Just Misunderstood
By: TheSilverHyena
Warning:: Contains Mature/Adult Content, Violence and Gore, and Adult Language. If you cannot HANLDE these sorts of things, you might want to go elsewhere. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Chapter 5: Defiance
That night, Blake slept very little. Her chains hadn't been removed and she was forced to sleep with her bindings on. Locked in the room where they always kept her, Thomas blissfully snuggled up next to her in bed, holding the girl in his arms and sleeping like a baby. In the middle of the night, Blake woke up with a start, screaming frantically. The revving of a furious chainsaw echoed in her mind's ear along with the disembodied screaming of some poor soul as he was ripped to shreds by the unforgiving blade's cruel teeth. Thomas suddenly sat bolt upright, wide awake. For a few moments, Blake tried to squirm out of his grip, fearful for her life. Then she realized that it was just an awful dream. Despite the abrupt awakening, Thomas showed no anger towards her, remaining patient as he soothed the distraught little female back to sleep. Blake took in a few deep breaths, allowing his touch to calm her.
'What is happening to you? What are you doing? You saw what he did!' Blake mentally scolded to herself, choking back a sob.
Was she already experiencing a case of "Stockholm Syndrome?" Or did she just need contact from another living, breathing person? Too exhausted to try and figure out these questions, Blake let her tired body slip back into an uneasy slumber.
Every day, the family put Blake into a routine in an effort to get her to assimilate into the family's lifestyle. Usually she'd be woken up around six thirty in the morning, just as the sunlight was beginning to peek through the window. Sometimes Thomas would be there with her, but other times she'd find herself in bed alone. She'd be given enough time to get out of bed and wash for the day, occasionally given a little more leeway when she needed to take a shower, but she'd be expected to put on whatever had been picked out for her that day, by Luda Mae of course. Then it was downstairs, to help cook and serve breakfast before assisting with the morning chores.
This... always made her stomach churn. Especially when she had come down to the kitchen one morning to find Luda Mae flaying thin strips of flesh off a chunk of meat that didn't look like any animal protein Blake had ever seen. The way natural juices and blood squelched out of it and the texture of the muscle tissue, the girl knew it was a chunk of human flesh! Luda Mae was cutting it up into strips and frying it up like bacon! It took all of Blake's will power not to spew what little she had been able to eat and keep down all over the kitchen table then and there.
"That girl is gonna need a stronger stomach if she's gonna be part of this family." she had overheard Hoyt say, when she had to lean against a wall for support and take in several deep breaths.
Blake just leveled a glare at the false sheriff, though she didn't say anything, merely fiddled with the chains on her wrists uncomfortably.
"Be nice, Hoyt. Poor girl is still getting' used to things." Luda Mae scolded, lightly, "Come on now, Blake, sweetie. Git the table set, wouldja? Tommy'll be up soon and that boy can eat."
Unable to do much else, the girl complied with the commands from her captors. Was this going to be Blake's life from now on? Forced to play young housewife to a family of brutal backwoods cannibals? Not if she could help it.
'Just play along for now and stay alive. Find a way, any way, to escape! You're on your own this time... no Guardian Angels to swoop in and save you.' Blake told herself.
TCM~ TCM~ TCM~ TCM~ TCM~ TCM~
Often in the mornings, Thomas would be down in his basement doing "prep work", though he'd come up as soon as breakfast was called. At the very least, he had the decency to clean himself up and leave his slaughtering apron and other tools downstairs. But Blake knew, she knew what he was doing down there, chopping and hacking away at human flesh, sorting out the different cuts and packing them for storage or use on that particular day.
The strong smell of leather and iron lingered on Thomas' clothes and skin, causing Blake to cringe and look away when he approached her. When she had the courage to raise her gaze, she couldn't help but notice the hurt in Thomas' brown eyes as he looked down on her, gently running a handful of her hair through his large fingers. With that muzzle covering up most of his face, paired with his bulk and towering height, it gave him a rather frightening appearance. Then, without much warning, he pulled Blake to him, wrapping his arms around her much smaller body and held her chain in his hand. She could feel his leather-clad face nuzzling affectionately against her own, and Blake couldn't help but let out a bit of a terrified squeak.
