“SALOME!”

Our heads whipped around toward the sound of my name being called somewhere in the shelter of the surrounding trees. Hope blossomed in my chest for a brief moment. It quickly gave way to mortal dread when I recognized the voices of elders, barking out commands, hot on our trail.

“Fuck!” Cain spat out and grabbed my arm. He yanked me into step, only to stop dead when Brother Jacob stepped out from behind a large oak tree, gun aimed squarely at Cain’s chest.

“Brother Cain, where are you taking Salome?” Jacob asked, knowing full well we were trying to escape.

Cain stayed silent and squeezed my hand in support.

“Brother Cain, your silence betrays your guilt. You were taking her, weren’t you?”

Cain braced himself and thrust me behind him. “Brother Jacob, step away,” he warned. I recognized this side of Cain. His protective instincts were kicking in… he was embracing his Hangmen side.

Jacob smiled and cocked his head. “I don’t think so. Salome stays here, where she belongs. How quickly you forget the teachings, brother.”

It all happened so fast that my mind could not take in what had occurred until it was over. Cain reached forward, disarmed Jacob, then wrapped his hands around Jacob’s neck from behind. With one quick twist, Cain snapped Jacob’s neck and the sound of breaking bone launched vomit into my mouth.

Jacob’s lifeless body fell at my feet.

My hand flew to my mouth. Cain panted with the exertion and he towered over Jacob’s dead body.

“Mae?” I looked up at Cain, his face ashen, voice breaking and I raced to his side.

Shaking, he pulled me into his arms and I fell into his embrace. I held him for saving my life for a second time. I held him for the friend he once was… I held him in a final farewell.

“I love you, Mae,” he whispered. I could hear his heart breaking with every word.

I squeezed him one last time, letting him go. “You must leave, now!”

He stared at me blankly. “They are here to kill me, Mae. The Hangmen. They’re here for their revenge. Styx, he’ll—”

“And that is why you must flee!” I asserted and pushed on his arm.

His head dropped. “I deserve to die. What I’ve done, Mae… I’ve been so confused with what is right… I… I… don’t know who I am anymore…” He stared down at Jacob’s body. “Everything I’ve done to you is unforgiveable. I should never have brought you back here… I didn’t realize what they were really like…” He gripped my hand and water filled his eyes.

Stepping to meet his chest, I lifted to my toes and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. Cain did not move as I drew back and his brown eyes filled with pure adoration. Part of me wished I could love him as he desired. Deep down, he was a good man. He deserved to be loved. He deserved more than this…

Cain sighed in defeat, his palm was feather light on my face, then he whispered, “I would have given you the world…”

I ran my hand down his cheek in return, his soft brown beard tickling my palm. “Run, Cain. Please… Run…”

As the noise of firearms grew closer, Cain shook his head, refusal in his stance.

“Run, please… Save yourself… For me, if you love me, run… for me…”

Cain stepped away slowly with a pained sigh, tears cascading down his cheeks, until he disappeared into the heavy foliage of the forest.

He was gone.

Stifling a sob, I cast my eyes around me and found my intended route; I had to find my sisters. I took off, sprinting toward the cell, my heart slamming into my chest with every stride.

Smoke billowed around me, bullets ricocheted off trees, but I had to reach my sisters. They will be trapped and frightened. I had to free them, then I had to find Styx.

The sounds of people’s screams tormented me as I ran quickly to the cell and I rejoiced as the path began to narrow; the cell was just ahead.

“Help! Help us!”

Maddie and Lilah’s frantic screams pushed me to double my efforts. Speeding into the clearing, I spotted the claustrophobic gray cell in which Maddie and Lilah were confined. They scrambled to reach me through the bars.

“Mae! Mae!” Lilah shouted as I skidded to a halt and began pulling at the bars. They did not move.

“I need a key. Where is the key?” I yelled, desperation coursing through my veins.

“The guards locked us in!” Maddie exclaimed, fear written all over her sweet face.

“I cannot open it. I cannot open it!” I cried as my hands grew numb shaking the thick bars.

Helpless, Maddie and Lilah sat back as I worked for several more minutes trying to open the gate. But it was hopeless. I dropped my head as two hands reached through and grasped mine.

“What is happening, Mae?” Lilah asked in a quiet voice. “Are we being invaded?”

A small smile ghosted across my lips. “It is my love. He has come for me.”

Maddie gasped. “The man from the outside?”

“Yes. He has brought his men to free us.”

They both paled.

“We cannot leave commune,” Lilah whispered. “It is too dangerous out there.”

“We must. There is no other choice,” I pushed.

“But the teachings, the prophecies!” Lilah stressed. Beads of sweat formed on her head in the sweltering summer night and Maddie began rocking in fear.

“You will have me. We will survive. We will all survive.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

Every inch of me froze.

I slowly turned my head, only to see Gabriel, Noah, and Moses. All three stood, towering over us, covered in blood, gripping their rifles. Vehemence was clear in their stares.

Standing up, I spread myself to cover the gate, ushering Lilah and Maddie with my hands to withdraw to the rear of the cell.

“Gabriel, be gone. They will be coming for you,” I warned, but my voice broke, betraying my fear.

The three elders approached. “Do you know what your sinner and his butchers have done?” he asked in a deep, gruff voice.

Darting my eyes around the line of trees, I shook my head and whispered, “No.” Gabriel knew I was lying. I could see it in his murderous glare.

“He killed Prophet David. He murdered our Messiah!” Gasps of shock burst forth from inside the cell and dread seeped into my bones. The elders were beyond furious and their wrath was aimed at me.