Chapter 11

Alone I Break

Thomas loosened his grip around Carrie, who guided her soft hand across his ripped skin. At first he flinched, but soon relaxed. He did the same to her shoulder, down her covered arm than placed his hand on top of her's.

"Tommy." she paused and looked down.

"Do you like me?" she continued. Thomas just nodded. Carrie didn't smile, but looked away. Thomas adjusted himself and sat up straight. What upset her? He thought. She looked up at him, her eyes depressed hunched over she stood up.

"Tommy, when I ran away I- I went back to my Ma- Momma." Carrie stuttered. Tear swelled her eyes.

"I went back to my Momma." she cried. Tommy could tell she was trying to hold back the tears. He stood up and walked toward her. She was leaning her arm against his wall.

"My Momma." she repeated. Tommy was about to hug her.

"No." she said pushing him away. Why does she not like me? Tommy thought. She cried and stood up straight.

"She stabbed me. She killed my daddy." she continued. She wrapped her arms around Tommy as if she was never going to let go.

"She was going to kill me." she sobbed. She buried her face in his shirt. They stood like that a little while till she calmed down. Carrie grinned alittle.

"She had another baby." she slyly smiled "Jane."

She laid back on his bed. Rubbing her eyes she said "Tommy, do you remember when we first met?" Thomas sat next to her and nodded. Carrie giggled.

"Yeah, you were hurt, and I just came up to you out of no where." she giggled. She sighed and curled up next to Thomas. Thomas placed his hand on Carrie's waist.

Shiloh was putting on his coat while Ezekiel still searched for his own.

"Do you think Carrie likes Thomas?" Shiloh asked looking at himself in the mirror. Ezekiel stood up and shrugged.

"Oh." Shiloh responded. His face was a bit stressed and worried.

"Well, 11:55." he said looking at the clock. Shiloh walked down the hall way to the top of the stairs. Charlie was drinking on the couch with Monty. Shiloh quietly walked down the steps being unseen. He opened the door to the cool night breeze.

"Huh." he said under is breath. He wondered off the porch into their driveway. Ezekiel was no where in sight neither was Carrie. He continued walking toward the barn. It was dark and cold outside.

Carrie sat up and look at the clock.

"I need to find Shiloh." she stood up walked down stairs. She ran out side to the lone figure.

"Shiloh?" she asked. He turned around and grinned. Carrie smiled and walked with him. Thomas was alone once again. He sat with his face in his hands. After the New Year, Thomas decided to go down stairs. Charlie was passed out while Monty still sat content on the couch next to him.

"Tommy?" Monty slurred. Thomas stopped and looked at him. His eyes looked as if saying 'what?!' like most teenagers do.

"Come er." Monty motioned his weary hand toward him. Thomas drug his feet walking up to him.

"Look at Charlie." Monty chuckled. Thomas looked at his uncle with drool hanging from the side of his mouth.

"Like a baby." he continued chuckling. Foot steps were heard behind him.

"Ezekiel." Monty laughed. Ezekiel just looked then continued walking.

Carrie and Shiloh just stood looking at the sky. An hour has passed and they don't feel the need to do anything.

"What are you doing?" Ezekiel asked approaching them.

"The sky." Carrie awed in wonder. Ezekiel looked up. To him it looked normal. Star were spread across the dark sky. Carrie looked at the dark figure in the window and sighed.

January 14th, 1955

Carrie walked down the hall. Her hair was back. Thomas was getting his book. He shut the door to reveal Carrie.

"Surprise, surprise." Carrie said in a low tone. Thomas just grinned and walked to art. The one girl in art class approached him.

"Your Thomas Hewitt?" she asked. Tommy nodded, she did the same.

"So, is it true what you did to Doug?" she said walking to art with him. He looked at her as if he didn't know what she was talking about.

"Shy, aren't you?" she grinned. Thomas just nodded and arrived to art. Miss Juno sat at her desk working away at a project. Thomas took his seat.

"So, is it true? You killed Doug?" she asked. Thomas froze and looked at her wide-eyed.

"It is!" she gasped. Thomas sunk in his seat.

"But, don't worry." she said. Thomas looked at her confused.

"Yeah, it'll be between me and you." she grinned. Thomas saw this girl not a threat. But, why would she be so nice?

"I see kids like you get picked on, and I feel really bad." she sighed.

Miss Juno was sitting at her desk working away on a painting. Thomas sat down in his seat.

"My name is Jackie." she grinned. Thomas did the same. He worked on his picture. Most kids were working or talking among others. Thomas heard the door open and looked behind him. It was Mr. Hansen. He walked up to busy Miss Juno.

"Could I see Thomas Hewitt?" he asked quietly. Miss Juno looked at Tommy.

"Yes." she said. She walked over to Thomas herself and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Thomas, can you go with Mr. Hansen?" she asked. Thomas heart pounded in his chest and he nodded. He got up and walked to Mr. Hansen who was already by the door. The two walked down the hall. Thomas kept messing with his hands staring at the floor. He thinking about when he was younger.

August 3rd, 1946

Young Thomas was roaming the country side in the blazing heat. Sweat beads rolled down the side of his face. There was a distinct smell in the air. It was of something dead. He followed his senses to the smell. It was a dead coyote. Thomas looked down at it. It was baking in the sun. At first he poked it with a stick, safety first. There was no reaction. He dragged it by its fuzzy tail. A tall shady tree was in the distance. He dragged it to the shade. Out of the sun he inspected it carefully. He ran his small hand across its coat. Fascinated by the dead animal he withdrew his small pocket knife that Charlie gave him. He slowly and delicately slice the animal's tender skin. As he pull the sliced piece off residue was left on it still.

"Thomas?" Mr. Hansen asked. Thomas looked at him.

"Come in." he said. Thomas walked into the small room. It was painted white. Mr. Hansen sat at the door while a man sat behind a large desk.

"Take a seat boy." he said. Thomas did what he was told.

"You seem to-" the man looked at him oddly.

"Have a deformity." he continued. Thomas gave him grimace look.

"Sorry, but I'm here to help." he said. Thomas relaxed and was listening. The man told Thomas about his problem.