Artemis pulled up to the salon forty-five minutes after her first appointment. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw7JBtonRD 維尼
“Shit,” she said for the fifth time that morning.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7JzeB0wHe 維尼
“Mom, I don’t wanna go to your work!”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡApAmNsqHXp 維尼
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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEsFeO0G7g 維尼
Six.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡdERvvQpcLX 維尼
“But I don’t wanna––”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5ZyA9HnRM 維尼
“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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvEC4HpZr8 維尼
“But I don’t wanna miss school.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPhRoBPjM8 維尼
She let her long legs out of the car. “Yeah, well, that’s what you get for makin me late.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxbhFpeK7X 維尼
The car door slammed with an unsatisfactory whap. Instead of waiting for him to get out of the car, she headed into the salon.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡENjAXbYfoD 維尼
“Artemis, is everything okay?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx61tSRAPO 維尼
“Find, Gene. Fine.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOLwu7lYSh 維尼
Quietly, Gene said, “You still have a curler in your hair.” 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAdmvVREII 維尼
“Ah, shit.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy6FT8DFiJ 維尼
Seven.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDYHfJd9tS 維尼
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?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgutBwQXLE 維尼
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?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pl5jSPapd 維尼
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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3KS8z1ZuY 維尼
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?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mZqgFxky1 維尼
An obese woman painting another’s nails answered, “Yeah, she waited around for about fifteen minutes and left. Wasn’t too happy, either.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVz7ejsx2U 維尼
“No shit, she wasn’t.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCr3Qagz1h 維尼
Eight.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1AIznPnsy 維尼
That was a new client, and new clients were as good as gold to her ever since Gerry skipped town.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwFmjN5f4Q 維尼
“She tried calling,” Amanda said, breathing in the fumes of the red polish, sweating even though it was sixty-five degrees in here.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvjvdbNUvq 維尼
Artemis plopped in her chair. “I wasn’t home.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr0c7ug5v5 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdr1vRfzsN 維尼
Artemis felt pity, love, and anger looking at him. “Stop mopin around,” she said, arms crossed. “I’ll take you to school after lunch.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaRZITrHXF 維尼
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. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY6FGjop6z 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTuoOskmgu 維尼
Vince pulled out a math book and worked on unfinished homework. Christina sat next to him, still filing her nails.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡPro4jg1EZP 維尼
“What’s that you got there? Math?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFKkD4sTKF 維尼
“Yeah.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g5r7D4You 維尼
She could barely hear him. “What are you on now?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsEX5FbQRr 維尼
“Fractions.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡpX7YHuuT0B 維尼
She made her eyes big. “That’s too much for me. I never liked fractions. How are you liking school?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgtP3WgEYe 維尼
He sniffed. She noticed a few wrong answers but didn’t correct him. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnrHeUDlxP 維尼
“Not so bad,” he said. “I’m the biggest kid in my class.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN2kkz8Chp 維尼
“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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuXGJhYWp5 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡclT1uef5um 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKPKMCKUM3 維尼
––––––8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qhkg1zD9K 維尼
“I left my wife for this?” Gerry asked, a joint hanging from his lips. “This?” 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvLfnCW7p7 維尼
“What’s wrong with her?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡDslsH7I5VR 維尼
The baby burped, then went on crying. There wasn’t a moment when she wasn’t wailing, but that wasn’t what bothered him.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpvUcAmIo4 維尼
“That’s exactly it.” His chest hovered over his knees as he leaned forward. “Her.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3GzDCnj11 維尼
His girlfriend Sandy bounced up and down trying to calm the baby. “You’re mad because she’s a girl?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gzj6BMTQe 維尼
He took one more drag on the joint and got up. “I gotta go.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FX6pKH2Kk 維尼
Sandy rolled her eyes.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH5RfHjalX 維尼
“What kind of weed is that, anyway? Tastes like grass from the backyard.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mxUNhk8WP 維尼
