x-posted
Finally, this thing is done. (mops brow) I am beat.
Title: Miranda
Character: T-bag
Prompt: 21. Friends
Rating: R
Warnings: Graphic violence and killing, incest, het (OMG)
Summary: T-bag gets a little help on the outside and we find out why he never told any of the Alliance about Miranda.
Author's Notes: First, thanks so much to thelana for all the feedback she gave me on this. This one is probably the longest I've ever written and predictably took me the longest to write. Anyway, I first mentioned Miranda in River Dreams and then I said she was T-bag's "dirty little secret" in How to Make a Murderer. Now we see why. It's not a crossover, just a shout-out to one of my favourite movies that I really didn't have any intention of writing about when I mentioned it, but then I did. Also, there's flashbacks in between all the present stuff so every time there's two spaces that's when it changes. If you get confused. Hope the het doesn't turn anyone off!
Pretty was gone now, he had just slipped through T-bag’s fingers. And he had wanted that boy so badly. Maybe even more than the escape. That longing almost made him wish they had stayed in prison. Then Pretty would’ve had no place to run. Now they were all on their own, out in the real world, and iron bars no longer separated the older brother from T-bag. Burrows made sure he would never lay a hand on Pretty.
T-bag wiped the drying blood away from his nose and kicked at the stones on the ground. He had made the call last night, they knew when to come and yet they weren’t here yet. Even though it was a pretty deserted place, he was still a little nervous. You never know where the cops might turn up. And besides, he hated to be kept waiting. He drummed his fingers on the side of the payphone, looking at the faded scrawled telephone numbers along the side.
The sound of a truck coming up the road made him lift his head and he stared out at the headlights. The truck pulled up next to the gas station and T-bag smiled as the driver got out.
“Well I’ll be damned,” the young man said, “You phoned me the other night and I didn’t believe it. But here you are, big as Billy be frigged. How are ya, T?”
T-bag smiled. “A lot better than I used to be,” he said as he followed the man back to his truck.
He hopped in the passenger side as a young, dark haired girl moved over, making room for him.
“Hey Teddy,” she said, “Long time no see.”
The young man got back into the truck and pulled away as the girl cuddled up closer to him, resting against his shoulder. They acted like boyfriend and girlfriend and from afar that’s just what they looked like. People paid no attention to them at a distance. But once they got up close, the reaction was always the same. A scowl and a look of disapproval, if not outright disgust. The resemblance was just too much. After all, Caleb and Merrill weren’t just brother and sister, they were twins.
“So what’s the plan?” Caleb asked as he drove along, “I figured you didn’t call us up for old times sake.”
“I gotta get out of here,” T-bag said.
“Yeah, I figured that. Chicago probably ain’t the best place to be, what with your face all over the front page of the newspaper.”
“No, I mean I gotta get out of this country,” T-bag said, “I get caught in any state and they are going to fry me this time. Which is why you’re takin’ me to Canada.”
“Canada?” Merrill asked, “What the fuck are you gonna do up in Canada?”
“Yeah, wouldn’t it make more sense to go down to Mexico or somethin’?” Caleb added.
“You think I wanna spend the rest of my life surrounded by a bunch of fucking spics?” T-bag asked, “Besides, guy like me, would stick out like a sore thumb there.”
“I guess you’re right,” Merrill agreed, “But Canada? You’re gonna be livin’ in an igloo and eating fucking moose meat or somethin’.”
T-bag laughed and Merrill put her arm around Caleb, playing with his hair. T-bag always found it fascinating the way they were always touching each other, always so close to one another. They didn’t let the labels of “brother” and “sister” keep them from showing affection normally deemed inappropriate of family members.
“So, really, how you been, T-bag?” Caleb asked, “Fox River really as bad as they say it is?”
“You know the stories about that place are greatly exaggerated,” T-bag replied.
He looked over at Merrill, his eyes traveling from the cleavage at the top of her shirt, to the little line of bare skin peeking out at the bottom, right above her jeans. He had been in prison so long. Just being in such close proximity to a woman was driving him crazy.
“Like what you see?” she asked, “If you’re good, maybe Caleb here will let you have a little taste.”
“Not if I want you back alive,” Caleb muttered and Merrill giggled.
“Oh, the three of us are gonna have a lot of fun,” she smirked.
He remembered the first time he saw her, he was in Tennessee then. It was years ago, back when she was still a teenager, just a kid. He figured she must be in her mid twenties by now, the time went by so quickly. A little old now for his liking, and a tad skinnier after losing the last of her baby fat, but she still had that same look in her eyes. The one that drew him to her all those years ago. Back then she was gorgeous. Long dark brown hair, big brown eyes and a curvy body nicely outfitted in a tight white tank top and a pair of cut off shorts. There was something about the way she leaned against the wall of the general store, fidgeting nervously, looking like she had no idea what to do with the cigarette in her hand, that caught his attention. She looked so innocent, so vulnerable.
He watched her for a moment, so captivated that he completely ignored the six year old girl walking out with an ice cream cone, her mother walking ahead of her, oblivious to the danger so nearby. He had seen his prey and nothing would distract him.
He strolled over to the girl, trying to appear casual and nonchalant, hoping to win her over with charm. If he could lure her away, he would have her.
“Waitin’ for somebody?” he asked and the girl looked up, hurriedly stubbing out her cigarette, as if he might go run and tell her parents she was smoking.
“Yeah, just waiting for a friend,” she said, brushing her hair out of her eyes, “But he’s kinda late.”
“Well turns out we’re in the same boat. I just happen to be waitin’ for a friend too.” He leaned against the wall next to her. “So what are you and this friend gonna do anyway? Goin’ out to a party or somethin’?”
“No, it’s just…” She looked around nervously, then lowered her voice. “Can you keep a secret?”
T-bag nodded. “Sure thing darlin’.”
“I have to get rid of this pot,” she whispered, then looked around again to make sure no one was watching, “My ex-boyfriend gave it to me, but I didn’t want it. And if my parents catch me with it, they’ll kill me. So my friend said he’d buy it off me, but he’s half an hour late.” She rubbed her arms absently, looking like this was the last place she wanted to be.
“I see.”
“So do you need…uh…do you want some… It’s really cheap. I’m practically giving it away! I just want to be rid of it, you know? So if you wanted some, uh, I mean, if you’re into that sort of thing…you think maybe, um, you wanna buy some off me?”
T-bag smiled. “I may be in the position to offer you a deal.”
The girl sighed in relief. “Thank God,” she said, “Well, it’s not on me, it’s in my car. It’s around back. Just come with me and I’ll get it for you.”
She began making her way around the back of the store where it was darker and T-bag felt that something was off. Either this girl was really stupid or she was up to something. He felt the blade in his pocket and grinned. Whatever she had planned, he’d have quite the surprise for her. He followed her around the back and when they were out of sight he grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against the wall.
“What the fuck are you doing?” she asked, the nervousness gone, her eyes blazing.
“I think the question is, what are you doing?” T-bag asked as he pulled out the knife and held it up to her throat, “Lemme guess, there’s no pot is there? Now what were you gonna do, rob me?”
“Not exactly,” a male voice said and suddenly T-bag felt a blade being pressed against his neck.
“Take that knife away, before I kill your little girlfriend here,” T-bag threatened.
“I will slit your throat before you even get the chance,” the boy replied, “Now you take your knife away.”
T-bag hesitated and the man pushed the blade harder against his neck, a faint line of blood appearing.
“Do it or I swear to God, I will kill you right now,” the boy said and slowly T-bag slid the knife away from the girl’s throat.
