Page 47 of Burning Souls

“It’s me you want, so take me. Leave them out of it.” I lift my knees off the floor, walking over to stand in front of my father. It's been ages since I saw his face this close.

I hate him, but I also kind of want to feel something other than hate.

Is it normal that even though he put me through hell, I kind of wish he had turned toward a new way in life and could be my father?

What the hell, Ash, stupid, he could have your sister. I say to myself

My stomach hurt knowing they might have had to go through the same things as me, maybe even worse.

“Ash, what the fuck? You will not be going anywhere with him. Over my dead body,” Sean growls, coming up behind me and pulling my hair in his fist, harshly sliding me back toward the kitchen. All that does is make my father chuckle.

He pulls me to one side.

“Are you crazy?” I mean, if he's only just realising this, I worry he might be the crazy one

“You will not go back there. I won't let you, even if I have to take my life, so you're safe.”

Cute, real cute, just not the time.

“Okay, so as cute as that was, this isn't the time. My father will kill you and me.” I try to walk away, but I'm brought back into his hold, and my body is slammed against the back of the wall.

His eyebrows furrow as he looks at me with all the fury one person could have.

“Let me make one thing straight. I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

“If I need to take a life to prove that, then I will. Ash, mark my words. I would go to hell and back for you. I would walk through fire a thousand times,” he growls, becoming angrier, squeezing his hands around my throat, stopping me from breathing.

“Want me to kneel for you and beg you to stay with us? Done.” He doesn't understand.

My father scares me; my skin is crawling in his presence, but my sisters mean more to me than any of them, and they don’t know the full extent of what happens in that place.

I have things burned into my mind that no person should have to see every day.

I've seen more horror in my thirty years on this earth than anyone would in their entire lifetime.

When I'm killing those men, I feel nothing, no rage, all I feel is safe.

When I say I do God’s work, it's just a saying. I don't even believe in God because if I did, he wouldn't have done this to me. So yes, some would say, how can you send souls to hell because I want to have my freedom to take them, and I sure as hell won't let another man take away my liberty and silence me, that includes my sisters.

“Stop it, Sean. If I go, I might be able to save my sisters.” He doesn't let go of his hold and looks at me as if I just insulted him.

“Ash,” he growls.

“I get it, you want to see your sisters, but how do you even know they are with him?” Okay, good point he has there, but why would I go back to the hellhole?

“Oh my God. Okay.”

“God won’t help you, the only God you cry out for is us. God can’t save you. No one can but us. We can save you and help you.”

“I won't go,” I say, looking at him.

“See how you listened to me? That’s because I am your God, and I worship you. I love you, Angel.”

He lets go of my hand as I turn around, and my father opens the door.

“The devil always saves his Angel.” My eyes shoot up, glancing at him. I'm no angel, but just for a second, I can pretend it's real. I don't even get to fight him before a woman walks in with two others who look younger.

All of our mouths drop wide open.

No, this can't happen. This isn’t her.

I saw her.

I k-k-k…

TO BE CONTINUED…