A pair of heavy boots appears in the corner of my vision, wreathed by stained white robes. I stare at my hand, the horizon, the rising sun.
Is this really what He wants? Is this really His plan?
Brother Hutch says, “I’m sorry,” and he almost sounds like he means it.
I make an awful keening sound deep in my throat. It’s the closest I’ve come to crying in years. Past Brother Hutch and past the Grace, the river rushes, perfect blue and clear and clean; the mountains of Acresfield County shine with green and gold; the black wings of carrion birds glimmer in the morning sun.
I pretend Dad is out there. I tell him I was good and to go on without me. I tell him I’ll meet up with him eventually, one day, maybe, I promise.
Brother Hutch says, “It’s time to come home.”
What do Angels believe? As true believers, our priority is to serve the LORD. We know salvation comes in service to God, in carrying out His final command. We call ourselves ANGELS to proclaim our truth in servitude.
—The Angelic Movement official website
It’s time to come home.
Brother Hutch holds out his hand to me. The hand that clasped Mom’s in prayer, the hand that pulled the trigger on Dad.
Home means going back to New Nazareth. Back to Theo, back to Mom. Every Angel in New Nazareth will fall to their knees and beg for my blessings. Theo will take me back as his betrothed, like he didn’t spit at me and call me a lying, ungrateful bitch. Mom will kiss my cheeks, pretending she doesn’t notice my boys’ clothes and short hair, and then she’ll slam me in an isolation cell until the Flood turns me into a monster.
Into Seraph. Into a six-winged beast burning with holy fire, leading Graces and the Flood to war, carving a path to Heaven through the bodies of nonbelievers.
I don’t take his hand.
I don’t want to go home.
My stomach seizes, and I vomit onto the road. It’s yellow, red, and black; sour and hot all the way up my throat. Around me—click, click, clack, a choir of safeties coming off. But the Angels won’t shoot. They won’t kill me. Imagine what the faithful would do to the soldier that did. He’d be crucified. He’d be cut open, and he would die watching maggots squirming in his intestines.
“Hey!” Brother Hutch snaps at the soldiers. “Stand down, now!”
I heave again. Nothing comes up except acid. Brother Hutch hums softly, and it’s such a kind sound, it’s terrifying.
“There we go,” he murmurs. He rubs small circles between my shoulders. “It’s okay.”
My words come out in an unsteady wheeze, bubbling with saliva. “Don’t touch me.”
“All right,” Brother Hutch says. “I understand. I heard what your father called you. Ben, was it? I’ll call you Ben if that’s what you want. Your mom is worried about you, Ben. She wants to make sure you come home.”
Mom’s not worried about me. She’s worried about salvation.
I say, “Rot in Hell.”
That does it. Brother Hutch snarls and hauls me up—not enough to stand or even get onto my knees, just enough to look him in the eyes. His bloodshot, beady eyes.
“How about a deal?” he says. I try to pull back, but he holds me tight. “I’ll give you a choice. You can come with us the easy way, or we can take you by force. You can come to your senses, or I can break your legs.” He’s smiling. It makes his face shine in the ugliest way. A mask can never hide that. “It’s up to you. How do you want to do this?”
There’s something on his cheekbone. A splatter, strangely soft and pink. A little piece of meat.