“Got it from my cousin.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGMpnDswz7 維尼
He put on a random pair of pants from the floor. “I wouldn’t trust your cousin. That stuff’s crap.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡozBFSpatwf 維尼
“Don’t badmouth my family.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoW4L5rwPS 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V5vb8QxdY 維尼
“Can’t you shut her up?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡszYixpGQMY 維尼
“I think she’s hungry.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzCwDAnd4H 維尼
“Are you hungry?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4pHzx4POc 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QIS5qO2P8 維尼
“Get a haircut while you’re out,” she said over the baby’s crying.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRf4kkWJQg 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyhvFwo4ae 維尼
“When I get back, you better have that fixed.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVDnK2y7EN 維尼
“I can’t make her a boy, Gerry.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt4S4v2UAC 維尼
“I mean the crying. And eat something, please.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSjhvPyXux 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIHJGYW6Fz 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4AntBbQy6 維尼
Gerry parked two spots away and got out. As he approached, the driver’s window rolled down an inch.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnxRFctywi 維尼
“Get in.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoRavKfkE3 維尼
The growl of the voice sent a shiver up Gerry’s spine. He walked around the front of the truck.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡosdvDhZF27 維尼
“No, not on that side,” the deep voice called. “This side. I’ll scoot over.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPuhB8yrUh 維尼
Brow furrowed, that shiver still licking his vertebrae, he got in the driver’s side.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3fJvCrjak 維尼
“Holy hell it’s hot in here. You know it’s September, right?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YuGslHi6m 維尼
“Air conditioning’s busted.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2Urre6W5b 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHcEpKezmt 維尼
Swallowing his fear, he moved the truck onto the street.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14e5HyPZr1 維尼
–––––8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrwRr1HxC3 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡExDqUKbCqi 維尼
“Are you going to be good today?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3BiYBPRIR 維尼
He didn’t answer. Didn’t breathe.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN3iaULc2y 維尼
“Huh, Vinny? Are you going––”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOvjAd896z 維尼
“Dad’s in trouble.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcXLZJpmBO 維尼
She retraced her hand. “Vince, we haven’t seen him in months. How can you––”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4vnL9iYEF 維尼
“He’s in trouble for what he did. For leaving us.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡCckN6bYycl 維尼
“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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcfOLP7taZ 維尼
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…?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡordw21toeC 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4ifIM2ABk 維尼
“Don’t touch me!”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡBveLLtLWNB 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Zl4ReNOED 維尼
“You little shit,” she said.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p78fLjl3D 維尼
Eleven.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCsTZtklZB 維尼
“You hurt me.” Her labored breathing and his snorting fogged up the windows. “I think you broke my hand, you little shit.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSL6ijhShi 維尼
Twelve.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIx8fuQxko 維尼
“Something bad is gonna happen to dad.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOgttZeMZW 維尼
“Who gives a shit about your dad?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXNNtbO38s 維尼
Thirteen.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPVtA8VLrT 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1O1VhAIlu 維尼
Vince looked at her, appearing more his age than ever before. “We have to help dad,” he said.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpN1Yw3P0W 維尼
Artemis gaped. “You’re a lot stupider than the doctors say if you think we’re going to help him.” 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hzosQTcQk 維尼
He leaned toward her, an inch from her face, exhaling, “Something bad is gonna happen to him, mom. We have to help him.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu7IoYui6g 維尼
“I don’t even know where he is! You broke my hand, Vincent Scott. Do you not care bout me at all?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOb5drdgZ5 維尼
He backed away, donning the infantile persona. “I care about you.” 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡk50AH6vCuS 維尼
“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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfWAZ0NbMP 維尼
“What about dad?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SAqCEFEJw 維尼
“Vincent, I do not know where he is.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtvawRKtkU 維尼
“I do.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYtu5mmz39 維尼
