ℙ𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕚𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝔸 𝔻𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝 - 𝕂𝕒𝕪𝕔𝕖 𝔻𝕦𝕥𝕥𝕠𝕟

ℂℍ𝔸ℙ𝕋𝔼ℝ 𝟠

I sat on the porch steps, Tate curled up in my arms fast asleep. He couldn't have slept the last two days. He was likely exhausted from being in a constant state of fight or flight, taking kicks and jabs from the woodlands didn't help his physical state either.

The ambulance checked him out, he had no life-threatening injuries but had to get staples in a few spots from the spears they were poking him with.

It broke me more than anything ever has, seeing they had been poking and prodding at my son, everything he went through on that mountain would give me nightmares for the rest of my life.

The entire family was standing around, Jamie, Beth, Rip, and Monica. We were awaiting my father's arrival along with Sherrif, who was still up on the mountain doing damage control.

The fires Jane had started were spreading to the brush around the commune. Jane herself was escorted down the mountain along with the rest of us. She sat in the back of a police car not a few feet from us, guarded by two armed officers.

"So. . ." Beth speaks while taking a drag from a cigarette "Is it too late to say I told you so?"

"Yes." Monica snaps at her instantly. This was out of character for Monica, especially when directed at Beth, but the stress of almost losing Tate in such a horrific way didn't put her in the most cordial mood.

"I'm just saying. . . You get a dog with rabies don't be surprised when it bites."

"Will you take him inside, please?" I whisper to Monica, and she abides.  Once they are out of ear shot, I stomp right up to Beth and rip the cigarette from her fingers.

"If there has ever been a time where I needed you to just shut your fucking mouth, it's right now." I speak lowly through grit teeth "Beth. . . Shut the hell up."

She stares at me challengingly, but I don't do this to Beth very often, so she backs down. Beth was a stone-cold bitch, I'm allowed to say that because she'd say it herself, but it was very rare for me to shut her down.

Most of the time, I don't disagree with her. After my Mom passed, Beth was the one to keep shit tight in a way my father couldn't. Jamie didn't take well to it, but I never minded, I needed that bluntness more times than not. But right now, I could knock the smart right out of her.

I look down at the cigarette in my hand and move it in between my fingers. I didn't realize it was burning the palm of my hand. I'm tempted by the half-burnt cancer stick, I didn't have any vices, other than Jane I suppose, but this cigarette looked way too appealing right now.

"Take a hit." Beth smirks as she lights another one "I won't tell on you."

"I will." Jamie rolls his eyes, takes the cigarette from me and stomps on it. "Here comes Dad."

My father doesn't even glance at us as he marches up to the patrol car that held Jane. Each of us step a bit closer so that we can hear him.

"Let her out." He demands. "She has a right to speak with her attorney."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Dutton. You know I can't do that." The officer carefully responds.

"Sure, you can. You just open the goddamn door."

"Sir. . . She's a danger to-"

"To fucking who? The people she wanted to kill are rotting up on that mountain. Now open-" He shoves the officer to the side "-the fucking door."

He yanks the door open and Jane squints at the sudden brightness. He helps her out of the vehicle as she is handcuffed and can't scoot herself out.

"Jesus, you even have her in cuffs." My dad grunts "What she gonna do, fuckin' bite you?"