Scars

Family Scars

"What are you doing here Henry, he didn't follow you did he?" Karen asked, looking right then left and even up.

"We are safe for now Alice. Father is too busy trying to pull our brother out of the hellish world he made for himself but we have more pressing matters than that.

Billy's powers are getting stronger and both father and Vecna want him.

He's safe at the hospital right now but I doubt that will stay safe for long.

Please, Alice, I need your help. We survived our brother's attack by sticking together and we will do that again" Henry said as his eyes filled with tears.

"Let's do it Karen," Ted said from the porch, making both of them jump.

Sighing Karen motioned for Henry to follow Ted and followed the two of them inside.

Ted and Henry sat down in the living room while Karen went to the bedroom and closed the door.

She fell face-first into her pillow and screamed as she remembered their childhood.

Jan, 1959

Fifteen-year-old Alice was looking around the family's new house in Hawkins, Indiana.

It was amazing. It even had its own playground across the way.

Her twelve-year-old twin brothers Henry and Vincent were as opposite as twins could get.

Henry was quiet and calm while Vincent was quiet but he was always searching for something.

And when he found it they would all be living in fear.

It all came to a head when a man named Martin Brenner came and said he wanted to train our powers.

He would also drop the bomb that he was their father. He had helped the man they thought was their father because he couldn't have children so Brenner agreed to Impregnate his wife who had powers of her own to continue the lineage and he was there to collect.

While Alice and Henry fought against Brenner and said that Victor was their true father even though Victor admitted what Brenner said was true, Vincent bonded with Brenner and the promise of power.

March 1959

It had been three months since Brenner had intruded into their lives and he was about to make it hell on Earth.

It happened one night when the family was around the table.

Their mother told Vincent to stop destroying the silverware by playing with his powers.

The demon that was hiding as a human finally showed its true form.

Vincent stood up and looked straight at his mother and said "Then Mother I will practice on you" Suddenly their mother was floating in the air and her body started to crack and break as if contorted onto itself.

Vincent laughed and turned to their dad and said "Well Victor doesn't she look like a dead spider, maybe I should practice some more.

As their father rose into the air Alice grabbed Henry's arm and pulled him out of the house and they hid in the brush behind the playground. Using her powers Alice was able to hide them from Brenner who showed up minutes later.

They watched as Brenner led Vincent to his car letting him know he did a great job.

As soon as they were gone, Alice and Henry held each other and managed to fall asleep.

When they woke up the sun was up and they ran to the police station and told them that their parents were killed.

Hours later, both of them fighting the whole time, were separated and taken to different orphanages with no word or explanation. 

That would be the last time Alice and Henry would see each other until now.

Present time

The tear-stained pillow under Karen's face glistened with the light coming in from the bedroom door.

"You alright baby" Ted asked softly as he sat next to her and rubbed her back.

She eased into his hand seeking the comfort of her husband.

Finally, she took a deep breath and sat up, looked at Ted, and said "It's time Brenner and my crazy brother are stopped for good. Ted, will you help me"?

"Of course, darling I've wanted to break out my powers for a while so let's do this" Ted said as a ring of fire surrounded the bed.

Karen leaned over and kissed Ted and as though the flames didn't even exist Ted and Karen got off the bed and headed back into the front room where Henry was sitting on the floor talking and playing with Holly.

When Henry saw them he stood up and said solemnly "Make sure to enjoy these moments. My boy is a man now and doesn't need me".

Placing a hand on her brother's shoulder Karen smiled and said "It doesn't matter how old they get they will always need their parents".

Henry smiled and Ted grabbed beers from the fridge and said " now let's plan how to kick some ass".