Chapter Thirty-Five

Calee

After taking me from Eric's house, Raymond and his men had bound and gagged me before tossing me into the back of a van. And when the hood was finally removed, I found myself on a small aircraft. I struggled against my bonds – which earned me another smack across the face from Raymond.

After that, we got airborne and it wasn't all that long before we were driving through the gates of the Ark once again. The night is pitch black, but I see that Raymond has made sure to alert the whole cult that their own personal Judas is returning. They line the yard, everybody bearing torches, giving it all a surreal quality.

“Home sweet home, huh?” Raymond asks as Harold pulls me out of the truck.

My hands are still bound and the gag is still in place. Raymond gives me a sickening smile and takes the gag off of me.

“Now, if you spit on me again, I'm going to have to do something incredibly mean to you, sweetheart,” he says. “So, do yourself a favor and let's just get along now, okay?”

I struggle with the bonds but can't break free. The adrenaline has long since worn off and my head is pounding. I'm exhausted, in pain, and frustrated beyond words. Tears well in my eyes and I can't stop them from falling. It kills me to be showing weakness in front of him, but I can't help it.

“Let's go,” Harold says, giving me a rough shove from behind.

I walk through the compound and glance at all of the faces glowing in the flickering torchlight, looking at me in silent judgment.

As they march me back to the Reflection Room, I contemplate making a break for it. I know I won't get far before they gun me down, but maybe that's a better way to go out than whatever Raymond has planned for me.

The door is opened and I'm shoved inside. Raymond follows me in and finally cuts the bonds from my wrists. They're sore and chaffed, hurting, but I rub them anyway. When I enter the room though, I'm surprised to find that it's not empty.

“Rachel?” I ask.

She's huddled in a corner and even by the meager light of the lantern, I can see the cuts and bruises on her face. She's been roughed up. She looks at me with wide eyes and I see the tears begin to flow.

“Apparently, your betrayal is contagious,” Raymond says. “It took me a while, but I finally found out it was my dear wife her who helped you escape. Oh, she resisted at first, but after a little – persuasion – she finally admitted to her crimes. And now, sadly, she's going to have to pay the price alongside you. Looks like we'll be having a two-for-one tomorrow.”

“Screw you,” I hiss at him. “Let her go. She's just a child.”

“She knew full well the consequences of helping you, I'm afraid,” he says. “She's accepted her fate. Maybe it's time you do too.”

I take a step toward him and he raises his hand, showing me the long-curved blade of the knife he's holding.

“Or, I can filet you up right here and now,” he says, his voice calm and cold. “I'd rather not though. I think the folks out there deserve a show. They've earned it for their loyalty.”

“You're sick, Raymond,” I say. “A disgusting piece of human garbage.”

He nods and laughs. “I've been called far worse,” he says. “By far better.”

“You just wait,” I say. “Eric is coming for me and he's going to kill you.”

“Oh, is he?” he asks.

“Yes. He is.”

“Well, I wish him the best of luck,” he says. “Army veteran or not, he's one man. And one man isn't going to be able to do much against my flock.”

Raymond turns and walks back toward the door and pauses. He turns and looks back at me.

“Tomorrow,” he says. “Midnight. You and Rachel are going to be executed for your disloyalty to this community. Take comfort in the fact that your deaths will serve a greater purpose. Your deaths will show everybody that disloyalty is not tolerated and there are consequences to our actions.”

He walks out and closes the door behind him followed by the sound of the locks being snapped into place. I turn and rush over to Rachel, drop to my knees and pull her into a tight embrace. She leans into me, holding me tight, and sobs. Her body shakes and her wails echo around the empty room. I stroke her hair and try to soothe her.

“He's going to come,” I say. “Eric. He's going to come and he's going to save us. And he's going to kill Raymond. Just wait, honey. You'll see.”

She looks up at me, her lips trembling, her eyes wide. “I'm so scared,” she says. “I don't want to die.”

“You're not going to die, Rachel,” I say. “Eric isn't going to let them hurt either one of us. You'll see.”

“Th – the things they did to me,” she says, her voice trembling and soft. “I can't –”

“Ssssh,” I say and stroke her hair. “It's going to be okay. You'll see. Everything is going to be fine.”

My heart is in my throat and my stomach is in knots. I need to stay strong. I need to keep calm and be reassuring for Rachel, So, I keep saying it, not knowing whether I'm trying to convince her or myself.