THIRTY-SEVEN

FOUR DAYS LATER, on Sunday morning, Gentry and Zella still hadn’t been found. The search continued, but the rumor around town was that they’d run away together. I feared Gentry had taken his life somewhere on my land and talked Zella into doing it too, but I prayed I was wrong.

I thought maybe the Rulers’ defeat had been enough to rid my land of its Creeper infestation, but a quick drive past Masonville High and my acreage made it easy to see that wasn’t the case. Even though it appeared the Rulers had been punished and cast away from Masonville—banished to outer darkness, along with their detestable throne—Molek’s army still roamed the land.

It made sense. The spirit realm’s terms of justice had yet to be met the way Arthur had outlined in his prediction—God’s way—and nothing else would do.

There was no denying it: my mission would definitely continue.

Still, this recent victory had served to get seven high-ranking Rulers away from earth’s inhabitants. Even if there were more just like them, that had been a battle worth fighting. And the triumph not only bought us more time to follow through on Arthur’s instructions but had saved human lives. Defenders’ lives.

There was no telling where Molek was, a demonic fugitive who’d managed to escape hell’s punishment for the time being. Maybe he was hiding somewhere? I thought perhaps it was possible; his master wasn’t all-knowing. And until the people of Masonville did their part to evict him, his army would remain, and the Lord of the Dead would always find a way to try to reclaim our town.

I wasn’t discouraged, though. We had a glowing-red-seal army of our own now—even if the students were shackled and vulnerable at the moment.

Ethan had texted me and said Pastor Gordon was looking for people to help clear the charred rubble at the church that morning, before what remained of the building was bulldozed to the ground. It was the least I could do. And maybe some of my stuff would be salvageable.

I pulled up in the lot early, missing Ray Anne so much, I could hardly eat lately. I’d never gone this long without seeing her, much less talking to her. But other than that nagging dilemma—and the fact that I still hadn’t found my dog—I had more peace of mind than ever before. No more crying baby or invisible spy. No more giving in to the oppressive sense I was destined to be rejected and alone.

No more orphan identity, even when Creepers shot the cruel accusation at my mind.

Ethan handed me gloves and a mask, and we got to work—two friends, serving side by side. But minutes later, we stopped and stared out at the parking lot, both of our jaws gaping. It was like all of Masonville had come out to help, shackled and Lights alike.

“I put the word out that we needed help,” Ethan said, “but this . . .”

As if that wasn’t surprising enough, the people started applauding, taking turns shaking my hand and Ethan’s, hugging our necks and thanking us for saving the students’ lives. One by one, all eleven of them showed up, flocking to me like ducklings to a feathered mother.

“What are we supposed to do now?” Presley asked me. I gathered she wasn’t talking about the church cleanup.

I eyed her shackled neck. “I need to explain some things to you guys and teach you.”

Another one of them reached out and shook my hand. “I’m Austin. And I’m ready to learn.”

“Me, too,” the others chimed in.

“How about we meet this Wednesday night?” I threw it out there.

They nodded enthusiastically. “Where at?” Austin asked.

“You’re all welcome at my apartment,” Ethan offered.

And just like that, a plan was in place.

“Thanks, Pastor Owen,” Austin said.

“No.” I laughed awkwardly, my face feeling frozen. “I’m not a pastor. Like, at all.”

Ethan gripped my shoulder and spoke in my ear. “To them, you are.”

Yet another one of life’s ironic twists I never saw coming.

Pastor Gordon descended carefully out of what used to be his office, visibly shocked by the number of people there. He balanced on top of a stack of wood pallets, and people gathered around him.

Gordon started by thanking everyone for coming out, then frowned. “The insurance is refusing to pay our claim on the building, and we can’t possibly afford to build from scratch. And we can’t afford to buy this property either. So for now, I’m not sure how we’ll continue gathering as a church.”

I wasn’t trying to be a hero. It just came to me, as natural as breathing. I raised my hand. When Gordon acknowledged me, the offer rolled off my tongue. “If you can raise the building funds, you’re welcome to build on my land. For free, I mean.” That was one way to get people on my property.

