The Restoration Project

3.11 - Lovely

"I found Wheels, as I said, after someone helped me escape Frankie's," Marybelle started.

"I thought you escaped Frankie's on your own," Lovely asked.

"If I'm going to tell you this, can you just listen?" Marybelle asked, a hint of annoyance, or vulnerability, in her voice.

Lovely nodded and mimed zipping her lips.

"A guy named Merrick helped me escape Frankie's. He was sent by this other guy named Walther, although I'll get to him later. Shortly after I left, I came across Wheels and Tiara's cabin," she pointed at Wheels and he offered an exaggerated wave as he put some noodles in a pot on the stove. "Like you, when I found out he belonged to the Heaven's Devils I wanted to leave. Then he explained that they don't do the things people say they do."

"They literally chased down a guy and beat him up because he wanted out. I saw it," Lovely explained. Punchin' Bags face made her shiver.

"That, unfortunately, happens," Marybelle said, as if it weren't the first time that action occurred.

"You're not exactly making a case for how you're different than others portray you," Lovely pointed out.

"Because you don't know the context yet, I'm getting there. The Heaven's Devils aren't just one group of guys riding around on motorcycles terrorizing people. They're a bunch of small groups, banded together to help people get to the North."

"By giving out coins," Lovely said.

"They're what Walther decided would be the best way to know that who shows up at his house knows how things work," Marybelle said.

"And how does it work, exactly? How do you determine who deserves that? Shouldn't it be accessible for everyone?"

"You want people like the Diego brothers up there? We want the North to be a sanctuary," Marybelle explained.

"And you'll cause pain to anyone who doesn't share that vision."

Marybelle sighed. "When people agree to join the Heavens Devils there's an inherent contract—they can't leave. What we know, who we know—if it were to get out to people in Frankie's town or New Philadelphia we wouldn't be able to manage the influx of people wanting to go. Frankie and New Philadelphia would wage an all out war. It's not ready yet," Marybelle said.

There were so many points in that sentence Lovely had questions about, but she chose to stick with her original line of questioning. "So you beat up a guy when he wants to leave and inject him with Nanobots."

"It's the way we ensure they stay safe and quiet," Marybelle admitted.

"You understand that's fucked up, right?" Lovely pointed out.

"It's not an ideal situation but we're not living in an ideal world. For the most part everyone buys into Walther's philosophy, everyone wants to help as many people as we can."

"OK...and who's this Walther guy?"

"Consider him the gatekeeper to the North. Before him, The Heaven's Devils were exactly what you'd expect. A bunch of guys that looted to survive. But Walther gave them direction," Marybelle explained.

"And he came up with this whole coin system?" Lovely asked.

"Yes, we give people coins, send them to him, he gives them direction. It started with just a few people, but soon, we'll be ready to move out together," Marybelle said.

"Move out?"

"Start the city in the North," Marybelle said.

"Wait, you're saying the North doesn't exist yet? How is that supposed to help me?" Lovely asked.

"The Heaven's Devils are the North. When people agree to join us, they agree that we will one day move North once everything is set. A few people have gone up to scout out locations, there's a few small communities as far as I know, but the bulk of us have remained here, finding more people. Saving more people."

"Like me. This is a lot to take in," Lovely said, leaning back in the chair. She was angry at herself for not seeing it earlier. For not investigating the Heaven's Devils more. And why they waited so damn long to give her a coin.

"Now, since I told you everything, you're going to have to join us or we'll turn you into a Baldie," Marybelle said.

Lovely's heart pounded. She wasn't ready for that decision, or to dispel her illusion of who Marybelle was. That she was a good person. Then Marybelle's lips parted in a smile. "I'm kidding. You came to us for help, I just wanted to explain how things really are."

"So when everyone heads North, are you heading with them?" Lovely asked, trying not to put much hope in her voice. She wanted to reach out and grab Marybelle's hand but resisted the urge.

"Haven't thought of it yet. Have a little unfinished business here," Marybelle said.

"She means with her dick of a grandfather, Frankie," Wheels said, entering from the kitchen and handing Marybelle and Lovely two bowls of steaming pasta.

"Language!" Tiara exclaimed through her bedroom door.

"I'm sorry Tiara," Wheels should. "She has the hearing of a bat," he added in a whisper.

Lovely smiled and smelled the steaming pasta in front of her. It was in a tomato sauce with some vegetables. "OK, so explain to me how you guys have so many vegetables, it's just the spring."

Marybelle smirked. "Guy named Green has a greenhouse—I know, that's his real name, he never wanted to change it or anything—and disperses his produce among us."

Lovely took a forkful of the pasta. "This is really good."

"Thanks," Wheels said. He was back in the kitchen, rummaging through one of the cupboards.

"So," Lovely said through another bite. "Where do we go from here?"

"That, my friends," Wheels said, returning from his venture with two glasses and a bottle of wine balanced precariously in his arms, "is rather evident." He set the glasses on the table and twisted off the cap of the wine.

"What is it with you two and drinking?" Lovely asked, although she had to stuff the pasta in her mouth to stop from salivating when she looked at the bottle. She loved wine.

"I believe I already told you there's only a few ways to put up with Wheels' antics, and this is one of them," Marybelle said, sipping the wine.

Lovely smirked.

"We'll talk more about your situation tomorrow. I'm sure we can find a solution that will be the best for you and the baby," Wheels said, his voice taking on a serious tone.

"We are the good guys. Or at least one of the good guys. There's more out there than you think. Trust us," Marybelle said, reaching forward to touch Lovely's hand.

She wanted to. She really did. But a voice in the back of her mind told her not to get too comfortable.

Everyone needs a villain.