Heart Pangs

Chapter 21 - Busy Work

Benji only plans to stay for a few days. But then a few days lengthens to a week. A week transitions into months of regular trips from his apartment to Camille's house. Nothing he can say will convince her to turn her back on Epomis. Eventually he gives up. He already has a semi-permanent residence in Camille's guest room. His performance at work is suffering from constantly splitting his time. He's running out of options. He needs to move back to his hometown.

Benji turns in his notice of resignation at the office. He takes what he needs and drags it all to Camille's house. He'll clear out his apartment when he finds a new place to stay. And he'll find a new place to stay once he can find a new job. And he'll find a new job when he has time. He barely has time anymore. His whole life has turned into working for Epomis.

Mitigating Brandon's concerns is another task in and of itself. Even their parents (and Stephanie when she makes the occasional weekend visit back from college), who are thrilled to learn Benji is moving back, have begun to notice something off about Camille. Benji can't tell them the truth, of course he can't. Not just because Epomis swears its members to secrecy, but also because he'd come at Brandon's request to make sure Camille was okay. Camille is far from okay working for Epomis, but she refuses to leave. So Benji makes up excuse after excuse for her.

She has a mild substance abuse problem. She's joined a tight-knit religious group. She's a serial dater. In a way, all the little lies are slices of the whole, real truth. It's enough that Benji can drop small details of reality and weave a story that Brandon is somewhat open to accepting. Thankfully, Brandon's mind is soon distracted by the near arrival of his first child.

Joining Epomis is like nothing Benji has ever done before. Benji has always been content with a few close friends and doing whatever work his job demands of him. He's never sought out groups or clubs. He's never gone looking to make any big changes. He keeps his head down and stays out of trouble. He is everything that Epomis is the antithesis of.

McMullen is delighted when Benji finally tells him that he's willing to join. His eyes light up. He clasps Benji's shoulder.

"I knew you'd make the right decision," McMullen confides. "I know it was presumptuous of me to start making plans for you before you'd even agreed to join, but I knew deep down that you wouldn't say no. Benji, you have no idea how useful you'll be to our cause."

Benji laughs nervously. "I'm not sure about that," he says.

McMullen flashes a winning smile. "Believe me," he assures Benji. "You're what I've been looking for."

Benji must swear himself in before he can officially be considered a member. A month after his first introduction to Epomis, the group has another meeting. It's smaller and in a new location (Benji quickly learns that they never hold a meeting in the same place twice), but it's enough. Benji is sworn in with two other people. They recite an oath before everyone present. They vow to uphold all Epomis' secrets. They vow to live and give their lives for the cause. They vow to remain loyal to all prey-kind and reject the tyranny of predators. When they've recited everything, each new member signs a paper that puts their oath into written word.

Everyone present applauds and welcomes the new members. Camille throws her arms around Benji and thanks him. Benji forces the corners of his mouth upwards. There's no turning back now. He belongs to Epomis.

The first thing Benji learns about Epomis is that it's nothing like he had imagined. Before being introduced, he had considered the group as much as he'd associated with it, which is to say— not at all. After his initial meeting, he'd wondered how it was possible for a group so secretive and so radical to gain so much popularity so quickly. Once he becomes an official member, he starts to understand.