"T-Thomas... I-I..."
She didn't know what to say, terrified that in some way she might have offended him. Thinking quickly, Blake placed her hand over her heart, fighting to keep the tears back, then reached up with her shackled hands to where Thomas' heart steadily beat in his chest. Shaking slightly, her mismatched eyes locked with his, but she could see he was smiling beneath his mask. Whatever it was she was doing, it was working. Thomas easily picked Blake up in his arms and for the first time, actually kissed her on the forehead.
"My, aren't they jus' adorable together?" Luda Mae practically gushed.
"Who'd have thought we'd ever see that day, huh? My nephew, the family man." Hoyt snickered, not taking his eyes off the two of them, "Way ta go, boy."
While Thomas just ignored them, his attention focused on his girl, Blake felt an uncomfortable heat rising in her cheeks accompanying the shame that she was feeling.
TCM~ TCM~ TCM~ TCM~ TCM~ TCM~
Usually after breakfast was cleared, it was either time to tend to the garden or get the laundry done. Thankfully, since they had enough "meat" to last a good while, it had been a few days since Thomas and Hoyt had gone out on their murdering sprees. Instead they did things around the house, mostly carpentry and repairs, chopping wood, and in Thomas' case, taking care of Toby and Jason. Downstairs in the basement, Vex was still alive. Although Blake herself hadn't been down there since the first time, every so often she'd hear the cultist's mad cackling along with Hoyt's shouting and whooping. The less Blake knew in this case, the better!
Despite the incident that had happened earlier that week, Blake was still regularly allowed to go and see her dogs, though Thomas always had a firm hold on her chain and it was quickly padlocked back in place when it was time to go back inside. Luda Mae had been noticeably impressed with Blake's skills in the kitchen as well. Granted, the knives were kept under lock and key now after the "escape attempt", and while the girl absolutely refused to work with any meat they provided, she had proven herself to be an excellent cook and quite adept at baking as well.
"Here I thought that none of you youngin's these days did anything but play around on that internet and order that take out stuff," Luda Mae mentioned, "Where'dja learn to actually cook with real food?"
"My father taught me, ever since I was very little." Blake answered, simply, taking a moment to relieve the lump forming in her throat when she thought about him, "B-back home, he used to work at a bar and grill. Sometimes, daddy would bring his work home with him. We... we did everything together."
Trying her hardest not to cry, Blake returned to what she was doing, just wanting to get it done and over with. To get this day done and over with. Thankfully, Luda Mae gave her some space and didn't pry any further. Blake became angry with herself; why was she opening up to these people? They were evil, keeping her against her will as a house slave and pet for Thomas, all the while butchering people like cattle. Maybe she just needed to talk to someone, it was human nature. Or maybe the Stockholm Syndrome was getting worse.
Soon enough, a week became two and before Blake realized where the days were going, it was already a month, perhaps more, since she had been there. No sign of that crazy cult being onto her yet, or really... anyone for that matter. Out here, wherever here was, was rural and desolate. Maybe some people in her hometown of Springwood had noticed that she and her father just abandoned their home and left in the middle of the night. The only problem was that people in Springwood tended to disappear without a word or trace all the time. So who, aside from the Soldiers of Eternal Damnation, would even know to start looking for her anyway? Blake was effectivly cut off from the rest of the world out here, in her own private little patch of Hell. As for the great escape plan? So far since Blake's first failed attempt, she hadn't tried again, especially since there were now the chains to contend with.
By now, she was well enough for the stitches in her side to be removed and no longer needed the bandages. Where Blake had been stabbed was now a pale scar. Just one of many, actually. It went quite nicely with the long but fading slice-mark on her right forearm and the scar on the other side of her midsection that had come from being jabbed with a cattle prod, both of which she had been given when she was only nine. Each scar, each mark, looking at them in the mirror, Blake remembered something she had heard Jason tell her a while back when she had read his thoughts.
'Every scar is proof of a fight won. Each one, I earned for Mother. I earned for Lisa. Some, I even won for you. Wear them proudly, Blake. Stay a good, strong girl for your father.'
