Mary had immersed herself in work. It had been nearly a year since her family was taken in a car accident. Her only way of coping was to bury herself in paperwork. However, her friend Karen had finally convinced her to go on a small getaway with her and her husband, Greg. Mary felt like a third wheel but it didn't matter she would bide her time reading. Which was what she was doing at the moment. Greg was driving and Karen was in the passenger seat next to him. She was thumbing through a magazine when Greg muttered "Shit" and Karen turned to him "What is it?" He sighed a bit "We're about out of gas." Karen shoved the magazine into her lap "You're the one that wanted to take this back ass way to get there. 'Wanted to see the countryside' you said." she scowled at him and huffed "Well, we're going to have to find a station." she pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. Just what they needed, to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere. Mary placed a marker in her book and looked up at them "There was a sign a ways back. 'Last Chance Gas' it shouldn't be to far." Greg nodded "At least someone was paying attention." Karen raised a brow as if that was meant as some insult to her but she said nothing and went back to her magazine.
They had been driving another ten minutes before they came upon the gas station. It looked run down and dusty. It didn't send up any red flags since that was how everything looked around here. Karen sneered at the place "It looks disgusting." she crossed her arms over her breasts and gave a slight huff of disapproval. Mary shrugged "Unless you know somewhere better, here we are." Karen shoved open her down as did Mary and Greg. He looked around and scratched his head "Doesn't look like anyone is around." Mary gestured towards the door "It says open." she went to the door and pulled it open. A bell rang above it and Karen jumped "Who uses cow bells anymore, get a beeper." most places in the city had pleasant sounding dings when someone entered or exited a store. Mary was from the country before she moved in with Karen. "People that don't have a lot of money." Mary replied and shook her head.
Closer inspection revealed there to be cooking chili and some hanging meat. The shop was somewhat clean but very sub par considering how shops in the city were kept. "Hello?" Mary called out and an old woman stepped from a back room until she was behind the counter. Mary greeted her with a smile and the old woman's face contorted to what Mary thought was supposed to be a smile but looked forced "What y'all need?" she said between drags of her cigarette. Mary kept a smile but contempt was displayed on Karen's face towards the woman who Karen thought obviously had no respect for customers or hygiene by her appearance. "Gas…m'am this is a gas station, right." Karen said with her voice in such a harsh tone Mary glared at her. The old woman took a long drag of her cigarette before answered "Yep tis but ain't got no gas here. Spectin' a delivery Monday." Greg groaned in frustration "Its fucking Friday." The old woman snapped her eyes at him "You be watchin' yo' tone wit me boy. I ain't allowin' that kinda language in mah store." Greg held up his hands as if to surrender "Yeah, okay." The old woman sneered a bit and took another drag of her cigarette before she spoke again. Smoke emitted from her mouth and nostrils as she did "I guess I can have the sheriff take ya to tha house and git some of our gas. 'Nough to git ya down the road." Karen suddenly smiled "Oh, that would just be great. We could get out of here." she said but it was in a tone that was both thanking the woman and showing her dislike of the area and wanting to leave. "I'll givem a call." the old woman said and turned to a phone on the wall.
Mary began to look around the shop while the old woman spoke on the phone. Mary couldn't hear what she was saying but didn't think anything of it. Mary stopped when she saw chili bubbling in a pot. She examined it and opened the lid to smell it. The old woman had finished her phone call since she spoke to Mary "Best chili you'll eva have, darling." she grinned. Mary nodded and replaced the lid "I love chili in winter, here in summer it's a little to much. I used to make chili every winter for my family. Deer meat and beans…usually some onions…" Mary paused "I'm sorry…you probably don't want to hear about it." Mary was bad about making friends with strangers. She was from a small town where everyone knew everyone and were kind to one another. Mary pulled a water from the fridge and walked to the counter "Just this." she sad and opened her wallet. The old woman couldn't help but notice a photo of Mary, a man and three children "These yours?" the old woman asked and looked up at Mary who answered "Yes." and pressed her lips together and pulled out a dollar to hand to the old woman who pushed it back to her "On me, dear. So where ya youngins at now?" she asked with a genuine interest. Mary sucked in a deep breath and Karen burst into the conversation "They're dead…they died in a car accident little over a year ago and now Mary's alone. You happy now." Karen grabbed Mary's arm and tried to pull her away and Mary jerked away "Enough Karen. I'm not a fragile little doll that you need to protect. I'm thirty years old and a grown woman!" ever since they were little Karen always acted like Mary's overprotective big sister. The old woman smiled and took another drag of her cigarette. Karen looked hurt but pouted and walked over to Greg waving her arms around and most likely explaining the situation. Mary turned to the old woman "They died…like she said. She pushes for me to get out more, do more find someone but they were my family and it's hard to let go. I'd like to, really, find someone maybe start over." The old woman smiled in a different way than before…it was a genuine smile. "Well, ya ain't old. You still young 'nough to find someone and have some more youngins." Mary smiled and nodded.
