Maybe

Chapter 2

After coming to the conclusion that John wanted to take my sister away from me, I went back upstairs with Linda in tow and locked ourselves in Emma's room. We were afraid.
Our memories holding us hostage and filling the silence that stretched inside the small room.
My sister was sound asleep in her toddler bed, and I couldn't be more relieved that she was here with me where I knew she was safe.

"Do you think he regrets it?" Linda asked.

"No."

"I should have seen it coming. I'm sorry. " sadly I knew what sorry she was referring to.

"Don't worry about it. "

"You had to suffer because of me. You could have been spared. But I was weak. "

"Linda, I say this because I care about you; just shut up. Don't talk about it. I don't need your guilt. "
She looked like she wanted to say more but my eyes stopped her.
It was unnecessary for us to continue with this topic. It has passed.

Somehow we managed to fall asleep on the floor, and by the time we woke up, it was already 7:00 A.M.
We were groggy and tired, and I showered as fast as possible so I could feed Emma. When I was making my way out of the bathroom, John saw me and pushed me back in.

"Long time no see, buttercup. "
"If you try something I'll kill you, you piece of shit."
John smirked. The fucking smirk.
My blood was boiling. I needed to get the fuck out of here fast. If I didn't I was gonna bash his brains in against the mirror.

"What do you want from me? What's so important you locked us both in here?"

"You see, Lucas, I need you to go back to being my little bitch. It's not nice to bite the hand that feeds you. And feeds off you..."
"Why the fuck would I do that, you fat ass? I hope you remember well what happened last year."
His demeanor changed when I brought the incident up. His eyes got darker and he started emitting a dangerous aura. It was a little comical. But the scared boy inside started to whimper.
Yet I wasn't gonna him the satisfaction of seeing me scared. I was stronger than that. I was stronger because of what happened last year.
John seemed to realize that as well since he followed with "If you don't, I'll make sure someone else fills in. After all, I'm not the one who was sent to a loony bin."

His words made me freeze up.

"You can't, you little pussy. And if you tried, just remember what will come out of it."

"What? Your little mouth on my dick?"

"Remember that I have the videos. That instead of threatening me and trying to get me to suck you off, I can ruin you. You don't know what has even hit you yet, and I suggest you get the fuck out of my face. Don't come close to Emma. Don't come close to Linda. And I suggest you don't come close to me. Next time I will fucking kick your dick off, dear Mary will only be able to suck your toe. Got that bitch?"

"You don't have any videos on me. You're bluffing. "

He started to back up towards the door. He was scared. And he should be.

"Who knows? But it's better to not test me. Tell dear Fernie that I will be a great guardian to Emma. And to put a pillow on her knees. They must be sore from all the sucking she does on her spare time."

With that said, I pushed him out of the way and opened the door. I walked to my room and changed into some jeans and a very colorful rainbow shirt. Showing how much of a gay faggot I am. I couldn't disappoint my dear family after all.

Making my way downstairs, Linda was already brewing some coffee with Emma on her booster seat.
"I like your shirt."
"Thanks."
"You gotta kick it to the man somehow. "
"Always."

We didn't say much after that. We simply enjoyed our breakfast in silence. I don't know what happened to the mourners last night, but I didn't care.
And that's when I realized something.
"Hey Linda, have you talked to the count?"
"No, that's odd, I would have imagined he would have comed to witness the glorious fall of Mr. Ross."

"When was the last time you saw him?"

"A week after the incident." It looked like she wanted to say something but was hesitant to do so.

"Spit it out."

"I don't know, it was when you were in your hospital bed, after you went into shock. He was just in your room, reading poetry out loud. I guess maybe trying to sooth you in your sleep. You had tears rolling down and he was holding your hand. I made my presence known and he released your hand."

"So that was it? He just read poetry and held my hand?"

"No. He also said to me that this was only the beginning. And to keep Emma close. That one day he would come to collect his favor back. "

"He probably wants the money my parents left behind. I really don't care about it."

Linda looked troubled but readily agreed. Who knew when the count would show up again, but I was looking forward to it for some reason.

After that conversation, we never spoke of the count again. Who knew when he would show up? And he didn't, not really for the most part anyway. It wouldn't be until much later that I got the meaning of that cryptic message.
Much later, years later.