Leather Liberation// Thomas Hewitt x reader

Chapter 5: Caged

The night of the festival

Y/n walks up to her stall, a box in her arms. She sets it down in front of Laura, whose indulging in the county newspaper.

"Hey, you know that meat factory you measured that guy in two weeks ago?" She asks.

"Yeah. What about it?"

"It closed down last week from poor health regulations. And- get this- the night of the closing, the owner was found in his office with his head smashed in."

Y/n's eyes widen. The man she talked to before measuring Thomas, dead only a week later. She didn't like the guy, but it didn't mean she was going to celebrate.

"That's crazy. Hope that Hewitt man's alright."

Laura looks up at her from the top of the paper.

"Oh, they didn't find him anywhere."

Y/n meets Laura's glance. She grabs the paper from her and throws it aside.

"Don't go pointing fingers, Laura. Now help me with this last box."

"I mean, he's huge man, you told me so! His face is all messed up, and he has somethin wrong in his head, right?"

Y/n glares at her.

"My hands are ugly and disfigured. Does that mean I'm automatically to blame for a murder?"

"Oh come on, Y/n. Don't make this shit about you and your own insecurities."

"Just help me with this box, damn it!"

Laura sighs, pulling a string of lights from the box. Together, the two of them string them around the stall. As the sun begins to set behind them, y/n flips the switch on the remote.

The lights spring to life, illuminating the large sign at the top.

(L/n) Mask Emporium

Laura whistles at the sight.

"Just in time, too. People are starting to arrive."

Y/n turns to see a few groups of people running around. Several have started lining up for the sketchy looking rides. A rusting carousel, a small ferris wheel, and a little kiddies roller coaster that screams louder than it's passengers.

Laura points over at a clown blowing up balloon animals.

"I'm gonna go buy one, okay?"

"Fine, but be right back when your done!"

She runs off towards the clown. Y/n chuckle at her. A voice startles her. She turns to see a policeman, watching her with arms crossed. His tag reads Sheriff Hoyt.

"Whatcha got over here." He asks.

"Masks. You interested in any of them, Sheriff?"

He smiles at her, as if enjoying the title.

"No. Just passing by, and couldn't help but stop when I saw a lovely lady like you." He winks at her.

"Uh huh. . ." She gives him a fake smile, before turning to tend to a mask that was missing a feather.

He stands there for a few more moments, watching her, before turning and leaving.

The night before

Hoyt throws the county newspaper down on the table in front of Luda Mae and Monty.

"Look at this!"

Luda pulls it closer to her, reading it aloud.

"Local meat company shut down due to low health condi- "