Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
THE HEATHEN
Trigger Warning: The follow chapter depicts a violent gang rape by way of a memory. Reader discretion is advised.
Bones and Killian remove my mother, and I breathe a sigh of relief just from knowing she will suffer a harsh punishment like Jedediah. Although not necessarily the same.
I’m not sure if my men took me seriously when I said how I wanted the Prophet to die, but I wasn’t kidding.
It’s a fitting end for him, and I’ve fantasized about it for years.
Some people might say that it’s a religious crime, but I think God would disagree.
If you want to claim to be hurting children in the name of God, there cannot be a more serious spiritual crime than that.
Pulling one of my crosses from my pocket I squat in front of Issac.
“I only need one thing from you. Your answer is the difference between anguish and a peaceful death. Where is he?”
As I expected he shakes his head.
“I’m not telling you.”
Lifting my arm I jab him hard with my elbow on the side of his jaw. He grunts as he spits blood on the floor.
“There’s one of two ways this goes. Easy or hard. It’s your choice.”
Daniel and David both sit beside him, their eyes watching what’s happening intently. The only plan I have for these three is to try to find their leader.
“Let me go, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
Gripping his chin in my hand, I squeeze hard as I stare into his eyes.
“Let you go? Why would I let any of my rapists go, brother?”
I ignore the painful sound coming from my men because I can’t focus on that right now. We will deal with this trauma later, now there is only time for revenge.
“I didn’t rape you. Why are you lying?”
His accusation nearly knocks the wind out of my lungs. Why do his words saying I lied about it feel worse than what he did to me?
I close my eyes and speak low as the memory assaults me, he can’t hurt me, even so bile rises in my throat.
“David had a foot on the back of my neck. Daniel had his on the middle of my back as you slammed inside me. I cried so loud you felt the need to tell David to stuff my underwear in my mouth so you wouldn’t have to listen to me.
All three of you took turns while laughing about how disgusting I was.
What was it you called me? A cum dumpster.
You gave me no mercy and I will give you none.
Tell me where he is and I’ll make it quick. This is not a negotiation. For you, this is as good as it gets.”
Issac hangs his head down, his eyes filled with defeat.
“In the forest. I don’t know exactly where. By our old house somewhere.”
While I would prefer an exact location, I wasn’t expecting it because Jedediah has probably told very few people that information. I’m guessing John Steve is with him because he wouldn’t miss out on selection night otherwise.
I grab Issac’s hair and yank his head back. Taking the sharp part of my cross, I hold it near his neck, not quite touching his flesh.
“God will punish you.”
He rushes his words out like he’s afraid he won’t have enough time to speak them. Very valid fucking concern.
“God is dead.” I say as I touch his skin with my razor sharp cross.
“And so are you.” I speak with a smile as I slash his throat.
I move back just in time as he slumps forward with a thud.
When I squat in front of David he trembles like a leaf in a wind storm.
“Please.” He cries as he lowers his head trying to prevent access to his throat.
“Do you have more information than your cousin?”
Carter brings me a towel, and I take it and wipe my hands and cross. Blood makes things slippery and I don’t want to cut myself.
“You have thirty seconds to answer me.”
I’m not sure when the others came back, but I hear Bella squeal behind me.
“Holy shit. She did that with a cross?”
I grab onto David’s dark hair and slam his head backward until it hits the wall.
“Time's up, cousin.”
I hold the cross against his flesh and he begs for his life.
“Please Heather. I’m sorry. He’s in the forest, but none of us know more than that.”
I stab him in the neck, hitting the carotid artery and blood sprays all over my shirt. In under a minute he’s dead. Daniel sobs loudly, and I’m not sure if it’s for his dead brother or fear for his own life. Knowing this family, it’s probably for himself.
“And then there was one,” I taunt him with a giggle.
“You’re insane and evil. You enjoy this. That says everything. The Prophet is right. The devil sent you. And you will burn for eternity.”
Tilting my head, I stare at him, my lips lifting into obvious amusement.
“I do enjoy the warmer climate.”
He shakes his head in disagreement.
“No. It’s a constant burning fire. It’s not warm like the sun. It’ll be brutal.”
I roll my eyes because we grew up in the same family. Nothing he can say about God or the fiery pits of hell could be new information, and I don’t care. If God, assuming he’s real, wants to condemn me to an eternity in hell for saving sixty children then so be it.
“Where is he, Daniel?”
He shakes his head, his voice sounds apologetic but I know better.
“I can’t betray the Prophet.”
Tears stream down his cheeks, and it kind of stuns me. I’ve frequently wondered how many of the men in this family truly believe the teachings and as I stare at Daniel, I know, he’s a believer.
“It’s your choice.” I say, knowing I won’t convince him that this is all bullshit.
“They already told you he’s in the forest. They get water from your pond. I can’t tell you more than that. It is a crime against God to give you his location. I’ve already said too much.”
My hand shakes as I lift the cross and hesitate.
“It’s okay, Killer. We got enough. End him like only you can.”
Killian’s voice is warm, soothing me from the inside out.
I slash his throat from the left to the right as his blood squirts all over me.
Suddenly the emotion from everything overwhelms me. I fall to my knees as a sob erupts painfully from my throat. This is not the person I wanted to be, but they made me this way.