Page 75 of Drag You Down
With a choked sob, I extend my other hand to him, letting him secure my wrist against one of the wooden bars so I’m locked into that position.
I should be used to it by now.
It’s far from the first time he’s instructed me to kneel like this.
But it is the first time he’s locked me into place.
“This is for your own protection,” Father Zachariah says. He presses his hand against my wounded back, making me bite back a cry of pain, and leans down to kiss the top of my head. “You know that I love you, child, as I love all my flock.”
He’s said those words before, too.
I believed them, too.
But there’s no love here.
“Yes, Father Zachariah,” I whisper.
He pushes into my back, making me whimper in pain, before righting himself. “Pray for your soul, Levi. Pray that God cleanses you of the stain you brought upon yourself. And pray that He forgives you for all the transgressions, for all the sins you’ve partaken in of late.”
Tears roll down my cheeks.
Father Zachariah walks away, back toward the stairs.
Every step creaks as he makes his way back up.
And when he’s at the top, he flips the light switch.
I’m plunged into darkness as the door closes and the last sliver of light goes with it.
Then I’m alone.
No one is coming to save me — not God, not the Devil, not an avenging angel.
My breathing comes in short gasps, and I think I’m going to hyperventilate if I don’t calm down soon. I don’t think I can, though. I don’t think I can do anything but panic as I kneel here in the dark, in the pit of Hell where even angels would be afraid.
If they’d be frightened, what hope is there for me?
I pray anyway.
CHAPTER 16
GABRIEL
Dom stares at me through the bars of the jail cell. Anybody else would be intimidated, but a steely gaze isn’t going to scare me.
I sit up straighter on the uncomfortable cot and stare right back.
“I should let you spend another day in here,” Dom says with a shake of his head. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
“Myboywas walking all alone on the bridge,” I say calmly.
I have to stay calm, because if I let Dom or anyone else know how murderous I’m feeling, I won’t get out of here easily. They’ve already kept me locked up overnight. The police department has even denied me a phone call to my lawyer.
I’ll sue the department, of course, but my real revenge will come with more agony. I’d spent my night daydreaming about how I’d rend the flesh from all their bones, listening to their screams and begging.
O’Connor will get the worst of it. I’d imagined him pleading for forgiveness. I’ll cut his tongue out first so he can only scream incoherently, then pluck out his eyes one by one.
Levi will cling to my side and sigh happily at the beautiful carnage.
