Page 7 of Sacrificing Zoriah

“We will be watching. You have a wall full of items to help ensure that you both come for God,” Doug says. “Keep her wet and her body willing. We don’t want her to be injured. Okay?”

“Okay,” he whispers.

“Keep the door closed. It’s important that the sounds stay with God,” he says. I hear footsteps before a door shuts behind me.

I am staring up at the ceiling, and Huxley isn’t close to me. I think he is as unwilling as I am. He fell off the map weeks ago, and not even Corbin could get ahold of him. Corbin is my older brother and his best friend. We’ve all known that Huxley struggles with depression. He will sometimes disappear for weeks to a month to center himself before moving on. If Corbin knew exactly what was happening right now, he would kill Huxley. Corbin doesn’t trust many people with me, and I should’ve listened to him whenever he did not trust Haley. He trusted Huxley, though.

“Please don’t,” I choke out when he steps closer to me.

“I don’t have a choice,” he says tearfully.

“Please, Huxley,” I beg through my tears. He steps to the end of the table and cautiously rests his hand on my hip. “Please don’t!”

“Zoriah, they’ll kill me. I don’t have a choice,” he says quietly. “I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t. Please believe me. I don’t want this. I was trying to save Haley, but… she’s just as bad as them. I don’t have a choice. Please, believe me.”

“I want my daddy,” I cry. My dad might be a drunk, but he loves me. He and Corbin are the most comforting people I’ve ever known. They could save me. I know they would. I got into an argument with Dad about his drinking again, and now I’m regretting everything I said. I regret telling him that I wished it was him and not Mom who died. Corbin got so mad at me because he tries. He tries so hard to stay clean, but the depression sucks him down again every time. Losing Mom in such a horrific way broke him.

“I know, sweetheart. I know,” Huxley says as he cries with me. “I swear to God, I’ll get you out of here. I promise.”

“Fuck your God,” I snap.

“Their God is the devil in disguise. There is no God in these walls. These people are demons,” he says as he steps closer and puts his hands on my hips.

“Please don’t hurt me,” I cry. “They burned me. Please don’t do that. Please.”

“I won’t cause you pain. I promise,” he says. “I can’t get you free if they kill me.”

“I don’t want this,” I sniff.

“I know,” he says weakly. “I have to start, Zoriah. Please try to relax. Please.”

I can hear the pain in his voice, and for whatever reason, I believe him. I nod and take a deep breath. He sighs heavily, and I let myself look at him. His eyes are red and puffy. I have no doubt now that he doesn’t want to be here. He was trying to save his sister, but now he’s here. She probably talked him into coming here, spouting some bullshit about just doing it one time with her. They’ve probably been working on her for a while.

“Please don’t look at me like that,” he pleads. “I can’t do this if you look at me like that.”

“You aren’t lying,” I say.

“No,” he says. “Fuck. Why can’t I just do it? They all make it seem so easy. I can’t even get hard.”

“Damn. Thanks, Huxley,” I say, forcing a small smile.

“No. No. No. That’s not what I meant. I just mean…”

“I know,” I say. “It’s because you aren’t a rapist. They are. They are fucking delusional.”

“I don’t know what to do. The next will know if I don’t… fuck, I hate this,” he says.

“Are you sure they can’t hear?” I ask.

“Yeah. The camera is only on the door,” he says. “Some bullshit about how pleasure is only for God. He said they’ll be watching, but I know they haven’t. Haley fucked his second in command in here a few days ago. No one was allowed to touch her but Doug, Mom, and Dad until she chose her sacrifice. Technically me too, but they can kill me for all I care. I’m not doing that.”

“But you’ll do me?” I ask.

“This is different. They’re using you for some stupid ritual. Haley is absolving her sins so Doug will marry her too. Then she gets to be fucked by everyone all of the time,” he says. “You are mandatory.”

“Gang rape. Wonderful,” I deadpan. “Just do what you want or open a window so I can throw myself out of it.”

“I don’t know how, but I’m getting you out of here,” he says.

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