I thought Gordon was going to fall off the wood pile. “Owen, I . . . I don’t know what to say.”

“That’s amazing,” his assistant said, “but where are we supposed to meet in the meantime?”

I raised my hand again. “I know of a temporary solution, at least for the next week or two. It’s in the woods, but it’s close to a road. There’s a large pavilion on my land.” The students were still gathered around me; they lowered their heads. “It needs to be used for something good.”

Gordon eyed his son.

“It’s unconventional,” Ethan told his father, “but I think it’s doable. Neat, even.”

More applause. I stood there in awe. Had I really just witnessed Masonville’s townspeople agree that my land would be the new location for worship? It was like I’d pulled off Arthur’s prophetic mandate without even trying. Like God had it all worked out way before I did.

“Pastor Gordon?” We all looked back at the speaker, the man in a tan suit. Dr. Brody Bradford, of all people. “I’d like to personally donate the remaining finances needed for the church rebuild . . .” He looked straight at me. “On Owen’s beautiful land.”

I narrowed my eyes. Of course you would.

Even more applause. And more confirmation that the kingdom of darkness and its secret players were never going to stop working against us in the fight over this town—right up to the point of ultimate victory or defeat, I was sure.

As Ethan began giving instructions about the day’s cleanup, my pulse quickened at the sight of Mrs. Greiner’s SUV turning into the lot. I hurried to where she parked, eager to hold Jackson—and keep him away from Dr. Bradford. I spotted him in the backseat . . . then cupped my mouth and gasped. “Ray Anne!” She was in the backseat too. She threw her seat belt off and ran to me, and I spun her in circles in my arms.

“I was released this morning,” she said.

I set her down and stared at her face. There was a glow—the natural kind, like old times.

“How are you?” I asked.

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I figured it out, Owen. How to get free from petrifying fear.” She smiled and teared up. “I had to stop running and face it. Head-on.”

I pulled her into a tight embrace. “I know what you mean.”

I wasn’t trying to check; I just happened to notice as I ran my hand along her back and neck—there was nothing there. No more coiled curse.

“Ray, your senses . . .”

“I can see again. It all came back to me.”

I hugged her again, exhaling in relief.

I looked into her gorgeous blue eyes, ready to finally say it—the three words I’d kept on lockdown for way too long, for all the wrong reasons. “Ray Anne?”

She smiled bigger, like she knew what was coming. But the sound of a dog barking stole my attention.

“Daisy!” She was in the field across the street.

She didn’t budge. Just kept her head low, barking, seemingly at me. Ray and I ran that way, hand in hand, but Daisy turned away from us, disappearing into the tall grass. We searched for her, following a path of trampled grass. Turned out, my dog led us right to them . . .

Gentry and Zella were hunkered on the ground, their hair and skin filthy, wearing the same T-shirts they’d had on when I’d last seen them. Gentry rocked back and forth, head down, knees drawn into his chest. Zella was curled in a ball on her side, pounding her forehead with her fist.

Ray and I knelt beside them. “What are you guys on?” I asked.

“We didn’t mean to,” Zella cried.

“Didn’t mean to what?” Ray Anne tried to touch her shoulder, but Zella wailed and recoiled in fear.

Gentry mumbled to himself, an angry rant. None of his words made sense.

“We were lost in the woods and dying of thirst.” Zella’s voice shook as violently as her body.

I felt my pulse begin to hammer at the base of my neck. “Did you guys drink from a—”

“Shhh!” She covered her head. “The monsters will find us!”

Ray and I looked at each other, knowing what they’d done.

“How long ago was it?” I asked.

“Three days,” Zella said.

They’d survived past twenty-four hours, which probably meant the well water wasn’t going to kill them. It also meant nothing was ever going to be the same for them, or Ray and me, or this town.

She and I were no longer the only ones with spiritual eyesight.

“Listen to me, Zella.” Ray Anne was careful not to touch her. “You’re going to be okay.”

Zella pointed to Gentry. “He’s not. He’s not okay!”