She started. “Has he been talking to you?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUoLSDwJui 維尼
His bottom lip quivered––a sign he was retracting into himself. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6iUVxLcl1 維尼
“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?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1xLsLwkjg 維尼
A tear trailing his cheek, he shook his head.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡntcIsqgutQ 維尼
“Liar.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jkpwVR6r6 維尼
“I’m not lying! I haven’t talked to dad since he left!”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJEPkA1YEf 維尼
“Then how do you know he’s in trouble?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxqskZd5pB 維尼
––––8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sjl3xFzZJ 維尼
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. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LdnIds6k0 維尼
Now, however, driving this random man’s truck, he heard his son’s voice ask:8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0ge17yvS9 維尼
How am I supposed to make mom believe me?8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy59E1AEFX 維尼
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…8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQapgtmWJq 維尼
Dad?8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgzWb3Zr9F 維尼
Vinny?8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Prf5hw1J 維尼
I don’t know what to tell mom. Where are you?8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WkyeXvs46 維尼
“Hang a left,” the dark man ordered. “No, a left.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2a1Ykz1G1 維尼
“You mean right?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡRug3QwNxAA 維尼
A moment of silence, then: “Oh, yeah. Hang a right.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIZ79dtxuc 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnnrpLqRhQ 維尼
Is that really you, Vinny?8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3czA37xQhG 維尼
Dad, where are you?8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lzfrY6o9B 維尼
“Take a left up there on Sutton Road.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYyZBm16Hy 維尼
“Want to tell me where we’re goin now?” he asked nervously, a tremor in his voice.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7X5NpftgN 維尼
“You’re going to do a job for me.” It sounded like he had a mouthful of rocks.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeKErMO2S8 維尼
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?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Lu35dIRI0 維尼
The man didn’t answer.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu79inrQFD 維尼
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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw9PrLZZtL 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjmDAYI34k 維尼
Suddenly the man said, “You’re going to atone for your sins.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNyWG8vjze 維尼
Vinny, he screamed in his head, you have to do whatever it takes to convince your mom. Lie if you have to.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yTcf6634d 維尼
–––8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5sAwltr3n 維尼
Vince opened his little chocolate eyes. “Dad’s been calling me when you’re at work.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbbVJhz7I6 維尼
“Stop lying, you little shit.” 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3Ef9XOdyM 維尼
Fourteen.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡF40uhVV6P8 維尼
“I’m not!”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNPICpRqrX 維尼
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?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhRfONig0F 維尼
Vince shut his eyes, asking his father. Meanwhile, impatience overcame Artemis. She yanked him by the collar of his shirt.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDZMbCSYR4 維尼
“Spit it out already.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4j5pOS8Tb 維尼
“I think he’s outside of town. To that hiking trail we went to when I was eight, remember?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHMzHDclHc 維尼
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. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzybjFJloe 維尼
Her heart raced at the thought of seeing Gerry again. She asked, “What the hell is he doing there?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfmdiRAREm 維尼
“I don’t know, but he needs help, mom.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FRSxmkKsf 維尼
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. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXWkJta1aD 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMLnSQY9ms 維尼
––8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsmR2fkMD7 維尼
“Tell me what we’re doing here again.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDCGqxoIRG 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mrFixbpJy 維尼
“Actually,” Gerry said, “can you tell me who you are already? A name? Even a nickname. Where are you from––”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnGTd7DbtO 維尼
“You can call me Satan.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5H058jabPX 維尼
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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeFWRdsgJt 維尼
The man didn’t reply.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhSs1i08FQ 維尼
“Where are you from, uh…where are you from?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ77EFnDLB5 維尼
“Not around here.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq6bQ9iraG 維尼
