Heart shaped Skulls

Down the Rabbit Hole

"Good, get the food Drayton" Hoyt had seemingly brought back to his calm state as he heard my good decision. Drayton happily rushed to the shabby kitchen to retrieve god knows what. In that meantime I was stuck in a pool of molasses. I was frozen, what had I just got myself into? Had I made the wrong move, or were they thinking of killing me anyways? I was so stunned that I didn't notice the food being placed before the remainder of the Hewitts. "Grace, link hands now" like before I slipped my frail hand into Grandpa's even frailer one while my other flowed delicately into Thomas's. I wouldn't admit it but I enjoyed holding his hand, in my own way it was a comfort blanket. Telling me everything is just fine, that I'll be fine. I knew I wasn't though. "God, thank you for the meals that you guide to us. Thank you for the new addition to our family and let us prosper under you Lord Amen" everyone whispered Amen except Thomas but he gave his own acknowledgement with a grunt as he dug into his meal. It was chilli this time, bits of meat floating here and there. As I dug in getting fluid on my chin I couldn't help but wonder what Hoyt was going on about in his "Grace," I mean what does guide mean? Soon enough my spoon hit the bottom of my bowl and I had hit the brink of my stomach. "Delicious breakfast Drayton" I faked a nice cover up seeing as I wanted out. He lit up bombarding me with questions here and there mostly about what would make it better or if I really liked it. I enjoyed it, of course it was food and I was going to eat it but I was at a lost for words. "Okay now, Drayton better get going before you get late. And Thomas" Hoyt looked up from the crumpled newspaper in his fist to scowl at both of us "Show this girly the ropes, she's going to be helping you catch and cut up the meat. Gotta have a place in this family girl" he addressed me specifically almost looking into my soul. Thomas nodded enthusiastically joyful he had Rowena with him most of the day. Thomas and myself got up from the flooded table even before we could take one step away Hoyt hollered at us "I might be cleaning this table but your going to bring Nubbin's food up to him!" Thomas obliged quickly picking up the bowl in his large hands. Both of us trudged upstairs Thomas Infront and me behind his massive form. The creaking door made me peek around his hulking shoulder attempting and failing to see
whatever was left of a disgusting man. Slowly Thomas stepped in until he saw his brother wide awake and sitting upright. However, as soon as I crossed the threshold Nubbin went berserk. A mixture of yelling and gurgles came from him as he scooted back more into the dilapidated bed.
I could see why he was terrified of me. His face was mangled and bruised a deep purple bits of black dotting around his nose. Nubbin's eyes were blood shot like he was punched in each eyeball. But his nose almost brought a dry heave to me. It was a horrible sight to behold, I could imagine a bear tearing into his face because it was so torn that I couldn't see myself committing such a thing. Even from where I stood I could see right up into his infected nose. From the looks of it the family wasn't all that good at cleaning major wounds. His nose was red from infection and swollen because of the collection of blood. He must've been sleeping on his back. Thomas put the chili down onto the end table made entirely out of bones. Human and animal alike was wrapped or hammered together. I cringed wrapping my arms around my midsection as Nubbin hollered again this time some words rolling harshly off his tongue. "Get. Her. Away!" It was broken and difficult to understand but I had understood exactly what he was trying to say. Having the same woman who not only bit your nose off but ingested it as well standing in your room, I would be scared to.  Thomas sat next to his brother's covered legs as he tried to comfort him with series of 'shhh.' Oh boy did that not work. Nubbin stared on at me in this most horrid hate fueled stare as he roared at me to leave. He wasn't calming down while I was in the room and I was certainly not making Thomas's job easy. I stepped out of the room. Closing the door behind me I rubbed my dirty hands down my face in a attempt of whipping the sour frown on my features. He wasn't screaming which was good because if he didn't stop I would've strangled him myself. Wait, would I? That doesn't sound like me at all. Im just stressed out is all, I need to get out. I heaved a heavy sigh as I heard walking in the room signaling that Thomas had fed his asshole of a brother. When the door propped open behind me I decided to let them in on an important secret of wounds, especially face wounds. "Thomas, make sure he has pillows behind his head" Thomas cocked his head as he looked back to his brother then to me with a confused glaze to his deep honey orbs. "The blood collects in his nose making it swell and he might suffocate" I explained while motioning to my own nose to emphasize it. I re-crossed my arms as he went back in and added a few pillows to his brother's back. He came back out grunting softly as a small 'thank you' to which I smiled back "your welcome" and we headed off downstairs. "So what are we doing now?" I questioned into the silent house as I glanced around. Thomas grunted pointing to a metal door that I only now noticed. It was tucked away in the kitchen behind a dirty curtain. He opened it letting a gust of cold wind waft past my face. He went first leaving me to close the door quietly behind us as we descended down the dark stairs. This was bad, a overwhelming feeling washed over me making my legs slow down to the pace of a slug. It was as if skeletal icy arms held my body back trying to warn me of the doom that occurred down in the basement. Then the most horrid smell engulfed