Page 2 of The Cult

“Join me, my children, and find the light!” he calls out from the dais.

And with that, he walks out the door behind the stage like he always does at the end of one of his shows, leaving the audience sobbing and swearing only he can give them what they need. It’s quite a thing to see.

Ramon waits for me to move and follows me when I begin walking toward the door. He’s far more timid than most of Micah’s guards, but he’s an okay guy. How he’s going to handle some of the others who love to inflict pain on anyone they think is weak we’ll have to see.

“That’s the fourth time I’ve witnessed, and it’s just as exciting as the first day,” he says breathlessly once we’re outside and walking toward Micah’s rooms.

I glance over at him and smile. “It’s definitely him at his best.”

We make our way in silence to the cabin farthest away from the main building where we were and file in with the other guards and those group members closest to Micah. When we find our spots, all the guards bow to him.

He sits in his blue chair with gold arms and legs that has always reminded me of a throne and steeples his fingers in front of him. Wearing only black pants like usual, he’s shirtless, also something he likes to do. I don’t blame him since it’s got to be in the mid-nineties today. I wish he’d let the rest of us do the same, but he insists each guard wear our usual uniform of a black T-shirt and black pants along with our black shitkicker boots.

To say it’s hot is an understatement.

On his right stands Nadine, the only powerful woman in the group. Some think of her as Micah’s right hand or his girlfriend, but I’m not sure what position she holds here. All I know is he’s the leader, but she possesses far more clout with him than any of us.

Dressed in her usual dark gray dress that looks like something a strict German headmistress of some school for wayward teenage girls might wear and matronly black shoes, she scowls at all of us like we’re enemies of the state of Micah. I’ve never understood why she always looks like she hates us.

Behind her stand her own guards that protect only her. I’m not sure why Micah allows that, but if he has an issue with anything she does, he doesn’t show it.

He spreads his arms out wide and takes a deep breath in, expanding his muscular chest. Nadine watches like a proud girlfriend or mother. I can’t decide which.

“What a wonderful day it is. That was a very good session, don’t you think?”

I’ve always taken these questions he poses to the guards as rhetorical, but Ramon quickly answers, “Oh, yes! It was wonderful, Micah!”

Nadine’s eyes flash the purest anger I’ve ever seen, their darkness nearly on fire as she glares at the new guard, and my heart pounds in my chest as I wait to see what might happen next. I’ve seen her lash out at anyone she’s decided isn’t conforming to the rules, so it wouldn’t be surprising for her to order her guards to take poor Ramon out and teach him how to behave. I don’t think he’ll get the box, but it could be bad for him.

Not a single one of us says a word as we wait for Micah to react, and it feels like I’m holding my breath the whole time. I look down at the wood floor and hope whatever happens won’t involve me, but Nadine has seen me talking to Ramon more than once today.

Finally, Micah chuckles, and I lift my head to see him wearing a broad smile. Relief washes over me, and I silently thank God that didn’t turn ugly like it definitely could have.

“Ramon, I love that you’re so enthusiastic!” he says, and I take my first breath in what seems like forever. “You did well, my child. You’re officially my favorite guard today. How does that feel?”

“Thank you!” Ramon answers. “I’m so happy. Thank you, Micah.”

Once more, Nadine glares at the poor guy. Why is she so particularly surly today? Even as I think that, I know we won’t have to wait long to find out. What that will mean only God knows.

“Everyone, you did well today. Go enjoy some food and get some exercise. I’ll call for you later.”

I turn to walk out, but Micah adds, “Nash and Adam, you two stay.”

My stomach clenches when my name hits my ears. Being ordered to face Micah is never a good thing. Quickly, everything I’ve done in the past few days races through my mind, but I can’t find anything that would warrant this private meeting.

Everyone else hurries out of the room, no doubt thankful their names weren’t the ones Micah spoke, but Nadine and her four guards remain. As Ramon reaches the door, he looks back at me with genuine terror in his eyes.

Maybe he’s not as naïve as I thought.

Micah waves us forward to stand in front of him, so I walk up to his chair and bow. I don’t give a damn about what Adam does. He mostly gets on my nerves, so thinking about him is the last thing I need right now.

When the two of us stand up, we wait to hear what the leader of The Golden Light has to say to us. I stay away from this guard as much as possible because of his temper, so I can’t imagine what Micah wants from the two of us.

Nadine studies Adam and then me, never cracking even the tiniest hint of a smile. Her guards stare over our heads as they’ve been ordered to. It’s an odd requirement she forces on them, but none of the four men who protect her ever make eye contact with anyone in the group when she’s around.

Micah turns to her and sighs. “I want to speak to my guards privately. Please take your men and leave for the time being.”

That gets the two of us one final nasty glare before she bows to him and spins on her heel to leave with her guards. I’m more at ease now that she’s gone because I have a feeling despite being Micah’s biggest supporter, Nadine has a bad effect on his mood most days.

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