We go left and roll off the pavement to some sort of gravel. There’s a line of pine trees circling this place so we can’t see shit, but it doesn’t matter, we keep going forward. There’s too much at stake here to simply turn back and we all know it to be true. While I can’t attest to everyone’s feelings, I’m sure they all want the cult gone too, so if we’re lucky that’s what we’ll do today and in doing so, it’ll help keep our neck of the woods cleaner. Vex is still down in Virginia, but if Boston is gone, we can lend some help her way.
We make our way down their long lane and the second we come into view tons of people are coming out of their homes. It’s a mixture of RVs, fifth-wheel trailers, and a couple mobile homes. Mug leads us to the center of the place, where the large brick house is and we all hop off our bikes.
“Who in God’s name are you?!” a man questions, but from the red collar he’s wearing I can tell he’s an elder.
I practically jump off the back of Ricochet’s bike and go right up to him. “Don’t act like you haven’t heard about me. I’m Vanna. Vanna Markle,” I click my tongue as I say my last name, not wanting to look like I’m afraid at all, but the reality is I am afraid. I’m fucking petrified of what’s about to happen and pray it all goes smoothly.
His eyes widen as he realizes who I am and what I mean to these people. The fact that they use my name as a way to make others afraid makes me sick.
“Where is your leader?!” Boss hollers to the group of people who now surround us. They’re all dressed in this off-white, creamish color and they look around to each other. Of course they’re going to be quiet.
The white door to the brick house comes open and out comes Eric, dressed in white, with a red collar and sleeves . . . he’s the leader of this place? Fuck. Beretta failed to mention that tidbit.
I clench my jaw at the mere sight of him and want nothing but his blood. After what he’s done to me, after what I’m sure he’s done to countless others all in the name of God, no. They’re fucking insane. Everyone here is out of their damn mind. God would never support what they’re doing. He’d never cast judgement on women who choose to use their bodies before marriage. He’d probably count it as a sin, but he’d forgive them because that’s why his son died. I grew up in a household that respected religion, and when Eric told me about these people . . . I thought they respected it too, but they don’t, they shifted the interpretations of his word to fulfill what they wanted.
His evil eyes land on me and he scoffs, “Never did I think you’d have the guts to show back up here.”
“Jesus, I already want to kill this motherfucker,” Muffler groans, and the cult followers gasp in shock at his foul language.
“I don’t blame you,” Ricochet hisses, but the reasoning for his hatred is understandable.
“I’m here for Peyton, Tara, and Simon Markle. So, it’s best you hand them over and anyone else who’d like to leave your ranks or I’ll make this visit super fun for us all,” Boss tells him, staring daggers into his pathetic eyes.
He lets out a laugh, “What in the world makes you think my family would want to leave with you? Any member of my family at that?!” Eric raises his arms and looks out onto the crowd surrounding us. We’re heavily outnumbered, but unlike them we have the firepower to make sure we all stay safe.
He begins coming down the three stairs that lead out of his house and the door immediately opens behind him, and out comes a dark haired woman, with a little boy and a blonde haired girl . . . but she couldn’t be a girl, god. She’s practically a teenager.
Her green eyes widen as her sights land on me, and she looks over to the dark-haired woman beside her. I watch as her mouth opens, like she’s asking a question and then the woman nods. Peyton runs down the stairwell, but she’s quickly grabbed by the back of her hair by her father and she screams out in agony.
Ricochet loses his shit first, wasting no time crossing the distance between them. He grabs the back of his gun and slams it against Eric’s head and Eric releases Peyton for a split second, giving her the opportunity to run directly toward me.
She collides into my body and looks up at me with tear-filled eyes. “I thought you were dead. I thought they . . . everyone said you were dead.”
“No, baby, I’m here. I’m here and I’m never letting you go ever again,” I tell her, holding her close to my body tears begin to flow out of my eyes too. I’ve dreamed of this moment for longer than I could remember, and it’s finally here. I finally have my daughter in my arms again.
“Reno, Devi, take them and get them out of here. Anyone else who wants to leave this cult, get in the van now. I’m sure this will be your only opportunity to leave safely,” Boss shouts to the group of people.
No one moves at first, but I make my way into the SUV and Tara comes down with her little boy and quickly gets settled. We all look out through the windows and we see women who appear to be in their twenties, a couple in their thirties, and some girls who might be fifteen or sixteen. The SUV
