“Oh no” She fake pouts, jutting her bottom lip out. “It is, isn’t it, Father?”
Father Desjardins hangs his head down, knowing what comes next. His lips move, but his words aren’t audible as Heather pulls the paddle back, ready to strike him, but speaking first.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a rootof all kinds of evil. Some men, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
She swings the paddle forward, hitting his back, and the sound escaping from his lungs is something I’ll never forget. It’s loud, gut-wrenching, and earned.
Chapter Thirty-One
CARTER
Ilie strapped to this damn bed while Father Desjardins stands over me with a cross in his hands. Two nuns stand on the other side ready to do his bidding.
“You have allowed a demon to inhabit your body and take control. The demon has convinced you of trauma that never took place.”
He glances over to the nuns as I tremble while sweat pours from my skin.
“Sisters, touch him, so we may force this vile creature from the pits of hell out of his body.”
Sisters Agatha and Mary run their hands over my chest while chanting together like they’ve rehearsed my torture.
“I bind Satan, the spirits, powers and forces of darkness… I command in the name of Jesus Christ that all these satanic and demonic forces go to the feet of Jesus.”
Their hands burn me from the inside out, each touch only increasing the pain.
“Please stop.” I beg pitifully, and the priest nods his head, a joyful expression on his face.
“Yes, Sisters. It’s working, but we need more.”
He calls to someone in the doorway that I cannot see, and I feel as though I’m in hell. Tears blind my vision as more hands than I can count cover my entire body.
The burning intensifies.
I tremble uncontrollably.
If I believed in God, I’d pray for death.
“Someone make it stop.” I cry like the little boy I was long ago. Just like then, nobody saves me.
“Carter?” Heather says, snapping me out of the past. My eyes move to hers as I wipe the sweat from my brow.
“Are you okay?”
I nod as I release a shaky breath.
“I’m good, Little Heathen. Just the ghosts of the past.”
She skips to the shelf and exchanges the bloody paddle for a taser. The priest leans over as he shakes uncontrollably, howling in pain.
“Sit up.” Heather orders him, and he does his best to comply. Blood lightly coats the ground as he cries out.
“Please stop.”
I shake my head and chuckle, but the laughter isn’t sincere.
“That’s exactly what I said when you directed an entire room full of people to torment me.”
Heather holds the taser in her hand, aiming it at his dick and tilts her head at him speaking words I know I’ll hear again.
