After the service, we all filter out of the church into the cool afternoon breeze. Reverend Carter announced that the church would supply everyone with bottled water and non-perishable items to get us through the next several days. I find it funny that the church was prepared for this. It’s like they knew it was going to happen. Why else would they have enough food and water for everyone? Why am I the only one questioning this?
Judy doesn’t say a word to me as she takes Mitch’s hand and walks directly to the truck, obviously too embarrassed to speak with anyone, her reputation ruined. Standing in front of the entire town with the rest of us sinners was probably the most humiliating thing she’s ever done.
The wind picks up, sending leaves in colors of yellow and orange scattering across the courtyard. The sky is still heavy with clouds, and a light mist hangs in the air. I brush my hair out of my face and notice my father speaking with my grandmother at the side of the church. They appear to be having a very heated conversation.
“Are you scared?” I can sense the fear in Chas’s voice, her tough exterior nowhere in sight.
“It just all seems so surreal,” I say. “I don’t know what to make of it.”
“Did you light Monique’s hair on fire?” She starts to laugh again, easing some of the tension.
“No! You were standing right next to me. You know I didn’t.” As much as I’d love to be able to tell her the truth, I can’t. She would have a million questions and I wouldn’t have the answers.
“You just had this really intense look on your face right before it happened.” She wraps her arms around herself, her face serious again. “I’m scared. I don’t want to die. I can’t leave Parker an orphan.”
“You won’t die.” I know my words don’t offer much comfort, especially when I don’t know if I believe them myself. If what was said in there is true, we could be dead by the end of the week, victims of a town’s religious fanaticism.
“It’s obvious that it’s me they’re after. I’m fifteen and had a baby out of wedlock.”
“That’s exactly why they shouldn’t take you. Who in their right mind would take a mother away from her infant child? Maybe it’s Bunny they’re after.” The words are meant to make her feel better, though I know the moment they leave my mouth that there’s really no way this will end positively for her.
“Bunny may dress like a slut, but she’s a saint. It’s not her.”
Over Chas’s shoulder I catch a glimpse of the blond woman I’d caught looking at me from the church pews. She stares in my direction, a worried look in her eyes.
“Who’s she?” I ask, pointing in the woman’s direction.
Chas turns and waves. The woman smiles and then walks toward the opposite end of the parking lot.
“That’s Miss Simmons. She’s our English teacher. Why?”
“She keeps staring at me. She kind of freaks me out,” I say as I watch her crawl into a small, silver Toyota.
“I’m going to pull the truck around back and get our supplies,” my father says, walking up behind me. “Be ready to go in five minutes.”
He says this without looking at me. I feel empty and dismissed. Does he think this is my fault, too? My hands begin to shake, and I grasp the pendant around my neck to keep them busy. It immediately warms in my fist, comforting me.
“Caitlyn? How are you holding up, dear?” my grandmother says from behind me, her voice cold and formal.
“I’m okay,” I say, forcing a smile. She must be so disappointed in all of us. How dare we ruin her name?
“I must say, I’m shocked. This hasn’t happened to our family in years. I’m speechless.”
Be strong. The voice of my mother rings in my ears, startling me.
“Is something wrong?” Nana asks.
“No, I’m fine. I’m just tired.”
She gives me a curt nod and walks off to her shiny blue Buick.
“We need to get going,” Bunny says, pushing Parker’s stroller in our direction.
“I’ll call you later,” Chastity says, throwing her arms around my neck. I hold her tight, not wanting to let go. What if this crazy talk is real and I never see her again? “Be careful, Cait,” she says, pulling away. Tears run down her face, and when I see them I start to cry, too.
“It’s going to be okay. Somehow, we’ll make it okay.” I know my words don’t offer much comfort, but I’m not willing to admit that after this week she may no longer be a part of my life.
I wipe my face as she walks away, silently wishing her well. I turn in the direction of our truck and walk right into Trevor. He reaches out to grab my shoulders, steadying me.
