Brothers

#9

"We both can't stay home forever" Cillian whispers
to his brother. They have grouped in the kitchen,
away from brooke who was sitting on the couch to
have a conversation.
"Things have to be done. She's well behaved enough
now for one of us to handle".
Tom moves around him as he speaks, making
himself a gin and tonic.
"I'll go to work tomorrow and then Wednesday you go to work and I'll look after brooke" Cillian finishes.
Tom throws ice into the drink.
"Yeah, I remember our deal. It's probably about time. I've been threatening to pay a visit to David, the
barman at the howling ghost, for the past month".
"What did he do?"
"I honestly can't remember"

The next morning Cillian leaves brooke with a kiss
and disappears before breakfast. It was awkward
with just Tom. Normally the brothers would keep
each other entertained. Make decisions between
themselves, leaving little need for brooke to talk at
all. Having the full, undivided attention of Tom
made brooke feel highly nervous.
The day draws on slowly, she tries to keep distance
between her and him.
"The knights are playing the raiders in about 10,
you don't mind if we watch it, do you?" Brooke shakes her head picking up the tv remote.
"Not there" he calls walking down the hall. Brooke
places the tv remote back on the table and follows
him. Her heart beats so loudly that she can hear it
in her ears, when he leads her to the bedroom.
She freezes at the door, why would he want to
watch tv in the bedroom. Brooke wasn't ready to
find out.
"Come on" Tom falls, pushing the blanket back
from the bed. She shakes her head.
"Don't be daft. Look at the size of you and then look
at the size of me. Come on"
"No please"
"It's all right. We are just gonna have a little cuddle
and watch tv. That's all". He wraps his arms around
her waist and she attempts to push away from him.
"Stop, stop" she pushes against him and stand back with an annoyed expression. Giving her space but remaining to keep hold of her hand.

"Let me go or I swear to god, I'll make you pay"
Brooke says slowly.
"Are you just? Right, well before you do that, would
you mind telling me how, huh?"
"I am going to kill you while you sleep with a
kitchen knife" brooke day dreamed about it often.
The killing of the brothers. She did it various
different ways each time, but alway returned to the
sharp kitchen knife late at night.
Perhaps it was that fact that she was laying away
next to them well they slept soundly. Maybe it was
the lack of intimacy or strength required to stab
someone. She couldn't do it with her bare hands. For practical reason and emotional. She remembers the time when her grandma sucked
up a moth and she cried. She wonders if the same
feelings would arise if she ever manages to kill even
one of them. She doesn't have the guts, and she
knows it. More importantly, he knew it.

Tom let's out a deep breath.
"You're going to kill me with my own kitchen knife"
She feels his hand tighten around her, before being
removed altogether, his dark glare remains
however.
His loving embrace turn to that of anger. Gripping
her arm tightly, he drags her down the hall way.
"You know what your problem is? Too fucking
spoilt for your own good"
He flings her against the wall. Her hands reach out
to brace herself against it.
Gripping the back of her neck and placing a small
coin retrieved from his pocket, he forces the two
connect.
With his hand on the back of her neck, he leans in close whispering into her ear.

"Now, you hold that there with your nose-hold it
there. Drop that coin before I say so and I'll send Tim. You remember Tim, don't you? Well, I'll send Tim to your dads work only this time I don't think he'll be as lucky as that cunt Kate"

Tom leaves her and goes to watch tv, muting the
football game in order to keep tabs on the falling of
the coin. Glancing her way at random intervals to
check she was doing as she was told.
After a while, Her neck craned, all of the mussels in
her back tended from the long period of remaining in the same position, her eyes strained. "Tom" she yells.
"Drop that coin, and daddy gets it"
She remains as she is. Trying desperately not to let
the slipping coin drop. Another period of time
lapses, before Cillian gets home.
He walks through the door causally, stopping to
hang up his coat before asking his brother what
brooke did.