The High Prophet dropped Daniel to the ground. “What did you say?”
“You know what you did!” Daniel clamored to his feet.
“Go. You disgust me, boy.” The High Prophet spit at his son. “You are dead to God.” He kicked him and turned away. Was he really going to let him go that easy?
“Take this.” Daniel shoved a stack of files under the fence.
Malachi took the folders. “What are they?” he whispered.
“Trust me,” Daniel answered.
Malachi nodded and shoved the folder into his shirt. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
But Daniel didn’t follow. Instead, he turned. “You are not God!” he spat at his father. “You are evil!”
The High Prophet stopped but did not turn to his son.
“Daniel, come on,” Malachi called. “Hurry up!” What was he doing?
“You are evil!” Daniel shouted.
The High Prophet turned around and stormed back over to Daniel. “You dare insult God?” He grabbed the boy by the back of his neck.
“Let him go!” Luna screamed.
The High Prophet turned, holding Daniel by one hand, and stared back at them. “If you know what is good for you, you will leave now.”
Why did he do that?
Through the darkness, Daniel nodded at Malachi. The boy was giving them a chance to get out without his father following them. He was buying them their freedom, at the expense of his own. The High Prophet would not stop until he silenced them all, but young Daniel had given them a small bit of time.
“Let’s go,” Luna called. “Before he comes after us.”
Malachi watched as Daniel was dragged back to the den of lions.
“We will come back for you,” Malachi whispered as he turned to leave. “God, help him.”
To be continued...