The boy lowered his knife and stood back, looking quite confused.
“Now what the fuck is going on here?” he asked as the girl rubbed her neck.
“You were gonna kill me, weren’t you?” T-bag asked the girl, “That was the plan all along, wasn’t it?”
“And you were gonna kill me,” the girl said.
The boy laughed bitterly. “I don’t believe it,” he said, “I don’t believe.” He advanced on the girl, angrily. “Of all the fucking guys to pick and you have to go and pick one who’s trying to kill you! Jesus Christ, you are such a fucking dumb cunt sometimes, you know that?!”
The girl looked like she was about to cry and T-bag watched, amused, as the two of them fought, seemingly oblivious to his presence. As he watched them he noticed the uncanny resemblance between the two. They were more likely brother and sister, than boyfriend and girlfriend as he had previously thought. Well there was a new murderer dynamic.
“I didn’t know,” she said softly, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Oh yeah, that’s fucking great, just cry. And you actually wanted me to let you do this one by yourself?”
“Pardon me for interruptin’, but uh, if you don’t mind me askin’, just how many people have you two killed?”
The two of them just stared at him.
“Just for curiosity’s sake. I mean, one to another, know what I’m sayin’?”
“Two,” the boy said, looking almost proud.
T-bag whistled. “Two. Well, that’s…well you know, I s’pose that’s good for a start…”
“How many have you?” the girl asked.
“Try seven,” T-bag replied and she stared at him in awe.
The boy looked quite impressed as well. “You’re lyin’,” he said.
“I ain’t,” T-bag said, “I can prove it. And maybe I can show you two a few tricks, might help you be a little bit more successful next time.”
The boy scowled. “We don’t need to take any lessons,” he said.
But the girl seemed intrigued. “You’d show us stuff?” she asked and T-bag nodded.
He always loved to teach. And the girl would make a nice reward for his efforts.
She walked over to her brother and leaned against him. “Please?” she asked, putting her arms around him in a very unsisterly way, as she whispered “He could show us things.”
“Alright,” the boy said, and he kissed her before adding to T-bag, “And maybe we could show you a thing or two.”
“Hell, I’m always open to new ideas,” T-bag replied.
And so the lessons began.
They pulled over at a little roadside motel, a shithole of a place that charged by the hour. Caleb paid the manager with a couple of grimy and blood flecked bills and the three of them went out to their room as the sun started to come up.
“We can sleep here for a few hours, maybe grab some food and then get back on the road,” Caleb said, “Don’t wanna stay in one place too long, right?”
“And it’s better to travel at night,” Merrill added as she threw her bag down on one of the beds, cringing at the faded blanket covered in mystery spots.
T-bag couldn’t care less about the disgusting state of the furniture and lay back on the other bed, stretching his arms out. It felt strange to have so much space, but that was soon fixed as Merrill got onto the bed, climbing on top of him.
“Missed ya, T,” she said, her hands making their way up his shirt, “I liked havin’ two boys around to look after me.”
Caleb just laughed. “You’re a slut,” he said, smiling as he sat down on the other bed.
Merrill pulled off T-bag’s shirt and kissed him as he grabbed at her, pulling her closer to him. Just the proximity of a woman was making him hard already. When was the last time he had had a girl? God, it had been so long.
Merrill straddled him as she pulled off her top and T-bag glanced over at Caleb whose hand was already down his pants. T-bag grabbed Merrill and rolled over so he was on top of her, pinning her hands above her head.
“Make her beg,” Caleb said as T-bag reached down and pulled off his pants.
“Yeah, it’s you who’ll be beggin’. Any minute now,” Merrill replied as she shimmied out of her jeans.
She was as good as the first time he’d been with her, maybe even better. Although that might have been the fact that he hadn’t had any contact, let alone sex, with a woman in quite some time. The closest he’d gotten had been his first visit with Dr. Tancredi, when he’d pushed her up against the wall and whispered in her ear all the dirty things he’d like to do to her. He’d gotten a nasty beating and been sent straight to the SHU for that one and from then on that negro nurse had always been the one to see him.
But just the way Merrill moved, the sounds she made, it was so good. He couldn’t help it as he took his hands away from her wrists and moved them down to her breasts. Hadn’t gotten to do that in awhile. He’d been away from any females for so long that it didn’t take him long to finish.
“My turn,” Caleb said and he scrambled on top of his sister eagerly.
T-bag wondered how strange it was, as he rolled over and lounged beside them, to look into your lover’s face, into their eyes, and see yourself. The two of them didn’t seem to have any problem with it though as they went at it next to him, fucking like two horny teenagers, most likely no thoughts of brother or sister in their heads. Or maybe there was and that was just it. Maybe they got off on the fact that they were related. That they were almost the same person.
“Did you ever notice how you two have exactly the same eyes?” T-bag asked.
Neither of them said anything as Caleb continued to thrust into Merrill.
“I mean, there’s no mistaking that you two are brother and sister,” T-bag said.
“What?” Caleb panted.
“That’s what gets you all hot and bothered. The fact that she’s your sister. The fact that you are fucking your sister right now is going to make you come, isn’t it?”
Caleb ignored him and T-bag leaned down, his head next to Merrill’s.
“I bet you two had some real good times growin’ up, didn’t ya?” he whispered, “Probably slept in the same room, same bed, playin’ games beneath the covers.”
He licked his lips at the thought of the twins as little kids, all snuggled up together with their hands down each other’s pajama bottoms.
“Ah…fuck…” Merrill groaned and T-bag grinned.
A moment later Caleb was moaning as well and the murderer lay back, satisfied.
“See, I made her come,” Caleb said smugly and T-bag just waved his hand at him.
He might have been offended at Caleb’s not-so-subtle hint that T-bag was less of a man than him for not pleasuring Merrill, but at that moment he didn’t care. He had just wanted to get off, fuck Caleb if he didn’t see that.
T-bag looked over at Merrill. “So was I right?” he asked.
She looked like she was about to cry. “Fuck you,” she muttered, then walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
“Merrill?” Caleb asked, confused, but she didn’t answer.
T-bag just shrugged his shoulders and Caleb grabbed his pants and pulled them on before plunking down on the other bed. He closed his eyes and after a few minutes he was snoring. T-bag lay awake for a long time, but Merrill didn’t come out of the bathroom. Eventually he drifted off to sleep as well.
Caleb heard voices as he walked into the house, one measly bag of groceries in his hand. He and Merrill lived pretty cheap now that momma was gone. He set the paper bag down on the table and hurried over to their bedroom, worried. Someone was talking, a slow Southern drawl, but not a Tennessee one. Now he was panicked. That freak was alone in their house with Merrill! But Merrill was giggling when he opened the door.
It didn’t seem to make sense. The man, T-bag he’d said his name was, was straddling Merrill, his hands around her throat, but she was smiling.
“What are you doing?” Caleb asked.
Both of them looked up.
“Practicing,” Merrill replied as T-bag’s hands slid away.
“Just showin’ your dear sister here a way of killin’ that ain’t quite so messy. First hand,” T-bag said.
“Oh yeah?” Caleb asked as he sat down in the rocking chair in the corner of the room.
“Do it again,” Merrill said and T-bag wrapped his hands around her neck, putting just enough pressure to make it hard for her to breathe, but not to cut off her oxygen completely.
“Okay, I think that’s enough practice now,” Caleb cautioned.
Merrill squirmed under the murderer. “No, do it for real,” she said, pressing against T-bag, “Do it to me like you did to those other girls.”
Caleb stood up. “No, I don’t think so…”
“Relax, it’ll only be for a moment,” T-bag reasoned, and before Caleb could protest he put his hands around Merrill’s neck, really strangling her this time.
