The reminder of time was a stressing point. Biting down on my lip, I tried to ignore the nerves which lingered through me and knotted my chest. Brittany looked just as apprehensive, not at the thought of escaping but the same thing that plagued me, the attempt being foiled. Exhaling gently, I could hear the voices through the walls and the open door. Tinker had returned with another victim not long after the arrival and capture of Michelle. Unlike her, they didn't scream or plead, perhaps showing that he was in a far worse condition. The men had been taunting him, both Tex and Tinker making fun of his underwear and making comments about him overall as Michelle sobbed helplessly. They revelled in humiliation and were getting their fill from what I could gather. The conversations were muffled by the sound of her whimpering, the steaming of vegetables in their pans but clear enough that I could make out some of it and come to a clear understanding of what was happening.
The mention of Junior bringing home the 'dark meat' and how he would be receiving a present was enough to make the redhead whimper knowing as I did from experience that nothing that made the family happy was to the same standard of decency or compassion.
"You're okay." I reassured Brittany who seemed to be at a loss of what she should and wish she could do.
Junior's gift seemed to be motivated by Junior being 'out of hand' and at that mention, I closed my eyes hearing Tinker's mention of Brittany being the likely catalyst, that he believed she had been trying to turn him against the others. To them perhaps, it was the conclusion but part of me could hope, even pray that whatever spark of humanity was embedded in him wasn't entirely snuffed out by the family and years of dishing out cruelty and brutality towards all his victims was starting to haunt him. It seemed a lot however, to ask of him and it was more that Junior was acting out for other reasons. "You're alright."
"He liked that last present you got him...that electronic thingumajig." Tex's voice commented.
"Of course he did." Tink replied confidently, "That's progress, boy. Technology is our friend." I couldn't help but shudder all that the eldest of the Sawyer siblings could do with technology getting steadily more advanced. The trap with the hooks lurking in the kitchen had always been brutal enough to look at let alone when a victim was impaled and trapped on it.
"What do you think of our little lady?"
It was a question we had both heard many times, waiting for the moment that we were replaced by another. It never happened, we weren't that fortunate but it was something that still made my blood run cold. Those who Tex and Junior rejected were nabbed as dirty leftovers by Alfredo who had already taken a personal interest in her.
I focused on Brittany curled up in a ball on the chair, she clamped her hands tightly over her ears, watching me intently in case she missed a sign while doing so to flee. Perhaps we ought to have discussed a signal but as it was, things were still uncertain and that made for a risky move and there were too many flies on the wall. Alfredo himself was still not present and accounted for and the last thing she needed was to get her hopes up as she sleuthed her way out only to come face to face with either. So instead, I did the only thing I could do and shook my head. She was eager to leave and it was no wonder, every second that passed was becoming more exhausting and daunting. The 'maybe' of it all left a bitter taste in my mouth but as it was, Tinker had not deposited his keys in the usual bowl by the door and that was ruling out taking a truck unless she could hotwire.
No, there were too many obstacles at this time.
"Not yet." I told her and myself.
Brittany in turn only nodded to show that she understood and tried to settle back down trying to tune out what was happening in the kitchen and mention of the third victim who would soon be on their way. I was the opposite and sat on the edge of the sofa trying to eavesdrop more for a signal that she could be on her way. I parted my lips ready to speak but no words left me before the heavy sound of a cleaver banging against a chopping board, a sound I knew too well and had become accustomed to.
The younger girl nearly jumped out of her skin at the impact. Now Tex was whining, his brother having called him by his true birth name which often evoked a violent reaction. Tinker in turn apologised in a loving manner in an attempt to rectify his mistake. I never had learned the reason behind the preference of names and truth be told it didn't concern me, it gave me a form of advantage over him, like it had done in the past. Alfredo too did it to press the cowboy's buttons.
"It's okay." I reassured Brittany simply by holding up a scarred hand in an effort to comfort her, "you're okay." A feeble nod was the response I got, it was far from alright but compared to Michelle and 'Ryan' as she had called him we were downright peachy.
