Page 14 of Wrong Turn

“What the fuck do you think I’m doing, Bridge? I’m cleaning up the mess so I can breathe some fresh fucking air while we figure out what to do.”

“Figure out wha—” she trails off. “We’re leaving! Like, NOW!” Oh fuck. No one tells Amber how it’s going to be. Especially not someone she can barely tolerate on a good day.

Amber stands, turning and leaning against the counter. I’m sure she’s about to pop her top. “Listen, you entitled brat. Either grab a garbage bag and help, or shut the fuck up. I’m tired, and there’s no way in hell I’m driving down a slick fucking mountain, in hillbilly central, in the fucking dark.” Gesturing to the window, we all see twilight creeping in, and Amber’s made adamn good point. Even though the storm ended as abruptly as it started, it’s not safe to drive in the after effects. These dirt roads turn into slippery, hard-packed mud with next to no traction. Even in 4x4, it’s not smart to travel. “Not only that,” she says, undoing her long black ponytail to shake it out then wrap it up in a messy bun on the top of her head. “I’m not abandoning the thousand dollar damage deposit I had to payon my ownfor us to get this place.” She looks to Summer, whose mouth is hanging agape. “Not that I’m complaining. Summer never asks for fucking anything, and I was going to make it happen. But if y’all could at least quit crying long enough for me to clean and get my money back, that would be great.” She takes a deep steadying breath before continuing. “Then I’ll take all your baby asses home. Okay?”

If any of us had balls, she would have us snared by them. She’s not one for guilt trips, so I know how hard she must have worked to make this trip perfect for Summer. I’m not blind, those two are closer than the rest of us are. I think they’ve been through some shit together before they met us, and joined our little group.

“Fine!” Bridget snaps, and Amber looks like she wants to strangle her. “But I’m going to hide in my room until you’re done and the smell is gone. It makes me want to be sick.” She turns, disappearing down the hallway, leaving a thick silence looming over all of us.

“Good, you make me sick,” Amber mumbles under her breath, but I hear it. So does Summer, who snickers quietly to my left, twirling on a stool at the kitchen island.

“How can I help?” Savannah pipes up from the couch, shocking all of us. We collectively stare, waiting for her to yell ‘NOT’ and run away laughing. Instead, she says, “What? The convenience store bathroom gets real fucking gross sometimes,and I have to clean it. At least this time I’ll be outside with the occasional gust of fresh air.”

Valid point.

Summer and I join the clean team, offering to do the inside of the house while looking for bleach, rubber gloves, and buckets. Tension thrums through the atmosphere as each one of us harbour a growing resentment for Bridget because she’s not helping.

The aggressive storm actually made this mess much harder to clean up. The heavy pelting of the rain broke apart the rotting carcasses, running the putrefied remains through the cracks in the deck to a place we can’t reach. The stench will be unbearable in the heat, and without a doubt, attract predators. Hopefully, we’ll be out of here at first light though, and won’t have to deal with it in the peak of the afternoon temperature.

We’re finishing up the task when the distinct rumbling of Lukas’s truck pulls into the gravel driveway. His headlights beam through the windows, bouncing light over the front of the house. He comes to the door, knocking. When no one answers him after several seconds, he walks in. “What’s crack-a-lackin, bitches,” he shouts. Summer busts a gut at his larger than life swagger as he crosses the room. He places a case of beer and two pop bottles full of fruit and a purplish-red liquid on the island, while still holding another case in his other hand. I’m completely dumbstruck by his audacity to just waltz in here like he owns the place, but sangria is my favourite…so I let it slide.

Amber comes through the back door, “Did you guys find any bleach?” Her eyes survey the room, landing on Lukas. “YOU,” she growls, pointing her finger. Storming over to him, he holds up a case of her favourite alcoholic teas in surrender, placing it between them, and stopping her in her tracks.

“What did I do?”

“Did you leave blood and guts all over the deck?”

“No, gross. Who the fuck would do that?” Amber glares through him, trying to figure out whether he’s telling the truth or not. Summer cracks open a beer, diffusing the situation with her over-exaggerated gulping sounds as she pounds back the beverage. Lukas quickly follows suit, opening the case in his hand, pulling out a tea, and handing it to Amber.

“Why are you here?” she asks, changing the tone of her voice from rip-your-head-off anger to neutral impassivity.

“Well, I wouldn’t be lying if I said I was bored and wanting to play another game ofNever Have I Ever.Plus, I had to replace all your booze I drank last night. I also whipped up my famous sangria, to say thank you for letting me crash on the couch…again. Donuts didn’t seem like enough after I thought about it.”

Savannah stumbles in the back door, hair stuck to her sweaty forehead as she leans against the door frame. “Finally…done,” she says through heaving breaths. Wiping her brow with the back of her gloved hand. She smears whatever abomination that was on her gloves across her skin, leaving a dark substance stuck to her forehead.

“Oh, honey,” I say. “Please go shower, and wash your face…really, really good.”

“Huh?”

“Shower. Now,” Amber directs, pointing towards the hall. Savannah nods, pulling off the gloves, chucking them back outside through the open door.

“Take a shower beer,” Lukas says, tossing one to her. She squeaks in surprise, barely catching it.

“Take two,” Summer laughs, throwing another beer at Savannah as she crosses the room. As soon as she sees what's all over her face, she’s definitely going to need two drinks, if not three.

“Thanks,” Savannah says, disappearing around the corner.

“Work Bitch” by Britney Spears starts playing from the bathroom, and the four of us burst out with laughter.

“OH MY GOD, LUKAS!” Bridget squeals from down the hall. She runs up to him, wrapping him in an uninvited hug, “You have to save me!”

“Ummm… What?” Lukas says, clearly confused. Amber grabs another tea, and nods her head at him. Silently wishing himgood luckwith a freaked out Bridget, then heads back outside.

“You have to get me out of here!” Her shrill voice pierces me behind the eyes where a headache is starting to bloom, and I want nothing more than to follow Amber outside. “There were dead things all over the place when we got back from hiking. Oh, Lukas, it was terrible, all the mangled animals…and…and there was so much blood everywhere. It covered every inch of the house and porch, I couldn’t even get inside without stepping in it,” she sobs.

Lukas gives her ayeah, rightlook, and Summer darts through the back door, snagging the case of teas from Lukas as she passes. He jokingly scowls at her for leaving him with the hysterical mess of a woman, and stealing his booze. “Can you please, please, please, take me back to town so I can get a hotel?”

“Uhh,” he pauses, looking to me for help but I offer him nothing.

---