She coughed as he took his hands away, Caleb rushing over, pushing T-bag off of her.
“And I could do that to them?” Merrill asked, rubbing her neck, “Just kill them like that?”
“If you’re strong enough,” T-bag replied.
He could feel the familiar throbbing between his legs as he moved away from the girl. He’d almost let himself go that last time. He probably would’ve killed her if her brother hadn’t been there. He really needed to work on his control.
“Wake up, we gotta move.”
T-bag opened his eyes to see Caleb staring back at him and he was tempted to grab the boy and kiss him. After all, he was beautiful. Just like his sister. But he had also been raised in a Southern home and that meant any kind of man to man touching was a definite no. T-bag was surprised he’d even watched while the murderer had had sex with his sister. It always amused him that incest was acceptable, yet homosexual acts were not.
He yawned and stretched as he got up. Merrill was sullen looking as she grabbed her stuff and pulled on what looked like her brother’s jacket. There was no fire in her eyes, no spark. She was still pretty, but she looked so dull.
She hopped into the truck in silence, not looking at either of them. Caleb playfully grabbed her and she smacked him, causing him to frown and mutter something about “that time of the month”.
She sat upright between them as they drove, staring straight ahead out the windshield. No one seemed like they wanted to talk and T-bag looked out his window at the rolling landscape passing by. Not long before they’d hit the border and then he’d be home free.
“I’m gonna stop at this gas station here,” Caleb said, pulling onto an off-ramp, “Anyone else need to use the facilities?”
“Naw,” T-bag said and Merrill shook her head.
Caleb pulled into the station and parked the truck, before getting out and making his way over to the front counter.
“Why’d you say that?” Merrill asked.
T-bag looked up. “What?”
“Why’d you say all that stuff before?”
T-bag shrugged. “I was just curious, that’s all,” he replied, trying to seem innocent, “Why? Did I upset you?”
“It’s just…” She trailed off, and looked away, a pained expression on her face.
“Were some of the things I said true then?” T-bag asked.
Merrill laughed and when she looked back at him he saw that she was crying.
“I didn’t choose this,” she said.
T-bag felt something stir inside him as her words resonated. He too knew what it was like to be forced into something. He had Uncle Steve to thank for that. Luckily, Caleb returned before he could say anything. He did not want to get caught showing any compassion towards another person. He hated emotions. They got in the way.
“What’s wrong?” Caleb asked.
“Nothing,” Merrill said, wiping her eyes and she kissed him before adding, “Nothing, I’m fine.”
She leaned against Caleb’s side after he got back in the truck, glancing over at T-bag and their eyes met. T-bag quickly looked away, not wanting to admit that a moment had just passed between them. And when he looked back at her, he tried to ignore the pang of guilt he felt when he saw the hurt look on her face.
They lay together on the front porch of the house, a picnic blanket over their lower halves, Merrill’s bare breasts exposed. They hadn’t even waited until they got inside. It didn’t matter anyway, the closest neighbour lived all the way down the road. Caleb stood at the side of the house, leaning on the railing, smoking and watching the sunset, a bottle of beer in his hand. His shirt was somewhere on the porch, lost now, and he stood there in just his jeans, the sunlight casting an orange glow on his bare chest.
“I ain’t never had so much fun,” Merrill breathed, giggling slightly.
She propped her head up on her elbow, looking over at T-bag with admiration and he smiled. He enjoyed being seen as an idol.
“And it’s only the second time I’ve done it on the porch,” she whispered.
T-bag glanced over at Caleb. “So you two are twins then,” he said, “I thought you looked an awful lot alike.”
“Yep,” Merrill said, looking over at Caleb as well, “Sometimes…”
“What?” T-bag asked when she didn’t continue.
She waved her hand at him. “It’s stupid.”
“Come on, tell me.”
She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “Sometimes I think we used to be the same person. Only we got split in two. Like two halves of the same whole. Unfinished. I always felt like I was incomplete, like we should have been one person.” Her expression changed and she looked down sadly as she said, “And one day he told me he knew how to put us back together again.”
She said nothing for a moment, then smiled, looking up at T-bag. “And then you come along like the missin’ piece or somethin’,” she said happily, trying to change the subject, “You think you can show us how to kill someone by stranglin’ them? I ain’t never tried that one before.”
“Of course,” T-bag replied, “How about tonight?”
“Hold up, hold up,” T-bag said as he looked out the back window, “Is that someone followin’ us?”
They were driving along a deserted back road in some little one-horse town, figuring it might take a little longer, but at least it would be safer than the Interstate. Merrill was asleep, leaning against Caleb’s arm when the sirens went off.
“Oh shit,” Caleb exclaimed as the squad car began to gain on them.
He pushed Merrill off of him and she fell over onto T-bag, waking up with a start as Caleb pulled over.
“What?” she asked sleepily, “What’s going on?”
T-bag put a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet as the local Sheriff walked up to Caleb’s open window.
“Do you know how fast you were going, son?” he asked, “Speed limit’s 50.”
“Sorry,” Caleb said, trying to hide his accent, “We’re, uh, not from around here.”
The Sheriff took off his sunglasses and peered into the car. T-bag saw the man’s eyes widen when he looked at him. He couldn’t have known who T-bag was. Could he? T-bag looked at Caleb desperately, trying to speak with his eyes, hoping Caleb had seen that look too. Merrill looked scared as she moved closer to T-bag, trying to shrink away.
“Can I see you license and registration?” the Sheriff asked and Caleb hesitated. “Now,” the Sheriff growled.
Caleb reached behind him, but instead of reaching for his wallet, he pulled out a gun. He aimed it at the Sheriff, who stood back, grabbing his own gun out of his holster. He managed to pull it out, but Caleb was quicker. He pulled the trigger and shot the Sheriff point blank in the head, blood splattering his face, some of it even landing on Merrill and T-bag.
Merrill was shaking as she stared at her brother, blood running down her cheeks. T-bag wiped his face as Caleb started up the truck and peeled out.
“That what you wanted?” Caleb asked.
“Huh?”
“When you looked at me, that’s what you wanted, right?”
“Yeah,” T-bag said, “Yeah, he looked like he recognized me. Better safe than sorry.”
Caleb nodded and wiped his face off with his t-shirt, looking grim. Merrill didn’t bother with hers, she just stared off into space, panting, letting the Sheriff’s blood dry on her face.
“I was gonna say that we should stop at the next motel,” Caleb said, “But I think we should go through a few counties before we do that. Get some distance between us and this mess.”
T-bag put his arm around Merrill. To the average person she might have looked like someone in shock, maybe scared or disgusted. He knew better, he could tell just by looking at her eyes. She was turned on.
“Oh God please, you have to help me.”
Miranda turned around as she saw the frantic dark haired girl running towards her.
“Please, you have to hurry!” the girl pleaded, “My dog, he fell in the well. He’s not a very good swimmer, he’s still just a puppy. Please you have to help me.”
She was crying as she grabbed at Miranda’s arm.
“I don’t know how long he’ll last down there, please we have to hurry!”
“Oh, o-okay,” Miranda said as she allowed the girl to pull her along. She had no idea how she would be able to help, but she just couldn’t ignore the poor hysterical girl.
“Oh God, I only had him for a few days,” the girl babbled, “We was just playin’ catch and he fell down the well. It’s all my fault.”
“I don’t know how I can help you,” Miranda admitted as the girl continued walking, holding onto her arm and leading her across the field, towards the woods, “Maybe I could go back and get some help. Call the fire department maybe.”
