Page 14 of Cole

“Do you remember me?” The cop, who Cole now noticed was wearing a deputy’s hat, softened his voice to a more personable tone.

A surreal sensation raced up Cole’s spine, causing his skin to prickle as he gazed at the familiar face from his past. “Deputy... Roland?”

The man smiled slightly. “I must say, you’ve grown into quite astoutman. You were just a little thing as a boy.”

Cole blinked. “What… what are you doing here?” His brow furrowed. “How did you… find me?”

“It wasn’t easy,” Roland admitted. “I searched for you for over a decade. When you ran off and disappeared, it was as if you vanished into thin air… not a trace left behind.”

Swallowing thickly, Cole said, “I didn’t want any traces to my past.” A chill rippled through him. “I didn’t want to be… Henry Pruett… anymore.” He shook his head. “I still don’t.”

The deputy exhaled deeply. “Unfortunately, changing your identity doesn’t erase who you are. Your past is inescapable. I fear it’s beginning to catch up with you, which is why I’m here.” He took a brief pause. “Your father didn’t die in the woods that day. He would have, had I not found him.” Roland let out a heavy breath. “Now, I regret finding him… or perhaps I should have left him to die. I know that sounds terrible, but…” He looked at Cole. “…you already understand what he was.”

“You found him?” Cole whispered.

Roland nodded. “I also found… the cellar in the barn. I knew Daniel wasn’t the friendliest of men, but I had no idea he was capable of… the things he did.” He rubbed his mouth. “I wish you had told me what he was doing. I would have helped you, gotten you away from him… put him in prison much sooner.”

Cole sank onto the chair again. “I couldn’t tell you,” he whispered. “My dad said if I told…” He looked up at Roland. “… he would do to you what he did to the women… and make me help.”

“You remained in that hell to protect me?” Roland murmured. “That took incredible courage, but even so, I’m so sorry you suffered because of me.”

Cole hung his head, shoulders slumping. “When did you find me?”

“About a year ago,” Roland said and smiled, “around the time of your wedding. You seemed happy and well-adjusted. I didn’t want to approach you and bring up bad memories; I just wanted to see for myself that you had made it and were okay. Your father was in prison on death row. I saw no need for you to know he was still alive.” He released a stiff breath. “Until now. He escaped from a prison transport bus while being transferred to another facility. I think he may have found out where you are and may be coming here.”

Cole exchanged a dire look with Dane. “He’s already here,” Cole whispered. “He attacked my husband and… abducted three of my friends. Two of them are teens, a boy and a girl.”

“He’s already here,” Roland mumbled. “I didn’t know he would arrive so soon. I’ve been monitoring his incarceration all these years, but only learned of his escape yesterday.” He released another heavy breath. “How is your husband?”

“He just came out of surgery,” Cole murmured. “I haven’t seen him yet, but he’s doing well.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Roland frowned thoughtfully. “Do you believe he was trying to kill your husband—or abduct him as well?”

“Abduct him.” Cole closed his eyes as the monster’s proposedtradechilled him to the bones.

“You seem certain.”

“I am.” Cole sniffed as fresh tears dampened his eyes, and he looked at Roland. “Hetoldme that he wants Gabe. He said he would trade the others for Gabe.”

Roland frowned. “Youspoketo him? Over the phone?”

Cole nodded. “And in person. He made me meet with him.”

“Jesus,” the deputy breathed. “How did that go?”

Cole trembled. “I felt like a kid again, the day my dad removed his mask… and unveiled the monster.”

Following his removal from school, Henry spent nearly every waking hour with his dad over the next few weeks. Although he suspected this time was intended for bonding, it ultimately created a deeper rift between them, at least from Henry's perspective. Daniel Pruett took Henry hunting almost daily, where they targeted small game and young deer. Henry appreciated that his dad didn’t force him to shoot the animals, but what Daniel expected of him proved much worse.

It began with a rabbit. Henry watched his dad pin the bunny to a board, legs spread out and soft, furry belly exposed. When Daniel offered him the knife, Henry recoiled.

“I-I can’t.” Henry shook his head. “I… I don’t want to.”

“You can,” his dad insisted. “And you will.” He pressed the knife into Henry’s hand. “You’ll get used to it. After a while… you’ll enjoy it.”

Enjoy it? Why would he ever enjoy gutting another creature?

Daniel squeezed his son’s hand around the knife handle and guided him, showing him where to penetrate the animal and how to slice it open without puncturing the internal organs. Next, he made Henry pull out the guts with his bare hands. Henry gagged and puked in a trash can. His dad forced him to continue even after vomiting and instructed him on dismembering the small animal.

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