CHAPTER 7

On the Yarra River, I spot my favourite bridge made of smooth metal and wires, and sit down on a bench, and look out at the water. This bridge always calls to me; the way the piano did at the bar. No one else is around and the stars shine brightly above me.

I listen to the sound of the river flowing beneath me, and look up at the stars, at two in particular, shining extra brightly.

‘Mum, Dad… I miss you so much,’ I say, bursting into tears.

I wonder what they think about me being in a homeless shelter and going to live at a bar next to a biker’s club house. I can imagine the look on Dad’s face. He would be so worried. I saw him worry and stress before work functions, so I can only imagine how worried he would be for me right now.

‘Don’t worry Dad. I remember your words, like it was yesterday. I won’t let any man fool me or use me. Men are brutal, heartless, monstrous beasts who only want to fulfill their desire, before they toss you aside. Only a man who sees my true beauty can have my heart and soul,’ I say, as though speaking to him.

‘I wish I could sing and play one last song to you both. I miss seeing your faces. I don’t even have any photos of you. Only memories in my head. I’m scared, that as time goes by, I’ll forget what you both look like. If only I knew who took you away from me. I’d at least bring you the justice you deserve; that I deserve,’ I yell, angry. ‘This is unfair! Why us? Why did he kill you both?’ I scream. I cry, yell, and scream into the sky until I exhaust myself, and make my way back to the shelter for my last sleep there.

I’m woken by Hailey throwing a pillow at my face.

‘I waited up until 11pm last night, and you still weren’t back. I was worried!’ She yells at me.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I think I got back around midnight. You were snoring your head off, so I didn’t want to wake you,’ I explain.

‘So, what happened? What was the Snake Pit like? Did anyone try to mug you?’ She asks, laughing.

‘Actually, I move into today! I took the job,’ I say, smiling.

‘You did what? Are you sure about this?’ She asks, concerned.

‘Yes, I’m sure. I actually don’t mind it at all. I even made friends with the Savage Snakes,’ I say, smirking.

‘Zurielle! Those biker men are dangerous! You can’t just be friends with them. They’ll probably murder you in your sleep!’ Hailey says.

‘Stop being such a drama queen. Help me pack my clothes. After breakfast I’ll tell Debbie the news and make my way to the Snake Pit,’ I say.

‘Are we still going to hang out? You’re the first friend I’ve ever really had,’ she says, sadly, looking away.

I wrap my arms around her and pull her into a tight hug. ‘Oh Hailz! We’re besties! We’ll still see each other at work. And we can probably hang out Saturday nights at the clubs. How does that sound?’ I ask.

‘You’re the best!’ She says, squeezing me back.

‘Can’t breathe Hailz,’ I say, pretending to gasp.

‘Oops, sorry,’ she says, releasing me from her grip.

We have breakfast and I make my way to Debbie’s office.

‘Knock, knock,’ I yell out.

‘Come in,’ Debbie replies.

‘Good morning Debbie,’ I say, sitting down in the chair opposite her.

‘Good morning. How did you go last night?’ She asks. ‘Actually, it went very well. I accepted the job and I’m moving in today,’ I tell her.

‘If you’re sure that’s what you want, I’m happy for you. If anything goes wrong, you know you can come straight back here, and we’ll find you somewhere else,’ she says.

‘Thank you. I’ll come back if I need to,’ I reply.

‘Right, then. What time are you leaving?’ She asks.

‘I’m ready to go now, actually,’ I say.

‘I’ll give you a lift, so you don’t have to carry your things all the way,’ she says.

‘Okay, thank you,’ I smile, and nod.

The drive over to the Snake Pit is quick, and Debbie makes sure she parks me a few doors down, and not right outside.

‘Thanks for the lift. I appreciate it,’ I say, hoisting my backpack onto my back.

‘Good luck love,’ she says, smiling.

‘I’ll be fine. I’ll see you around,’ I say, waving goodbye and watching her drive off; holding the box with the urns against my hip.

‘Zurielle!’ I see a couple of the Savage Snakes jogging towards me.

‘Oh hi,’ I say.

