**This scene was inspired by what Thomas Sharpe said to Edith Cushing at the McMichael house.**

Edith is tentative. I can see it in her eyes and the way her hand recoils for a moment before placing it in mine. I'm aware of the murmurs, the whispers, and my sister's eyes fixed on me. I lead Edith to the center of the room, her hand as light and delicate as a butterfly. I turn to Lucille whose expression is blank but I can tell she disapproves. Her gaze lingers for a few heartbeats before turning to the piano and her fingers press on the ivories.

Placing the candle between our hands and, with the other, reaching around her to the middle of her back to pull her closer to me, I hear her whisper, "Why are we doing this?" Don't worry about what they're thinking, I thought of telling her. Instead, I said, "I've always closed my eyes to things that made me uncomfortable. It makes everything easier." I think back to the last time I closed my eyes...

"You're monsters! Both of you!" Our mother shrieked when she opened the nursery door. We rushed to put our clothes back on but Lucille glared at our mother with a hint of defiance. She stormed in the room after she recovered from her shock and yanked Lucille by her hair. "Leave her alone!" I yelled over my sister's scream.

Mother took her cane and struck my hands which grasped my sister's. Lucille struggled and hissed while her nails reached up to our mother's face. Without a word, Mother forced Lucille away to the sound of her sobs. "Thomas!" She wailed. I could only whisper her name just when the door slammed in my face.

I didn't realize hours passed while I tinkered with my toys and made new ones. Memories of Lucille's tears and bruises surfaced with each toy. I made this one when Father called her a whore after we found the hidden dirty books in the library. I made this after Mother beat her with her cane and there were more purple than pale skin on her back after she was caught sneaking into the kitchen for sweets.

"Thomas!" Lucille's voice whispered through a crack in the door. I gasped and scrambled towards her. I pulled open the door to see her surprising unharmed. I move to embrace her when I see the giant knife in her hands. "W-What are doing with that?" She smiled, "You'll see." She kissed me and started to lead me to Mother's bedroom. "Lucille, what are you doing?!" She remained silent as she opened one of the double doors and slipped in. Mother was not there. Then we heard the splash of water against the tub.

"She'll never separate us again. Promise me, Thomas. We stay together. Never apart." "We stay together...Never apart." I repeated. What is she going to do? Lucille kissed my cheek, her eyes and smile warm. Then her blue green eyes grew cold and turned to steel as she turned to the bathroom door. She turned the handle and walked in with ease with the meat cleaver swinging by her side. Mother's eyes grew wide and her voice sounded like that of a trapped animal as she struggled to get away only to slip back in the water. My heart pounded against my ribs. I wanted to run but my legs refused to move and my hands were fixed to the door as if it was the only thing keeping me up.

I closed my eyes.

Crack!

Lucille's giggles were the only sounds I hear.

Edith looks at me with eyes that sparkle in the candlelight. She speaks with such earnestness and ease, "I don't want to close my eyes. I want to keep them open." In that moment, I feel like she sees me.