Page 24 of Dima's Vision
“Da.For two whole years I was blind. The Landrys, who have the gators, found me in a bad way. Took me in, taught me that even without any sight I can still be useful. I spent those two years helping people, in penance for what I had done. Then one day I was awakened by a dream of a little girl, lost in the woods, near a creek and I knew my vision was back, and so was myeyesight. Now I only use my gift to find those who need saving and I bring them home.”
I slump back against the door, staring at this man who has somehow made me feel more in the last 36 hours than anyone has my whole entire life. If he can use his gift for good, then surely, this side quest I’m on, ridding the world of scum, is worthwhile, even though somewhere, at the back of my mind I know that it’s not going to be as simple as just murdering a bunch of people.
Somewhere in the pit of my stomach I know this is just the beginning.
Chapter 11
Dima
“So, you gonna tell me exactly where we’re headed?” she asks, after sitting quietly watching the city out the window.
“About three hours from here, just outside a place called Adonner.”
She slowly turns her head toward me. “You mean the place where that religious cult was?”
I tilt my head in her direction, eyes still on the road. “You know of Eden’s Keep?”
Kristie scooches around in her seat, turning her body toward me, her knee tucked up under one leg. My lips twitch because she has such a large personality I forget, or perhaps don’t notice, how small she really is.
“Ah, yeah. Everyone knows about Eden’s Keep. With that creepy prophet guy and his even creepier brother.” She waves a hand in the air. “I always thought that the whole place was super suss. I mean, that many people living in the middle of nowhere, all dressed the same and not allowing insiders in? That’s a breeding ground for weird sex and abuse.” She faces forward again, watching the road. “So, somewhere out that way youknow people who own gators that help you get rid of people like Glenn?” She shakes her head. “I bet there’s all sorts of weirdos out there.”
I chuckle under my breath. “Yeah, and you’re about to meet some of them. The Landrys I told you about? They’re the prophet’s sons.”
A sharp intake of breath has my eyes darting to Kristie who is staring at me wide-eyed. “No. Fucking. WAY!? We get to go to Eden’s Keep and meetactualEden’s Keep people? Oh hells yes!” She punches the air, wriggling in her seat. “Do you think they’ll let me ask questions? Wait, how are we allowed in? It’s all like, exclusive and locked down and stuff isn’t it?”
I weigh up what to tell her. While Eden’s Keep has been the topic of various television expose-type specials, what happened to the Keep has been kept fairly quiet from the general public. How, I have no idea. I mean, how does one hide the fact that the whole cult has been dismantled and in its place is an MC?
My silence must make Kristie suspicious because she bodily turns toward me again in her car seat. “Isn’t it?”
“Ah, not so much.”
“Are they not there anymore? Wait, there was like, what? Just over 100 members at some stage? How do that many people just disappear?”
I can see her mind working overtime, and even though it’s not my story to tell, it’s a long drive and I’m not sure she’s the type of person that will just let this go.
“What do you know about Eden’s Keep exactly?” I ask, deciding to start with what she knows.
She turns again, facing forward, jiggling a little in her seat and I’m struck once again how different she is when she forgets her gift.
“OK. Well, I know that it’s run by the prophet guy, Mercy Landry and his second is his weird creepy brother who I thinkprobably marries underaged girls. There’s a council of men who make the decisions for the whole community and the men and women all have jobs within the community, but they’re all such gender stereotypes. Like who says a boy can’t cook? Like come on!” She throws her hands in the air. “Anyway, I haven’t heard anything about them for a while AND there haven’t been any new documentaries on them. If they committed mass suicide we’d all know. It’s hinky.” Her big hazel eyes narrow, her lush lips screwed up to the side as if she’s trying to solve the mystery of the universe.
“Well, I can tell you they didn’t commit suicide.”
“Aha! So you do know something! Come on Dima, you gotta spill.” She says, bouncing in her seat.
“You can’t tell anyone else,”
“Dude, who am I going to tell? Mama wouldn’t care, or she probably already knows because she knows everything. Brenna is too fucking nice to know anything icky about the world. And you’re the only other person I’ve spent more than an hour with in the last however many years. Stop holding out on me!” She reaches over and jabs me in the shoulder.
“OK, OK,” I laugh, loving the playfulness. “Eden’s Keep is just called The Keep now. It’s run by a motorcycle club.”
“No. Fucking. Way!”
“Yes. Fucking. Way.” I nod.
She sits quietly for a moment, chewing her lip. “But, how the hell did the MC take over?”
I let out a breath, side-eying her for a moment. “My friends, the Landrys all left the Keep pretty early on. They, along with their younger sister, made it their mission to help people escape Eden’s Keep. Well, the brothers did. Blanche made it her life mission to bring Eden’s Keep to its knees. She fast tracked her plans when it was revealed that Eden’s Keep was led by some of the biggest traffickers in the state.”
