Family Tradition ✔️

James Baker knew there was something different about his family. But it wasn't until one night in early August that he realized just how different they really were.

A month earlier, James had gone out behind his parents back to explore the town, and met an exciting girl with ice blue eyes, fiery red hair, and a personality just as hot. Her name was Amelia McCoy. He'd never met anyone like her. In fact, he'd never met anyone at all.

After their first meeting, James snuck out every chance he got, just to see her. Amelia fascinated him with the way she spoke and looked, so different from his family. They all had brown hair and eyes, plain and simple compared to this girl. And so many of the words she used, he'd never heard before. It was as if she were from a different planet.

He knew his parents would never approve of Amelia. The only girls he was allowed to interact with was his sister Juliette and their mother. So for the month he spent with the redhead, he kept it all to himself.

Then that night came. The night James learnt the truth about his family.

His parents and sister were all downstairs, as always on a Wednesday evening, when James' plan was set into motion.

The previous day the two teens came up with the idea to sneak Amelia into his bedroom through the window. No one was permitted to enter his room on Wednesdays, so they didn't have to worry about being caught, as long as they kept quiet.

The two executed the plan perfectly, but once Amelia shimmied through the window, they both stood in the room, quiet and hesitant. They didn't plan past her getting into the bedroom.

James looked around his room and came up empty with ideas to entertain the two. Only a bed, dresser, desk, and chair decorated the space. He would usually spend his time doing school work his parents assigned, or chores around the house.

"It sure is boring in here. There's no personality." Amelia had muttered to herself as she looked around the room with disapproving eyes.

Boring, a word James had never heard. He made a mental note to search the dictionary for it once Amelia left.

"We could talk." He suggested, gesturing for her to take a seat at the desk while he sat on his bed.

Amelia shook her head to reject the idea, and reached for the doorknob.

"No!" James exclaimed, rushing over to stand in front of the door so she couldn't open it. If his parents found out that he had ever left the house, or brought a girl home, he'd be severely punished.

His back stung as a memory of the whip cutting into his flesh, flashed before his eyes.

Amelia glared at him, her red headed temper surfacing as she spoke, "Move it, I want to meet this family of yours."

James didn't budge and that angered her even more. Without another word, Amelia shoved him aside and swung the door open, causing the knob to slam against the wall.

James reached out to stop her but it was too late, the girl was already descending to the first floor.

"What on earth?" He heard his mother exclaim just before he entered the living room.

Juliette looked astonished to see another human, especially one that looked like Amelia, and his parents looked angry despite the excited glint in their dark eyes.

"Juliette, James, up to your bedrooms at once. We will take care of this." Their father ordered.

The siblings did as they were told, for they knew the consequences of disobeying their parents.

"You made a wicked mistake." Juliette whispered before entering her room, leaving James alone in the hallway to ponder his next actions.

He could either make sure Amelia left safely, or trust that his parents would get her home in one piece. He never had a reason to distrust them before, but in that moment his gut told him that he needed to check on his new friend.

Downstairs, Amelia watched as James' parents furiously whispered in the corner of the living room, just far and quiet enough that she couldn't make out their words.

As she waited for permission to leave, she briefly noted that everyone in this house, apart from her, looked shockingly similar. Their hair and eye colour, their features. They all looked like siblings.

Suddenly the two parents turned their attention to Amelia and smiled maliciously, causing the girl's heartbeat to speed up in fear. In that moment she knew that something terrible was about to happen.

"Oh Garrett, her hair would make a beautiful scarf." The woman spoke to her husband, eyeing Amelia's locks with excitement.

The redhead gasped in shock. She'd always loved her hair, she wouldn't be herself without it.

"And her bones for buttons, you need new ones for your favourite sweater, dear." The man suggested a moment later.

The mother nodded her head, "No part must go unused."

Amelia frantically searched the room for an escape as she backed up, colliding with a wall after a few steps. She was trapped.

Rage boiled the girl's blood when she realized there was no way out of this, "You guys are sick! Let me go right now if you know what's best for you."

The woman suppressed a laugh at Amelia's outburst. Only angering her further. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from yelling again.

"Child, you are a gift sent from God. We've been praying for fresh food and household items, and you have fallen into our laps." The man explained.

Amelia opened her mouth to fight back or plead for her life, but another voice cut her off.

"Mother, father, I'll take her home." James offered, walking back into the living room.

His parents glared at him, furious with the fact that he didn't follow the orders given to him. James knew that he would be whipped later, but he didn't care. He wanted Amelia to get home safely.

"Son." His father spoke, walking over and clasping his shoulder, "I'm going to show you our family tradition. How we survive."

James gave the man a strange look, curious as to what that had to do with Amelia.

His mother left the room and returned a moment later with their axe. She handed it to her husband as Amelia watched in fear, and James' confusion grew.

"This is what we do." Were the last words Amelia ever heard.