"I'll do my best! Just have the jam ready Auntie, come along Max, now that I've sold you for a good price its time you also count the spoils." Dillon laughed shoving the basket into my arms as I stood dazed, until I was being pushed out the door as he waved. "Thanks Auntie! You're the best!"
"Uh, thank you! Auntie!" I added before I was stuffed into the car. It had all been a whirl… I hadn't even seen most of what they'd bought… thirty dollars… a full truck load, shelf… if only I'd waited a day… no. I should be grateful they showed me this place at all. I made a note to save this place as a favorite in my maps. Thrifty Wolves, I also added a note to bring Auntie Mellie a coffee when I found a good place.
Dillon decided to stop by another grocery store since the Market had already closed. Dillon filled half the cart with food. Dillon had already grabbed cereal, box of sixty eggs, orange juice, a gallon of milk, two packs of pork chops, twenty-five-pound bag of rice, cans of soup, nuts, dried fruits, even seaweed strips.
I was mentally tallying up how much this would all cost but was grateful I wouldn't have to carry it the almost four miles home on foot. When it was time to pay, Dillon used his own card.
"I'm paying it forward, Max, I should have done this the first night, I just forgot until you said something." Dillon explained with a nostalgic look. Then he chuckled as he patted me on the shoulder, "Let's boogie, Jake and Jack are waiting at the apartment already."
I tensed, right, the apartment… the hopefully haunted apartment. Because… if someone was breaking in… I felt goosebumps rise all over my body.
"Max, we're here with you. I promise, when you find out who's been messing around, you will get that apology." Dillon swore solemnly as he started the car.
I was holding the basket to my chest, if… if someone was breaking into the apartment… shouldn't they call the police? Or, was it because of the area that they didn't bother? I was silent as they pulled up. Jake and Jack looked ready for war, both holding bats.
I dropped the keys into Jake's outstretched hand. Everyone who'd been in the second story hallway had retreated as soon as they saw Jake and Jack. I also realized they were wearing those construction gloves again.
Jake opened the door slowly, kicking his already untied boots off as he stepped into the kitchen. Jack did the same but went to open all the doors, glancing under the bed, even opening the shower door.
Jake eyed the bag of potatoes I hadn't put back in the fridge. I'd just been in such a rush to leave… I hadn't cared. When Jack returned to the kitchen shaking his head, Jake put down his bat to lift the bag of potatoes.
I wasn't sure what Jake did, but he put the bag on the counter, then walked to the living room. Glancing up at the floating shelves, he reached up. There was a plastic cover to keep dust off the top shelf.
I was confused when Jake pulled down two… Action figures? Barbies?
Jake kept checking them out, turning them over, looking for something. Jack started doing the same as they brought the dolls to the counter.
Dillon looked like he'd have an aneurysm as he glared at the dolls, then he sighed as he pulled out seven… bells on strings? Without a word he started tying the around the dolls.
Jake glared at the doll, at Dillon, then back at the doll, "Yours?"
Dillon pinched the bridge of his nose as he took a deep breath. "Yes, no, ugh, it's complicated. They come with the apartment. Honestly, I'd forgotten about them, but I saw the bells and just, it hit me."
"What?" Jack demanded picking a doll in pajamas, the tingle of the bell ringing throughout the apartment.
"They… ugh, I'm not even sure how to explain. But just to be safe, I'm putting bells on them. If the door is opened suddenly, or something shakes the wall, all the bells should make a sound." Dillon groused as he collared each doll with a bell, then looked around, "Where do you want them Max? Back up on the shelf, or… floor, cabinet?"
I stared at the dolls… uh… could they just… get rid of them? "Umm, uhh, the shelf, I guess…"
"Let's bring our spoils in," Dillon stated with a sigh after the dolls were put back on the top shelf, only the tips could be seen.
I was confused, but followed them out, bringing the bags in. As the shelf was placed the living room… it finally started to look like someone lived here.
Dillon brought up his trifold cot last, Jake and Jack did one more sweep of the apartment, making sure everything was locked before they left.
"So, I'm thinking we watch something, the computer was factory reset when I left, you used it yet?" Dillon asked as he leaned against the wall, his cot a makeshift sitting mat.
Dillon found a left over box we started to use as a table. There were a few bowls of different nuts and dried fruit along with some bottles of water.
"Uh, not yet." Max admitted also taking a seat on the cot.
"All good, hmm, let's see… what are you in the mood for Max? Comedy? Romance? Thriller?" Dillon asked as he signed in as a guest on the computer.
I hesitated… "Uh, there's uh, this documentary series… I was watching."
"Oh cool, what's the name?" Dillon asked glancing over his shoulder.
"Uhh, the… murder mystery… of… uh, Jack the ripper…" I admitted, Robby was always staying watching this stuff is what made me so paranoid…
"Nice, haven't watched it myself, what episode are you on? Want to give me a recap?" Dillon asked searching for it online. I gave him my log in info for the platform, it was free with a platform I already subscribed to. Dillon logged in as he waited for me to talk. When a few moments went by Dillon looked over his shoulder.
"You're uh, not going, you know, say… this is why I, overreacted?" I asked fidgeting with the sheets they'd wrapped the cot in. "That this stuff, you know, made me paranoid?"
Dillon stopped as he turned to face me head on. "Max, look at me mate." He said seriously.
I bit my lip, feeling like a child about to get reprimanded… I should have kept my mouth shut. Jesus, couldn't I just say I wanted to watch a comedy and let Dillon pick something? Trying to look less nervous than I was, I met Dillon's stern gaze. I wasn't sure I'd ever seen Dillon look so serious before.
"Max, I like scary movies, that doesn't mean every time something goes bump in the night, I think there's a monster under my bed. Don't let anyone tell you how youfeel." Dillon gripped my shoulders gently, but firmly kept eye contact. "You're in a new place, shit is moving. Food is missing. That's a real cause for concern."
I bit my lip as felt teers welling up for the hundredth time. "I… I might have, remembered wrong." Dillon's grip tightened for just a moment.
"Max, even if you remembered wrong, you don't feel safe. Feeling safe is just as important as being safe. I can't say that no one was in your apartment. Your apartment should be where you feel the safest. It's your home mate, your sanctuary. If you don't feel safe in your home, that's a problem. Problems are meant to be fixed." Dillon added lightly shaking me.
I swallowed hard, my nose was starting to sting, "But, I, I was listening to a crime pod cast, when, in the, in the bath." I added, of course I scared myself. "And now, all three of you checked, nothing."
"Max, if my phone was in the sink, then moved, it wouldn't matter if I was listening to Barney, it'd freak me the fuck out. Don't sell yourself short mate, I'd have called the whole damn cavalry. Clothes moving? Peace out!" Dillon scoffed, then shrugged.
"Max, my goal is not to be a real life white guy in a horror movie. I am not dumb enough to stick around if weird shit keeps happening. Max, I'm concerned, and I wasn't even the one who saw it. Jake and Jack came to check the place out ready to bash some heads in. Don't let anyone tell you it's no big deal." Dillon emphasized giving a quick glance at the shelf over our heads before looking back at me.
"But…" I didn't even finish.