Lacey’s standing by a line of clothes. “Lacey!” I call but Mason bangs against the shed.
“Shut up.” Then he must turn to the rest of the camp. I can’t see him, only hear him.
“Stand straight.” Mason barks orders at everyone. “Our leader is coming. Tonight will be the night we will clean the evil from the Circle as we welcome our new lives.”
The car rolls closer—the dark tinted windows don’t let me see inside. It stops in a screech, sending dust flying everywhere. The members of the Circle hold their breaths. I count seventeen of them, but there might be more I can’t see, instead of the seventy-five people there were when Master Peter was in charge.
The car door opens and Lila carefully slides out.
My heart swells. “Lila!” I scream, and her head turns my way but she can’t see me. My shoulders relax. Her face has no bruises, no marks. The moment she spots Lacey, she breaks into a run. “Lacey! Lacey!” she calls and rushes into Lacey’s arms. Lacey crying and holding her and telling her how much she missed her.
Tessa’s pulled out of the car by Abram. She almost falls to the ground.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” I scream but no-one answers. Tessa looks everywhere and her eyes land on the shed. Can she hear me? Abram pulls her back up. Two more people slide out of the car. Melanie. Her hair is limp and her shirt full of dirt. She smiles at the guy next to her. I gasp. That’s the guy from the gas station, the one who lived in the cabin near the town.
All this time, she’d been close.
Mellie’s smile doesn’t dim when Tessa’s pushed to the side with a kick. She’s missing some teeth. Compared to her sister, Tessa looks healthy despite her battered face. I throw myself against the door of the shed. Trying again and again to open it, but even if it moves, it doesn’t crack.
After a few more minutes, Mason opens it. I rush to him but before I can punch him or run past him, he raises his gun. “Let’s go. Time for a happy reunion.” He grabs my arm and pulls me into the center of the compound.
Abram stands by me.
“Luke!” Lila calls my name but Lacey holds her back. Tessa’s eyes meet mine and my heart twists when I see her bruises and the blood on her shirt by her shoulder. What happened?
Abram rings a bell. “Today is the day the traitors will be punished. The Circle needs to purify itself before the new world can shine its light on us. The fire will cleanse them.”
“How about all the ones who left? Are you going to kill them too?” I scream and people stare at me like I’ve grown another head.
“They are pursuing the Circle’s mission of recruiting other members. We want to fulfill our mission before the end of this world.”
That’s the excuse he gave? “They left because they knew Abram was a fraud. He’s a fraud and you’re ready to die for a fraud?”
Abram lifts his lips into a half smile. “Come on, Luke. Let’s get you and the others ready for cleansing.”
Mason pushes me forward until I’m close enough to Tessa to reach out to her. “I’m sorry,” I whisper to her as I pull her into my arms. “I’m so sorry.”
Before I can tell her we’re going to find a way to run, to escape, to leave this fucking place, Abram pulls her away from me.
“The cleansing process will start right now,” he announces.
My heart stops.
Chapter Forty-six – Tessa
My blood freezes in my veins. I’ve never felt so helpless before. Mellie gushes with Dawn about the compound. Doesn’t she realize we’re about to die? The compound is smaller than I thought it’d be. There are more men than women, and a few kids. Mellie smiles and nods as she says hi to everyone. Jeremiah has a protective arm around her, like he’s afraid one of them might hurt her, not realizing their plans, his plans are the most dangerous of them all.
Lacey’s still holding Lila’s hand. She’s talking to her quietly, and Lila stares at her with so much happiness in her eyes. She’s missed her. They’ve missed each other. If only we could all walk away together. Luke’s arms are no longer around me, shielding me from what may happen. He’s thrashing against the two men holding him tight, until one of them whispers in his ear. He stops moving and his face pales.
His gaze lands on me and there’s so much panic in his eyes, my stomach clenches until it’s hard to breathe.
My eyelids are heavy. My heartbeat can’t switch from nervous to calm. I’m itching all over.
