Page 10 of Be My Salvation

“He’ll need to get in line,” Abe gruffs as he pries his eyes away, and bares his teeth at the fucker with the death wish, who keeps shoving him. He tightens his hold on the metal crutch and, without warning, swings backward, getting the guard in the jaw, and forcing him to take a few hasty steps away from him. A look of pure evil glee graces Abe’s face, and just for this brief moment, it feels like we are transported back to when life was simpler. When it was just the two of us, and we had no plans to attempt to overthrow the Brotherhood, and weren’t both insanely in love with a serial killer, hell-bent on revenge. “Keep that up, and I’ll put a hole in the back of your skull,” the guard glowers, but Abe just laughs in his face. “Yeah? Then what will you tell your precious leader, David?Huh, cunt?He won’t be too impressed to have lost one of his hostages, and good luck getting Dinah to follow any more orders if we die. She’ll carve out your heart and have it for dinner.”

“Damn right,she will.“ I chuckle as I’m forced into the secluded alcove, and Abe is propelled to join me. The chanting begins from the choir overhead, and the sound causes the hairon my arms to rise.Fuck, I hate this shit.I detest these ceremonies, with all their pomp and fake glory. No one here with half a brain cell truly believes in what the Brotherhood is selling. If you’re a high-ranking member of the Brotherhood, it isn’t your devotion to God or a religion that has brought you here; it’s greed, plain and simple. If there was indeed a benevolent being somewhere up there looking down at the world, and what has been wrought in his or her name, they have undoubtedly abandoned humanity. How else do you explain the Brotherhood being able to trick the world’s populace into blindly following them? Abe elbows me and nods his head to the end of the aisle, where the Holy Father’s garish procession has begun. I can feel my skin crawling, and the buzzing beginning in my ears. One look at Abe tells me he’s feeling the same symptoms; his jaw is so tight that he’s likely to crack all his teeth. Now that Dinah has explained that it’s all a hallucinogenic gas that they pump inside of whatever location the Holy Father is in, and the use of special vibrations and frequencies, it explains so much about the otherworldly effect the Holy Father has on us. He has no special God-given powers, he’s a charlatan, deceiving the masses with advanced parlor tricks. He’s the shitty version of the old world’sWizard of Oz.

“I hate this fucking shit. I wish we could stab this fucker’s eyes out, and be done with this nonsense. Messenger of God,my ass,“ Abe swears, as he shakes his head to try to alleviate the effects we are both experiencing. David the cunt refused Snow’s request that we be given the same antidote that she and David’s men were taking. He wants us to be controllable and pliable, so he can use us as collateral to control Dinah. The first chance I get, I’m going to snap that fucker’s neck, piss in his mouth, and set him aflame for all the misery he’s caused. What a fucking glorious sight that will be. I might even let Abe fuck his skull, just to add a further perverse and disrespectful edge, to the way wesend David off to meet the devil. I’m so busy enjoying the image of David bleeding, and with a mouth full of Abe’s cum, that I miss the cunt’s entrance, and before I know it, we are all being forced to bow, as the Holy Father walks down the aisle in his elaborate robes and feathered mask. My head spins, and nausea rises inside of me, mixed with pain at forcing my body forward, and the way the action is pulling on my healing flesh. Abe’s grunt of pain reaches my ears, and I thread my fingers through his in silent support, as our robes disguise the action.

“May the Lord bless and praise you. The Brotherhood, honor you and keep you sacred.” The fake Holy Father reaches the pulpit, and raises his hands like some benevolent prophet about to impart a blessing on the masses. The men and women around us immediately reply to his address, and both Abe and I keep silent, rolling our eyes at each other and squeezing our fingers together, to keep us present and lessen the effects of the drugs.Stupid sheep.

“Sacred sons and daughters, may the Lord our God keep you safe and holy. May his abundance spring forth from your loins and fill our desolate world with new champions of our faith. May your offerings to God please him and fill his ranks, and may you bring faith to the Godless. Sacred daughters, I implore you to do the will of our Lord, and submit to your husbands, fathers, and brothers so that the world may be cleansed from your feminine sin. The evil within you can be purged only through obedience and sacrifice. The righteous men of the Brotherhood are here to save your weak and tainted souls.” The Holy Father drones on, and the effects of the gas rise, until his words seem to float on the air in a soothing, overpowering sensation, and I find myself feeling numb. I tighten my fists, digging my short nails into my flesh until I feel the sting of them breaking the skin, and it helps push away some of the fogginess. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Abe using the crutch, to press it hard into his booted foot, totry to remain alert. We can’t allow ourselves to be manipulated like the rest of these assholes. We have to try to get free and get out of here with Dinah.

