Page 86 of Like An Animal

“Bron, where the hell are you going?” Xavi sticks his head out the door, quickly followed by Jer, and I can’t help laughing about how not only Jeremy but all of his friends tend to track my movements. It gets irritating in public settings, but not now. It’s adorable.

“I’m just walking to the store. I’ll be back in a few.”

“You can’t leave while we’re practicing. You’re our lucky charm,” Xavi complains while pouting.

I cackle. “That only counts when you’re performing, not practicing. You can practice without me just fine.”

Xavi groans. “Fine. Bring me back a Pepsi!”

“Get your own Pepsi!” I flip him off and he blows me a kiss before dragging Jeremy back in the house.

“Come back quick!” Jer calls through the door and I slowly shake my head.

Normally, he wouldn’t let me walk to the store by myself, but he has grown a lot lately on letting me do things. Sometimes it's just as simple as going to the library without him and he picks me up when I’m done. Other times, he lets me stand in the crowdat a show with no bodyguards. In those cases, it’s always that I have to stand at the front, but progress doesn’t equal perfection.

I know he’s just worried about me and that makes it okay.

I walk down the street and turn the corner, heading in the direction of the store. I can see the sign for the Circle K up the street, but that stops being my focus when I hear the distinct sound of tires screeching. My body snaps around at the sound, but it’s too late.

A man in all black and a mask over his face shoves me to the ground, the back of my head slamming into the concrete. I don’t even have a moment to fully understand what is happening before everything goes black.

I’m yankedfrom unconsciousness by ice cold water soaking through my clothes to my warm skin. I scream from the shock as my eyes are thrown open. My teeth chatter from the sudden chill as I take in my surroundings, all warmth below the top layer of my flesh dissipates when I realize exactly where I am.

No, no, no.

It can’t be, but it is.

I’m in the compound Jeremy’s protection has kept me from for the past four years. Jeremy has kept my father away from me, which means he hasn’t been able to bring me to the worst place on Earth.

The stone floors, aged wood table in front of me, and the theatrical stage to my left is enough to tell me exactly where I am. This is the place where my worst nightmares came to life.

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Mary Elizabeth.”

My blood runs cold as I look to my right and find the man I hate more than my sperm donor–Father Isaac. His real name isIsaac Horner. He’s a top federal judge in Harris County. He is also the most sadistic and bloodthirsty of all of The Fathers of Jephthah. He likes to make the children bleed and cry for mercy then he makes the torment ten times worse.

He is the most evil bastard I’ve ever met and that says a lot considering where I come from.

“Father Isaac,” I greet him as expected. My previous training comes out now because of where I have found myself. “Always a pleasure.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Mary Elizabeth.”

They always give the kids a new name at initiation, one that they feel is fitting for the place they expect the child to take once they reach adulthood.

I’m an adult now so what could he possibly want from me?

“May I ask the reason behind such an improper…invitation?” As children, we are taught to speak "properly" as they call it. And, by properly, I mean like we’re back in the 1800’s.

“I believe you know. You have been neglecting your duties and Father David has been allowing you to do so.”

My heart races in my chest. “Apologies. I’ve been busy.”

His hand suddenly slams down on the table before his face snaps down to my ear. He screams, “For four fucking years!”

My insides recoil and I try my best to fight the automatic response.

“I’m sorry,” I apologize though I’m not sorry at all.

“Don’t worry, child.” He gently runs his hand over my head. “It’s not your fault. This is a lacking of Father David’s parenting style. You have no control over that, do you?”