Deadly Sins (a Damnation Trilogy Prequel)

Prologue

"Greg, it really is getting late," Melissa said, sitting in the passenger seat of her boyfriend's car. They were parked on the far side of the movie theater parking lot, escaping the reach of the light from the street lamps and only illuminated by the lights inside the car. Outside, the night was as dark as she ever remembered seeing it, the storm clouds covering the natural light from the moon and the stars. Something about the darkness felt eery to Melissa and she suddenly wanted nothing more than to be home. "Can we go yet?"

            "Hold on," Greg said, hands still fumbling through his pockets, the crevices of the car seat and the car floor. "I still can't find my wallet. Are you sure I didn't give it to you in the theater?"

            "Positive," Melissa answered. "I even checked my bag and it's not there."

            "I had to have dropped it inside then," Greg said, looking back at the movie theater as he started to open the car door. "I'll be right back."

            "You're just going to leave me here?" Melissa asked incredulously.

            "Oh, come on Mel," Greg laughed. "This is Creston. Nothing bad ever happens here."

            "That's what they all say in horror movies before someone dies," Melissa replied. "Besides that, you have some nerve to say that after what's been happening lately."

            "What- don't be ridiculous," Greg said with a roll of his eyes. "Those guys went missing because they beat their girlfriends and then ran. Considering I haven't done that, I think it's safe for you. Just lock the doors and don't open for anyone but me." Before Melissa could attempt another protest, Greg was out of the car and she was watching him hurry over to the theater. Melissa slammed the locks into place and took out her phone to focus on something other than the darkness around her.

            After ten minutes, Melissa looked back towards the theater hoping to see Greg coming back but no one was outside. Turning back to her phone, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous, and scrolled through her contacts prepared to call Greg. But before she could, there was a thump on the roof of the car and Melissa jumped, letting out a tiny shriek as someone's face appeared at the driver side window. "Mel, it's me," Greg said from outside.

            Melissa sighed in relief as she unlocked the car and Greg got in. "Did you find your wallet?" she asked, as he relocked the doors.

            "Yeah," he answered. "Someone found it on the floor and gave it to the ticket booth."

            "Well that was lucky," Melissa said. "We should get going before we break curfew."

            "We're not going home tonight, Mel," Greg said, turning to look at her with what seemed like blank eyes.

            "What do you mean?" Melissa asked nervously. "Of course we are."

            "I can't," Greg went on. "Not after this. I'll be wanted and I can't handle that Meli. I'm sorry."

            "What...are you talking about?" Melissa asked, angling herself to press her back against the car door as Greg slowly leaned forward. His movements were so stiff it almost seemed as though they were robotic.

            "I want you to know that I'll be okay," Greg said, ignoring her question. "I may not be around my family or anything, but I'll be okay. I have some place to go, someone to take care of me. I'll be happy with her."

            "I don't understand," Melissa said, suddenly feeling cold. "Happy with who? What's going on, Greg?"

            "She says she's the only one who will forgive me," Greg replied, reaching out to stroke Melissa's face and making her flinch nervously. "But I want you to forgive me too. Do you think you could?"

            "I don't even know what you're talking about," Melissa responded. "You're scaring me right now."

            Greg laughed and Melissa thought she saw a spark of the boyfriend she knew in his eyes before he closed them and leaned forward to kiss her. She kissed him back hesitantly, still worried about everything he said, and then Greg pulled away just enough that she could feel his warm breath on her face as he spoke. "I'm really sorry," he said, and before she could ask him again what was happening, he slammed her head into the dashboard.