Yet while her body healed, her psychic abilities still brought upon her unbearable pain every time she tried to use them. But she would not give up, she would not give in. Steeling herself, Blake got dressed for the day, this time a navy blue sundress that fell just below her knees with elbow-length sleeves, then went downstairs as usual, dragging her tether behind her.
The morning started off okay. Hoyt made a few snide jabs, trying to get a rise out of Thomas. He in turn simply snorted in response, focusing his attention on Blake while the girl just let him. That was all pretty standard anymore. However, Blake felt her heart sink when Hoyt excitedly called out to Thomas, waving his rifle in the air, "Come on, boy, we got some at the station! Let's git goin'!"
"Thomas... Thomas wait! Don't, p-please don't do this!" Blake pleaded, grasping the sleeve of his well worn shirt.
Gently, Thomas detached the girl from him, lightly brushing her hair behind her ear, grunting softly and kissing her forehead. Blake made a desperate attempt to read his thoughts, only to feel the familiar pounding in her skull she was beginning to get used to, before falling back in Luda Mae's arms.
"D-don't go... Thomas..." Blake weakly called out again.
"It'll be alright, sweetie. Thomas'll be fine. He'll be back for ya." Luda Mae said, in a reassuring voice, "Don't you worry bout' him, child."
As if that's where Blake's concerns were! No, she wasn't worried about Thomas getting hurt. She was far more scared about what poor, innocent sap out there would be on the receiving end of his chainsaw! He had been raised and groomed to be a monster, and Luda Mae and Hoyt held the leash firmly in their hands. Blake was hopeful that maybe the days without any brutal killings or kidnapping may have been a sign of better things to come. Once again, she had been foolishly optimistic.
Time ticked by painfully slow. After the guys had gone out "hunting", that left Blake alone with Luda Mae. She mostly considered the elderly woman to be the bigger threat, considering ol' Uncle Monty was usually either watching TV, parked out on the front porch in his wheelchair, or napping. While making her mental list of different traits and little things she had noted, trying to keep her mind off of what suffering some innocent soul might have been going through at that very moment, Blake didn't notice that the broth she had been heating up on the old, antique stove began to boil over. Startled out of her trance-like state, she moved the stew pot from the burner, yelping slightly as some of the hot liquid splashed onto her bare skin, and hastily began trying to clean up the mess. (Something that would have been much easier without those stupid chains getting in her way!)
Looking up, there was Luda Mae, her hands full of dishes as she was getting ready to set the table for lunch.
"I... I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean to-" Blake stammered.
"There, there now, child. No need to be gettin' all worked up. Little mistakes happen."
Surprisingly, the old woman helped Blake with tidying up and getting lunch back on track. But this kind gesture, genuine or otherwise, it was another method of getting her to trust them. Trying to get her to "accept" her place in their twisted family unit.
"Watch over the kitchen, wouldja dearie? I gotta check on Uncle Monty, see if he needs anythin'." Luda Mae instructed, before she left.
Just as the Hewitt Matriarch padded her way out to the front porch, the telltale sound of a car rolling up the dirt driveway could be heard. Seems like Thomas and Hoyt were back from their little road trip and judging by the barking of orders paired with terrified screams, it had been a lucrative one.
"Git this livestock inside and give it a good washing, Thomas!"
A low growl from Thomas was all Blake could make out from where she was. Upon hearing the two of them stomping inside, Luda Mae calling out instructions of her own from the front porch as they did, Blake could only find herself able to watch as Thomas brutishly dragged two people, one male, one female, by their hair along the floor. Both had dirty blonde hair, perhaps not the most handsome people in the world, but they were by no means homely. They were tied up and beaten, though still struggling violently and screaming at the top of their lungs. Blake wanted to help them, but remembering what happened the last time she tried to help someone, she stayed where she was, trying to pretend not to notice. And it sickened her all the way down to her already queasy stomach.
'What are you doing?! You're better then this. Do something! Help them...' she mentally hissed at herself.
