, he's..." she paused shocked for a second. "Holy shit, that's a lot of money."
"Drew runs oxy for Damon. Apparently, football players eat it like candy."
"Tha's smart, I guess. It pays well?" she asked feeling something twist in her gut.
"Go Bigfoot's" was the man's witty reply. "Problem is, Drew owes a grand and he's not answering my calls. You know what's going on with him?"
"No, I never talk to him. Or his type."
"No one's just a type, Price. Anyway, here's the job. I'm taking you to Blackwell. Go to Drew's room, find the money, and I'll meet you to pick it up. Can you handle that?"
"I dunno... It doesn't feel right to go through his room." Chloe said suddenly feeling extremely uncomfortable not that she let it show.
"Does it feel right that he stole a grand from me?" Frank asked looking at her for a second.
"From you? Or from Damon?" she asked trying to think of what to do.
"Same difference," Frank stated no looking away from the road. "Look, Chloe, you do this, and you can forget about the money you owe me."
"Okay. yeah, sure, I'll do it," she replied shakily. Frank looked at her questioningly before the teen nodded at him. "I'll do it."
Minutes later she'd made her way back to the school, so she quickly made her way to the quad in front of the dorms before sitting down on a bench. What the hell was she going to do? She could text Harry as he'd offered to help her, but she really didn't want to admit she was running an errand for her drug dealer. Or she could steal the money from the footballer's dorm room. Flustered and needing a minute to think things over she pulled out her phone oddly enough Rachel texted her right before she unlocked it.
Rachel: Back at school yet again. They've got some tens up for dressing rooms.
Rachel: What are you up to?
Chloe: I'm here too actually, running an errand for my dealer.
Rachel: Oh, really! so bad. Come, see me when you're done?
Chloe: Yeah for sure.
Chloe: PS, I saw that woman that your dad was with coming out of my dealer's RV!
Rachel: What?
Chloe: Apparently she's causing trouble for a lot of people or something. Her name's Sera.?
Chloe: Rachel?
Rachel: I think maybe I prefer no knowing her name.
Chloe: Oh my bad.
Rachel: No, It's fine.
Chloe: See ya soon.
Chloe bit her bottom lip for a moment before typing in a quick text.
Chloe: Harry could you meet me in the quad in front of the dorms at Blackwell.
A minute passed and right before she got up she heard a small pop from behind her. She turned but saw nothing until a voice whispered close beside her.
"What's the dealio?" Harry asked from under his invisibility cloak.
Chloe jumped off the bench looking around wildly. "Oh, you've got to be fucking joking with me. You can turn invisible you prick, and don't ever sneak up on a girl like that." the teen whispered harshly.
Harry laughed before saying. "Language, please."
Chloe shivered. "Stop freaking me out, dude."
Harry nodded getting serious not that the teen could see any of it. "Sorry, now what is the emergency?"
Chloe hesitated for a second before she just came out with it. "Drew a student here owes my dealer a grand, and he said he'd forgive my debts if I got the money for him."
"I don't suppose this dealer would be interested in a cheque?" Harry asked knowing he didn't carry around that kind of money.
Chloe shook her head softly. "I have a feeling this is a time-sensitive thing, Harry. Frank's not the violent type, but Damon is I could tell Frank was concerned."
"Okay, I'll help you get into the building and watch your back. If you find the money tell me exactly how much and I'll leave a note and a cheque." Harry took the teens hand. "Follow me I can't take the cloak off in front of the students."
Chloe stood and followed him into the breezeway between the school and dorms. He slipped out from under the cloak before rolling it up into the satchel he wore on days like this.
"Led the way," he said as he followed the teen up to a locked door. He touched the door noob pushing a little magic into it causing it to
pop open. The halls were empty allowing the pair to reach the boy's dorms unchallenged. Harry knocked and when no one answered he opened the door entering followed quickly by Chloe.
Harry took one look at the trunk and the lock and swore internally. He couldn't just force the combination lock open. An actual magic spell would light up detectors even with all the raw magic swirling around the town. Harry looked at Chloe and saw she was already snooping about for the correct combination. Harry picked up a letter from Oregon State congratulating the young man on his scholarship. "Such a bright future to be gambling with drugs."
Chloe shrugged before trying Michael's birthday December 27th on the combination. 1227, not 2796 and the chest was open the rather fat envelope sitting on top was clearly the prize. She took it counting it out quickly at a little over a grand. "One thousand and fifty dollars."
Harry nodded as he quickly wrote out a cheque for the sum and quick note about what was going on.
Chloe had just started for the door when it open, and Michael stood there looking confused.
"Chloe? What are you doing here?" he asked recovering from the initial shock quickly. "And who the heck are you?" he asked noticing Harry for the first time.
Harry smiled but Chloe answered. "I... we were looking for your brother, but he's not here, so..."
"Bro, we gotta go!" Drew called as he entered the increasingly crowdy dorm room. He saw Chloe and started to advance on her. "Yesterday wasn't enough? You want to go another round?"
Harry moved between the two but before he could say anything someone spoke from out in the hallway.
"Drew, relax. Slow down."
Chloe closest to the door now that the two brothers had rushed to get their things looked out and saw Damon.
"That Damon?" Harry asked as he saw the fearful look that overtook Chloe. She merely nodded, and he put his hand out for the envelope. The brothers didn't notice as Harry took it and stepped outside closing the door behind him.
Chloe could only listen as the conversation got started outside.
"Damon, right?" Harry asked drawing the attention of the thug.
"Is that my money," Damon asked walking over to him.
Drew heard the last and started toward the door, but Chloe put herself between the young man and the door. The jock looked pissed, but he didn't try and push past her. "That's our money what right does he have to take."
Chloe pointed at the cheque on the table and Drew stilled for a second.
"So who the hell are you. Is Drew too much of a fucking coward to face me like a man." Damon asked taking the offered money. "Are you Joyce's new squeeze? That punk bitch in there too. So afraid she had to run get her mom's new fuck toy... you fucking the little bit-"
Chloe heard a blow land before she rushed out into the hallway. Harry stood over the other man who was bleeding profusely from a broken nose.
"Take your money and go, and if you come at me or mine, I'll make sure they never find your body. Do you understand me?" There was no misunderstanding in the thug's eyes. The way the man spoke chilled the man to his bones, and he rushed to stand up just to get away from him.
Chloe came to stand beside Harry as Damon beat a hasty retreat. "Jesus, Harry, what aren't you good at?"
Harry shrugged starting to rub his right hand gingerly. "Hmm, many things but I do specialize in defense."
"What the hell is going on?" Drew asked from the doorway of his room.
"I'm sorry Drew, but Frank wanted me to collect what you owe him. I owe him too, and this was the only chance I had." Chloe said not really knowing how to feel about it. Things could have gotten so much worse without Harry here.
Drew looked at Harry. "Mr. Potter I couldn't take this money it's not right.
Harry smiled at the younger man. "Keep it. I wager you'll need it more than I. If you were willing to face that madman for it. Keep your eyes open I doubt he'd retaliate against you, but you can never tell with certain people."
A/N
Not my favorite work, but I really want to get past the prequel. So that I can have more creative freedom at least for a few years before the main game.
I hope you enjoy and if you're so inclined to drop a review do so I do enjoy them.
For some reason, I'm still stuck listening to Dylan when writing this.