“In honor of our sacred duty, I bring forth one of our own sacred wives and daughters. A child of my own blood, who will bring onwards many sons from her blessed union with Brother Ezekiel Rothesay, to fill God’s army against the evil that still inhabits this earth. For the Lord said, be fruitful, daughter, and rid yourself of the unholy sin of womanhood, and profess to your God that you will obey him in all things.” The Holy Father’s voice rises with showmanship. “Guess they weren’t too worried about how it would look to the masses that her husband wasn’t at her side, huh?” Abe growls as he slams the bottom of the clutch down on his other foot.

I shake my head, and try to clear the fog that is starting to build with a buzzing in my skull. I wondered about that myself, but I’m guessing that David weighed the risks, and thought it was too precarious to have me by Dinah’s side. No one seems to have batted an eyelash at Dinah’s missing husband, who is not presently escorting her to receive this blessing, as would be customary. My breath stalls in my throat as she steps forward, the long hem of her dark blue gown encrusted with rare sapphires, pearls, and gold threads, and the blade no doubt hidden within their thick depths. Her delicate mask is firmly in place now, disguising her features from the vermin watching her every move. Even with the effects of the gas, I notice various Brotherhood men watching her with ravenous hunger. They covet what is mine, not only the power of her name and wealth, but the beauty beneath it all. Little do they know the danger that they all face. Dinah is beautiful but deadly, and she won’t hesitate even for a moment to slit all their throats.

I watch with pride as she curtsies with elegance and poise, her back rod straight and her head lowered, in reverence to thefool playing the Holy Father. She’s so convincing as the meek, obedient Sacred Daughter, that no one will see it coming when she plunges that blade into his heart. “Rise, Sacred Daughter, and allow the Brotherhood to honor your dedication to the absolution of sin.” The interloper’s voice rings out into the hushed space, as Snow rises and delicately climbs the step, a slight flash of metal visibly pressed against her skirt, where she must be hiding the blade. I force my attention away from her, and scan the crowd, to see if anyone else noticed, but no one seems any the wiser. “She’s really putting on a show. Who knew Atasi was such an accomplished actress,” Abe scoffs next to me with disdain, but when I glance from the corner of my eye in his direction, he, too, is drinking in the sight of her, even though his jaw is locked tight.Fucking fool.

“Blessed be the fruit that shall come forth from this Sacred Daughter, who has willingly come to the Lord to be saved.” The Holy Father’s hand rises to Dinah’s mask, and as he recites the words that will seal his fate, a quick strike of Dinah’s hand impales the sharp blade into his chest. I observe as he stumbles forward a step, looking for the whole audience as if he’s whispering sweet words of encouragement to my wife. A sharp gasp from next to me has me looking away from Dinah and the Holy Father, and up at the wall above their heads. In blood-red large letters, words begin to appear out of thin air.

A crash is heard at the pulpit, and voices are raised in alarm; my eyes track when those in the first rows realize that all is not well, and the Holy Father falls backward, his robes spread in every direction, exposing his hairy legs and crotch. Dinah strolls forward until she is almost straddling his struggling, bleeding body. The bloody blade is grasped tightly in her hand. “He is no God, but a false prophet! He did not save this world but instead enslaved it, and condemned it to hell! I will rid this world of all the men who seek to destroy it, for I am the Unholy Ghost!” She grasps the mask and rips it off the Holy Father, exposing his features to all those in attendance, some who are scrambling to run to the back of the room, and others who are attempting to make their way closer to Dinah. Anxiety ripples through me, where the fuck are David’s men? Shouldn’t they be closing ranks around her, to protect her from the angry mob that is about to descend on her?

“Fuck, why aren’t they moving to protect her?!” Abe shouts his thoughts in line with mine. Abe moves to rush out of the alcove, but the assholes with the guns attempt to stop him. “Get the fuck out of my way, or I’ll smash your fucking heads in!” He growls, as he raises the crutch menacingly. I can’t take my eyes off Dinah, despite what is happening here behind me. Her hand rises again with the blade, and just as she goes to plunge it once more, a shotrings out, loud and clear, and slams into her body, forcing her to jerk and release her hold on the knife, which goes ricocheting across the marble floor, that is quickly turning crimson with the Holy Father’s blood. “SNOW! FUCK, DINAH, GET OUT OF THERE NOW!”

Dinah rips her mask over her head and throws it away from her, her furious features searching out where the shot came from. That’s when I get a glimpse of the shooter, and my jaw hangs open in complete shock. No, it’s not possible; this has to be a mirage, or some fucking effect of the drugs they’re pumping into the space. “Is that fucking Sammy? Did he just shoot Atasi?” Abe rages next to me.Oh God, this is real. Fuck.

