Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Texas Chainsaw Massacre
As I warned in the previous chapter there will be gore.
The drive to the Sloane farm was almost over and they could all finally take a break from being locked up in the car together for a few days. Glancing out the passenger window Winry ignored the excited chattering from the back seat, her right arm resting on the door with her hand cradling her face. The trees slowed as Lee took the turn that Luda Mae had shown her, thinking of the kind older woman again Winry felt her lips form a quick soft smile.
Trees once again flashed by as the SUV picked up speed and Winry felt her mind start to lose focus, her mind wandered and surprisingly she found herself thinking of the mountain of man back at the shop. Luda Mae had said he was her son, Winry's brows drew together at realizing she had never gotten his name. Though to her once they were done with the short pit stop at Lee's Aunt's house, she would probably never see the man or his kind mother again.
Winry was pulled out of her thoughts as she heard Lee use the steering wheel to pull himself up so he could sit straight. She glanced out the window as Lee slowed down the SUV and checked the map, his finger was where Luda Maes had been not long ago.
"This dirt road should be it, but I don't recall the short brick fencing on either side." Lee spoke aloud to himself. No one responded. He tapped his finger on the steering wheel and the SUV went from a slow crawl to a stop.
Marlene unbuckled and leaned in between the two front seats and looked at the map over Lee's shoulder, speaking cheerfully, "maybe it's because you haven't been here in years?" Winry could see Lee roll his eyes, but as Marlene couldn't see him she continued, "I mean you told us that 'this place is a nowhere hicksville shit hole and I promised to never come back'."
Pulling her into the back seat Mark leaned forward now, when Marlene huffed he patted her knee with his right hand and looked at the road and then the trees that spanned out to hide what lay beyond them. "I mean this is where you said that woman told us to go, it wouldn't hurt to check."
Lee continued to tap the steering wheel and Winry looked at the stretch of road before them and then to the shaded little road they were meant to go on. "Maybe if someone lives down here they could direct us where we need to go…maybe she was wrong." Winry spoke softly, but she knew the others had heard her.
"I mean we're already lost, what's a few more minutes trapped in this car with you all." Mark patted Lee's shoulder and leaned back after to stretch as best he could in the back seat. Everyone waited as Lee grumbled something about 'idiot hicks' before he turned onto the road and drove past the wall and through the trees.
Within minutes they drove through the trees and saw a large white house at the end of what they thought was a road, but was actually a really long driveway. The grass had dead patches and yellowing grass on the edges of the gravel driveway that soon turned into uncontained yellow and green grass spread out as far as one could see. There were a few trees around the house with more behind it. The closer they got the bigger the house became, a lot of the front yard had debris littered around, most of it looked to be farming equipment.
A few clothes lines were set up to the left of the house where sheets billowed in the slight breeze. An old barn and what looked like a shed also sat behind the clothing lines and further to the left.
Lee pulled the SUV up where the driveway stopped at the front of the house and parked, turning off the vehicle. He sat back and jingled the keys in his right hand before speaking, "Definitely not my aunt's place." They continued to sit there looking up at the house with it's old white paint that had seen better days, much of the house looked worn down and the color nearing brown from lack of care and dust storms. The large pillars gave it a southern charm and helped shade the lower and second floor decks from the sun.
Marlene spoke after the long silence, "it's cute, in an antique kinda way I think." Winry showed a small smile and Mark agreed while Lee just shook his head. "Well who's going to knock?" Marlene asked after another short silence.
When no one volunteered right away Winry unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out of the car and shut the door, no one stopped her or said anything so she walked over to the porch and walked up the few steps to the front door. The front door was open, but a quaint screen door was closed and she knocked on the wood frame causing it to tremble.
"Hello? Is anyone home?" she tried hard to speak up as she called out. Winry was quiet by nature, but she wanted to get to the Sloane farm and finally be able to sleep on a bed for a few days before they left for the concert.
Peering through the screen she saw a staircase that led upstairs on the right of the front hall and that there were three rooms with closed doors, two leading to the left and one to the right. Another door was at the end of the hall and it was propped open, but it was too dark to see what was beyond the door.
Winry knocked again and made herself nearly yell out her hello. A bang was heard in the house which made her jump back and turn to look at her friends and boyfriend. Lee had popped the door open and was standing up to look over the SUV's hood at Winry. Marlene had rolled down her window so she and Mark could see better.
