Chapter 115
- Becky -
He caught me staring and gave a slight nod, the barest flicker of acknowledgement, before striding past me into the hall.
I hesitated, then followed.
The church was quiet at this hour, only the groan of timbers and the occasional scuff of boots echoing in its stone corridors. Lanterns hung low, shadows pooling in the corners. The earthquake had shaken more than just the streets outside—it had rattled something deeper inside Josh.
Josh walked with purpose. Not hurried, but deliberate, as though he already knew where he was going. He didn't speak, and I didn't push him to. I just kept pace at his side until we reached the old wing of the church.
The door there was locked, bolted shut as if someone wanted to erase what lay beyond. Dust coated the frame. The quake had left hairline cracks through the plaster, and a faint smell of ash clung to the wood.
Josh placed his hand on the dust of the doorframe, where a handprint wiped away a bit of dust. For a heartbeat, he didn't move; he just stood there, thinking, palm resting on the barrier. Then, with a sudden, sharp kick, he forced the lock open. The wood splintered, and the door swung inward, barely holding on to what was left of the frame.
The echo of the wood snapping through the silent halls, the now strong smell of dust and ash filling the air.
"Damn, figures."
I edged closer, peering into the dim light. The air felt heavier here, colder, as though the church itself was holding its breath.
Then I saw the stairs that once looked to cling there, now broken, unusable.
"Josh, what happened?"
Josh froze. His fists clenched.
"This is where Thomas was held and where we faced something more than a demon. A man we barely got out alive."
By this time, the others found us. And had been caught up on the details.
"So you're saying this was a setup the whole time, and that's why you and Kaysi disappeared?" Micah responded irritably. "Can't believe this."
Josh sighed. "The worst part is that whoever did all this is still at large. And we don't seem to have any information."
"Then we start asking everyone who has been in the church for the last day for any clues." Duke directed.
We all broke up, asking as many people as we could. Then we came to a young woman, maybe in her early 20s, who gave us a clue.
"I did see someone in a hood messing around here by the door. There was the sound of metal hitting metal. But I figured it was just one of the homeless people scavenging for food, as they often do from time to time. I yelled at him that he wasn't supposed to be in this area, and he took off."
Josh spoke with a calmed rage. "That man you saw is behind Thomas' disappearance, and he was guided by someone he trusts—there were no signs of struggle."
The woman crossed her arms and placed her chin in her hand, thinking. "Oh, so that person could be any of us, then?"
"Percily! The man we fought turned into a demon, and we slew him. He was a much older man, possibly in his late 40s or early 50s. He was about my height. And had short brown hair with some gray in the front. Also, he sported a short beard."
Josh spoke so outwardly. We were told not to talk to people about demons unless it came up. Most people don't believe in demons, as they are often classified as fairy tales and fantasy. The funny thing is that most of them are unaware of the significant impact they have on people's everyday lives. He has to have a good reason for this.
"The description you gave sounds like one of our new ushers in the church. He recently came and said he had done service before in his home church and offered to help with the staff."
"And you think to ask for more information, a resume?" I scoffed.
"Well, when he helped with the teens, he had to pass a background check to volunteer."
"You know, the most trusted people who can pass a background check don't mean shit. It just means they haven't been caught yet! He was using the boy as a sacrifice to bring their god. I hate to say this, but the group he had with him and how he behaved... Josh paused. I can't say honestly that Thomas was his only victim."
"Oh no..." I gasped. This must have been one of the many worries plaguing Josh. I teared up a bit thinking about how much pain Josh and Kaysi faced.
Josh looked at me out of the corner of his eye. "We have to stay alert so that no one can work with him."
All the volunteers and staff had a meeting to inform them to be on the lookout for anyone suspicious in the community and to keep children near a trusted adult or parent. The lady was sensitive to the word 'demon' but referred to a man from a cult.
Jeniffer from the orphanage came in to help and take Thomas back to recover and stay safe until the dome was destroyed. "I can't imagine what you all went through. I have witnessed firsthand how you kids deal with things beyond your years. Thank you for standing up for the boy." She turned to Josh. Micah has updated her before she came here on what happened.
After a few hours, we got a lot of information on suspicious people. Some things were from people being paranoid and afraid, but some leads were questionable. We were given information about a small group going in and out of an abandoned warehouse a few days ago. Well-kept group of people that did their best to hide their faces.
This was enough of a lead for us to check into.