Artemis pulled up to the salon forty-five minutes after her first appointment. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPtiNbaYxv
“Shit,” she said for the fifth time that morning.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXysx9sXdB
“Mom, I don’t wanna go to your work!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡarlyvnHMJ1
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5RpnEByD8
Six.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q6DjDMLB0
“But I don’t wanna––”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLsIjX51KP
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FUT5ixHRa
“But I don’t wanna miss school.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV1Vykzl6a
She let her long legs out of the car. “Yeah, well, that’s what you get for makin me late.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtVObfMhgw
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jc0cijKZa
“Artemis, is everything okay?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP6WLEhk0n
“Find, Gene. Fine.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmQra2GXjX
Quietly, Gene said, “You still have a curler in your hair.” copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpgGqtYJeY
“Ah, shit.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9N06yFoTF
Seven.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo1BQcDw9X
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDmLjNeixs
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrC4sJD77x
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSWOuM18ib
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NOsy8fNrN
An obese woman painting another’s nails answered, “Yeah, she waited around for about fifteen minutes and left. Wasn’t too happy, either.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIeSNGBqOJ
“No shit, she wasn’t.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBBUq6GreZ
Eight.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkMsMlB282
That was a new client, and new clients were as good as gold to her ever since Gerry skipped town.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoL4gyKSZz
“She tried calling,” Amanda said, breathing in the fumes of the red polish, sweating even though it was sixty-five degrees in here.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXadRBjy3y
Artemis plopped in her chair. “I wasn’t home.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGSk8FFJHN
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwbxAs6lk5
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW36aUHtsL
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20rUkAzZkg
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7NYEoqLKL
Vince pulled out a math book and worked on unfinished homework. Christina sat next to him, still filing her nails.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGITMSOulh
“What’s that you got there? Math?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnhGiBhRBB
“Yeah.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nIWmnlN86
She could barely hear him. “What are you on now?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZMgTy9I2v
“Fractions.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhTgYbSf3t
She made her eyes big. “That’s too much for me. I never liked fractions. How are you liking school?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcRA8dXu16
He sniffed. She noticed a few wrong answers but didn’t correct him. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz6mQZVZHY
“Not so bad,” he said. “I’m the biggest kid in my class.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHgoXezQuC
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlPbVXoTsp
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02Z6pQ6lQN
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlvAJtOjjj
––––––copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCELOAJdub
“I left my wife for this?” Gerry asked, a joint hanging from his lips. “This?” copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡCueCAEtGZj
“What’s wrong with her?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡujFZTosIHL
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DoGocg7pK
“That’s exactly it.” His chest hovered over his knees as he leaned forward. “Her.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2fxFPc8wc
His girlfriend Sandy bounced up and down trying to calm the baby. “You’re mad because she’s a girl?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0v70pws8e
He took one more drag on the joint and got up. “I gotta go.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9RDPgQ6og
Sandy rolled her eyes.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHi6fYWr7s
“What kind of weed is that, anyway? Tastes like grass from the backyard.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAs9HszeVH
“Got it from my cousin.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaRkNGADNZ
He put on a random pair of pants from the floor. “I wouldn’t trust your cousin. That stuff’s crap.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFHcMWaIoi
“Don’t badmouth my family.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2SEcA7MO2
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡthckB01bDP
“Can’t you shut her up?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxuSJhOU0d
“I think she’s hungry.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbg5QtGXfu
“Are you hungry?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JLd3md5yR
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJopB7Hq2H
“Get a haircut while you’re out,” she said over the baby’s crying.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfTVkJo0HE
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡvInhVqE9wd
“When I get back, you better have that fixed.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qWoQywxZy
“I can’t make her a boy, Gerry.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDO8y8SX9A
“I mean the crying. And eat something, please.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFiZXdqBmW
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnnMMdkiKk
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0XF8wO1uX
Gerry parked two spots away and got out. As he approached, the driver’s window rolled down an inch.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6DT5A7vcu
“Get in.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1ROOD18WM
The growl of the voice sent a shiver up Gerry’s spine. He walked around the front of the truck.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNNqtWXhXr
