Matt gripped me to his chest and I buried my face into him, holding on for dear life, not ready to let go. Bubba's fingers roughly tangled into my hair and jerked me from my boyfriend's arms, ripping out handfuls of hair from my scalp while at it.

"Don't touch her!" he screamed, straining to free himself from the shackles binding his hands and feet.

He gave a swift kick to Matt's ribs sending him curling into the fetal position clutching his stomach. Blood was flying left and right with each strike of his fists. It poured from every orifice of Matt's face and flecked across Bubba's mask.

"Bubba, stop it! Leave him alone!" I cried, grabbing his fist in mid-air and digging my heels into the floor attempting to stop him from killing Matt who was lying there taking each blow as still as if he were already dead.

His hand cracked across my face, the impact as loud as a clap, snapping my head back with the force of his blow and leaving me reeling with stinging pain. A startled gasp escaped my lips as I wiped away the blood that poured from my mouth.

He released Matt from his death grip upon realizing what he had done. His eyes were wild beneath his mask. I took a step back, frightened by the crazed look on his face. I've never seen him like this; something tells me the look in his eyes can't be good.

With a growl, he lunged forwards and I turn to run but slam face first into one of the hanging bodies. Stumbling backward, not expecting to be face to face with a corpse, I bump right into a Bubba's brick wall of a chest.

It's fight or flight now and considering I'm pinned between a rotting corpse and a crazed butcher who would probably love nothing more than to make me into a corpse, I choose to fight.

I started swinging blindly not caring who or what I hit. He caught my wrist and squeezed it so tightly that I feared it would snap like a twig. Before I knew it, his arms were around my legs and lifting me up, he threw my body over his shoulder as if I were nothing more than a rag doll.

Aw crap, this is it! He's going to kill me! It's my turn to be beaten senseless! He's going to butcher me and hang me on a hook like the other bodies! I don't want to die! Please, God, don't let me die!

"Don't hurt her!" Matt screamed, choking on the blood gushing from his nose and pooling into his mouth.

Bubba ignored him and carried me out of the room. I caught one last glance of Matt's feeble figure curled up on the floor with his arms outstretched in my direction before Bubba slammed the door closed behind us.

"Put me down, you jerk! " I yelled, beating at his back with my fists which might as well have been marshmallows considering he didn't even flinch.

If I'm going to die, I might as well go out fighting. Time for a little payback. Let's see how much he likes having his hair pulled. I grab a hold of his mask's dry matted hair and yank it off his head.

He wailed and dropped me to the floor, knocking the breath out of my lungs. Despite the ache in my body and the throbbing headache, I snapped my head up and caught a glimpse of his real face.

Shaggy black hair fell into his eyes covering faded pink scars discolored from the rest of his face. It seemed his lips and cheeks had been unevenly and jaggedly stitched back together leaving him with a cleft lip and permanent snarl. Even what little bit of a nose he had left was mangled.

This must have been the outcome of the 'accident' Nubbins mentioned when we first met. He hid his face behind one hand and snatched the mask from me with the other. Tugging it back on he, adjusting it until it fit perfectly over eyes and mouth.

He paced about the room huffing and growling, eyes shooting daggers in my direction, and his hands balled into bloody fists at his side. The intense stare was accompanied by slow deliberate breathing as if he was trying to contain his rage and losing big time.

"Why are you mad at me?" I shouted, springing to my feet and taking a defensive pose. "I didn't do anything wrong! You have no reason to-"

Plunging his hand into his apron pocket, he pulled out a mallet and raised it above his head, prepared to strike. I shrieked and collapsed to the floor at his feet, throwing my arms up to shield myself as best I could.

I waited for him to hit me, to kill me, to beat me to a pulp, but the blows never came. As a matter of fact, the room and everyone in it went silent. The mallet fell to the floor in front of me and Bubba to his knees. I slowly lowered my arms and raised my gaze to meet his. All the anger had washed from his face and had been replaced with teary eyes and a quivering lip.

"You're not gonna kill me?"

His bloodstained fingers grazed my cheek and gently wiped the tears that slipped from my eyes before moving to trace the outline of my lips making sure to go softly around the gash where my lip had split open.

"Hurt. I hurt you." he signed, whimpering like a wounded animal.

"Shhh, don't cry. It's okay. I know you didn't mean to. "

He wrapped his arms around me and buried his head beneath my chin. Is it bad that the smell of his mask doesn't even phase me anymore? I slid my arms around his neck and rubbed his back like my mother always did to calm me down when I was upset. His body relaxed into mine, the sobs seemed to cease, he nestled his face deeper into my hair.

"Would ya get a look at that! Yes, sir, th-that'll be good for some blackmailin'!"

The familiar sound of his brother's voice and a bright flash of white light startled us both making Bubba jump away from me like I had cooties or some sort of disease. Nubbins leaned in the doorway with an old Polaroid camera dangling from a strap around his neck and a smug grin on his face.