“Okay…”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M8w7b7wFk 維尼
“We’re almost there. No more questions.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnWKvCuySz 維尼
Are you guys close, Vinny? Please tell me you’re close.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu0SKQa5cp 維尼
Mom wants to know which trail you’re on.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0IJTp92hW 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZXzR7oB7H 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSocNnMSMk 維尼
Gerry stopped walking. “What’s going on here?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzHteVcz1q 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPhZjichEM 維尼
“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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXBGsdprmu 維尼
“That’s not what you’re answering to, Gerry,” the man––Satan––said behind him.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡl14GTlOIoQ 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmBJRVKIDb 維尼
Vinny, where are you?8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡKg5o0d11e6 維尼
“Meet Terry,” Satan said. The cuffed man sniveled at the sound of his voice. He continued, “Terry is a sinner like you. A murderer.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡEROZD2pIvy 維尼
“I asked for forgiveness,” Terry said through a mouthful of snot.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡKchsIwo6zv 維尼
Satan replied, “Yeah, but you asked for it from the wrong God. Unfortunately for you, Allah is the wrong one.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWqKE6VhvQ 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QBoe7blrl 維尼
“Then what’s he doing here?” Anxiety rose steadily up Gerry’s throat as a scream. His knees shook. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQe0oOPKyi 維尼
“This is Officer Hardy. Terry murdered Hardy’s wife after he fornicated with her. He’s here for the show.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡITF0Tjq9Z5 維尼
“What show? What am I doing here?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y1fpAEGqF 維尼
“You’re an adulterer, Gerry. You’re a sinner unwilling to repent.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsT3yoM1e9 維尼
“I don’t understand.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEaQj31M2d 維尼
Terry’s crying was driving him mad. Satan placed a black hand on his shoulder, crushing it. “You’re going to kill Terry.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBVKpOtYWs 維尼
“I’m WHAT?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡA07P0UhgRx 維尼
VINNY! 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡERhdVoeYgI 維尼
We’re on the trail. Mom is complaining about her feet.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFaaCcOoa7 維尼
“You see that grave? That’s Terry’s grave.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPlPLlTYVp 維尼
Terry whimpered and shut his eyes.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡtolLfQswm1 維尼
“Why do I have to kill him?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb8x8xFIc2 維尼
“Because you won’t repent, Gerry. Because you’re a already sinner.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXDUHqPGJJ 維尼
“But if I kill him, that makes me a murderer.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyzUnD5xaX 維尼
“I know.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxUm1FAHWs 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHDdZcU6Ja 維尼
Who did Terry just bury?8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3RvvhGmpv 維尼
Gerry wasn’t too afraid to realize that he stood on a clear patch of dirt.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iLdEHsXzc 維尼
“Who’s going to kill me?” he asked out loud. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zC29zS6y3 維尼
Satan squeezing his shoulder, he answered, “They’re on their way.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2skNMigUk1 維尼
–8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ulev4mvya 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6vzVuFGfE 維尼
Vince wheezed and sweated, but he refused to stop. We’re almost to the top, he assured his father. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XCAjeG2aI 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡukKjdFyGx3 維尼
“I gotta take a break.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡj98TYTedhY 維尼
“No, mom, we’re almost there!”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJJv5enMLC 維尼
She wiped sweat from her forehead. “Just let me sit for a minute. Maybe five.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡD26pgUso8j 維尼
He tugged her arm. “No, mom, come on! Just one more minute and we’ll be there.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfk5PfKc7n 維尼
“Need…Need to sit…for a minute. Maybe…Maybe two.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qp1vNGcSw 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbiPUOrWbC 維尼
“You’re early.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JF75ft50V 維尼
Artemis stopped struggling. Vince straightened up, seeing his pale and shaking father.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nhRYtXaTh 維尼
The man with charcoal skin and orange hair faced them. “You’re early,” he said again, arms crossed.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUHHU16Fsi 維尼
Artemis’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him and Gerry. She said, “Who the hell are you?” 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4i8atTUuD 維尼
“I’m the one who’s making sure no sin goes unpunished.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rALPbERuy 維尼
“You’re Satan.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tot2raJCj 維尼