“No, you have to come,” the girl said, “Just please come with me.”
She lead Miranda through the trees. “No, I think I should go back,” Miranda said, feeling something was up.
She tried to pull away, but the girl held onto her.
“Please,” she said.
“No! Let me go!” Miranda yelled and she wrenched her hand free.
She turned around to leave only to be smacked in the head with something very heavy.
Merrill jumped back as she watched the girl fall to the ground, Caleb standing over her, a rock held in his hands. Blood ran into the girl’s blonde curls, matting them as she tried to get to her feet.
“What the hell are you doing?!” she yelled.
“Don’t make a sound now, little darlin’,” Caleb said and he grabbed the girl, pushing her up against a tree.
Merrill almost giggled. “Please,” she said, imitating her earlier performance, “You have to help me. My dog is stuck in the well.”
“You’re sick,” Miranda spat out, struggling against Caleb.
She kneed him in the groin and he doubled over as Miranda ran for her life. Merrill rushed over to him, making sure he was okay.
Miranda could see the mouth of the forest and she ran faster, hoping to get out in the open. People might see her there, someone might come for help. Her foot caught on something as she imagined her salvation and she fell forward into the dirt. She rolled over and looked up to see another man standing over her. How many of them were there? It seemed they were everywhere.
“You lost, little girl?” he drawled and she scrambled to get up.
She could hear the others coming through the trees, whooping and laughing, sounding like animals. A pack of hunters following their prey. Miranda got to her feet and tried to get away, her head throbbing, but the man grabbed her and threw her back down.
“Where do you think you’re goin’?” T-bag asked the frightened girl.
“Yeah, I never repaid you for earlier,” Caleb said and he kicked her hard in the side.
Miranda winced and curled up into a ball, covering her head as they rained down blows on her. They stopped after awhile, letting her get to her feet, following her as she slowly staggered across the field.
T-bag watched as Merrill and Caleb circled the poor girl, hitting her every now and then, not very hard, just toying with her. Letting her get a few feet before knocking her down and making her get back up again. They were like two animals, playing with their prey before devouring it.
“Can I do it?” Merrill asked as Miranda lay on the ground, bruised and bleeding.
“Sure thing,” Caleb said and Merrill straddled the girl, just as T-bag had done to her earlier.
She put her hands around the girl’s neck and squeezed hard. Miranda thrashed beneath her, trying to get away. Finally, she managed to get her arm up and she hit Merrill across the face, causing the brunette to loosen her grip. Miranda coughed and choked and pushed Merrill off her, slowly getting up to her feet.
“You stupid bitch!” Merrill yelled and she stomped on Miranda’s leg with all her might.
There was a satisfying crack and Miranda screamed in pain as she fell over, Merrill looking down angrily at her.
T-bag put his hands on Merrill’s shoulders. “Hey, hey, it’s fine,” he said. Then he kissed Merrill’s neck before saying, “I’ll do it. Show you how it’s done.”
“Please,” Miranda choked out as T-bag climbed on top of her, “Why are you doing this?”
“Shhh…” T-bag said as he wiped away a tear from her face, loving how she winced as his fingertips brushed over a bruise, “You just be quiet now.”
And he wrapped his hands around her throat, strangling her. He could feel himself getting hard as she moved feebly beneath him, her hands not so much pulling at his arms, as resting on them.
“Look at me,” he said and her eyes stared into his, full of fear and pain, “That’s it, look at me.”
And he watched as the light slowly faded from them before they closed.
The funny thing was, there actually was an old well around those parts. That’s where Caleb suggested they dump the body. They carried the girl over to the well and as T-bag lifted her up onto the side, Merrill stopped him. She reached out and yanked the pretty cross necklace off Miranda’s neck, placing it in her pocket. Then she spat on her and T-bag tipped the body over the side, listening to the sound of dead bones breaking as it tumbled to the bottom.
The next day Merrill ran back to the house frantically to tell them the bad news. It turns out they had killed Miranda Whitefall, the mayor’s daughter. They knew for sure that he would turn the whole town upside down looking for his missing daughter and that it would only be a matter of time before it lead back to them.
When T-bag woke up the next morning, they were gone, all their stuff packed, the room empty. They left no note, nothing, and he tried to ignore how hurt he felt by it. Good riddance, he thought. After all, he didn’t need two more people to tag along on his killings.
When he first ended up in prison they sent him a letter.
“Call us if you ever need anything” it had said, with a phone number scrawled beneath it. They signed it “The Tennessee Twins”.
T-bag kept it, but he never phoned them. He didn’t want to talk to them, didn’t want their condolences over his incarceration. Still, he could never bring himself to throw away the letter. At least now it had come in handy.
Merrill was buzzing excitedly as they entered the hotel room, her eyes sparkling.
“That was amazing!” she gushed, “When you pulled that trigger and just blew his brains out everywhere! It was like nothin’ I’d ever seen!” She wrapped her arms around Caleb, pressing against him. “I wanted to fuck you right there in that truck,” she said, “But I figured I best wait till we get to the hotel.”
Her hands started to reach down his pants as she kissed his neck, but Caleb broke away.
“Hold on just a minute,” he said, “I’m just gonna go back and make sure there ain’t any blood left on the truck.”
They had changed their clothes before they got to the hotel and Caleb had hastily cleaned off the side of the truck with some water and a rag he had laying around in the back, but he wanted to make absolutely sure they were safe.
Merrill pouted and Caleb assured her he’d be back soon. With a sigh, Merrill turned towards T-bag.
“You ain’t goin’ anywhere, are you?” she asked and he shook his head.
“No, I’m stayin’ right here,” he said.
“Oh! I got somethin’ for you,” she exclaimed and she reached into her bag.
She pulled out Miranda’s necklace and held it up, smiling. Then she put it around her neck as she stood in front of T-bag seductively.
“You kept that all this time?” he asked as he pulled her close.
“Yeah,” she breathed as he pulled off her shirt, “To remind me of you. Like I said, I missed you, Teddy.”
She leaned down to nip at his neck and that’s when he saw it. It was just sitting there on the nightstand, in arm’s reach. He wished that this could go on longer, but he knew it was now or never. He probably wouldn’t get a chance like this again.
He kissed Merrill and then Caleb opened the door.
“Truck’s fine,” he said, not seeming surprised that his topless sister was making out with T-bag.
He was surprised however when T-bag pulled his own gun on him.
“What the fuck are you-“
Caleb didn’t even get to finish his sentence as T-bag pulled the trigger, splattering the poor boy’s brains all over the wall. Merrill jumped back, startled, as she stared at her brother’s lifeless body in horror.
“Now here’s a lesson I never did teach you,” T-bag said as he threw her down on the bed, “Never trust another murderer.”
He emptied the gun’s cartridge then threw it on the ground. Merrill looked at him with tears in her eyes, then she jumped off the bed and tried to run past him. T-bag grabbed her and threw her onto the ground, hard.
“Relax Merrill,” he said as he got on top of her, “Isn’t this what you always wanted? To feel what it was really like? Well now you’re gonna get your chance.”
She struggled beneath him as he strangled her and boy she did put up a fight. He was glad she didn’t just give up, it would have made him feel cheap. But in the end, T-bag was stronger, just like he’d always been, and soon she was just another dead body like the rest of them. He placed one last kiss on her cold lips before standing up.
“I believe this is mine,” he said and he yanked the necklace off her neck before walking out to the truck.
He was going to have a lot of fun in Canada.
he never told any of the Alliance about Miranda.
(snicker) If you're a Firefly/Serenity fan you'll understand why I find that funny.
