Page 97 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

What had he been going to say? Surely if theydidhave proof, they’d tell me?

“Not all miracles are divine, Trinity.” Zachary slides a hand around the back of my neck and draws me closer. I move on wooden legs, too entranced to even think of resisting. “But you? I swear on my life you were sent by God Himself.”

“What?” Is all I can manage.

“That proof?You’regoing to find it for us.” His hand tightens cruelly, wrenching a gasp from me. “You’re going to bring it to us. And together we, us five…” He comes close enough to kiss me, for his commanding eyes to fill my world.

“We’ll make him give us the names of our Ghosts.”

I don’t want to know what comes next. Cold dread is already spreading through my limbs, going for my heart.

“And then we’ll catch them.” He brushes a curl from my face. “And we’ll inflict on them every wound, every pain, every bit of shame they inflicted on us.”

My heart bangs against my ribs. “Okay.”

“And then we’ll kill them.” His eyes don’t change in the slightest.

“Okay.”

Behind me, three voices chant one word in unison.

“Amen.”

I should be horrified at myself.

But I’m not.

I’ll prove to these damaged, tortured souls that Father Gabriel is the kind and loving man I know him to be.

And if, somehow, everything they say turns out to be true?

Well, then, I guess I’ve signed a deal with the devil.

A-fucking-men.

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