the vacuum's brother [books 1 & 2]

chapter 6: blast from the past

Previously on The Vacuum's Brother:

And then, I moved slightly to the left to catch a glimpse of the figure speaking to Shoney..... I gasped out loud causing both of them to turn around and face me, surprise apparent on their faces.

I couldn't believe who Shoney was talking to.

It was.....my mother.

Now:

I backed up, recognizing the red paint on the vacuum that used to sing me lullabies. The vacuum that told me about the birds and the bees. The vacuum who BAWLED her eyes out when I went to Dave's house. When I left home. When her son....left home.

I stepped out from behind the tree and walked toward Shoney and Mom.

"What the hell are you doing here, Mom? He is a murderer!" I yelled.

Mom smiled. "Finally....my two sons. Together."

I scowled. "He isn't my brother."

Mom nodded. "I'm sorry Vincent. Just let me tell you everything."

I was confused. "Okay."

All of the sudden, two kids emerged from the woods. They looked to be about Dave's age. It was a boy and a girl. The boy had black hair and glasses and the girl had blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Hello Gertrude, hello Shoney!" The girl exclaimed.

"Hello, Autumn. Hello, Brice...This is Vincent. My other son."

The boy, Brice, looked at me and frowned. "Vincent....your mom has told us about you. You lived with Dave."

"Lived! Until SHONEY killed him!" I said.

Mom sighed. "Listen Vincent. This is what really happened. Your father, Thomas, and I had you 16 years ago. Then, they said that I couldn't have anymore children. A year later I got pregnant and no one knew how it happened. I had Shoney, and hid him away with Brice and Autumn. Brice and Autumn are Dave's brother and sister...they have lived in the woods
with Shoney for a while. 15 years now. Recently, Brice had a vision that Dave would have great horror in his life soon. We decided that Shoney could go in and meet you....you could finally be brothers. And Shoney could also look in on Dave. Well, we were just now meeting in the woods to discuss what happened....and then you showed up. I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you Vincent," mom said.

It took a while to sink in. After a while I asked, "Shoney killed Dave. Why would he do that?"

Everyone turned to Shoney.

"There is something that you didn't tell Vincent, Mom. Something big."

"Shoney, don't tell it!" Mom yelled.

But Shoney continued.

"167 years ago, the first vacuum was made. It's purpose was to kill the children of every family it's been owned by....This passed down from generation to generation...we don't have a choice of whether or not we do it. It just happens! Every vacuum does it....except for you, Vincent. And that is what our pathetic mother was to afraid to tell you," Shoney explained.

I sighed. "And those kids? Autumn and Brice? Are you going to kill them too?" I asked, gesturing towards the kids.

"It's not like that, Vincent..." Mom trailed off.

"Just leave me alone! I need some time," I said as I ran deep into the woods, human footsteps following behind me.