The Infamous Two (Short story camper van version)

The Infamous Two: Episode 0 🚌✨

Setting: Birmingham, UK – Late Summer 2022

The sun was setting low over the terraced streets of Birmingham, painting the sky in soft hues of orange and purple. Inside the quiet corner of a local park, Ruman and Veronica sat on an old wooden bench, their backpacks at their feet. For two years, this spot had been their safe place – away from shouting voices, closed doors, and the weight of lives that felt too small to hold.

“Look at that 🧐” Ruman said, nodding toward the road that ran past the park.

Veronica lifted her head and followed his gaze. Parked just outside an old garage was a cream-coloured camper van. It looked a little faded, with worn paint but sturdy wheels and large windows that glinted in the evening light. A handwritten sign was taped to the side: FOR SALE – £800 ONO.

Veronica leaned forward, her eyes lighting up with excitement mixed with caution. “That’s it, isn’t it? The thing we’ve been talking about?”

Veronica: It’s perfect. Big enough to sleep, cook, move around. Just what we need 🚐💨 But how do we actually get it? Buying it is impossible – we don’t have any money, and nobody would ever sell to us anyway.

Ruman: I’ve been thinking about that. He lowered his voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “The owner is an old man. His family owned this van for years. He passed away last year, right? And his son just left it here. I heard from my classmate, Jake, that he never even listed it online. Hates computers, hates social media – says the internet is ‘a place full of lies’. So there’s no record of it anywhere. That works for us.”

Veronica: So it’s like it’s invisible to everyone except people who walk past here… 🤔

Ruman: Exactly. And I know somewhere we can get what we need to make it look real.

Veronica raised an eyebrow, curious but not surprised. She had learned long ago that Ruman knew things he shouldn’t, from books, from watching, from listening.

Veronica: And where is this place you’re talking about?

Ruman: There’s an abandoned bungalow down on Edgewick Road 🤫. Local people call it the Roadman’s Store. It’s run by people who sell all kinds of stuff – second hand papers, tools, signs, even things you can’t get anywhere else. High prices, but they don’t ask questions.

Veronica: Her eyes widened slightly. You know about a place like that? I never took you for someone who knew where the shady spots were.

Ruman: I didn’t either until last month. A group of guys from my class were talking about it during break. They said you have to be careful, and you need to wear something over your face so no one recognises you. Just a simple balaclava.

Veronica: A balaclava? 🧐

Ruman: Yeah. You can get them cheap at the market just five minutes from here. Only about £10. Good quality too, lasts a long time.

Veronica: She smiled, shaking her head. You really have thought about everything, haven’t you?

Ruman: We’ve been planning this for years, V. I wasn’t going to start now without knowing how to do it right 🤞.

They sat in silence for a moment, watching a few sparrows hop across the grass. The plan was starting to take shape, piece by piece, like a puzzle finally coming together.

Veronica: Okay. Let’s list what we actually need. For a long trip – months, maybe even years. Not just for a few days.

Ruman: Right. Let’s make this list properly 📝

He pulled a small notebook and a pencil from his pocket – something he always carried, just in case ideas hit him.

✅ Survival & Living

- Water containers + water purification tablets 💧

- Non-perishable food: tinned goods, pasta, rice, energy bars

- Camping stove + gas canisters 🔥

- Warm blankets + sleeping bags 🛌

- First aid kit + basic medicines 💊

- Torches + spare batteries 🔦

- Tools: screwdriver, hammer, pliers, duct tape 🛠️

- Maps + compass + portable charger 🧭

✅ Van & Travel

- Spare tyres + basic repair kit 🛞

- Cleaning supplies + lock for the doors 🧹

- Fake sale documents + new number plates (we’ll get those from the same place) 📄

- Paint for touching up and changing the look 🎨

✅ Other Essentials

- Warm clothes for cold nights 🧥

- Money saved up – we’ve got around £350 together so far 💰

- Books, games, music – things to keep us company on the road 🎶📚

Veronica: She nodded as he wrote. That covers the main stuff. But what about rules? We can’t just go doing anything stupid.

Ruman: Agreed. Rules number one: We never tell anyone where we’re going. Number two: We stay hidden when we can. Number three: We look after each other, no matter what.

Veronica: Smiling, she added her own thought. And number four: We don’t look back. Not ever. 🤍

A gentle breeze blew through the trees, carrying the sound of distant traffic. For the first time in their lives, they didn’t feel trapped. They felt ready.

Ruman: So this is it. Tomorrow we go to the market. Get the balaclavas. Then we head to the garage.

Veronica: And we take our lives back.

Ruman: Exactly. Together. 🤝

They packed their things and stood up, ready to head home. But this time, walking back through the streets of Birmingham, it didn’t feel like a cage. It felt like the start of something new.