Family Affairs, Chapter 14

“I… I just…” Carry couldn’t find the words for what he wanted to say.

“Has he done this to you before?” Tyler asked.

Carry didn’t know how to answer. He wanted to tell someone so bad that it hurt, but he didn’t want Tyler to look and differently at him. “No. This was… the first.”

Leah looked over at Carry. Her eyes pleaded with him to tell Tyler the truth. She had already come to grips with what had happened to her. She doubted that Carry ever would.

“You’re lying. When we get out of here we’ll…” Tyler started.

Carry interrupted him. “No. No one needs to know about this… ever.”

“Carry, I know how you feel. You’ve got to…”

“No! You don’t know how I feel! You could never know how I feel! This goes nowhere. If you try to tell anyone, I’ll deny the whole damn thing. It goes nowhere!” Carry snapped. He just couldn’t handle it anymore. He swung at Tyler.

Tyler dodged the hit and wrapped his arms around Carry to immobilize them. Carry fought to get free, but Tyler was too strong. They ended up sitting on the floor with Tyler’s back to the wall. He still had Carry’s arms pinned down so he wouldn’t swing at anyone. Carry pulled his knees up to try and gain leverage, but nothing worked. He was just too weak.

“Let me go!” Carry started yelling.

Steven heard the commotion, and hurried to get out and dressed. He looked over at Carry and Tyler but didn’t say anything to anyone. He moved over to stand next to Leah.

Tyler kept one arm around Carry’s arms and put his other hand over Carry’s mouth.

“Do you want to bring dad up here? Who knows what he’ll do next.” Carry quieted down but didn’t stop struggling. Tyler had to replaced both of his arms around Carry to stop him from hurting someone. “I know you’ve had something bugging you for a long time. It’s eating away at you Carry. You don’t see it, but we do. You have to let it out. Tell someone. Me, your mom, Steven, Leah, a therapist, hell write it down if you like, but you have to get it out of you. You cannot live like this. You have to come to terms with what’s happened. You’re going to end up in a psych ward if you don’t.”

Carry fought with Tyler until he was too weak to move and then eventually fell asleep in Tyler’s arms. Tyler got out from under Carry and let him sleep.

“What the hell was that about?” Steven whispered.

“A lot of pent up emotions.” Leah said.

“It had to come out someday. He’s always so level headed.”

“Until you ask too many questions.” Steven interjected. “Then he bites your head off. It’s like a split personality.”

“He has a lot to deal with. When you don’t tell anyone, it just builds up. Even little everyday things add up. Eventually it’s like the cork on a shaken up wine bottle. One day it has to pop off.” Tyler said.

“Should we move him to the cot?” Steven asked.

“Let him sleep. He needs his rest. Let’s just eat.” Tyler walked over to the tray and picked up a sandwich, “This one’s ham. Guess it must be for you.” Tyler handed Steven the sandwich.

“When we get out of here, remind me that I owe you two chocolate bars.” Steven said.

“No heroic, ‘Why don’t we charge him when he comes back in.’?”

“No, I’ve learned my lesson.” Steven said patting his side. “What time is it?”

“Almost three.” Leah said.

Leah, Steven, and Tyler tried to occupy themselves for the remaining hours of the day. Steven finally learned that waiting was sometimes the best choice.

Close to Seven, Carry started to stir. Tyler went over and sat on the floor next to him.

“Feeling better?” Tyler asked.

“I hurt.” Carry sat up and looked at the floor. “Listen, Tyler…”

“Don’t worry about it. No excuse needed.”

Carry looked at Tyler. “Thanks… I’m sorry I…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Carry just smiled.

“Now come on over and eat your sandwich.”

“I’m not really that hungry.” Carry stated. He got up and joined everyone anyways.

As they all sat, they heard a commotion downstairs.

“Is that dad?” Carry asked. “Who’s he yelling at?”

“Maybe he went back to get Virginia. Maybe she’s here.” Leah suggested.

“Then why would he be yelling at her like that?” Steven asked.

“Maybe she’s arguing with him.” Leah suggested.

“Why would she do that?” Carry asked. “She knows what he’s capable of.”

“Maybe she’s trying to get in here with us.” Tyler suggested.

A few minutes later the door opened and Robert shoved Virginia into the room with them. “Ungrateful bitch.” He slammed the door behind him and locked it.

“Mom.” Carry ran to his mother and hugged her.

“Are you all right?” She asked. “Is everyone okay?” She looked over each of them.

“So now what do we do?” Leah asked.

Virginia looked as if she had a plan. “Now, we get out of here.” She reached behind her and pulled the gun out of her pants.

“How did you sneak that past him?” Steven asked.

