Chapter 3: Home was never home

As Liz opened the front door, the butler greeted her. "Welcome home, miss."

"Yeah, thanks." Liz muttered. The butler was like a robot, saying that to her every time she came home. It was utterly annoying.

Upstairs in her room, the maid was making her bed. "Where have you been, Mistress Elizabeth?"

"Out," she muttered coldly. Why did the maids have to be so irritating too?

Suddenly, Ellen Prescott entered the room. "Elizabeth, you are late for your piano lesson with Mr. Reed!" she cried.

Rolling her eyes, Liz followed her over-authoritative mother downstairs. The piano teacher, Mr. Joseph Reed was sitting impatiently next to the piano chair. And oh, yes, was he angry! "Elizabeth, we better begin your lesson immediately!" he snapped.

Jonathan Prescott, Liz's father walked in the room. "Elizabeth! Thank God you made it in time for your piano lesson!"

"Yeah, whatever." Liz muttered.

"Elizabeth, speak like a lady!" her mother scolded.

Liz hated her family, hated her life. Her parents were so demanding, they were so expectant. She didn't care about the wealth; she didn't care about the power. She just wanted to be Liz, and Liz was who she wanted to be. Sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it?

"We're gonna have to stash the body somewhere, Jess." Miles said casually, to his younger brother, Jesse Tuck.

Mae Tuck, who was standing next to them, began to cry, while her husband, Angus embraced her. They were all in a small cabin, and thank God the murder scene was their own temporary home!

"I think we should cremate him again this time," Jesse suggested. The last time they cremated a body, they didn't have to move, and Jesse was clearly tired of them having to move for something Miles did. It was so much better when he was at war...

"Jess," Miles said in a very serious tone, "I need to talk to ya. Outside."

Jesse nodded, and followed him out. They walked down to the creek, and Miles sat down, ordering Jesse to sit besides him. No matter how much of a killer Miles was, Jesse still trusted him. Besides, what could happen? Jesse was going to live forever!

"Jess, I've been thinking," Miles started, staring down at the creek, watching the water flow, watching life go on, "and I've decided. I'm going back to the army. I'm gonna go fight in Iraq."

Jess now felt extremely guilty for thinking it was better off with Miles gone at war. And even though Miles had nothing to lose, Jesse would not let his brother go. "No, Miles, stay!"

Miles shook his head. "I'm a born killer, Jess. Or at least, that's what I had become. If I stay, all I'll do is kill innocent people and then watch Ma suffer in grief. If I go to war, at least I'll be killin' the enemy."

Miles did make a point, but Jesse did not want for this to happen. "Ma'll worry more if you're at war."

Miles snickered. "Yeah, right. She'll probably be happy to have gotten rid of me. This is no place for me, Jess. I'm better off gone with the army. I have a gift, and if I'm gonna keep it, I might as well use it for good."

Jesse stared down into Mile's eyes. "Are you sure, Miles?"

Miles nodded, looking Jess straight in the eye to prove that he was being serious. "This is for real, Jess. Don't expect me back in a while."

Jesse nodded. "Okay, but if you ever want to see us again—"

"Fuck you, Jess! Don't worry! It's the 21st century here, there's phones!"

Jesse nodded. With Miles gone, things will be easier, and he would get to see Liz more often without being interrupted. Jesse felt guilty for wanting his one and only brother to leave, but he also felt his heart loosen up. Liz had taken his heavy heart and made it light, and he knew that. Suddenly, Jesse felt the same way he did when he was still with Winnie, when she was still alive. And it felt good.

"Miles," he said to check, "You sure you wanna leave home?"

Miles laughed. "Jesse, I don't got no home. We're all nomads. Gypsies, barbarians. We don't have a home, and that's okay. The closest home we had was that little cottage we used to live in when we were still residing in Treegap."

"I know," Jesse said, "that was our true home."

"No, Jess. Home was never home."

And with that, the two boys ran back up to their cabin. Cremation, it was.