Artemis pulled up to the salon forty-five minutes after her first appointment. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P0dyIbq2S
“Shit,” she said for the fifth time that morning.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIr7eVZpiH
“Mom, I don’t wanna go to your work!”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCDifmMHmL
Artemis twisted in her seat to face her son in the back. “You shut the hell up,” she hissed. “You’re the reason why I’m late, you little shit.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VesgQatK3
Six.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnZRO9VK6c
“But I don’t wanna––”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mpk4xs1hm
“I don’t care what you do or don’t wanna do.” A tendril of red-dyed hair fell over her right eye. A strand coiled under her eyelid as she tried to blink it away with her false lashes. “Now you listen to me.” With a hand that had lime-green painted claws, she swiped the hair out of her eye. “You’re goin with me to work today, and you’re goin to behave yourself.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡomuGoa2dWU
“But I don’t wanna miss school.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd753SqQdx
She let her long legs out of the car. “Yeah, well, that’s what you get for makin me late.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1SfhOurM6
The car door slammed with an unsatisfactory whap. Instead of waiting for him to get out of the car, she headed into the salon.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3xAAYYNLx
“Artemis, is everything okay?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9boYRXd392
“Find, Gene. Fine.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡleG4Ge16dq
Quietly, Gene said, “You still have a curler in your hair.” copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡagKkS9yBEe
“Ah, shit.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuchx8FisS
Seven.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJs3eCc0du
She reached behind her head and felt a curler tangled within her rat’s nest. Fingering it out with both hands, she said, “Can you make sure Vince gets out of the car for me, please?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡD58QLFlkTj
Gene looked out at the car like Artemis was joking. When she realized she wasn’t, she asked, “Why isn’t he at school? Is he sick?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZuWpXTtvI
Christina, filing her nails, swiveled in her chair. “Oh, I can’t get sick. My sister’s comin tomorrow and I can’t get sick. Nuh-uh.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmnm1NiiKi
Artemis threw the curler and a few strands of hair on her counter. “Vince isn’t sick,” she assured. “Where’s my chips?” She searched through her drawers and found a half-eaten bag of potato chips. “Amanda, did my first appointment show?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgq94zX7Hx
An obese woman painting another’s nails answered, “Yeah, she waited around for about fifteen minutes and left. Wasn’t too happy, either.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYJfa1ixcC
“No shit, she wasn’t.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ963W3GKbT8
Eight.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPGwwLCzFo
That was a new client, and new clients were as good as gold to her ever since Gerry skipped town.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yflkbco4k
“She tried calling,” Amanda said, breathing in the fumes of the red polish, sweating even though it was sixty-five degrees in here.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5iSedTDSY
Artemis plopped in her chair. “I wasn’t home.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95UJOHqgIx
The bell clanged as the door opened. Vince held a firetruck and three green army men to his chest and had his backpack slung over one shoulder. There were fresh tears in his eyes, his cheeks flushed.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXOPWYl9w0
Artemis felt pity, love, and anger looking at him. “Stop mopin around,” she said, arms crossed. “I’ll take you to school after lunch.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UQuehvRCm
His bottom lip quivered as he sat down at one of the cushioned chairs in the waiting area. The girls patted him on the arm, gave him tissues, and made him hot chocolate. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡr87d1EFhJv
Artemis didn’t know what she was going to do if she didn’t build up her clientele soon. She resisted the urge to call her first appointment to apologize and reschedule, telling herself she wasn’t that desperate yet.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡAal0XquaQg
Vince pulled out a math book and worked on unfinished homework. Christina sat next to him, still filing her nails.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lM8SVDjP3
“What’s that you got there? Math?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡSi2mHHXwHy
“Yeah.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡddHi3dMZ7b
She could barely hear him. “What are you on now?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdcyWV8WRl
“Fractions.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2NX4nNzLs
She made her eyes big. “That’s too much for me. I never liked fractions. How are you liking school?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1xhrHuGsw
