Page 51 of The Cult

“You don’t understand.” Tobias turned my waist toward the bag. His steamy breath fanned my ears. His hands traveled to my side, and I trembled. His touch never failed to turn me on. “This is a lot bigger than you and me and your buddies,” he continued. “This is serious.”

“Make me understand, then. Tell me what you know.” I glanced over my shoulder to face him, and my lips brushed his. My world stopped revolving for a second and the center of my universe was him and his red lips.

Tobias staggered back, stunned. He balled his fist and, for a second, I thought he was going to punch me. He gasped a lungful of air before speaking. “Not here. Too risky.”

“What the fuck isn’t?”

Our training continued. Like the previous session, Tobias proved to be a master when it came to combat. Minutes turned into hours. My heart tugged with a silent plea urging Tobias to share what was eating him. A seed of doubt began to take root in my mind. Questions lingered, casting uncertainty about our escape. “Are we safe?” I asked finally. Did Orcus know what we were up to? Did Tobias know? That couldn’t be possible. I stared at him, awaiting his response.

“No,” he said, and I couldn’t wait to know more. I trusted Tobias. If he said this wasn’t the right place and time, then I should believe him.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

“But I will never let anything happen to you.” Tobias turned his baseball cap backward, so I could finally look him in his eyes. “Ever. Do you hear me?”

His words warmed my heart. They were nice to hear, but he couldn’t possibly promise to keep me out of harm’s way, because I was already in danger. Tobias didn’t know who he was up against. This was Orcus.

At a loss for words, I said, “Okay.”

One of the guards blew his whistle—the signal that our session was over. We would run laps outside next and I hated that Tobias wouldn’t be around.

“I’ll come see you. Same time,” he said.

My heart fluttered. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Good work today. You’re getting there.” Tobias tapped my stomach before strutting away.

My pride swelled. I couldn’t help but stand a little taller, basking in the glow of his praise. Maybe having him in our corner would improve our chances of succeeding. I made a mental note to ask the guys later.

***

Three Years Ago

The summer sun bore down on the small backyard of the trailer home assigned to our family. I was sixteen and had been forced to look after my younger sister, Maddy—Dad was gone and Mom was a shell of the vibrant woman she used to be. Maddy and I had decided to turn an old drum container into a dipping pool to get relief from the August heat. Our laughter echoed around the rows of manufactured homes similar to ours. But despite the joyous time together, my glances kept returning to our mother, who was sitting in a worn rocking chair. Her eyes were distant and unfocused. Her spirit came and went. There were brief moments when she was present and would interact with us, but most days were like today.

My heart wished for the times when our mother would join Maddy and me, her laughter making us feel at home. Those moments had become an all-but-forgotten past. Her decline had been gradual. It started with her lack of enthusiasm, which ultimately led to most of her days spent in bed. Her condition worsened after Dad left. We tried to get Orcus to take Mom to a hospital outside of our compound, but he sent the local medicine man instead. He didn’t do shit to help her. All he did was send a collection of multicolored pills with a guard who watched her take them.

Dad used to say the pills made her worse. He was right.

“Abel.” Maddy nudged my hand, her questioning eyes watching Mom. “Will Mom ever get better?” She often sought my reassurance in a world that seemed to offer none.

I mustered a smile I didn’t quite feel. “Yes, absolutely,” I lied. “Let me go get us some food.” I jogged to the table where I left the snacks I’d prepared for us and grabbed two slices of watermelon for Maddy and me. “Mmm. Delicious, right?”

Maddy nodded with a smile, melon juice dribbling down her chin. “Very sweet.”

A loud knock at the front door cracked the air like a gunshot. I wanted to ignore it, but I knew they’d find us back here. They always did. You couldn’t hide around this place. “I’ll be back in a sec,” I said and hurried inside.

“Hurry, okay?” she called from behind me.

I waved my hand to assure her. Being cooped up in the compound had done a number on her mental state as well. She was easily anxious. I didn’t have to look back at her to know that she was probably biting her fingernails.

My heart dropped when I opened the creaking door. Two guards stood on the porch. What were they doing here? They were just here yesterday for Mom’s pills. “May I help you?” I asked, my voice trembling. I heard about Orcus taking guys away when they turned eighteen, but they couldn’t be here for me yet, I was only sixteen.

“You need to come with us,” the taller guard said.

“Go where?” I asked.

“Now! No more questions,” he insisted.

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