To no surprise Mary couldn't even sneeze without Thomas appearing or Luda Mae asking if she was alright. At the moment she was sitting by the fire with Luda Mae. A crochet hook was in her hand and she was making a baby dress. The weather outside was bitterly cold but Mary was making a sundress as it was likely the little spawn would be born in spring. She had no way of knowing the gender since the only doctoring she got was from Luda Mae or a woman they simply called Midly who was a supposed midwife. Mary didn't account for the woman's abilities and relied on her own knowledge of how things were supposed to go.
For a moment as Mary looped the thread around the hook of the crochet needle the thought did cross her mind to jab it into Luda Mae's open eye socket but that wouldn't prove to be very productive since she was still chained. Mary stared at the dress that was taking shape in her hands. The twisting movements of the creature in her brought a chill to her heart. It saddened her to feel that way but it was not like her pregnancies before. This one was feared, unwanted and she worried that it would come out twisted as the family. "Looks like it might snow." Luda Mae muttered between loops of her crotchet hook. Mary rarely spoke to anyone. She wanted to distance herself from the family as much as possible. Speaking to them gave them some kind of idea that she was becoming a member of the family or giving into her situation which she refused to.
Mary looked towards the window and the day was shadowy with a hallow overcast that did threaten snow. She nodded lightly then went back to her work. Luda Mae dropped her work to her lap and looked at Mary "Midly thinks you are about twenty four weeks. I just can't wait. You'll be bloomin right along with the flowers." she picked up her work again and hummed a lullaby which sent a chill up Mary's spine like nothing she had ever felt before. The creature squirmed in her and Mary tried to ignore it.
The door swung open and in stepped Hoyt to the kitchen "Damnit ta hell it's freezing out there! Makes good for storing meat outside though." he laughed. Mary felt nauseated by his words but tried to act as though she hadn't heard him. He had kept his distance from her at the constant staring of Thomas to let Hoyt know he was watching. Thomas came in behind Hoyt covered in blood from his neck down his apron and to his knees. He didn't say anything as he often didn't but did go to the basement to remove his 'work' cloths and returned when he was clean. The mask over his face was fairly new from some arrivals just a few days earlier. This time Hoyt had kept a padlock on the basement to prevent their escape and Mary's curiosity.
When Thomas returned he pushed past Hoyt and went to Mary. His large hand pushed aside her crotchet work and he knelt down in front of her to press his ear to her growing womb. "Big papa I see." Hoyt laughed and came into the living room where it was slightly warmer than the kitchen. Mary remained still and allowed Thomas to nuzzle his head against her stomach. He was never really cruel, forceful maybe but never injuring her. The small creature moved against Thomas' face against her belly which made him smile beneath his mask. Mary was frozen until he pulled away and then she realized she had been holding her breath. He still made her nervous and despite everything she felt somewhat sorry for him but still feared him.
He leaned down and hugged her whispering "Mine." in her ear before he pulled away. Mary flinched when she heard screaming from the basement. "I told her to git rid of her Hoyt." Luda Mae chided and Hoyt shrugged "I like 'er she's a good fuck to have around." he answered. "Language!" Luda Mae shouted and shook her finger at Hoyt. He had kept the girl Mary had tried to rescue and had probably done so just to torment Mary. She did feel guilty as if she had somehow caused the girl to have a worse fate than just death.
Hoyt flopped down on the couch and kicked his feet up on the table which caused Luda Mae to glare at him and he lowered his boots to the floor. It was getting late and the lower the sun got the colder it got. So most everyone stayed near the fire and only went to bed when it was time to cover up and sleep. Mary stared at the fire and watched it dance. Her eyes closed and slowly opened. Each time they did they opened more slowly until they stayed shut. Her crotchet work fell from her hands. Thomas lifted her from the chair and carried her to bed. He would lie next to her and cuddle up to her sleeping form. His hand rubbed lightly over her stomach feeling the movement within. Mary slept and most often found relief in her dreams.