"Say, how'd you like to do us the honour of plugging that whore up?" Tink suggested in an effort to appease his younger brother. Part of me was resentful that they hadn't done so sooner due to the screaming from when the nails were hammered into her hands. From then she had accepted the situation was hopeless as she was helpless, it was a sound neither of us in this room needed to hear. "Already dealt with one screamer lately, we don't need another."
"Yes, sir." Tex replied, a loud rip tearing over the voices. "You know we could do the same thing, she won't be needing her tongue."
"Why waste time and manpower boy? This bitch is good for a day, two perhaps. Got better things to do with my time."
"I was just thinkin' for Mama, she's been working awful hard lately keeping an eye on the two little ladies." I narrowed my eyes at the mention of us, the idea that they may just decide to come in and do a headcount.
"You know I wouldn't disappoint Mama, she will have that whore's tongue once she's good and dead." Tinker promised.
"Cut it off just before you kill her, tastes better fresh." Mama's voicebox disagreed simply, "I will take it while the body is warm and she can watch me eat it." Michelle wailed harder, the cries being clear as if she were right beside me. I sucked in a breath before slowly releasing it, I couldn't let it get to me. As awful as it was to admit, she was not my priority.
"Hey Tink, this ones still kicking." Michelle attempted to scream whether it was to Ryan or the situation I didn't know but as the noise became muffled it was clear that the cowboy had followed up on his task of gagging her. Pleading, gasping and screaming behind it, Brittany could only wince more. I remained still awaiting the arrival of the last two family members and any indication of them appearing. With every loud cry that came, I couldn't help but wonder if Brittany's resolve was weakening as she tightened the hold she had on herself and finally turned her head away from mine in voiceless terror.
"I'm here." I reminded her as if it would offer even a shred of comfort in this dismal place. "I'm right here."
"Yippie-yi-yay." Tex taunted before I whispered Brittany's name to alert her of the footsteps coming in our direction along with the humming of the small girl.
Alerted by my warning, she nodded once more and rested her head beneath the crochet blanket just in time for Mama and Heather to appear. The ageing woman possessed the circular device embedded in her throat as the small blonde pushed her further into the room.
"Didn't think we were forgetting about you?" She questioned cynically with a thin raised eyebrow.
"Wishful thinking." I admitted quietly running a hand through my auburn locks. Mama simply shook her head loose strands from her held wispy hair brushed against her face.
"You may wash up for supper when Eddie comes back in. Lord knows what you're scheming. For now..." Pointing at Brittany, Heather walked over to her with a widespread grin across her face clearly revelling in the latest torture and slaughter. "Gently." Mama instructed as Heather seemed to hesitate having second thoughts of whichever wake up method she had decided on. Grudgingly, the blonde girl shook her.
"Wake up silly, you can't sleep all day long." Brittany begrudgingly emerged from her cloth shield. With difficulty she stood, swaying slightly as she composed herself and faced the matriarch. She tried to keep her head up, to try and look strong and defiant but it wavered as Mama tutted at her and shook a finger to scold her.
"Time to wash up." With baby steps she followed the small girl out the room. The wheelchair swayed at her notions until her beady eyes rested on me, pressing down on her voicebox she inspected me like she would prey. "You best be getting ready to say goodbye to your playmate once she pops." I glared at her in response and chewed at the inside of my gum.
"I'm not worried." I replied shrugging and sitting back, my slitted eyes connecting with hers. "It would be Junior you have to convince and he seems pretty smitten."
"Junior is a good boy that does as he's told."
"Not according to Tink." Her eyebrows furrowed as I raised one at her. "Doesn't look like you have as much control as you thought. I bet that hurts." The smack came as swift and sharp as I expected, more than once she had put her hand on me. It stung almost immediately, my cheek throbbing but I refused to show tears or any hints of pain which would give her immense pleasure.
