Matthew’s attention snapped back to Jamie. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘What would be the best outcome for you? Here. Now.’
‘The best outcome here, now, is the same as it’s always been – to find Our Father,’ Matthew said. ‘And then I want to bring this perimeter to its knees. But most of all, I wish to get hold of the girl who’s responsible for all of this and I want you, Jacob, to slice off her head with your sword.’
‘Right,’ Jamie said, getting to his feet and leaning forward on the table with the tips of his fingers. ‘I think we may have to face the fact that Our Father is gone from us. You are our leader now, Sir. You are Our Father.’
Matthew didn’t speak and nor did any of the other disciples in the room, so Jamie continued.
‘I don’t know if we will win this battle here today. Not now that we are outnumbered. But . . . there is one thing we can definitely do.’
‘And what is that?’ Matthew said.
‘I know a way to get the girl,’ Jamie replied. ‘As long as she’s still alive.’
‘Tell me,’ Matthew said, his eyes glittering.
* * *
‘Reece!’ I yelled, over the sound of a booming explosion. ‘Reece!’ I’d spotted him and some of the others crouched behind one of the guards’ vans. The vehicle was riddled with bullet holes and they were trapped, taking heavy fire. Denzil, Tom and I were only about a hundred yards from them, concealed by a couple of thick pine trees.
Eventually Reece looked behind and saw us. Tom fired at the enemy to give him a chance to get to us. Reece looked left and right before darting over and skidding to a halt in front of me, panting hard. He stood and pushed his fringe out of his eyes, his face smeared with grime and blood.
‘Reece,’ I said. ‘Thank you. You and your people have been incredible.’
He nodded in acknowledgement.
‘This is Denzil,’ I continued, ‘one of our perimeter guards. Can you brief him? Tell him what’s going on? What you need from us? More weapons? Ammo? Manpower?’
‘More ammo for a start,’ Reece said. ‘But we’re doing alright considering the numbers we were up against.’
Suddenly, a bank of lights glared on, throwing the dark chaos into relief. I squinted and shielded my eyes. We all looked to see what was happening. It took a couple of seconds for my eyes to adjust. From the trees, we had a clear line of sight straight through to the entrance of the guards’ house. Someone had switched on the floodlights outside, illuminating the paved area at the front of the building and beyond, as more exterior lights clicked on in turn. The fighting paused, everyone momentarily frozen by the illumination. The bloodshed around us now even plainer to see.
Seconds after the lights came on, the front door to the guards’ house was thrown wide, a figure in the doorway. Gagged. His hands bound behind his back. It was the head of our perimeter security – Roger Brennan.
A robed warrior stood behind, pointing a gun at his head and prodding him out of the doorway. Behind them, another guard, bound with a gun to his head. And another. They all stumbled out to stand beneath the lights, blinking and dazed. In a terrible state. Blood-soaked clothes and smoke blackened faces, barely able to walk. I clutched Tom’s arm.
And then I saw Rita, also gagged and bound. A look of shock and pain on her face. It looked as though her shoulder was dislocated. I’d never seen her so scared before. She was always so fearless. I wanted to run over and fling my arms around her, but she too had a weapon pointed at her head.
My heart was in my throat as I recognised the next face. Oh my God, it was Pa. But his expression was not one of defeat, it was one of pure anger. I crouched on the ground and hugged my knees, my legs unable to support my body. Tom crouched next to me and put his arms around my trembling shoulders. What was going to happen? We had to do something. Stop whatever was to come next. I didn’t want to know what this wicked boy had planned.
And then the next figure came through the doorway . . .
Luc.
I shoved my fist in my mouth to stop myself screaming his name. What could I do? What could I do? He shared my father’s angry expression and I felt so bad that I’d left him here to be captured. All for nothing.
Lastly, FJ and an entourage of robed figures exited the house. If only I could shoot that boy dead. But I couldn’t risk it. Not with guns at the heads of all the people I loved. What was this world about, where the only thing that mattered was a gun and who it was pointed at? I’d had enough of this. Enough. I wanted to do something, but there was nothing to be done.
