Page 156 of Restitution

Dad asked why we were fighting, but no one would tell him.

Base will never stop being Base. Because dark humour is his thing when he’s mentally drowning.

He leans against a tree outside the building while we wait on the dogs doing their business and getting some fresh air. It’s raining, both of us soaked through, but the silence is good.

“Is Tobester cooking steak?” he asks, ruining the mood.

I wince. “Please don’t call him that. He’ll chase you with an axe again.”

Base bounces on his heels and inhales deeply. “He’s making steak. I’m going for a bite.”

I huff and whistle for the dogs to come as I follow my friend into the kitchen, stopping in my tracks when I see my dad wearing rubber gloves and a plastic apron. The dust mask only confirms what he’s doing.

But regardless of the scene, Base walks straight over to the stove and looks down at the meat. “Where’d you pull that from?”

He reaches for a piece, but my dad snatches his wrist. “Unless you’ve decided to take up cannibalism, I highly suggest you keep your filthy paws off.”

It takes Base a second to click, and then he backs away in disgust. “Oh, what the fuck? You’re cooking bits of Archie?” He steps behind me as if I’m a shield. “Kade, your dad is more insane than I thought.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I have no idea why you’re surprised. Why else do you think he took the time, during all the chaos, to go back for the buckets?”

“I don’t fucking know! This is disgusting. Why are you actingso calm? Your dad is cooking body parts!”

Dad chuckles while flipping the meat in the frying pan. “There’s normal food in the fridge.”

Base inches forward. He’s not domesticated in the slightest and never goes in there, so I lean against the wall and wait for it. I spotted earlier that Dad had moved Bernadette’s driver’s head out of the freezer to defrost. Maybe he’s planning on feeding that to her as well.

As soon as he opens the fridge and sees the melting head inside, he gags, slams the fridge door and runs out the room yelling that we’re all going to die.

“He’s a little dramatic,” Dad says, shaking his head. “You need better friends.”

I shrug, glancing at Barry as he walks into the kitchen, unfazed by the sight before him. “How are Lisa and Eva?”

“Fine. She had some cramping, so we had her up at the hospital for an emergency ultrasound, but all good.”

He crosses his arms, looking over at my dad. “Why are you cooking human meat?”

“You’ll see. Can you bring Bernadette up?”

I flatten my lips as Barry huffs and goes to the basement. “You’re going to feed her Archie’s body parts, aren’t you?”

“She won’t know until after. A little surprise for her,” he says, flipping over a chunk to fry the other side. “You can’t say much. Look what you did to Christopher.”

I hum in response.

“I called your mother.”

My eyes widen as I drop my arms to my sides. “Are you insane? We said it was too risky to reach out to her.”

“I didn’t say anything. I just wanted to hear her voice.”

“Still risking our location.” Sighing, I sit down at the table. “Have you decided against not telling her you’re alive then?”

“No,” he replies instantly, staring down at the sizzling human flesh. “But she should know her children are alive. It’s not fair that she believes she’s lost you and Luciella too.”

They’re still searching the remains of the manor, hunting for evidence, but it’s assumed that we’re dead – consumed by the explosion or the fire. I feel terrible that my mum and Ewan will think that, and even Dez and Tylar, but we need to stay hidden until we deal with Bernadette the way she deserves. Then we’ll come out of the dark. And only then will we get to move on and find peace in our fucked-up lives. I get to go build that house for Stacey and our future kids. I’ll make a swing, build a tree house, and I’ll be there every second of their lives.

“I told you, it’s too risky,” I say, glancing at Barry as he drags Bernadette by the arm along the floor. “She’s in protection right now. Her phone might be traced. You calling her might have alerted the authorities that we’re here and alive.”