by Sean Platt
Sixty-Three
Desmond Armstrong
The Hole
Early evening
Linc came in to check on them after dinner.
Desmond was surprised that Rei trusted Linc enough to let him down in the hole. Perhaps Linc was in league with Rei, after all. Linc’s eyes widened at their injuries, but he didn’t say anything. Given that the door at the top of the landing was still open, Desmond suspected that another guard was standing by, so he couldn’t take Linc’s lack of reaction to mean too much.
Linc whispered to Desmond, “It’ll be okay,” and then left. Mercifully, he’d left the light on, either an act of grace or forgetfulness. Either way, it was nice to be out of the darkness.
After Linc left, Desmond noticed that Luca was squeezing his eyes shut. At first he thought Luca was crying, perhaps in pain from the belt, even though he’d said he’d be okay earlier. But after a few minutes, Desmond realized that Luca was trying to connect with someone, perhaps Will.
Desmond said nothing as Luca’s face vacillated between serenity and horror. He still couldn’t get over the boy’s most recent change. Just when Desmond had finally grown used to his instant evolution from small boy to teenager, he was now trying to get his head around what should’ve been a smaller jump that, shockingly, was not.
Desmond would have considered Luca’s first couple of leaps in growth a scientific impossibility if he hadn’t witnessed them with his own two skeptical eyes. Despite having seen Luca’s healing of others three times, the change in Luca physically was so drastic that Desmond could barely believe he was the same person. The starkest change was in Luca’s eyes, though there was a hint in his posture and a clench in his jaw. Other than the slight pause before he answered a question, when the new Luca seemed to search for the perfect way to say something, just like the old one, all traces of the boy had disappeared. The change was so unsettling, Desmond had a difficult time looking at him, which was why he was trying to get more comfortable while Luca was using his mind to find Will.
Luca finally opened his eyes to find Desmond staring at him. Desmond looked away, embarrassed. “Hey,” he said. “Any luck?”
Luca nodded. “I found Will. He’s going to help us tonight, as soon as he can get here.”
“And you’re sure you’re not imagining any of this?” Desmond felt bad asking.
“Yes. I’m going to try to reach Linc, now.”
“Bad idea,” Desmond said. “We don’t know whose side Linc’s on. A lot’s changed since the farmhouse, you know.”
“He’s still Linc,” Luca said. “He’s still our friend. He left the light on for us, didn’t he?”
“I’m not saying he’s not our friend, or that Linc would ever want to harm us,” Desmond struggled for the right words, unsure of how much of Luca was still eight.
“Things are different now,” Desmond said. “The human mind will do anything to protect the body. Right now, I’m guessing Linc’s in survival mode. If he thinks Brother Rei will help keep him alive, well, that means Linc’s likely to find his words more magnetic than ours.”
Luca was quiet a while, then finally said, “I already looked in his mind when he was in here. He’s okay. He’s trying to think of a way to help us. He and Mary, both.”
“Mary is going to do something? You talked to him? He heard you?” Desmond said.
“He didn’t hear me, I don’t think. I was tuning in to him, though. And Mary asked for his help. He told her yes.”
“How’s he gonna help us?” Desmond asked.
“Not sure. Anyway, it might be best if we told him what to do, right? I’m gonna try to find out from Will what he wants Linc to do. I’m going to try and push a thought into Linc’s head. Not sure if it will work, but I’ll show him where the bag of guns is outside.”
Desmond cringed. It was one thing trusting Linc to go along with his plan, but another altogether to tell him where the guns were. That was their last line of defense. But then again, that defense was nothing if they were chained up in the hole. Desmond was about to ask how far away Will was when the door up top opened again. Rei stepped into the chamber and began to slowly pace the room.
“How are you boys getting along down here?” Rei looked up at the light, “Ah, I see that someone left a light on for you. How thoughtful. Who was it?”
Desmond didn’t want to get Linc in trouble, so he kept his mouth shut.
