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"If you're tired, then ask for help. We are all here to help each other," she reminded him.
"Maybe I don't want that. I am going to do it my own way, and you can go to hell," he said.
And with that, he turned and stomped away, heading for the barn, leaving his mentor standing alone in the field.
He'd known immediately that he'd pushed the boundaries too far this time, that there was no coming back from what he'd said. The next day, she called him in, and he was asked to leave.
And when he'd left the foundation, he'd found himself feeling lost. For a while, he'd wandered aimlessly, feeling like there was no place for him in the world. He hadn't appreciated the foundation when he was there. But now they'd forced him out, he found himself wanting to return, craving the quietness, the daily order, the hard work rewarded with pay and good food.
And so, he'd decided that he would take matters into his own hands. He would come back and live here, but he'd do it on his terms. He would rid the world of these false prophets, one green-eyed member at a time. And then, he would disappear, fade into the shadows and start anew.
There were many green-eyed achievers to eradicate. This had been the most thrilling and rewarding time of his life. Every time he remembered the humiliation he'd gone through and the mistakes he'd made, which though they had been his fault – according to her – still didn't feel that way.
He knew that his plan was going to include a few minor foundation members before he worked his way up to the prize he wanted – the mentor herself. He hadn't yet decided how he would kill her, although it would have to be different. Every time, every kill must be. Those were the rules that he'd received in a strange, dark vision.
And now, although this target wasn't the ultimate goal of his wise woman mentor, the green-eyed man in the church was still someone who deserved to die.
Seeing where he was heading, he felt a flash of excitement. If he waited a few more hours, then perhaps his patience would be rewarded at last after one unsuccessful try.
Now, it was going to work. What perfect timing. What a lucky and fortunate coincidence.
He readied himself, preparing the item he'd brought with him and quickly running through his plan in his mind. It would need speed, stealth, and perfect timing.
He couldn’t wait for that time to come.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
They were going to go for late at night. That was what Cora decided, together with Gabe, sitting in the car in the farmhouse's parking lot, watching the setting sun turn the sky crimson.
"Late at night, down by the old church," she said. "We go there just now, pretending to be doing some repairs. Those repairs take longer than we thought, so we work there late."
It sounded like a plausible scenario, and she was sure that light and sound from the old church would attract this killer there.
"I don't think we should involve anyone else," Gabe said, and she nodded.
"I agree. This is for the two of us.”
“We don't want to put anyone else in danger."
"I don't want to put you in danger," Cora blurted out.
To her surprise, Gabe smiled. "I chose this, I chose to be with you, and it's the most alive, the most happy I've ever felt," he said. "And as for danger - well, I was in worse danger when this guy jumped me as I came out of the barn because then I had no idea I was being targeted. At least now, we both know."
"I guess so," Cora said. But she still had a sick, churning feeling in her stomach when she thought about risking Gabe.
She decided that they would tell the leader that they were going to be working down by the church but wouldn't say why. They'd ask him to tell the others to stay away. And they'd request some equipment to make their presence there seem legitimate.
"We go with lights. And we hope we attract him there."
***
As the sky darkened and the sunset faded, Cora and Gabe gathered their equipment and headed toward the old church. The night was silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. With no candlelight inside, the windows of the church looked dark and spooky, nothing more than dark holes in the brickwork. Without the incense, the musty smell was noticeable, and it felt chilly and unwelcoming inside. The centuries were weighing down heavy, and she sensed that they carried bad history here, as well as good.
Cora pushed down her unease. They were here to catch a killer, they had a goal in mind, and they had to lure him in.
Once they were inside the church, they got to work hammering, drilling and making as much noise as possible. They set the lights up, one just inside the door and one in the middle of the hall. Their low glow, shining upward, created a spooky ambiance and weird shadows as it lit up the facets of stone, but from outside, the light was clearly visible.
She didn't think the killer would miss this activity if he was still at the foundation tonight. Cora felt sure it would draw him in.
