Page 2 of Brutal Sinner

As I buckle under the weight of their hostile expressions, my world tips on its axis. The walls close in on me and I struggle to breathe because my fight is far from over. They found me and taken the one thing I will never abandon, and so I nod meekly, knowing there is no other choice.

However, I’ve tasted freedom once and will again. I’ll bide my time and work out a plan because one thing is definite, my trip home will be a temporary one.

CHAPTER1

FAITH

NINE MONTHS LATER

Ashiver passes through me and it’s not because of the temperature. It could be a blazing hot day and I would still feel cold.

I wish I hadn’t come. Not that I was given the choice, but now I’m here, I wish I had run and never looked back.

“Stand up straight, Faith.”

My father nudges me and I stand to attention as always.

The scene before me is morbid, sad, and inevitable and as tragedies go, this one doesn’t surprise me.

“Ashes to ashes…”

The dull rumble from the priests’ repertoire signifies the poor soul being laid to rest and as we all say “amen” I watch the chief mourner step forward, causing a murmur of reverence to pass through the crowd.

He holds a single white rose in his hand, and he makes a big show of tossing it into the open grave as if he cared for the person inside.

There are no tears at this funeral. There is nobody present who would dare show a hint of emotion.

He steps back and then turns, a solitary figure who surrounds himself with power. He demands respect and reverence and I’m still wondering if the crowd are merely good actors because, from the expressions on their faces, they idolize him.

I stand straight and tall, my hands clasped before me as if in a silent prayer for the soul of the persecuted woman who is better off where she is.

Agatha Peters. Wife of Reverend Peters, the man who presides over the souls of the residents of Heaven. A man who believes he has that right and that God chose him personally. A man who can do no wrong, according to his congregation and any outsiders who stroll into town are soon offered nothing but the route out of here.

Heaven is a place on earth that is Hell disguised within an angel’s wings. There is nothing good about living in Heaven and I’m the fool who thought she could escape.

“Stand up straight, Faith. He’s coming.”

I watch the reverend move away from the open grave and note the expression on his face is somber with no emotion. Surely, he should be devastated. His wife is dead but word in the shadows is she went there voluntarily. Once again, I shiver as the man steps even closer and as he draws near, I cast my eyes to the ground, fearful of looking the monster in the eye. If I don’t see him, he’s not there. I wish that was true because he is so close now, I almost can’t breathe. There is a toxicity about Reverend Peters that surrounds him and my heart races as he reaches us and, more than anything, I pray he passes us by so I can breathe again.

He doesn’t.

No words are spoken, but he stops and a black gloved finger, tips my face to stare into eyes that flash with something I’m going to pretend I haven’t seen.

“Name.”

He barks and my mom says in a reverent whisper, “Faith, sir.”

“Does it speak?”

I feel the anger burning inside and note the small twist to his lips and the challenge flashing in his eyes as mom says quickly, “Faith. Say something.”

The challenge hangs in the air along with bated breath as they wait for me to speak, and my voice comes out with a strong overload of sarcasm as I say through gritted teeth. “I am sorry for your loss, sir.”

His grip tightens on my chin and as I make to pull away, he leans forward and his breath dances way too close for comfort. “My loss is your gain.”

My mother gasps as he flicks his malevolent gaze at my father and says dismissively, “I have a vacancy for a wife. Bring her to my home at seven tonight. We will talk then.”

He drops my chin and as I make to speak, he lays the flat of his gloved hand across my mouth and hisses, “Do not speak, girl and listen. You are a sinner and require work to cleanse your soul. I am the only one who can help you.”

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