“No, not on that side,” the deep voice called. “This side. I’ll scoot over.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzxStCtA8G
Brow furrowed, that shiver still licking his vertebrae, he got in the driver’s side.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zIXnwBpFx
“Holy hell it’s hot in here. You know it’s September, right?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8lZzOVw5T
“Air conditioning’s busted.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlsveV8Hwg
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCP6zdDaDi
Swallowing his fear, he moved the truck onto the street.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQr3Q0RMwX
–––––copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡFui8Zw48eB
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCdeJMsnW5
“Are you going to be good today?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEW6HM7yzD
He didn’t answer. Didn’t breathe.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf7On7lsfz
“Huh, Vinny? Are you going––”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EcgSW2kjZ
“Dad’s in trouble.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZDn6kadTJ
She retraced her hand. “Vince, we haven’t seen him in months. How can you––”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpYYdm6zOm
“He’s in trouble for what he did. For leaving us.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9R0l8TiaeC
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FBN2H7cV1
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMqVLEhRd6
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡemYeI681hm
“Don’t touch me!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq1ed3WlgR
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdEN8psqhF
“You little shit,” she said.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv2vJLCSMT
Eleven.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡepkfEyjBTA
“You hurt me.” Her labored breathing and his snorting fogged up the windows. “I think you broke my hand, you little shit.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgN74WwwmO
Twelve.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTjfp301VN
“Something bad is gonna happen to dad.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9dfpSNJtH
“Who gives a shit about your dad?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWY7423Bzq
Thirteen.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLkI0KM1LH
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGR2VgUIZn
Vince looked at her, appearing more his age than ever before. “We have to help dad,” he said.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjkoroquZZ
Artemis gaped. “You’re a lot stupider than the doctors say if you think we’re going to help him.” copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoLf7LZTNL
He leaned toward her, an inch from her face, exhaling, “Something bad is gonna happen to him, mom. We have to help him.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBrsEnJy6J
“I don’t even know where he is! You broke my hand, Vincent Scott. Do you not care bout me at all?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw2gUtFlYF
He backed away, donning the infantile persona. “I care about you.” copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT459bR95E
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGgn8UKRtR
“What about dad?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡApnDGi7mD5
“Vincent, I do not know where he is.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XZ539hVjn
“I do.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡze3QBcKm4e
She started. “Has he been talking to you?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFDAjkSqGv
His bottom lip quivered––a sign he was retracting into himself. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡwItvOxF6sY
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2cxSOJDaO
A tear trailing his cheek, he shook his head.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡRntvYNQQdx
“Liar.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJfQf4oVaQ
“I’m not lying! I haven’t talked to dad since he left!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDT6aLUUp4
“Then how do you know he’s in trouble?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgrcMpZCgd
––––copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DXoudtS8D
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1gC8ro2mN
Now, however, driving this random man’s truck, he heard his son’s voice ask:copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ754yhQYhsf
How am I supposed to make mom believe me?copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCTs1nFufN
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZPoBXQ00c
Dad?copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7hSGzIFQb
Vinny?copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlOOOPbtjr
I don’t know what to tell mom. Where are you?copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrq6P24G25
“Hang a left,” the dark man ordered. “No, a left.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQdaITJrzA
“You mean right?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuWriKhudA
A moment of silence, then: “Oh, yeah. Hang a right.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu2mBRpGyr
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqiYA0Sksr
Is that really you, Vinny?copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5WQxfAOJO
Dad, where are you?copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGjr2UjsBR
“Take a left up there on Sutton Road.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnibmTcedE
“Want to tell me where we’re goin now?” he asked nervously, a tremor in his voice.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8KDYhSz6C
“You’re going to do a job for me.” It sounded like he had a mouthful of rocks.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡnviGXlBgNd
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HAqTWj5aw
The man didn’t answer.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡKREuuDMndS
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AoihlETCs
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K9Ga2Dt8N
Suddenly the man said, “You’re going to atone for your sins.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SFFmaj8yw
Vinny, he screamed in his head, you have to do whatever it takes to convince your mom. Lie if you have to.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y7pRoLvin
