Past

Annie wasn't sure what she meant to be. Some kind of swirling mass of white material that was almost identical to whatever the hell Baby was supposed to be. Annie pulled on the hem of her dress, straightening it out and letting the thick white cloth hit the floor. Baby had thrown a shawl around her shoulders made of white lace, the kimono had long draped, bat wing sleeves that wrapped around Annie's waist when she moved, she kept catching them on things.

"It's pretty hot in here Baby," Annie mumbled with caution, "I'm not sure I'll need this,"

Annie shrugged and the shawl fell down, revealing tanned shoulders but Baby was quick to lightly tap her face and hoist the shawl back up, pulling it tight around Annie.

"No silly," She shrieked with laughter, "But it gets real chilly where we're goin'"

Annie swallowed and allowed herself to be politely guided back into the living room where Otis was waiting for her.

Otis was dressed in a long red garb, the collar rising up around his throat which gave him the appearance of a priest. There was something Annie recognised though, and she fought the smile back since you sensed he wouldn't appreciate it. The harrowing make-up he was wearing reminded her of the past.

"Where are my rabbits?!" Baby squealed as she noticed the absence of people, "Otis!"

"Relax," His attention had turned to Annie, Otis circled her now, waving off his sister with the flick of his wrist, "I gave 'em t' Tiny,"

Baby, knowing Tiny's unreliable nature, blanched before running outside to find him.

Annie stood still as she was appraised by Otis, he idly scratched his stomach while he watched her. "Turn," He ordered and she did, making the Grecian dress swirl out around her waist like a school girl.

"You clean up good mama," Otis murmured.

"You do this every Halloween?" Annie asked in reference to the make-up.

Otis smirked and nodded, he had spent many Halloween nights wearing the pattern she had taught him but not once had he spared a thought for the terrifying make-ups origins. "I had to practice it, but I think I got it down,"

She smiled and bobbed her head.

They were both quiet, looking at their respective shoes. The wind outside made the old farm house groan with strain and Anna looked up to check the ceiling wasn't going to cave in. She found Otis staring straight at her, his reddened eyes were narrowed.

"If you even think about backing out," He was stern, honest, "I'll put you in the same hole as the rest of them,"

It wasn't exactly a threat, so much as a caution, a set of rules for her to abide by so that she was aware and she was warned and so she wouldn't accidentality break them and then he could keep her as his own.

"Don't you trust me?"

"I don't fuckin' trust anyone!" Otis snapped, his finger jittering on the trigger of the gun he was holding.

"What about Baby? Mother Firefly?" Annie tried desperately, wanting a further kind of conformation as to why she was being kept alive.

"They're family, you fuckin' whore!" Otis had raised the gun and was using it to emphasize his point, jabbing it at her face.

"And what am I?!" Annie yelled back, the first time she had dared to raise her voice since she had been brought here. In fact, it may have even been the first time she dared to raise her voice to Otis at all. "'Cause I ain't no fuckin' rabbit!"

Otis drew back slightly, the gun lowering from the middle of her forehead to the base of her neck before jolting back to her head. A blue vein began to stand out in Otis' neck.

"It ain't nothin' but nothin', the Firefly's saved my life, I owe 'em"

Annie's eyes opened wide in annoyance and she cocked her head to the side, raising one eyebrow until Otis remembered what had happened a couple of days before.

In denial, Otis shook his head and thrust the gun at Annie once again, realizing he had lost the argument.

"Get out this fuckin' house Annie-Mae," Otis pointed to the front door, about to lead her outside where the rest of the family where waiting, "And you fill your head with kitty cats and puppy dogs while we're out there,"

Otis grabbed hold of the back of Annie's neck and started to lead her out before stopping and grinning his rotten grin at her.

"Ladies first, sugar," He presented the door to her with open arms.

Annie spared him a confused look and walked in front of him, reaching for the handle. The spank on her arse was at such a force it made her yelp and close her eyes.

"Damn mama," Otis laughed before ushering her out into the darkness.

Otis was at the head of the ghoulish Halloween precession, leading the family across the field. Although the 'rabbits' where tied to a long rope and being guided along by RJ and Tiny, Annie didn't feel much better herself. She was wedged in between Baby and Mother Firefly, both where keeping their watchful eyes on her while simultaneously showering their beloved Otis with praise; Grandpa brought up the rear end.

"Alright happy boy, step your ass up," Otis demanded as they stopped next to a well. The well had two coffins next to it and Annie imagined one of those being for her. She couldn't tell anymore.

It wasn't fear or sadness she felt when she witnessed RJ launch the first man into the coffin, her eyes were glued on the second. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she knew, she understood that Otis wanted to keep her forever, that he would never let anyone but himself hurt her, but that she would be his property.

She was nothing more than a glorified rabbit, a prize winner, the best in show.

Otis made a grab for her waist but she slide back before he touched her, prompting him to beckon the next rabbit for slaughter.

No one noticed a tear as it slid down Annie's face, dissolving into her white dress as she played out her imagined goodbyes.

If Otis thought hunting humans was 'nothin' but nothin'' she wanted to see how well he would hunt her.

Annie took off running.

"Fuck!" Otis bellowed as he saw her run, her dress billowing like a ghost as she pumped her arms in a desperate flee, "Fuck! Shit! Fuck!"

He rose his gun and followed her across the field with it but Baby pulled on his arm like a child.

"No, let me get her!" Baby pleaded and Otis shook his head, breaking into a jog.

"Nah, I got her,"

Mother Firefly looked sullen, upset that her affections had been wasted on a plan that had fallen through.

"Alright, you go get her," She hollered after him, a tinge of sadness lining her voice, before turning back and ordering RJ to close the coffin lids.