Heart shaped Skulls

Burning Fuel

They say you die twice. First, when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.

When the family's males came back home they weren't too surprised to see Nubbin in a state of dismay. His head slouched as he ate was delight to Thomas as he freely dug into his meal without the cover of his mask. But silently we were all caught up in our wondering minds of the lost mother who we all found out wasn't so lost as we thought. "If we bring anyone to Dinner, you two will be preparing them" I opened my mouth to oppose his words but was immediately hushed "I know what your going to say girly, your going to help him wether you like it or not" my face went sour scrunching up in distaste. "However" Hoyt started bringing my angered attention back to his wrinkled face. "You don't have to kill anyone, Thomas can do that part right Thomas?" His head bobbed enthusiastically between huge spoon fulls of chili. From a third person view you could almost see the heart full family that gathers at the table three times a day talking about their day to one an another. It was kinda like that, minus the killing and human flesh. I nodded drinking the cold tea that coated my sore throat. The pain of glass would never leave it, always there like a dreadful curse. My eyebrows pulled together in thought. Maybe it was all the nights screaming myself awake to have Thomas carefully scoop me into his arms. It was taking it's toll on me, physically and mentally. "Why do you baby her? You two are going soft!" Nubbin slammed his fists on the dinner table shaking the plates and silverware. I ducked my head looking at my lap where my fingers intertwined painfully with each other. "Look at her! She's barley got any tan, no calluses on her hands nothing!" Nubbin raged on Hoyt's face slowly twisting to that of annoyance. "Your mother my not be here but BOY if you don't shut your damn trap I'll do worse than she ever did!" Nubbin closed his mouth his lips turning into a thin line. "fine, I'm leaving" he bursted from the table mumbling the whole way towards the door "you better be back before midnight!" Hoyt yelled loud enough to shake the house. After the shuttering of the door being harshly slammed Hoyt shaked his head whispering a deep curse along the lines of 'dumbass' under his breath. Diner was done leaving Thomas and myself to clean while Hoyt left along with Drayton. I sat at the sink washing many dishes with Thomas. I scrubbed, whipped, digged at my nails. At this point I was done with the plates and Thomas sat on standby simply thinking I was working on dishes. The blood never disappeared, never washed off it was stuck in the beds of my nails. It was brown now, bits of the crusty blood taunted me, calling out for me to rip the nail from the finger in a panic to rid myself of the sight. Harsher, harder, deeper I scrubbed till a hand
was softly placed on my quivering shoulder. Even with the gentle gesture that was more delicate than a butterfly I still jumped out of my crawling skin. The water was red, diluted with my plasma. I glanced to Thomas whom with his hand still clamped onto my shoulder stared with worry. "It was under my nails" my voice drifted off like some unknown evil was pulling it away from my vocals laughing manically as it drew it closer with that long clawed index finger. Thomas dipped his hands into the water where I had put them into when I noticed I have been caught. He lightly took my bloodied hands cupping them ever so gently before he slowly brought our hands to his mouth. He didn't part with his mask when outside of his room but at this point I respected that. Tears brimmed my eyes but didn't fall as Thomas sweetly kissed my knuckles not bothered by the blood. I cocked my head and smiled wide making my cheeks hurt "thank you Thomas" I choked out mucus blocking my throat. Then we heard it. A car door slammed with bickering of what I could hear two males and a female. Both of our heads snapped to the door. "That's not Hoyt and Drayton is it?" I looked nervously at Thomas as I whispered. He never took his eyes off the door as he nodded. I went to inch forward to gather some information on these strangers before Thomas grabbed my wrist. He pulled me back his eyes still glued to the door when feet sloppy and loud pounded on the porch. Thomas motioned to 'stay here' as he quietly went to the basement
