Page 129 of Deliver us from Evil

Rube.

“Reuben!” I yell. “Reuben, open up!”

But there’s no response. What the fuck is going on out there?

Screw this. I step back, raise my gun—

“Rube! Zach! Help!”

I pause. That’s Cass. But wasn’t he just with Rube? What the—

Thud.

Thud.

The sound’s coming from down the hall. Like someone’s banging on something. I turn on my heel, scan the room. My eyes latch onto the window.

With every distant thud, my heart climbs another inch up my throat.

I shove my gun into my belt and hurry over.

I don’t stop to think. I don’t even allow myself to give the ground more than a passing glance.

My sight is fixed on a nearby tree. From what I saw before I looked away, there’s a good yard of thin air between me and the closest bough.

But there’s a gunfight going on, and my brothers are involved. I don’t know who’s on the winning side, or if there evenisa winning side.

I bundle myself up tight, and then push away from the window as hard as I can.

My stomach slams into the bough. A stray branch scratches my face. I fumble, manage to get an arm slung over the bough, and hold on until I have my bearings.

I work my way to the main trunk and climb down. I drop down the last few feet, already running for the patio doors.

Something deep and dark and rectangular draws my eye.

A grave.

Agrave?

I race upstairs, my legs almost giving out when I see Rube on the floor. I fall down beside him, and start panting as I hike up his shirt with a shaking hand.

Gutshot. Surprisingly little blood. Does that mean the bullet’s still in there?

There’s a crash from inside the room, but Rube needs me more right now.

Except…I don’t have a fucking clue what to do.

A hand lands on my shoulder, trembling slightly. I look up into Apollo’s face.

“Cass needs you,” he says.

“But—”

“Go.” He falls to his knees beside Reuben and starts ripping off a piece of his shirt. I stand on unsteady legs and half walk, half stumble into the room.

It’s the one from the video.

But there’s blood here now.

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