"Not as much as you will when I tell Eddie about your speaking back." Mama threatened sadistically with her hand still raised and ready to strike again if she deemed it necessary. A cold shiver struck my spine, something I swallowed and folded my arms in retaliation trying to conceal the small action which would give away the spike of apprehension I had. I knew I couldn't nurse my cheek without it being obvious that her hit held some bite. Instead I blinked again to compel the small fire that lit my belly and erased my beading tears.
"What more can really be done to me?" I asked, by now I had faced more than plenty of their punishments.
"Plenty." She swore darkly, slowly lowering her hand. "Just you see."
The arrival of Junior came some time after. It was difficult to round it down to a minute but it certainly seemed less than an hour. His presence came with the return of hoarse screams just as she had grown quiet, Michelle was piping up again. It was something the huge man never appreciated but yet sometimes could play on it like a game or a way of making friends before becoming aware that they were not a suited pair. Despite his ferociousness there was a child-like innocence that often peaked. He had stopped by the room briefly to let reluctant his mate know he had returned. His blood covered hands left stains on her freshly washed face, her hair sticking to it as it dried and a forced and rough kiss pushing against her lips before he was called by Mama to return to the kitchen where the others were lurking.
"Hey, Junior." Tex hollered out of sight, "got something special for you." I sucked in a breath and adjusted my seated position, something that seemed to be a welcome change as I crossed my shackled leg over my other. The chain clanked as it was manipulated and moved and immediately I tried to go slower not wanting to bring attention to ourselves while we had been temporarily brushed aside and dinner prioritised.
Heather had complained several times that she was hungry and how loudly her belly had been rumbling in waiting for her uncles to get back. Exhaling a sigh of relief as the conversation continued from the other room, I focused on the red head who was now laying more peacefully with even breaths. It had appeared she had once more returned to her slumber having learned to tune out whatever background noise there was in her sleep. I couldn't help but envy her to an extent, my eyes were burning and threatening to leak with exhausted tears but I knew how much I needed to remain vigilant but without the return of Alfredo, it made me weary. We could be losing an opportunity just waiting on him and it was possible that Brittany and I would need to take a leap of faith and attempt to hide from him if the situation called for it.
"Stay awake." I ordered myself stifling a yawn that was determined to make itself known. "Stay awake." I directed my painted nails to the skin of my wrist to pinch. It offered little salvation and spreading out my fingers, I positioned them like claws and dug deep into layers of skin wincing as small drops of blood trickled out from the hot wound. Michelle continued to weep behind her gag as Junior picked up whatever had been gifted to him. My eyelids grew heavy, my body leaning back so my back graced the cushions behind me propping me up. "Stay fucking awake."
"Well looks like you just got a present for a job you didn't finish." Tinker scolded, I closed my eyes.
The darkness embraced me no matter how much I attempted to will myself awake. Moaning Brittany's name weakly in hopes she would hear and keep me conscious, I felt my head rest against my shoulder. Tinker's roars of pain, brought me back to.
"Hey now. Hey!" Whatever had taken place, Tex was attempting to diffuse the situation. "What do you think? Do you want to go for a headshot or what?" It was a question which could only bear one answer, if there was something that distinguished the rage of Tinker it was exactly that tinkering. Blinking, I allowed the throb of my still burning cheek to keep me awake. Slowly I steadied myself to my feet which had become numb from being inactive and remaining still. The shackle made a small noise as I did but whispering Brittany's name, I took a few steps forward to get as close as I could. It gave little leeway but as I stepped adjacent into her perimeter she stirred as I gently breathed her name once more. Her blue eyes emerged behind the flutter of eyelashes.
"We need a new plan." Her pale face turned apprehensive, her lips parting in soundless argument as I nodded knowing her frustration. "Alfredo isn't back. Tink hasn't put his keys away...so we have two options." From the kitchen, Heather's voice cried in protest at the men's attempts to kill Ryan and reminded them of it being her turn. I shook my head trying to ignore the discussion that shouldn't come out the mouth of any child as Heather was no ordinary child. Brittany's head followed mine tearing away from the direction of the kitchen to look at me.