“You’re Vincent.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYCsZMBfes 維尼
Gerry had an axe in his hands. Terry’s toes reached over the pit. Both men were crying.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4uyq9z15H 維尼
Artemis’s eyes rolled to the back her head, her knees buckled, and she fell face first into the dirt.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0z2h1tyWh 維尼
Satan snorted. Rage ebbed in the back of Vincent’s head.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡlME6pOXVvw 維尼
“Dad, put down the axe.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUGW7UgTOn 維尼
“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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgQZyPjYxz 維尼
“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: 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnjrClf7zm 維尼
“I’m chosen.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9R8p6vsQL 維尼
Gerry detected unease creeping onto Satan’s menacing face. He lowered the axe.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6RVSRm4lB 維尼
“Don’t you drop that,” Satan growled at him without looking.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡqK5sdMPoAD 維尼
For the first time Officer Hardy spoke, “Is this happening or not?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo11S8w2Ww 維尼
“Yeah, yeah.” Satan waved him off. “We’re just thrown a little off schedule.” He looked to Gerry. “Do it now.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz4R8MKxrm 維尼
“I can’t just kill a man.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLaeWtRyCo 維尼
“Yes, you can.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡS00adhTg22 維尼
Against Gerry’s will, his arms raised, his fingers involuntarily tightening around the axe. “No,” he grimaced. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J2owEuk99 維尼
Vince yelled, “Stop!” 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfRqfjNxyl 維尼
Artemis stirred in the dirt.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eKH71NPRE 維尼
Satan put up a hand. “Can you please shut up until this is over? You’ll get your turn.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UUHX0m8h8 維尼
“What do you mean he’ll get his turn?” 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgdPMeEg2T 維尼
“After you’re done murdering Terry, Vincent will murder you. I like to call it the circle of death.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJTRCG3e0E 維尼
“But he didn’t do anything!”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv6DvbKcVj 維尼
“Yeah, but imagine getting one of God’s chosen to kill. What a plot twist, am I right?”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡXClHN1s2lo 維尼
“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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zfK8rugbb 維尼
“You little shit…”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0gtoE1dBu 維尼
Twenty-seven.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CR1AOJuOO 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZoCLWxB9I 維尼
“Don’t move. Stay where you are,” he commanded.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJzDln5L3C 維尼
Vince felt a strong force wind around him like a rope. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡScEkahobL3 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMqygHGtAz 維尼
“Get ready to die, Terry.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHz6hrikNU 維尼
He closed his eyes, his chest heaving in great sobs.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaSWCYK5Bu 維尼
Officer Hardy went on sucking his mustache.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo9lWMMVQZ 維尼
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!8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H76XOADvs 維尼
The invisible rope vanished from Vince for a split second. He yelled at his father, “Get him, dad! Do it now!”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH7NDJKSqe 維尼
“I can’t move!”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVuUJWKxQo 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQu4r4vzVO 維尼
Artemis rolled off Satan. His skin gave her second degree burns. Blood from her nose fell onto him and sizzled.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡupfHdHpirN 維尼
Vince wasted no time in bringing the axe down on Satan, wedging the sharp blade between his ribs. Fire ascended from the incision. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26IFv6fyyk 維尼
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. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq6o8dPKKz 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW83RAqaFZ 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21A8qX3Kfw 維尼
“You look like shit,” she said, coming a hand through Gerry’s unkempt hair. 8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpWu6lvXmQ 維尼
Twenty-eight.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX2gW9emYp 維尼
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.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNHCcU7szW 維尼
Gerry gulped, helping his son out of the pit. “No, you’re not stupid, Vinny. You’re not stupid.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHsMRi7hza 維尼
Vince looked at his mom. “You’re not stupid,” she said, “but you are a little shit for lettin me fall on my face.”8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZCJYPoF5o 維尼
Twenty-nine.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH2APo7pCG 維尼
Unable to contain himself, Vince laughed, and his parents laughed with him.8964 copyright protection434ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZECCD2kEd 維尼
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