26

I wanted to go upstairs and check on Thomas. Lord knows what he was thinking or doing, but I couldn't at the moment. While Luda Mae brought up the past I was secretly waiting for the screaming to start. I could see it in my head now.

The loud heightened screaming of a woman in trouble would alert my brother and everyone else. Anton would stand up and look out the window to see her bloody form running through the field. He'd be yelling in confusion and looking at me for the answer. I wouldn't know what to say. I would be completely speechless. Charlie would scream for Thomas and he'd come running down the stairs in a blind rage. Anton would probably run and Thomas would have to chase him down, to stop him from getting to his car, to silence him so he couldn't tell anyone what's happened here. Charlie would shoot the girl down, Thomas was somehow catch my brother. I'd be screaming and begging for his life and they'd fall on deaf ears. He isn't their family as he is to me. Thomas. Thomas would be commanded to kill Anton because it would be to protect the family. And maybe he would do it. Maybe he would ignore my cries and begging to spare his life and he would hack my brother to bits with his chainsaw. Or maybe he would peel my brother's skin off- or worse his face and wear it on his own face to console me. Maybe he'd think it's a way for my brother to still be with us even if it is just a layer of flesh.

"Tati… where's your head gone girl?" I hear Luda Mae and my head snaps up.

"What?" I asked and now both she and Anton are looking at me.

"I was just telling your brother how happy it's been to have you around and that we are happy to have you here." she said and I cleared my throat and nodded, glancing at Anton.

"They've been helping me cope with mom's death." I replied and Anton nodded, yet his eyes showed disappointment.

"Well that's good. I'm glad you had someone. Had I known you planned to stay here, I could have better handled her death myself alone." he said and I tensed some and looked away.

"I wanted to get away from the world and this is how I chose to do it." I replied and he sighed and shook his head. Suddenly, a loud thud could be heard from above us and all three of us looked up. Anton stood immediately in alert and I followed.

"Calm down. It's just Thomas." I said and Anton whipped his head at me.

"He's still ali-? He still lives here?" he asked and I nodded giving him an offended look.

"Yes." I said and moved toward the stairs. "I'll go check on him." I moved upstairs quickly and down the hall. I opened the door of my room immediately and saw him pacing around. I closed the door swiftly. He was whimpering and muttering and I moved up to him.

"What is it?" I whispered harshly and he looked toward the window and pointed. I pointed out to see Charlie tussling on the ground with the woman who had been escaping from the barn. She was putting up quite a fight until Charlie got his hands around her throat.

Thomas began to pace nervously and move toward the door. I grabbed his hand quickly.

"No you cannot go out there. Charlie's got this." I said moving back to the window and he followed. We both stared at the scene together. One scream or loud noise and it would be all over. Charlie had to be quick, quicker than quick.

"Come on Charlie." I said lowly. Charlie was slamming the girls head against the ground. I prayed Luda Mae was keeping my brother occupied. I watched as the girl's body began to stop fighting and Charlie hurried and pulled a knife out of his back pocket and slid it across the girl's throat before stabbing her numerous times in the chest. But he wasn't finished yet. "Get her back in the barn." Charlie got off her quick and began to waste no time dragging her to the back of the barn and coming back and kicking up the dirt some covering up any of the blood. I sighed with relief and looked up at Thomas who was just staring at the scene with little to no interest now. I placed my hands on his cheeks and turned his face to look at me in which he did.

"When my brother leaves, everything will be okay. He won't find out a thing." I assured and he just observed my face some before leaning into me and nuzzling my face some. I smiled gently massaging his cheeks before moving back. "Wait for me a little while longer." He nodded once and I smiled and moved back out into the hallway. I sighed heavily clutching my chest in relief before moving back down stairs. Anton was already at the front door and Luda Mae was following behind him. It didn't look like absolute chaos.

"Where are you going?" I asked Anton who turned and looked at me.

"Back home. Some of us have a life and responsibilities to get back to." he said and I nodded slowly moving up to him and giving him a hug. I knew he was taking a cheap shot at me, but I didn't care. He was safe.

"I'll see you soon." I lied and he nodded.

"Yeah I'd better. Nice to see you again Luda Mae, say by to Charlie and… Thomas for me." he said and Luda smiled.

"I sure will honey. It was so good to see you again. Come back any time." she said. I gave her a quick look before smiling at my brother who nodded, yet his face did not agree with Luda's words. He looked down at me and nodded.

"Bye." he said and I nodded and watched as he exited the house. I moved up into the door way and watched him walk to his car. He had done it; he was the second to survive this family.

Bang! Both Luda Mae and I jumped and my mind was in a complete fog. Anton's body drops to his knees and he begins to fall to the ground and slowly he fell over. My eyes watched and it was like it was in slow motion. Charlie was standing in front of the barn, shot gun in his hand, smoke coming from the barrel. My head began to shake slowly as I saw the open wound in his back.

"No… no… no no NO NO NO NO!" I screamed out as I ran from the house and over to my brother. I dropped to my knees and grabbed his shoulders. "ANT!" I tried my best to pull him over and when I did, I watched the blood dripping down his face. His eyes blank as his soul was gone from his body. He was no longer here, he no longer existed in my arms. My heart was pounding so hard and fast it was like it was trying to rip itself from my chest.

"No witnesses." I hear Charlie's voice echoing in my mind. I'm crying hard, but I can't hear my own voice and I let my head fall back in utter pain and craziness.

"Tati… Tati are you listening?"

I jump as I feel Luda Mae's hand on my shoulder and I looked at her and then looked back out the door to see Anton getting into his car and driving off.

"What?" I asked watching him drive away.

"He's safe darlin'. He's safe." she said and now Charlie comes into view wiping his bloody face with a cloth.

"Took care of that problem… well it's getting late time to supper. Momma let's eat!" he said smiling at me and patting my cheek lightly. I'm still so stunned I jump just a bit at the gesture.

"Yes, I'll put some meat in the pot!" she said happily and the two moved into the kitchen together. I inhaled slowly and watched the dirt trail my brother had left disappear. Now only time will tell if he truly comes back and with him, reinforcements.