Chapter 27

I woke suddenly. The beeping that had been bothering me periodically had all of a sudden gotten louder and more insistent. I sat up with a slight groan. Despite the warmth of the vision, or whatever it was that I had seen, the cold of the ground had still crawled further into my bones. I wasn't sure that I would ever be warm again. Light had started to filter in through the treetops. I was amazed that I had managed to sleep so long. I sent a silent thank you to the specter who had brought me such a happy moment.

As was becoming my routine, I started patting myself down, trying to find where the beeping was coming from. It couldn't be good that it was growing louder. I was worried that the beeping was connected to some kind of tracker, and I cursed myself for sleeping so late and allowing the Reverend time to most likely get closer.

At that thought, I heard voices coming from nearby. I stood quickly, grabbing the backpack Anna had given me. I began to jog, as quietly as possible, hoping that I could get some distance away. Sticks and branches scratched me as I rushed by.

This went on for an hour until finally I couldn't hear the voices anymore. I decided to venture closer to the road again so that I could make sure I was heading in the right direction. The light grew brighter as I neared the tree line. I could occasionally hear cars driving past, but like the night before, there didn't seem to be very many.

I decided to again stay within the tree line, trying to jog as fast as possible. I was grateful for my ability to run without stopping for long periods. I couldn't have imagined I would need it for a situation like this though. Another hour passed. I had once again run into a bridge with a deep ravine underneath it. I moved out of tree line to examine it closer. It couldn't be…it was the same bridge I had encountered the night before. I had somehow gone in a circle while running from the voices in the woods.

My insides started quivering. I took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears that were once again threatening to erupt out of me. I heard a car approaching. I didn't even move as it stopped in front of me. I knew who it was. The beeping was now a loud shrill that was going off incessantly. The Reverend stepped out of the car and walked towards me. I felt frozen in despair and disgust.

He grabbed my arm and frog marched me back to the car. I finally snapped out of the daze of finding out that I hadn't actually gained any ground, and started trying to yank away from his grasp. Staying seemingly calm, he pulled a silver gun out of a holster that I hadn't noticed was around his waist. He put it against my forehead and held my eyes with his.

"Let me make something clear Eva. The thought of ending your life is so awful to me that I would have to follow you into death's depths if it were to happen. However, the thought of you being away from me, or with anyone else, is something that I can absolutely not tolerate. So make your choice, either choose to come with me now, or choose to end your life…and mine…right now."

A small part of me just wanted it to be over. Whatever the Reverend had planned for me, I'm sure it was going to make me wish for death a million times over. Suddenly, the vision from the night before floated into my brain. Somewhere out there, Beckham, Mason, and Damon still lived. While I lived, there was always a chance that a miracle could happen, and I could be reunited with them. If I chose to die right now, that chance would be gone.

I must have taken too long to decide. The Reverend cocked his gun, and his finger moved to the trigger.

"Wait!" I cried.

He grew still.

"I'll go with you," I told him in a resigned voice.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I will not be lenient next time if anything like this happens again."

"I'm sure," I answered. He led me to the car, locking my handcuff to a hook on my seat before closing the door.

The car ride was silent on the way back. I wondered how far I had made it and how long it would take to get back to the house. My thoughts turned to Anna. How was she faring? Surely he hadn't killed his wife for helping me…right? She could have made up an excuse that I had broken the chair leg. Maybe he would have believed that?

My thoughts were cut off when the house came into view. It had only taken about an hour to get back. So much effort wasted. We pulled into the driveway and the Reverend finally spoke.

"I had been wanting to wait for you to come to this conclusion naturally. But your actions have left me no choice but to move forward," he said.

"What are talking about?" I asked, thoroughly confused. Despite my confusion, dread rose in my throat in anticipation of whatever he was going to say next.

"When we go inside you are going back to the basement. There will be no more special treatment."

I shuddered thinking of the cold, stark basement that I had woken up in only a few nights ago.

"You will wait there until I have everything prepared," he continued.

"Prepared for what?" I asked hesitantly. He grunted in answer and got out of the car. After retrieving me he led me down the narrow basement steps. Everything was as it had been left, even the pool of vomit that I had lain in before I had been retrieved. He led me to the mattress, and moved my cuff to connect around my ankle before connecting it to a chain that was connected to the ground. It looked like it would give me about enough room to walk to the bucket in the corner to use the restroom.

I settled on the mattress and stared at the floor, feeling unsettled that the Reverend was so close to me while I was on a bed. He crouched down in front of me and tilted up my chin so I was looking at him.

"Just in case your pretty little head gets any more ideas. You have a tracker inserted right here," he said, brushing his finger against my left shoulder. I took a deep breath. That must have been why my shoulder hurt when I had first woken up after being captured. My healing abilities must have erased the mark before I could see it. No wonder the beeping was so easy to hear. It was right by my ear.

The Reverend stood up and began to walk away. Unable to help myself I cried out, "Reverend, please don't leave me down here." He turned to look at me.

"Eva, I've said this before…call me Kylan," he answered, before turning and briskly walking back up the stairs. He flipped a switch and the basement was plunged into darkness. My punishment had begun.