He sniffed. She noticed a few wrong answers but didn’t correct him. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡULGmWciUzC
“Not so bad,” he said. “I’m the biggest kid in my class.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NyL2xay9X
“I bet you are.” She glanced at Artemis and saw her glaring their way. As she wrapped her second appointment’s frizzy hair in foil, eating a chip in between, guilt crept into her stomach, irritating her ulcer.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡP09UFd89ud
Vince was also glaring, but at his math homework. Artemis knew who he was mad at, why he was glaring. She also knew that he could snap Christina in half if he was mad enough.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiMZ8pxhvl
He went on glaring at this homework, even after Christina left. Artemis felt his anger change once he closed his math book and picked up his firetruck. His anger scared her in its unpredictability. Watching him in the mirror, highlighting this woman’s frizzy hair two shades lighter than she asked, satisfying her hunger, fear overtook her guilt.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LIt1tjMx0
––––––copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgzQTTC3lj
“I left my wife for this?” Gerry asked, a joint hanging from his lips. “This?” copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5dmEhUqZh
“What’s wrong with her?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRONNYmyqN
The baby burped, then went on crying. There wasn’t a moment when she wasn’t wailing, but that wasn’t what bothered him.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6fI3qQX1J
“That’s exactly it.” His chest hovered over his knees as he leaned forward. “Her.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1CKVrqPO6
His girlfriend Sandy bounced up and down trying to calm the baby. “You’re mad because she’s a girl?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrv9tVJ9he
He took one more drag on the joint and got up. “I gotta go.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWwLN7ZHF0
Sandy rolled her eyes.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyhEr5efbD
“What kind of weed is that, anyway? Tastes like grass from the backyard.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XvKb3yUuI
“Got it from my cousin.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXBvbyIIOV
He put on a random pair of pants from the floor. “I wouldn’t trust your cousin. That stuff’s crap.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSboyu8JM1
“Don’t badmouth my family.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡGieD55xkFW
His shirt was missing. He rifled through the pile of clothes on the ground and only came up with a sweatshirt. The baby cried enough to make him crazy.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S1vmJEmLW
“Can’t you shut her up?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0I4P4H9Z5
“I think she’s hungry.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡibkQTsPgKN
“Are you hungry?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRH42yPrYp
She rolled her eyes again. His wife Artemis ate constantly. He was attracted to Sandy’s thin, long body, but he found himself missing hands full of his wife’s fat in his hands. Not once had he seen Sandy eat, leading him to believe that she wasn’t naturally thin, but anorexic.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW3c0amlsk
“Get a haircut while you’re out,” she said over the baby’s crying.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dmIvKVZI6
He hadn’t even shaved since he showed up here three months ago. A hair cut and shave were Artemis’s job. It was something he could always count on.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT4DbFlLx4
“When I get back, you better have that fixed.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKruEdZVvb
“I can’t make her a boy, Gerry.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJH6IEelqZ
“I mean the crying. And eat something, please.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmTGvtr4wR
Five blocks away he could still hear the baby’s crying. It rang in his ears. He couldn’t believe he had a daughter. A daughter? The Shardens seldom produced girls. It was a mark of weakness in the man. Gerry thought about Vince: the one son he had produced, and he was his own breed of stupid. Nevertheless, he missed his only son.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡljHDBz1LnD
Five minutes later he pulled into a parking lot of a bowling alley where a shiny blue truck was parked crookedly in one of the spots, emitting a blue cloud from the tail.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aKoxSKsXq
Gerry parked two spots away and got out. As he approached, the driver’s window rolled down an inch.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡgObvcT7ypn
“Get in.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVMzD6NADS
The growl of the voice sent a shiver up Gerry’s spine. He walked around the front of the truck.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1aET3F45E
“No, not on that side,” the deep voice called. “This side. I’ll scoot over.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyzHZTQFDa
Brow furrowed, that shiver still licking his vertebrae, he got in the driver’s side.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQ0eqoQa1K
“Holy hell it’s hot in here. You know it’s September, right?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUQmr7UE7e