One of the men—older with gray hair—gathers some wood and drops it in a fire pit close to the bigger house. Abram lights the wood on fire and then turns to Luke. Abram’s tall and on the leaner side. His shaggy blond hair almost falls into his light brown eyes. His beige tunic and long pants float around him, and his voice is deep, almost hypnotizing. “Luke, it’s time for you to admit your sins and ask for forgiveness.”
The man who was holding him marches to me while the one with the gray hair grabs Lila. They bring us closer to the fire. Lila shrieks. “Mom!”
Her mom rushes to her. “Lila doesn’t need to be cleansed. She’s not responsible for her brother’s action.”
“Lacey!” Lila’s tears break my heart. My entire body shivers despite the heat from the fire, but I force myself to not scream or cry.
“Luke,” Abram repeats with a smile on his face.
My eyes dart from one face to the other. The crowd seems mesmerized by Abram, by the fire.
Abram raises his index finger and all of them, including Mellie, who’s the only one who looks somewhat shocked, sing:
We were lost
But then he found us
We were lost
But then he saved us
The man holding me moves my arm closer to the fire. I wince.
“Tessa,” Mellie calls my name and Jeremiah pulls her closer to him. He leans in and whatever he says to her calms her down.
Luke dips his chin and mutters a few words.
“Louder!” Abram calls to him above the song. “Say the words louder!”
Luke straightens up and glares at Abram. “I believe in the Circle and in you, Master Abram. I give my soul to you. I give you my past, present and future. I’m sorry for my past sins.”
Abram’s smile grows and he grabs a long steely stick, drops it into the fire, puts a glove on his hand and takes it out of the fire. The end is red. The men hold me steady. I let go of Lila because I know from his look, from his lips turning into a smile that freezes the blood in my veins, what he’s about to do. The tip touches my skin. I can’t hold my scream back. Luke’s fighting the men holding him again. Lila’s running back to Lacey. I focus on Mellie’s face. She stopped singing. Her mouth is open and tears fall down her face.
For the first time since we’ve been reunited, I see fear and despair in the way her hands reach out in front of her, like she wants to reach out to me.
Abram calls out. “The end of the world is near. The words of the book tell us the traitors need to be cleansed by fire before it can purify all of us. Today is the day. The new world is waiting for us and we need to be ready. The traitors will be cleansed. They will not hold us back from the eternal world.”
He drops my arm. He only touched me twice with that stick, but I feel it in my entire body. Luke punches one of the men holding him and rushes to me. His fingers touch my face. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
The pain in my shoulder and in my arm is excruciating. The fear takes over my body and my mind. “I’m scared,” I whisper. People continue to chant around us. Louder and louder.
I stumble. Luke’s arm catches me around my waist. I fall limp against him. “I’m so scared,” I repeat and everything sways around me: the people shifting on their feet as they sing, the fire still too close to me, Abram and his victorious and vicious smile, and Mellie. Mellie who is no longer singing but crying.
“I got you,” Luke tells me, but one of the men—the one who was holding Luke back—pushes him away. He grabs a rope that’s on the ground and ties my hands t
ogether.
His breath is on my neck and I scream. “Leave me alone. Let me go.”
Abram grabs Lacey, and the other man who was holding Luke ties her hands together as well.
My heart is in my throat. “Mellie! Do something! Say something!”
Mellie stares at me without a word. She seems lost. “Please, Mellie. Do you remember the dog we wanted to save? Do you remember how you said he needed to be safe? He is safe thanks to you. Please, save us too.” Tears run down my face and my voice cracks. “Mellie, please!”
She steps forward but Abram catches her, whispering something in her ear. She nods and stretches her arms out willingly.
Sobs rack my body. “No, please…I don’t want to die. Leave us alone. Why do you need to do that?”
The man who tied my arms leans toward me. “Because Abram has plans. Once he shows his strength and silences the critics, he’ll be able to take us all into the new world. We’re going to be happy and rich.”
