The Cult (Cult 1)

The last time Claire had been in a hospital was the day she was born.

Beatrice gave her a smile then stroked her hair. “I’m gonna be fine, honey. Just a little tired.”

“I was scared.”

She continued to stroke her hair, her smile fading. “I was too… You must be happy spending time with Dad again.”

“Yeah, we made mac and cheese and hot dogs last night.”

“That sounds healthy,” she said with a chuckle.

“Dad said I could have anything I wanted.”

“Of course he did.” Her hand played with Claire’s soft blond hair, continuing to stroke her. “Always gives you whatever you want.”

They talked for a while, and I stayed in my chair across the room. My eyes glanced out the door every time someone passed. They flicked back to Claire only to do it again and again, as if someone would walk through that door and try to take her again.

They didn’t talk about their time with the cult at all.

Not a single thing was mentioned.

I was relieved because I didn’t want to hear about it.

My daughter was unharmed, with the same bright smile and bubbly personality, so I left it alone.

“Constance is going to get ice cream with us soon.”

“She is?” Beatrice asked, slightly surprised.

I wanted my daughter to forget about the woman, and in time, she would. A normal life, schoolwork, sports, would make her get back to normalcy. I didn’t want her to be around anyone who reminded her of a past she needed to forget.

I left the chair and approached the bed, taking a seat in the chair at her bedside. “Sweetheart, let me talk to Mom for a second.”

Claire moved to the seating area at the other end of the room, where there was a TV and some magazines. She opened one, National Geographic, and flipped through it. Her legs dangled over the edge, and she absentmindedly kicked one, a ball of energy.

Beatrice stared at me, her skin losing its glow, her eyes filling with emptiness.

I kept my voice low so Claire wouldn’t hear. “How are you?”

She looked into my eyes lifelessly before giving a shrug.

“The doctor said you’re free to go tomorrow.”

“Yeah…”

“You’re welcome to stay with us. Take your time getting better. I can help you with anything that you need.”

Her breaths grew labored and heavy, and slowly, her eyes began to narrow. “You hate me.” Accusation filled her eyes, memories of our past conversations visible in her gaze. The fights. The screams. The words that neither one of us could take back.

“Doesn’t mean I don’t want the best for you.”

She looked away, glancing at Claire across the room. “I’m in a lot of pain…” Her eyes welled up, reflecting the fluorescent lights with the sheen. “I can’t do a lot right now. I just…need to rest.”

“Then we’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

She wouldn’t look at me, like she hated herself for accepting my help. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s the same. It’s like…she never left.”

“Good.” She watched Claire for a while, her chest rising with the deep breath that she took. There was a lot left unsaid, but when our daughter was in earshot, she probably didn’t want to say anything. “I wish I could say the same about myself…”

18

Constance

When the Malevolent took Claire and Beatrice, I refused to stay behind. With my dagger in my pocket, I went with them—for better or worse. When I saw Benton and his men, it made my breath come out as a shudder, because I’d thought he’d never return.

I’d underestimated the man.

It all happened so fast that I didn’t have a chance to think. Forneus released me, I was on the chopper with a headset on, Beatrice was bleeding out, and I was lifted out of that place. The sea of trees passed. The snowy mountains disappeared. Civilization came into view. It didn’t take long to see roofs and streets, given the speed of the chopper, but on foot, it was still at least thirty miles away from the closest inhabited location.

When the truth dawned on me, that I was free of that place, I was suddenly filled with dread.

Because I wasn’t really free.

The Malevolent still stood among the trees. The sculptures were still illuminated by firelight. Laura and Nadine still remained behind, along with the others, waking up to the same terrible existence.

It wasn’t over.

And Forneus would come for me.

There was no doubt.

I spent my first night in Paris wandering the streets, passing the cafés that closed in the afternoon, restaurants where friends were enjoying their coffees after their heavy meals. The air was thick with cold moisture, making my hair slick, my cheeks wet.

In all white, I stuck out like a billboard.

My apartment had a new tenant. All my things had probably been donated.

All I had was the cash Benton gave me.

But that didn’t replace the life that had been taken from me. It didn’t replace the time I’d lost, the damage to my body from the acid, the mental trauma I would always carry now. When I was at the cult, I was hyperfocused on survival and freedom. But now…I had nothing to do. All I could do was process the destruction as I wandered the streets alone. All I could do was think about what I’d witnessed. All I could do was wait for Forneus to come back…