Page 62 of The Cult

I look at him and see he’s dead serious. Has he lost his mind?

“She’s my sister, Nash. I think I know who she is. Come on. Mario can give us a ride to my car, and then if you want, you can stay with me. I’ll probably go hang out with her for a while, but you’re welcome to crash at my apartment for as long as you like.”

He shakes his head. “I had no idea she was your sister. I’ve seen her dozens of times, Lara. She’s one of Micah’s women. She came to the farm about a month ago with a guy I now realize is your boss there. She instantly became one of the leader’s favorites. Whatever you’re thinking is going to happen here, she’s not going to help you get away. She’s in The Golden Light as deep as it gets. Believe me. She won’t help us.”

My mouth drops open as he says all of that. It’s impossible. Rina would never get sucked into all that crazy nonsense. She’s smarter than that. I should have known from the start she wouldn’t be convinced by all that positivity crap and Micah’s wannabe messiah thing he has going on.

“You’re wrong. My sister isn’t anything like that. You must have her confused with someone else.”

“No, I don’t,” he says as he tugs on my arm to pull me away. “I’ve seen her, Lara. I told you I sometimes had to go to other locations when Micah sent me on errands. I’ve seen your sister with him. Come on. We have to go!”

What he’s saying isn’t possible. Even if Rina had somehow gotten involved with this group of crazy people, she would never have fallen for Micah’s nonsense. She’s too smart for that.

I look over at Rina and can’t square what Nash claims is true. He has to be mistaken. There are millions of brunette women with dark eyes in the world. He must be thinking of someone else.

“You’re confusing her with some other woman, Nash. Wait until you meet her. You’re going to like her. She’s like me but sweeter.”

Rina walks toward me wearing a big smile. “I’m so happy to see you, Lara! Come inside and meet my friends.”

Looking back at Nash, I try to get him to understand. “See? She’s just hanging out with some friends.”

“Ask her who they are.”

So he sees he’s wrong, I ask her, “Who are your friends?”

Spreading her arms, she gives me an even bigger smile as she stops in the middle of the street. “They’re people who helped me see things straight. They can help you too. You just have to come inside, Lara.”

My heart sinks as I listen to her. She sounds just like all those women back at the farm. Oh, God. Is it possible Nash is right?

He leans in and says in my ear, “See? She’s not the person you knew. She’s one of them now.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “No. I won’t believe it until I hear it from her lips.”

“Then ask her. Ask her if she’s a member of the group. Then you’ll see.”

Mario waits on the other side of the street, and suddenly, it feels like the world has stopped. Part of me desperately wants to do just as Nash says and ask her that question, but another part of me is terrified to hear the answer.

“Lara, ask her, but she’s lost. I’m sorry. I wish I didn’t have to say these things. She’s not the sister you remember. She’s with Micah, which means she’s in deep with The Golden Light. You’re not going to talk her out of staying, and if we don’t get out of here, they’re going to force us back to the farm to punish us for leaving.”

Looking over at Rina, I say the words I must and hope her answer won’t break my heart. “Who are your friends? Are they from The Golden Light?”

She beams a smile, and even before she speaks, I know Nash hasn’t been wrong about her. “You know about The Golden Light? Oh, Lara! I’m so happy for you. Come in and find your greatness.”

Tears well in my eyes. She’s one of them.

Beside me, Nash says, “We have to go now. Come on.”

I’m torn between trying to save my sister and knowing if I don’t go with Nash right now, he’s going to be in danger. I can’t be the reason he spends hours screaming from the torture.

Or worse.

I turn to face him, trying to figure out what to do. “Let me just talk to her, Nash. I can get through to her. I can make her see these people are messed up.”

Sadness fills his eyes. “No, you can’t. If she’s with Micah, she’s too far gone. Listen to what she just said. Come and find your greatness? That’s straight out of the leader’s mouth.”

From across the street, Rina says, “Your friend can come too, Lara. All are welcome to share in The Golden Light.”

I glance over at her and can’t believe this is happening. Or maybe I can. There was a reason I went looking for Rina with these people. I think deep down I always suspected she might fall prey to Micah’s bullshit, even though I tried to convince myself she was too smart for all of it.

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