Sammy looks devastating. His face is a patchwork of molten bruises, cuts, and disheveled facial hair; his dark blond hair is ragged and greasy, and the dark clothes he’s wearing are disguised by the thick Brotherhood robe he’s placed over them, but has now been thrown over his shoulder with his movements. He looks so thin and gaunt, a walking skeleton, his cheekbones hollowed and protruding, on his usually rugged features, as if they have been starving him. There’s an unhinged look on his face, filled with fury and wrath. It’s as if he’s seeing a monster before his eyes, and not the woman that he loves, the woman he swore to protect with his very life. He’s not our Sammy; he’s something else, something damaged and corrupted. “Hello, Nightstar. Surprised to see me, or maybe you forgot that I still existed.” Even his voice sounds wrong, as if a creature has invaded his body.

“NO! Fuck, Sammy!” I shout, and both Abe and I shove our bodies against the guards, giving them only two choices, move out of our way or shoot us, as we both scramble to reach Dinah. It’s utter chaos, with people fleeing for their lives, and David’s men rushing in to either contain the situation, or murder Dinah, now that she has completed her task. I can’t let that happen.I can’t let them kill my girl. What the fuck is the matter with Sammy? What has my father done to him?

“You get Atasi, I’ll go after Sammy. He has to be fucked in the head if he’s attempting to kill her,” Abe orders, as he pushes through bodies in our way and heads to the left, leaving me to go straight. I can’t see Dinah, with all the people attempting to get to safety between us. Sammy moves forward, holding the gun still clutched in his hand, with his arm extended toward Dinah. A look of sorrow mars his face briefly, but is quickly replaced by a menacing grin, stretching his bruised and bleeding lips, and forcing their cracks to reopen, and blood to trickle down his chin. He’s a fucking mess; more than that, he’s a walking, beaten corpse. My father has done a number on him all these weeks that he has remained in captivity. Sammy fires again, and the shot goes wide, just above Snow’s shoulder. She flinches and ducks down, finally realizing that the mirage she’s witnessing means her harm. “Sammy! What the fuck are you doing, asshole?” Abe’s loud voice is piercing, above the crowd of fleeing Brotherhood men, wives, and daughters.

Jesus fuck, is that blood? Did he actually shoot her? Fuck, I have to get to Dinah now, and get her to safety.

Chapter fourteen

The Forsaker

Zeke

Iwatch in horror as Abe uses the crutch to swing wide at Sammy, but before he can make an impact with his body, another shot gets fired from within the room, and whizzes by Abe’s head, and he has to duck. “ABE! FUCK!” I scream frantically, as the bitter taste of terror coats my tongue and fills my throat. The sound of men shouting, and gunfire, erupts from outside, spurring people to lose their minds and panic, trampling over each other to get to safety. I watch as a terrified, sacred wife falls to the floor, and her husband steps right on top of her without a backward glance, in his haste to flee, and leaves her behind, screaming and injured. My eyes briefly connect with Abe’s frightened amber ones, before he’s lost in the stampede from the departing crowd.No, shit, I can’t lose him, but I also have to get to Dinah.My head slides back and forth, rapidly attempting to decide who is in more danger, and the choice is taken from me as Sammy fires the gun again at Dinah, misses, and stalks forward, ready to take her down.

I push and shove frightened people out of my way, as adrenaline fills me, compelling my body to move quicker than my healing injuries would typically allow. I don’t hesitate to throw myself at Sammy’s back, landing partially on his lower body, and propelling him with a harsh bang to the floor. He tries to kick back at me and lands a hit on my aching ribs, but I refuse to be dislodged. I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on tight, as he attempts to regain his feet. “Stop, Sammy! Youdon’t... want to do this. You don’t... don’t want to hurt... Dinah,” I huff out, my ribs protesting every word. I know that I’m dealing with the consequences of my actions, back to haunt me. I left him behind to my father’s sadistic pleasures. I abandoned him, and was rewarded with the forgiveness I desired from the love of his life, and all he received in exchange was the death of who and what he was. This monster before me is my doing, as much as it’s my father’s.