The hostages were lined up in front of the building and forced down onto their knees. Behind each, stood a robed warrior with a gun aimed at each head. FJ stood to the side, his robes pristine, his face untouched by smoke, his body unharmed, his fair hair shining beneath the blinding lights. Like an angel from hell.
A hooded warrior stood by his side holding a gleaming sword. The scene was like something out of one of my worst nightmares.
The silence around had become oppressive. No shots, no yells or screams.
‘We have to do something,’ I whispered to Tom. He squeezed my shoulders tighter, but he didn’t reply. I turned to see pity on his face and so I looked away and glanced up at Denzil. More pity. I didn’t want to see pity, I wanted to see determination. A plan. Anything but pity.
‘You have a choice!’ FJ’s voice cut through the silence.
‘These people on the ground here can die. We can kill them one by one. And then we can continue fighting until the perimeter is destroyed along with everyone in it.’ He paused and cast his eyes around. ‘Or . . .’
I knew what his alternative would be. I knew what he was about to say and I was ready for it. I attempted to brush the dried blood and dirt off my knees and tried to rise to my feet, but Tom’s arm was still around my shoulders and he tightened his grip. I shook his arm off and got up anyway. He did the same and Denzil stepped closer to my other side.
‘There is one person here who must atone for her sins,’ FJ cried. ‘If she gives herself up, we will leave.’
Pa’s eyes widened and if he hadn’t been gagged I knew he would’ve yelled for me to run away as fast as I could. But he was gagged and so he said nothing. No one said a word.
‘Riley Culpepper, show yourself,’ FJ called out.
Tom took my hand and held it tight. Denzil stood in front of me, his weapon pointed in FJ’s direction. Even though we were standing behind the trees, I felt exposed. My name ringing in my ears like a death knell.
‘Show yourself or I will execute every prisoner.’
I knew I had to do it and I tried to step forward, but Tom and Denzil wouldn’t let me pass, gripping my arms and pulling me back. I briefly caught Reece’s eye, as he watched me, impassive.
‘No!’ Tom hissed. ‘You’re not going.’
‘Here!’ I yelled. ‘I’m over here.’
Tom shoved his hand over my mouth to silence me, but he was too late, FJ had to have heard me. ‘What are you doing?’ Tom hissed. ‘That boy will kill you. You can’t give yourself up.’ He took his hand from my mouth, and he and Denzil tried to drag me back.
‘I should’ve given myself up in the first place,’ I said. ‘Stopped all of this from happening. Let me go, or I’ll never forgive you. You know I have to do this.’
I stopped struggling and Tom and Denzil briefly loosened their grip. But before they could say another word, I elbowed them hard in the ribs, slipped out of their grasp and made a break for it.
‘Riley, come back!’ Tom shouted.
Once I was clear of the trees, I slowed my pace and walked toward FJ, keeping my eyes locked on his triumphant face, unable to bear looking at the people on the ground. Pa would be heart-broken to see me, and Luc . . . I couldn’t think about him now.
The silence inside the perimeter was heavy with dread and anticipation, broken by the soft tread of my final footfalls.
‘As soon as you have me, you must let these pe
ople go,’ I said, my voice echoing across the space between us. ‘If you really are a man of God, you’ll keep to your word.’
I prayed he would do the honourable thing and act on his promise. But experience had shown me that FJ was not an honourable man.
Chapter Thirty Nine
As the warriors continued to point their weapons at the prisoners on the ground, a robed man stepped forward to take me. He chained my wrists and ankles while FJ looked on, a smile on his face, like a small boy on Christmas Day who just got his favourite toy. The robed man hoisted me over his shoulder and bundled me into the back seat of a black AV. FJ and three of his cronies got into the car and slammed the doors, two of them sitting either side of me on the back seat.
‘Wait half an hour and then move out!’ FJ called to the rest of his warriors out of the window. I prayed that meant that Grey’s men would leave and release the prisoners unharmed. But then the AV engine started up and we drove toward the exit in convoy with another two vehicles, leaving me to only guess at what would happen to my home once we’d gone.
