It’s been a month since Rory and the rebellion started picking the cult members off one by one. And so far, things have been running smoothly. She is at five kills so far. But we have many more members to go. The main one is Cedric. He’s the head of the snake, and if we want to stop the cult once and for all, then he has to go.
A new batch of orders will be coming in today, which is why I sit at my desk and await their arrival. There’s no point in getting started on any tasks when I’ll be called back as soon as I leave.
Right on time, a knock on my office door sounds, and I say, “Come in.”
A gentleman with a briefcase locked tight walks in through the door and sets it on top of my desk. He waits for me to release him, and once I do, he leaves the way he came.
I check the briefcase over to ensure there are no marks or other defining factors and then put in my code to open it.
I remove the stack of folders and spread them on the desk. Then, I begin the system I have in place to divvy them out.
I’m almost to the last folder, when a large red seal catches my eye. On the front of the manila folder, a seal from Cedric lies over the clasp. This means whoever is inside the folder is sanctioned to death, and it will go to all of the members. These types of orders don’t go through me first. This seal means they’re a high-profile case.
I break through the red binding and open the folder to see who’s inside. When I pull the picture out like I always do, a stillness I didn’t think was capable takes over me. The air leaves my lungs as I stare at the woman I love on a piece of paper warranting her death.
There’s no way. This can’t be right.
I open up the rest of the folder and scatter the contents on my desk to get a better view. Each transgression is listed in full detail on each page.
Death to cult member…
Attempting to leave the district…
A part of the rebellion…
Death to cult member…
Death to cult member…
How could they possibly know she was the cause of all their deaths? She has been careful. She hides her tracks, and I help her hide the bodies so they’re not recovered. They must have been watching me too closely. Every kill. Every missing body. Every delay… something snaps inside me as I stand from the chair.
I quickly snag the papers and shove them into the folder, closing it and putting it in my back pocket. I grab my coat from the coat rack and rush for the door.
On the other side of the door, other members appear for their orders. They stand idly, waiting for me to do my job.Fuck!
One of the members raises his brow and looks down at my empty hands. “Do we have orders today, sir?” he speaks and my breath catches. I have to keep a level head or I won’t make it in time to Rory.
I rush back to my desk and grab the piles, then quickly hand them out one by one.
Once everyone is settled, I rush to the car and head toward Rory’s.
Anxiety fills me on the drive over as I wait to see what I’ll be walking into.Will they kill her on the spot and collect their reward? Will they make a showcase of her for me to find to get back at me?
Or will I walk into an empty house and still be left wondering where she is, and where they took her?
I hate being left with so many questions. I hate I didn’t see this shit coming. I should have known what was happening! I should have been able to protect her from the start!
It’s late when I arrive at Rory’s house, and the front door looks like it has been kicked in.Please don’t let her still be inside. Please, I’m begging to whatever God will listen. Don’t let her be dead inside on the floor.
Most of the lights on in the house illuminate the front entrance as I walk through the door. The coat rack has been knocked over as if she attempted to hold on to it before being dragged out of her home. There are books and pictures shattered on the floor in the hall. It looks like she put up a bit of a fight. The picture of me, her and Joey at graduation lies shattered just feet away. My stomach clenches.
The house is still. Yet, I have to see where they originally took her from. I have to make absolutely sure she isn’t lying in a puddle of her own blood on the floor.
I race down the hall, and when I turn the corner, I stop in my tracks. The smell of blood hits me instantly. Above her bed,written in blood, states: She’s mine now, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. This wasn’t for the rebellion. This was for me. This is personal.
Blood covers her bed sheets and her pillow. It looks like a massacre. But there’s no way they would’ve killed her here and not left her body. They’ll want to make a show of her death for the rebellion and the rest of the district to prove no one is untouchable.
All I see is red as I return to my car. I know exactly where they will take her and she doesn’t deserve to be there.I have to save her before they take her from me for good!