Too late. The screaming couple had already been dumped down the stairs into that den of torture and death, with Hoyt and Thomas slamming the slaughterhouse door behind them. Disgusted with herself, Blake turned back to the task at hand, beginning to hyperventilate once more. What could she have done for them anyway? Offer emotional support? How would that go?
'Oh, I'm sorry you've been kidnapped by a family of insane, brutal cannibals. Don't worry, I have an idea of what you're going through, I get to be their enormous butcher's happy little housewife! With any luck, he'll slaughter you cleanly and mercifully. Don't mind that big, scary chainsaw.'
Yeah, that'd go well! Just as Blake began mentally berating herself for her lack of action, there was a loud banging and crashing sound coming from the basement, along with Hoyt's creative swearing and a painful howl coming from Thomas. Curious, the girl took a peak out into the hall, fidgeting slightly with the shackles locked around her wrists. Frantic footsteps greeted her ears and she heard the basement door slide open again.
"No, not out that way, those other two are out there!" said the boy, in a harsh whisper.
"In here!" whimpered the girl.
Somehow, the two captives that were just brought in had gotten loose and were now fleeing for their lives. In a matter of a heartbeat, they turned into the kitchen, gasping fearfully when their frightened eyes landed on Blake, who appeared equally afraid. Then the two of them noticed the chains on her.
Thinking quickly and without a word, Blake trotted to the kitchen door that lead out back to the clotheslines and opened it. She could already hear Thomas and Hoyt regaining their bearings from whatever happened to them and time was running out!
"Please get help!" Blake mouthed, motioning for them to get a move on.
"What in the hell's goin' on in there?!" Luda Mae called, from the front door.
With a pained and urgent look on her face, Blake stood aside so that the two teens who were just a little bit younger then herself could escape. The female gave a curt nod in thanks and the pair bolted out the open door and into the backyard. While closing the door and returning to minding the kitchen as if nothing had even happened, a slight smirk crossed Blake's face and her once tight and painful chest finally felt some relief. But it wasn't to last.
"Where'd them lil' fuckers run off too?!" Hoyt snarled, from the hall.
There was the distinctive sound of a round entering the chamber of a rifle and at once, Blake's heart sank. More so when Thomas' heavyset footsteps echoed from the basement and the revving of the chainsaw began once more. When Hoyt skidded to a halt in front of the kitchen entrance, gun at the ready, Blake just tried to make herself seem as small and insignificant as possible.
"You see em', girl?!"
"N-no... I... I haven't seen anyone. Y-you and T-Thomas took them to the basement." Blake lied, praying that for once she'd be able to pull it off in a convincing matter.
Maybe, just maybe she could at least buy those two some time.
"Hoyt! Thomas! Git on out here, I see em!" Luda Mae shouted, "Tryin' ta sneak out to the highway!"
"Nice try!" Hoyt hissed at Blake, before rushing for the front door instead.
He was followed closely by Thomas, who was not only holding the chainsaw, but also wearing that horrible, blood-stained and heavy leather butcher's apron. There appeared to be a wound in his side, possibly caused by a small blade. Not enough to seriously injure him, but enough to piss him off.
While the fake sheriff remained on the porch with his rifle, Thomas charged ahead like a freight train with that chainsaw of his sputtering to life. Terrified, Blake darted out after them, her face stricken in horror as an agonized shriek pierced through the country sky. There was the teenage girl, her ankle caught in a devilish metal snare that was intended for bears or other dangerous game. She screamed at who Blake guessed was her boyfriend to just keep running, even as he frantically tried to free her from the trap. Thomas was already nearly upon the two of them, but when the boy finally resumed his flight, a loud 'BANG' ripped through the air, originating from Hoyt's rifle. The poor fool didn't even have a chance before he fell to the ground, half his head splattering in all directions.
"NO!" Blake screamed.
"Go on Tommy! Finish the job there, boy." Monty called from his wheelchair, with a wickedly sick smile forming on his old, wrinkled face.