"I knew it! I knew ya liked 'er!" he teased, bouncing into the room and waving his new photo around. "An' now I got proof!"

"Really Nubbins? Did you need something or did you just come to start trouble? " I asked, trying to mask the flush overtaking my cheeks.

"Why, to start trouble of course! It's my favorite hobby,"

Bubba moaned and nudged his brother's shoulder a little too forcefully. Sometimes it seems he doesn't know his own strength.

"Tilly an' Bubba sittin' in a tree. K-i-s-s-i...uh..e...um..i-i forgot what comes next." Nubbins sang, not caring that he was embarrassing Bubba who was hiding his face in his hands.

"it's okay, Bubs. I know he's just joking." I said trying to console him.

"I just moseyed on in 'ere to see if my b-baby brother needed any help with his chores, and what do I find when I wander in? I'll tell ya what! Yew two neckin'!

"We weren't doing anything, Nubbins. You're making more out of it than you should."

"Nuh-uh! I saw it with my own two eyes" he shot back, hopping up on the table and taking a seat on the edge. "An a picture never lies"

"You're just jealous because the only woman who has ever shown you the slightest bit of affection is your mother."

"Not True!" He hollered back, his cheeks grew as red as a tomato making Bubba chuckle.

I'm glad to see he's back to his goofy self, but now I have to get them both out of here so they don't bother Matt anymore. That'll buy me time to come up with a plan to get him out and escape.

"That's not funny Bubba! I-I been with lots of girls. Tell 'er!"

He shrugged his shoulders and looked away. I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the counter trying to distract him from Matt's faint moans coming out of the freezer room.

"Oh really? Name one girl. Just one," I said, raising my eyebrow.

"Fine, there was...uh," He stared off into space and scratched at the stubble on his chin, "She was...um..."

"Yeah, that's what I thought." I said then turned to Bubba "How about we head back to the house. It's getting hot in here. "

He nodded and grabbed a slab of 'meat' wrapped in butchers paper off the table. We walked out of the barn with Nubbins following close behind.

"There y'all are. I was wondering where everyone went, " Loretta said, leaning against the railing of the porch with a tray and pitcher balanced on her arm. "I figured y'all might want something to cool ya off since it's so warm out. How's some nice cold sweet tea sound?"

Um, heck yes! Most people's bodies are made up of 60% water. Mine is 60% sweet tea. I have absolutely no idea how she makes her tea or if it's even sanitary, but what I don't know won't kill me, right?

"Sounds delicious, ma'am. Thank you," I said as she handed me the ice cold glass dripping with condensation.

Loretta took a seat in the rocking chair by the front door and the rest of us on the steps leaving me sandwiched between either brother.

"Listen 'ere, ya lil hooch," Nubbins began, looping his arm around my shoulders. " Wh-why don't yew and I slip off and get to know each other better. Then I can prove to ya I know h-how to treat a lady."

"How 'bout no! You're disgusting for even asking me that." I said shrugging his arm off and scooting closer to Bubba.

"If I'm disgustin' then you-you-you're a slut! A-a whore!"

Bubba sprung up from his spot, squaring his shoulders and balling his hands into fists as he growled low and deep.

"Sit down, ya high-strung retard! I was jus' messin' around" Nubbins yelled.

"Shut up! He's not retarded! He's kind and smart and a better person than you'll ever be!"

"Would ya shut yer mouth, woman?! This is a conversation between family."

"You know, for someone who claims that family is the most important thing in life, you sure treat your own brother like dirt!'

"How would yew know? An', why the hell is everyone ganging up on me! " He shouted throwing his arms in the air.

"What did you say, boy!" Loretta leaned forward in her chair and pointed a finger in his direction. He slapped his hand over his mouth. The look of his face was priceless. I wish I could have taken the camera from around his neck and snapped a photo of this moment.

"You want me to wash your mouth out with soap again, huh?! "

"No- no ma'am...."

"You better do some repentancein' for the filth that just came out your mouth!"

"Yes, momma...I'm sorry... "

So, let me get this straight. Loretta has no problem with her children kidnapping, killing, and eating people, but cussing is off limits. Yeah, that makes complete sense.

Nubbins plopped down beside me with his arms crossed over his chest, pouting and not daring to say another word. A large hand grabbed my own and I looked over to find Bubba holding my palm against his chest and caressing my fingers. His eyes stared intently at me, never wavering from my face. I smiled at him and he smiled back, but I can't help but feel he's hiding some secret. It's like his eyes are trying to tell me something.

I don't think he's a bad person, just raised by the wrong people. I have no idea why they're being so kind to me, but I'm not complaining. At least I know Matt is alive, and maybe with some more time and persuasion, I can get them to trust him as they trust me.