“Air conditioning’s busted.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ658phIyQd3
Gerry didn’t look directly at the voice on the passenger side. In his peripheral vision, he made out a dark man (dark as in charcoal black). It could be a black jacket and pants––he couldn’t tell for sure––but when an arm pointed in the direction he wanted him to drive, he saw red hairs jumping out of the dark skin.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡlloYcV41FO
Swallowing his fear, he moved the truck onto the street.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIwAGfie98
–––––copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ib4KWN2a1
Artemis stopped the car in front of the school. Vince’s hands had been balled up into fists the whole ride over, flattening one of his army men into an unrecognizable piece of green plastic. She took a chance and ran her long nails through his bushy hair. He quaked under her touch.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlZU1805sf
“Are you going to be good today?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡvidAglC6U7
He didn’t answer. Didn’t breathe.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDkHgetFo2
“Huh, Vinny? Are you going––”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCWNvsxN53
“Dad’s in trouble.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Y7wLf7mK
She retraced her hand. “Vince, we haven’t seen him in months. How can you––”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ectVIuqIq
“He’s in trouble for what he did. For leaving us.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmogYcS0RD
“You’re damn right he’s in trouble for leavin us, and if he thinks he can wheedle his way back into our lives so easily, he’s got another thing comin.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31EW89MO1C
Tension built up in the idling car. For a second she thought Vince was making the car move with his shaking. She asked, “Has he tried talking to you, Vinny? Vinny…?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuxaF6lCBD
Tears built up in his eyes; his bottom lip quivered. He looked like a five-year-old. Artemis ran her lime-green fingernails through his hair again.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡC01pc6q5lx
“Don’t touch me!”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bN6JWVRh7
He smacked her hand away so hard, it struck the window behind her. A violent throb started in the tips of her fingers and ended at her wrist. She stifled a gasp, cradling her hand. This was the second time he hit her today. A fresh purple flower of a bruise was tattooed to her backside when he pushed her to the ground. At first the pain scared her, then, gradually, rage took over.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTRVUtNtut
“You little shit,” she said.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5qsmipg6M
Eleven.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4clRDGv9nm
“You hurt me.” Her labored breathing and his snorting fogged up the windows. “I think you broke my hand, you little shit.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJqui0ppmk
Twelve.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7r52ldFy6J
“Something bad is gonna happen to dad.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OlFDm4MIu
“Who gives a shit about your dad?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZlYX1gPKC
Thirteen.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBSke3zYnd
The way he idolized Gerry was sickening. She wanted to smack him but her hand hurt worse than it did ten seconds ago. The pain kept rising. She would have to cancel her next appointment. A tear streaked down her cheek, though not from the pain.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Tfk2W07bt
Vince looked at her, appearing more his age than ever before. “We have to help dad,” he said.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6zG0FXOeY
Artemis gaped. “You’re a lot stupider than the doctors say if you think we’re going to help him.” copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpfNbjlgkr
He leaned toward her, an inch from her face, exhaling, “Something bad is gonna happen to him, mom. We have to help him.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFGNpo4dyG
“I don’t even know where he is! You broke my hand, Vincent Scott. Do you not care bout me at all?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCLka92uVP
He backed away, donning the infantile persona. “I care about you.” copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO8vo6tAzY
“Yeah, whatever.” She leaned back on the headrest. “I don’t know what to do with you anymore.” Putting her good hand on her head, she said, “Just get out of the car.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjGUyucDoC
“What about dad?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE6Ho1n9WJ
“Vincent, I do not know where he is.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uXhIxMKaE
“I do.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I1veQI7Ax
She started. “Has he been talking to you?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq9d8o4ZpL
His bottom lip quivered––a sign he was retracting into himself. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQKSwusSAn
“Tell me the truth, Vince.” She poked him in the chest with her good hand. “Don’t play stupid with me now. Answer me. Has he been tryin to talk to you?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWuoBktbcz
A tear trailing his cheek, he shook his head.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbMEYWfVk0
“Liar.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4nbWwcEhA
“I’m not lying! I haven’t talked to dad since he left!”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQJwCPn6f4
“Then how do you know he’s in trouble?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO3NhpYvqp
––––copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbBqiaoZ1S
It was an equivocation. Though Vince hand’t talked to his father on the phone or in person since he left, they had been communicating telepathically. That was the best explanation for it. Of course, Artemis would never buy that. Vince’s father didn’t even buy it. Gerry thought he had been talking to God. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtdm4kgkgp
Now, however, driving this random man’s truck, he heard his son’s voice ask:copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwcIclrJs9
How am I supposed to make mom believe me?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HqjVFYzM1
He had been praying this whole time, praying this car ride wouldn’t end in his own violent death, praying to see his son’s face again. And then…copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCLtDhbwaJ
Dad?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JAVkaL3Vg
Vinny?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv4epROlWd
I don’t know what to tell mom. Where are you?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX5z85PGdJ
“Hang a left,” the dark man ordered. “No, a left.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zTMJg4mR8
“You mean right?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1wdUbkmOd
A moment of silence, then: “Oh, yeah. Hang a right.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLGuoHgiFK
Gerry obeyed, driving farther and farther out of city limits. Farther away from civilization. He asked once where they were going, but the man didn’t answer. His son called for him again.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyF91sDHMj
Is that really you, Vinny?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26tMiFqHid
Dad, where are you?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xNTXrEKP5
“Take a left up there on Sutton Road.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0Ivv5PNS8
“Want to tell me where we’re goin now?” he asked nervously, a tremor in his voice.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrWzlmo2Gq
“You’re going to do a job for me.” It sounded like he had a mouthful of rocks.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3wIq9JmPI
Gerry’s hands were cold on the steering wheel in spite of every other part of his body sweating in this hot box. “What kind of job?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOyRlpFquN
The man didn’t answer.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wpmtmrI44
Gerry didn’t know his name. He didn’t even know if this was a man. Three days ago he received a letter that had scrawled in terrible handwriting a time and place to be. Gerry would normally ignore such an anonymous letter, except also written on it was, “If you want to see your family again, be there.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ068zsivexH
Although it wasn’t explicit on which family, Gerry knew it meant Artemis and Vince. The two people he cared about the most in this world––he was just now realizing that.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8VO4FD3Yv
Suddenly the man said, “You’re going to atone for your sins.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGapmTAtuz
Vinny, he screamed in his head, you have to do whatever it takes to convince your mom. Lie if you have to.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡks0jO0e3pr
–––copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AWOLY0OdG
Vince opened his little chocolate eyes. “Dad’s been calling me when you’re at work.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ULwKea1a7
“Stop lying, you little shit.” copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PeAZYEgoi
Fourteen.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlKfeiuWHw
“I’m not!”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLDEk6ax06
Artemis hit the steering wheel and instantly regretted it. Her wrist swelled to twice its size. “Where is he? Where is that son of a bitch?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡpui65zelHt
Vince shut his eyes, asking his father. Meanwhile, impatience overcame Artemis. She yanked him by the collar of his shirt.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnjaD7ZIAy
“Spit it out already.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxspW41gr4
“I think he’s outside of town. To that hiking trail we went to when I was eight, remember?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqsZ3utQKM
Of course she remembered that beautiful day seven years ago, when they were still a happy family. She was surprised Vince remembered. He could hardly remember where he kept his socks in the top drawer of his dresser. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kuTReu5Mx
Her heart raced at the thought of seeing Gerry again. She asked, “What the hell is he doing there?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LaN18XucN
