Page 146 of For I Have Sinned

“Since you are on your knees, why don’t you pray, Father Keaton?” I suggest growing braver as I step up to him. His eyes are dilated, and he may have a concussion from the blow, but I don’t care. “Why don’t you pray to the God that turned you into a fucking lunatic?”

A hollow laugh leaves him. “You won’t do it.”

I ignore him, pressing the barrel to his forehead. Having the tables turned, holding the gun to his head after I was just in the same position, makes me feel powerful. I’m in charge now, and he’s going to pay for what he’s done.

“Pray for forgiveness, Father. For all the innocent lives you’ve taken today.”

He stares at the barrel of the gun, then shifts his eyes to mine. He sighs in defeat, but I know better than to believe this act. I know he isn’t about to do as I asked because he means it. He is going to do it because he thinks it will get me to back down and lower the gun. He thinks that if I hear him ask for forgiveness, then all will go back to the way it was, and he can continue to sacrifice me for his own crazed reasons.

Tough shit.

That’s not happening.

“I pray for forg⁠—”

“That’s not how it starts.” I cut him off, venom dripping from my voice. “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.”

He wets his lips. “Forgive me, Father, for I have⁠—”

Blood splatters all over my white dress and neck after I pull the trigger. He stays on his knees for a second before his limp body flops to the floor. He lies there, motionless, and I nudge his leg with my foot.

I shot him in the head. I know he is dead, but I’ve seen too many horror movies where the killer somehow escapes death and comes back to life.

Once I know he is truly dead, I rush over to Alex with the gun still in my hand. His chest is moving, but barely. Dropping to my knees, I set the gun beside me on the floor and place my hands back on his chest.

“That was… bad ass.” He attempts a smile.

“You’re making jokes at a time like this?” There is a light shrug to his shoulder, which makes his face wince. “You’re not dying on me, Alex.” I apply more pressure to the wound. “I love you, too. Do you hear me?”

He lightly nods with a sleepy smile.

“I’m going to go get help, and you are going to hang in there, okay? You think of what it’s going to be like outside of this place and how I’m going to show you just how much I love you every single day of our new life.”

“Okay,” he agrees with a sad smile, and he closes his eyes.

I press a soft kiss to his lips before I release my hands and make a run for the exit to find a phone. All of the men who were in here are long gone now that their leader has been killed.

Cowards.

I sprint as fast as I can down the hall, entering the main part of the convent I know and hate. Women gasp in horror as I race past them and jump out of my way, pressing their bodies into the walls to get far away from me when they see the blood I wear as a decoration.

I rush past the chapel, paying them no attention, and take a right down the hall toward the offices, but when I turn the corner, I collide with someone.

We both grunt, and I stumble backward, placing my hand on the wall to steady myself.

When I look up, I’m surprised at who I see. “Sister Greta?”

“Celine.” Her eyes trail down my dress, widening in terror.

“We need to call the cops,” I tell her frantically, breathless. “Father Alexander has been shot and Father Keaton… he’s dead. There are so many dead⁠—”

“I already called them,” she reassures me. “They are on their way.”

“How did you⁠—”

“I overheard you and Father Alexander talking about this event that night in the library, and it sounded odd because Father Keaton doesn’t usually do things like this. Then I overheard him and Sister Alice talking in secret, which made it more suspicious,” she explains quickly. It’s the fastest I’ve ever heard her speak. “When I was on my way to where it was taking place, I heard the first gunshot and hurried to the offices to call the cops.”

“Thank you,” I cry. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”