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

Jonah put out a hand in greeting. “It is good to see you again.”

“Yes, Brother Jonah, I agree.”

Jonah grinned.

“What happened to Malachi?” Jonathan asked.

Luna glanced around the area to be sure it was not some kind of trick. She’d only met Jonah that one time before when he’d alerted Malachi for them. She had no idea if he was safe or not.

“Malachi has been reassigned. Elder Joseph got suspicious of him when he did not come back quickly enough. That is why I must be quick. Do you have word for Malachi?”

“Yes.” Luna pulled out the map she’d made and unfolded it. “Give this to him.”

She told Jonah the plan. She had no idea if she could trust him, but there was no time to worry about that. Abigail needed them, so she would have to take the chance.

“I will tell him.” Jonah nodded. “I must get back.”

Jonah folded the map, shoved it in his back pocket, and rushed back to the booth before Elder Joseph came looking for him.

All there was left to do was wait. They headed back to the car.

“Can he be trusted?” Luna asked. It was a little late since she’d already told him the entire plan.

“I think so. If not, we will find out as soon as we get there.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE parking lot, Luna looked around. “Where’s the car?”

“I don’t know. It was right here.” Jonathan looked at Luna. “Wasn’t it?”

“Wait.” Luna saw the posted signs. “We parked in the E section. This is D.” She pointed to the blue sign above.

“We must have gone out the wrong door.”

They walked down the sidewalk toward the E section of the parking lot. But as they stepped out into the street, the roar of an engine sounded.

Luna glanced back as a dark SUV raced toward them. Luna backed up and tripped over the curb, falling flat on her bottom as the vehicle hit Jonathan, throwing him into the air and onto the sidewalk.

“Jonathan!” Luna ran toward him.

Squealing its tires, the SUV came back around after them. Full of adrenaline, Luna was able to drag Jonathan out of the way just as it came at them again. Luna looked up as it squealed out of sight. That’s when she saw the eyes of a madman. A chill ran through her body. The High Prophet had just tried to kill them.

“Jonathan?” she cried again. “Please don’t die.”

Jonathan groaned.

“Help!” she screamed. “Someone?”

Jonathan was bleeding from his face, and she couldn’t tell just how damaged he was. He was still breathing and had a pulse. She prayed he was okay. She needed to get him to a doctor.

“Help!” she cried out again.

But no one was in sight. Realizing she had a cell phone, she whipped it out of her back pocket and dialed the number for emergency.

Chapter 38 ― Daniel

At midnight, Daniel grabbed the flashlight from under his pillow and snuck out to see Abigail. She was sure to be starving, but Daniel couldn’t chance going to see her during the daylight hours anymore. After the conversation with his mother, he realized just how crazy the High Prophet was.

He kept the flashlight turned off until he got safely around the corner and close to the room. He’d brought her more Twinkies, a ham and cheese sandwich, and another bottle of water. It was all he could get away with without being noticed. It would have to do.

He turned the corner and flipped on the flashlight. He kept it low just in case his father was at the back of the house for some strange reason. He wouldn’t be. He’d passed his father’s room and heard his loud snore. The High Prophet was a heavy sleeper.

When he got closer to the right spot, he had shown the light up against the wall hoping not to scare Abigail too much with the bright light.

But the vent was not there anymore. Instead, a huge board covered the area. There had to be over twenty nails holding it to the wall. His father had been there. Or at least someone had. He turned off the flashlight and kneeled.

“Abigail?” he whispered. “Abigail? Can you hear me?”

Not a sound.

Had his father killed her? With the three infants, Naaman, and Jacob, his father’s body count was up to five. He didn’t want Abigail to make six.

“Abigail, please,” Daniel cried out. “Please answer me.”

Daniel fell to the ground and prayed to God. He begged God to spare Abigail. To let her live long enough to get her out of there.

The key, a voice spoke inside his head. He had no idea if it was his own or the voice of God.

Don’t be silly. You’d know if it was God.

Okay, I must get the key. Even if it’s just long enough to be sure Abigail is alive. To give her some water.

Daniel jumped up and ran to the front of the house. He knew where his father kept the key. He would get it and come back and check on her, then he would replace it before anyone found out.

As Daniel entered his father’s office, he headed straight for the desk. He pulled out the top drawer quietly and reached into the back. There was nothing but a bunch of papers. He shuffled them around. No key. He looked up at the clock. It was almost one o’clock in the morning. Daniel was tired. But he could not give up. Abigail was counting on him.

Where else would he keep the key?

Daniel felt under the desk to see if it was taped somewhere underneath. He’d watched plenty of movies, and that was what they did. He felt nothing.

A hidden drawer? He pushed and poked all over the desk, hoping a drawer would pop out. Again nothing. He turned to the filing cabinets. There were two of them. And each cabinet held five drawers. He would never be able to go through all five of them.

Frustrated, Daniel sat in