Page 22 of The Cult

When she moves to look over at the camera, I grab her face to keep her looking at me. “Don’t. They’re always watching. Never forget that.”

She stares at me in terror until I drop my hand. “Why are you telling me this?” she asks in a low voice.

“Because the leader wanted me to come here to talk to you.”

Leveling her gaze on my face, she whispers, “The same leader who records everything in this place and might have it wired to hear every word we utter?”

I nod, knowing how that sounds. “Yeah. It’s complicated.”

Lara leans forward and groans. “It’s complicated is a social media status teenage girls post when they know everyone hates their boyfriend because he’s a dick. It’s not complicated to say something’s wrong when you’re an adult, Nash.”

Oh, this woman is going to get into trouble if she keeps saying things like that. Clearly, the shit Micah has put into the food and drink isn’t working on her like it should. That’s going to make things more difficult than she can even imagine if she doesn’t learn quickly to hold her tongue.

“Let’s just say Micah told me he doesn’t want you hurt, okay? So keep your mouth closed when we leave this building, and no more looking around like you did when you arrived. That made you stick out like a sore thumb, and that’s not going to help you here. Do you understand?”

My little speech makes her sigh, and drawing her eyebrows in toward her nose, she frowns as all her defiance seems to evaporate. “I thought I was being sly. So much for flying under the radar.”

“Is that what got you in trouble with Nadine?”

She shakes her head and sighs again. “No, and to be honest, I don’t think I did anything wrong by caring about someone who died not six feet away from me. She wouldn’t even let us take a few minutes to mourn poor Anna’s death. What a monster. How would it have hurt anyone to let us have a little while to process that?”

I want to explain to her that attachment to anyone but Micah isn’t permitted in The Golden Light, but I’ve already spent too much time whispering with her in the corner like this. No doubt he’s been watching every second of our time together, so I need to get her over to him now before he becomes suspicious.

“We need to go. Remember this, though. No looking like you’re interested in anything but the leader. His name is Micah. No speaking unless you’re spoken to, and never say anything that sounds like you’re curious about anything here. Everything is positivity and light. Got it? Paste a smile on your face and look like you’re blissfully unaware of anything but true happiness. And when you meet Micah, bow and then say nothing unless he asks you a question directly, and then be as vague and contented as possible.”

She stares at me in horror before whispering, “Bow? Are you kidding?”

I shake my head. This woman is never going to make it here.

“It sounds like I’m supposed to be a Stepford wife.”

“Just do as I say, and you’ll be safe.”

As I stand up, she asks, “Why does he let her use her junkyard dogs like that if he’s the leader?”

Looking down at her, I shrug. “No more questions. I don’t have answers you’ll like. Remember, look content and say nothing as much as possible.”

“He doesn’t sound like much of a leader, but fine. I’ll do my best happy girl routine.”

Christ, if she keeps this up, she’s not going to last a week here. Worse, I’ll probably pay for her misbehavior since Micah thinks I can get through to her so she believes all that positivity he preaches.

Lara stands up and takes a deep breath. “I’m curious about something.”

My frustration ratchets up even more so I want to lash out at her. “Did you not hear me? I just told you no more questions.”

“You said no more questions because you don’t have answers I’ll like. That’s fine. I’ll take those. At least that will be better than no answers at all.”

I close my eyes as a headache begins to form behind my eyes. Squeezing the bridge of my nose to stop it before it gets out of control, I mumble, “Fine. Ask your question. One.”

“Has any new member who looks like me showed up here in the past week?”

When I look at her, I see genuine worry in her eyes. God, this is bad. She’s here looking for someone she cares about, probably a family member.

I quickly run through all the new recruits I’ve seen come through in the past couple days but can’t think of anyone who might fit. Not that I could tell her even if I did remember someone. I may not want to hurt Lara, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stick my neck out for her.

Life here is precarious enough. It’s all I can do to keep things balanced with Nadine acting out her sadistic fantasies on anyone who steps out of line and Micah looking to me to do what he needs so The Golden Light doesn’t descend into chaos.

If Lara is going to survive here, she’s going to have to do it on her own. I’ve done all I can. Now it’s up to her.

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