“I don’t know, but he needs help, mom.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA9J0tzZq2
Her son may be stupider than a six-year-old, but in the few moments when he acted his age, she learned not to take them for granted. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtYVtxzm8B
She pulled away from the school, cradling her wrist against her stomach. Now she wished she wore blue eye shadow instead of purple; a navy shirt instead of lavender; red heels instead of orange flats. Gerry preferred blue on her, saying it reminded him of the ocean. It calmed him––she calmed him.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy3y1UkAI0
––copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHkZq43ufy
“Tell me what we’re doing here again.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr5nfXalG4
The man ordered Gerry to park the truck next to a police car, and ever since then they had been walking on the rocky trail, Gerry in front. He felt the dark man’s eyes on him, burning two holes into his back.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlPPRhcatN
“Actually,” Gerry said, “can you tell me who you are already? A name? Even a nickname. Where are you from––”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oBD5htybV
“You can call me Satan.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFdqeJDjhz
He smirked, regretting it immediately. The man wasn’t laughing, and he bet he wasn’t smiling, either. He commented, “That’s an odd nickname.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTOk0JcJaM
The man didn’t reply.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoNb8xpUFv
“Where are you from, uh…where are you from?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwEzQOPNri
“Not around here.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGIJT5VeMO
“Okay…”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE2ypj5MCQ
“We’re almost there. No more questions.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡai8A9AYCy0
Are you guys close, Vinny? Please tell me you’re close.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSpxBk9ikP
Mom wants to know which trail you’re on.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89YJBP2nfF
The west trail! No, not the west trail. Which trail was it? How many were there? He stuck with his gut and repeated, I think it’s the west trail.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYo9ptzzle
They walked through a break in the trees. There were two men waiting for them: one with his hands cuffed behind his back and another in a policeman’s uniform.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJOAlgtH0a
Gerry stopped walking. “What’s going on here?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCyc8ELEKd
Searing fingers pressed into the back of his neck. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done now.” The burning fingers pushed him forward.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ3X93L8ml
“But I haven’t done anything illegal.” He resisted. “Okay, I have some pot in my car, but that’s it, I swear.” The man in handcuffs was crying. “All right!” Gerry exclaimed. “I did cocaine once, but just once.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eb6FeuqvT
“That’s not what you’re answering to, Gerry,” the man––Satan––said behind him.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmRxAWZFkD
There was a pit where the two men stood. Gerry’s bladder threatened to give way. He had never been this afraid in his life.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeFI40lXc7
Vinny, where are you?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1cMehDxGH
“Meet Terry,” Satan said. The cuffed man sniveled at the sound of his voice. He continued, “Terry is a sinner like you. A murderer.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCOoF52yUA
“I asked for forgiveness,” Terry said through a mouthful of snot.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxzUMBm3JJ
Satan replied, “Yeah, but you asked for it from the wrong God. Unfortunately for you, Allah is the wrong one.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡecHli43TYa
Gerry looked to the policeman, who didn’t say a word. He had his hands on his small hips, biting his mustache, some of his lunch still caught in it.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHMDCTEhYu
“Then what’s he doing here?” Anxiety rose steadily up Gerry’s throat as a scream. His knees shook. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4W4cSOZdY
“This is Officer Hardy. Terry murdered Hardy’s wife after he fornicated with her. He’s here for the show.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUrumMN4bS
“What show? What am I doing here?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVw3FHnwOa
“You’re an adulterer, Gerry. You’re a sinner unwilling to repent.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKunlKh58G
“I don’t understand.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJrix4KBCJ
Terry’s crying was driving him mad. Satan placed a black hand on his shoulder, crushing it. “You’re going to kill Terry.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx7HcSf9i2
“I’m WHAT?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡcP7y0ldJhR
VINNY! copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEJPZddQbo
We’re on the trail. Mom is complaining about her feet.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzH0l2Z2A3