‘Let us help you carry your bags,’ one of them says.

‘I’m sorry. I can’t remember your names,’ I apologise.

‘I’m Boomslang,’ the larger guy wearing the blue bandana says.

‘I’m Taipan,’ the very slim, and shortest of the bikers, says.

‘Thank you for the offer, but I think I’m fine. This is all I have,’ I say, almost dropping the box, and Boomslang quickly catches it.

‘Well, maybe just a little help would be nice,’ I say, laughing.

Taipan opens the door, and Boomslang follows me upstairs. The urns are clunking around in the box.

‘Breakables?’ He asks. I frown.

‘My parents, actually.’

He gives me a quizzical look, and I throw my bags on the bed and take the box from him.

‘My parents were cremated recently, and their ashes are in the urns in the box,’ I explain.

‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—’

‘It’s fine. You didn’t know,’ I say, sighing. He nods and gives me a sympathetic look.

‘You should go downstairs before Ruth finds you up here. I don’t want you getting into trouble’ I say, chuckling, and Boomslang laughs.

‘She has beaten one of us up before with a baseball bat, so don’t be fooled by her sweetness,’ he laughs, walking back downstairs.

I unpack my clothes into the bedside drawers, and hang some in the wardrobe. I put my toiletries away behind the bathroom mirror and inside the shower.

I’ll have to buy some food with the money I was tipped, at the cafe. I should see Ruth first to let her know I have arrived and unpacked.

I go downstairs where a tall, overweight man is serving at the bar.

‘Garry?’ I ask.

‘That’s me. You must be Zurielle,’ he says.

‘Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ I say, shaking his hand, and smiling.

‘Can you let Ruth know I’ve unpacked? I’m going to head to the shop for some things. I’ll be back in a few hours,’ I explain.

‘Sure,’ he says, smiling.

I walk down the road to the bus stop, and Boomslang pulls his bike up next to me.

‘Need a lift?’ He yells, over the sound of the engine.

‘I’m going into town,’ I yell, and he passes me a helmet. I put it on and jump on behind him. I wrap my arms around him and we ride to the city.

In the city, I admire all the luxurious items displayed in the shop windows. Knowing Hailey wants to go clubbing on Saturday, I figure I’ll need a nice dress and some heels.

A salesgirl encourages me to try on a cute little black dress. It fits me well but there isn’t a mirror in the changeroom.

‘We have a mirror over here, if you want to have a look at it on,’ she yells, through the door.

‘Sure. That would be great,’ I reply.

I open the door and she points to a floor-to-ceiling mirror.

‘Wow, girl! That dress looks hot on you,’ she says. It sits just above my knee, and it’s backless. It hugs my figure nicely, and shows only a small amount of cleavage.

It might be a little too sexy, but the salesgirl insists it’s perfect on me. It’s marked down from two-hundred- dollars, to fifty dollars, so it’s also on sale.

I wander around some of the other stores, finding a plain black pair of heels, also on sale. I stick within my budget so I’ll get through the week, and have enough money for food and the bus, to get to the cafe.

Leaving the shoe store, I almost get knocked over a couple of times by all the bustling people. I worm my way through the crowd of shoppers, and feeling thirsty, I decide to get a coffee. I go to Cafe Charm since it’s only up the road. Mr Fulton insists on my coffee being free, and I thank him and sit outside the cafe at a table, facing Pure Fashion Industries. At lunchtime, a lot of staff leave the building.

I look down at my shopping bags and notice a small envelope in the bag with my dress, that isn’t mine. The envelope is blank but there is a small note inside.

My Zurielle. Or, what did your father always call you? My Zuri-bear. That dress you tried on looked very sexy on you, but I’m concerned other men will be tempted to claim you for themselves, as beautiful as you are, even without the dress. I want to make this very clear, Zuri-bear. I won’t let another man have what is mine! If I find you dating someone else or if I see another man trying to claim you for themselves, I may get very mad. Someone, such as your bestie, Hailey, might get hurt very badly. Take this as your first and last warning, my sweet love. I will be keeping a close eye on you, even as you read this.