Page 15 of The Cult

“Stay here?” I pointed at the gate.

“Yes. I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Sure,” I answered nonchalantly. I didn’t want to sound too eager. “I can stay.”

“Good.” Orcus nodded. “That’s really good.”

I held my breath as the metal gate opened. In seconds, I’d be inside the target’s territory. All that was left for me to do was find Oliver’s family and get the fuck out. This can’t be that easy, can it?

“This is the Central Compound,” he said. “North Compound is that way,” he added, pointing north.

Inside, the compound was bizarre. A group of women, all dressed in identical attire that seemed to swallow any hint of individuality, moved with disconcerting uniformity. They walked in rhythm, heads bowed as they shuffled silently between buildings in the closed-off complex. The occasional murmur of hushed conversations paused when they spotted us. What the fuck is the deal with this place?

Orcus whistled, summoning some of the guards, who, by the look of it, were there primarily to be imposing figures of intimidation. “Send a couple of men to Route 18 to pick up the others,” he ordered. Similar to the men manning the gate, they didn’t utter a single word. He nodded down the dirt road. “Keep going in that direction,” he instructed once we were alone. I hated following orders from anyone who wasn’t paying my bills, but for Oliver I’d play along.

As we navigated through the utilitarian community, the cult’s purpose and its leader piqued my curiosity. What drew these people here? What bound them to this weird routine? What was keeping them inside? How was Orcus as a leader? Our drive took us onto a winding path that led us away from the center of the community, deeper into the heart of the woods, where a large old structure stood.

We drove past a faded Restricted Zone sign. “What’s this place?” I asked, studying the buildings and looking for familiar faces. Oliver’s family had to be here somewhere.

“It’s a safe haven for people who are tired of the chaos and lack of order out there in the world. People who are looking for a fresh start.”

“Oh, I like that,” I lied.

“You can stop here,” Orcus said, facing me. He studied my face when more armed guards approached our car, pulling our doors open. “Can I trust you, Toby?” he asked. Stupid question. Like someone would ever say no to him, in this place, surrounded by dozens of men with guns.

“Yes,” I answered with a reassuring nod. “You can trust me.”

He was thoughtful for a second, appraising me, and I wished I could read his mind. “Well then. Welcome to The Creed—our safe haven.” He squeezed my shoulder before hopping out of the car. “You’ll love it here.”

Eight: Abel

It’d been a couple of days since we were separated from the group and had yet learned the reasons why. Aside from the four gates we passed through to get to the Restricted Zone, everything looked the same. The bunkhouse was the same, the routines were the same, the gym where we spent the past few mornings training was also the same. The only difference was there were only six of us versus the usual twenty guys. What was so special about this part of The Creed?

I pulled the small metal lever that turned the shower on. Drops of frigid water dripped onto my hair and flowed down my face, trickling over my chest and abs, rinsing away my sweat. I shivered as the icy stream cascaded over my exhausted body. The tension from the grueling workout we’d endured moments ago began to ease as the cold water lessened the ache in my muscles.

Every part of my body had protested the intensity of the drill we’d been forced to do. The addition of new exercises had pushed me beyond my limits, leaving my body spent. Even our martial arts training had been taken up a notch. “You better get used to it,” one of the guards, acting as my sparring partner, had said. He proceeded to speak more bullshit, but I tuned him out once he mentioned how “lucky” we were to be “the chosen ones.” Blah, blah, blah. And what was up with the additional training? It wasn’t like we’d be sent into combat or anything. We never left the compound!

As a warm spray gradually replaced the cold, steam enveloped the small stall. My mind began to wander. Just when I thought this community couldn’t get any creepier, disturbing shit kept happening.

Lost in my own thoughts in the fogged-up bathroom, it took me a minute to notice a man standing just beyond the shower area. After squinting through the thin layer of steam and water dripping off my lashes, I recognized Napoleon. What the fuck was he doing in here?

Between steam billows, I caught Napoleon’s eyes travel down my body and lock onto my cock. My skin crawled. What the hell? Was he fucking for real? He licked his lips, lust evident in his beady eyes. The intensity of his gaze was unsettling, making me feel exposed and vulnerable. I wasn’t afraid of him, since I knew I could take him down easily, but he was an authority figure and I shuddered to think what he could do to me and my family if I did anything outside the norm. He’d find any excuse to punish me.

I reached for the shower curtain, pulling it shut with a resolute tug. The thin plastic barrier offered a semblance of privacy, shielding me from his creepy presence. With my heart pounding, I leaned against the tiled wall, letting the warm spray soothe my nerves as I mulled over what the hell he was doing here.

As the falling water echoed and mingled with my own ragged breaths, it gradually washed away not only my physical exhaustion but also the riddle that had clouded my mind these past couple of days. I needed to refocus. I couldn’t afford to lose concentration, not with uncertainty in the air. This was the perfect opportunity to unravel the mystery of The Creed. I just needed to keep my eyes peeled and my ears perked.

I turned off the shower and shook the remaining droplets from my tired body before pulling back the curtain.

“Be ready in five minutes,” the overhead speaker blasted.

I quickly reached for my towel, dried myself off, and grabbed my clothes that were sitting on top of the counter. Where the fuck were my underwear? My jaw clenched but I didn’t have time to look for them. It’d be a wasted effort anyway, since I had a suspicion who had them. When I exited the shared bathroom, I cast a subtle glance toward Napoleon, who was now standing further away, maintaining a watchful distance. Asshole. I made my way back to our living quarters. I had four minutes left to get ready.

The guys who opted out of showering were resting on their bunks instead. Heavy feet slapping on the floor and collective groaning filled the space. “I’m tired of this shit,” one of the guys said. He could say that again.

“I’m so sore,” Seven said as he headed in my direction, glancing around cautiously as he neared. “Hey.” He scanned the room once again. “The guys talked to me before we were taken,” he whispered.

I kept a neutral expression, waiting for him to elaborate. “Oh yeah? What about?”