With some relief I looked over my shoulder through the back window. The prisoners still had guns pointed at their heads, but at least FJ had given no order to execute them. For now, the hostages would be the only means of Grey’s men getting out alive. No one from the perimeter would risk attacking the warriors while Pa, Luc and the others were in danger, but I wasn’t so sure about the gypsies.
I winced as the AV bumped and crunched its way out through the entrance. Rolling over the mounds of dead bodies. We drove for a short while, my mind blank and unfocused. I couldn’t let myself think about what was about to happen to me. All I knew was that it would be extremely unpleasant and then it would end. Images of Luc forced their way into my mind; of the life we would never have together. But I pushed them away. Snowflakes began to fall once more, melting against the dark glass of the windscreen. No one spoke.
After a while, I didn’t know how long, we stopped. And now I started to feel scared. My heartbeats skittering and jumping, my skin cold and shivery. Doors opened, letting the icy wind blow through the vehicle and I was dragged outside, made to stand on the snowy ground before these hooded creatures. The only face exposed was that of the boy. His pale skin illuminated by the headlights. Slivers of snow swirling in the beams.
I tried to get rid of my fear. To be defiant and uncaring, but I couldn’t quite manage it. My chin wobbled and I pressed my lips together to stop from crying. Please, I told myself, don’t give him the satisfaction. I thought about the lives I was saving by doing this. That by giving myself up, I had brought about the end of this pointless fight.
Ever since that time in the clearing, when I’d had FJ in handcuffs, he had wanted his revenge. I’d humiliated him and I doubt he’d ever been in that situation before. He needed to restore his ego. Humiliating and killing me would help him achieve that. Perhaps this was all this had ever been about. I wouldn’t have been surprised.
The robed men began to whisper their weird chant and one of them stepped forward, drawing a sword out from beneath his robes. The sight of that gleaming metal threatened to send me over the edge. I had assumed they would shoot me, and that was bad enough. But seeing the sharp edge of that blade sent chills down my body, making my knees soft. I couldn’t let myself collapse. I forced my body to remain upright, clamping my teeth together and squaring my shoulders back. I made myself stare FJ in the eye. I would not flinch and I would not beg for my life.
* * *
Jamie’s hand trembled slightly as he held the sword. The girl was young and beautiful. Her eyes fierce, like a cornered cat. He would swing his blade and watch the flame in her eyes die. She would crumple to the ground and he would see her face in his nightmares. Was this really the way to salvation? Or was this the way to hell?
But what else was there for him? This was his life now. And the girl had threatened their existence. She had kidnapped their Father and now he was likely dead. She had dragged them across the country on a mission of death and destruction. If it wasn’t for her, he might now still be in the kitchen garden, his hands deep in the good black earth. Growing things instead of killing things. He was resolved. This girl needed to die, so that all things could return to their natural order.
His brothers’ chant swelled to fill the night sky. Rising above it, Matthew’s voice came clear and strong. Jamie latched on to the words, waiting for the order to kill.
‘Jacob,’ he said. ‘We will do to this girl what she has done to Our Father. And we will feel no remorse. Only joy that we are free from her hatred.’ As he spoke, Matthew came forward to stand at Jamie’s side. ‘And once this is done we will return and finish off the rest of them. We will burn that place of evil to the ground.’
‘You can’t!’ she cried out. ‘You gave your word.’
‘Hush,’ Matthew said. ‘It’s no longer your concern. You will not be here to worry or cry.’
Jamie tensed his arm, preparing to do what had to be done.
‘But first,’ Matthew continued, ‘she must know the person who ends her life.’
Jamie glanced across at his new leader, confused.
‘Girl!’ Matthew cried. ‘This good disciple has undergone a transformation. Like you, he used to be nothing.’
At this, the girl narrowed her eyes and shot Matthew a venomous glance.
‘He was a common thief. A murderer.’
Jamie bristled a little at the use of the words ‘thief’ and ‘murderer’. He had stolen through necessity and killed by accident. But that wasn’t important now.
