The Girl Behind the Red Rope

by Ted Dekker

  Sylous.

  Chapter

  Thirty

  SYLOUS STOOD IN SILENCE, HIS WHITE SUIT PRISTINE, his dark hair slicked back, face sunken and pale, his green eyes carefully drinking in the scene. I couldn’t take my eyes off him—it was as though he was looking through us rather than at us. As though his eyes were reaching past our flesh and stirring the fear in our bones.

  Rose was the first to move, stumbling forward. “Sylous, you’ve come.”

  He raised his hand and silenced her. She pulled up near me, fingers trembling at her sides. Rose feared him as deeply as any of us.

  “It appears you’ve all lost your faith to the deception of a little boy.” Sylous cut his eyes toward Eli, who watched calmly.

  “No,” Rose said after a moment of silence. Her eyes were trained at Sylous’s feet. “We are still faithful to your holiness. Always.”

  No one else dared to speak. But I could, I thought. I could say what I had seen from the hilltop.

  “Yet you seem to marvel at this Fury, who comes like a thief to steal and destroy.”

  “No,” Rose said, lifting pleading eyes.

  Sylous scanned the crowd and raised his voice. “Are you all foolish enough to believe lies of sight beyond fear?”

  “Eli is magic,” came a small voice. All eyes turned to see that little Stephen had stepped out from the children.

  “Please, Sylous,” Rose cried, face white with fear. “He doesn’t understand what he is saying.”

  Sylous ignored Rose’s plea and walked toward the child.

  “Please,” Rose tried again.

  Sylous again held up his hand, and Rose stilled. He towered over the small boy, then bent over, hands on his knees. “Will you be honest with me, son?”

  Stephen nodded, and Sylous dropped to a squat so he was nearly eye level with him. “Do you believe this boy has power?”

  Stephen nodded again.

  “Do you believe he is dangerous?” Sylous asked.

  Stephen shook his head.

  “So he’s tricked you, then,” Sylous said.

  “No. Eli is my friend.”

  Sylous raised his pale hand and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Stephen’s ear. “You are mistaken, boy,” he said. “He isn’t your friend. He’s your enemy.”

  “But he doesn’t feel like my enemy,” Stephen said.

  “That’s because he’s the most dangerous kind.” Sylous patted Stephen’s shoulder and stood.

  Rose took a step toward him. “Sylous, please—”

  “Enough!” Sylous roared, turning. He glared at Eli, who hadn’t moved. I wondered why he wasn’t defending himself. Was Sylous more powerful than him? All the peace I’d felt earlier had been replaced by a familiar fear that felt crippling.

  “I warned you,” Sylous bit off. “I warned you all.” He was looking at Eli but speaking to us. “Didn’t I tell you that the Fury would come as light? Didn’t I make it clear that it would be your greatest test?”

  “Yes,” Rose said. “You did.”

  “And yet here he stands, twisting your minds with his lies.” Sylous stepped past Eli, walked to the edge of the crowd, and turned to us with icy certainty. He raised his hands to either side and looked at us all. “You would like to see? So be it.”

  A beat of silence engulfed us. I heard them before I saw them, a terrifying whine that grew into shrieks and guttural roars. I knew they were the same Fury I’d seen from the hilltop, and I spun in panic, hands at my ears, expecting them to rush in from the perimeter.

  But they were already upon us, swarming, hundreds of the wraiths, screaming with pitiful wails that made my bones shrivel.

  Even as I stared in horror, I realized what the others surely did not—the Fury hadn’t come from outside the perimeter; they had always been in the town, only hidden from our view.

  Long bony fingers with sharp nails lashed out. Faceless creatures of the most terrifying imagination, screaming at every soul in Haven Valley, came to life in form. Sharp fangs and white eyes cloaked in hoods revealed our deepest fears.

  The sound was so loud and the sudden commotion so violent that I hardly noticed the screams of those around me. In a wild panic, men and women were running in every direction, but the wraiths were with them each step. Some were rushing for cover, others were grabbing loved ones and shoving others out of the way. Some fell to their knees and began to beg God for mercy. A few brave souls were fighting back, but the more they fought, the more Fury there were to fight. It was as if they had emerged from within us as much as from the air surrounding us.

