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12

KALI

Everything aches.

As someone who’s been fit and healthy for most of her life, I can say with confidence I’ve awoken muscles I’ve never used before. My back, butt and arms pulsate with a pain akin to that of my early dancing days.

I’ve almost stripped the entire space of the old junk. From six o’clock this morning to now, twelve hours later, I’ve pulled up dirty carpet, coughed on dust, dragged random bits of metal across the room and scrubbed stains off walls. Whilst I’m channelling independent badass woman, I hate that it looks like I’ve barely made a dent.

My stomach rumbles, a sign I should get some sustenance in me if I want to keep working into the night. I eye the granola bar next to my bag and screw my nose up with a sigh. It’ll have to do. If I leave to get food, there’s no way I’ll come back. I’ll sink into a chair and fall asleep.

My phone buzzes and I swipe to answer. “Hey.”

“How’s it going up there?” Hazel asks.

“Good. Except, I’m starving, sore and may or may not be panicking that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.”

Hazel laughs. “If anyone can do this, you can. I promise I can come and help tomorrow, and you can put me to work.”

“Thanks, Hazy. I don’t think I’ll be back for wine and pizza tonight. We’re going to have to hold off on the new doco.”

Hazel groans. “Need I remind you they have footage of this psychohelpingin the search for the victims?”

“I know, I know. We’ll watch it this weekend. Promise.”

“You’re lucky I’m a forgiving person,” she huffs. “How much more do you think you’ll do tonight?”

“I want to try to undo the old light fixtures, but I’m pretty sure I need a ladder and some sort of manly tool.” Those little buggers are rusted on for sure.

A muffled voice comes through the speaker, but I can’t make out the words. “Did you say something?”

“Anthony says he’s got a manly tool that can help. He’ll bring it over.”

“Anthony’s there?”

“Yeah, he’s working on the desk.”

“And you have me on speaker without giving me warning? What if I opened with a fact about my vagina?” I snap.

“I’m always on speaker these days, Kali, while I’m drawing. And Anthony would love any fact about your vagina.”

“Tell him not to come here.”

“He already left. I’ve never seen him move so fast.”

I groan, ignoring my brain telling me not to sit down and sink into a camping chair.

“What’s up with you?” Hazel asks. “Do you have blue balls? Wait, it’d be called something else, wouldn’t it?”

“Pretty sure it’s blue bean.”

“Blue bean? That’s revolting.”

“Yet, perfectly accurate.”

Hazel hums her agreement. “So, you’ve got a blue bean?”

“I do,” I groan. “And my self-control is dwindling at a pathetic rate.”