All of these people! They were like some sort of sick cheer leading squad for the beast they had created. Blake couldn't take it any more, she called out to Thomas, hoping that her voice would carry over the horrible noise of both his chainsaw and family. She ran for as long as she could, up until her bonds reached their limit and she was violently jerked back, falling flat on her rear. Frantic, Blake thrashed and pulled against the chains, screaming and begging for Thomas to stop. The massive brute now stood over his helpless, sobbing victim, taking notice of Blake on the ground, trying to free herself from her shackles, and the rest of his family watching him from the porch. He raised the chainsaw over his head, taking one last glance at his family. If only Blake would understand. He had to do this. It was his duty to protect his family. To protect her now that she was a part of it.
"THOMAS! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME! DON'T HURT HER!" Blake begged, falling to her hands and knees with her head bowed, knowing that deep down, it was useless to even try, "SHE NEVER DID ANYTHING TO YOU!"
Blake didn't know, but girls like this DID hurt him. They had always hurt him and would continue to do so, for as long as Thomas could remember. Calling him hideous. Ugly. Stupid. Kicking him. Hitting him. All while laughing.
"Go on. Set 'er free, child!" Luda Mae ordered.
Thomas nodded in understanding before driving his unforgiving chainsaw's blade right in between the poor girl's legs. Her horrible screeches didn't last long, as the blade worked it's way up the rest of her torso, killing her rather quickly. Thick, sticky blood and bits of bone and flesh sprayed everywhere, coating a good portion of the once brown dirt and grass a sickly crimson. Quite a bit got on Thomas, though he didn't really seem to care. He just released the mangled corpse from the bear trap, dragged it along by one ankle while hefting the bloody, still sputtering chainsaw over his shoulder.
Blake could feel his eyes on her, looking down on her quivering form, yet she didn't move from where she was rooted to the ground. While she may not have watched the slaughter this time, the girl could not make herself deaf to the sounds. Wordlessly, as always, Thomas shuffled past, dragging the body of that poor, innocent girl with him to the praise of the rest of his family.
"You done this family proud, son." Luda Mae said, "Kept us safe, kept her safe."
"Pity it had to be this way. Kinda a waste, she'd have made a nice replacement for that crazy bitch I got stashed down in the meat locker." Hoyt mentioned, with a sigh, "Oh well, all of her holes still work, I can use her a few more weeks!"
"Hoyt... nuff of that kinda talk around respectable ladies!" Luda Mae scolded.
She gave him a light slap on the arm, to which Hoyt just chuckled.
"Come on now boy, we gotta git this mess cleaned up. Then we can grab lunch! Whatever yer lil angel's been cookin' in there, it sure smells good! Just needs some... meat!"
When Blake finally managed to look up at the rest of the family, Hoyt flashed her the most taunting and cruel grin imaginable before going inside. She wiped away her tears, which combined with the dust began to form a thin layer of mud on her face. Now that the show was over, everyone was heading back in, except for Luda Mae. Though before she could come down the stairs to check on Blake, Thomas had already dumped off his load, ignoring his uncle's shouts of "Lazy ass, git back over here, work ain't done yet!" and in just a few strides, he was already at Blake's side.
He grumbled a few times, like he was trying to say something but the words just wouldn't come out at all. Blake meanwhile, felt her head spinning painfully and her limbs refused to obey her commands. The harsh, Texas heat beat down upon her and the smell of blood, leather, and iron made her feel ill. With a short, whimpering breath, the girl passed out, lying limp on the ground. Grunting sadly, Thomas scooped up Blake's limp form, trying to get some sort of response out of her. She was still breathing, but remained unmoving in his arms.
"Too much excitement for the poor girl, I reckon." Luda Mae sighed, as Thomas showed the girl to his mother, "Bring her on inside, child, we'll get her cleaned up."
She had Thomas lay Blake's passed out form on the couch in the living room. While Luda Mae took a damp washcloth to the unconscious girl, Thomas kept a gentle hold on Blake's hand. Looking at her hand in his own, the size difference was certainly noticeable. Her skin, so soft in comparison to his own. Lightly, the massive brute nuzzled against her, kissing her forehead and growing more and more distraught to the point where he was whimpering.