Sammy’s large, scarred hand reaches backward and grabs a fistful of my hair, causing my neck to arch painfully, and our eyes to meet. Emerald green blazing into dark blue orbs filled with turmoil and derangement. “Ezekiel... just the... fucker I want to... kill.” Sammy uses his feet to kick me, as he flips our bodies so I’m no longer on top of him, but now partially being held down by his large body, and furious rage. Up close, he looks even worse, and I can see more of the extent of his injuries; he has bruises on top of bruises. His eyes are dilated, and bloodshot with broken blood vessels, and his pupils are large, as if he’s on something. The scar on his jaw is more prominent and ugly with the bruising, and as he snarls at me, I receive a glimpse of broken teeth inside of his mouth. I’m surprised he’s still even alive, never mind trying to kill Dinah and me, for leaving him with my father. He uses his grip on my hair to slam my head onto the stone floor, and for a moment, darkness threatens to take me away, and I have to fight to stay conscious. I compel myself to hold on to him, using all my remaining strength to cause him to dislodge his hold, ripping strands of my hair off in his stead. “I don’t want... to hurt... you, Sammy!” I pant, as I regain my knees and throw a punch at his jaw, forcing him to release his hold on the gun, as I scramble to get to it on my hands and knees.

“TOO. FUCKING. BAD!” Sammy lands a punch to my shoulder, that has me face-planting on the floor. “I want to fucking hurt you!”

Dark blue fills my peripheral vision as Dinah comes dashing towards me, a fierce scream on her lips as she leaps through the air onto Sammy, not caring how she lands, or that she’s bleeding from her gunshot wound. She takes us both down with her in a tangle of limbs, and long, heavy skirts. The air is shoved out of me, with the impact of my body once more hitting the stone floor, and Sammy’s pained groan sounds in my ear. “Sammy! Sammy, please!” Dinah’s cries can be heard over the chaos surrounding us. More rapid gunshots ring out, and the sound of men fighting and dying, forces me to raise my head and look around, despite my precarious position.Where the fuck is Abe?I swear if that fucker has gotten himself killed, I’ll march into hell and beat his ass.

There are men and women dressed informally, like regular civilians, holding guns and shooting at Brotherhood guards, and high-ranking officials alike.What the fuck is this? Who are these people?I don’t have a chance to think through the possibilities, before Sammy throws Dinah off of him, and lands blow after blow on her face and chest, with heartbreaking detachment. He’s going to fucking kill her! Dinah isn’t fighting back though. She’s allowing him to hurt her. Her impassioned and hurt blue-gray eyes stare up at him, the monster he has become, as he tries to bring death upon her.

“Whore. Liar. Abandoned me.Monster!”Sammy spits words tinged with madness and blood, with every strike he lands on Dinah. I grab onto his elbow and squeeze with all my might, preventing his next punch. “You’ll kill her. You... love her...” I don’t get another word out as a large, dark shadow launches himself at us, and causes Sammy to slam into the ground. “Kill you! Don’t touch her!” The wrathful voice lets me know it’s Abe, as my head spins and my vision dims, with the impact of my forehead also hitting the stone.

I force my battered body to scramble away from Abe, who’s fiercely trading blows with a manic Sammy, both of them looking half-dead, but still trying to eliminate each other. My vision doubles, and I have to dig my fingers into the cold stone floors, to stop my head from spinning and my stomach from spewing. I reach for Dinah, who just lies there, her eyes at half-mast, and already swelling, from one of Sammy’s vicious punches. Her nose is gushing blood down her beautiful face, probably broken, and her lip is split. Tears slide from the corners of her eyes, disappearing into her dark hair, and through the commotion all around us, I can hear the sound of her wretched sobs. I wrap my hand as delicately around her shoulder as I can, avoiding the rapidly darkening stain, and try to force her to sit up. “Please, Snow. We have to get out of here.”

“He hates... me. He thinks I abandoned him... wants me... to die,” her tearful cries are my undoing, and despite all the danger around us, I scoop her into my arms and cradle her to my chest, as I grit my teeth to fight against the spasming pain assaulting me. “He’s confused, and I think they’ve done something to him. He doesn’t hate you, Snow.”

“Kill her, must... kill her!” Sammy snarls at Abe, as he tries to move away and closer to Dinah. He grabs hold of a fleeing Brotherhood official, shoves him at Abe, and makes for Dinah once again. I use my body as a shield between them, rising unsteadily on my feet, and shoving Dinah behind my larger frame. “You don’t want to hurt her, and I don’t want to hurt you, but if you touch her again in anger, I will fucking end you, Sammy!” I shout, fury invading me like hot lava. I’m sorry for what he has suffered, and my role in it, but I won’t allow him to continue to hurt my wife. She doesn’t need my protection. She’s strong enough to stand on her own two feet, and face the monsters of the world. Regardless, she has earned it, and I will lay down and die, if it means she lives.

Sammy releases a demonic-sounding laugh. “You got what you wanted, didn’t you,Prince Charming?You got what wasmine!”

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