“You see that grave? That’s Terry’s grave.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJTrJpIM91
Terry whimpered and shut his eyes.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvcTp5RhYS
“Why do I have to kill him?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡULqGoQIgkR
“Because you won’t repent, Gerry. Because you’re a already sinner.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkgiDPa96b
“But if I kill him, that makes me a murderer.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDKDycNfcv
“I know.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡuT0yGmZQv4
The silence was too easy, comical even. Gerry was getting closer to fainting with every passing second. The fear froze him. He noticed Terry’s hands were blistered and muddy. There was a shovel next to the pit. Five yards to the left was loose soil.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp4oV7stBF
Who did Terry just bury?copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKFFoGd95b
Gerry wasn’t too afraid to realize that he stood on a clear patch of dirt.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ7HwDSsci
“Who’s going to kill me?” he asked out loud. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIVixMX0cu
Satan squeezing his shoulder, he answered, “They’re on their way.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeyoTAoyxu
–copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAwSntK3M1
Artemis stopped five times in the first ten minutes of walking. “These are the worst shoes for hiking,” she whined. Five minutes later she kicked off her flats.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE0Pgq2TC2
Vince wheezed and sweated, but he refused to stop. We’re almost to the top, he assured his father. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHs6kMivCg
Eventually the trees shrunk and they could see the tops of them if they looked back. As soon as Vince saw the clearing, he knew they made it.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM5QD3nrxA
“I gotta take a break.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRM2LQ8UI2
“No, mom, we’re almost there!”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wEb4aEBuW
She wiped sweat from her forehead. “Just let me sit for a minute. Maybe five.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSITn81Jzq
He tugged her arm. “No, mom, come on! Just one more minute and we’ll be there.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtnmJgyNxG
“Need…Need to sit…for a minute. Maybe…Maybe two.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAhFxTnhN9
Accepting that she would not get up, he stuck his hands under arms and picked her up. She protested, swearing and spitting. He ignored her, finally making it to the top.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82PSp7FnzJ
“You’re early.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AoJNinbp2
Artemis stopped struggling. Vince straightened up, seeing his pale and shaking father.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbZSdl82zP
The man with charcoal skin and orange hair faced them. “You’re early,” he said again, arms crossed.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWymR9xV3A
Artemis’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him and Gerry. She said, “Who the hell are you?” copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX4Gqks6DC
“I’m the one who’s making sure no sin goes unpunished.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡDteGk3wdTL
“You’re Satan.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTvGGieR9G
“You’re Vincent.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9erkvbJM1d
Gerry had an axe in his hands. Terry’s toes reached over the pit. Both men were crying.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRqG5LOCNI
Artemis’s eyes rolled to the back her head, her knees buckled, and she fell face first into the dirt.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YU3jHSIgQ
Satan snorted. Rage ebbed in the back of Vincent’s head.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwvULvi841
“Dad, put down the axe.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6D1HuuHyf
“He can’t until he finishes his job,” Satan said. A smile curled up his face, wider than humanly possible. “You’re a special boy, aren’t you, Vincent? A little stupid, but special.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RrZ5qBHdn
“I’m not stupid.” It was the first time he said that. After all the times people degraded his below average intelligence, reprimanded him for being slow, he finally stood up for himself. He said to Satan: copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXdCzjUEnl
“I’m chosen.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqdEnuDVWK
Gerry detected unease creeping onto Satan’s menacing face. He lowered the axe.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWRpnrSL9i
“Don’t you drop that,” Satan growled at him without looking.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92GoAp9K6p
For the first time Officer Hardy spoke, “Is this happening or not?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwmzvOqjyW
“Yeah, yeah.” Satan waved him off. “We’re just thrown a little off schedule.” He looked to Gerry. “Do it now.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxxTvccQDN
“I can’t just kill a man.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g0Rk2vaBY
“Yes, you can.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvR0zbkH2o