  I stood frozen for a few seconds, and then I was turning and running for my life. I made it two steps before realizing that the Fury were erupting around me as quickly as they had around the others. There could be no escape from the fears we carried.

  I spun back and saw Eli standing in the midst of the chaos, undisturbed. I rushed for him, grabbed his arm, and fell to my knees before him. “Save us!” I cried. Surely he could, with the power I had seen him use.

  He looked down at me lovingly and smiled. “Remember, Grace, you are the light!” he cried above the cacophony. “Just like me.”

  Fear rammed up into my throat and came out in a brutal scream. Roars and painful shrieks echoed around me. “Can’t you see they will destroy us all!”

  He spread his arms wide, eyes fiery. “What I do, I do for you. There is nothing to fear. Let it all go. All of it. Death means nothing. Follow me!”

  I pushed away from him, suddenly terrified that this was his doing. That he was the source of the Fury. That I had indeed unwittingly brought this terror upon us all.

  I felt the hot breath of a Fury as it screamed behind me, ready to tear into me. I fell to my side, curled up into a ball, held up my arms to hide my face, and hoped death would come quickly.

  And then they were gone. One moment the air was filled with their shrieks, the next I could hear only the wailing of terrified men and women and children.

  Trembling, I stayed on my side. The screams of those around me slowly subsided, replaced by whispered pleas to God.

  I opened my eyes and peered over the crook of my arm, half expecting to see lurking Fury. There were none. Even the wisps of fog and coiling black cords were gone. Haven Valley had returned to its peaceful self.

  I pushed up to look around me. People were gathering together, weeping, shaking, holding one another. The center street had claw marks etched into the pavement, windows shattered, doors broken and hanging on hinges. But no Fury. And from what I could see, not a scratch on anyone.

  I heard the familiar clicking of shoes and twisted to see Sylous approaching. He scanned the scene and paused when his eyes connected with mine. I dropped my stare, aware of his power over me. A power we had called into question.

  “The next time, they won’t be so kind,” he said. “I offered you a place of safety on the condition that you keep your hearts pure and free of deception. A way I still offer. Perhaps this small reminder will help you appreciate the evil that looms beyond this perimeter. A boundary I alone control for your own good.”

  I pushed myself to my feet, unsteady and deeply unnerved but otherwise unscathed.

  “If you want to endure the full wrath of the Fury, then surrender yourself to this foolish boy and his ways of sight,” Sylous cried. “But if you wish to remain under my protection, then you must retain your holiness and follow the laws of God.”

  People muttered around me, begging for protection.

  Harrison, face pale and twisted with fear, his children and wife still trembling behind him, stepped forward and lowered himself to one knee in a show of submission. “Forgive us for straying. We will follow.”

  Sylous glanced over the crowd. “Anyone else?”

  Nearly as one, the people of Haven Valley stepped forward and knelt. I glanced to either side, bent knees and bowed heads all around, then looked back at Sylous. I should bow too, I thought. But then I caught a glimpse of Eli, the strange,
beautiful boy standing off to the left, watching as he always did, face filled with peace.

  You are the light of the world. There is nothing to fear. I do this for you. Follow me.

  He turned his gaze to me, and the moment our eyes connected, peace washed over me. Who was I to believe, Sylous or Eli?

  Sylous’s voice cut through the warmth gathering around me. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. All who have betrayed God must receive their punishment unless they confess their sin and repent.” He paused, face stern. “Also, the boy Fury must die at your hands before his lies can take root.”

  All eyes turned to Eli.

  “You have until noon tomorrow to kill him, or the Fury will have their way.”

  Then Sylous walked up the street, rounded the corner, and was gone.

  We watched him go, stunned and confused. At least I did. What he said made sense in my old way of being. Sylous was an angel, sent with the word of God to the elect. He had to be.

