Fiction

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Julie couldn't believe she was doing this. Frank Walters had been outed by the elders weeks ago. Given, they hadn't exactly had any good reason to kick him out. The note on her door had been the last straw. It said he needed to talk to her about what was "really going on" at Grace Church. She coudln't believe he would slander her home church.

She buttoned her jacket and slipped into the cool night air. She had no idea why he insisted on meeting her after dark. It didn't seem like a great idea, but her curiosity was killing her.

She looked around for any sign of a tail or Frank himself. She saw no one. She proceeded toward the abandoned warehouse he had asked her to meet him at and took a deep breath as she entered the door. Her high-heeled shoes clickety-clacked along the cement floor. It echoed around the vast expanse.

“You’re alone?” a voice boomed from behind her.

She whirled and her hands came up in a defensive posture.

Frank chuckled and stepped out of the deepening shadows. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Julie dropped her hands and then pushed some hair out of her face. “There’s no need to frighten me like that,” she said in her light British accent.

Frank shrugged and stopped about twenty feet in front of her. Then he just stopped. He didn’t speak, move, or even flinch. He just stood there.

Julie took an intimidated step backward. “What was so urgent that you needed to tell me?” she asked.

Frank pushed his hands into his pockets. “I told you. There’s more going on at Grace Church than meets the eye. Everyone is being deceived.”

Julie suddenly wished she had some sort of weapon. It had been a stupid idea to come out here alone and unarmed. “What’s going on, Frank?” she asked, looking around for something, anything, to defend herself. “How can I trust you if you won’t tell me what’s happening?”

Frank sighed and reached to scratch his scalp. “I’m not here to hurt you, Julie,” he assured her. “I’m just here to enlighten you.”

She let her eyes focus solely on him. She was sure she was about to be dead meat.

“There’s a secret cult behind the doors of Grace Church,” he stated matter-of-factly.

Julie snorted. “Of course there is. Because there’s always something behind everything, isn’t there?”

Frank furrowed his brow. “I’m serious, Julie. Only the deacons and select members are part of it. Trust me, they are not a nice group of people. We’re talking burnt sacrifices and religious massacres. And they’re coming after you next.”

She took another step back. “What do you mean?”

“You are in danger, Julie. More danger than you can imagine.”

She shook her head. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening. She had never done anything to anyone.

“Why?” she asked, just in case he was telling the truth.

Frank advanced on her. Before she knew it he was right in front of her face. “That’s what I’m trying to find out. In the mean time, I can’t let them get to you.”

She held her ground. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He stared at her intensely. “I’m sorry I have to do this.”

Julie didn’t have time to back away. A cloth was placed over her mouth, covered in something sweet-smelling. The next moment, everything went black.



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