Name: Philip Nichols and his bag of tricks.
Rating: PG-13 (for language)
Summary: The cult leader from "Ties that bind" begins his descent into the cult life.

Part 1: Learning about the world from atop a tree.

The foliage reflects a deep orange from the setting of the sun. A boy about 18 is planted on one of the taller trees. The man has brown hair, and his eyes are covered by thick black framed glasses, and his built is medium, that without looking at the glasses you might not place his high school social class. He seems to be in a calm stay, with his book on his lap, and his backpack next to him. He seems as if he belongs in the tree. His mind as he is reading seems to be concentrating on each word as if he can absorb it into his body.

In two days, he will be graduating from high school, and he is ready to go out and try to conquer the world. He doesn't like it here in Georgia. He doesn't understand why his dad stays here, sure it is near his job, but his job, to Nichols, at the Milford and Robard Tobacco Company had always seemed a joke.

"Hey Dweeb, get down from that tree. It's time for supper. Dad, will be pissed if you are late again, Philip." A more muscular boy, who is about 15, stands at the bottom of the tree, looking up at him. He is wearing a football jersey, and there are strings of his black hair scattered in his face.

"Leave me the hell, alone, Asshole!" Philip places one hand on his glasses so they don't fall off as he gazes hatefully at his younger brother. He had disturbed his quietness, now it is going to take him hours to make this anger that is forming to go away. His brother has no sense of meditation, and to clear his mind of everything. Who does he think he is anyway, demanding him to do things? Things would have been better if assholes like Edward didn't think they could do what ever the hell they wanted to. Edward will be sorry when Philip takes control of the world.

Edward shakes his head. "I can easily make Penny climb up there, and get you out of there, she says she has been pulling you out of trees since you were eight."

"Fucking Wanker." Philip comments as he puts his book, and his glasses in his backpack, and then zips it up. He puts it on his back, and begins to climb down the tree almost simian like. He gets to the bottom of the tree, and faces his brother, being reminded that his brother is almost an inch shorter than he is. "Eddie, you and dad are going to regret everything you've done to me, when I make it on my own."

Edward laughs at him. "Right, you have been saying that forever, Philip, You don't even have the balls to leave this town, because if I am not mistaken aren't you suppose to start an internship with Dad's company in three days."

Philip resists the urge to spit in his face to watch his reaction. "You can't prove I will even take that job."

"Yeah, Mr. High and Mighty…What are you going to do then, work at McDonald's, because we all know you aren't smart enough to go to college or something." He laughs cruelly.

Philip shoves him, causing him to fall to the ground. "Bastard. I have a higher IQ than you."

Edward gets up, brushing himself off. "Yeah, but you have no common sense."

"Don't think I can't fucking kill you." Philip murmurs under his breath.

"What was that?"

"I said, don't make me beat the crap out of you."

Edward chuckles. "Yeah right…You better be glad that I am not going to retaliate because you are graduating in two days, and dad will kill me if I mess up your ugly face."