A Brother's Promise ( THE BUTCHERY )

A Brother's Promise I

The house is basically rotting. The walls are full of moss, and the furniture isn't even placed properly. Unwashed plates scattered everywhere, and I can't even find my shoe... Ever since Mama and Papa left, all that was left was just the two of us. I miss Mama so much. I try to hide it from William, but I think he knows it too.

He sees the way my eyes narrow. The way my lip quivers, the way my hands clench into fists as I sit down beside Mama's bed, staring at the last picture of her wondering what life could've been like together. The way I sit on Mama's bed, curling myself into her blankets wishing she was there to hold me and William tightly like she used to.

I can't believe I didn't notice how she looked at me when we were still kids. Her eyes looked tired, yet she looked at me and gave me smile and said she was okay. I believed her. But I wish I could see her just one last time before everything happened. Before Mama turned into a monster. Before everything. I want to go back. Back with Mama. That's all I want.

The only thing I have left is William. I'll make him happy. I'll follow his footsteps. Just for you, Mama. I know you'll be happy to know that we're finally getting along. I won't disappoint the Lord, Mama. I'll do my best. We'll do our best. You can rely on me.

Thud.

It's morning. You slowly open your eyes, looking out the broken window that casted just a little bit of sunlight on your bed. Maybe if it weren't for your freckles, your skin wouldn't be so sensitive to the sun. Nonetheless, even if you didn't have freckles, you would still hate the sunlight. You were always annoyed by how it blinds your eyesight, believing that you would end up just like Mama when you were just a kid. You groan, placing both of your hands on your forehead.

"I hate the sunlight."

You get up, one of the floorboards creaking as soon as your boots step on it. You're already used to it anyway. You couldn't care less. Mornings like these, they're nothing to you... Right?

You get out of the room, wiping the sleepy away from your eyes. You wondered if maybe even one day, you could go outside normally like you used to. Maybe go fishing with your Papa one last time. That rat you found in Papa's boot, the uncontrollable laugher and whining from you filling up the air everytime you or William caught something. Everything was always a competition to you when you were a kid, but I suppose that was considered normal between two siblings.

Thinking back at it, you never realized how happy you were as a child. You wish you could of have had cherished it while you were there.

You walk down the hallway, looking at the paintings that your parents put on the walls. You always hated being captured, not even putting on a smile when Mama or Papa would tell you to stay still and smile. You never liked it. And it's kind of obvious looking back at the pictures that are placed around the house, not a single smile in there.

Yikes.

You make your way downstairs, thinking that William is in the kitchen, perhaps eating leftover pie while perched on a white plastic chair -- Maybe reading a newspaper, too. The cows are there, but they don't attack you or William. Maybe because they like us, or I don't know. But that doesn't matter. I kind of like them, anyway. They're kind of like pets. I like to dress them up in our old clothing. William tells me to stop, but I ignore him anyway. Until he looks at me with that peeved glare of his.

Gosh, I hate it when he does that.

"Morning, William!" Jackson said, in that cheery voice of his that you could probably hear from a mile away. You and William are like polar opposites, which made things awkward sometimes between the two of you. Anyway, he's still your brother. And it's probably best to just get along.

"Morning." William replied, as he took another bite of the berry pie. Mornings like these don't really matter to the both of you. But hey, atleast one of you knows how to cook. And... maybe there could be any hitchhikers roaming around. Cool.

[ Nighttime arrives. ]

You and William are trying to catch a pig, but it was mostly William doing all of the work. The pig has escaped the house, running on to the road, making it more difficult. William distracted the pig by tossing part of the remaining limbs from one of the hitchhikers, causing it to remain still as it started eating it. William's eyes enlarge somewhat as you both stand there hidden in the bushes watching the pig. "Jackson, stay here." William said sternly, glaring at you before walking away.

It turns out that there was a light, coming from a car. It's been awhile since you've seen someone even come near that road, yet here we are. They must've taken a wrong turn. Now we have *two* things to catch! What fun.

William breaks the car window, knocking out the person in the car too. You and William both agreed that you should take the victim, while William would catch the pig so both of you have something to do. William quickly leaves, running off to catch the pig, leaving you behind with the unconscious guy. With a groan, you carefully pull the man out of the car, lift him into your arms, and dash inside the house without any hesitation.

....

Both the pig and the victim are in the attic now, you and William working on sewing the limbs back on the now unconscious pig you call 'Pigothy'. Shortly after the victim wakes up; You notice immediately; turning to the victim with a smirk.

"Well looky here, finally awake! I was beginning to think you were dead!" You say in a loud voice, standing up and staring at the victim's horrified expression, bending down to their height and tilting your head slightly. "Welcome to Cottonwood Farm, I'm Jackson-"

"What's up with this one's face?"

...What?

Of course HE talks about something that you can't change. But interrupting me? Now that's just disrespectful. With that stern voice of his. What are you? The mayor of frowntown?

"William! What did I say about showing some respect when we have guests..!?" You exclaimed, throwing your cleaver at the wall, when you suddenly notice William walking over to you.

He's gonna do that glare again, isn't he?

Yup. He did.

"You're acting like a damn fool, Jackson." He gave Jackson a glare. Soon enough, Jackson quickly understood and 'corrected' his behavior. To just get to the damn point about why we're all here.

The Lord wants us to show everyone our gift;

And we cannot disappoint the Lord.

( I'm also planning on posting this on AO3 but I haven't received my invite yet 😭 ,, but I'll update once I get it !! )