Page 109 of The Cult

“We’re safe with them,” I assured them.

“I trust them with my life,” Tobias added. He directed the guys to board the vehicles, mumbling, “You’ll be fine,” whenever someone glanced at him with concern.

More bullets streaked across the sky, my attention torn between the exchange of shots at the gate and in the middle of the cult. I needed to reach Orcus before the drones got him, or worse, he escaped. The possibility of Orcus getting away ignited a surge of determination to take matters into my own hands.

“Where’re you going?” Tobias asked, blocking my way.

“I’m gonna kill Orcus,” I said, gripping my rifle tighter. My desire to make him pay for the death of my father and for making us suffer burned strong. He stole our childhood. He ripped us away from our families. He ruined our lives. It was time for payback. “I can’t just let him walk away.”

Tobias locked eyes with me, understanding in his expression. He nodded. “Hey,” he called to Archer. “Wait for us.”

“Why?” the blond guy standing next to Archer asked.

“We gotta pay someone a visit real quick.” Tobias didn’t wait for him to reply. “Let’s go,” he said, motioning for me to follow as he led the way.

The distant thumping of helicopter blades stopped us in our tracks as we approached the building where Orcus was taken by his guards earlier. “He’s escaping!” I yelled.

“Not a fucking chance.” Tobias veered toward the source of the noise. We climbed up the stairs of the three-story building until we reached the rooftop.

“Is he one of your guys?” I asked, watching a towering muscular guy engaged in a fierce battle with Orcus’s men, effortlessly dispatching them one by one with calculated precision, just like the assassins downstairs. Five of Orcus’s men lay on the ground unconscious, while two guards tried to stop the man from getting to Orcus, who was feet away from the helicopter.

“He’s not one of us, but he’s an assassin Orcus brought to The Creed to fight with you all tomorrow. We call him The Wolf.”

“Why is he fighting them and why is he after Orcus?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” Tobias drew his gun, aiming at The Wolf.

There was something eerily familiar about the man. I’d seen him before, here in The Creed. Realization dawned on me like a lightning bolt. “I know him!” I blurted.

“You do?” Tobias whipped his head in my direction.

“Yeah. He was one of us. He was taken away from his family when I was younger.” I studied his face, and my certainty grew stronger. “I remember him and his twin brother.”

The Wolf knocked the last guard out and ran to get Orcus next.

“Fuck!” The helicopter’s blades created a tornado of wind and dust as it began to lift off. The Wolf’s outstretched hand grazed the skids, his fingers barely brushing the metal before the helicopter soared beyond his reach. I watched helplessly as Orcus glanced down at us, escaping justice once again.

Tobias aimed his rifle at the chopper, firing two shots. The pilot’s bloody head fell against the window.

The helicopter shuddered and began to wobble erratically before its nose tilted down. Orcus opened the door and jumped out before it plummeted to the earth. A thunderous crash rattled the building with a force that shook the ground. The smell of burning fuel and acrid black smoke engulfed us, stinging my nostrils and choking my throat.

“Wolf!” Tobias called, aiming his gun at him.

The Wolf raised his arms and turned around. He pointed his index finger to his chest, then pointed his hand to Tobias over his open palm.

Tobias raised an eyebrow. “You’re with us?”

The Wolf nodded.

“The Reaper sent you?”

The Wolf shook his head but continued to sign. It was clear he was unable to speak, and it was remarkable that Tobias understood him.

Tobias lowered his gun and The Wolf’s posture eased.

Enough of this. I raced downstairs, fury boiling within me. The Wolf and Tobias trailed behind me. “Abel, wait up,” Tobias called.

Orcus was dragging his body across the ground. The fall had shattered his legs; bones had pierced through his skin and were protruding out of his pants. His face was deformed with agony. His eyes locked onto me. “Help me?” he pleaded. “I’ll give you anything you want, just help me.”

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