Page 24 of Broken Harmony

My stomach sinks as I skim all the article titles that pop up.

Pastor arrested for horrendous crimes.

Cult leader brought down by courageous victim, Lucinda Carter.

Crimes brought to light, unmasking the dark reality of the cult church life.

They go on and on.

Bile rises in my throat as I click on one of them, skimming the article.

“On August 24th, a young woman by the name of Lucinda Carter was picked up by local police at a neighbor's house. It was believed that Lucinda was being held in her home against her will. Her parents, Barbara and John Carter, have been arrested and are facing child endangerment charges."

“No,” I sob, my hand flying to my mouth as my whole world spins. I stumble back until I’m falling on my ass, hitting the ground hard. “No. No. No.”

This can’t be real. They’re lying. Not my Lulu. Not my best friend.

I sob, unable to keep reading the words on my phone.What the fuck is going on!?

“Siri, call Mom,” I croak out, unable to make my hands work.

The phone rings three times before Mom picks up. “Ally, sweetheart. How are you?”

“Tell me it isn’t true!” I demand, tears spilling down my cheeks as I watch the blurry TV screen.

“Ally, what's wrong?” Mom asks, voice sounding panicked.

“You tell me!” I shout. “You told me everything was okay. It’s not okay, Mom. What the fuck?!”

“Ally, you're worrying me,” she says, voice shaking.

“Tell me, Mom! Tell me how Lulu is doing!”

She’s quiet for too fucking long.

“You lied to me!” The sound that leaves me is soul-crushing. “You told me everything was okay. What the fuck did those monsters do to her?”

“Ally, let me explain,” she pleads.

“Tell me everything now!” I demand, my anger taking over as my whole body starts to vibrate.

By the time Mom is done, I wish I hadn't asked.

I’m lying on the ground, staring blankly at the wall. Everything hurts. My heart, my soul, my head.

My Lulu. My best friend. She was held against her will, fucking drugged, and god knows what else by that fucked up piece of shit.

And her parents! What kind of people do that to their kid? They’re supposed to love her! Protect her! But they handed her over to the devil himself.

All while I’ve been here, living up the good fucking life.

I’ve never hated myself more than I do right now in my entire life.

“Ally, baby, you’re scaring me. Talk to me,” Mom pleads.

“I should have been there,” I say, voice hoarse from crying. “I should have protected her.”

“There’s nothing you could have done. Nothing any of us could have done,” Mom insists.