Against Gerry’s will, his arms raised, his fingers involuntarily tightening around the axe. “No,” he grimaced. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXrDsvyzvV
Vince yelled, “Stop!” copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCGnGbX0yh
Artemis stirred in the dirt.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡm23mlvF9MX
Satan put up a hand. “Can you please shut up until this is over? You’ll get your turn.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNxjm9BDnU
“What do you mean he’ll get his turn?” copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzov7rfOi2
“After you’re done murdering Terry, Vincent will murder you. I like to call it the circle of death.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeJe31Vyhf
“But he didn’t do anything!”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOgIumzSUy
“Yeah, but imagine getting one of God’s chosen to kill. What a plot twist, am I right?”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcXSotfGLH
“You can’t make him––” The axe rose over his head. He yelped and struggled to lower it. He had no control over his body anymore.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48aL2TmTBT
“You little shit…”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKlDZWigCd
Twenty-seven.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyipYHOcP8
Vince turned to see Artemis lift her head. Now she had a broken nose to go along with her broken hand. As soon as he looked into her eyes, he knew she was royally pissed off. He took a step away from her, closer to Satan.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P6rERWmPc
“Don’t move. Stay where you are,” he commanded.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwUKR1hp1p
Vince felt a strong force wind around him like a rope. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnbCFNQOd6
Thick drops of sweat dripped from Gerry’s chin. Satan was completely enraptured with the glistening axe. If he made Gerry’s arms go back any farther, they’d pop out of their sockets.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Kp3M0RmHO
“Get ready to die, Terry.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6RXUD2cBY
He closed his eyes, his chest heaving in great sobs.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpSf44C0S2
Officer Hardy went on sucking his mustache.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJezdCHowK
Artemis charged Satan. She didn’t know what was happening, but she knew that he was the one orchestrating everything. The wind was knocked out of him and he fell to the ground with an umph!copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn2X7ScS1r
The invisible rope vanished from Vince for a split second. He yelled at his father, “Get him, dad! Do it now!”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg63udEn9m
“I can’t move!”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWK6ORfBUi
Vince wrestled for the axe but Gerry’s fingers wouldn’t loosen. He pulled away from his son, but Vince pried his fingers off one by one, until the glistening axe was now his.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuVMlHLOnA
Artemis rolled off Satan. His skin gave her second degree burns. Blood from her nose fell onto him and sizzled.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb1FictKvs
Vince wasted no time in bringing the axe down on Satan, wedging the sharp blade between his ribs. Fire ascended from the incision. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkGo038KPr
Terry ran back to the trail. Officer Hardy drew his gun and fired, hitting him in the right shoulder. Artemis and Gerry looked that way while Vince brought the axe down a second time, severing Satan’s large intestine. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡUc2zsMo521
Officer Hardy’s second shot entered through Terry’s right cheek and exited through the left side of his jaw. He gurgled on his own blood. One more shot between the eyes and he was dead. Afterward, Officer Hardy holstered his gun and left down the trial.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW8m2CIHKX
Vince rolled Satan’s body into the pit, a trail of flames following him. Gerry offered Artemis his shirt while Vince cut off Satan’s head.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMOU50IFM0
“You look like shit,” she said, coming a hand through Gerry’s unkempt hair. copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV6Ce9iGWz
Twenty-eight.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbduQv6iFX
His parents stared into the pit, clutching each other. Out of breath, Vince dropped the axe and turned to his parents. Reading their terrified expressions, he said, “I’m not stupid.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh3cY4VuRQ
Gerry gulped, helping his son out of the pit. “No, you’re not stupid, Vinny. You’re not stupid.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOteh9kUh2
Vince looked at his mom. “You’re not stupid,” she said, “but you are a little shit for lettin me fall on my face.”copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡT62ILItgtw
Twenty-nine.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6uum43YXI
Unable to contain himself, Vince laughed, and his parents laughed with him.copyright protection280ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJkEWmlU7O
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