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The simon family no matter what people say was indeed a family, it didn't matter that they couldn't leave their gated community, it didn't matter that they had to do the simple ritual every now and then it didn't matter at all because they were a family. Everyone was wrong about them. They were not a cult, they just had beliefs but that was because they were the chosen and they had an important job to do. To keep the Monsters of the wood happy and not piss them off even if that means giving any grown men to be killed.
The Simons were a family of 78 no more, no less. 43 adults and 35 kids. They barely let anyone in but if they were willing to contribute to the community, they could be let in. It would be extremely hard to show that you are willing because of the strict rules and when you're in you don't leave unless you deliver goods. The family sells freshly grown fruits and vegetables, wheat and soups.
Tommy opened his eyes and was met with the same bells that ring every morning at the exact same time. He thought maybe a change in scenery would help him. Tommy wandered out of the room that he shares with the other children.
He walked down the flower path that led to the fields they grew crops in, it was nice the silence compared to the chatter of the houses he didn’t like talking to them. They were too loud for his taste, sure he liked to talk but they were so boring.
He walked up to the wall and put his hand on it. The wall stretched round the entire village. They told people it was to keep animals out but everyone knew it was actually for keeping them in. It was carved with names of the people before him. Tommy looked at where he had carved his name ‘Tommy Simons” but the simons had been crossed out years ago. He never belonged and he knew it.
Tommy always wanted out; he knew he should love it here. He’s been told stories from the outside world. How they would rip a kid like him apart but he couldn’t just stay in a place like this. It was all he had to ever know but he knew there was more, he knew how much the world had to offer from outside this shitty old village. He wanted to be free but it would never happen.
“What do you think your doing”
Tommy whipped his head around not expecting anyone to come here, he was the only that really knew about this place so when he was met by father Adams his fear spiked.
“Nothing I was just exploring”
“Don’t lie we both know that it's not true you were escaping weren’t you!”
“N-No I would never love it here why would I-“ he was cut off by father adams grabbing his hand yanking him towards him, it hurt a lot there definitely would be a bruise later.”
“Don’t lie you worthless leach I’m taking you to the closet” He tried to escape father Adam's grip but it was no use he was much stronger than Tommy considering he was only 9. He didn’t want to go into the closet.
The closet was the second worst punishment you could get. It was a dark, wet and cold room that you couldn’t move in, you are in complete until someone comes and lets you out but that never really happens. If you went in the closet you're staying there overnight.
At least it wasn’t the basement. It was the worst punishment you could get no matter what, if you went in you never came back out. Maybe as food though. That’s that Tommy and his best friend Erin thought, because they also keep food in the basement so why wouldn't they be connected. It had been a while since someone was taken to the basement. Three kids called Emma, Norman and Ray tried to climb the fence but were caught and everyone watched as they were dragged into the small hut leading to it.
Tommy missed them sometimes not much anymore though
He snapped back to reality as he fell forward from being dragged too fast, he didn’t want to go so he started to struggle against father Adams trying to run away but father just picked Tommy up and flung him over his shoulder so he couldn’t get away.
He flung his arms around trying to get the man to drop him but it was no success, people watched him being brung up the hill, the farmers stared blankly at him as Tommy begged for him to put him down. When they reached the town everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at what was happening.
Tommy begged for someone, anyone to help him; he didn’t want to go to the closet. He hated the dark, he looked around for someone when Tommy locked eyes with Erin who looked horrified to see him like this so they charged at father Adam trying to tackle him.
Erins attempt to help him was met with a firm kick to the chest, they fell to the ground and let out a huff clearly having the wind knocked out of him. Father Adam kept going as Tommy cried out, hot tears streaming down his face as Tommy dug his nails into the man holding him drawing blood.
He got more scared as the room with the closet in it got closer. He bit and scratched the man hoping something would make him set go and he could run, he was nowhere to run to but at least he wouldn’t be in there.
“You better stop being a brat right now or I’ll fucking kill you, you hear me?!”
Tommy immediately shut up after that. He didn't want to die, especially not to Father Adam, he scared Tommy the way he would rant and rave about how the monsters were coming for him, how if they found him they would tear off his skin. How we would run your hands in your hair before ripping into it and tearing some out just to make a point of what they would do. Father Adams ripped the door of the closet open and threw him in with no remorse, Tommy heard a sickening crack and then a hot wet pain went up his arm. He didn't pass out though, he couldn't let himself.
Tommy stared up at Father Adams. The man looked like he could kill something at any second, he reached out his clearly broken arm to the man in front of him only to get the door slammed in his face. He was left in the dark. The only light that came through was the light coming through a little hole in the door. The dark was suffocating; he hated every second of it.
Every slight movement made a loud creek and dust fell form the sky. The closet was probably the oldest building there, the only reason they used it for punishment was because when the door jammed shut it wouldn’t be opening anytime soon. There was also no way that someone could get out from the inside unless you dug under it because as old as it was the thing was sturdy as shit.
