Artemis pulled up to the salon forty-five minutes after her first appointment. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LUMl0jYOP
“Shit,” she said for the fifth time that morning.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡpslHqHL3Cx
“Mom, I don’t wanna go to your work!”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA0RXfELmZ
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqLhd6ix56
Six.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvzIcZpY32
“But I don’t wanna––”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2DwTALxm8
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJzi0Mpiju
“But I don’t wanna miss school.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGZYocXOb0
She let her long legs out of the car. “Yeah, well, that’s what you get for makin me late.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI3teW40ur
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81aIkauJtO
“Artemis, is everything okay?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSueQTrOHD
“Find, Gene. Fine.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡPylS2AO7Bi
Quietly, Gene said, “You still have a curler in your hair.” copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKkIsETWon
“Ah, shit.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCffR68iUQ
Seven.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJphBrSqzt
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7d3QFIKC6
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nJnCBuLUo
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ817Ks0a2
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUaGX0mGLY
An obese woman painting another’s nails answered, “Yeah, she waited around for about fifteen minutes and left. Wasn’t too happy, either.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTlwhY7LK1
“No shit, she wasn’t.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡamSinZ2Q0d
Eight.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt72a53wLO
That was a new client, and new clients were as good as gold to her ever since Gerry skipped town.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyHQ5ZPcKz
“She tried calling,” Amanda said, breathing in the fumes of the red polish, sweating even though it was sixty-five degrees in here.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVV6di6g87
Artemis plopped in her chair. “I wasn’t home.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0AC2KI5ht
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL2CC7Brkm
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zhVGveNLm
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgnuSqfAvw
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qi62UeDmy
Vince pulled out a math book and worked on unfinished homework. Christina sat next to him, still filing her nails.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n8hjONxBz
“What’s that you got there? Math?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvPh0IHfjd
“Yeah.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnD4uGZJjm
She could barely hear him. “What are you on now?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡikJqC2epAQ
“Fractions.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡYulNLlwtBP
She made her eyes big. “That’s too much for me. I never liked fractions. How are you liking school?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡGncksH0sqk
He sniffed. She noticed a few wrong answers but didn’t correct him. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIEx9hAnGa
“Not so bad,” he said. “I’m the biggest kid in my class.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEEzsqVYTw
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAU0VnIVP9
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡgESVb1cMoS
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCxBb026ZV
––––––copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNwyOsVwnL
“I left my wife for this?” Gerry asked, a joint hanging from his lips. “This?” copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEpxzByLnX
“What’s wrong with her?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkzcWLcYSc
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwZq4NT0kg
“That’s exactly it.” His chest hovered over his knees as he leaned forward. “Her.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0VbyuM7ga
His girlfriend Sandy bounced up and down trying to calm the baby. “You’re mad because she’s a girl?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UvE7rqkpi
He took one more drag on the joint and got up. “I gotta go.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjOwKTjDTE
Sandy rolled her eyes.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEEPQdjCkA
“What kind of weed is that, anyway? Tastes like grass from the backyard.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpvi4CJuW8
“Got it from my cousin.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsrCYbviPo
He put on a random pair of pants from the floor. “I wouldn’t trust your cousin. That stuff’s crap.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ3CyTPSwa
“Don’t badmouth my family.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjzXCEzl9w
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWYVzX74gW
“Can’t you shut her up?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdFxPerF6X
“I think she’s hungry.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzhpxT37fc
“Are you hungry?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI9CEIzLMQ
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg3oNTCeyJ
“Get a haircut while you’re out,” she said over the baby’s crying.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnitMQnPXC
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Albd0UMMH
“When I get back, you better have that fixed.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuXGSKzuZ7
“I can’t make her a boy, Gerry.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡebvwFhm37k
“I mean the crying. And eat something, please.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9U1l71fUN
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxhTeaEOFD
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTPqquINxP
Gerry parked two spots away and got out. As he approached, the driver’s window rolled down an inch.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dY2ejagy5
“Get in.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uDloRw2Gb