“Hey.” He removes his hands and places them in his pockets. For some reason this has become his standard stance whenever he’s around me, like it hurts him to touch me.
“Hi.” I look at the ground, so he can’t see the tears in my eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I shrug in response, unable to speak because of the lump in my throat.
“I’m sorry—for all this. I really am.”
“Sorry for what?” I blurt out. “For what’s about to happen to my family, or sorry you ever got involved with a sinful little tramp like me?”
I look at him in defiance, and immediately regret snapping at him.
“For what your family has to go through,” he says pointedly.
“Why is everyone treating me like I’m a leper? I feel like I should put a big ‘A’ on my chest. Everyone seems to have it in their head that I’m the reason my family was marked and that I will end up missing at the end of the week. They’re probably right. I’m a worthless little bitch, only out to cause trouble and break hearts. Isn’t that right?”
“Are you done feeling sorry for yourself now?” He stares at me and I look away.
This is exactly why I didn’t want to move here. I hate this place, and these small-town people with their messed up ideals.
“Come on, admit it. The Redeemers only take the dirty and worthless, and that’s why my family was chosen.”
“So, you think the Redeemers only take dirty, worthless people? Is that it?” His voice is loud—louder than I’ve ever heard it.
“Isn’t that how it works?” I ask, defiantly.
“So, then you’re saying my sister—my eight-year-old sister with Down syndrome—was a dirty, worthless human being and that’s why she was taken the last time this happened?”
His confession takes me by surprise. Partly because I never knew he had a sister and partly because if he did—and she was taken—it means this is real.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t even know you had a sister.”
His eyes burn into me and I take a step back. “Watch your words, Cait. When you say only the dirty and unworthy are taken, you lump my sister in with that group. She was anything but.”
We stare at one another, unsure of how to continue. I don’t want to fight with him. I need him on my side again. I’m about to apologize when Jeb walks up. He places a hand on each of our shoulders and leans in close.
“We need to get out of here. I’m not going to let them take me.”
“You can’t leave. There’s no way out of town,” Trevor says. “The bridge is washed out and the road flooded. You know how it is when they come.”
Jeb shakes his head, his face set in determination. “We have to try. I can’t do this. I won’t let them take me. This has to stop.”
“You don’t even know that they’re going to take you; it could be anyone in your family.” Trevor’s voice is smooth and even as he tries to convince Jeb to stay.
“No. We’ll get out of town and get help. This isn’t normal. I’m not like the other religious freaks in this town that actually believe the Redeemers are working for a higher good. My grandmother is ecstatic that we were chosen. She actually had the nerve to say she’d been waiting for this day her entire life. That is so not normal, man.”
I find myself nodding with every word Jeb says. He’s right. If this is real, we need to get help. Something is going to go down this week, supernatural or not, and we need to stop it. I’ll come with you.”
Trevor turns to look at me the moment the words leave my mouth. “Are you serious?”
“If I stay here, I’ll be dead by the end of the week. I didn’t come here to die.”
Trevor rolls his eyes. “You don’t know that—”
“It’s obvious it’s me. Even if it’s not, I’m not letting them take anyone else in my family. If we get out of here, we can find help and be back by morning.”
“Do you think Chas will come?” I’m surprised to hear these words fall from Jeb’s lips.
“I doubt she’ll leave Parker. In fact, I know she won’t.”
“Then we’ll bring him with us,” Jeb says with a shrug. “I’ll go over to her house and talk to her now. Meet me behind the high school at five o’clock. Everyone will either be at home or out at Monique’s birthday party, so we won’t have to worry about anyone seeing us. Dress warm and pack light.”
He hurries off, blending into the crowd of people still filtering out of the church. A few seconds later I hear the roar of the engine of his old Ford.
Trevor looks at me, his brow creased with worry. “Are you sure you want to do this? It’s not safe.”
