Dust to Dust

33

The sky had gone completely dark and the winds had picked up again. Her robe was flowing gracefully behind her, arms folded, sitting with her knees up against the cabin. She could hear light sounds of talking from inside, but didn't bother to listen. Whatever it was, it didn't matter. All she could picture right now was Asher's dead body, only dead because of her. It was going to be all her fault, and she was just supposed to live with that for the rest of her long, miserable life. Just the fact that he was expecting that of her was infuriating. But she couldn't even accept being angry anymore, it was a waste of time and energy, especially since she didn't have much left anyway. She side-eyed the front door opening, and adherents coming out one by one. They were all holding freshly lit candles and were arranged in a perfectly straight line. This really was a ritual.

The adherent at the front reached her hand out for Jenny, and her gesture was comforting in it's own way. She felt less alone that she had people with her that were going to make it out of this alive. She took her hand, still shaky from before, and rose up to their level. They all started to walk in that same line, with Jenny at the side. She couldn't help but wonder how they were all feeling. Their faces were covered again, so she couldn't tell what they were thinking, but based on Charlotte's state over the past few days, it wasn't good. How could they all be so kind to her when she was the one taking Asher away from them? She may not know their past with him, but he was clearly an important part of all their lives. They must know that he doesn't care about them, but that wasn't exactly his fault if what he was saying was true about being immortal. 

The adherent next to her leaned slightly to the side. "Don't you worry. You'll be alright. We're here for you if you need anything, sweetie." she sounded older than Charlotte, but her words made Jenny want to cry. She really did need comforting, but not now. It would have to wait until after the deed was done, and she could finally tell the truth about what was really going on. Before that, she really wasn't comfortable with any of the adherents aside from Charlotte, but just a few words made her feel better. They weren't just supporting Asher alone, they knew what she was feeling too. 

Jenny kept her eyes down for the rest of the walk, until the line of adherents stopped walking, and she halted with them. She knew the church was right in front of her, but would rather do anything else aside from going in. She felt if she stepped one foot inside that church, she would leave a completely different person. Nothing was going to be the same. When she thought she had finally found a peaceful place to thrive, this happened. If she was really assigned just to be Asher's killer, the universe must really hate her. But then again, the universe allowed her to be a part of the last surviving humans on the planet. That must have consequences, there was no way she was getting that for free. She originally thought the punishment would be losing her family, and she had gotten that, plus so much worse. Maybe it would have been better to stay alone until insanity consumed her, then she wouldn't have met Jasper, he wouldn't have left, Delilah would still be alive, and Asher would live until the day he died by himself. Sounded like a better life for everyone. What she wouldn't do to go back.

A hand was put on her shoulder, and she turned to meet the hidden face. It was the same adherent from before, and she nodded in a gesture that it was alright to enter. She stepped away from the line, and was now directly in front of the door. It was so large compared to her, she felt like the smallest being in all the world. But the world didn't seem so big anymore. After all, to her, it was just within this camp. Whatever was outside didn't matter anymore.

"Good luck, Jenny." Charlotte's voice came from behind her, and she turned around to look at them. She was so clearly in pain, but refused to show any signs. Jenny's heart ached for her, she cared for Asher far more than Jenny did, so this was probably going to be harder for her. Taking a breath, she looked back towards the door.

She pulled the door open, throwing all thoughts out of her mind, and entered swiftly without a word. Candles lit, Asher in front of the statue, looking like an absolute freak, nothing out of the ordinary. He was finally facing her this time, however, which was much better than having his expression unknown. He was smiling, which could only be expected from the suicidal maniac. Pleased was the only way to describe him.

She made her way across the room to him, just underneath the steps leading up to the statue where he stood. He looked like he had all the confidence in the world, typical of him, especially now. The two stared at each other, one with eyes like daggers, the other soft as a feather. He had pulled the fake innocence act one too many times, and she was starting to get even more pissed. 

"You look beautiful."

"Don't flatter me." she murmured angrily under her breath. She knew he was serious, but didn't care. She just couldn't play nice with him anymore. He remained silent for a moment.

"You're angry with me." he had stated the obvious so many times, and she couldn't take it anymore. Whatever pain he had gone through to turn him into a complete husk of a person, she hated it for making him this way.

"I pity you. Might as well admit it before I murder you." not removing her eyes from his, he rested his head on his shoulder.

"I wouldn't call it murder. You're simply doing the right thing."

"Am I now? For who? You?"

He sighed, like she was wasting his time. "Yes. And for everyone else here, including yourself. This doesn't just benefit me, we've been over this." he groaned quietly, looking towards the ceiling.

"Don't give me that tone, creep. I get the whole curse thing, but actually getting to business just makes it seem all the more unbelievable." she snapped right back at him for sounding so bothered.

"It's not unbelievable." his gaze rushed back down to her. "You're just afraid."

Jenny yanked the gun out from underneath the seam of her robe and fled up the steps to Asher, holding it harshly against his chin. He looked up again, keeping it in line with his brain. She grabbed his shoulder, keeping him in place. Based on his reaction, she could tell he knew about this since she walked in. He gave her that same laugh only a psycho would give when having a gun held to their neck.

"I'm not afraid of you." she hissed into his ear, trying to get him to shut up.

"Might I ask where you got that?" he was completely unaffected. 

"There's a shed just behind your cabin. I noticed it when I tried to confront you about Delilah's death, and got dragged out by Jasper. I investigated, and there they were. All the weapons you stole from us. So when I got a minute, the adherents so kindly gave me a while to walk around camp while they accepted your death, I hid it under the robe, and came here without an issue." she pushed the top harder into his skin, moving his head higher.

"You're wrong. I'm not afraid of you. I just don't believe any of the bullshit you gave me. I see through you. You were planning to fuck me, and then kill me like I'm something to be disposed of. I'm not playing your game, Asher. You'll get what you want. Just not in the way you want it."

"Go ahead." he said it so quickly she almost didn't hear him. He put a hand on the gun and wrapped his fingers around it. "Pull the trigger. Blow my brains out. Right now. Do it."

Jenny hesitated, and then laughed at him. "You trying to guilt trip me or some shit, asshole? That's not going to work."

"Shoot me."

"Stop it."

"Shoot me."

"Shut up."

"Shoot me."

"I said shut the fuck up!"

Completely ignoring the gun pressed against him, Asher looked back down at Jenny, any sort of emotion completely gone. He already looked dead. "You're being illogical and you know it. This will cause all sorts of issues. You know I'm not lying to you, and that's why you won't pull the trigger."