Page 52 of Saving Little Jenna
I always wondered if it was a deliberate attempt to show that he truly didn't care about his past or future. Several times he'd done evil and reckless things that could've turned members of the cult against him, but he'd brainwashed them so well that he got away with it each time. But now he was out in the real world, where one mistake was enough to bring an end to his madness.
"You're a maniac!" I shouted.
A tear rolled down my cheek. When he came close and shushed me, I spat on his face. It landed right between his eyes. At first, he was taken aback, but then he laughed and wiped it off with his sleeve.
Sitting down next to me on the bed, he roughly grabbed my face with a hand. "You've still got a little fight in you. I like that. You've always been one of the most defiant ones. Most of the ones born in the cult are loyal as dogs, but not you. You were never willing to follow the rules, and look where it got you."
"Why, Otis?" I tried to be strong but tears continued to form in my eyes. "You could've chosen a different wife when I ran away. Why couldn't you just let one member go?"
"Let you go?" He scoffed. "And make a fool out of myself? I let one go and then they'll all want to leave. No, they need to know no one can escape Satan's will. I need to make an example out of you, so everyone knows the consequences of running away. You see, it's not about being your husband anymore. It's about sending a message now."
"Go on then." I gulped and nodded. "Kill me. Go ahead and get it over with."
"Kill you?" He threw his head back and burst into laughter. "You think I've searched for you for weeks just to kill you? I made all the tech-savvy members find your location day and night."
There he went again contradicting himself about how he found me. Everything out of his mouth was a lie. Having experienced his contradictions firsthand, I now wondered if he even believed in Satan. It might as well be another lie, an excuse to have control over people. Some people like Otis had only one intention, to inflict pain and watch people suffer.
"Besides," he continued. "I killed one of my wives, Anna, for running away. I'm sure you've heard of it, but it was a big mistake. It was too easy and kind. People forgot about it with time, but what I needed instead was a constant reminder. Your suffering will serve that purpose. I'll starve you for a few days here before you're so weak, you won't struggle when I lock you up in the trunk and take you back to the cult. Then you'll be locked up in the basement for weeks until there's nothing but bones left on your body. Your father told me how much that always scared you. We'll get married in a grand public ceremony while you're chained up like an animal. It'll be a grand enough display of the consequences of running away. Once you're my wife, you'll be locked up for the rest of your life in a dark basement and you'll never see the light of day. The stories of your ongoing suffering alone should be enough to make sure no one tries to run away for the next few decades."
The memory of Daddy promising me I'd never have to spend another minute locked up in a dark basement came rushing back to me. I burst into tears realizing Daddy had failed to keep his promise. He'd promised me he'd keep me safe from everyone and everything, and yet here I was being dragged back to a life of suffering.
I sobbed as I told myself Daddy had lied to me. But could I really blame him? I knew very well that nothing or no one could stop Otis. Starting an oppressive cult and making everyone around him obey were no ordinary feat. Daddy was physically strong, but Otis was cunning and evil. Otis must've been watching us for days, deciding to act once Daddy wasn't around.
At least I had a glimpse of a happy and normal life because of Daddy. Every single day locked up in the basement, I knew I'd relish the happy memories we'd created together. Maybe if I was lucky, I'd get to hallucinate them vividly, so vividly I wouldn't be able to tell if they were real. As long as I'd get to see daddy's face and hear his comforting voice, it didn't matter if it was just a hallucination. It was one thing Otis couldn't take away from me, the happy memories I'd created with Daddy. They'd stay with me forever no matter how much Otis tried to break me. Daddy had loved me and taken care of me when one else in my life bothered or wanted to, and for that, I would forever be grateful. All I could do was hope Daddy knew how much he meant to me and that I had loved him with every inch of my being, as much as a woman could humanly love another man.
Chapter 19: Clark
My worst nightmare had finally come true. My baby girl had been taken away from me and I had failed to keep my promise of protecting her. I was terrified at the thought of never seeing her sweet face again, never getting to hear the sweet voice of her giggling, or hear her call me Daddy.
Marcus, John and I had just finished decorating for the party when Michael called me. I knew something was wrong the moment he referred to me as Clark instead of uncle. When he told me what had happened, blood froze in my veins and my knees threatened to buckle. It was supposed to be the only time I was ever going to leave Jenna alone, but Otis had found her right then. It was more likely he'd been watching us from a distance and waiting for me to leave her alone. Maybe he'd been spying on us from that suspicious red car parked nearby our house for the past few days.
As soon as I'd hung up the phone, I ran outside and into the car before honking on the horn. John led Marcus outside and got into the car without any questions. The fear on my face must've been enough for John to understand what was going on.
Thank God I lived only fifteen minutes away from John's place, but I drove there in ten. When we rushed inside, Michael had been pacing around in the living room and Kristen was on the couch looking just as terrified.
"Uncle Clark, you're here!" Michael frowned and joined his hands pleadingly. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save her. I should've been looking after her."
"It isn't your fault, Michael." I patted him on the shoulder. "It's mine. I failed in my duties of being a good Daddy. She put her faith in me and I let her down. This is the moment I lose everything that matters, and I've only got myself to blame."
"Not so fast!" John stepped forward, grabbed me by the shoulders, and shook me vigorously. "Time is of the essence and this isn't the time to wallow. There was a time when nothing seemed impossible to you, and it was how you built your business from the ground up. You never just gave up, and you're definitely not giving up now. We need that determined Clark right now. Put your genius mind to work and think hard, meanwhile-" turning to Michael- "Michael, darling. Did you happen to see which direction they drove off in?"
"Wait!" I almost shouted before Michael could reply, my eyes widening with hope. "I just remembered something. When Jenna ran away from me weeks ago, I bought her a phone and put a parental app on it, just in case she ran away again. It's supposed to track her live location, but I've never checked if it works before."
"Great!" John clapped his hands together. "Let's save Jenna and fuck up this sick son of a bitch. He deserves a beating or two."
I pulled the phone out of my pocket, praying to God the app actually worked and she still had her phone with her. Everyone else huddled around me and stared at the screen as I opened the app. It loaded for a few seconds before showing a blinking red dot on a map.
"There she is!" I threw a fist in the air as adrenaline rushed through me. "She seems to be in this motel and it's only fifteen minutes away."
"We'll come along, uncle Clark!" Michael said as we rushed towards the front door. "Not as Littles, but as Jenna's friends. Sometimes, the family you make is greater than the one you're born in. We fight for our own because we stick together in this community. She needs to see how much her friends care about her."
"Michael's right." Kristen nodded. "Jenna and I have had our differences, but she's one of us. And when someone threatens one of us, they threaten all of us."
"Not a good idea, darling." John stepped forward and took Michael's hand. "This is a very dangerous man we're dealing with. We Daddies wouldn't be able to live with ourselves if something bad were to happen to any of you. The best way for you two to help us is by staying here and remaining safe yourselves. This is a serious situation and it's very important that you listen to us."
Michael sighed and looked at Kristen defeatedly. "Fine. I'll stay here and Kristen will look after me."
"I knew you'd understand." John kissed Michael on the forehead before running out the door and getting into the car with us.