The growl of the voice sent a shiver up Gerry’s spine. He walked around the front of the truck.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB5v2w0Ljy
“No, not on that side,” the deep voice called. “This side. I’ll scoot over.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡArLzu0SEgr
Brow furrowed, that shiver still licking his vertebrae, he got in the driver’s side.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkWnGkfcnV
“Holy hell it’s hot in here. You know it’s September, right?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3xuzA0Alk
“Air conditioning’s busted.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VLTugUnUb
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEvL2c6ipu
Swallowing his fear, he moved the truck onto the street.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOyLi7ljHH
–––––copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPDpJ7FDvA
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkfl6ixcAW
“Are you going to be good today?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNLfz4mUn4
He didn’t answer. Didn’t breathe.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1UfrDn7hS
“Huh, Vinny? Are you going––”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6dXrkfZwP
“Dad’s in trouble.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeDHtcLP79
She retraced her hand. “Vince, we haven’t seen him in months. How can you––”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJbOYCslJJ
“He’s in trouble for what he did. For leaving us.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡerQspiMEhj
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtex7W0jIQr
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKa3y9F0vp
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKRAcgTZUb
“Don’t touch me!”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡiopPwlQQ3G
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVqsYZCEZ7
“You little shit,” she said.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KSVl5ce47
Eleven.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmvPc2b2Se
“You hurt me.” Her labored breathing and his snorting fogged up the windows. “I think you broke my hand, you little shit.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9aaB89eN9
Twelve.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRTeMejYsn
“Something bad is gonna happen to dad.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SKBIWDTZv
“Who gives a shit about your dad?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IFiShr2ve
Thirteen.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR645SjpRM
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXFxzntdgt
Vince looked at her, appearing more his age than ever before. “We have to help dad,” he said.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJocoH5G97b
Artemis gaped. “You’re a lot stupider than the doctors say if you think we’re going to help him.” copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj2to8mHxe
He leaned toward her, an inch from her face, exhaling, “Something bad is gonna happen to him, mom. We have to help him.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkc8RMwlZM
“I don’t even know where he is! You broke my hand, Vincent Scott. Do you not care bout me at all?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJb18S6O1e
He backed away, donning the infantile persona. “I care about you.” copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpy2TWagDI
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡv72HgUuMfu
“What about dad?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4dK6lDc9F
“Vincent, I do not know where he is.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡr85ZbYWmfz
“I do.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KH7sY2WLh
She started. “Has he been talking to you?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkmE5sZJF8
His bottom lip quivered––a sign he was retracting into himself. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7hu6st2OI
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTtk1Vj3S4
A tear trailing his cheek, he shook his head.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡljpHXvaWfQ
“Liar.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EXm84PB7E
“I’m not lying! I haven’t talked to dad since he left!”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKxN4zInCB
“Then how do you know he’s in trouble?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYUSGRnQOC
––––copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡGThDgpI51P
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlzh8EQR2t
Now, however, driving this random man’s truck, he heard his son’s voice ask:copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡturnm7fKX4
How am I supposed to make mom believe me?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEXEie40j5
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3rolA2bs5
Dad?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVz6jWeyGc
Vinny?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4QAI8PM99
I don’t know what to tell mom. Where are you?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYcknxUqJm
“Hang a left,” the dark man ordered. “No, a left.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoi5vB1J9I
“You mean right?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMMMnvVdi4
A moment of silence, then: “Oh, yeah. Hang a right.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb3zvr6qSQ
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡNof5tKGvuQ
Is that really you, Vinny?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqD0c1w7eO
Dad, where are you?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBZgavHgVA
“Take a left up there on Sutton Road.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IYmOr7vXC
“Want to tell me where we’re goin now?” he asked nervously, a tremor in his voice.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb2Zce0Imf
“You’re going to do a job for me.” It sounded like he had a mouthful of rocks.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzQxP02xhY
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oH6LvxT0v
The man didn’t answer.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmGxlSMmB9
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8IrFysI6J
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe8nkUSRNT
Suddenly the man said, “You’re going to atone for your sins.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjf3RAWDWx
Vinny, he screamed in his head, you have to do whatever it takes to convince your mom. Lie if you have to.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxFwZl4s3b