Also, props to The Green Mile for one of the lines. Hee.
Title: Miranda
Character: T-bag
Prompt: 21. Friends
Rating: R
Warnings: Graphic violence and killing, incest, het (OMG)
Summary: T-bag gets a little help on the outside and we find out why he never told any of the Alliance about Miranda.
Author's Notes: First, thanks so much to thelana for all the feedback she gave me on this. This one is probably the longest I've ever written and predictably took me the longest to write. Anyway, I first mentioned Miranda in River Dreams and then I said she was T-bag's "dirty little secret" in How to Make a Murderer. Now we see why. It's not a crossover, just a shout-out to one of my favourite movies that I really didn't have any intention of writing about when I mentioned it, but then I did. Also, there's flashbacks in between all the present stuff so every time there's two spaces that's when it changes. If you get confused. Hope the het doesn't turn anyone off!
Pretty was gone now, he had just slipped through T-bag’s fingers. And he had wanted that boy so badly. Maybe even more than the escape. That longing almost made him wish they had stayed in prison. Then Pretty would’ve had no place to run. Now they were all on their own, out in the real world, and iron bars no longer separated the older brother from T-bag. Burrows made sure he would never lay a hand on Pretty.
T-bag wiped the drying blood away from his nose and kicked at the stones on the ground. He had made the call last night, they knew when to come and yet they weren’t here yet. Even though it was a pretty deserted place, he was still a little nervous. You never know where the cops might turn up. And besides, he hated to be kept waiting. He drummed his fingers on the side of the payphone, looking at the faded scrawled telephone numbers along the side.
The sound of a truck coming up the road made him lift his head and he stared out at the headlights. The truck pulled up next to the gas station and T-bag smiled as the driver got out.
“Well I’ll be damned,” the young man said, “You phoned me the other night and I didn’t believe it. But here you are, big as Billy be frigged. How are ya, T?”
T-bag smiled. “A lot better than I used to be,” he said as he followed the man back to his truck.
He hopped in the passenger side as a young, dark haired girl moved over, making room for him.
“Hey Teddy,” she said, “Long time no see.”
The young man got back into the truck and pulled away as the girl cuddled up closer to him, resting against his shoulder. They acted like boyfriend and girlfriend and from afar that’s just what they looked like. People paid no attention to them at a distance. But once they got up close, the reaction was always the same. A scowl and a look of disapproval, if not outright disgust. The resemblance was just too much. After all, Caleb and Merrill weren’t just brother and sister, they were twins.
“So what’s the plan?” Caleb asked as he drove along, “I figured you didn’t call us up for old times sake.”
“I gotta get out of here,” T-bag said.
“Yeah, I figured that. Chicago probably ain’t the best place to be, what with your face all over the front page of the newspaper.”
“No, I mean I gotta get out of this country,” T-bag said, “I get caught in any state and they are going to fry me this time. Which is why you’re takin’ me to Canada.”
“Canada?” Merrill asked, “What the fuck are you gonna do up in Canada?”
“Yeah, wouldn’t it make more sense to go down to Mexico or somethin’?” Caleb added.
“You think I wanna spend the rest of my life surrounded by a bunch of fucking spics?” T-bag asked, “Besides, guy like me, would stick out like a sore thumb there.”
“I guess you’re right,” Merrill agreed, “But Canada? You’re gonna be livin’ in an igloo and eating fucking moose meat or somethin’.”
T-bag laughed and Merrill put her arm around Caleb, playing with his hair. T-bag always found it fascinating the way they were always touching each other, always so close to one another. They didn’t let the labels of “brother” and “sister” keep them from showing affection normally deemed inappropriate of family members.
“So, really, how you been, T-bag?” Caleb asked, “Fox River really as bad as they say it is?”
“You know the stories about that place are greatly exaggerated,” T-bag replied.
He looked over at Merrill, his eyes traveling from the cleavage at the top of her shirt, to the little line of bare skin peeking out at the bottom, right above her jeans. He had been in prison so long. Just being in such close proximity to a woman was driving him crazy.
“Like what you see?” she asked, “If you’re good, maybe Caleb here will let you have a little taste.”
“Not if I want you back alive,” Caleb muttered and Merrill giggled.
“Oh, the three of us are gonna have a lot of fun,” she smirked.
He remembered the first time he saw her, he was in Tennessee then. It was years ago, back when she was still a teenager, just a kid. He figured she must be in her mid twenties by now, the time went by so quickly. A little old now for his liking, and a tad skinnier after losing the last of her baby fat, but she still had that same look in her eyes. The one that drew him to her all those years ago. Back then she was gorgeous. Long dark brown hair, big brown eyes and a curvy body nicely outfitted in a tight white tank top and a pair of cut off shorts. There was something about the way she leaned against the wall of the general store, fidgeting nervously, looking like she had no idea what to do with the cigarette in her hand, that caught his attention. She looked so innocent, so vulnerable.
He watched her for a moment, so captivated that he completely ignored the six year old girl walking out with an ice cream cone, her mother walking ahead of her, oblivious to the danger so nearby. He had seen his prey and nothing would distract him.
He strolled over to the girl, trying to appear casual and nonchalant, hoping to win her over with charm. If he could lure her away, he would have her.
“Waitin’ for somebody?” he asked and the girl looked up, hurriedly stubbing out her cigarette, as if he might go run and tell her parents she was smoking.
“Yeah, just waiting for a friend,” she said, brushing her hair out of her eyes, “But he’s kinda late.”
“Well turns out we’re in the same boat. I just happen to be waitin’ for a friend too.” He leaned against the wall next to her. “So what are you and this friend gonna do anyway? Goin’ out to a party or somethin’?”
“No, it’s just…” She looked around nervously, then lowered her voice. “Can you keep a secret?”
T-bag nodded. “Sure thing darlin’.”
“I have to get rid of this pot,” she whispered, then looked around again to make sure no one was watching, “My ex-boyfriend gave it to me, but I didn’t want it. And if my parents catch me with it, they’ll kill me. So my friend said he’d buy it off me, but he’s half an hour late.” She rubbed her arms absently, looking like this was the last place she wanted to be.
“I see.”
“So do you need…uh…do you want some… It’s really cheap. I’m practically giving it away! I just want to be rid of it, you know? So if you wanted some, uh, I mean, if you’re into that sort of thing…you think maybe, um, you wanna buy some off me?”
T-bag smiled. “I may be in the position to offer you a deal.”
The girl sighed in relief. “Thank God,” she said, “Well, it’s not on me, it’s in my car. It’s around back. Just come with me and I’ll get it for you.”
She began making her way around the back of the store where it was darker and T-bag felt that something was off. Either this girl was really stupid or she was up to something. He felt the blade in his pocket and grinned. Whatever she had planned, he’d have quite the surprise for her. He followed her around the back and when they were out of sight he grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against the wall.
“What the fuck are you doing?” she asked, the nervousness gone, her eyes blazing.
“I think the question is, what are you doing?” T-bag asked as he pulled out the knife and held it up to her throat, “Lemme guess, there’s no pot is there? Now what were you gonna do, rob me?”
“Not exactly,” a male voice said and suddenly T-bag felt a blade being pressed against his neck.
“Take that knife away, before I kill your little girlfriend here,” T-bag threatened.
“I will slit your throat before you even get the chance,” the boy replied, “Now you take your knife away.”
T-bag hesitated and the man pushed the blade harder against his neck, a faint line of blood appearing.
“Do it or I swear to God, I will kill you right now,” the boy said and slowly T-bag slid the knife away from the girl’s throat.
The boy lowered his knife and stood back, looking quite confused.
