Chapter 3

Kyle pulled out a cheap burner phone. "Gotta call the contact, make sure they're ready for the delivery."

He smirked at me. "Don't want to spoil the surprise for your old man, do we?"

He dialed a number.

"Yeah, it's us. We got the package."

He listened for a moment.

"She's a little... upset. But she'll be fine."

My heart pounded. Jericho. That was likely who he was talking to. A Guardian. Mid-level, but still dangerous. Still loyal to the Prophet.

"Let me talk to him," I gasped, lunging for the phone.

Kyle shoved me back hard. I hit the side of the truck, pain shooting through my shoulder.

"Stay put, psycho," he snarled.

Brenda watched, her arms crossed, a look of grim satisfaction on her face.

Kyle turned his back to me, speaking low into the phone. "Yeah, yeah, 'Ashley.' She's right here."

He suddenly spun around, holding the phone up, its camera pointed at me. "Say hi, Ashley."

My face was already starting to swell from Brenda' s slap. My lip was split.

"Help me!" I screamed, my voice raw. "Jericho, it's Chloe! Please!"

Kyle yanked the phone away. "See? A real handful."

He listened again, then laughed. "Damaged goods? Yeah, a bit. But you'll fix her up, right?"

My hope died.

Jericho wouldn't recognize me. Not like this.

My distinctive long hair, the hair Seraphina and Caleb had always praised, the hair Caleb himself sometimes brushed with disturbing tenderness...

Kyle had been eyeing it with resentment ever since I arrived. He hated anything the cult had valued in me.

While I was reeling from Brenda's earlier slap, Kyle had grabbed a pair of rusty shears from the truck.

"Always so proud of this, weren't they?" he'd sneered, yanking my head back.

He hacked at my hair, rough, angry cuts. Chunks fell to the dusty ground.

It was an act of pure spite. He knew it was important to them.

Now, my hair was a ragged, short mess. Combined with my bruised face, and him using the name "Ashley"...

Jericho would just see some battered girl. Not the Prophet's cherished Chloe.

Kyle ended the call. "Alright, he's confirmed. They're expecting us at the rendezvous point. Says not to be late."

He looked at me, his eyes full of contempt. "See? Nobody wants you, Ashley. Not really. Except them."

I stared at the ground, at the clumps of my shorn hair.

A coldness spread through me.

They wouldn't listen. They wouldn't turn back.

My warnings meant nothing to them.

They were so sure of their payday, so blinded by their petty hatreds.

Fine.

Let them walk into it.

Let them face Elijah. Let them face Seraphina. Let them face Caleb.

I wouldn't try to save them anymore.

They made their choice.

Now, they would see what the New Dawn Sanctuary truly was.

And I would be there to watch.