Page 21 of In God's Name

“Old man, you are more pathetic than I ever would have thought,” Elijah laughs out.

“Excuse me?” Apollyon responds, his voice carrying the promise of pain for insulting him.

“Kameron has been feeding us, you fucking piece of shit.”

Chapter twenty-five

Kameron

Istare down at my computer, digging through site after site, trying to find a way I can save Lilith. Everything I’ve known has become so blurred. I’m not quite sure who I am anymore, but I’m nothing without her. This I know for a fact.

I pace back and forth in my office begging my mind to come up with something, even just a small piece of information I can use against the monster in charge. Wait I think, my mind begging me not to go through with this. Josiah, Leah’s hacker, had told the girls he had more information for them. What if I can get my hands on it? What if he can help save her? Against my better judgment I decide he is the key.

Quickly, I begin scouring the internet for him. There’s hundreds of results for a Josiah in Boulder, Colorado and I feel the hope disintegrate in me as I search through each one. He has to be in here somewhere, no one can hide completely.

Hours tick by and just as I’m about to give up on this plan and start from scratch, his face fills my screen. Josiah Abernackle ,age 34, Cyber security specialist at CU. I continue to stare in shock at my screen. The blue light of the search page lights up my face in my now dark office. Almost like a sign from a higher power, guiding me to a revelation.

I quickly open up my email, copy and pasting his and typing out my request. However, the moment I hit send, red

and blue lights begin to flash through my window. I freeze, watching the lights dance around the walls. They reflect off

the art hanging on the wall, causing them to glisten almost like Christmas lights. I let myself focus on their beauty as I try to calm my breathing down. I failed.

Chapter twenty-six

Kameron

Eight Years Later

Ilook out of the window of the cabin I’ve been residing in, in Oregon. Six years behind bars, locked away from the world. Eight long fucking years in total without my little sinner. Apollyon was only able to get me on embezzlement charges, claiming his payments to me weren’t done by him. He showed up to court with the most ruthless of lawyers and a fabricated paper trail that would put any library to shame.

My roommate, Justin , gets back in his car after strapping his new girl, Jezebel , in. Their story has just begun, and as much as I love Justin, jealousy flares through me with an almost painful pressure. I’d do anything to have my girl back with me. And safe. I’ve spent the past two years tracking her down. Immediately after I was let out it was my only goal. Even before then, I damn near drove myself mad in prison with thoughts of her. Spending every night begging the universe to keep her alive. Visions ofher long black hair and plump breasts lulled me to sleep every night. Only to be plagued with nightmares of Apollyon standing over me. Using me just as he had in my youth. It was my own personal purgatory.

Lilith was all that mattered now. Knowing she was out there and alive was everything to me. According to what I can find, she had become a patient at the new location of The

Garden. Every source I could find claimed they were treating her for a severe drug addiction, sex addiction, and psychotic

breaks. Her face had been plastered over every news outlet two months after my arrest. Everyone glorified Elijah for finding her and saving her from her sins. The idea of him being in her presence makes me sick. I should’ve known better when I saw the hatred pouring from his eyes. Just add it to the list of the ways I’ve failed my girl.

I finish stuffing the little amount of belongings I have into a black duffel bag and head out to my car. It’s a nineteen hour drive, and if I focus I can make it by Sunday then I’ll finally have her in my grasp.

Chapter twenty-seven

Lilith

Ilook out of my bedroom window. The flat irons fill the view. It’s such an incredible sight and I’m so thankful God has created this for us sinners. A knock at the door pulls me away from the beauty.

“Hello Lilith,” my favorite nurse, Eve, saunters into my room. The med cart wheels squeak with restraint as she pulls it in behind her. Little plastic cups filled with an assortment of meds decorate the top.

“Hello Eve!” I exclaim as I bounce over to her. Eve was here before I became a resident. She helped guide me back to God and away from all the sins of my past life. She has helped me find the virtue in abstinence, and reminded me of God’s plans for me. Her long fingers stretch out, grabbing my cup from the cart before handing it over to me. I quickly take the pills and swallow them down, opening my mouth widely for her to do her check.

“All good!” she exclaims, giving me a broad smile. “How are you doing today Lilith? You missed the morning group.”

Guilt from failing to make it overtakes me and my head drops in shame. “I had another nightmare. I slept in because of it.” I admit.

Her hand pats my shoulder as she responds, “I’ll talk to Elijah about switching out some of your medication. We’ll get them to stop sweetheart, I promise. The Lord’s work is unmatched, but sometimes human intervention is needed.”

“Thank you, Eve.”

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