PARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME Thomas was numb from the emotions that washed over him. His whole body ached, and his heart was pounding so hard against his chest that he thought his ribs might break with the force. Everything was moving slow. He had scarcely seen his sister cry, even throughout all the beatings- she took them stoically. She was strong. She was strong for him. Now, silent tears broke her barriers and streaked down her cheeks no matter how she tried to stop them. They fell none the less. Thomas had never been so terrified. If she was scared, then this was truly horrible. The policemen had separated them into different rooms- asking all kinds of questions. Questions about Lucille, questions about their parents, questions about himself. Thomas felt exposed and alone. In the room with the officer, he no longer had Lucille to lean on. He had to answer for himself. He told them he truth the only way he knew how. His mother had intended to separate them- to tear them apart. Lucille promised that she would never let that happen. She never told him how she intended to stop her. But when she came to get him- covered in blood in a wild streak across her pearly white skin, he knew that their tormenter had been silenced. No more would she came them bloody, and no more would she be able to stop them. When Lucille brought Thomas too see the body, to prove to him that she was really gone, he felt a sense of relief. Later this relief would come to haunt him. For the moment, he felt a sense of liberation. Both siblings waited for a moth to come as a taker of the wretched woman's soul, as Lucille had said had happened to the miners, but no such being came. Instead, Lucille told him once and for all that no one would accept their love. They had to run. They had to get away. No one would understand. They didn't get very far before they were picked up. Their plan was foiled. Now, as Thomas looked up at his sister, awaiting word from the investigator, he knew her words to be true. He regretted telling the officer anything at all. Thomas swallowed and it stuck in his throat. "Lucy- what's going on?" He croaked. I'm the smallest of voices. "What-what are they gonna do to us?"The small voice whimpered. @crimsonpeaksecrets @untouchablels