"She'll be okay, Tommy. Just needs a bit o' rest," his mother reassured him, patting him on the arm, "There aren't many out there like her, that is good enough fer my boy. Good enough fer you. But she don't understand the way things are like you an' I. That's why you need to protect her, Thomas. Keep her safe. Especially... since I think she'll be ready in jus' a few more days."
Thomas perked up immediately, managing a smile beneath his thick, leather mask. He nodded to his mother in understanding, keeping a careful watch over the girl. Practically purring, the giant stroked his hand down the length of her sleeping form, kissing her forehead once again and delighting in her soft moans.
'Nice Blake. Pretty Blake. MY Blake.'
*Later that Evening*
When Blake had woken up, it was already dinnertime. She had been out of it all afternoon, completely skipped lunch and everything. The girl vaguely remembered tending to lunch when it all had come flooding back to her. Those two teens, the attempt to help them escape, sounds of gunfire and the roar of a chainsaw, and the last thing she remembered was the entire weight of the world rapidly spinning all around her and crashing down upon her head... then she woke up on the living room couch.
"Heh... lookie who's finally awake. Just in time fer dinner." Monty jeered, with a bit of a laugh, lightly poking at the girl with his cane.
Great, another Hewitt Family Picnic. What joy! Who were they having for dinner tonight?
Well, to be fair, the dinner itself wasn't as bad as it could have been. Blake just remained quiet, kept her gaze lowered, and avoided eating anything that even looked like meat. She only ate anything at all because it appeased Luda Mae, who showed concern for the fact that the girl hadn't had much breakfast and completely skipped lunch. Thomas was showing even more fondness and affection then usual, and it took every ounce of will not to shy away and reject his touch. For someone that could murder another girl that was just like her without a second thought, he sure enjoyed cuddling and nuzzling against Blake every chance he got. Hoyt, as per usual, kept up a rather predatory stare on the girl, much to Blake's discomfort.
Once dinner was over, Luda Mae had requested Blake's help in cleaning up. To the younger girl's shame, she immediately set about doing as asked. She tried telling herself that it was just so that she wouldn't end up on the dinner table, but... Blake had never been good at lying, not even to herself.
'You saw what he did to that poor girl. You saw what THEY did to them. Do you really think you can... save him?'
Blake cast a rather solemn glance at Thomas as she took his empty plate from his setting, then moved on to grab Hoyt's, doing her best not to shudder in disgust.
"Sure is a cute lil' thing," Hoyt mentioned, craning his head around in an attempt to get a better look at Blake's eyes, "Still, ain't much of a rack on 'er."
While Blake may have flashed him a momentary glare, Thomas let out a low grunt to make his displeasure known and tensed up.
"But she does got a cute little ass, I'll admit." Hoyt continued, taking a swig of his beer.
Thomas' grunt was now a growl. Luda Mae turned away from the sink with a huff, knowing that Hoyt was just trying to get a rise out of Thomas, as he usually did just for fun.
"She ain't yers! Blake is Tommy's girl, you got that?"
Blake was just trying to keep her head down, mouth shut, and get her work done, but what Hoyt did next crossed a line. All the bottled up stress and anxiety from her captivity and what happened earlier that day was about to boil over.
Once again, Thomas nodded in agreement to his mother's words and glared at his uncle, to which Hoyt just snickered.
"Come on now, boy! You really ought to be old enough to learn how ta share yer toys, ain'tcha?"
And with that, the false sheriff gave Blake a firm swat on the rear as soon as she turned her back to him. He laughed as she let out a surprised yelp and jumped a little from the slap. But when Thomas stood up from his seat, Blake dropped the dishes she had been holding, letting them shatter on the old tile floor. Without even turning around, she instinctively jabbed her elbow behind her, cracking Hoyt right in the face and nearly sending him ass over tea kettle while he was still in his chair. Needless to say, his jeering laughs soon became a cry of both pain and surprise, having NOT expected that reaction.
"Oh good heavens!" Luda Mae cried out, momentarily covering up her mouth with her hands out of shock.
Blake herself had a look of abject terror and shock on her face as well once it registered in her head what she had just done. She... she hadn't even planned that. It... it just... happened. No doubt he deserved far more then an elbow to the face, but if looks alone could kill, Blake would have dropped dead that very minute. Now she had done it!