“Now what the fuck is going on here?” he asked as the girl rubbed her neck.
“You were gonna kill me, weren’t you?” T-bag asked the girl, “That was the plan all along, wasn’t it?”
“And you were gonna kill me,” the girl said.
The boy laughed bitterly. “I don’t believe it,” he said, “I don’t believe.” He advanced on the girl, angrily. “Of all the fucking guys to pick and you have to go and pick one who’s trying to kill you! Jesus Christ, you are such a fucking dumb cunt sometimes, you know that?!”
The girl looked like she was about to cry and T-bag watched, amused, as the two of them fought, seemingly oblivious to his presence. As he watched them he noticed the uncanny resemblance between the two. They were more likely brother and sister, than boyfriend and girlfriend as he had previously thought. Well there was a new murderer dynamic.
“I didn’t know,” she said softly, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Oh yeah, that’s fucking great, just cry. And you actually wanted me to let you do this one by yourself?”
“Pardon me for interruptin’, but uh, if you don’t mind me askin’, just how many people have you two killed?”
The two of them just stared at him.
“Just for curiosity’s sake. I mean, one to another, know what I’m sayin’?”
“Two,” the boy said, looking almost proud.
T-bag whistled. “Two. Well, that’s…well you know, I s’pose that’s good for a start…”
“How many have you?” the girl asked.
“Try seven,” T-bag replied and she stared at him in awe.
The boy looked quite impressed as well. “You’re lyin’,” he said.
“I ain’t,” T-bag said, “I can prove it. And maybe I can show you two a few tricks, might help you be a little bit more successful next time.”
The boy scowled. “We don’t need to take any lessons,” he said.
But the girl seemed intrigued. “You’d show us stuff?” she asked and T-bag nodded.
He always loved to teach. And the girl would make a nice reward for his efforts.
She walked over to her brother and leaned against him. “Please?” she asked, putting her arms around him in a very unsisterly way, as she whispered “He could show us things.”
“Alright,” the boy said, and he kissed her before adding to T-bag, “And maybe we could show you a thing or two.”
“Hell, I’m always open to new ideas,” T-bag replied.
And so the lessons began.
They pulled over at a little roadside motel, a shithole of a place that charged by the hour. Caleb paid the manager with a couple of grimy and blood flecked bills and the three of them went out to their room as the sun started to come up.
“We can sleep here for a few hours, maybe grab some food and then get back on the road,” Caleb said, “Don’t wanna stay in one place too long, right?”
“And it’s better to travel at night,” Merrill added as she threw her bag down on one of the beds, cringing at the faded blanket covered in mystery spots.
T-bag couldn’t care less about the disgusting state of the furniture and lay back on the other bed, stretching his arms out. It felt strange to have so much space, but that was soon fixed as Merrill got onto the bed, climbing on top of him.
“Missed ya, T,” she said, her hands making their way up his shirt, “I liked havin’ two boys around to look after me.”
Caleb just laughed. “You’re a slut,” he said, smiling as he sat down on the other bed.
Merrill pulled off T-bag’s shirt and kissed him as he grabbed at her, pulling her closer to him. Just the proximity of a woman was making him hard already. When was the last time he had had a girl? God, it had been so long.
Merrill straddled him as she pulled off her top and T-bag glanced over at Caleb whose hand was already down his pants. T-bag grabbed Merrill and rolled over so he was on top of her, pinning her hands above her head.
“Make her beg,” Caleb said as T-bag reached down and pulled off his pants.
“Yeah, it’s you who’ll be beggin’. Any minute now,” Merrill replied as she shimmied out of her jeans.
She was as good as the first time he’d been with her, maybe even better. Although that might have been the fact that he hadn’t had any contact, let alone sex, with a woman in quite some time. The closest he’d gotten had been his first visit with Dr. Tancredi, when he’d pushed her up against the wall and whispered in her ear all the dirty things he’d like to do to her. He’d gotten a nasty beating and been sent straight to the SHU for that one and from then on that negro nurse had always been the one to see him.
But just the way Merrill moved, the sounds she made, it was so good. He couldn’t help it as he took his hands away from her wrists and moved them down to her breasts. Hadn’t gotten to do that in awhile. He’d been away from any females for so long that it didn’t take him long to finish.
“My turn,” Caleb said and he scrambled on top of his sister eagerly.
T-bag wondered how strange it was, as he rolled over and lounged beside them, to look into your lover’s face, into their eyes, and see yourself. The two of them didn’t seem to have any problem with it though as they went at it next to him, fucking like two horny teenagers, most likely no thoughts of brother or sister in their heads. Or maybe there was and that was just it. Maybe they got off on the fact that they were related. That they were almost the same person.
“Did you ever notice how you two have exactly the same eyes?” T-bag asked.
Neither of them said anything as Caleb continued to thrust into Merrill.
“I mean, there’s no mistaking that you two are brother and sister,” T-bag said.
“What?” Caleb panted.
“That’s what gets you all hot and bothered. The fact that she’s your sister. The fact that you are fucking your sister right now is going to make you come, isn’t it?”
Caleb ignored him and T-bag leaned down, his head next to Merrill’s.
“I bet you two had some real good times growin’ up, didn’t ya?” he whispered, “Probably slept in the same room, same bed, playin’ games beneath the covers.”
He licked his lips at the thought of the twins as little kids, all snuggled up together with their hands down each other’s pajama bottoms.
“Ah…fuck…” Merrill groaned and T-bag grinned.
A moment later Caleb was moaning as well and the murderer lay back, satisfied.
“See, I made her come,” Caleb said smugly and T-bag just waved his hand at him.
He might have been offended at Caleb’s not-so-subtle hint that T-bag was less of a man than him for not pleasuring Merrill, but at that moment he didn’t care. He had just wanted to get off, fuck Caleb if he didn’t see that.
T-bag looked over at Merrill. “So was I right?” he asked.
She looked like she was about to cry. “Fuck you,” she muttered, then walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
“Merrill?” Caleb asked, confused, but she didn’t answer.
T-bag just shrugged his shoulders and Caleb grabbed his pants and pulled them on before plunking down on the other bed. He closed his eyes and after a few minutes he was snoring. T-bag lay awake for a long time, but Merrill didn’t come out of the bathroom. Eventually he drifted off to sleep as well.
Caleb heard voices as he walked into the house, one measly bag of groceries in his hand. He and Merrill lived pretty cheap now that momma was gone. He set the paper bag down on the table and hurried over to their bedroom, worried. Someone was talking, a slow Southern drawl, but not a Tennessee one. Now he was panicked. That freak was alone in their house with Merrill! But Merrill was giggling when he opened the door.
It didn’t seem to make sense. The man, T-bag he’d said his name was, was straddling Merrill, his hands around her throat, but she was smiling.
“What are you doing?” Caleb asked.
Both of them looked up.
“Practicing,” Merrill replied as T-bag’s hands slid away.
“Just showin’ your dear sister here a way of killin’ that ain’t quite so messy. First hand,” T-bag said.
“Oh yeah?” Caleb asked as he sat down in the rocking chair in the corner of the room.
“Do it again,” Merrill said and T-bag wrapped his hands around her neck, putting just enough pressure to make it hard for her to breathe, but not to cut off her oxygen completely.
“Okay, I think that’s enough practice now,” Caleb cautioned.
Merrill squirmed under the murderer. “No, do it for real,” she said, pressing against T-bag, “Do it to me like you did to those other girls.”
Caleb stood up. “No, I don’t think so…”
“Relax, it’ll only be for a moment,” T-bag reasoned, and before Caleb could protest he put his hands around Merrill’s neck, really strangling her this time.
