Fort Oakley | Part One

23 | Charly's Guide to Dealing With Your Ex in a Cult Town

"So, you're hanging out with the trash now?" Elvin's voice cut through the quiet like a jagged blade, his figure emerging from the shadows of the trees.

After learning about his family, I wasn't surprised to see him in this part of the woods.

This was cult territory.

I wanted to throw back a witty remark at him, but I didn't know how he would respond, and I couldn't risk him hurting Mason by accident.

I tightened my hold on Mason protectively, then grabbed the gun from the waistband of my jeans and pointed it at him.

"Why are you following me, Elvin?" My voice was steady, but my heart was hammering against my ribs.

He laughs, raising his hands in front of him as if to mock surrender.

"Following you? No, Charly. I just wanted to see what you were up to since you aren't answering my calls." His smirk widened, his gaze flickering briefly to Mason. "It's funny how you never did anything for me, but the anything that freak shows up at your door, you don't even hesitate to drop everything and help him."

I shrugged, feigning indifference. "Yeah well, maybe if you didn't worship the devil, then I would've answer your calls. But you know what? I'm actually glad you are apart of the loony circus, because then you and your friends can rot in a prison cell for the rest of your lives."

"Oh, Charly," Elvin says with a twisted smile, taking a step closer towards me and Mason. "You don't seem to understand. We've been around for years, conducting our business without anyone ever interfering, and we'll continue to do so, because there's nothing anyone can do to stop us."

He takes another step closer and I take the safety off the gun.

"And you're mine, Charly. You always have been, and you always will be. You were born to serve Oktia; you were born to serve those who serve her; and you were born to serve me."

A sharp laugh escapes me, unable to comprehend what he was saying. "In your dreams, asshole," I say, before pulling the trigger. Elvin jerks back as the bullet hits his shoulder. He sinks to his knees, groaning in pain.

I walk closer to him. "Bye bye, now." I hit him over the head with the end of the gun, watching his body crumple onto the forest floor.

I click the safety of the gun back on and slide it back into my jeans.

"Hey Mason? Try to avoid psycho girlfriends in the future, okay? Or psycho boyfriends. Gender isn't even important in this case. Just avoid the psychos."

I tighten my hold on Mason again and head deeper into the woods, keeping to a steady jog in case someone else intends to follow us.

You know the thing about bad luck?

You expect it to happen to you but at the same time you think, It can't get worse, right?

Wrong.

When Fin and his family had quickly devised a diversion so that I could head back with Mason, I should have sticked to the streets.

Definitely not the woods where The Order congregated with their little lanterns.

I didn't know what time it was, but The Order had stuck to a certain time every time I had seen them in the woods, and here they were again, walking peacefully through the woods when I stumbled to a stop in front of their group.

The standoff only lasts about a minute before common sense returns and I bolt past them, knowing that if I trip over a root or something right now, Mason and I are screwed.