7. Elijah

Ihaven’t slept yet.

My blood is boiling as I speed down the dark backroads of Blackwood. My bright headlights are the only bit of light back here until the sun starts rising any minute now. Switching gears, my ignition roars louder as my speed increases. My dark hair is hanging over my forehead, and my nostrils flare with rage as my eyes focus on my destination ahead of me, The Chapel.

Blackwood is a small coastal town in North Carolina, which The Chapel has taken advantage of. The Chapel is located within one of the alcoves of the large rocky cliffs lining the coast. The cave’s entrance is inland and has rooms branching out. If you walk straight through the long, dark and cold cave, it will take you to the sandy beach and ocean.

The locals don’t come near this spot. My stepfather is widely known for running these parts.

I am positive most think he is absolutely unhinged, a notorious cult leader. The ones who don’t are members, followers of him, and The Chapel. And once youre in, good luck getting out alive.

Over the years, people have whispered, and rumors have spread. Some are true, but they can never be proven.

When I get a name, good luck catching me. It will never fucking happen. So when someone goes missing, the town knows what has most likely happened. The police have learned to keep their distance. I was given one of their names once after they got too nosey into The Chapel’s business.

Master claimed he was told, ‘They must be taught a lesson.’

The bodies are never found. How they are disposed of isn’t up to us. Master tells us what has been decided and that is what we do.

It is convenient that we have an ocean nearby.

Do I believe his bullshit? No absolutely not, but I don’t have enough energy to give a fuck. I get to do something I enjoy and I am the only one who has these privileges.

But that isn’t the point. It doesn’t fucking matter. This time I got two names. One to kill. One promised to me. Not to fucking him. I got them both out clean. No one has a fucking clue. I killed her mom in front of her—not that it bothered me, but it clearly upset her.

She wasn’t supposed to be upset!

If that motherfucker thinks he is going back on his promise, to take what’s owed to me and what is mine. He is seriously more delusional than I thought.

Pulling up to The Chapel now, I noticed a few other cars are here as I shift gears and slam on the brakes. My cars tail end swings as my tires try to grip the loose gravel. It barely comes to a stop before I turn off the ignition and bolt out with my wooden baseball bat in hand, my vision is tunneled. I am here to do one thing, claim what is mine. She will never be fucking his. That’s his goddamn daughter, for fuck’s sake. I will not let him touch her.

Only ever me. Mine!

The thought makes my blood boil and my skin itch with fury.

My mind is forcing me to picture it. Him caressing her face with his fingers. Naked, she cringes but can’t stop her nipples from hardening, it’s cold in the caves. Rain will try to look away, but that doesn’t put him off her. He grips her face, forcing her to look at him. He is seething as his other hand cracks against her skin. Her lip quivers—the reaction he craves. Then he forces two fingers between her lips, demanding her to suck them. Her eyes look up at him, pleading, hoping he will stop, but he won’t. He can’t.

A loud roar erupts from within me. My grip around the baseball bat tightens, and my fist is clenched as my knuckles whitten.

He will never touch her.

Gravel crunches underneath my black boots with each step. Entering The Chapel, fire from the torches are lit along the pathway, which causes my shadow to line one side of the wall. As I approach the holding cell area, I see one cloaked dickhead stationed outside of her cell. Stepdaddy must have called and warned that I would most likely be showing up.

And right he was.

Without saying a word, I walk towards him, theres no expression on my face as I begin twisting the bat in my hand.

“Elijah, you can’t be back here. Master’s orders.” The smug fuck says to me.

He thinks he is important because he got orders from the all-seeing Master. He is nothing but a pawn like the rest of us, including me, but at least I know it.

I don’t stop, continuing my ascent towards him and Rain.

Lifting my baseball bat up, I point it directly at him. I tsk, shaking my head. With his mask on, I cannot see his facial reaction, but if I were to guess, if he was smart, he should be shitting himself in fear.

If he isn’t, then I am not doing my job properly. I am Master’s weapon, his killing machine, and this pawn is in my fucking way.

Today, this pawn decides to be brave instead of smart. He is so incredibly stupid, standing in defiance, blocking the archway opening to my Rain.

With one hand still gripping the wooden handle, I swing and it connects with his kneecap. His painful scream echoes, which only further pisses me off. If others are around, no doubt they will be coming this way soon. But I am not satisfied yet with my handy work, this fucker is still standing. So, I hit him once more, in the same spot. He drops like the useless pawn he is, screaming, “You fucking psychopath. You broke my knee.”

His voice annoys me, so I swing again one last time, this time connecting with his head.

I don’t put my full force behind it, killing him isn’t of interest to me right now, but the force I do use knocks him out cold.

About fucking time. He needed to shut up.

Looking over to the cell, I see her sleeping, the commotion hasnt woken her.

Rain.

Stepping over the unconscious body, I walk up to the bars and take her in.

Dried blood still coats her from this past evening. She is curled tightly into a ball on the ground.

I’ve heard emotions tire people out, this is what they must have meant. My eyes move up and down her body, taking every inch of her in.

I’m completely entranced by her. It’s not like anything I have ever felt before. Something pulls me to her and makes me want to care about another person, about her.

Dropping my bat, I grab a hold of the steel bars. The flame in her cell casts dancing shadows on and around her, stunning.

“He won’t let me have you. He promised me that you were mine. He fucking promised!” I rasp, shaking the bars.

“You are mine, little bat. Don’t ever question it. Fucking mine.”

A couple deep voices fill the silent space, shouting, “What’s going on down here?”

“I will be back for you. I fucking promise. He won’t have you.”

She is breathing deeply, I can hear her inhale and exhale. Her body moves up and down with each, it is absolutely mesmerizing. I wonder if she is scared. Still sad, perhaps?

She is the most interesting creature I have ever seen.

I could watch her like this for hours, but I can’t because they are coming. Fuck!

Letting go of the bars, I pick up my bat and head back the way I came, which happens to be the same way the others are coming from. Convenient.

One appears in the open archway. I waste no time walking up to him and slam my bat against his skull. Nobody interrupts my time with my little bat. When will people learn? With this one, there is no opportunity for him to scream. Instead, he drops to the ground, his body limp and crimson blood splatters around us.

I smile. It’s my favorite color.

Looking down, I step over the bastard. Dead or not, I don’t care. He is out of my way.

Looking up, another peeks in and examines the area. He is smart because once he has taken the scene around him in, he holds his hands up in surrender. Very smart. Which is relatively shocking since this group is known for following.

Passing him, my body brushes against his. His gasp is audible.

Good. He should be pissing himself while thanking his merciful God that he lives to tell the tale of what he saw here today.

As I walk away down the dimly lit hall, I drag my bat behind me and I shout back, taunting him and whomever else may be lurking, “Go on. Call Master. Tell him what a very bad boy I have been. You have not seen shit yet, if a hair on her head is touched, you better hide.”

I am coming back for you, little bat.