Another bang had Winry turn back to the front door, she nearly jumped down the porch, but a man now rolled his wheelchair into view. Pausing in her near mid flight Winry gave an anxious smile till the man shoved one of the screen doors open and she caught it before it hit her arm.
The man was older and had a beat up old ball cap on his head that was faded and mixed with so much dirt and probably sweat that she couldn't tell what color it was. His arms lay on his lap as he eyed her up and down, his voice was harsh, "What the hell you want?"
Winry blinked at the man before realizing she needed to respond, "Oh I'm sor-"
"Speak up! Can't hear good no more."
At his abrupt interruption Winry's shoulders tensed and she turned to cough into her shoulder then she spoke again louder this time, "Sorry, we were given directions here from Luda Mae. The woman at the gas station in town. Though this isn't the Sloane farm we were looking for."
The man wheeled himself onto the porch which made Winry step back farther to give him room. Spitting off the porch and using the back of his hand to wipe at his mouth he eyed the vehicle with everyone waiting. "She gave you shit directions. Sloane farm is in'a next town o'er." He settled his arms back to resting in his lap and watched Winry bite her bottom lip.
"Oh thank you, pardon me, I need to speak to my friends." Winry was a bit shocked by his answer and when he nodded to what she said he moved his wheelchair back so she could release the screen door to let it gently close without hitting him.
Winry quickly walked to the SUV after she was off the porch and opened the passenger door leaning on the seat. Lee sat back in the driver seat while Marlene and Mark both tried to push forward between the front seats.
"Well?"
Looking to Lee at his question Winry told them what the man had said and she winced as Lee smacked the horn twice before jumping out of the SUV kicking at gravel. Marlene slouched back into her seat with a whine, her hands moved to her head and she threaded her fingers through her hair in frustration. Mark looked at the console in thought, but they all looked back to the front porch when they heard someone hollering.
Another man had joined the man in the wheelchair on the porch, he wore a sheriff's uniform and had a hand resting on his belt near his gun, the other hand hanging loosely at his side. The man in uniform waved for them all to come over and they did, shutting the doors as they made their way to the porch.
"I'm Sheriff Hoyt. Now what are ya'll doing here?" the Sheriff asked and then spat off the porch.
Lee looked Hoyt in the eye when he answered, "We were given some wrong directions from a lady in town to the Sloane farm, but the guy next to you said we need to be in the next town over." Hoyt and Lee's gaze held till Lee looked away, when he did he missed Hoyt's slight smirk before he adjusted his belt and walked down the porch.
"Yeah the ol Sloane place, he's right, next town o'er. Gonna be night 'fore long, ya'll look'in tired." Hoyt stopped in front of Winry and touched the straw hat to tip it and winked at her and then Marlene. Both women looked at each other before looking back to him and giving small smiles to the sheriff. When he eyed Mark he lifted a brow and then walked back to the porch and closer to where Lee stood.
"We've been driving through the night so it shouldn't be a problem." Lee glanced at his friends as he answered before keeping his eyes on the two men. The others assented to what Lee said, but the sheriff shook his head.
Hoyt put a foot on a porch step and placed both hands on his hips, "My mama would have my hide if I didn' offer ya'll a place to sleep."
The friends all looked at each other before Marlene stepped forward and smiled brightly, "I'm sure, but we wouldn't want to be a bother, four strangers taking advantage of such kind people." The others nodded as a vehicle could be heard coming up the drive and an older truck with peeling paint parked next to the driver's side of the SUV.
"Well now that's just what ya do in Texas, show people some kindness. Ain't that right mama?" The sheriff had spoken loudly enough for the woman coming out of the truck to hear and to the group's surprise, it was Luda Mae.
Lee scoffed and took a step towards the woman before Sheriff Hoyt caught his eye and made a motion like he was going to grab his gun. "Do not make a move towards her, hear me boy?" Again the two stared each other down with Lee again looking away, but not before he flicked his eyes to the sheriff's gun and then the ground.
The others were tense as Luda Mae finally made her way over and when she saw the group she seemed surprised, "Now what are you all doin' here? Hoyt get your hand off that gun this instant." Hoyt did as he was told, his ears turning red at the reprimand.
