Chapter Nine
Sunlight floated through the thin lacey curtains of the attic bedroom and danced across the walls. Alyssa stretched and rolled over seeking out Samantha’s small form. Bolting upright when she realized Samantha was not in bed beside her, Alyssa sprang from the bed. She glanced around the room just as Samantha’s laughter drifted up the stairs followed by the smell of bacon and freshly baked biscuits.
Sighing with relief Alyssa smiled at her foolishness and went to change into the clothing her grandmother had laid out on the end of the bed. She found blue jeans and a pink blouse. Pink again? Alyssa smiled and shook her head. The rough fabric of the jeans surprised her. She frowned at their musty smell. It’d been a long time since she’s worn pants. She sat on the bed and pulled up the thick jeans; they were tight, but fit well. Her legs felt strange covered in fabric. She rose, fastened the zipper and turned to pick up the blouse.
The pink fabric was soft and smooth. She lifted it to her cheek and reveled in the sensation of such delicate material. She slid her arms slowly into the sleeves and buttoned it. Moving to a small antique dresser by the window, she gazed into the round mirror that hung above it. She was stunned to find a lovely young woman staring back at her. They didn’t have mirrors at the compound. Leaning forward, Alyssa peered into her large blue eyes and said, “I look like my mother.”
Forcing back the tears, she picked up the large white bristled brush sitting on the dresser and ran it through her hair. Glancing around for something to tie her hair back with Alyssa opened the small drawers of the dresser. Finding nothing, she glanced at her reflection and decided it was time she left her hair down for a change.
Samantha met her at the base of the stairs with a huge hug. “Mommy, grandma let me gather the eggs! Grandma lifted the chickens off their nests for me, so it was easy. She let me help her scramble them, we added cheese, ham, salt, and pepper, and they are so yummy! Come and see!”
Alyssa followed Samantha down the hallway and into the kitchen. Gabe, Mike and Rafi all sat at the table as Cora placed a large plate of bacon and eggs on the table before them. Gabe quickly scooped a plateful of food and rose. “You can have my seat,” He offered her, “I’m going to take a look at the tractor in the barn, we’re going to need it. How about giving me a hand Samantha?” He didn’t wait for her response. Instead, he took Samantha’s hand and led her out.
Alyssa didn’t give him a second glance; instead she concentrated on Cora. “Can I help?”
“No sweetheart,” Cora smiled at her, pulled a plate from the cupboard and waved her toward Gabe’s seat. “Sit down and have some breakfast we have a lot to do today and not much time.”
Mike and Rafi exchanged looks as Alyssa sat down. She frowned at them and asked, “What do we have to do?”
Rafi shoveled his food in his mouth and rose quickly from the table, “Lots of things.” He answered adding, “I’m going to head into town and pick up some supplies.” With that, he was gone.
Alyssa scooped up a spoonful of eggs and glanced expectantly at Mike. She was pleased his hair was damp from a fresh shower; it was lighter than she expected. His leather clothes were gone replaced by jeans and a black t-shirt. He looked up as he felt her eyes upon him.
“Trouble is coming, we have to prepare.” Mike said in a gruff, yet matter of fact tone.
“Trouble?” Alyssa stared at him.
Mike put his fork down and leaned forward over the table, “Alyssa, did you really think that just because you made it to your grandmother’s farm that Walton would suddenly stop searching for you?”
Alyssa leaned back unconsciously and stammered, “But we are supposed to be safe here.”
Cora turned from the kitchen sink and looked at her. “You are safe dear.” She called.
Mike leaned back in his chair keeping his eyes locked on Alyssa’s and added, “For now.” He turned and smiled at Cora asking, “Cora sweetheart, would you mind if Alyssa and I spoke in private for a moment?”
“Of course,” Cora answered drying her hands on a dishtowel. “Gabe could use a fresh cup of coffee and I promised Samantha I’d show her how to feed the pigs.”
Once Cora was gone, Mike continued. “Alyssa, Gabe called me and Rafi here to end Walton’s reign of terror because you have a destiny to fulfill, and Walton is interfering with it. Walton’s evil has been allowed to grow far too strong; his reach is too wide. He must be stopped. When he offered your father a job on the compound, he set a path in motion. That path can only end in his destruction.”
Alyssa stared at him in confusion.
Mike sighed, “Okay, here is a simple explanation; Walton is evil; he’s going to keep coming until either you and Samantha are dead, or we kill him. Demons are real; you know this so stop pretending they don’t exist. Walton has an alliance with them, and he is sending their forces against us. They will be here in two days.”