There was commotion outside and Mary looked over through the large windows of the store. She could see some kids most likely college age and a larger man, a much larger man. They were teasing him! He wore a mask and they were laughing and pointing. They must have just pulled up since Mary hadn't seen them earlier. Two of the boys were kicking dirt at him and one of the girls was shaking her ass at him. Mary went for the door and Karen called out "Mary its not.." she didn't finish. She hit the door with flying speed and stood between the kids and the masked man. "What the hell's your problem?" she hissed at them. One of the guys stepped forward and had a grin on his face "Nothing baby just having a bit of fun." he bit his lower lip and looked Mary up and down which infuriated her "Well that's enough. Get in your car and go." She put her hands on her hips and the kid raised his brow at her "Did you even look at that big dumb fucker. He's asking for it skulking around in them dumbass cloths and mask." Mary stepped forward so she was directly in his face and spoke softly "I know your kind. You make fun of others so you feel better about your own pathetic existence. Put others down so you can stand to look at yourself in the mirror and forget about your short pencil dick and lack of personality." The guy backed away and towards the car when they got in they flipped her off and peeled away. Mary shook her head and turned towards where the large man had been standing and flinched startled when he was right behind her. "You alright…they're just dumb kids." she smiled for a moment and then walked back towards the gas station. The old woman behind the counter looked like she might have tears in her eyes but Mary shook it off. The old woman moved from the counter to the back room again and the large man outside went around to the side of the building. When the woman came back she smiled at Mary "Sheriff's on his way now." she nodded and took another drag of her cigarette which was about out and she lit another. "You such a sweetheart. Defending someone you don't even know." Mary shrugged lightly "I was picked on in elementary until I learned to fight back. I miss when my mother was younger and people didn't have to worry about fighting, bullies or drugs. Everyone is either smoking pot or screwing in the back of a van." Mary covered her mouth immediately "I'm so sorry that was vulgar." The old woman shook her head "Na, you speakin' the truth dear and I hear ya. This world gone ta hell. Nice to see someone so grounded." Karen was annoyed with how nice the old woman had suddenly become with Mary but still gave a look of scorn every time Karen looked over at her. Mary sighed "I guess I should have been born in a different time maybe…" and with that Karen interjected into the conversation "Yeah, the good ol' days when women stayed at home cooking, cleaning and birthing babies! Yeee Haw!" she slapped her knee and rolled her eyes "Really Mary I think we've come to far to go back to that." Mary glared at Karen "You know what I meant." Karen rolled her eyes and shrugged. The old woman's gaze was piercing Karen and it was one of complete and utter dislike.
A car pulled up in the drive. It was a police cruiser and the old woman stepped outside to talk to the cop before Mary and the other two had a chance to get their stuff together. Mary couldn't hear them so she couldn't make out what they were saying. The sheriff came in and grinned at Mary before he turned to Karen and Greg and gave them a once over "Well, come on now. Git in the car I'll getcha some gas." he ushered them out the door and they got into the car. "Here, ya sit up front. Let them two have some room." he gave a wink at Karen and Greg who laughed and got into the back seat while Mary got into the passenger one and tilted her head when there was no door handle. They drove for awhile before Karen sighed "How far is it?" the sheriff cleared his throat "We're gitting up on it now." and they pulled into a long drive and up to an old house. It had seen better days but was not into disrepair yet. When the sheriff exited the car he took the keys then opened the back seat door and Greg got out. The sheriff went to shut the door but Karen hit it with her foot and got out "I need to pee." she stated and the sheriff clenched his teeth "Sure." he led her to the front door with an explanation and pointed to the bathroom then took Greg towards the garage. "Guess I'll wait here." Mary muttered to herself and leaned back in the seat.