‘Before this man discovered the light, he killed a girl. A young innocent girl.’ Matthew stared at Riley, a slow smile spreading across his face. Jamie was disturbed to realise Matthew was enjoying himself. That he wanted to draw this out and make her suffer before she died. Jamie wasn’t so keen on having his sins made public either. But there wasn’t much he could do about it.
Just then, Matthew pulled Jamie’s hood back so that his face was exposed to the girl. Jamie tried to remain expressionless and mask his surprise, but it was difficult. He took a steadying breath and focused on the Latin words which streamed from the mouths of his brothers.
‘Riley,’ Matthew continued, ‘I would like you to meet your executioner, Jacob. He was once a vagrant called Jamie and he’s visited your home before, haven’t you, Jamie? Last summer I believe.’
Jamie was confused. What did all this have to do with the girl standing before him? Why was Matthew talking about this now?
‘Jamie killed Skye,’ Matthew said to Riley. ‘Jamie killed your little sister. And now he’s going to kill you. Perfect symmetry wouldn’t you say?’
The blood rushed to Jamie’s head and his heart boomed in his ears like dynamite in a cave. This was the sister of the girl he’d killed. That’s what all this had been about. That’s why Matthew had chosen him to end her life. It was all so that Matthew could witness the total shock and devastation on the girl’s face when she met her sister’s killer. So he could break her before she died. Wipe the defiance from her eyes.
And sure enough, her eyes clouded and dimmed. She stared at Jamie in horror, her mouth open.
‘My sister,’ she hissed. ‘You! You killed my sister?’
Jamie felt as though he’d been punched in the stomach. He needed to end this now, unwilling to witness the raw pain and hatred on her face a second longer. But at the same time, unable to tear his eyes away.
‘Do it now, Jacob,’ Matthew commanded, triumph in his voice. He took a few paces away to give Jamie enough room to manoeuvre his sword.
‘Please,’ Jamie said, ‘it wasn’t like that. It was an accident.’
‘Jacob, follow your orders,’ Matthew said.
But Jamie ignored him. He had to tell the girl what really happened. That he wasn’t a cold-blooded murderer. ‘I was hungry, homeless,’ he said to her. ‘There was a hole in the fence, so I crept into the poolhouse and fell asleep. Your sister found me. I
was scared. I panicked. She screamed and I tried to calm her down. I tried,’ he sobbed, tears running down his face. ‘I told her I wouldn’t hurt her. Tried to stop her running off. But she wouldn’t listen and it all went wrong. She fell back through the door. There was glass everywhere. I’m so sorry for what I did. I never meant to hurt her.’
‘Liar,’ Matthew cried.
‘No, I’m not lying. That’s what happened, and the girl’s sister has a right to know the truth before she dies.’
‘Fine,’ Matthew retorted. ‘Good. She knows. Now cut off her head.’
Staring at the girl, Jamie took a step back and held his sword out to the side, ready to slice down onto the white of her neck. Her face showed fear now, but there was nothing he could do about that. Jamie steadied his legs, making his stance wide and solid as he prepared to deal the blow.
‘Thank you,’ she said, her voice barely audible above his brothers’ chanting. ‘For telling me. I always wondered what really happened . . . I forgive you.’
‘What?’ said Jamie.
‘I said, I forgive you.’
‘Kill her,’ Mathew said through gritted teeth. ‘Or will I have to do it myself?’
Jamie took a breath and swung the sharp blade down to her throat. He stopped short by a hair’s breadth. Swung it back the other way and made a clean slice through skin and bone and sinew.
Matthew’s head was cleaved from his shoulders and landed in the snow with a crimson thud. His robed body toppled to join it. His face stared up from the ground; even in death it wore an expression of demented arrogance.
The chanting stopped and the night was silent except for Jamie’s own heavy breaths. No one moved.
Jamie turned his eyes away from the bloody pile and looked instead at the girl. She was drained of colour, breathing hard. He couldn’t believe he had the girl’s forgiveness. It was more powerful than any of the boy’s hollow words. Matthew was supposed to have been a man of God, yet this stranger, this sister to a murdered girl, had more of a Christian heart than Grey, Matthew, or any of their men. Jamie saw things clearly for the first time.
The Perimeter Page 28