“No,” Alyssa stammered.
Mike rose and moved around the small table. He took hold of Alyssa’s arm and roughly pulled her to her feet. “I don’t have time to coddle you like Gabe has done. We are out of time. Open your eyes! If not for you, for your daughter. Samantha is not the chosen one and once Walton figures that out he will turn her over to the elders, and they will take her as Walton took you and all the other children. Is that what you want?”
“No!” Alyssa struggled in his arms; tears streamed down her face.
“Well it’s going to happen if you don’t open your eyes and make a choice Alyssa.” Mike growled.
Suddenly in a blur of movement, Mike flew across the kitchen and slammed into the sink. Gabe stood between them facing Mike. “Leave her alone!” He shouted standing his ground as Mike slowly rose from the floor his face flushed with anger.
“It has to be done.” Mike growled.
“Not like this.” Gabe’s voice was deadly.
Mike’s face turned deep red with rage, but he turned and walked from the kitchen leaving them in silence.
Gabe spun and took Alyssa in his arms. She clung to him sobbing as her life at the compound flashed before her. “Emily!” She gasped, “They took her one night! Only one night and she never returned! I knew! I knew they did something awful to her. So I snuck into the sanctuary the next time the elders took the others. I snuck in and watched from the top of the stairs. It smelled so bad; the stench was overwhelming. It felt like death was climbing into my nose and mouth. I watched as they summoned the black creatures. They had dark red eyes, short bodies and long clawed arms. A woman was tied to the altar. She looked like she’s been there for days. She was naked and filthy; all covered in blood. She was still alive. There were small cages beside the altar filled with children. Emily was there! She was as white as a ghost. She looked like she’d been there forever. Her little dress was covered in her own urine and feces. Then Walton spoke strange words that stung my ears and the demons began to move about. First they descended on the cages. The children screamed as the demons attacked, biting and clawing at them. It lasted for only a moment. When it was over the children were left bloodied and weak, but alive. The demons moved to the woman. They ripped the flesh from her bones and feasted on it! I was paralyzed with horror and began to vomit. The elders heard and found me. They took me to Walton. That was my first night with him!”
Gabe held her allowing the horrors to spill from her lips. “I’m sorry, Alyssa, I’m so sorry.” He whispered until she collapsed in his arms.
When Alyssa woke she was lying on the sofa with Cora at her side. Cora helped her sit up and offered her a cup of steaming liquid. “Have some tea sweetie, it will help calm you.”
Alyssa glanced around, but they were alone. “Mike told me we are in danger.” She whispered accepting the cup from Cora.
“They will protect us.” Cora smiled and stroked her long hair.
“Where’s Samantha?” Alyssa sat up straight in alarm.
Cora patted her arm, “She’s with Gabe and Rafi they are loading the trailer with
supplies. We are going to do some quick repairs to the chapel. Mike thinks it’s the best location to make a stand. Just take a deep breath and calm down, sweetheart. You’ve had quite a shock. You scared the dickens out of Gabe.”
Alyssa set the cup on tea down on the end table and hugged her grandmother. “Grandma, I’ve been dealing with the horror of the compound for a long time. I tried so desperately to block it all from my mind. I told Samantha they weren’t real. You don’t know how adamant I’ve been grandma. I’ve forsaken religion completely in order to survive in a world of demon worship. She’ll think I’ve gone mad if I suddenly start believing in miracles?”
Cora hugged her back and brushed a stray hair from her face. “Darling, but that’s exactly what you have here. Gabe is your miracle. I’ve prayed for a miracle for so long. When you wrote me that your mama passed I cried for three solid days. I cried for the loss of my daughter; I cried because I didn’t get to say goodbye; I cried for you and Samantha left all alone in that evil place, but mostly I cried because I failed to save your mother. I was afraid I was going to fail you too.” Cora reached out, took hold of Alyssa’s hand, and said, “When I finally realized that my lying around crying all day was not going to help you. I got up and came up with a plan to get you out. I decided the battle had been lost, but the war wasn’t over. I wasn’t going to let evil win. Now Gabe and Rafi are loading the trailer. They are heading to the chapel to get ready. Mike says it’s the only place we can safely make a stand. But, we are running out of time; everyone has to pitch in. We have to stay together. We have to help them with this battle Alyssa. They are fighting for us. Do you think you are strong enough? Strong enough to stop evil from winning?”