I said his name, trying to get him to look at me. Instead he lurched forward and threw his arms around my neck, squeezing me in an overly tight embrace. “Help me, Owen!”

“I’m here for you,” I assured him.

He clung to me like a traumatized child, trembling like an earthquake. Uncomfortable as it was for me, I let him stay that way. Then out of nowhere, he pushed me away like he couldn’t stand me. He started mumbling again, and his voice turned to a shrill whisper. An unsettling quiver ran up my spine, but I stayed focused on trying to comfort him.

I put my hand beneath his slobbery chin, slowly tilting his head up.

“Gentry? What’s going on? Tell me what you see.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “A weakling who’ll be dead within a year.”

Before I could even react, Detective Benny came charging through the grass, shouting into his cell phone, “I got ’em!”

Another officer assisted him in dragging Zella and Gentry into the back of a squad car. The commotion caused everyone in the church parking lot to gasp and gawk.

Ray Anne ran up to the car and pressed her palms against the backseat window, calling to Zella, “Don’t cry! I promise, I’ll find you!”

That was all she could say before Detective Benny drove off.

It was dusk when Ray Anne and I stepped into the pavilion.

We’d agreed there was no reason to heed the death threat launched at me through Gentry’s lips. He was clearly possessed, and Ray and I were both done listening to the enemy.

I’d spent the remainder of the afternoon recounting the whole story of this place to her—the century-old lynchings, my father’s tragic vow made beneath the rafters, the miraculous rescuing of thirteen students, just in time.

Thankfully someone had taken the ropes down.

Ray Anne walked to the center of the pavilion and lowered her head.

I hugged her from behind. “Are you okay?”

“My heart breaks for you.” She clutched my hands at her waist. “The impact this place has had on your father and your mother, and you. On so many families.”

I turned her around to face me. “It is sad, Ray Anne.” A soothing breeze grazed past us. “But just think, we’re closer than ever to fulfilling Arthur’s prophecy and cleansing this land. And look at what’s happening here now.” My cheeks curved into a grin. “You and I, standing here unharmed, still together despite everything we’ve faced.”

She smiled up at me. “I know our mission isn’t over and yet I can honestly say, I’m not afraid.”

“Neither am I.” I pulled her to me, my heart pounding close to hers. “And I can also honestly say . . .” My eyes started pooling, but for once, I didn’t hide it from her. “I love you, Ray Anne. I love you more than words can ever explain.”

“Oh, Owen . . .” She clasped her hands behind my neck. “I love you too. And yes, I will.”

I hadn’t realized until then that we’d been swaying, but I stopped. “You will what?”

Her eyes welled with tears, even as her smile widened. “If your proposal still stands, I want to marry you.”

I didn’t move—not a breath or a blink, in case I’d somehow heard wrong. Finally, I asked her, “Are you serious?”

“Yes!”

I scooped her in my arms and spun her around, both of us laughing. And crying. And saying over and over without restraint how much we loved each other and couldn’t wait to be together—for life.

“Congratulations.” The deep voice shocked us both. We turned, and there, in the corner of the pavilion, stood the man in overalls—the one who’d saved my life, basically all my life. “The two of you make an exceptional couple,” he said. “Now, I need you to follow me—both of you, right now.”

“Who’s he?” Ray Anne whispered.

I started to explain but stopped. “Actually, I don’t really know.” I fixed my gaze on the man’s golden-brown eyes and stepped toward him. “Please, I’m begging you—who are you?”

He peered at me the way only he could, like he was seeing clear through to my soul. Then he pressed his palm over his heart and bowed his head. “I’m a humble servant of the Most High.”

And with that, he turned and started walking away, gesturing for Ray Anne and me to follow.

We stepped out from under the pavilion, and, before our eyes, his work boots, overalls, and cowboy hat gave way to blinding brilliance and spectacular armor. He quickened his pace as his stature stretched twice as tall—taller than some of the trees. Ray and I hurried to keep up, both of us speechless as a gigantic shield appeared in his right hand, and to his left, an enormous, majestic white horse.

Custos’s horse, rushing to his master’s side.