Page 12 of Diluted Truths
“Damn it, Jackie, you're fast,” Will stated as he slowed to a stop next to me. “And maybe even deaf,” Will muttered.
Even with the intrusion of the Will, I was still considering all possibilities of the Cult's resurgence.
What would it require to bring an all-but-dead cult back? A cult that may have not even existed and instead been a delusion a man created in a hope to get his followers to follow his version of God, his belief in God?
“Jackie?” Will stated as he moved in front of me. “Are you alright?
It was the startling blue eyes in front of me that finally broke me from my trance. Damn those eyes.
“What? Yeah… sorry, off in my own world. You know how it goes,” I rambled, as I began to notice he was directly in front of me. “Did you follow me out here?”
“I will admit that I’m guilty on that matter,” said Will as he took a step back now that he had my attention. His lips began to rise in a smirk. “It has just been too long since a… matter piqued my curiosity in a way that you have.”
Was that flirting? Was this man flirting with me? I had heard about the infamous William Bly from Fai. Sarah and Fai had stated that he was a notorious ladies man. It was obvious why. Will was charming and attractive. However, because of my friendship with Fai and Sarah, I couldn’t actually have anything happen with Will.
Yeah I would daydream, because who wouldn’t? This guy was a solid ten out of ten. But that was as far as it could go.
“It’s still weird that you followed me,” I said, rather matter of factly, as I crossed my arms in front of me and looked him directly in his eyes. Those damned blue eyes.
“I’m truly sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” Will started as he grew more serious and took a step back. “The Cult of Creatio is a subject that has always interested me, but most colleagues and peers of mine have written it off as a scare tactic created by a man in the sixteen hundreds used for control.”
Will stopped briefly as if to gauge my reaction. “Sarah called me prior to your arrival to let me know that you were coming and briefly mentioned that the cult was your point of interest.”
“What did she say? How much did she say? Did she tell you everyth…” I began as I slowly felt my stress levels rise knowing Sarah had shared anything about me to the man in front of me.
“She shared next to nothing,” Will interrupted. “I have heard about you in previous discussions, however she didn’t even disclose that you were the one coming today. All she stated was that a friend of hers would be stopping by today after my class because they had questions on a cult they believed may be making a resurgence.”
“Do you think it could make a resurgence?”
“Oddly enough, I have no idea. A part of me hopes so, only for the idea that I could better understand it. Better learn about it. However, I ultimately want the Cult of Creatio to be dead, forever. If the minor details that have been gathered surrounding the cult and its beliefs are indeed factual, a lot of people will be harmed if it does come back,” explained Will, in a slightly hushed tone, not wanting to bring the attention of unwanted listeners.
Will seemed to understand the facts surrounding the cult, I thought.
At the mention of cults, most people immediately jumped to the conspiracy theories surrounding the topics, but not Will. Will considered the subject with curiosity and realism. He genuinely wanted to learn about the cult, but only learn the facts. Researching this case was going to be difficult. Add the variable of hiding it from Fai, my boss, friend and mentor, it was going to be next to impossible. Looking at Will, I realized he could be exactly what I needed.
“Will, I have a proposition for you,” I started, stepping ever so slightly towards the man in front of me. “However, it will take some time to explain. What are you doing this Saturday?”
Chapter 4Fumes by. Oscen
Will
“She asked me to meet with her on Saturday and said she had a proposition for me. Other than that, Jackie gave me zero details about what this proposition is. Also why have you never introduced us before? She’s cute.”
“Nope. You are not allowed to pursue Ophelia,” Sarah instructed me as she wandered through her kitchen., most likely with the phone wedged between her ear and shoulder as she prepared dinner.
Sarah was truly my greatest friend. I had met her our first year of getting our PhDs. I was shocked by how much younger she was than the rest of us at only eighteen, and she stated she was shocked by how much of an idiot I was.
She wasn’t wrong.
“I’m not allowed?”
“Yep, you’re banned from pursuing her. You’re banned from wanting to date her, banned from flirting with her. You are hereby banned.”
“Oh my god, now I am banned? Do you really think so little of me that I am now banned from having feelings for her?” I asked as I sat on the barstool in my kitchen.
After the meeting with Jackie, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was smart, inquisitive, and curious. She also seemed turned off by myflirting.
Now, I didn’t like to boost my own ego, but most women were responsive to my flirting, very responsive. Jackie’s refusal to engage in my tactics made me even more interested. I was willing to admit that I liked the chase and I liked the idea of chasing Jackie even more. Hell, I stood in the rain to discuss a cult with her.