Lee grimaced and glared at the woman answering her question, "You failed to mention in your directions that we were in the wrong fucking town." Winry gasped and stepped back into Marlene and Mark as the sheriff snagged Lee by the back of his shirt and shook him. Lee was taller, but the surprise of it made Lee stumble and the only thing that stopped his fall was the fist in his shirt.
"Whoa hang on-" Mark put up his hands to try and calm the situation.
Marlene's eyes were wide as she grabbed for Mark's arm, "Shit."
"Shut up! All of you." Sheriff Hoyt used his other hand to grab Lee by the arm and hoist him up to his feet. "Now listen boy, you will not speak to my mama like that, ya hear?" Lee was red in the face, but nodded, Hoyt quickly released him and pushed at his shoulder to make Lee stumble backwards.
Winry tried to steady Lee with a hand to his arm and he quickly ripped away from her touch, but stayed where he stood, his eyes flicking between Luda Mae and sheriff Hoyt.
Luda Mae had just stood there watching it all happen before she stepped next to the sheriff and patted his cheek lovingly. "Well, now that we have that out of the way." Looking at Lee she raised a brow at him, contempt in her voice, "At the station you interrupted me while I was giving that sweet girl directions." She nodded to Winry who looked down and scuffed a shoe in the dirt. "If you hadn't stormed out taking the map with you I would have shown you the road that went out of town. My finger just happened to land on my home while I was talking to her."
The group collectively looked at Lee who had a grimace on his face. "I didn't know…sorry." The apology was spoken with no sincerity, but Luda Mae shrugged and started for the porch, but before she made it up she looked back at the group. "Well I'm sure my boy told ya'll you're welcome to stay here so come on in." Pointing to the man in the wheelchair, "This is my brother Monty, now everyone git in while I start dinner."
Monty shook his head as he wheeled himself towards the door, Luda Mae holding the screen door open for him before they both disappeared inside. Sheriff Hoyt made his way up the stairs and opened the screen again holding it, waiting for everyone to enter.
The first to move was Winry, she was embarrassed for Lee even if he didn't care how rude he had been for his mistake. As she made her way to the door she heard the sheriff tell her to 'wipe her feet' and she did before entering the house. Marlene followed almost on Winry's heels and she too wiped her feet and entered the home a 'wow' could be heard as she took in the house's insides.
Mark elbowed Lee in the side, "man it's your fuck up and we are all tired of the car ride. A night's rest will help and they're being nice." Mark made his way in after wiping his feet before disappearing inside the house. Lee waited for only a moment before he followed his friends, as he went to wipe his feet the sheriff nearly chest bumped his side. When they made eye contact the warning was clear in the sheriff's eyes.
After Lee went in and followed the sounds of his friends the sheriff made his way in with a smile on his face.
Dinner was cooking so Luda Mae had moved everyone into the living room, Marlene and Mark sat on a sofa together while Winry sat on a side chair. Lee was still sore about his mistake and stood by the window looking outside. Sheriff Hoyt had gone upstairs to refresh himself and Monty was sitting with the group near an old television that had seen better days, but still worked well.
Luda Mae entered carrying a tray full of teacups and a teapot, when Winry noticed that she stood to help, but Luda Mae wouldn't have it. "Now you relax, I'm sure ya'll could use the time to stretch them legs on some comfortable furniture." Winry kept her seat as Luda Mae poured the tea for everyone and handed them out, but she left Lee's sitting on the tray.
"Oh where is your other son, the one who I met at the store?" Winry reached for her tea as she asked and the others turned to look at her and then Luda Mae except Monty who just stared straight at the tv.
Smiling Luda Mae answered in a sweet tone, "Oh he's around, he'll show for dinner dear, he's busy with the house chores." As Luda Mae left she told them to drink their tea and that supper was nearly done.
Marlene and Mark stared at the tea cups, Mark sniffed his which he got a smack from Marlene. "What was that for?"
Whispering Marlene leaned in to Mark's ear to answer him, "That was rude as fuck."
Mark whispered back, making Marlene sigh, "I don't see you drinking it."
Ignoring the two bickering Winry began to drink the tea and found it sweet, Lee stomped over to push her hands away angrily whispering, "What are you doing?! You don't know what's in that tea."
