Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.

Dark Beginnings

By Lola Presents

Chapter 4 - Feelings

Back at home, Lincoln had a difficult decision to make. How his mother knew he was even thinking about Lucy in such a way, he couldn't fathom, and he suspected it was nothing more than a guess. However, he could never get away with lying to her before. Why would now be any different?

Sure, Lincoln would be in trouble if he told her the truth. But if he lied, only to have her find out the truth later, he could see much worse. If he hadn't already had enough to worry over, his mother's suspicions were the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

Giving in to the emotional and physical pain he felt, the inundated boy began silently weeping. Lincoln was old enough to know that his strange feelings toward his sister were wrong, and they pained him deeply. She was his little sister, and his job was to protect her, even from himself.

Recoiling into his private thoughts, Lincoln failed to answer his mother, and as she sat there, watching tears form in his eyes, she knew the truth. Pursing her lips, she moved her mouth nervously, contemplating her reaction. However, she had no experience with pubescent boys.

"Hang on..." sighed Lincoln's mother. "I'll get your father. Perhaps he knows how to handle this."

A few moments after his mother had left, his father entered. And while Lincoln expected a highly-emotional reprimand, along with a few sanctions, his father sat calmly on his son's bed and patted his leg. His demeanor wasn't intimidating in the least.

"Hi, son," Lynn said. "Your mother told me what happened. How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay," Lincoln whimpered, holding an ice pack to the side of his head. "I guess."

"I understand," sighed his father. "Being a brother is tough, especially with as many sisters as you have."

"That's an understatement..." muttered Lynn's only son.

"Listen," Lynn continued, patting his son on the leg again, reassuring him that he meant no harm. "You're at an age where you're body is going to go through a lot of changes, and you're going to start noticing girls..." he began.

"Dad, please..." begged Lincoln, red enough in the face. "I've had sex education. You don't need to do this."

"The thing is, son," his father continued, unabated. "You've had little experience with girls, so it's only natural that you'd be attracted to one who was younger and more impressionable than you," he told Lincoln. "You must also consider that standing up for her has strengthened your bond with her. What you're feeling is natural and expected."

"Dad..." moaned Lincoln, moving the ice pack to his other cheek. "I don't know what I feel. I'm confused."

"There's nothing to be confused about, Lincoln," his father assured him. "From your standpoint, I'm sure Lucy is quite attractive, and she looks up to you," he confirmed. "But," he said, pausing briefly, "I'm sure you understand why you can't date her. Right?"

"Yeah, I know..." groaned the sole Loud boy. "She's my sister and too young."

"Look," chirped Lincoln's old man, smiling at him. "This will all pass. Soon, your attention will shift to girls your age. I'd be surprised if we couldn't keep them away," he finished, chuckling to lighten the mood.

"Thanks, Dad," Lincoln responded, offering a slight chuckle of his own. "But what about her?" he asked a silent moment later. "It's like she has eyes only for me."

"Heh," laughed his father. "Don't worry about that. She's only nine, and girls that age go through crushes like you go through comics."

Nodding, Lincoln adjusted his position in bed to alleviate his pain and closed his eyes. At that moment, Lincoln wanted to be left alone to heal. He had some of the best parents imaginable. But even they could drone on long after a topic got spent.

"Dad?" Lincoln whispered sleepily, the medication his mother had given him finally kicking in. "I need some rest. Do you mind?" he weakly asked.

"Of course," chirped the boy's father, preparing to leave. "Take all the time you need. We'll be downstairs if you need us."

Then, quietly, Lynn turned off Lincoln's light and pulled the door closed as he left.

As Lucy's emotionally driven rage began to recede, she hovered over Chandler's unmoving body, standing slightly askew. Her head hung low, and her long black but lightening locks framed her sweaty face. One end of the length of timber rested in her right hand, while the other sat in a growing pool of the boy's blood.

Lucy's breath was heavy and fast but calming quickly. And as she regained her focus and control of her faculties, she stared in horror at what she had done. Chandler lay face down in a pool of blood that slowly leaked from several gashes in and around his head. Dropping the board and bringing her hands to her face in disbelief, she began to tremble.

The dried blood stuck to her fingers neither looked nor felt like the fake blood the girl used to make out of red food coloring and gelatin. Too traumatized to think clearly, Lucy never bothered to check the body for signs of life. Fearing the worst, she grabbed the board she'd brought with her and bolted from the scene.

Running deep into the woods, she made her way back to her house, but not before stopping off at a nearby creek, where she disposed of the piece of wood and stooped to wash her hands. The day wore thin, and the sun began to set, casting an eerie pall over the woods.

Yet, Lucy managed to find her way to the old abandoned treehouse the neighborhood kids would sometimes use for private meetings. There, she climbed into the small wooden house, curling up in the darkest of the corners. Pulling her legs to her chest, Lucy began to sob.

Not only had Lucy fallen in love with her brother, but as far as she knew, she'd killed someone. And, despite his boorish behavior, even Chandler deserved a chance at redemption. Now, he would never get that chance, and it was all her fault, just like everything else in her life.