Rei approached Desmond, “I asked a question. I expect an answer. Have you so quickly forgotten what happens when you don’t obey me?”
Desmond met Rei’s eyes. He would sell his soul to the Devil right now to break free the chains and put an end to the weasel’s smile.
“I think it was Linc,” Desmond said.
“Ah, Linc. Your friend, Linc, right?”
Uh-oh.
“How cozy are you and Linc?” Rei asked. “What sorts of things does he tell you?”
“Nothing,” Desmond said. “He’s pretty much ignored us ever since we got here. He’s a traitor as far as I’m concerned, to let you hold us down here like this.”
Rei stared at Desmond as if trying to decipher what was true and what was lie.
Rei began to pace again. “You see, Brother Desmond, I hate to think that my fellow brothers are sneaking around like rats behind my back. I don’t like rats very much.”
Desmond nearly laughed at the irony: a weasel that didn’t like a rat, but the pain in his body told him to resist the urge. They only had to last a little while longer until Will, and maybe Linc, would help them break free.
Keep your mouth shut, and try not to piss Rei off. Just wait him out.
Rei kept pacing, saying over and over, “I really, really don’t like rats.”
What’s he getting at? What does he know?
Suddenly Luca was in Desmond’s head, “Oh no.”
“What?” Desmond thought.
And then it happened.
Carl opened his mouth.
“They’re planning an attack,” he sputtered. “The old man is coming back!”
Rei’s eyebrows rose as he looked from Carl to Desmond, to Carl again, and then back to Desmond. “Is this true?” he said.
Desmond was stunned silent. He and Luca had been talking about everything out loud, without any thought that Carl might betray them.
“I didn’t even think to look in Carl’s mind to see if he was on their side,” Luca thought to Desmond. “I’m so sorry.”
Rei’s eyes went back to Carl. “Go ahead, Brother Carl, I’m listening.”
“The creepy kid can do stuff with his mind. Said he was talking to the old man a while back, and to Linc just now.”
Rei smiled, chewing the delicious news. “Well, how about that? So, Linc is working with you?” He stood just inches from Luca. “So, you have a window to the whispers in our minds? Pray tell, boy, what am I thinking?”
Luca closed his eyes tight and said nothing.
After a minute of mutual silence, Rei turned to Carl. “What else did they say?”
“Luca said that Will is gonna help them break out of here. And Linc is gonna help them. And something about a bag of guns or something.”
Brother Rei kept smiling, telling Carl he’d done excellent work, and that it was always a glorious day at The Sanctuary when the Good Lord’s work was done. The flock was never prouder than when one of its own learned a valuable lesson and chose virtue over sin.
Rei unfastened Carl from his restraints, then handed him a pistol from beneath the folds of his robe. “Welcome back, Brother Carl. Please, go to Brothers Gerald and Evan. Tell them the time has come. Then get Brothers Peter and Boricio and round up Linc and bring him here to me. If anyone tries to stop you or stand in your way, shoot them where they stand. The Good Lord will decide what happens to them after that.”
“Thank you, Brother Rei,” Carl said, bowing. He left the torture room without looking behind.
“So, what is this about weapons?” Rei asked, smiling.
“He’s lying,” Desmond said, “He just wants out of here. And you just let him go. He’s playing you for a fool.”
Rei stepped closer to Desmond, “You think you’re so damned smart, don’t you?”
Desmond said nothing.
Rei began to pace again, and then disappeared up the steps for a few minutes.
Luca looked at Desmond, afraid.
“Don’t say anything,” Desmond thought. “He might be listening at the top of the stairs.”
Rei returned with a pitchfork, holding it up for Desmond to see. “What do you think would happen if I plunged this into your boy’s stomach?”
Rei turned to Luca and aimed the pitchfork at his stomach. As the sharp prongs grew closer, Luca closed his eyes, either out of fear, or desperation to reach Will before he died.
Desmond was about to say something to bring Rei’s attention back to him, when footsteps fell into the chamber.