It was the early morning hours before the sun had rose when Hoyt was grumbling downstairs "What the fuck people want this early." he complained. Luda Mae shrugged lightly "I don't know but go see and git it done quick." Thomas was able to slip from the bedroom without waking Mary. He joined Hoyt to go to the station where someone was ringing a bell for service that was attached to the house. They didn't want to miss a 'sale' or meal rather.
Mary woke to find herself alone and she was happy at that. Even though he had been nice so far she still knew the entire family were monsters. She went to the bathroom to wash her face. She soon changed her cloths into a long sleeved dress that hung to the middle of her shins. The only form of pants she was able to wear were some odd old fashioned bloomers Luda Mae had made for her to wear under her dresses to add warmth. Mary felt like she was in an old western but was glad she didn't have to parade around in just a dress when it was so cold.
When she finished dressing she heard a large crash from downstairs and screaming. She froze and knew that they had found someone else. "Thomas grab him!" she heard Hoyt's voice. Thomas' roaring disapproval of how their food was acting. Mary slowly came down the stairs. Her chain rattled as she stepped down each stair. An urge to assist the stranger or strangers came over her but she withheld. Previous experience that usually only led to trouble. Mary pressed her lips together and came around the corner of the stairs. "Damnit." Hoyt yelled as he lost his grip on a second man who grabbed a kitchen knife and brandished it at Hoyt.
Thomas was blocking the exit outside so the man turned and ran towards the living room and front door. Mary stepped from around the corner and had not been a witness to the scene. To her surprise she came face to face with the stranger. Before she was able to realize or speak he drove the knife into her. Luda Mae screamed. Mary felt herself grow unnaturally cold and crimson blood began to stain her dress. The man shoved her and she hit the wall and crumpled to the ground. "Git him Hoyt!" she head Luda Mae. Thomas slammed the man he held into the floor which likely killed him if not he would not be waking anytime soon.
Mary felt numb and could hear Luda Mae's frantic voice. It sounded so distant. Mary was lifted from the floor and cradled in Thomas' arms. He stroked her hair and muttered inaudible words. "Git her to the truck." Luda Mae ordered. Thomas lifted Mary who was now limp as a rag doll. Thomas climbed into the truck and never once let go of Mary. Luda Mae didn't drive very often but she knew how. Soon they were on their way to the small family practice clinic in town. They couldn't risk taking her to a larger hospital in the city so they relied on the clinic which had at least one or two of their own working there.
Mary's blood covered Thomas by the time they reached the clinic. It was after hours but Luda Mae called the emergency line to have a doctor paged and it took no time for someone to arrive. The town was small and far from any city so the community looked out for one another and the doctors that worked at the clinic took shifts for emergencies along with the nurses.
Thomas waited impatiently until the doctor arrived followed quickly by a nurse. Thomas exited the truck and carried Mary to the front door which the doctor opened quickly "Take her in room 2." Thomas obeyed and laid Mary on the bed. She was near unconscious but fighting it. She didn't know how much she had left. "What happened?" the nurse asked Luda Mae who lied eloquently so "We were all asleep and Mary heard him first. She must've surprised him or somethin' cause the bastard stabbed her and ran." the nurse nodded.
The doctor cut away Mary's dress to find the wound at her right shoulder just below the collar bone. "It's deep." he said as he finally cut away the remnants of the dress. Thomas had been stitched up at the clinic more than once but rarely did anyone get a piece of him or Hoyt like they had Mary. "She'll…she'll be alright won't she? She's expecting my grandbaby in April…what kind of man does that. Stabs a pregnant woman!" she began to sob. The doctor shook his head lightly "I don't know Mam." he answered and the nurse began to clean the wound which refused to stop bleeding. The nurse gave a shot near the wound and it seemed to help slow the bleeding. "Blood platelets are probably low." the nurse said to the doctor who nodded. The nurse then gave Mary a sedative and painkiller. They began to stitch Mary's wound. She was unaware of what was going on and could barely keep her eyes open. Finally she gave into the darkness.