Trembling like a leaf in an Autumn wind, Lucy contemplated what to do. And as she did, her lids eventually began to wane. Soon, the emotionally exhausted girl lost consciousness and fell asleep in the little house nestled in the old, sturdy tree.

As Lynn and Rita toiled about in the kitchen, preparing dinner, several of their daughters were enjoying a relaxing evening of prime-time television. As they sat on and around the sofa, bracing themselves for the reveal on the latest episode of Dream Boat, the show ceremoniously went to a commercial, eliciting several groans.

As an advertisement for a famous brand of peanut butter aired, the girls began taking bets on who got thrown overboard. Continuing their frivolity, they talked well into the following commercial for a feminine hygiene product. It wasn't until a highlight reel for the nightly news, which was to air after Dream Boat, that Luna interrupted their debate.

"Good evening. I am Katherine Mulligan. This evening, a Gus' Games and Grub employee discovered the body of a local boy behind their popular establishment. Severally beaten but alive, the young man is in the care of doctors at Royal Woods Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery," the irritating anchor announced as the words, "BRUTAL ATTACK IN ROYAL WOODS," scrolled across the bottom of the screen. "There is no word yet regarding a suspect. However, authorities suspect retaliation may have played a role in the assault as the young man is known for harassment. This and more after Dream Boat."

"Oh, my, God..." muttered Lola as she watched Chandler getting loaded into an ambulance. "That's horrible. Who would do something like that?"

"I don't know," murmured Leni, gazing toward the stairs. "But Lincoln's been in bed all afternoon. It couldn't have been him."

"Wait..." sighed Lynn, quickly scanning the room. "Where's Lucy?"

"Wasn't she in your room?" inquired Luan, remembering seeing her there earlier.

"Yeah," conceded the nervous athlete. "But she left some time ago, and I haven't seen her since."

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen her either," offered Lana, ignoring Dream Boat's conclusion. "Not since shortly after Lincoln got home."

"Surely you don't think that Lucy has anything to do with the attack," Lisa interjected, adjusting the lay of her glasses. "She may have an interest in the macabre. However, she is also a timid and weak nine-year-old."

"Yeah, well..." sighed Lynn, nervously twitching. "I know something you don't." Then, without bothering to stand, she called her mother, cupping her hands around her mouth for better projection. "Mom! Come here! There's something on the news you have to see!"

"Yes?" cooed their mother as she wandered into the den a moment later. "What is it I need to see?"

"Just wait," Lori demanded, nervously pacing behind the couch as the news finished its opening segment, immediately going into the local news portion of the show. "Here!" declared Lori, pointing at the screen. "Listen..."

"Oh! That poor boy..." sighed their mother once Katherine Mulligan gave a more detailed account of what happened. "I hope he's okay..." she said with concern, as any mother would. "But why was it so important that I see this?"

"Mom!" belted Lynn, finally standing while pointing at the screen. "That's the boy that popped Lucy and clobbered Lincoln!"

"Really?" gasped their mother, taking another look at the image on the screen. "Well, I can't say I'm surprised. People like that eventually get what's coming."

"Mom!" cried Lynn. "That isn't the point!"

"Then what is?" Rita asked, folding her arms.

"Look..." Lynn said, calming somewhat. "I know this is terrible timing, and maybe I should've said something earlier. But Lucy thinks she's in love with Lincoln!" she spat. "She left the house hours ago and still hasn't returned!"

Rita's arms slowly dropped to her side as the implications of her daughter's words settled. The distressed mother couldn't believe one of her own could be responsible for Chandler's injuries. But had she been, her daughter was probably panicking, hiding somewhere.

"Alright!" Rita suddenly snapped, frantically directing her children. "Everyone grab a flashlight and start looking for your sister. I want Lola, Lana, and Lisa to search the house and garage. The rest of us will search the neighborhood. Does anyone know where Lucy might have gone, assuming she doesn't want to get found?"

"If it were me, I'd hide in the woods," offered Luna. "Maybe the old treehouse?"

"I'll go!" offered Lana. "I know those woods like the back of my hand!"

"No," barked their mother. "I want you at home. The woods are too dangerous at night. I'll go. Everyone else spread out..." she said before hustling to the kitchen to inform her husband what was happening.

"I'll alert the neighbors," announced Rita's husband after turning the oven off and removing his apron. "And if we don't locate her before bedtime, I'm calling in a missing person report."

Nodding, Rita returned to her children with a handful of flashlights from the kitchen's utility drawer. Handing them out to those who needed them, she gave her final instructions before leaving the house for the woods.

"Stay in groups of two," she said. "Use your phones to communicate and let everyone know if you find her!"

Then, the Louds dispersed throughout the neighborhood, searching for their absent sister. However, unknown to them, Lucy had already woken and returned home. Only, she never went inside. Instead, she crouched just behind the tree line, knowing they would come looking for her sooner or later.

Watching her mother pass by, only a few yards from her position, Lucy waited until she and her siblings had spread out and disappeared before emerging from the foliage. Stooping over with a handful of pebbles, Lucy made her way to the side of the house and began tossing the little rocks at her brother's window until he finally peeked out.