I don’t know why he’s suddenly so worried about me. The way he’s been acting, you’d think he would be happy I’m leaving.
“I don’t have a choice. We have to stop this. Come with us.”
He looks at me and shakes his head. This isn’t like him; he was never the type to balk at a challenge. He loved a good adventure, and I can’t believe he’s not jumping at the chance for a little excitement.
The sound of my father’s horn pierces the silence between us. He hangs his head out the window and motions to me. “Cait, let’s go.”
“Please say you’ll come with us.” I grab his hand and I’m surprised when he doesn’t jerk away from me.
“I don’t think I can. This week will be rough on my mom. The last time this happened, the Redeemers took Sarah and we lost my dad. Plus, all this stuff with Mason has been hard on her. If I leave her now, she’ll never forgive me.” That’s the thing about Trevor—he’s loyal to a fault and he puts his family before anyone.
“We won’t be gone forever. Just long enough to get help. We’ll be back. Please come.”
My father honks the horn again, and before Trevor can answer, I start for the truck.
I close the door, and as my father pulls away, I look back at Trevor. He raises his hand in a small wave, sadness in his eyes.
I hope he comes.
When we get home, I go directly to my room and change into a pair of black yoga pants and a red hoodie before curling up for a nap. I need to rest so I can make it through our grand escape. I doze off to the sound of Mitch’s pleading voice as he walks around the yard calling for Yancy.
***
“Cait? Come down and eat.” Dad’s voice comes at me from the other side of my door, pulling me from my dreams. I don’t feel much like eating, but I know I have no choice.
I pull on some socks and my running shoes before going down to join them. My plan is to say I’m going for a run to clear my head. I’ll deal with the repercussions of sneaking off later.
Everyone is silent as we pick through the leftover pot roast. A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the entire family. Will this be the last meal we all share together?
“Are you going to eat that, or just push it around your plate?” Judy asks.
I stick a piece of meat with my fork and put it in my mouth without answering her. I force myself to swallow, even though eating is the last thing I feel like doing right now.
“Are you okay, Caity?” Mitch asks, staring up at me through his shaggy blond hair.
“Yeah.” It’s not much, but it’s all I can muster right now.
“Feeling guilty?” Judy asks.
“Guilty about what?”
“About what you’ve done to this family. Do you have any idea how humiliating it was to have to stand up in front of the entire town today? Do you?” She slams her fork down and begins clearing the table. Evidently, dinner is over.
“Judy. Lay off.” Dad’s tone is smooth and even. It’s obvious he doesn’t want an altercation any more than I do.
“Lay off? Lay off? How can you sit there and act like nothing is wrong? Because of her, we had to stand in front of the entire town today while they looked at us with pity—as if we’re unworthy.”
She acts like this is anyone’s fault but hers. She’s so perfect.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. This is just the way it is,” Dad says.
“And you’re okay with this?” She laughs with disgust, slamming plates into the dishwasher like she’s punishing them.
Dad sighs and rubs his forehead with the palm of his hand. “No, I’m not okay with this, but there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“I knew this was a bad idea,” she says, tossing a handful of silverware into the dishwasher and slamming it shut.
“What did you expect me to do? Pawn her off on someone else? Let her live on the streets? She’s our daughter, Judy.”
“Wrong. She’s your daughter, Mike. I have only one child.” She points a bony finger at me, her face red with contempt. “That little hellion is not mine.”
“Thank God for that.” I push back my chair and throw my napkin on the table. “What did I ever do to you? You’ve always hated me. Even when I was a kid you treated me like a pimple on your ass.”
“That’s exactly why. That language. Your attitude. Your behavior over the last year is proof that you’re nothing but a bad seed,” she says dismissively. “I swear to God, if they take your father or Mitchell from me I will make your life a living hell. You brought this on. It’s you they need to take, you worthless little bitch.”