Sliding to the right side of the plush chair away from Lee she glared at him, "look you were really rude and out of line, the least we could do is be courteous." When she saw Lee's look at her outburst she shrunk into herself, but before he could respond they heard Monty demand they quiet down. Even though they were whispering, it was obvious they could still be heard.
Winry saw Lee make a fist with one hand before he stalked away and back to the window to continue trying to ignore them all. Drinking the rest of the tea she decided to stare at the cup rather than the pitying glances that Marlene and Mark were giving her. When finished she poured more, but just held the cup in her lap.
Today had been awful.
A clang from where the kitchen was made everyone but Monty look up. Luda Mae came in, wiping at her face with a dish towel and an awkward smile, "Oh pardon me, I bumped into a crate and it fell." Looking at Mark she held her hand out, "Would you be a dear and help me?"
Having no reason to argue, Mark put down his tea and stood to leave when Lee spoke up, "Where are your sons?" He and Luda Mae made eye contact as Mark tried to diffuse the situation.
"Hey it's cool, they were kind enough to let us stay, I don't mind." Mark didn't wait or let Lee speak again before he followed Luda Mae to the kitchen. Marlene watched him go and she moved down the couch to be closer to Winry, finally she sipped at the tea and her nose wrinkled up.
Winry smiled, "I should have warned you, it's very sweet."
Nodding and putting the tea cup back on the tray Marlene eyed the room. Everyone was quiet with the only noises coming from the tv and occasionally a squeak upstairs from someone moving around. When Marlene glanced up at the ceiling, Winry spoke, "Must be the sheriff, we probably interrupted him winding down after work when we showed up."
The semi silence stretched out until Lee cursed under his breath and walked out of the living room, Marlene's right leg began shaking after he left. Winry put her tea cup down, sighing and stood going after Lee, before she got far though she felt someone grab her left wrist and pull. Looking back she saw it was Marlene with wide eyes.
"I don't want to be alone." Marlene whined.
Winry nodded and she pulled Marlene along, they looked at Monty, but he was so absorbed into his show he didn't notice them at all. Walking into the front hall they looked around and when they didn't see Lee, they almost turned left when they heard what sounded like a curse from the right door near the front of the home.
With Marlene following, Winry led them to the cracked door, but before she opened it she paused and listened. It sounded like Lee was cursing someone out, confused she turned to Marlene, her other hand held a finger up to her lips and the other woman nodded.
Looking through the crack of the door Winry's eyes widened at what she saw, Mark's head was in clear view and there was blood pouring out from his head where he lay on the floor. Putting a hand over her mouth to stop herself from making a noise she turned to Marlene and shook her head no, but Marlene quickly peeked through the crack ignoring Winry. She did make a squeak of sound before covering her mouth as well.
Both girls froze and stared at the door wondering if anyone had heard them, but when nothing happened they both looked through the crack again. Tears fell down Marlene's face while Winry's tears slipped slowly over her cheeks as they both glanced at Mark before they looked to the left as best they could and saw Sheriff Hoyt holding a shotgun at Lee.
Now that she was aware of the situation Winry tried to strain her ears to listen, but they were whispering and it was so hard to hear. Winry blinked a few times, her eyesight beginning to blur, thinking it was the tears she moved her hand from her mouth to wipe the tears from her eyes, but it didn't help.
Marlene whispered in Winry's ear not noticing anything wrong with the other woman, "We need to find a weapon."
Nodding to Marlene, Winry took a step away from the door and stumbled before she fell and smashed open the kitchen door loudly. Catching herself on the handle she landed roughly on her knees, her hold on the door knob was so tight her fingers were white from the grip.
"Well well, looks like the jigs up mama." Hoyt smiled and glanced at the girls before glaring back at Lee.
Luda Mae tossed her towel on the kitchen table, "Damn Monty and his shows, can't even keep an eye on two women." She put her hands on her hips before she hollered out, "Tommy! Git down here!"
Marlene was trying to pull on Winry's other arm to help her stand up, but Winry just couldn't get her feet under her. Soon she sat on the floor with her hand losing its grip on the handle all together, and she used her hands to catch herself on the floor. Marlene was still trying to pull, but Winry just couldn't move.
Stomping could be heard upstairs, when the sound paused at the top of the steps Winry felt Marlene freeze. Winry tried to see what could have made Marlene so still, but quickly she abandoned trying to lift Winry and ran, slamming through the screen doors. Her screams very loud in the silent night.