Alyssa smiled and squeezed Cora’s hand. “Let’s get to work.”
Mike walked into the barn to find Samantha sitting on the tractor seat. “Hey kid, get outta my seat.” He challenged in a gruff tone moving slowly into the barn. He glanced around for Rafi and Gabe neither were anywhere in sight. “What are you doing in here alone?”
“I’m going to drive.” Samantha said cheerfully gripping the steering wheel as if she’d never let go. “I watched my mom drive the car. It looks easy.”
“You licensed to drive?” He asked stopping to look up at her.
“No, and neither is mommy.” She stared down at him.
“Well I can’t argue with that wisdom.” Mike grinned, “How about you sit on my knee, and I help you drive?”
Samantha rose from the small round seat and allowed him to sit down. He lifted her up onto one knee and turned the key in the ignition. Samantha jumped as the tractor roared to life.
Alyssa walked slowly down the porch steps as Mike backed an old tractor up to a flatbed trailer. The faded red tractor looked to be held together by rust alone. Samantha sat proudly on Mike’s lap, which Alyssa found extremely disturbing given her growing dislike for the overbearing brute. Samantha had clearly taken a shine to the obnoxious biker. She was laughing and barking instructions to him as he attempted to maneuver the tractor into place. Alyssa grimaced and looked at Gabe as he walked around the side of the barn and with a few short strides, leapt onto the back of the trailer to grab hold of a shifting piece of wood. He glanced down at Alyssa in silence, his face taunt with concern.
She smiled at him, and his face relaxed. He flashed a brilliant smile and jumped down to help Rafi lift the final load of lumber onto the trailer. Alyssa watched as they lifted the sheets of plywood and set them down on the trailer. Despite the cool weather, both men wore only jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Alyssa admired how the flannel material did nothing to hide their sculptured arms and actually enhanced their broad shoulders. All three men had perfect bodies, firm and muscular; they were built for battle. All three were extremely attractive with chiseled features and silky hair. However, Gabe and Rafi had kind eyes filled with compassion, not Mike. The large man’s eyes were full of challenge perhaps even rebellion. Danger oozed out of every pore. Yes, he was definitely dangerous.
She turned to stare at Mike. Grimacing, she recalled his words in the kitchen that seemed so harsh and hurtful. Despite his gruff attitude, she had to admit he forced her see the truth. Demons were real, and if demons were real then Hell was real. If Hell was real, then Heaven was real and if Heaven was real then angels were real. She was looking at three of them.
It was then that Alyssa realized all three men had their swords strapped firmly to their backs. They were definitely worried something was going to happen soon. She grabbed a bucket of nails and struggled to lift them onto the trailer. Gabe appeared at her side and lifted the bucket from her hands saying, “Mike has to head around the trees and follow the edge of the field to get to the chapel. The trailer is too wide for the trail. If it’s okay with you, we will meet them at the chapel. Samantha is determined to help Mike drive the tractor. She’s stuck to him like glue, but he’s handling it well.”
“Are you sure it’s safe?” Alyssa glanced at the brute not sure she wanted her daughter exposed to Mike’s gruff demeanor and angry attitude. Samantha had too many angry men in her past. She didn’t need another one in her life now.
Gabe followed her gaze and smiled, “She couldn’t be safer. Mike is the most fierce and experienced warrior among us. If I had a daughter, I’d want her to sit exactly where Samantha is when trouble starts.”
Alyssa tried to smile as she watched Mike drive into the plowed over cornfield. Gabe took hold of Alyssa’s hand, and they walked past the chicken coop toward the woods beyond heading for the narrow dirt trail. Rafi went to meet Cora as she stepped off the porch carrying a large picnic basket and a blanket. He took the basket from her and offered his arm. They followed Gabe and Alyssa into the woods.
Fall was clearly in the air. The brisk wind swirled the red and amber leaves along the trail in front of them. The tall grass of the woods held a scattering of large trees just dense enough to keep the trailer from passing through.
Cora called ahead to Alyssa and Gabe, “Alyssa, do you remember this trail? We used to picnic at the chapel when you were just a small child. We’d bring fried chicken and potato salad. Your father always had to have deviled eggs; it was such a bother to keep them chilled, but he loved them so. The Albrights would meet us on occasion with their young girl Sally. The two of you would race around the clearing all day. Finally when it was time to go home, you’d be so exhausted your father would carry you on his shoulders all the way back to the house.” Gabe and Alyssa stopped to wait for Cora and Rafi They were still holding hands. Gabe met Rafi’s eyes as they neared. His gaze clearly stated he would accept no further challenge regarding his affection toward Alyssa.