–––copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp775haILi
Vince opened his little chocolate eyes. “Dad’s been calling me when you’re at work.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLacqxmJGV
“Stop lying, you little shit.” copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHtn7kLSQ4
Fourteen.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOtnVzF6iq
“I’m not!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡoObz1C6omM
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCuMZB6LuX
Vince shut his eyes, asking his father. Meanwhile, impatience overcame Artemis. She yanked him by the collar of his shirt.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKLj8GSNMa
“Spit it out already.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbZpK01Roo
“I think he’s outside of town. To that hiking trail we went to when I was eight, remember?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH08u0KBLe
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBZjU70MUN
Her heart raced at the thought of seeing Gerry again. She asked, “What the hell is he doing there?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8ZVxJWzBk
“I don’t know, but he needs help, mom.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf2ZnwZ78L
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGml0gs03n
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0wNW4xSD8
––copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCnfBKMASU
“Tell me what we’re doing here again.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeBIzBZ2C2
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqr2WeY0LRE
“Actually,” Gerry said, “can you tell me who you are already? A name? Even a nickname. Where are you from––”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4ghjS25tU
“You can call me Satan.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0P9BxJdxMP
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcgC9vB9hs
The man didn’t reply.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡObx5sQXvWq
“Where are you from, uh…where are you from?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWgzyNiLk4
“Not around here.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUhRxqm9AD
“Okay…”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpO9uhZsMW
“We’re almost there. No more questions.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcS9LqW4ch
Are you guys close, Vinny? Please tell me you’re close.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NcrEKS1Tt
Mom wants to know which trail you’re on.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwSuFmMFPy
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡCILuRxVOB8
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LVicz34BX
Gerry stopped walking. “What’s going on here?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgtqL9NxPC
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rkRWcoS00
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06LVpYvs36
“That’s not what you’re answering to, Gerry,” the man––Satan––said behind him.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBnT183OGS
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMkMDgY19Y
Vinny, where are you?copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ195M5uLAXO
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnp5gqdkfT
“I asked for forgiveness,” Terry said through a mouthful of snot.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHFxtjOrkX
Satan replied, “Yeah, but you asked for it from the wrong God. Unfortunately for you, Allah is the wrong one.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm7v8cZUNW
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuk7zAyNVO
“Then what’s he doing here?” Anxiety rose steadily up Gerry’s throat as a scream. His knees shook. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7vnFYGtq1
“This is Officer Hardy. Terry murdered Hardy’s wife after he fornicated with her. He’s here for the show.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQnxlwKlqx
“What show? What am I doing here?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡi82CgCdPq8
“You’re an adulterer, Gerry. You’re a sinner unwilling to repent.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8g9vV8coy
“I don’t understand.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡePoBnK875y
Terry’s crying was driving him mad. Satan placed a black hand on his shoulder, crushing it. “You’re going to kill Terry.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnHI0YkdOK
“I’m WHAT?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrSBBoxJBV
VINNY! copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPLGr8qzgv
We’re on the trail. Mom is complaining about her feet.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WTQETOZ6D
“You see that grave? That’s Terry’s grave.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr5D3G1ApD
Terry whimpered and shut his eyes.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHshnUqNtH
“Why do I have to kill him?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCEcsi5hib
“Because you won’t repent, Gerry. Because you’re a already sinner.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2DZFHGHh6
“But if I kill him, that makes me a murderer.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡkONN6aHxYb
“I know.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡehOSthbyzt
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuvoub5aTn
Who did Terry just bury?copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdc41ifJPd
Gerry wasn’t too afraid to realize that he stood on a clear patch of dirt.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3uJWY08xA
“Who’s going to kill me?” he asked out loud. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi47GyjMJc
Satan squeezing his shoulder, he answered, “They’re on their way.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZqm4rEjat
–copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5x2Pu0QCy
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeQumw3FjM
Vince wheezed and sweated, but he refused to stop. We’re almost to the top, he assured his father. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuMhQQJvaT
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHZxKP1KFE
“I gotta take a break.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5S8AeFEUZ
“No, mom, we’re almost there!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLtd3k4MPe