For the first time in forever he was silent opposite of his usual demeanor. I stayed put of course listening to the muffled voices "fuck you! I only spent $50!" A woman's voice frail but laced with a slurr I could only describe as 'drugged up'. A groan from a man was followed after her excuse "yeah, on fucking Meth you moron!" A gruffer male growled while another more younger guy spoke "you didn't even buy us any, at least you could've bought us some!" They were right at the door arguing over something stupid and something highly illegal. I gulped down saliva slowly gathering in my mouth when Thomas came back up from the basement. Brandishing a heavy chainsaw Thomas entered the kitchen his footsteps hushed. The chainsaw had yellowed old paint some parts peeling back to revel the rust but in the same sense was shiny and we'll kept. The blades we're tinted red with disturbing hooks that could tear a human body apart atom from atom, skin from muscle. He held his finger up to his mouth before gesturing to the back door. I nodded knowing what he was going to do. He was going to go around and surprise them from behind and I was to stay quiet far from their sight. But he knew I wasn't going to do that. I silently tip toed to the living room cautiously walking around the more creaky boards. The people became more rowdy as they not only attempted to bust the door open but the fighting among themselves. Gingerly I peaked through the blindfolds that hardly held together by thin strings. The male that held a gruffer more alpha appearance had a shaved head tan skin common for the people who live in Texas. A white wife beater sticked to his sweaty torso, and baggy dirty jeans hang off of his legs. Another man to which I identified as the younger male came into view his hands on his short blonde hair twisting it between his fingers as he pulled on the greasy locks. This male wore a black T-shirt which I couldn't see that being comfortable in almost a 90° weather. He wore cream shorts covering his thin legs that could possibly snap in half quicker than a twig. The female sat out of her mind in a pile of mud. I shook my head trying to contain my laughter as her dirty blond head lolled around in diluted, fake, Nirvana. Her skimpy tank top barely covered her sun burned stomach. Then the alpha male snapped his head to the side of the house "shhh! You idiots! Did you hear that? It sounded like footsteps!" The man walked around quickly but the younger man wasn't going to have it. "I want to check it out! This place looks abandoned. It's probably haunted" I stepped closer to the window my mouth curved slightly up simply thinking what idiots these people are. I saw the younger male disappear behind the side of the house and almost wanted to burst out laughing when the harsh scream pierced our ears. "HELP!" the male tried to turn tail when the chainsaw roared to life the horrifying hum even reaching the confines of the house. The blonde male was to slow as the blade pierced his abdomen sending a a iron splatter into the air. I could smell it, inhale it even if I wasn't close the deathly delightful iron that flooded the outside air was my guilty pleasure. Thomas pulled the whirling chainsaw from the stupid male and held it above his head growling in the deepest voice he could muster. Both of the half wits were horrified as they were now on their feet the female having certain trouble at keeping her footing. When Thomas charged they turned and booked it off somewhere towards the shed where the window wasn't pointing towards. I know Thomas told me not to move but who wouldn't? That's one downfall of humans you tell them to stay well, they have to move. I unlocked the door my sweaty hands making it difficult to grasp onto the knob. Once it's unlocked and open I waste no time in sprinting to the side of the house. As I ran loose rocks stuck painfully to the soles of my feet. I cringed when I heard a battle cry, not a scared scream. No, the type where you pump yourself up for a fight. Now I was worried as terrible thoughts rushed in the back of my mind. I ran faster, the burning in my lungs aching.
I haulted making dust kick up around me as I peered green eyes about to pop from my skull. The man hammer in hand was about to land a attack, right on Thomas's skull. I was too slow. Not fast enough. The solid sickening crack made me cringe hurt pulling at my heart that raced with panic. Again he brought the hammer down on the barley conscious Thomas. With each connected hit rage over took my logical reason releasing me into a knowledgeable frenzy. I rushed towards him my muscles tensing ready for the impact. Wrath. It overpowered me. I slammed the male to the ground landing various scratches and punches enjoying the flesh that became stuck under my
nails. "HEATHER! GET HER!" it was muffled but I knew he was screaming for that whore. Her hands tangled themselves into my long fiery locks tugging harshly. She flung my tired body to the ground, dust flying everywhere. I was dazed. Confused. Scared.
Weight barred down onto my chest. CRACK! A force slammed down onto my ribs. Air rushed harshly from my lung. I struggled. Suffocated. Hyperventilated. Vision came in and out blurry but I did see Thomas bloody on the ground. The disgusting man over top of him, beating him to a pulp. "KILL THE STUPID BITCH!" hushed distant yelling pulled me from my daze. I wanted to cry. To yell. To punch. Hands clamped down tightly to my wheezing throat. Tighter, angrier the grip got. I could taste it. Feel it. This was the end.

~How terrible is it to love something that death can touch~