Alyssa laughed and gazed up at the cloudy sky above. “I remember those picnics, grandma. You always managed to bring hot food and cold drinks. I remember your wonderful brownies covered in powdered sugar and those scrumptious snickerdoodles.”
“Oh yes, those were your mom’s favorite. You loved the devil’s food cake with chocolate icing.” Cora laughed. “Does Samantha like chocolate cake?”
Alyssa’s smile vanished, “I don’t know.”
Cora hugged her and added, “Well, we will just have to find out. By the way, Sally Albright married a local boy Brad Thompson, and they have a son of their own. He’s a few years younger than Samantha. They come up to visit nearly every weekend. Mary Albright is in a nursing home now. Her husband George was left to fend for himself. Sally brings him a week’s worth of dinners every Saturday. She’s a good daughter.”
Alyssa smiled and turned to head back down the trail, “Sally Thompson, that sounds nice.” She glanced at the trail up ahead. It snaked through the trees and over a small rise.
Mike drove along the tree-line at the edge of the field. He glanced over his shoulder occasionally to insure their cargo was still intact. Samantha sat proudly on his lap helping him steer. Suddenly Mike caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. He released the gas and reached for his blade, wrapping one a
rm around Samantha as he turned to face it.
A large buck burst from the trees and dove into the field. Samantha gasped in pleased surprise as they watched the deer run across the open field. Samantha bounced with glee on Mike’s knee and asked, “Did you see that! It was so pretty!”
Mike grinned releasing his blade. “A six point buck. That’s fine eating.”
“You can’t eat a deer.” Samantha declared with prejudice.
“Sure you can, I’ve eaten a lot of wild game.” Mike studied her expression. “I’ve eaten deer, bear, mountain lion, goat, elk, rattlesnake, crocodile, rabbit and squirrel.” Mike announced with a wicked grin. “They are delicious. Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. What do you say I take you hunting after we’re finished here? We can shoot that deer and Cora can cook him for dinner?”
“Yuck!” Samantha’s face screwed into a tight knot. “You aren’t eating my deer! You leave him alone! Grandma has plenty of food at her house. She would never eat a deer. Promise me you won’t eat anymore deer!”
Mike chuckled and glanced after the deer. “Simmer down, I promise I won’t eat your deer. But, tell me this, what would you want me to do if a big hungry mountain lion jumped out of the woods and started chasing after you. Do you think it would stop when it saw you and say to itself I’m not going to eat that little girl because she’s so cute?”
Samantha frowned at him and answered hesitantly, “No...”
“And if I were with you, what would you want me to do at that point?” Mike asked softly.
“Shoo it away!” Samantha’s lower lip started to pucker.
Mike cupped her little chin in his large hand and said, “I would certainly try, but if that didn’t work. If I had to, I would kill it to keep it from eating you.”
“Only if you had to,” Samantha agreed with a tiny sniffle.
Samantha sprang up and hugged his neck. Mike’s smile vanished. He glanced down at Samantha as a hint of tenderness shot across his face. “Okay, now I’ve got something I want you to have.”
He sat her back down on his knee and dug into his pocket producing a small red pocketknife. He handed it to her and said, “This is not a toy. It’s a knife. It’s small like you. Promise me you will only use it in an emergency like with the mountain lion.”
He showed her how to release the blade and close it safely. Samantha handled it gingerly then slid it into the front pocket of her jeans.
“Only in an emergency,” Mike repeated.
Samantha met his gaze and answered, “Only in an emergency.”
It wasn’t long before the trail opened into a small clearing. A tiny log cabin with a small steeple sat in the center of the clearing. An open field of tall grass ran past the chapel toward an empty field. Mike and Samantha were pulling up a small incline as Alyssa and the others arrived. Samantha waved; she was so excited.
“Mama! Mama! We saw a deer!” She shouted before climbing down. “It was way smaller than the moose Gabe hit, but it was so pretty.”
Rafi turned as they reached the trailer and stared at Gabe, “You hit a moose?”
Gabe rolled his eyes and muttered, “It was a dark, moonless night, and it came out of nowhere.”
Mike climbed off the tractor and asked, “Did you keep the antlers?”
