After the bathroom confrontation, Tate was even more uncomfortable around Frank than he already had been. Frank continued to smile and play the part, but his smiles were more like sneers to Tate; he was a viper closing in on its prey. More and more, Frank would offer to take the kids out for something fun. Tate argued that he and Addie were old enough to go out themselves. He and Addie would always go see a movie or go to the bookstore across town. Poetry had become Tate's passion, glamour magazines were Addie's; going with Tate was the only time she was allowed to look at them. Constance had forbidden that smut for her daughter; she didn't want Addie getting ideas that would leave her hurt. Tate would even buy Addie lipstick when she really wanted it, he saw no problem with Addie wanting to look beautiful; he already thought she was. If Constance feared Addie feeling different, she should at least let her do normal girl things. What Constance didn't know wouldn't hurt her.
"Tate, can we go to the mall today," she shook her brother awake. He groaned and looked over at the clock. 9:00. Ugh.
"Why do we have to go so early Addie?"
"Because the TV told me I could have bold, beautiful eyes with their new mascara, duh."
"Well how can I say no to that? Just let me get dressed okay," he rolled over and grabbed his green and black striped sweater from his computer chair. "And be quiet in case mom's still asleep." Of course Constance had left already for the hairdresser. Good, Tate thought, no annoying questions this morning. Opening his bedroom door, he headed down the hall toward the bathroom until Frank stopped him outside his mother's bedroom.
"Where are you going young man," he had a firm grip on Tate's arm.
" Cut the bullshit Franklin," Tate snapped. "She's not here to praise you for being a doting fake."
"I'm not the one here doing the cutting. I swear you little shit, I will tell your mother about all your little habits. Now, let's try this again. Where do you think you're going?"
"Out."
"No you're not. Your mother Your mother found Addie's lipstick stash. She told me to not let you leave the house."
"Wow, I wonder how that happened. You sure as hell have quite the habit of going through other people's stuff."
"Shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you."
"HA!" Frank's eyes filled with rage and he yanked Tate into the room and shut the door.
"You're not leaving this house until you learn to respect your parents," the grip on Tate's arm began to cut off his circulation.
"You're not my fucking father! And guess what; you never will be! I'm telling Constance about you abusing me," at that his arm was released. "Now if you'll excuse me; Addie! Are you ready to go?" He tried yelling again to no avail. "Where the hell is she?"
"In her room I'd assume. She must have found her special cupcake," the familiar sneer came across Frank's face and Tate snapped.
"You sick son of a bitch!" His fist swung and knocked the glasses from Frank's face, which shattered to pieces. He knew he'd caught the older man off guard, but he never expected what was coming next. In an instant, he felt his body hit the floor, and the room began to spin. A sharp pain in his neck snapped him back to reality before taking him right back out of it. Frank pulled the needle out of Tate's neck and heaves Tate's body onto the bed. Tate moaned in pain, trying to squirm but unable to move his limbs. The older man had intentions to scare the boy to silence, which he planned to do by any means possible.
Tate could hear his own frantic breaths in his ears. His vision was blurred, but he clearly made out the images of Frank overtop of him. He got up the strength to push against him weakly. He felt hands around his neck and his body being smothered with another. "M..mama! Mom!" Tate began to choke and sob as he felt his insides tear.
"Shhh," the hands remained around Tate's throat to try and silence his cries. "Your mother will here all about how much fun it was that we all got to spend the day together,"
Minutes later Tate's head began to clear up. What happened? Shit, he thought. I have to tell mom about Frank! When he opened his eyes, he was on the floor of his bedroom. When had he ended up here; last he knew he was in his mother's..
A piercing shriek echoed through the house. "OH MY GOD! MY SWEET BABY; MY PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS BABY!" Oh god, Tate thought, something must have happened to Addie. If that bastard touched her. He followed his mother's screams to her bedroom and his eyes widened. His mom was on her bed sobbing while Frank tried his best to comfort her. In her arms was the body of her dead son.