The Devil Child

Chapter Twenty Six

 "What the fuck man?" Minny shoved his older brother back once he returned to where his brother was standing. He was standing on the sidewalk beside the empty road, looking like he actually belonged there, in the neighborhood, wearing his hoodie and his jeans. He looked more casual that Minny could ever remember seeing him, but it did well for him to blend in. To look like a normal twenty-something year old should look.

Tom had driven off with a shaking Polly moments before, and Minny had to hope she would be alright. That she would trust him. It was a risk, though, because even Minny knew that there was no going back from where they were now. She was a tortured girl with nightmares that rivaled those of a horror film, and the man of her nightmares was his own brother. He knew, if he was in her position, that he probably wouldn't trust her again. It didn't shock him, just terrified him.

"What?" Tanner asked, dodging his brother's next shove, sounding innocent. As if he had no clue why Minny would be mad.

"Don't you what me, Tanner. You tortured her? And others? What on Earth are you doing."

Tanner looked at his younger brother. A product of a riches and a family that wasn't broken; he thought Minny looked just like a stuck up child. Tanner loved his brothers, but they never understood him. And he never understood them. It was just how differently they were raised.

"You don't understand."

"Understand? Tanner, she's terrified of you. How many people have you hurt? Why are you hurting people?"

Minny looked at Tanner, noting the obvious similarities between the two. Tanner was almost the same height as he was, with floppy dark hair and dark circles under his eyes. He looked tired and worn down, but Minny didn't think that was something new. The circles under his eyes looked almost permanent.

"You don't understand!" Tanner yelled. "You don't understand because dad never did this to you. He never forced you into believing that being gay would kill you. He told me that my mother died because she was gay. And as a little boy, I believed him alright? I wanted to save those who thought they were gay. I wanted to save them!"

Minny didn't take Tanner's tears as a sign to back down. He didn't know his brother all that well, but he knew that a firm hand would go a long way, rather than consolance. Besides, Minny didn't think he could consol - not after what Tanner had done to Polly. "So you abused them? What the fuck?"

"I wanted them to be fixed! I didn't want them to go to Hell!"

"Dude, that isn't how it works."

Tanner just stared at his younger brother, the anger washing through him. He and Minny were very similar in the fact that both wore smiles easily, and both had a temper to match. They were different in many aspects, but these two were the ones that brought Minny and Tanner very close to each other. They were as charming as they were defensive. And Tanner was very defensive at this moment, despising the fact that his brother wasn't playing nice.

"You don't think I've realized that?" Tanner finally spat out.

Minny just stared at him for a long moment. He knew how similar he was to Tanner, and he'd known all along their similarities. Minny also knew that if this conversation continued, he would probably begin to throw punches. So, changed topics. "Where is Lennard?"

Minny noticed the hesitation right away. He noticed the way Tanner scratched the back of his neck. He noticed the way Tanner couldn't meet his own eyes.

"I don't know."

Minny balled his hands into fists, immediately calling bullshit on his older brother's response. "I know he went to stay with you, so don't you dare try that on me."