“Oh no,” Samantha answered for him, “We ran over it and smooshed it.”
Rafi and Mike began to laugh hard slapping each other on the back as Gabe shook his head and added, “Laugh it up, I was driving my semi.”
Mike came up beside him and draped his arm over Gabe’s shoulders, “Good thing I was only driving a tractor, we don’t need any smooshed deer around here, it’s out of season.”
“Yeah,” Rafi added, “Smooshed deer makes a terrible jerky.”
Even Alyssa had to smile at that remark.
Mike and Gabe unloaded the wood as Rafi examined the chapel. When Rafi reappeared, he walked slowly over to Gabe and Mike, “The interior is solid,” He explained as he grabbed a ladder, “It’s clean inside and has been well cared for over the years. We should concentrate on boarding up the windows. I’ll climb up on the roof and check the steeple while you two get started. There doesn’t appear to be any mold or rotting wood inside so I’d say the roof is probably solid.”
Alyssa and Cora walked inside the chapel as Samantha ran to pick flowers at the edge of the clearing. The interior of the chapel was dark and musty. As their eyes adjusted to the dim light Cora lead Alyssa down an aisle banked by split log benches and up to a small platform that served as an altar. A large wooden cross filled the back wall. The cross was the only thing that resembled a religious icon inside the small chapel. The windows were clear glass.
Cora gazed up at the cross. It towered over her head reaching up toward the cathedral ceiling. She said, “You’re great grandpa built this chapel for your great grandma. The closest church was twenty miles away in town, and it was difficult to reach during the harsh winter weather. When the neighboring farmers heard what he was doing they all chipped in. They didn’t have a preacher, so the men took turns giving the sermon on Sundays. Your grandpa, my sweet Wilson, built that cross. He truly enjoyed being the caretaker of this chapel. Once in a while a young couple would drop by and ask if they could be married here and we’d get to decorate it all up.”
Alyssa gazed around the chapel. “I don’t remember this place, grandma.”
Cora turned her wistful gaze on Alyssa, “You spent all your time outside running around chasing butterflies and making mud pies.”
They walked outside just as Gabe and Mike finished boarding up the first window. Alyssa glanced around for Samantha, who was still picking flowers. A small boy appeared just inside the tree line not far from Samantha and waved at them.
Cora smiled and waved back, “That’s little Cody Thompson; his parents must be visiting.” Cora headed over to introduce the dark haired little boy to Samantha.
Alyssa watched until Cora reached them and turned to gaze up at Rafi as he gingerly walked back across the wooden shingles of the roof. “The steeple looks good from the outside; I want to see if there is access inside.” He called down to her as he reached for the ladder.
Cora walked up to the small dark haired little boy dressed in only a t-shirt and jeans gazing at Samantha from behind a small apple tree. “Cody, you’re far from home this afternoon. Does your mother know you’re here?”
“Yes, they are gathering firewood in the forest. She said I could come and say hi.” He answered in a little voice. “Mama said your granddaughter is here. Is that her?” He pointed at Samantha.
“Yes, sweetie, come over and meet her.” Cora smiled and motioned for Samantha to come near.
Samantha skipped over to them and smiled at the little boy, “I’m Samantha, do you want to play? I was thinking of climbing that apple tree.”
Gabe and Mike boarded another window as Rafi climbed down and headed back inside. Alyssa glanced back at Cora, who was watching both children climb a small apple tree. She turned back to watch Gabe and Mike head for the far side of the chapel to board the final window. Gabe stopped suddenly and glanced back at Alyssa. Mike’s head snapped up at the same instance, and they quickly lowered the board to the ground.
Rafi appeared in the door almost instantly as Gabe asked quickly, “Where’s Samantha?” Gabe glanced at Rafi then back to Samantha. Alyssa frowned and turned to find Cora heading back toward them. She gazed past her grandmother to the tree where the children were playing. They were gone.
“Grandma, where’s Samantha?” Alyssa rushed forward.
Cora stared at her and said, “Why they’re in the tree.” She turned to follow Alyssa’s alarmed gaze and stared at the empty tree. “They were just there, in the branches…” Her voice trailed off as Gabe sprinted across the clearing and disappeared into the trees, followed quickly by Rafi.
Mike grabbed hold of Alyssa’s arm and shoved her toward the church saying, “Cora, get her inside and stay there until we get
back.”
Then he raced after the others.
