17
I awoke to an empty bed, but I expected it. A faint screaming from down stairs made me shut my eyes and try to block it out. I groaned and sat up and scratched my head some remembering yesterday's family get together. I couldn't believe I had threatened that girl. A part of me felt ashamed because I was raised to never be so violent, but seeing that racist bitch with her hand on Thomas, made me feel so angry.
"Tati, breakfast!" I heard Luda Mae call and I lifted my head some smiling at the sound of her voice. I got up and left from my room and moved downstairs with almost a pep in my step. I moved into the hallway passing the screaming basement and I couldn't help but move down stairs to see blood everywhere. On a meat hook was a young brunette male in a grey tank top and blue jeans and strapped to the table was another young boy. Thomas was looming over him listening to him beg for mercy. I moved up behind him and touched his shoulder alerting him of my presence and he looked over his shoulder at me and I smiled as our foreheads met each other and I smiled.
"Good morning." I said.
"Please, please help me! Please I don't want to die!" the young man begged. I looked down at him observing his soft yellow skin, and I gently grazed his cheek with my fingers. The fear in his eyes made my stomach turn, but then I looked up at Thomas and he smiled.
"Are we having Chinese for dinner?" I asked and I watched his cheeks rise a bit and he gave a low humorous chuckle.
"Tati, where are you?" Luda Mae called out.
"Coming!" I called out and looked at Thomas.
"Don't miss breakfast." I said and kissed his lips through the cloth over his face and he nodded and leaned in to me. I smiled and gently rubbed his shoulder before moving back upstairs holding my gown up so it didn't drag on the floor.
"NO PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE." The man cried out and I merely closed my eyes and blocked him out and continued upstairs. I met Charlie and Luda Mae upstairs and was happy to see the plates of bacon, biscuits, grits and eggs on the table with a large pitcher of orange juice. Glad to know that human flesh wasn't entirely on the menu for every meal. I didn't know where they were getting the food, maybe a market? I wish I could leave more so I could explore this area and answer my curiosities. Maybe now I could. I sat down and Luda Mae handed me a plate with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Tati. Help yourself." she said and I smiled and nodded my thanks. Within minutes I heard more screaming and Charlie just ate a piece of bacon reading a newspaper which I was sure was not delivered today.
"It looks delicious." I said fixing my plate. Now Thomas was leaving the basement, his hands coated with blood and I just looked back at him and he looked at me before looking at Luda Mae.
"Go wash your hands hon." he said and Thomas did as he was told. I smiled warmly and just continued to eat.
"It's supposed to be getting cold soon," Charlie said. "Within a month or less. We're going to need to stock up on blankets, food and anything else we need to survive the cold." We all nodded in agreement.
"That means whatever we find, we do not let them go. Tommy I want that barn stocked with as much meat we can. No one escapes." he added seriously, and I just looked at him for a moment having a slight bad feeling about the meaning of his words. I understood them clearly, but I felt something else down the road could happen. That's also when I realized I didn't have any winter clothes.
"What am I supposed to do? The clothes I have are all for the hot weather." I replied. 'Because I wasn't supposed to be here anyways'. Luda Mae nodded.
"She's right Charlie. She ain't got no clothes for the winter. She and I are gonna have to go into town and get some clothes for her." she explained. Charlie looked at me with mild suspicion and I could tell he was wondering if it was a good idea for me to go out or not. Thomas looked at all of us in silence as he ate. I batted my eye lashes at Charlie waiting for his approval and he then looked at Thomas.
"What do you think Tommy, can we trust Tati to go out and not try anything?" he asked. Luda Mae scoffed.
"Oh Charlie, I thought we had gotten over all this. Tati has been with us for months now. She should be allowed to leave this place." she said and I looked at Luda Mae and smiled and then looked at Charlie.
"She's right Charlie. I'm not going nowhere." I said and looked at Thomas and shook my head. "Nowhere." Thomas' eyes were soft and he lifted his hand toward me and caressed my cheek. Charlie sighed and waved his hand.
"Alright alright. Go down to the store to get some clothes. Take my truck." he said and I smiled wide and looked at Luda Mae who looked so happy. Hours later, I was sitting on a swing that Charlie put up earlier in the week and I greatly enjoyed swinging. Thomas just stood there pushing me with one hand and he said nothing in objection.
"Thomas get in front of me." I said and he quizzically moved in front of me staring at me with questioning eyes. I swung my feet back and forth picking up speed. Thomas just stood there staring at me as I swung.
"Catch me!" I yelled as I suddenly jumped off the swing and sored through the air and down onto Thomas. His arms opened quite quickly and he immediately caught me. He spun me around for a moment and I laughed quite happily as Thomas held me close. We stared at each other quite loving. But a car screeching made us both look down the road and we saw a white car that was stained with dirt driving down the road. Thomas put me down and Charlie was just coming out onto the porch spitting out the tobacco he was chewing. The car parked into the drive way. I could see who it was. Leanne nearly kicked the door opened on the driver's side.
"Honey let it go!" A salt and pepper haired man said following the woman's actions. I could only assume that was her husband Ned. In the back I could see Mary Joe with a black eye and some big white patch over her nose.