  God had always killed those who stood in defiance of him. He’d sent many messengers to warn of the wickedness of the world. He would save us only if we agreed to his conditions, and those conditions began and ended with a confession of our own wickedness, our own worthlessness. This is what Sylous said.

  Eli said the opposite. That Sylous was a religious spirit who inspired through fear of danger rather than love. Was Eli a heretic? A wolf? The great deceiver? Or was that Sylous?

  And where was Bobbie?

  “Right here,” she said to my left.

  I almost spoke to her out loud but caught myself. Where have you been? I was almost killed!

  “Right here, protecting you. Didn’t I tell you not to bring the boy? Now look at what you’ve done.”

  Protecting me? I didn’t see you.

  “Trust me, I was here in all the chaos. You suffered far less than most of them.”

  I decided to take her at her word.

  “The question now is, are you going to make this better for yourself or worse? I strongly suggest you keep your mouth shut.”

  They saw me bring him in. They’ll want to know how I knew to find him.

  “Tell Rose he came to you. That’s true. He’s here of his own will, not yours.”

  But I can’t let them kill Eli. I don’t think he’s evil.

  She frowned at the boy. “You may be right, but he’s not your concern. This is his own path to follow. Don’t throw yourself on that same path.”

  Rose broke the silence that had swallowed all but me. “Take the boy,” she said.

  I glanced over to where Bobbie had stood, but she was gone. Now what?

  Claude and Morton grabbed Eli by each arm and spun him around. The sight of such innocence being led away to whatever cruel demise awaited him proved too much for me.

  “You can’t!” I cried, stepping back. “He’s innocent!”

  They all looked at me. Me, the one who was speaking out for Eli in defiance of Sylous. Was I doing that?

  “How dare you defy the truth after all we just witnessed!” Rose spat.

  “She brought the boy in!” someone cried.

  Rose glared at me. “This is true?”

  “He led me in.”

  “How did you know where to find him?”

  I hesitated, then tried to follow Bobbie’s wisdom. “He found me.” And then I betrayed myself. “He’s shown me a way beyond darkness. He can save us.”

  The blood drained from Rose’s face. If a pin had been dropped in that moment, we all would have heard it.

  A hand grasped my arm. “Enough, Grace.” I turned to see Jamie’s blue eyes shadowed with anger.

  “Please, Jamie,” I begged, knowing I had already condemned myself. “Listen to me.”

  “I am listening to you! How dare you betray us?”

  “No,” I said. “I just wanted you to hear him. He . . .” But I ran out of words.

  “You did this to us,” Rose said, her voice dark and menacing. “It was you who brought the Fury into our holy sanctuary! You’re as guilty as the boy!”

  Jamie’s grip on my arm tightened. Tears collected in my eyes.

  “No,” I whispered, knowing it was no use.

  Someone moved out from the crowd and got my attention. I turned to see Andrew staring at me with disbelief. I wanted to rush to him for the first time since our wedding. I wanted to beg him to understand, to protect me, even though I’d never loved him. I’d been wrong! I needed him now.

  “Please, Andrew. Listen to me . . .”

  He glanced at Rose, then turned away from me. And I knew then that no one would come to my aid.

  “Lock them both away,” Rose snapped. “We will cleanse our holy sanctuary of sin and repent. Our inheritance awaits us all in holiness and grace.”

  Chapter

  Thirty-One

  I WASN’T EVEN AWARE THAT HAVEN VALLEY HAD A prison until I was locked inside one. It was located in the basement of the security office, a building I’d never been inside.

  There was no sign of Eli when I entered, and I didn’t have time to ask because I was quickly forced down a flight of creaking steps into a dark basement.

  I tried to ask what was happening then, but Marshall and Tanner, who held me by either arm, wouldn’t speak. Tanner, who had always shown me kindness, wouldn’t even look at my face. They shoved me into a small room with bars for walls, slammed the door shut, and retreated up the stairs.

  I called out for Eli, wondering if they’d locked him down here as well, but all I heard was my own voice bouncing off the walls. I was alone.