“It won’t happen. He’s a con artist. Before he met Jeremiah’s mom, he was a drug dealer and maybe he believed, maybe he didn’t but it doesn’t matter because he’s lying to all of you. He stole everyone’s money. He’s using all of you.”
He yanks my hair back. “Shut up.”
“Leave them alone,” Luke yells, but Lila’s brought close to the fire and Luke stops protesting.
Mason drags me inside the house, while his friend pushes Lacey inside. Mellie follows us willingly after Jeremiah kisses her forehead. Dawn hugs Lacey but doesn’t stop any of this from happening.
The house has newspaper on the floor and a slight smell of gas. We climb the creaking wood stairs. Abram opens the door to a room. He turns to us. “There’s a window but you’re going to be tied away from it. You won’t be able to jump.” The men tie us all to a table that’s attached to the floor.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask again.
Abram crouches in front of me. “Because The Book of Truth says sinners and newcomers need to be cleansed by the fire.”
Mellie bites her lip. “I thought my symbol was the cleanse.”
Abram shakes his head. “I like you, Melanie. You could have helped the cause, but I believe Jeremiah loves you more than he loves the Circle…and it’s his fault his mom died. He needs to pay too.”
Mellie’s eyes widen but I’m not sure she understands.
Lacey spits in Abram’s face. “You’re not going to get away with this.”
He slaps her so hard her head hits the table. “But I will. I believed too. Before I realized how much money I could make, before I lost Meredith, before I broke the rules and nothing happened to me…those people outside are true believers. With you dead, they’ll do everything I say, including killing themselves.” He pauses. “I will live a better life.” He smirks. “As The Book of Truth says, the end of this world will bring a better life.”
He slowly stands up. “I deserve a better life.” He licks his lips. “I need to take care of Luke and Lila. They won’t be far from you. You’re all going to die together.”
Chapter Forty-seven - Luke
Abram and his men force us to go into the main house. “Today’s the day you’re going to be purified. Fire will cleanse our sins so we can be ready for the end of the world.”
“You don’t even believe in all this shit,” I shout. “Where are Lacey and Tessa? Where’s Melanie?”
“In another room. Not far.”
Mom follows him this time “Do you want your kids to die, Mom?”
“You’re not dying. You’re going to live again. It’s going to be beautiful.” She kisses my forehead before I can push her away.
“The rest of the family will follow you very soon. We’re going to do the rituals outside as we set this house on fire. Then everyone will go home, say their last words and they will be ready for the flames.”
Abram pushes Lila with me. “You both escaped. You will find peace and renewal together.”
Mom’s mouth purses into a thin line and her hand touches Abram’s arm. “Maybe Lila could stay with us.” Abram slaps her and she stumbles back, holding her cheek.
“I’ve already told you a thousand times, no!”
I intervene, hoping against all odds I can convince her. “You’re her mother. Don’t let this happen to her. You can save her. You can really save her.”
Mom sways from one side to the other. “I could go with them,” Mom suggests, but Abram hits her again. Lila cries and Mom caresses her head. “It’s okay, baby love.”
She hugs Lila tightly. “We’ll be reunited soon, baby girl.”
And that’s when I realize Mom truly believes everything Abram says. She believes we will all be together soon again. She doesn’t think she’s leaving us to die here alone. Mom kisses the top of Lila’s head. “Be a strong girl until then. I can’t wait for us to play hide and seek again together.”
Lila cries out, not letting go of Mom, but Abram intervenes. “It’s time to go.” Mom reluctantly unclutches Lila’s fingers from her neck and pushes her to me. Abram forces us into a small room with a sofa and a table and closes the door behind us. I run against the door but it doesn’t budge.
“Lacey, Tessa!” I scream out while Lila wraps her arms around herself.
Their answer is faint—they must be on the other side of the house. “Here!”
I run against the door again. My shoulder burns from the pain. There’s no window in this room, but there’s one in the hallway.
A gunshot. Outside. Someone got shot. What’s going on? My heart beats faster and faster.