"W-what the fuck?! Why you lil' fuckin' bitch!" Hoyt howled, holding his nose while moaning in agony, "I ought ta have ya strung up like that whore I got in the meat locker fer that!"
Before Blake even had a chance to do or say anything, Hoyt grabbed hold of her chain and jerked it towards him, earning a whimper from the shaken girl, only for Thomas to let out a roar that could have shook the heavens themselves. Furiously, the titan-sized man took the chain from his uncle's hands, yanking it back and putting himself in front of Blake in a territorial gesture. Angrily, he shook his head and possessively stroked the terrified girl with his free hand. When he did, Blake felt that familiar surge of pain force it's way through her mind, but this time, she thought she heard a faint, gravely voice, snarling,
'MY Blake! Not yours! Not let you hurt my Blake!'
"Look here, Tommy! You gonna let her get away with that?!" Hoyt shouted, using the sleeve of his shirt to wipe off the blood pouring from his nose, "Lemmie teach the cunt her place 'round here!"
"Both of you boys! Knock this off right now!" Luda Mae interjected, before things got more violent.
With a huff, she pulled a handkerchief out of her apron pocket and handed it to Hoyt to staunch the bleeding. Nothing was actually broken, but he'd certainly have a firm reminder lingering on his eye and nose for a few days not to do that with Blake again.
"You shoulda known better! I told ya she wasn't yers ta be toyin' with! Wanna piss him off further?" Luda Mae questioned, her voice stern with her hands on her hips emphasizing her stance on the matter, "Now Blake's place in this here family is with Tommy, you got that?!"
"But Mamma, didja see what she-?" Hoyt complained further.
When the old matriarch shushed him again and ordered him to drop the matter, Hoyt threw his hands up in the air and left the dining room in a huff, though not before leveling a menacing glare at Blake. Soon after he vanished around the bend, the sliding steel door slammed open, then shut just as quickly; he was probably going to vent his frustrations on Vex. For the first time in her life, Blake may have felt a little sorry for a Solder of the Damnation, but she knew that she herself wasn't off the hook yet.
"Tommy, move... let me see her, now." Luda May ordered.
Much to Blake's dismay, her rather large human shield lowered his stance and backed down, submissively lowering his gaze.
"I... I'm sorry... it... it just... h-he scared me. I... I didn't know what else to do." Blake stammered, anxiously fiddling with the chains on her wrists.
Sighing heavily, Luda Mae shook her head. She hoped that the "fight" had left Blake. She remembered that day back at the convenience store, the way that the girl fought against those cultist thugs. It was as if someone had taught her how to fight back and defend herself. They had taken precautions, keeping the girl chained to prevent escape, but they may have allowed her too much freedom still.
"Now listen here, girl. That wasn't very lady-like of ya ta do that! There ain't no need fer it, ya hear? Tommy's here to protect ya. He wouldn't let Hoyt do nothin'. Hoyt may be an ass at times, but he was just messin' with ya, that's all." Luda Mae stated, "No more, I won't have it under my roof."
"A-and w-w-when Thomas isn't here, what then?" Blake questioned, her voice quivering with anger.
She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes as the elderly woman leaned in closer.
"Not sure if anyone's ever told ya this, butcha ain't too good at lyin', girl. Now, you is still getting' used to the family and had an exhaustin' day, so I'll forgive ya this once, child. Just keep yer distance from Hoyt fer a bit until he cools down some."
Slowly, Blake nodded in understanding, knowing full well that she got off easy this time and arguing further could only land her right back in hot water. (Or more likely, a meat hook.) Thomas gave out a loud, growling rumble and even rolled his eyes in annoyance. More then likely, had Blake not performed her little stunt, Thomas himself would have made Hoyt a permanent part of the kitchen floor.
"Don't you go and sass me, boy! Git on upstairs and git her to bed now. Been a long day fer all of us!" Luda Mae sighed, looking around at the mess in the kitchen and dining room there was yet to clean up, "Try to get along with Hoyt, dearie. I know it ain't easy, but he really ain't so bad once ya git used to him." she sighed, brushing a stray lock of Blake's hair behind her ear.
