The Forsaken (The Chosen Series Book 2), Patricia Bell [e textbook reader .txt] 📗

“I have no preference.” The chair squeaked as his father leaned back and crossed his arms.

“Look, man. I don’t know who you think you hired, but I do not kill kids.”

“You have accepted the money, have you not?”

“Yes, but you did not tell me they were children.”

“It should make no matter to you. You accepted the job, and now you desire to back out?” The High Prophet sat up in his chair and eyed the man. “Does your word mean nothing?”

“Look. I can find them for you, bring them to you, and you can do whatever you like with them. That’s the best I can do.”

Daniel leaned in to see what his father would do. He was used to getting his way. Surprisingly, his father smiled, leaned over the desk, placed his hand out to the man and said, “You have a deal.”

When the man turned around to leave, his black eyes stared through the vent and into Daniel’s. He grinned down at him and walked away. Daniel leaned against the back wall, his heart pounded in his chest. The man had seen him.

How did he do that?

Daniel sat for several minutes before he stood. Ideas and thoughts ran rampant through his brain, but as he stared down the hall, only one question bothered him. He turned to the end of the passageway. What is down there?

You watch too many movies.

His parents never paid attention to what he watched. In fact, they never paid much attention to him at all. He had tutors who came in to teach him, a maid who cleaned up after him, and a cook who made his meals.

Daniel stood and headed back to the edge of the stairs. The solid darkness gave him the creeps. Was there a switch at the bottom? Or was it just complete darkness all the way through? He took a step back.

DANIEL SAT LISTENING to his father's rants, yet his mind did nothing but wonder what was down those stairs. He’d ventured back a couple of times but each time, as he got right up to the edge of the stairs, he chickened out. But this time, courage came over him. He would do it. He would see what was down those stairs.

Daniel stood and crept closer to the darkness slowly, step by step, until he reached the edge of the stairs. He took a deep breath and lowered his foot to the first step. He lifted his hands to the wall on each side of him to brace himself. After another step, Daniel looked back toward where he’d come from.

You can do it. Don’t be afraid.

He took another step. Then another. Soon he was shrouded in complete darkness. His hands searched the walls for a switch. He had to be close to the bottom since he could no longer see the top of the stairs. A dim light protruded from above, but that was the only sign that he hadn’t slipped into another dimension.

Finally, the stairs stopped, leading to a flat surface. He slid his feet along the ground, not sure what he might run into. Something brushed across the top of his head and he swatted at it and ducked. Staying low, he listened for any flying creatures like bats. All he heard was a slight tinkling sound as if something was tapping against thin glass. Cautiously, Daniel reached up in the darkness and found the offender. It was a pull cord.

He pulled on it and light illuminated the area. Daniel stared into the room. What he saw spread goosebumps all over his body.

Chapter 9 ― Rachel

“I do not believe I am in need of any more counseling, Shelly. It is a waste of time, and your hard-earned money,” Rachel said on the way to another counseling session with the infamous Dr. Paine. A name that Lenny thought quite funny.

Shelly chuckled. “Good try, but it doesn’t cost me a single dime for your counseling. It’s part of your state insurance. Besides, you have been through a lot, Rachel. Doesn’t it feel good to talk about it with someone?”

No, it does not. Rachel leaned her head on the window and watched the passing traffic. She didn’t want to hurt Shelly’s feelings, but talking to a complete stranger about things the English either could not comprehend or mocked was not what Rachel would exactly call healing.

“Just try it a couple more times. If you don’t feel like it’s helping you, then you can stop.”

“How many?”

“How many wha— Oh. Well, how about we finish off the month.”

We?

It was true. Shelly had been through a situation that few people could say they had endured. She had been married to a serial rapist slash murderer and had been completely unaware of it at the time. So, in a sense, she did understand what it felt like for people to not understand. But still, it wasn’t the same. Rachel was not used to confiding in others. In her community, women were not to be heard. They did not voice their sorrows nor their opinions. Their burdens were theirs alone to bear.

“Here we are.” Shelly pulled into the familiar parking lot. “I have some running around to do, I’ll be back in an hour.”

“All right,” Rachel said as she opened the passenger’s door and grabbed for the sides of the vehicle to pull her overgrown body out without pulling a muscle. The baby kicked in irritation. She rubbed her tummy. Being short, the baby seemed to enjoy kicking her ribs or sitting on her bladder.

“Don’t you go trying to ditch on her,” Shelly said.

“Ditch?” Rachel poked her head back into the car.

“You know. Skip out on seeing her.”

“Where would I go?”

Shelly laughed. “Never mind. Have a good time. I’ll be back here in exactly one hour.”

Rachel nodded and closed the car door. She watched Shelly drive off before entering the clinic. As she walked up to the window to check in, she thought about