Dee stopped The Last Word’s battered, powder blue van outside an abandoned warehouse that had been taken over by the Hellions. Inside thrash metal forced its way through a distorting sound system but it still couldn’t drown out the sounds of revelry and violence.

She opened that backdoor of the van and called to a gang of Hellions who were chilling outside the warehouse door.

“Hey, hot stuff, I got something for you here.”

One of the Hellion’s “Oh yeah you do, baby.”

She laughed. “It’s not a no, stud, but come see what I got in my van first, ok?”

The Hellions came over to the truck. Their demeanour suggesting they intended to get something from Dee Dee whether it was from the back of the truck or not.

She took out a box and placed it on the sidewalk. “Here you go music fans. The Last Word’s first CD.”

“Hey, we heard them at the Portal the other week, they rocked. Give me one of those,” said one of the Hellions.

“Five bucks?” replied the thug. “Why don’t we just take them?”

Dee Dee sighed. “Because hot head, we don’t be stealing from our own. She pulled aside the strap of her vest top to show them a tattoo of familiar magical symbols.

The Hellions grunted acknowledgment and a little disappointment.

“Hey, Dee.” Dee Dee muttered a damn it under her breath as she heard those words. She looked towards the warehouse to see a Hellion boss walking towards her. “You didn’t return my texts.”

Dee Dee shrugged. “You know, Flashfire, I think there’s something wrong with my cell, I didn’t get them. But, you know, we had fun, I’m sure we’ll do it again. But I‘m busy here, a gal‘s got to pay the rent.”

Flashfire nodded. “What are you trying to sell to my boys?”

“Last Word CDs. I know a lot of you guys are fans so out of respect I brought them to you first.”

One of the Hellions read the back of the CD. “A charity CD. I ain’t buying nothing that’s going to help no charity.”

Flashfire looked confused. “Charity, Dee? Now I know that’s not you. What’s going on?”

Dee smiled. “You know what, guys, that’s the wrong box. This is the box I stole from some dumb charity types.” She picked up the box and put it back in the van. She turned it around and took it out again. “And these are the bootleg charity Cds I burned from them. Not a cent will help a worthy cause. Guaranteed.”

The Hellion that could read nodded his acceptance. “So, five bucks, you said?”

Dee Dee rolled her eyes at Flashfire then looked back at the Hellion. “Are you new, son? Five bucks for a bootleg of a limited edition disc? These are eight dollars.”

Flashfire grabbed the box of discs and thrust them into the arms of the nearest minion. “The lady said eight bucks. Make sure every banger in here buys one, no excuses. Then bring the cash to her. All of it. She’ll be with me.”

The things I do for charity, thought Dee Dee as she let Flashfire lead her into the makeshift club.