"I don't see why not." Tex's voice replied to the child's outburst.
"We can say that today is not the day and that they know something is going on." A panic look appeared on her face as I nodded slowly. It was a possibility and they appeared to be more suspicious whether it was because we were in the same room or maybe grudgingly, we were letting off some scent that they could practically sniff. "Or Alfredo is currently collecting the third person they were after which may take some time. In that time, Charlie hasn't communicated once tonight. Tink's truck is out front...so if there's any chance you can hotwire, great. If not we either need to get the keys or you will have to take off one way or another while they're eating." I summarised leaning on my knees with a reluctant sigh. "It's up to you." She parted her lips in thought before hesitating and sealing them. A hollow whack sounding from where the other Sawyers were and the eruption of giggles and cackles indicating that Ryan had received his head shot and was no more. It struck fear into the younger female and I chewed the inside of my throbbing gum once more.
Moving from her seat, she stopped in front of me, her pale hands touching my scarred ones, her sky eyes staring deep into my green before nodding slowly. "Tex will be coming for me, if I wind him up enough I'll end up with the rest of them and that will give you time. If by then, Tinker leaves his keys then great but if not...don't stop. Even if you're tired, even if you're sore because you know what they're capable of and you know there's more of them. You stay alert, you be careful because if they catch you, I don't think even Junior will be able to save you." She listened intently, nodding at every statement before I pulled back and indicated for her to return where she was sitting. Knowing I wouldn't make it back to the sofa in time I plonked myself down on my backside and gripped at the chain which kept me imprisoned.
Tex appeared only seconds later, a widespread grin on his painted lips, laughter lines remaining in creases around his eyes from what he had witnessed. Speak of the devil and he will appear was a saying that came to mind. It was something that wasn't erased from the sight of me looking like I was trying to get away.
"Looks like you gone and got Mama's dander up." He pointed to his cheek as I shrugged at him. "Looks like it smarts."
"That's one word for it."
"Uh huh." The blonde nodded idly. "We both know I like red on you. Though I must admit I prefer black and blue."
"I'm sorry." I replied sarcastically, "next time I'll wind her up a bit and deserve what I get." Tex pursed his lips and shook his head. Sticking his hand into the pocket of his overalls, he relinquished a familiar key and bent down to stick it into the rusting padlock ensuring his body pressed against mine as he did. I moved to make some space between us, the small click allowing me to know I was unshackled.
"I wouldn't recommend it," he warned simply scratching the back of his neck and straightening up. His hand immediately gripped my elbow as I attempted to create more distance and pulled my body against his own. "'Less of course, you want me to get all defensive."
"Don't you always?" He grinned a bit wider pulling me towards the door and stashing the key away once more. "What can I say, we don't all hate our parents."
"They don't all sleep with them either."
"Hey now." Tex scolded, his nails digging into the flesh of my arm in warning. The fatigue was against me and unable to conceal the pain that it caused, something that made his chest heave a little faster, his breath capturing in his throat to become more raspy. "How many times do I have to teach y'all manners?"
"I guess you're not a good teacher." I told him before feeling the pain spike in my back as he shoved me against the wall. A photo fell off its hook and smashed by our feet but he didn't seem to mind or notice it. His hand instead cupped against my neck enough to show that he was not in the mood to play games but also that he was attempting to show some restraint. I attempted to turn my head as he leaned in, his fingers pressed to ensure I couldn't evade him as the tip of his nose touched mine. "I guess you want an apology for that comment?" I croaked against his hold.
"I don't have time to punish you right now and you don't want to test me before I've eaten." He warned slowly. "Now, you're gonna go get washed up and you're goin' to be good or won't happens won't be, understood." He increased the pressure as my breath captured against his hold and control. My eyes welling up, unable to help but struggle before he relinquished slowly, his forehead pressed against mine. "That's what I thought." I refused to bite back as his lips brushed gently against my own. "Behave." He murmured, keeping his eyes on me. Accepting silence for an answer, he jerked me towards the stairs. "Come on now, we don't have all day."