“It was just a boy,” Alyssa stammered as Cora took her arm and led her toward the chapel.
Gabe crashed through the underbrush following the trail of broken branches and disturbed ground. Whatever took Samantha was moving fast, there wasn’t much time. He could hear Rafi rushing through the trees to his right. When he reached a wide ravine, Gabe caught sight of Samantha’s bright pink jacket. He sprang into the air and leapt across the ravine landing hard on the edge beyond. He bolted into the small clearing as the young boy reached its center.
The boy couldn’t have been more than five years old. Yet he had Samantha hoisted over his shoulder and was running with ease across the grassy area. Rafi cleared the trees beside Gabe, and they rushed forward as one toward the young boy. The boy slid to a stop as Mike appeared through the trees in front of him. He spun to find Gabe and Rafi closing in. In one fluid movement, the boy flipped Samantha from his shoulder and placed her in a chokehold in front of him.
“I’ll break her neck.” He hissed. The boy’s young face screwed up in a distorted knot of rage and disgust, his little eyes glowed with a blood red hue.
“You won’t hurt her,” Gabe declared in a deadly voice. “Walton wants her alive.”
Samantha squirmed in his arms struggling against his iron grip.
The three men moved slowly forward, surrounding the children. Mike stepped closer to the boy and said, “Demon, you have committed a grievous abomination, come out of that boy, or I will destroy you where you stand.” Samantha squirmed in his hands, biting the boy’s arms. He ignored her, locking eyes with Mike.
Mike stepped closer; the boy cackled and squeezed Samantha tighter causing her to gasp for air. “You won’t kill this boy and I’m not leaving his body until you are gone. Move aside and let me pass, or she will die.”
“Come out of him!” Mike shouted in rage at the demons defiance. “Demons are forbidden to possess children!”
Samantha’s face was white as a ghost. Her lips were turning blue. Gabe moved forward desperate to save her and the boy shifted to face him. “Please do come closer, I’ll snap her neck and you can try to stuff her lifeless tongue back in her mouth before her mother arrives.”
Gabe had never wanted to kill a child before now. It took all of his strength not to throttle the boy and rescue Samantha. However, he knew it was not the boys fault; there was a strong demon inside him using his frail form; burning up his young life force to maintain the possession. Gabe’s eyes caught the slightest movement from Samantha as her small had slid into her jean pocket. He suppressed a wicked grin as she pulled out a small pocketknife, released the blade and plunged it into the boy’s thigh.
The boy screamed and staggered backward in surprise as his grip on Samantha loosened. Gabe dove forward tackling them. He pulled Samantha from the boy’s hands and rolled across the grass. Mike leapt forward and snatched the boy by the foot pulling him from Gabe’s grasp as he continued to roll free with Samantha in his arms. Rafi was instantly at Gabe’s side reaching for Samantha’s throat. He touched her, and she gasped for air. She gazed up at him with tear-filled eyes as the pain in her throat disappeared.
Gabe pulled her to him and hugged her fiercely as she began to cry. “It’s okay baby, you’re safe now.”
Rafi rose and spun to face Mike, “He crushed her windpipe. If I hadn’t been here to heal her…”
That was all Rafi needed to say, Mike lifted the demon-possessed child in the air. He fought and screeched in rage. Mike pulled his sword free of its sheath on his back and said, “Come out of him at once!” The demon inside the boy continued to thrash and wail. Mike raised his sword so the boy could see it. “I will use this.” He growled. The demon screamed in horror striking out at him, but refused to leave the boy.
“No!” Alyssa’s voice screamed across the clearing, “Don’t hurt him! He’s just a baby!”
Gabe rose and started for her cradling Samantha in his arms. “Alyssa, you don’t understand,” He began. Alyssa rushed forward she took Samantha from Gabe and moved past him toward Mike. “I do understand, I’ve seen what those monsters can do, but he’s just a little boy. I won’t let you hurt him.”
Mike turned to face her as she approached; his jaw clenched in rage. When their eyes met, Alyssa could see the fire of his anger. She stopped before him cradling her daughter and said calmly. “Samantha is safe now. He’s an innocent just like her. You have to save him.”
Mike gazed at Samantha, then at the boy. He flipped the child upright with a flick of his wrist, caught him by the back of his neck and said softly, “I could never harm a child, Alyssa.”
The boy’s cackle filled the small clearing, “He’s mine, and I’ll not give him up.”
“We shall see.” Mike whispered with a wicked smile.