Carl returned, shoving Linc inside the torture room with two guards walking behind him, Peter and the full-of-shit sycophant, Boricio. Linc looked at Desmond with defeated eyes.
“Brother Boricio, would you please help Brother Carl tie our new guest to the wall so we can get to the truth and finally leave all of this ugliness behind us?”
Once Linc was secure, Rei smiled a sickening smile, then thrust the handle of the pitchfork hard into Linc’s chest, knocking the breath from his body.
“While the Good Lord decides if you’re worthy of breath, I want you to consider the meaning of the word ‘Truth.’ If you do manage to retrieve your breath, well, I’m guessing that means the Good Lord would like you to share what he’s left on your tongue.”
When it sounded like Linc was finally done choking, Rei said, “Now, I hear you all are planning ‘an attack.’ Tell me how many traitors there are among us? I want a name for everyone, and then I’ll release you immediately. I hold no grudges. Just ask Carl.” Rei gestured toward Carl who still had his gun trained on the prisoners, as if they posed a threat, fastened to the wall.
Linc gathered his breath as though he were about to spill every secret inside him, then did the unthinkable by hawking a giant wad of mucus into Rei’s face. Desmond smiled, hating himself for ever doubting Linc.
“Fuck you,” Linc said to punctuate his action, clearly not giving a fuck what Rei might do.
Rei looked ready to boil. Desmond winced imagining what was about to happen to Linc. Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the steps as another of his men, Brother Chris, raced down the steps and shouted, “Brother Rei!”
Rei wiped the spit from his face, dabbed at his chin with his robe, then turned toward Chris. “Yes,” he said, voice calm but laced with an insanity that sent a chill down Desmond’s spine.
“What is it?” Rei said. “And I dare say, this had better be worth the interruption.”
“I’m sorry,” Chris said. “You wanted to know if there was anything happening with Mary or John. Something’s happening with them both right now. Mary just ran into the men’s house. She was frantic, demanding to see John.”
“Very well,” Rei stepped toward Linc until he was just inches from his face, almost daring him to spit again. “We are far, far from finished here. When I return, you will tell me everything, or you will die.”
Rei turned to the room. “Brothers Carl and Chris, follow me.” He nodded toward Boricio and Peter. “You two stay here and guard the traitors. Empty your guns into anyone who looks at you funny.”
Rei smiled, turned, and led the way up the stairs.
Brother Peter held his gun nervously in front of him, aimed at the prisoners. Boricio smiled at Desmond, a smile too wide to worship a loving God.
Luca closed his eyes tight, and Desmond wondered where he was going.
Sixty-Four
Mary Olson
Mary and Paola were alone in the reading room of the women’s house when she heard the commotion in the courtyard, looked out the window, and she saw Linc being led to the basement under the women’s house.
Mary couldn’t swallow her anxiety any longer. The part of her that knew they were in imminent danger was screaming. And doing nothing was the same as doing something to make everything worse, for all of them.
Mary turned to Paola, who was sitting on one of the two sofas reading a book. “I want you to stay here and stay safe,” she said. “Hide if you need to. Only come out for me, no matter what. I don’t know what’s going on, but it isn’t good.” She stared in Paola’s eyes. “Do you promise me you’ll stay safe?”
Paola nodded and let her face say, “I love you, Mom,” since her words wouldn’t.
Mary gave her a tight hug, then ran to the men’s quarters, and burst through the door, yelling for John. He was downstairs in seconds. She grabbed him by the shoulders, in hysterics before the first words left her mouth. “I need your help, John. I’m begging you.”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s Brother Rei; he’s making a move to topple The Prophet. We’re in the way; you’re in the way; we’re all in the way. This ends badly John. I know it. You have to believe me; you have to help me. I’ll stay. We’ll all help The Prophet rebuild the church. But we have to stop Brother Rei tonight.” Mary’s voice cracked, her sanity bleeding from the seams.
“Really?” John said, his voice full of surprise, but his eyes not at all.
“Come upstairs,” John said to Mary, as he glanced at two of the men milling about in the living room, “and tell me everything.”
