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“Who?”
“Jennifer, the pretty one with light eyes.” He nods my way. “She was one of the girls from the enlightenment ceremony last month.”
“That’s right.” Patty cocks her head my way. “You seemed to take a special liking to her.”
“Don’t remember. No offense, they all look the same to me.” Especially in the dead of night with a hood covering my face. “Do you have the situation contained?”
“We’ve got one in the hole and one out back with Archer.” Patty sheds a hint of a smile and I know for a fact that was her doing. “He’s making a honeymoon out of it.”
“Good,” I say, far from satisfied. “I want to speak with the one in the hole.”
They exchange a glance before Malcolm leads the way. I pull the red hood out of my back pocket and cover my head with it. The ski mask might throw her. But the red hood will alert her immediately as to who she’s dealing with.
We make it to the end of the hall and Malcolm gives a soft knock before picking up a lantern off the floor and igniting it. I bought dozens of them and swapped each bulb out for a red one myself. The color of blood and danger, and now the color of my presence as well.
The hall floods with the crimson illumination and we head into the room.
It’s a cell essentially. A jury-rigged contraption that Malcolm and his men built to contain members who needed a little refresher on what it means to stay loyal to his tribe. There are sixteen of these cells down here, each in their own speck of a room. No windows, no facilities, and no access to food or water. Just a bucket in the corner which would explain the stench. Patty is in charge of feeding them. And on occasion, she likes to beat them, too.
A small shriek emits from the girl as she attempts to shield her eyes.
“I can’t see. It hurts to look,” she calls out.
Other than the red light they’re bathed in on occasion, these prisoners are kept in complete darkness day or night.
“What’s your side of the story?” I ask and she juts her head in my direction, still unable to focus. “I heard you wanted to run.”
“I did.” She whimpers. “We were going to leave. We’re sorry. We won’t do it again.”
“Who’s we?” I ask.
“Trish,” she offers her friend’s name without hesitation. “Malcolm took her to the shack out back. Please, you have to let her go. I’ll take her place. I don’t want her to suffer like that. I don’t want her to suffer like Jennifer. Please, I’ll do anything.” Her fingers slip through the cage as she does her best to rattle it.
“How did Jennifer know you were leaving?” I ask.
“She overheard,” Malcolm whispers.
“She was leaving with us,” the girl says with a ragged sigh. “We were going to take our kids and run in the night. I don’t care what you do to that two-faced witch. I just want Trish to be safe.”
Malcolm shakes his head as if he doesn’t believe her. “She’s just angry.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” I sigh toward the girl. “Have one of my men meet me out back. I want Jennifer brought to me, as well as Grady. I’ll meet you out there once I’m through,” I say as I take the lantern from him and he scrambles out of the room.
“Please,” the girl calls out. “You have to help me. I’ll prove that I’m fully devoted. Just get Trish out of there right now. I’ll do anything for you.”
“Let’s start there, sweetheart.” I close the door to the room behind me as I let myself into her cell.
And I let her prove exactly how far she’s willing to go.
About a half hour later, I head upstairs and make my way to the back where I find Keith, one of my men, with a banged up looking woman next to him. Her face is purple, and her lips are swollen on one side. My heart thumps unnaturally at the sight of her. And to think, I’m told I don’t have one that beats.
Malcolm steps out of the shadow along with Grady, and I shake my head at the man. I don’t need a roadmap. I knew he had it out for me the second I took Emily at the sacrifice. Whenever I have an inkling that a couple is getting too attached, I do just that to teach them both a lesson.
“That will be all,” I say to Malcolm. “Keith and I can take it from here.”
Malcolm trots back into the house like the coward he is and Keith and I take a walk with Grady and the girl in silence until we’re deep into the woods with nothing but a sliver of the moon to light the way.
“So you’re going to kill me?” Grady’s voice wavers, but it’s not from tears. I can sense the rage in him.