Tommy watched through the tiny hole the light was coming through, he could see people walking around having fun and enjoying themselves as he was stuck here. He was alone in the dark for something he didn’t do but they could have fun. It was never fair. He wanted to go and play on the makeshift swing that him and Erin made. He wanted Erin to swing him as hard as he could and for Tommy to jump off last second so he could go flying. Sure the part time it happened he broke his arm but it was a small price for how fun it was.
“If we left we could have fun whenever we want” Tommy started to whisper to himself but that isn’t really possible is it. No one ever escaped and if they tried to they would get sent to the basement. But what was better being trapped in this hell hole for the rest of his life or escaping.
He decided for option two.
Phil watched from the top of a tree as the small nine year old looked at the fence. He was so little compared to everyone around him, his soft blond hair falling slightly over his eyes. He had been watching the boy for a while now and noticed how he wore the same thing every day, maybe he couldn’t afford any more clothes.
Phil and his two sons had spotted the boy a month ago and their instincts went nuts telling them to protect the boy and keep him out of harm's way. Ever since then they had trailed behind him making sure he wasn’t hurt in subtle ways. Leaving plasters and banging out for him if he got hurt, if he ran out of material techno would quickly put more behind him always keeping what he could on him for the boy ,Phil would stay near him and kill any mobs that happens to spawn inside the walls and Wilbur would sing songs as the boy slept using his powers so only he could hear.
Chosen were a rare thing. It's a fault in Cryptid gynetics, they would get overly attached to one person and felt a need to protect them and care for them. So when he saw this random person hurt his choice he was pissed and he was sure the others could sense it as well. It twisted in their stomachs when someone hurt the small boy, their instincts going crazy. On those days they would kidnap one of the men from the village that the boy lived in to feast off.
Phil watched as the man dragged the boy, Tommy, to a shed he was screaming and crying to be let down and that he was sorry but the man didn’t budge, when Phil saw Tommy being thrown into the shed and that sickening crack he was pissed. He swooped down from the sky and landed behind the man that had thrown his chosen into a dark shed. He ripped the man away when he started to laugh at the now crying child. Phil dragged the man through the center of town making an example of him, people watched in fear. Phils inhuman face contorted into a grin that went up to his eyes when he reached the center.
Phil looked up to see his two sons coming over the wall. Wilbur latched up on the wall crawling down it like a lizard. His tale soaking the wall as he crawled his way down it. He shifted his eyes over to Techno who jumped over the wall, he had the hooves of a Piglin so it was extremely easy for him. Phil walked over to him with the man I tow. He brung a hand up to both his son's face. Technos face was half boar bones, flesh and fur contorting in the middle with the skin overlapping. Wilbur's face was different to his twin's eyes slightly bulging out and off center, his skin was deathly pale with a hint of green and blue. He had webbed ears and no nose only two slits. They were better than before all 3 of them. Being cryptid was a curse but it could be undone. If you took enough blood from humans, you would change back into one. They were about half way there but progress was still progress.
“Boys could you please go gather Tommy he’s in the little shed, he will be taking him now”
“What if he’s scared to come with us?”
“He’s our chosen, he’s ment to be with us he will recognise us as his family And even if he doesn’t know our names”
“Ok are we taking whoever this is back home”
“Yes he hurt him”
“Oh ok we’ll go collect Tommy now see ya dad”
Techno and Wilbur took off to go get their now little brother even if they didn’t tell you they were nervous to properly meet him. Their instincts were going crazy. They had watched his run around for months now picking berry’s and playing games. But they could even meet him because of the stupid “family’s” rules
When they finally approached the shed they heard small crys and sobs coming from it. Techno gave Wilbur a look before opening it revealing a small boy curled up on the floor crying into his knees, Wilbur tapped his shoulder and his eyes snapped up. His bright blue eyes locked on to them. The two older boys felt their heart clench seeing their chosen crying and what looks like to be a broken arm.
“Hiya kid, you wanna come with us, we won’t hurt you I promise.”
Tommy crawled forward, his instincts clearly taking over him, he crawled into Wilbur's arms and the shaking that raked his body stopped immediately, even if he didn’t want to be comforted by the two older kids his body decided for him.
“You comfy?” Techno giggled
“Mhm” Tommy buried his face into Wilburs chest clearly falling asleep. Wilbur made eye contact with techno with an excited look on his face. They two older boys quietly lifted him back to the fence he climbed over. They looked up to see their father on top of the wall, everyone crowding around trying to shoot him down.
They hid Tommy’s tired eyes and Phil ripped the man's heart down and ate a third of it in front of all his friends and family. He gave his boys with the new addition a proud smile as he jumped off the other side. Techno and Wilbur shielded the boy from the crowded as they climbed up after him.
The three older men took the boy into the room they had set up so long ago for him. Their instincts told them what the boy liked and what he liked to wear, so it was already perfect.
Techno took Tommy’s small frame and put him in the small race car bet that fit him perfectly, for once in literal years their instincts left them alone, they could just enjoy a lovely moment and they were grateful.