"Oh come on you pussy!" she seethed and moved over to the front porch. On the other side getting out of the car was a younger man who was surprisingly handsome. He had short sandy brown hair with deep blue eyes and a cleft chin. Oh yes he was definitely a jock in high school if he went. He had broad shoulders and was a tall man with muscle to him.
"Alright what's going?" Charlie asked.
"I want punishment for that bitch!" Leanne shouted. "She attacked Mary Jo- practically ruined her face and I want to know what you are going to do about it." Charlie gave her a dumbfounded look.
"Really? As far as I know, I'm sure your daughter provoked the situation." he said.
"My daughter has no need to ever cause trouble!" she spat. Mary Jo stuck her head out of the car window.
"I didn't do anything momma! She just went crazy and attacked and beat me!" she cried before sticking her head back in almost too quickly.
"See!" Leanne spouted.
"Now Leanne, I am sure there is two sides to this story." Ned said and Leanne just shot him a look.
"Shut up Ned!" she demanded before looking up at Charlie and moving up the stairs to get on his level.
"I want to know what you plan to do with that wild animal!" she shouted. I began to glare a bit before Tom's body grew closer to my vision causing both Thomas and I to look back at him noticing how close he was getting. It was not hard to miss, but this man is beautiful.
"Hey Thomas long time no see." he said cautiously and that's when I noticed the scrubs he was wearing. Is he a doctor or a nurse? I noticed Thomas's entire form tensed like a wild animal and he moved me behind him so fast, I could no longer see the man's body. "Hey I don't got any problems with you or miss…" His words trailed off and I looked around Thomas's body.
"Tatianna." I said causing Thomas to look down at me. I rubbed his shoulder calmly letting him know things would be okay.
"Tatianna." Tom said and nodded looking from Thomas to me. "I'm sure my sister did or said something to entice this situation and on her behalf, I wanted to apologize. I know my mom is set in her ways and those ways have rubbed off on my sister, but I assure you we are good people. I'm sure my mom and sister didn't mean to offend such a beautiful lady such as yourself." And at that moment, Thomas's head looked up sharply at the man and he just stared at him with a crazed look as if his compliment was the biggest insult Thomas had ever heard. I shook my head trying to think of a way to calm this situation down.
"Fine if you can't be a man and demand punishment then I'll handle your animal for you!" Leanne said loudly. Everything seemed so quiet in my mind and it was like watching a moving in slow motion. Leanne marched up to us with quite a stride. Ned was trying to stop her, but he failed and Thomas just whipped his head at her and I could imagine him growling like a lion being challenged by an enemy.
"Out of my way you fucking retard!" she demanded. Just as Leanne was closing in on us, Thomas just raised his right hand and shoved the woman hard. My eyes widened as she flew through the air almost and slid across the dirt ruining her somewhat pretty red and white dress. My eyes widened.
"Leanne!" Ned called out moving to help his wife up. Tom was at her side immediately.
"Mama!" he said in distress helping her up. She was in a mild daze. Thomas was fuming, breathing hard and ragged with anger, his hands were formed into tight fists. Charlie was now laughing calmly and collectively.
"Well there's your punishment. Hope you're happy." he said. Before I could process what to do next, Thomas was taking large steps toward the three and he pushed Tom out of the way and grabbed the older woman by the throat with both hands causing her to gasp out sharply. He raised her into the air and she dangled like a rag doll as he started to shake the life from her.
"THOMAS!" Charlie and I both shouted in shock and terror. Before I knew it, I was now running over to him. Tom and Ned were doing the same trying to pry Leanne from his fingers and Thomas was as still as a statue glaring hard at the woman as he continued to choke her. His fingers were locked tight. Nothing was going to open them. I had never seen such fury and anger in his eyes. Leanne's face was going red and her eyes were going everywhere. Her entire body was shaking and I knew he was going to kill her.
"LET HER GO!" Tom yelled.
"Mom!" Mary Jo was yelling as she got out of the car, yet stayed behind the door of it.
"Thomas, stop please PLEASE!" I begged swiftly. Thomas looked at me now with sad and confused eyes. I took hold of his face. "It's okay you're okay. Please do this for me. My feelings aren't hurt. I am fine! Please!" I massaged his face and I shook my head swiftly. "Don't do this!" Now I let my hands slide over his shoulders and over to his hands and I could feel his tight muscles slowly loosening. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw his fingers loosen and the women began to fall to the ground almost limp.
Thomas just slowly faced me and as his hands gently cupped my face, I noticed tears trail down his face and I knew he was devastated. I shushed him gently and pulled him into me slowly. His head came down and rested on my left shoulder and I could hear him whining gently.
"Ssh you're okay beautiful. You're okay." I whispered and looked at Tom who just raised his mom up bridal style. He hurried and got her in the back of the car and Ned followed and got into the passenger side.
"Let's get her to the hospital." he said quickly. Tom began to move toward the driver's side, but not before giving me a thankful glance and I nodded back and watched as they began to drive away. I brought my attention back to Thomas who sobbed into my shoulder. Charlie walked over to us and I saw Luda Mae following quickly.
"Alright boy you're okay. Come on now. You did good. You protected your family." he said. Luda Mae was beside us and she rubbed his shoulders.
"Aw come on now, baby let's get you in the house and I'll make you some tea." she said and Thomas just leaned back and sniffled lowly taking my hand and leading me back inside.