my senses which was concerning because I saw, smelled and witnessed all stages of decay. I covered my mouth but the stench still attacked my nose. The overwhelming smell of feces, decay, blood and piss swam in a pool of stomach wrenching foul stench. Many times a gag over took my body commanding me to lean forward the slightest. Of course nothing came out just yet. Thomas couldn't see the turmoil occurring behind him as he stumbled around to find the hanging cord for the swaying light. Finally he grasped it tightly and yanked down sending a faint light across the room. I was petrified. Meat hooks dangled from the ceiling covered in cakeing blood and leftover meat. First, Thomas headed over to the far corner of the basement to retrieve a apron crested with dry blood and possibly brain matter. He slung it over his head like he done a thousand times before he went to tie it. Thomas was having trouble reaching the cord behind him as it kept slipping his fearsome grasp. "here, let me" I stepped forward from under the swaying light to take the two cords in my small hands before tying them "this good?" I peaked around his back to look up at Thomas whom looked embarrassed his cheeks that did show through his mask turning to a shade of red. We stood there like that just staring until a whimper made my eyebrows furrow. What was that? That sounded to human to be any animal. I turned slightly around half of my body still pointing in the direction of Thomas. "Thomas? What was that?" Like a light dinged above his head he moved to a small cage in a dark corner void of any light. A form huddled in a corner a heavy blanket covering most of the humanoid  as it laid over the steel cage. I drew closer my heart racing trying to free itself from it's bone cage. I couldn't contain the tears from forming as I looked down at a woman in her young twenties cowering in the corner farthest from Thomas as he jingled with keys opening the lock. He grabbed her with an iron fist by her slutty shirt as it had only covered her breasts. Her skirt hiked way up her thighs showing the red laced panties underneath. Only a whore would wear that. She was babbling on about letting her go or crying hysterically. Thomas ignored it like this was his daily job. I was now sobbing softly not wanting to make too much noise. Then slowly my brain put all of the information together. Thomas's realistic half mask, the prayer and the crazy family. My brain raced as I felt the human chili rise in my throat at the realization. With huge gulps and soft steps backwards I  pushed the bile to rest in my flipping stomach. "Thomas? Do-do you eat people?" I choked out tears wetting my cheeks. Thomas babbled in a matter of fact tone not even turning around to see the crying mess of a girl behind him as he was to involved in tying the struggling  food before him. The girl was bucking now as she heard me say that "PLEASE LET ME GO! PLEASE! IF YOU LET ME GO I WONT TELL ANYONE! PLEASE?" her blue eyes were bloodshot as her short blonde hair stuck to her sweaty forehead. I wanted to free her, to tell her to run as fast as she could but I couldn't bring myself to do so. I wanted the Hewitts to trust me and doing that would ruin it immediately. So instead I turned around whipping vigorously at my eyes and face erasing the tear streaks before Thomas turned around. The woman was now tied tightly to a wooden chair hands behind her wrapped harshly. Her legs were strapped down as well or she would be flailing around. She was rolling her head around just profusely crying all the while praying to herself. I could only stand and watch as Thomas pulled out a mallet. It was rusty and old but he didn't land the blow. He stood there like he was contemplating his life decisions twirling the intimidating weapon between his fingers. I was about to ask him what he was doing or what he was waiting for but he beat me to it. He walked forward holding the mallet in his fists. I stepped backwards afraid he was turning the weapon onto me instead he brought the mallet between us. I glanced from his serious face and then to the Mallet "do you want me to do it?" I asked croaking out the painful words through chapped bleeding lips. He nodded gesturing back to the Mallet in a 'do it already' mood. My hands began to shake as a cold sweat washed over me. I stepped back again whimpering and baling to myself as I clawed at my madded hair. "No,no, no! I can't do that! I just can't!" I yelled wanting to collapse into myself. He walked forward stashing his Mallet away in his apron pocket while he tried to consul my weeping form. "NO, GET BACK!" I roared hiccups racking my cowering body. He was hurt, emotionally at the rejection but I didn't care one bit. Pain coated my body like being drenched in acid. I curled in on myself kneeling on the ground as the feeling of my muscles being torn and stitched back together bombarded my weakening form. I was screaming with a shrill pitch as I shook at the intense pain. "IT HURTS! IT HURT! OH GOD IT HURTS!" I screeched like an animal being beaten into submission. Thomas was conflicted glancing from each female in concern as one was in dreadful pain and the other was attempting escape. He chose the latter, crouching down to Rowena he commenced rubbing her back but the screams intensified. He reeled back in fear as Rowena began to twitch uncontrollably.
I could feel myself slipping. The darkness was closing in fast but this time I wasn't being drawn in with comfort no this was unbearable pain. I was fighting it with every ounce of strength that was dwindling away but I broke. I wish I could've held on. It was dark but I wasn't in the lake. I was confused. It was like I had covered my eyes. I was scared, this was the feeling of being possessed. I had no power over my body, and I feel like this is spiraling out of control.

~Down the Rabbit Hole she goes~