Page 34 of Prophet
“One that will tear you apart if we don’t do this,” I retorted. Yes, I would fight him to help save him. There weren't any choices here. No way would I roll over and just wait while they all rode out with him and just handed him over to die. I could take my parent’s advice for all things challenging. Pray. Get on my knees and pray like mad, plead with God, the angels or whoever could protect him and his father. Yet, I knew I needed to do more than pray. I had to do all I could to fight this. I wouldn’t go gently into that good night as the poem said. I refused to accept defeat and I knew if I backed out of this, it would make Prophet feel better. But I wouldn’t feel better. I would end up regretting the fact that I did nothing to help save him.
Tension once again filled the basement room as things got quiet.
“Damn, we can’t keep going over this,” Talon broke the silence.
Prophet glared over at him now.
Raising his hands up, Talon defended his statement, “I just mean we need to finish setting this all up and you need sleep. The both of you. This isn’t going to be easy. I already know how you feel about this mess, Prophet.” He shook his sore arm out, the one Prophet nearly broke. “Ireallydo.”
I grasped Prophet’s arm to try to keep him in check and looked over at Liv. “So, bring the bra in the morning? We are going to see each other at breakfast, but we can’t really talk there, let alone exchange a bra.”
Liv smiled a little as she nodded her head. “Yeah, after breakfast.”
Apparently, Prophet wasn’t done yet as he announced, “I will be on the team following her. That part hasn’t changed.”
Talon shook his head. “I’m sorry, but you can’t do that now. So no.”
Prophet clenched his fists and asked, “No?”
“Look, what if Deacon calls for the exchange and we don’t have you here?” Talon crossed his arms over his chest.
“Maybe I will be killing him before he can make that call.” Prophet seethed.
“Maybe...” Redemption stared at him. “What about your dad?”
Prophet looked so frustrated and he nearly gritted his words out, “When Deacon catches on to this trap we are setting, he might kill my dad instantly. We don’t know. I’d rather be there to see the end of him and find my dad.”
Talon shook his head as we could all see he thought it was a bad idea. “It’s your choice then.”
“Oh? Is it?” Prophet snapped as he looked around at them all, then down at me. “I have no choices in this nightmare.”
I felt hurt by his words and the anger in his voice but I couldn’t blame him. This was a nightmare like he said. I looked up at him and said quietly, “I would feel better if you were following me too.” This was the best I could do. I just hoped this whole plan worked.
He gently took my hand and laced his fingers through mine. Then he looked up at Talon. “Are we done here for now?’
Talon looked troubled as he nodded at him.
Prophet glanced at Redemption to give him a silent nod and we went up the stairs.
We said nothing as we made our way back to his room. I suddenly felt such sadness. Like my balloon of:fight, fight, fighthad just been popped. It figured that I finally found happiness with a guy and then I get penalized for it. But none of this happened normally if I stopped to think about it. If Deacon hadn’t sent his men after me, I never would have met Prophet more than likely. His actions gave me a man like Prophet and his actions could also take him from me.
When we got to our room, I sat down on the bed and as I sat, it all hit me hard. This impossible situation. We did need more than prayers, more than luck or Liv and Talon’s calculations. All of my drive and determination to do this left me. A wall of fear and doubt came down in front of me, put there by me. What if Prophet was right? There was no guarantee that Deacon would send his men out to nab me. No guarantee that even if he did, would his father be there with Deacon.
Prophet paced the floor as he looked miserable and angry.
I wanted to make him feel better, but how would I even do that? This had to be torture for him. I know his dad had been beaten up badly just by the conversation he’d had earlier when Redemption came to the door. How that must have punched him in the gut. Seeing that on a cell phone. I knew Deacon only did it to twist that knife in and deepen the pain. No words could make this better for him. At least, none that I could think of.
All I felt now was tired and yes, I felt miserable. I took my sandals off, crawled into bed and laid on my side to curl up. I couldn’t argue with him anymore. I understood his agitation and he had again, agreed to the plan. The one he hated before and still hated. As I laid in the bed, I tried not to think about tomorrow. Or today rather as it was past midnight now.
Prophet got into bed a few minutes later and tugged me close to spoon me with his warmth. “I’m sorry about what I said, Jewel,” he whispered to my ear.
“I understand, I know this is hard for you.”
“Well, I should be thinking about you, not my own crap.”
“No, your dad’s life is at stake. Now, your life is at stake too. Then me…” I let out a breath.
“You are in danger too, babe.”