It hadn't been long when Mary thought she heard screaming from inside the house. She stiffened her back and looked towards the house. Again there was screaming and the distinct sound of a door slamming. Mary kicked and tugged on the door. There was no handle to open it and it was locked. Mary began kicking which made her let out small screams of effort but to no avail. The glass wouldn't give. Just as she was panicking she saw the sheriff come out of the garage but Greg was nowhere to be seen. The sheriff approached the car and Mary began frantically trying to explain "I heard screaming, from inside the house. You need to go in there." the sheriff pretended to listen for a minute and the screaming stated but stopped abruptly and the sheriff shrugged and a crooked smile formed on his lips. Mary's eyes grew wide and she scrambled to the other side of the car. Why hadn't she thought of it before! She pulled on the lock and shoved the door open and fell out onto the ground. She scrambled to get to her feet but was met with the sheriff tackling her back to the ground and lifting her up in a bear hug. "Let go of me! What are you doing!" she kicked and squirmed as he shoved her over his shoulder and took her into the house. Once inside he slam the door shut.
The sheriff had tied her up in a chair some time ago. There was a man in a wheelchair watching TV who seemed far more interested in whatever was on than to the woman tied up in a chair in the kitchen. What were they waiting for? Mary glanced one way then another and then to her wrists as she began to struggle and fight against the rope and tape. She heard the front door open and the sheriff's voice "Yeah, mama she's in here." and the sheriff and the old woman from the gas station walked into the kitchen. Mary started to plead with the woman to help her but then it dawned on her that the cop had called her mama. Mary's heart sank. The old woman sat in a kitchen chair next to Mary "Hey, darling. I didn't get tha chance ta introduce myself, I'm Luda Mae. This here's ma boy Hoyt." she leaned in and whispered "Not his real name but he throws a fit if ya call him anything else." she leaned back and lit a cigarette. "What do you want…let me go." Mary pleaded and Luda Mae shook her head "You's gonna be a part of this family." she smiled big and Hoyt chuckled. Mary looked back and forth between them both for an explanation. Luda continued "Well, you was so nice ta ma boy.." Mary looked at Hoyt then back at Luda "Oh not him darling…mah otha boy, Thomas. He was there ta tell me that Hoyt was on his way when those kids caught up ta him and you…sweet dear you helped him. Ain't nobody been nice to him outside of family before." Luda reached out and touched Mary's cheek and she jerked her head away. Luda didn't seemed phased by it.
A moment later Luda yelled "Thomas, git in here!" and the large man from the gas station came to the doorway. He was easily seven feet tall and build like no one Mary had ever seen. He looked like a moving house. "Ya remember Mary here. She that sweetheart that shooed away those rotten kids." she smiled and patted Mary's knee. "You was talkin' so sweet bout your baby's you lost and how you was alone." Mary shook her head no. Karen was the one that said Mary was alone she didn't feel alone. Luda put her hand over her heart "You're gonna be part of our family. Thomas' girl. You two gonna make some of the prettiest babies!" she beamed with pride and Mary began to struggle in the chair making it rock. Mary stopped when she heard the heavy footsteps come towards her and she looked up to the half masked face of Thomas who uttered only a single word in a booming and growled voice "Mine…" Mary shook her head "I can't…I have to go home." she struggled. She knew Karen had to be dead, Greg to and they would've have killed her if she hadn't been so friendly. Luda stood up and spoke in a stern voice "You is home." Mary struggled against the bindings but Hoyt moved behind her and pushed a needle into her arm "Sshhh now sweetie. We gonna take good care of ya. We family and we protect our own." His voice faded into the black of her vision that was failing. Everything was blurring together and a dark circle began to enclose around her vision until all went black.