And that’s when I hear the crackles of fire.
And smoke. I smell smoke. Lila stops rocking back and forth and she rushes to me, coughing. “What’s that?”
Shit. The house must be on fire. The smoke trails up and slowly invades the room. I need to find out. My fingers try to pry the door open. My nails split open. Nothing moves.
Smoke fills the room. It’s in my nose, in my lungs. Lila’s arms are tight around my neck. “We need to leave.” My voice is hoarse. “We need to go.”
The fire that’s supposed to cleanse us. “We need to go.”
Lila coughs and tears spring in my eyes. People scream outside. They no longer chant. Maybe they realize what’s happening, maybe they’re snapping out of it, maybe Mom will come and save us.
The pain in my shoulder intensifies. I push against the door. The heat burns my skin and I grind my teeth to keep from screaming. The door doesn’t move. I don’t want to die. I don’t want Lila to die. Where is everyone? Where’s Tessa? And Lacey?
I push the door again. The flames surround us. Lila coughs again and again. I move her in front of me so I can hide her face in my shirt. It’s harder and harder to breathe. I crouch on the floor.
“I love you, Lila,” I whisper. I’m not sure she can hear me.
I wish I could hold Tessa one more time. I wish I could turn back time and convince Lacey to leave with us. Maybe we’d have found Mellie then. Maybe everything would have turned out differently.
Stop living in the past. Tessa’s voice resonates in my mind. I push again one last time, and when the door collapses with flames leaking from the sides of it, we’re right behind.
I fall face first to prevent Lila from falling herself. She’s not moving, though. “Tessa, Lacey!” I need to save them. I need to find them. They’re yelling from the other side of the house. The stairs are almost on fire but Jeremiah rushes through them. He’s bleeding, but moving. “Go! Take Lila with you. I’m going to get Mellie.”
He pushes me forward. “Go, before the stairs collapse. Go!” He turns around. “Abram shot your mom. He shot your mom. He shot me and then he left with Mason and Emanuel.”
I gulp. Mom’s dead. She’s really dead.
“Go!” Jeremiah repeats.
Lila’s not moving. Fire is everywhere. I need to move. Sirens blare in the far distance. Maybe they’ve seen the smoke.
I gather Lila in my arms,
making sure her face is against my shoulder, away from the smoke, and I run down the stairs. The flames lick my arms but I push forward.
We stumble outside. And I fall to my knees. Lila coughs and I hug her. Mom’s body lies a few feet away and I force myself not to look at it. I turn Lila away. A woman’s walking around, calling for a man I assume to be her husband. Some of the cabins are also on fire, but some people are getting water to extinguish them. “He left. Master Abram left,” another woman yells, with wide eyes. “He killed Master Peter.”
I’m not sure what happened outside, but whatever it is, it gave Jeremiah the push to run into a burning house. I need to find Tessa and Lacey. I need to save them. The sirens are closer.
“You need to run, Lila. Like you do at soccer. I need you to run fast to where those trees are.” I point to the path leading to the main road. “You only stop if you see the police.”
She’s wobbly on her legs. Her face is full of ashes and part of her hair is missing. “You can do it, Lila. You’re the star of the soccer team, remember?” I don’t know how I manage to sound cheerful.
“I don’t want to go without you.” Her upper lip quivers.
“I need to stay and find Lacey and Tessa.”
“And Mellie? And Mommy?”
Bile shoots up my mouth. She still hasn’t seen her body, which someone has now covered with a bedsheet. Mellie. I do need to find Mellie too.
“Of course,” I reply and gently touch her face. “Go!” I push her forward and she walks more than runs toward the road. Several police cars and ambulances rush our way. In a few minutes they’ll be here with the firefighters. They’re going to save us.
“Lacey! Tessa!” I still can’t scream.
I stagger on my feet. I need to get inside the house. The flames blow in all directions.
The side of the house Lila and I were in collapsed. We almost died. Tessa should be safe—at least for now. She doesn’t have long.
I can’t get in.
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