  A small amount of light drifted in through three small rectangular windows high up toward the ceiling. The cell reminded me of the Pierce basement, where all my troubles had begun.

  It was longer than it was wide—maybe eight feet wide by ten feet in length. There was a single wooden bench along the back wall and a bucket in the corner. Otherwise it was empty. Cold. A dirt floor.

  The hours slipped by slowly as I sat alone, tormented by my thoughts. Waves of nausea washed over me, and I threw up in the bucket twice. My head ached. I didn’t know what lay in store for me, but Sylous had made one thing perfectly clear: I would have to confess and be cleansed or face terrible punishment. What did confession mean now? Was it only something I had to say with my mouth? What did repentance mean now? How would I show them my holiness? By saying and doing all the right things according to the law?

  But that meant denying Eli.

  I thought about what might be happening to him. Where were they keeping him? I couldn’t fathom them killing a boy! And would Eli really let them take his life? He had the power to save himself, right? He wouldn’t have come all this way just to be killed.

  What did Eli hope to accomplish by allowing them to take him? It made no sense to me. In fact, the only thing that did make sense was that Eli really was a Fury who’d deceived me. Everything he said flipped the doctrines I’d been taught since childhood on their head.

  But I just couldn’t see how the love and wonder he’d shown me could be so wrong.

  My thoughts slipped from Eli to my mother. Would they release her now that it was clear I was the one to blame?

  As the daylight died and the sounds of night drifted into my cell, I tried to think back to what I’d experienced on the hill with Eli, but it all seemed so far away now. I’d seen the Fury that smothered Haven Valley—so had everyone else. The only difference was that I’d seen them inside the perimeter before Eli and I had come, whereas the others believed that Eli and I had brought the Fury.

  I’d also seen the light, but I couldn’t see it now in this dark place. Had it all been a trick of some kind? Was it true, or had I really just sacrificed everything for nothing?

  In the darkness that came with night, I felt certain I would rot in this cell. Every time I closed my eyes I imagined the wraiths who’d torn through us all. Hooded, faceless ghouls with teeth and haunting eyes and long white fingers. Their shrieks. Eli said t
hey weren’t demons, so what were they? Fear, he said.

  The same fear that was now coursing through my blood.

  I eventually gave in to self-pity and let myself sob there in the dark cell.

  By the time the first signs of daylight peeked into the basement, my eyes were swollen and my throat was raw. My chest ached and my mouth was dry. I heard the door at the top of the stairs open and a single pair of boots descending. I stood on achy legs and hurried to the barred door. Tanner came into view, still avoiding my eyes.

  “Please, Tanner,” I croaked. “What’s going on?”

  “Step back. Turn and place your chest and forehead against the back wall.”

  I did as he asked and heard him unlock my cell. A second later something clinked against the floor. Another click of the lock sounded, and then he left, his steps echoing. The heavy door at the top slammed shut and I was alone again.

  He’d left a plate of food and jug of water in the corner of my cell. The water was lukewarm, as was the porridge on the plate. But I devoured it, thinking I needed nourishment for the baby.

  Then I returned to my sulking. The light brightened outside and the day moved forward. It was eerily silent in the basement prison. I hadn’t slept all night and was exhausted. Empty. Numb. At some point I fell into a merciful sleep, dead to my troubles in Haven Valley.

  VOICES WOKE ME. I REMEMBERED WHERE I WAS AND jerked up. Pain coursed through my neck and back. I’d fallen to my side on the wooden bench, and everything was stiff. The light had brightened. It had to be midday. Sylous had given the town until noon.

  The voices were outside. Many voices. I stood and turned to the small window. The town was gathering next to the security building. Why? We’d never met here before.

  We’d never had an execution in Haven Valley before either. Were they actually going to follow through?

  Rose’s voice cut through the murmurs. “Family of Haven Valley, we have gathered here today to restore righteousness to our hearts. To right the wrongs of one of our own and to silence the deception of the wolf who comes in sheep’s clothing.”

  Ice filled my blood, and I jumped up on the bench to hear more clearly.