"We'll go git 'er boy!" Hoyt yelled, still keeping the gun on Lee. The stomping sounded down the stairs and whoever it was passed by Winry so fast she only saw a blur before they smashed out the front after Marlene, the sound of a motor starting up as the door slammed shut.
Luda Mae walked around Mark's body and stood in front of Winry petting at her hair, "Oh sweety you don't look well." Looking up felt like it took all of Winry's effort as she tried to focus her vision on the older woman.
"Don't fucking touch her!" Lee yelled out before being hit in the head with the shotgun, he fell to one knee and then the other was kicked in by Hoyt. Kneeling now Lee felt the shotgun against the side of his head.
Hoyt nearly growled out at Lee, "I told you to not speak that way to my mama boy." When Lee looked up and spat at the sheriff the shotgun came at his head again knocking Lee to the floor. When Hoyt kicked Lee and Lee didn't move he came around the table to see Luda Mae bent over and cupping Winry's head in her hands.
"Oh no, we gotta get her lay'n down. Hoyt, put her on the couch, make sure Monty watches her this time." Luda Mae stood up straight and rubbed at her lower back as she shuffled around the kitchen. Taking the shotgun from Hoyt she aimed it in Lee's direction.
"Mama the boy" Hoyt was already grabbing Winry under her arms to pull her out of the kitchen as he reminded his mother about Lee. Taking her into the living room had been a quick task, he put her on the couch before reprimanding Monty with a smack on the back of his head. "Idiot."
Monty grabbed and then rubbed at his head and cursed before he swiveled his wheelchair so it was angled and he could keep a better eye on Winry and keep watching tv, muttering to himself, "Guests are always a damn nuisance."
Winry tried to sit up, but her body wouldn't listen to her. Her left hand struggled towards her head as she shoved the curls back, a moan escaping her that turned into a sob. The harder she tried to focus on the room the more the room swirled around her. She was able to turn her head so she was facing Monty and the TV, her hand falling off the couch. "Please…he-help" her slurred words weren't loud enough for the man to notice or he chose to ignore her plea.
A sound in the hall made Winry's eyes flicker towards the living room door, but a chair mostly blocked her sight as the large blur from before passed by and was gone again.
When her eyes closed and opened again to see Lee in front of her, she had no idea how much time had passed in that blink.
"Get the fuck up we gotta go." Lee was pulling Winry up and wrapping her arm over his shoulders while using his other arm to pull her waist to him and hoist her up off the couch. Her head lolled to the side with the quick motion and she saw Monty on the floor with something next to him, Lee had knocked the man out.
Dragging Winry out into the hall and to the front door he shuffled her outside and down the porch to his SUV. Lee dumped her in the passenger seat, but before he could shut her door he was lifted off his feet and thrown to the left. Winry sat slumped in the car seat as her eyes looked up and she realized it was the man from the shop, Luda Mae's other son.
The giant of a man leaned down and his right hand nervously reached into the car to touch her face. Winry's breathing quickened and her heart hammered in her chest, a whine started in her throat which made the man pause and then pull his hand back to himself. Both his hands were up now with his palms open as if to show he meant no harm.
A large stick smacked the man from the back which made him lean towards the SUV and catch himself with his hands on the roof of the car, when he turned he caught the stick with his right hand before Lee could swing it again. When they each pulled it was no contest when Lee lost the stick and the man tossed it away.
"You big freak." Lee spat the words out as he punched the man in the face, his head turned, but when he slowly turned to look back at Lee as another punch came he grabbed the arm and easily snapped Lee's arm.
Falling to the ground Lee screamed, grabbing his arm where the bone broke through the skin, blood pouring out. The man kicked Lee in the face with a boot and watched Lee fall back and stop moving.
Winry couldn't see Lee, but when she couldn't hear him scream anymore a cry escaped from her mouth which drew the man's attention. Tears were pouring down her face as he reached for her again, this time though he moved to pick her up. Unable to struggle and with the stress and anxiety of the night it proved too much for her as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she passed out before he touched her.
Author's Note: I honestly didn't expect this chapter to be so long, I almost cut it into two separate ones, but it didn't feel right. I'm sure the long chapter isn't a bad thing for some. Working from about eight different viewpoints made it longer I think. The gore actually wasn't bad at all in this one… but there is always the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it!