"What the hell?" Lincoln yawned, gently rubbing his puffy eyes, trying vainly to see who was summoning him. "What's going on?"

"Lincoln!" called Lucy, loudly whispering. "We have to go! Now!"

"What?" muttered the aching young man. "Go? Where? Why?"

"I did something bad!" Lucy admitted. "Really bad! Listen," she urged. "I don't have time to explain, but we need to get out of here!"

As Lincoln's eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw something was, indeed, off about his sister. Her hair was a mess, and her clothes were dirty and stained with something dark. Whatever she was talking about couldn't be as bad as she believed it to be.

However, Lincoln knew how dramatic she could be at times. The least he could do was humor her until she calmed down. Then, getting dressed, he made his way downstairs and out the back door, passing silently by those who searched the attic and basement, never crossing their paths.

"Okay," sighed Lincoln. "I'm here. Now what?"

Grabbing Lincoln's hand, Lucy wasted no time leading him deep into the woods, farther than they ever dared trespass before. Finally, they came to the edge of the highway leading in and out of town, where a giant concrete cylinder ran under the pavement, allowing the creek to pass uninterrupted. After stooping and entering the dark passage, Lucy sat, leaning against one of the curved walls, and began sobbing again.

Following his sister's lead, Lincoln sat opposite her and stared at her.

"Is..." Lincoln murmured, having gotten a closer look at her. "Is that blood?"

"Yes, Lincoln," muttered Lincoln's troubled sister. "It's blood, but it's not mine," she replied, staring blankly at him. "It's Chandler's."

"What?" gasped the stunned boy. "What happened?"

For some time, Lucy sat unmoving as she contemplated how she would tell him what happened, assuming she had told him at all. Lucy became overwhelmed with emotions as everything flooded back, and her lower lip began trembling.

"I'm sorry, Lincoln," she sobbed, limply banging her fists against the concrete cylinder. "I'm so sorry, and this is all my fault for being such a freak," she cried. "When you came home beaten half-to-death, I couldn't take it anymore," she began explaining, taking shallow, sharp breaths between every few words. "So, I got a piece of wood from the garage and hunted Chandler down. When I found him, something inside me snapped. After it was over, and I realized what had happened, he lay face-down in a puddle of his blood."

"What?" gasped the stunned boy, covering his mouth in shock.

"He's dead, Lincoln!" spat Lucy. "I killed him!"

"Why would you do something like that, Lucy?" pleaded the heartbroken young man.

"B-Because..." whimpered Lucy, averting her gaze. "I..." she stammered. "I'm in love with you!" she finally admitted. "That's why I tried to keep Chandler's assaults hidden. I knew something like this would happen!"

Lincoln hadn't seen the news or was aware that his family was out looking for Lucy and had no way of knowing Chandler survived the incident. All he had to go was Lucy's account, and from her emotional state, he had no reason to doubt her. Things had escalated well beyond compare.

Moving beside Lucy, Lincoln wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. The confused young man brimmed with a myriad of emotions, love, disgust, fear, and anxiety being the strongest.

Despite his father's words, Lincoln was in love with Lucy. His feelings weren't some flash-in-the-pan crush or pubescent fancy. Though he wasn't sure how or when it happened, it did, and that was enough for him. Knowing she felt the same way about him only cemented his feelings.

"Lucy..." he whispered as he slowly rocked his traumatized sister. "I know this will sound crazy, and I know it's supposed to be wrong," he admitted. "But the truth is, somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you, too."

"Y-You did?" whimpered Lucy, gazing up at him.

"Yeah..." sighed Lincoln, lightly kissing her forehead.

"Then..." murmured Lucy. "Let's run!" she pleaded. "Let's run so far away that nobody will ever be able to find us!"

"What about Mom and Dad?" countered Lincoln, lovingly hugging his sister. "What about our siblings?" he added. "They'd miss us terribly. I know I'd miss them. No," he murmured, shaking his head, "we have to go back."

"But, Lincoln..." sobbed Lucy, fearful of her action's penalties. "I don't want to go to jail!"

"Don't worry, you won't," assured Lucy's brother. "You're way too young to be tried as an adult," he informed her. "At the most, you'd get a trial in juvenile court and spend some time in a detention center," Lincoln explained. "Though, I think that's mostly for those thirteen and up, depending on the state. Most likely, you'll only have to attend counseling."

"What if I do have to go to a detention center?" Lucy projected. "We wouldn't get to see each other for a long time," she pointed out.

"I know..." sighed Lincoln, holding his sister close. "But, it's the right thing to do. You made a mistake, Lucy. That's all. Running away from it won't make it disappear," he told her. "You have to face it and the people you hurt. But I'll be right beside you every step of the way. I promise."

For a moment, Lucy remained quiet, idly fidgeting with his shirt buttons while contemplating something monumental. Lucy had no idea what awaited her once she returned home or whether she'd ever be allowed to see her brother again. She couldn't let things end like this, not when they'd only found each other.

"Lincoln..." Lucy cooed, sniffling her remaining sorrow into submission.

"Hm?" hummed her older brother.

"Just in case I can't see you again..." she whispered, "...make love to me before we go back."