“Judith, that’s enough!” My father’s voice bounces off the walls of the kitchen, startling us.
For a moment, I don’t breathe. She may as well have just punched me in the gut. Judy and I have had our disagreements in the past, but she has never said anything like that.
Mitch sits at the table with tears in his eyes. I hate that he has to see this.
“Who says this is my fault?” I ask, taking a step toward her.
“Oh, please.” She rolls her eyes and turns her back on me, which really pisses me off. “How could it not be? The drugs. Rehab. Do I need to go on?”
“Don’t stand there and accuse me of being this horrible, worthless person,” I say. “I know I messed up. I know I’ve made mistakes, and I make an effort every single day to turn my life around. If you want to blame someone, why not try looking in the mirror? You are the one that seduced my father and took him from me and my mother.”
“Caitlyn,” my father says, warning me.
“So that’s how you think it is?” She turns to face me, an evil glint in her eye. I know this is a sore spot with her. “It’s not my fault I’m a better woman, a better wife, and a better mother than that crazy woman ever was. There’s a reason he chose me.”
“He didn’t choose you. You slept with your boss, got yourself pregnant, and pulled him away from his family. You seduced him and you feel no guilt about what you did. That doesn’t make you a better woman. It makes you a whore.”
My head whips to the side as her hand smacks me across the face. My cheek burns and tears sting my eyes. I turn and run out of the kitchen, out the front door and down the steps, ignoring my father as he calls after me.
Get away. Run.
My mother’s voice echoes in my head as my feet pound against the cracked pavement. I run down the country road, dodging puddles and fallen leaves as I head for the high school. The town is eerily quiet, the streets deserted. A breeze rustles through the trees, filling my nose with the scent of mud and damp leaves. I press my back against the brick wall of the high school, doing my best to catch my breath and compose myself. I wish I could just keep running until I get somewhere far away—Canada would be good.
“Hey, Cait. You okay?” I turn to see Jeb walking across the parking lot in my direction.
I wipe the tears from my face, and try to smile. “Yep, I’m great. Let’s do this. Did you talk to Chas?”
He nods. “She’s worried about Parker. I told her we could bring him with us, but she’s scared. I told her I had a plan to get us past the river.” He points to his truck. A small canoe hangs over the edge of the tailgate. “We’re getting out of here.”
Just then, Chas appears, pushing Parker’s stroller. She’s wearing a blue tracksuit and appears to be out for an evening stroll. When she gets closer, I see the worry written across her face.
“Do you think we can do this?” She fidgets with the zipper on her jacket, and I grab her hand.
“Jeb has a canoe. We’ll make it work.”
Chas takes Parker out of the stroller and hands him to me. He’s all smiles and spit as I talk to him. Chas expertly places the car seat in Jeb’s truck, muttering the entire time about how it isn’t safe to drive with a car seat in the front. Jeb folds the stroller and throws it into the back of the old Ford while Chas fastens Parker into his seat.
“There’s not room for all of us,” Chas says, surveying the cramped front seat.
“I’ll ride in the back. I’ll be fine.” I hike myself onto the bed of the truck, wedging myself between the stroller and the canoe. As Jeb’s about to drive off, a low rumbling noise fills the air and I smile when I see Trevor riding up on his four-wheeler.
“Come to see us off?” I should probably be mad at him for not coming with us, but I can’t. His family is important to him. Besides, none of them were marked for slaughter.
He shakes his head and smiles. “Do you really think I’d be able to let you do this without me, Green Eyes? Come on, you’re riding with me.”
He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I hop out of the truck and throw my leg over the four-wheeler, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“You guys go first,” Trevor tells Jeb. “It will look suspicious if anyone sees us following you. We’ll cut through the fields and catch up with you at the bridge.”
Chas sends a wink and a wave my way as Jeb’s truck bounces down the road heading out of town. Trevor guns the four-wheeler, and I tighten my grip around his waist as we attempt our grand escape.