Page 116 of Stay With Me
“Chris Smith, put your hands in the air. You are wanted for questioning regarding your participation in a kidnapping,” Hunt demands and approaches him with one of his agents flanking him.
“You must be mistaken. I have not taken anyone,” he says with a smirk.
“Video evidence says otherwise. Where are Matthew and the rest of your friends?”
“We are here with our family,” he says calmly as he’s cuffed along with the woman who opened the door.
“Call them out to the main room,” Hunt says.
Chris just stares at him, not saying anything, and then a sharp whistle fills the air.
“What did you just signal?” Agent Thorne asks.
My eyes take in the room beyond the front door, waiting for someone to come out, but there’s no noise.
“Read them their rights and take them to separate squad cars,” Hunt tells one of the deputies.
The deputies comply and lead Chris and the woman away from the house.
Hunt turns back to us. “Alright, it’s time to clear the house. Noah, I need you to radio to see if the other teams have seen anything and have Team C hit some of the outbuildings.”
I nod and get on my radio, receiving updates and giving directives, and then we walk into the house. We go room by room, clearing each. Most are empty, but some women are in a couple of them. In the final room, I see Luna’s dress folded on the bed.
Hunt looks over his shoulder. “That’s what Luna was wearing, right?”
“Yeah,” I respond through clenched teeth.
The window is partially open, and I know she tried to get away.
“If she got away, the rain might work in her favor,” Hunt muses.
I nod. “I never thought I would be happy about a rainstorm during a search. My main worry is the temps dropping as the sun goes down.”
As he goes to respond, my radio crackles. “Matthew has been secured and is yelling that we’re delaying his destiny. We found him with one other male and several women. One woman says they’re looking for someone.”
My heart soars. “Location,” I snap and turn on my heel, racing out the closest door.
“Northwest from the house, about half a football field.”
Once outside, I pause and take in my surroundings. With the sun to my right, I start to run in that direction toward the woods, footsteps from the rest of the team sounding behind me. As I get closer, I hear a male voice yelling.
“You have no idea who you are messing with! I will be the ruler of this land when God condemns you all for your sins. I demand you let me go.”
“No can do, Matthew,” Hunt says as he jogs up next to me. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Now let’s make this easier on you, and tell us where Luna is.”
I take the young man in, his face red with anger. His eyes are wild as he puffs his chest out and tries to stand taller with his shoulders back.
“Howdareyou address me by my name and not the name of Father. I will never tell you where my bride is. She will never be corrupted by the outside world again. She ismine and mine alone. We are destined to be together and bring life to this world after the apocalypse. You poisoned her mind and have led her from her true path.”
I charge forward with my fists clenched, but Mike holds me back. “Don’t do it, kid. I don’t want to have to take your badge even though a swift kick in the ass is what this kid needs.”
Anger pumps through my veins.
“We need him to tell us where she is,” I say through clenched teeth.
“We don’t know where she is,” someone says off to the side, and I whip my head toward the sound.
The small woman flinches as Matthew yells, “How dare you defy my direct orders. I should have left you to die back home. You will burn with the rest of them in the end if you continue to help them.”