The young psychic didn't answer, she just remained quiet as Thomas coiled up her chain and scooped her into his arms, carrying her up the stairs and into her room, bridal style. When they passed by the door to the basement, Blake could hear Vex screaming down there and Hoyt grunting wildly. She flinched, burying her face against Thomas' chest. The pain throbbed in Blake's head and again, it was back to white noise and nothingness, but back there... she knew she had heard Thomas. She didn't know exactly how or why, it could have been the situation, the stress, anxiety. But a little spark of hope ignited within Blake's soul that maybe, sometime soon, her powers would return to her.
A gruff, gravely noise coming from Thomas' throat caused Blake to glance up. Naturally, the giant brute still terrified her, but there was something about the glint in his eyes she could make out past the mane of lanky dark hair. He was... laughing.
"B-because... o-of... what I d-d-did to your uncle?" Blake questioned.
Without a word, Thomas nodded, hugging the girl close. He brought her up to their room, closing and locking the door behind him. After Blake had changed into her nightgown, the shackles were once again locked around her wrists. Yet, Thomas was always gentle with her. He tucked her under the covers and made sure that she was comfortable and safe in bed before cuddling up next to her for the night. Before surrendering to sleep, he made that gesture with his massive, bear-paw sized hand, placing it over Blake's heart.
He had made a promise to protect her, care for her, even if she didn't understand why he did what he had to do. It was his duty to protect his family from the cruelties of the outside world that had abused him. Since she belonged to him, that made her family, and no one, absolutely no one was going to take his most precious treasure away from him. Mother told him that Blake was almost ready, and that meant he'd have to keep a diligent watch over her, even from other members of the family, especially Hoyt.
"G-good n-night, Thomas." Blake said, with a tired yawn.
Honestly, how was it possible for one man to frighten her so much yet make her feel so secure? While part of her was screaming at herself not to give in, that he was just a brutal monster belonging to a cruel, sadistic family, Blake had a feeling that she could reach past the beast and find the man within. He wasn't heartless nor mindless. He had just been dealt a rotten hand in life. A facial deformity he had no control over, something he had been shunned and mocked for. Then, Thomas' family had brainwashed him, turned him into a monster with years of careful grooming. Maybe she was meant to help him. Was he truly evil at heart... or just misunderstood?
::To be Continued::
Author's Notes: Chapter 5! Yes, this chapter has one of my first ideas that had sparked this story in the first place!
I know, I've got a pretty big time skip here, but this is long-term imprisonment. (Still, Blake's getting better treatment then Vex!) I wanted to look into the fact that while Blake is bonding with Thomas and a bit off friendship/trust is there, she's also struggling with what he's been trained to do for his family. When you look at it, any of the renditions of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", Thomas/Bubba is usually being ordered around and even bullied by his own family, yet he remains fiercely loyal, obedient, and protective of them.
Another brutal killing, this time a two for one special. Also revealing use of the bear traps that we see in "The Beginning", (Which is actually my favorite of the TCM movies.)
Finally... save the best for last... Hoyt getting cracked in the face! Couldn't have happened to a nicer asshole. (Remember, Blake's had self defense training from two other serial killers!) While this was a major slip up on Blake's part, Thomas found it rather amusing. The first line I ever even thought of for the story entire story as awhole was Hoyt's,
"Come on now, boy! You really ought to be old enough to learn how ta share yer toys, ain'tcha?"
A slap on the rump. Then 'SMACK'! Right in the face. Sure, he's used to being slapped and kicked at, but I don't think Hoyt's encountered a girl that knows how and where to properly strike. If I never dreamed up that little scenario, I wouldn't have even been writing this. Funny how these things work out, huh?
Please drop a review, reviews are like coffee! XD Keeps me energized. I'm also up for chatting!
I will warn you, the next chapter WILL contain some content that may disturb some people.
Disclaimer:: I do not claim to own The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or any of it's characters. The references to Jason Voorhees and Lisa Voorhees are from Lady_Vorrhees' story, The Strange Good Girl.