She coughed as he took his hands away, Caleb rushing over, pushing T-bag off of her.
“And I could do that to them?” Merrill asked, rubbing her neck, “Just kill them like that?”
“If you’re strong enough,” T-bag replied.
He could feel the familiar throbbing between his legs as he moved away from the girl. He’d almost let himself go that last time. He probably would’ve killed her if her brother hadn’t been there. He really needed to work on his control.
“Wake up, we gotta move.”
T-bag opened his eyes to see Caleb staring back at him and he was tempted to grab the boy and kiss him. After all, he was beautiful. Just like his sister. But he had also been raised in a Southern home and that meant any kind of man to man touching was a definite no. T-bag was surprised he’d even watched while the murderer had had sex with his sister. It always amused him that incest was acceptable, yet homosexual acts were not.
He yawned and stretched as he got up. Merrill was sullen looking as she grabbed her stuff and pulled on what looked like her brother’s jacket. There was no fire in her eyes, no spark. She was still pretty, but she looked so dull.
She hopped into the truck in silence, not looking at either of them. Caleb playfully grabbed her and she smacked him, causing him to frown and mutter something about “that time of the month”.
She sat upright between them as they drove, staring straight ahead out the windshield. No one seemed like they wanted to talk and T-bag looked out his window at the rolling landscape passing by. Not long before they’d hit the border and then he’d be home free.
“I’m gonna stop at this gas station here,” Caleb said, pulling onto an off-ramp, “Anyone else need to use the facilities?”
“Naw,” T-bag said and Merrill shook her head.
Caleb pulled into the station and parked the truck, before getting out and making his way over to the front counter.
“Why’d you say that?” Merrill asked.
T-bag looked up. “What?”
“Why’d you say all that stuff before?”
T-bag shrugged. “I was just curious, that’s all,” he replied, trying to seem innocent, “Why? Did I upset you?”
“It’s just…” She trailed off, and looked away, a pained expression on her face.
“Were some of the things I said true then?” T-bag asked.
Merrill laughed and when she looked back at him he saw that she was crying.
“I didn’t choose this,” she said.
T-bag felt something stir inside him as her words resonated. He too knew what it was like to be forced into something. He had Uncle Steve to thank for that. Luckily, Caleb returned before he could say anything. He did not want to get caught showing any compassion towards another person. He hated emotions. They got in the way.
“What’s wrong?” Caleb asked.
“Nothing,” Merrill said, wiping her eyes and she kissed him before adding, “Nothing, I’m fine.”
She leaned against Caleb’s side after he got back in the truck, glancing over at T-bag and their eyes met. T-bag quickly looked away, not wanting to admit that a moment had just passed between them. And when he looked back at her, he tried to ignore the pang of guilt he felt when he saw the hurt look on her face.
They lay together on the front porch of the house, a picnic blanket over their lower halves, Merrill’s bare breasts exposed. They hadn’t even waited until they got inside. It didn’t matter anyway, the closest neighbour lived all the way down the road. Caleb stood at the side of the house, leaning on the railing, smoking and watching the sunset, a bottle of beer in his hand. His shirt was somewhere on the porch, lost now, and he stood there in just his jeans, the sunlight casting an orange glow on his bare chest.
“I ain’t never had so much fun,” Merrill breathed, giggling slightly.
She propped her head up on her elbow, looking over at T-bag with admiration and he smiled. He enjoyed being seen as an idol.
“And it’s only the second time I’ve done it on the porch,” she whispered.
T-bag glanced over at Caleb. “So you two are twins then,” he said, “I thought you looked an awful lot alike.”
“Yep,” Merrill said, looking over at Caleb as well, “Sometimes…”
“What?” T-bag asked when she didn’t continue.
She waved her hand at him. “It’s stupid.”
“Come on, tell me.”
She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “Sometimes I think we used to be the same person. Only we got split in two. Like two halves of the same whole. Unfinished. I always felt like I was incomplete, like we should have been one person.” Her expression changed and she looked down sadly as she said, “And one day he told me he knew how to put us back together again.”
She said nothing for a moment, then smiled, looking up at T-bag. “And then you come along like the missin’ piece or somethin’,” she said happily, trying to change the subject, “You think you can show us how to kill someone by stranglin’ them? I ain’t never tried that one before.”
“Of course,” T-bag replied, “How about tonight?”
“Hold up, hold up,” T-bag said as he looked out the back window, “Is that someone followin’ us?”
They were driving along a deserted back road in some little one-horse town, figuring it might take a little longer, but at least it would be safer than the Interstate. Merrill was asleep, leaning against Caleb’s arm when the sirens went off.
“Oh shit,” Caleb exclaimed as the squad car began to gain on them.
He pushed Merrill off of him and she fell over onto T-bag, waking up with a start as Caleb pulled over.
“What?” she asked sleepily, “What’s going on?”
T-bag put a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet as the local Sheriff walked up to Caleb’s open window.
“Do you know how fast you were going, son?” he asked, “Speed limit’s 50.”
“Sorry,” Caleb said, trying to hide his accent, “We’re, uh, not from around here.”
The Sheriff took off his sunglasses and peered into the car. T-bag saw the man’s eyes widen when he looked at him. He couldn’t have known who T-bag was. Could he? T-bag looked at Caleb desperately, trying to speak with his eyes, hoping Caleb had seen that look too. Merrill looked scared as she moved closer to T-bag, trying to shrink away.
“Can I see you license and registration?” the Sheriff asked and Caleb hesitated. “Now,” the Sheriff growled.
Caleb reached behind him, but instead of reaching for his wallet, he pulled out a gun. He aimed it at the Sheriff, who stood back, grabbing his own gun out of his holster. He managed to pull it out, but Caleb was quicker. He pulled the trigger and shot the Sheriff point blank in the head, blood splattering his face, some of it even landing on Merrill and T-bag.
Merrill was shaking as she stared at her brother, blood running down her cheeks. T-bag wiped his face as Caleb started up the truck and peeled out.
“That what you wanted?” Caleb asked.
“Huh?”
“When you looked at me, that’s what you wanted, right?”
“Yeah,” T-bag said, “Yeah, he looked like he recognized me. Better safe than sorry.”
Caleb nodded and wiped his face off with his t-shirt, looking grim. Merrill didn’t bother with hers, she just stared off into space, panting, letting the Sheriff’s blood dry on her face.
“I was gonna say that we should stop at the next motel,” Caleb said, “But I think we should go through a few counties before we do that. Get some distance between us and this mess.”
T-bag put his arm around Merrill. To the average person she might have looked like someone in shock, maybe scared or disgusted. He knew better, he could tell just by looking at her eyes. She was turned on.
“Oh God please, you have to help me.”
Miranda turned around as she saw the frantic dark haired girl running towards her.
“Please, you have to hurry!” the girl pleaded, “My dog, he fell in the well. He’s not a very good swimmer, he’s still just a puppy. Please you have to help me.”
She was crying as she grabbed at Miranda’s arm.
“I don’t know how long he’ll last down there, please we have to hurry!”
“Oh, o-okay,” Miranda said as she allowed the girl to pull her along. She had no idea how she would be able to help, but she just couldn’t ignore the poor hysterical girl.
“Oh God, I only had him for a few days,” the girl babbled, “We was just playin’ catch and he fell down the well. It’s all my fault.”
“I don’t know how I can help you,” Miranda admitted as the girl continued walking, holding onto her arm and leading her across the field, towards the woods, “Maybe I could go back and get some help. Call the fire department maybe.”
“No, you have to come,” the girl said, “Just please come with me.”