John led her upstairs and outside to the balcony, where they could have some privacy.
The courtyard was buzzing with activity; men and women were watching them from below but were unable to hear them.
“Tell me everything,” John repeated, his eyes meeting Mary’s.
“Brother Rei, he is planning something big. And I think now that he’s got Desmond, Luca, and Linc all locked up, he’s gonna make his move. I can feel it. Linc said he’d heard whisperings among others, too.”
“So, they’re coming after me?” John said, as if amused by the prospect. If he were scared or nervous, he hid it well. This was not the same John who was freaking out at the Drury and wanted to get the hell out of Dodge before shit hit the fan. This John was almost cavalier about the threat. Maybe even welcomed it.
“Aren’t you worried?”
Brother Rei stepped through the doors and onto the balcony before John could answer, and was standing before them in two strides.
Rei had a gun in his hand and pressed it into the flesh of John’s temple before anyone had time to register the action, much less stop it. John’s eyes widened, and Rei pulled the trigger, filling the night with thunder and permanent memory. A sloppy glop of dark crimson showered Mary’s face. John’s body, miraculously standing for several seconds after half his head went sloshy, collapsed to the floor.
The courtyard erupted in screams, echoed by Mary, who stared in shock.
If he killed John in cold blood, no doubt we’re next.
Rei turned to the huddle of Brothers who’d followed him. “Grab her,” he said, pointing to Mary. “Then bring me the girl. She’ll be hiding, but easy to find. Tear the houses apart if you must. This ends tonight. Let’s see how much Brother Desmond is willing to lose.”
Mary stared down at John’s corpse, and her entire body flooded with adrenaline as her inner knowing deepened, the cancerous thought trying to convince her of what she refused to believe — that these were the final few moments of her life.
If the knowing was right, so be it. But she had to save Paola.
The Brothers shoved her forward at gunpoint, forcing her downstairs and out the front door.
The feeling of impending doom was punctuated by the sight in front of her. Two Brothers dragging Paola toward them.
“Mom,” Paola screamed.
Brother Rei let them embrace only so he could rip them apart before leading them to their deaths.
Sixty-Five
Luca Hard
ing
“Please, let us go,” Desmond pleaded with their captors, Brothers Peter and Boricio.
“Shut up,” Boricio snapped.
“So, you’re gonna turn on The Prophet, too?” Linc asked Brother Peter, his voice dripping with accusation. “This is how you repay the man who took you in and saved your life?”
Brother Peter looked down at Linc, not in anger, but with pity. “I’m not turning on anyone. The Prophet isn’t coming back. And Brother Rei is the only one brave enough to keep leading us from the darkness.”
“What about John?” Linc said, “You think he’s gonna stand by and let you all take over? There’s more people loyal to The Prophet and John, than Rei. You ought to get on the right side while you still can, brother.”
“I am on the right side,” Brother Peter said, through gritted teeth. “I stood by and watched while The Prophet opened his doors to one and all, without a care in the world of what kind of danger that exposed us to. Letting in sinners, polluting the well, and drawing the Demons closer! It is our faith that keeps this place pure and safe from the Demons. Letting in sinners allows cracks in the fortress that the Demons will use to gain access and destroy The Sanctuary!”
“Please, Brother Peter, I know you’re a good man,” Desmond pleaded. “You know Brother Rei will kill us. Are you going to let him kill Mary and her daughter, too?”
“If they’re righteous, God will spare them,” Brother Peter said.
“Yeah, right,” Linc said sarcastically.
“Enough chit-chat,” Boricio snapped, shoving his pistol in Linc’s face. “I am sick and fucking tired of hearing all you motherfuckers goin’ on and on about stupid shit. Forgive my French, Brother Peter, but facts is facts — this is a New World Motherfuckin’ Order where only the strong survive. Just so happens, The Prophet is fat, old, and weak. And Brother Rei and his men here are ready to do what needs to be done. Can I get a witness?”