–––copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJpl7JfZB3
Vince opened his little chocolate eyes. “Dad’s been calling me when you’re at work.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYm71eIXRE
“Stop lying, you little shit.” copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFcabcvgEz
Fourteen.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQjQcqzrpa
“I’m not!”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡui8Rqa587X
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCCZNObi4Q
Vince shut his eyes, asking his father. Meanwhile, impatience overcame Artemis. She yanked him by the collar of his shirt.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwHbmTBWl1
“Spit it out already.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QjgHJrNSz
“I think he’s outside of town. To that hiking trail we went to when I was eight, remember?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFboEYcQhh
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaNplaiW7E
Her heart raced at the thought of seeing Gerry again. She asked, “What the hell is he doing there?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfuhwc1XZT
“I don’t know, but he needs help, mom.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLyI9dHm4Z
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL9sauDtrK
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p0BGwOHuO
––copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0zaIJnq6r
“Tell me what we’re doing here again.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKdyco2PRu
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZTBBz8phC
“Actually,” Gerry said, “can you tell me who you are already? A name? Even a nickname. Where are you from––”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSCN3lwqLD
“You can call me Satan.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡSan6JAuLqm
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1m9CXIKn0
The man didn’t reply.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBTZpWlWn6
“Where are you from, uh…where are you from?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfhXm1xQMX
“Not around here.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2YzcBxUmV
“Okay…”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJxOIWK3S7
“We’re almost there. No more questions.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡasnspJtWzg
Are you guys close, Vinny? Please tell me you’re close.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNjTmvvUqR
Mom wants to know which trail you’re on.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlAm9jjTnc
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xEn047u1G
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVu4PRAkL0
Gerry stopped walking. “What’s going on here?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBlMYv5hos
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp08N1cUve
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg95kYWVjI
“That’s not what you’re answering to, Gerry,” the man––Satan––said behind him.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡVujhhhMmyb
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2BPboQojm
Vinny, where are you?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUCM0XLXS4
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOzY6QgSdP
“I asked for forgiveness,” Terry said through a mouthful of snot.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42SFS34Jsn
Satan replied, “Yeah, but you asked for it from the wrong God. Unfortunately for you, Allah is the wrong one.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54iIRiFCfy
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVngTt6amj
“Then what’s he doing here?” Anxiety rose steadily up Gerry’s throat as a scream. His knees shook. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqmR6eUaXn
“This is Officer Hardy. Terry murdered Hardy’s wife after he fornicated with her. He’s here for the show.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3sQLj9rVo
“What show? What am I doing here?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCkmSeQZoc
“You’re an adulterer, Gerry. You’re a sinner unwilling to repent.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnDFeKT9VR
“I don’t understand.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtUYjGis7d
Terry’s crying was driving him mad. Satan placed a black hand on his shoulder, crushing it. “You’re going to kill Terry.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6QbtJpjIO
“I’m WHAT?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1baHpUBzP
VINNY! copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5in4C3m5a
We’re on the trail. Mom is complaining about her feet.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXhr8Lay5T
“You see that grave? That’s Terry’s grave.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBUyMCYGdx
Terry whimpered and shut his eyes.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGDP4Ir84w
“Why do I have to kill him?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFuA6Dlgbq
“Because you won’t repent, Gerry. Because you’re a already sinner.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y247OH5vU
“But if I kill him, that makes me a murderer.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1BgQFYiN3
“I know.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6IjGOW258
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfHvkOj1UP
Who did Terry just bury?copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxQxNHcMZ0
Gerry wasn’t too afraid to realize that he stood on a clear patch of dirt.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO6x7Nm3Ps
“Who’s going to kill me?” he asked out loud. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡciHTN2H73B
Satan squeezing his shoulder, he answered, “They’re on their way.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZ9MwWuJJt
–copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyhQ6pEttt
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFMDyzFgGJ
Vince wheezed and sweated, but he refused to stop. We’re almost to the top, he assured his father. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDJ1qfYUZH
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJgFAm5eQy
“I gotta take a break.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMdupM453L
“No, mom, we’re almost there!”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVoyXOOVIO
She wiped sweat from her forehead. “Just let me sit for a minute. Maybe five.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6xTL8gQn6
He tugged her arm. “No, mom, come on! Just one more minute and we’ll be there.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5SDAipFot
“Need…Need to sit…for a minute. Maybe…Maybe two.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdoOMlDAhl
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUrWOd444r
“You’re early.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡatx368mwNK
Artemis stopped struggling. Vince straightened up, seeing his pale and shaking father.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdXo2JJFk1
The man with charcoal skin and orange hair faced them. “You’re early,” he said again, arms crossed.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IWsEKGJOK
Artemis’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him and Gerry. She said, “Who the hell are you?” copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZdI3jRpQE
“I’m the one who’s making sure no sin goes unpunished.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PS7dURXzb
“You’re Satan.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAUV3zFJiu
“You’re Vincent.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtttHcw14VR
Gerry had an axe in his hands. Terry’s toes reached over the pit. Both men were crying.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5HAcVv3S4
Artemis’s eyes rolled to the back her head, her knees buckled, and she fell face first into the dirt.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSF9NJIss1
Satan snorted. Rage ebbed in the back of Vincent’s head.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWuqEHXFLS
“Dad, put down the axe.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuXf5aaAd3
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtVlCI4kbx
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8uQy8yvOk
“I’m chosen.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡomOmBUwLuK
Gerry detected unease creeping onto Satan’s menacing face. He lowered the axe.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡOadKvQtAaE
“Don’t you drop that,” Satan growled at him without looking.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wNBnmKVSy
For the first time Officer Hardy spoke, “Is this happening or not?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡggU5DvZaht
“Yeah, yeah.” Satan waved him off. “We’re just thrown a little off schedule.” He looked to Gerry. “Do it now.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6E8Q9YjJ9
“I can’t just kill a man.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRGMt38dZ0
“Yes, you can.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfhHkVdj5u
Against Gerry’s will, his arms raised, his fingers involuntarily tightening around the axe. “No,” he grimaced. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0As8rB7Ll
Vince yelled, “Stop!” copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJdWvG0EUZ
Artemis stirred in the dirt.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGfWnzRATW
Satan put up a hand. “Can you please shut up until this is over? You’ll get your turn.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HWF957LcS
“What do you mean he’ll get his turn?” copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tBkp71pLV
“After you’re done murdering Terry, Vincent will murder you. I like to call it the circle of death.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqBEnZeez7
“But he didn’t do anything!”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFP8lYesKq
“Yeah, but imagine getting one of God’s chosen to kill. What a plot twist, am I right?”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRTWcj4dJQ
“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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98gKMEK0Tk
“You little shit…”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85ZXdkWsMH
Twenty-seven.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6zM3L67ZP
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8XeTKSDKL
“Don’t move. Stay where you are,” he commanded.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSQXQ4hMw4
Vince felt a strong force wind around him like a rope. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpb2ceOjlN
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iW6xQQpuB
“Get ready to die, Terry.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡbru2pk6G6D
He closed his eyes, his chest heaving in great sobs.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA3WDgarAw
Officer Hardy went on sucking his mustache.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJOcQl2HLw
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWYMYn754d
The invisible rope vanished from Vince for a split second. He yelled at his father, “Get him, dad! Do it now!”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPONLr4WTE
“I can’t move!”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8ohkeCmVo
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡTekR1jf8pj
Artemis rolled off Satan. His skin gave her second degree burns. Blood from her nose fell onto him and sizzled.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡm99aWVC1Rv
Vince wasted no time in bringing the axe down on Satan, wedging the sharp blade between his ribs. Fire ascended from the incision. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjE4AYjdlf
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡBftW6uglDF
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZPOaLKNNB
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡitVXywWSJh
“You look like shit,” she said, coming a hand through Gerry’s unkempt hair. copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lxAiD5zZJ
Twenty-eight.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFI4uTQeGD
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ7LWGhSy0
Gerry gulped, helping his son out of the pit. “No, you’re not stupid, Vinny. You’re not stupid.”copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFmHgFlmel
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 protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t0OxuInJo
Twenty-nine.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zo9kkPBdn
Unable to contain himself, Vince laughed, and his parents laughed with him.copyright protection97ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn3Z5jEqFS
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