She lead Miranda through the trees. “No, I think I should go back,” Miranda said, feeling something was up.
She tried to pull away, but the girl held onto her.
“Please,” she said.
“No! Let me go!” Miranda yelled and she wrenched her hand free.
She turned around to leave only to be smacked in the head with something very heavy.
Merrill jumped back as she watched the girl fall to the ground, Caleb standing over her, a rock held in his hands. Blood ran into the girl’s blonde curls, matting them as she tried to get to her feet.
“What the hell are you doing?!” she yelled.
“Don’t make a sound now, little darlin’,” Caleb said and he grabbed the girl, pushing her up against a tree.
Merrill almost giggled. “Please,” she said, imitating her earlier performance, “You have to help me. My dog is stuck in the well.”
“You’re sick,” Miranda spat out, struggling against Caleb.
She kneed him in the groin and he doubled over as Miranda ran for her life. Merrill rushed over to him, making sure he was okay.
Miranda could see the mouth of the forest and she ran faster, hoping to get out in the open. People might see her there, someone might come for help. Her foot caught on something as she imagined her salvation and she fell forward into the dirt. She rolled over and looked up to see another man standing over her. How many of them were there? It seemed they were everywhere.
“You lost, little girl?” he drawled and she scrambled to get up.
She could hear the others coming through the trees, whooping and laughing, sounding like animals. A pack of hunters following their prey. Miranda got to her feet and tried to get away, her head throbbing, but the man grabbed her and threw her back down.
“Where do you think you’re goin’?” T-bag asked the frightened girl.
“Yeah, I never repaid you for earlier,” Caleb said and he kicked her hard in the side.
Miranda winced and curled up into a ball, covering her head as they rained down blows on her. They stopped after awhile, letting her get to her feet, following her as she slowly staggered across the field.
T-bag watched as Merrill and Caleb circled the poor girl, hitting her every now and then, not very hard, just toying with her. Letting her get a few feet before knocking her down and making her get back up again. They were like two animals, playing with their prey before devouring it.
“Can I do it?” Merrill asked as Miranda lay on the ground, bruised and bleeding.
“Sure thing,” Caleb said and Merrill straddled the girl, just as T-bag had done to her earlier.
She put her hands around the girl’s neck and squeezed hard. Miranda thrashed beneath her, trying to get away. Finally, she managed to get her arm up and she hit Merrill across the face, causing the brunette to loosen her grip. Miranda coughed and choked and pushed Merrill off her, slowly getting up to her feet.
“You stupid bitch!” Merrill yelled and she stomped on Miranda’s leg with all her might.
There was a satisfying crack and Miranda screamed in pain as she fell over, Merrill looking down angrily at her.
T-bag put his hands on Merrill’s shoulders. “Hey, hey, it’s fine,” he said. Then he kissed Merrill’s neck before saying, “I’ll do it. Show you how it’s done.”
“Please,” Miranda choked out as T-bag climbed on top of her, “Why are you doing this?”
“Shhh…” T-bag said as he wiped away a tear from her face, loving how she winced as his fingertips brushed over a bruise, “You just be quiet now.”
And he wrapped his hands around her throat, strangling her. He could feel himself getting hard as she moved feebly beneath him, her hands not so much pulling at his arms, as resting on them.
“Look at me,” he said and her eyes stared into his, full of fear and pain, “That’s it, look at me.”
And he watched as the light slowly faded from them before they closed.
The funny thing was, there actually was an old well around those parts. That’s where Caleb suggested they dump the body. They carried the girl over to the well and as T-bag lifted her up onto the side, Merrill stopped him. She reached out and yanked the pretty cross necklace off Miranda’s neck, placing it in her pocket. Then she spat on her and T-bag tipped the body over the side, listening to the sound of dead bones breaking as it tumbled to the bottom.
The next day Merrill ran back to the house frantically to tell them the bad news. It turns out they had killed Miranda Whitefall, the mayor’s daughter. They knew for sure that he would turn the whole town upside down looking for his missing daughter and that it would only be a matter of time before it lead back to them.
When T-bag woke up the next morning, they were gone, all their stuff packed, the room empty. They left no note, nothing, and he tried to ignore how hurt he felt by it. Good riddance, he thought. After all, he didn’t need two more people to tag along on his killings.
When he first ended up in prison they sent him a letter.
“Call us if you ever need anything” it had said, with a phone number scrawled beneath it. They signed it “The Tennessee Twins”.
T-bag kept it, but he never phoned them. He didn’t want to talk to them, didn’t want their condolences over his incarceration. Still, he could never bring himself to throw away the letter. At least now it had come in handy.
Merrill was buzzing excitedly as they entered the hotel room, her eyes sparkling.
“That was amazing!” she gushed, “When you pulled that trigger and just blew his brains out everywhere! It was like nothin’ I’d ever seen!” She wrapped her arms around Caleb, pressing against him. “I wanted to fuck you right there in that truck,” she said, “But I figured I best wait till we get to the hotel.”
Her hands started to reach down his pants as she kissed his neck, but Caleb broke away.
“Hold on just a minute,” he said, “I’m just gonna go back and make sure there ain’t any blood left on the truck.”
They had changed their clothes before they got to the hotel and Caleb had hastily cleaned off the side of the truck with some water and a rag he had laying around in the back, but he wanted to make absolutely sure they were safe.
Merrill pouted and Caleb assured her he’d be back soon. With a sigh, Merrill turned towards T-bag.
“You ain’t goin’ anywhere, are you?” she asked and he shook his head.
“No, I’m stayin’ right here,” he said.
“Oh! I got somethin’ for you,” she exclaimed and she reached into her bag.
She pulled out Miranda’s necklace and held it up, smiling. Then she put it around her neck as she stood in front of T-bag seductively.
“You kept that all this time?” he asked as he pulled her close.
“Yeah,” she breathed as he pulled off her shirt, “To remind me of you. Like I said, I missed you, Teddy.”
She leaned down to nip at his neck and that’s when he saw it. It was just sitting there on the nightstand, in arm’s reach. He wished that this could go on longer, but he knew it was now or never. He probably wouldn’t get a chance like this again.
He kissed Merrill and then Caleb opened the door.
“Truck’s fine,” he said, not seeming surprised that his topless sister was making out with T-bag.
He was surprised however when T-bag pulled his own gun on him.
“What the fuck are you-“
Caleb didn’t even get to finish his sentence as T-bag pulled the trigger, splattering the poor boy’s brains all over the wall. Merrill jumped back, startled, as she stared at her brother’s lifeless body in horror.
“Now here’s a lesson I never did teach you,” T-bag said as he threw her down on the bed, “Never trust another murderer.”
He emptied the gun’s cartridge then threw it on the ground. Merrill looked at him with tears in her eyes, then she jumped off the bed and tried to run past him. T-bag grabbed her and threw her onto the ground, hard.
“Relax Merrill,” he said as he got on top of her, “Isn’t this what you always wanted? To feel what it was really like? Well now you’re gonna get your chance.”
She struggled beneath him as he strangled her and boy she did put up a fight. He was glad she didn’t just give up, it would have made him feel cheap. But in the end, T-bag was stronger, just like he’d always been, and soon she was just another dead body like the rest of them. He placed one last kiss on her cold lips before standing up.
“I believe this is mine,” he said and he yanked the necklace off her neck before walking out to the truck.
He was going to have a lot of fun in Canada.
he never told any of the Alliance about Miranda.
(snicker) If you're a Firefly/Serenity fan you'll understand why I find that funny.
Also, props to The Green Mile for one of the lines. Hee.