“Your father insisted that I keep it in the rear part of my pants. When he came to take me, Billy started shoving me through a doorway. The gun slid down into my pants. The shirt covered it up. Very uncomfortable, but it worked.” Virginia explained.

“Is everyone okay at the inn?” Leah was worried about her Grandma and Billy, not to mention Michael.

“Billy was breathing when I left. Grandma didn’t look to well, but she may pull through.”

“And my dad?” Steven asked.

“I didn’t see him at all.” Virginia replied.

Steven’s face fell at the possibility that his father might not have survived.

“Mom, do you even know how to fire a gun?” Carry asked.

“Jack taught me before we had Vince and Jeff. I practice every now and then. I’m sure I can handle it.” Virginia replied. “Here’s the plan. Carry, I want you to attract him into the room. Stay away from the door. I need to get a clear shot of him from the bathroom. Steven, that towel on the floor and bring it with. We’ll need a distraction for that mongrel of his. If I need to, I’ll shoot it too. Tyler, make sure he’s down then grab the keys from his left back pocket. After the dog’s taken care of Leah, go to the kitchen and grab the van keys from the counter. Then go out and start the van. Carry, you stay with me in case I need help. Do you think we can do this?”

“Make sure you have bullets in the gun before we try this.” Steven said. He started to chuckle.

Carry and Tyler joined him in his laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Virginia asked.

“Private joke. We’ll tell you later.” Steven said.

Virginia checked her gun anyway. “It’s unlocked and I have only six rounds, so let’s not make me need seven.” She took her position behind the bathroom door.

Carry started yelling and everyone else sat around away from the door as if nothing were happening. Carry yelled for quite some time before Robert came down stairs.

“What the hell is all this noise?” Robert asked as he stepped into the room.

“Fuck off asshole!” Carry started shouting obscenities to lure Robert further into the room.

“When I get done with you, there’s not going to be anything left.” He stepped further into the room towards Carry.

Virginia caught him right in the stomach. His body slumped forward.

Virginia nodded the okay and kept the gun aimed at Robert while Tyler went over and retrieved the keys from Robert’s pocket. He also took both of the .45s. “Got them.” Tyler tossed the empty .45 aside in the hallway before they had reached the top of the stairs. He emptied the bullets of the other gun into his pocket and tossed the other one aside as well. Once he unlocked the door Steven cautiously stepped out looking for Brutus. He saw the dog come around a corner and threw the towel on his head. They all bolted past the confused dog.

When Carry and Virginia went to pass the dog, Brutus snapped at Virginia and caught her leg. In terror, she dropped the gun. “You all go. I’ll take care of the dog.”

Steven, Tyler and Leah all ran to get the van ready. Carry stayed behind. He picked up the gun and fired at the dog. Its lifeless body slumped onto Virginia. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“Not so fast you dumb bitch. You’re not taking my kids away from me again. Carry, get your ass over here. Now.”

Carry was paralyzed with fear. His dad had already been shot once, what if he got out and did this again?

“Stay where you are.” Carry’s shaky hands pointed the gun at Robert’s head.

“You won’t shoot me you little fuck-toy. You’re a pussy. Why do you think I never did it to Tyler? Huh? Because he’s a real man. You? You’re just a sissy-ass baby. You deserved everything you got. You practically begged me to do it.”

Virginia could not believe what she was hearing. That was what Carry refused to tell her? The revelation stunned her.

“You won’t shoot me. You want me to fuck you up the ass like I did earlier. Admit that you liked it. You sure as hell didn’t put up a fight when you left the room.”

Carry shook his head, as he muttered to himself. Tears were streaming down his face.

Robert inched his way closer to Carry. “Come on, shoot me pussy-boy. Tell me you didn’t like it. Tell me.”

“No. No. No. No. No…” Carry kept talking to himself, shaking his head. He struggled to keep the gun aimed.

“You can’t. You liked it, didn’t you, Care Bear.” Robert kept slowly moving towards Carry.

“Don’t call me that!” Carry could feel his concentration slipping. He felt himself losing focus. Anger rushed into him. Hatred for the man that stood before him.

Robert was just inches away from grabbing the gun. “You loved it. That’s why you never told anyone. Isn’t it? That’s why you never told a soul that I fucked you, because you liked it.”

“NO!” Carry fired the gun. A single bullet at point blank range to the head. Carry dropped the gun and sunk down to the floor crying. Virginia made her way slowly to where Carry sat. His secret was out now. Not only did Leah and Tyler know, but now his mother knew as well. He was so embarrassed, but he felt as if a great weight was lifted off of his chest. “I didn’t like it, mom… I hated it… I… I was just so embarrassed that… I didn’t want anyone to know…”

Virginia wrapped her arms around Carry. “I know sweetie. It’s okay.” She cooed. Carry stopped trying to explain what had happened and just cried.