She wiped sweat from her forehead. “Just let me sit for a minute. Maybe five.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOWFlGunra
He tugged her arm. “No, mom, come on! Just one more minute and we’ll be there.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KgUTQ9zu3
“Need…Need to sit…for a minute. Maybe…Maybe two.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVP28SmdFc
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl0o1m5wKx
“You’re early.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLhWGaNPJi
Artemis stopped struggling. Vince straightened up, seeing his pale and shaking father.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡSidIkmAHzg
The man with charcoal skin and orange hair faced them. “You’re early,” he said again, arms crossed.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2BUqChw91
Artemis’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him and Gerry. She said, “Who the hell are you?” copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PNlMtvzjf
“I’m the one who’s making sure no sin goes unpunished.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡScx5USsvA2
“You’re Satan.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu4movZG18
“You’re Vincent.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5YvqKZWki
Gerry had an axe in his hands. Terry’s toes reached over the pit. Both men were crying.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcuJioCKTc
Artemis’s eyes rolled to the back her head, her knees buckled, and she fell face first into the dirt.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEGR15m1Lo
Satan snorted. Rage ebbed in the back of Vincent’s head.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tu7YUSYRc
“Dad, put down the axe.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3pKMH8os2
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfHh6IntJ8
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTCl1BgTz7
“I’m chosen.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PavzXcImF
Gerry detected unease creeping onto Satan’s menacing face. He lowered the axe.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYUsf1bCuU
“Don’t you drop that,” Satan growled at him without looking.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlOnGPYXIx
For the first time Officer Hardy spoke, “Is this happening or not?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OnfjWdwFA
“Yeah, yeah.” Satan waved him off. “We’re just thrown a little off schedule.” He looked to Gerry. “Do it now.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqy6SO73rB
“I can’t just kill a man.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcXMAECyBk
“Yes, you can.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G9uWtr906
Against Gerry’s will, his arms raised, his fingers involuntarily tightening around the axe. “No,” he grimaced. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcwijp6qsx
Vince yelled, “Stop!” copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qKZdkDPTf
Artemis stirred in the dirt.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0VkuRNV1O
Satan put up a hand. “Can you please shut up until this is over? You’ll get your turn.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L0y3kXaKq
“What do you mean he’ll get his turn?” copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNRrM4MqUF
“After you’re done murdering Terry, Vincent will murder you. I like to call it the circle of death.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4FBp9sd5t
“But he didn’t do anything!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16f2FjmDt7
“Yeah, but imagine getting one of God’s chosen to kill. What a plot twist, am I right?”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bUUDHZp7T
“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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NYJonTQAY
“You little shit…”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡkC5AEKT1om
Twenty-seven.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rx2maJmzR
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEEen2BgTc
“Don’t move. Stay where you are,” he commanded.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡfePkOu5Hvt
Vince felt a strong force wind around him like a rope. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EVBHiLrEl
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTZW7nZJET
“Get ready to die, Terry.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT7MdVgiCM
He closed his eyes, his chest heaving in great sobs.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGqHh7Z2yD
Officer Hardy went on sucking his mustache.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRwnOEKNoo
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡGliN7vJnNl
The invisible rope vanished from Vince for a split second. He yelled at his father, “Get him, dad! Do it now!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z2AgjHfmg
“I can’t move!”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK7p8V4TIt
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡipOAdW5WjT
Artemis rolled off Satan. His skin gave her second degree burns. Blood from her nose fell onto him and sizzled.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡittl4JELZ0
Vince wasted no time in bringing the axe down on Satan, wedging the sharp blade between his ribs. Fire ascended from the incision. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SL9iU4mNN
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6dEGqAMnU
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGo91sTGeS
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgKsp2ntpa
“You look like shit,” she said, coming a hand through Gerry’s unkempt hair. copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfhuTYVuLj
Twenty-eight.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡor0NB1fuIu
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpK8S9bfDA
Gerry gulped, helping his son out of the pit. “No, you’re not stupid, Vinny. You’re not stupid.”copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVPHpJGler
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 protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDTEquGGZp
Twenty-nine.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡamOUuG4FWI
Unable to contain himself, Vince laughed, and his parents laughed with him.copyright protection160ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmD643PKo3
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