All The Dark Little Things

Chapter 17: I am not sure he is the monster.

The mayor stood over us, frowning. "What are both of you doing here?"

I looked at Dennis, hoping he could explain. It was clear that the mayor had just arrived and hadn't listened to our discussion.

He looked down at me with narrowed eyes. "Why are you here with a boy?"

I swallowed nervously, urging Dennis to say something, anything. He gently raised my hand to show the mayor my injured pinky finger that I had been hiding. I was surprised that he knew about it since I had tried to conceal it when I gave him the apple. I felt embarrassed at the thought of Dennis knowing me better than I knew myself.

"She came here to find the nurse, but she couldn't find her. Instead, she found me. Look at her finger." He pushed my finger towards the mayor's face. It didn't look good.

The mayor growled. "The fact that you're in the same place with him shows your ignorance and immorality. Both of you will be sent to solitary!" He grabbed us by the collar and started dragging us to the hole.

He didn't even ask me how I got the injury. All the mayor cared about was sending us to the hole. It was all part of his and Mayoress Oda's plan.

The hole was a terrible place for punishment. It was dark, cold, and haunting. This would be my third time being sent to the hole, but this time, I had company.

Loud banging could be heard from other doors.

"Let me out of here!"

"I promise I won't do it again! Please!"

"Save me! I need my family, please!"

Desperate voices echoed from behind the closed gates. I closed my eyes briefly, hoping I wouldn't become one of them soon. They were the ones who were thrown into the hole for "deadly sins" like watching pornography or coming out to their parents.

In Africa? I shook my head in pity because they wouldn't be coming out of that hole anytime soon unless the demon inside them was expelled. I once saw a boy who they claimed was possessed by a demon. He revealed that he was homosexual and had tattoos all over his body.

His parents brought him here after he thought it was okay to share the news during dinner. He was one of those teenagers who dropped bombshells during dinner, while I was one of those who lost my father during dinner.

The day he was put in solitary, I saw bruises all over his body. He looked lifeless as he was dragged into the hole. It wasn't surprising that his parents brought him here, thinking he could be cured. How else could he claim to be homosexual if there wasn't a demon inside him?

I glanced at the gate covering the hole where the boy lay. He had been there for over three weeks now. I was sure that by the time he came out, the spirit would have left him.

It's people like him who deserve to be there, not people like me.

But what made us different?

I wasn't given a chance to brace myself before the gate was opened, and he threw me inside. The sound of the gate closing reminded me of my father and the day I blew up the hole in our yard. After a while, I couldn't hear anything, and I didn't know where David was thrown.

It was pitch dark here. Rats squealed from the other side of the room, making my heart leap with joy. At least I wouldn't be alone. The only problem was when they crawled over me or bit me. It was unpleasant either way.

"Rachel?"

My body froze at the mention of my name. I recognized that voice anywhere. The question was, "What was he doing in the room opposite mine?

"Dennis?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He chuckled, but it ended with a painful cough. "What a warm welcome!" he said, his teeth clattering slightly.

The walls were hollow, allowing us to hear everything that was said on both sides. Could that explain why I could hear the screams and shouts of other children? I should have known. "That's what happens when you enter the prayer camp without doing proper research."

Dennis chuckled again. Seriously? Does this boy never feel pain? There's a level of pain that can make laughter and joy disappear. "I did my research. What exactly is this place? I thought I was coming to holy ground. It's all a façade. My instincts tell me that Pastor Timi and the other pastors are clueless."

I raised my hands to my lips, as if he could see me. "Shh. Your voice is too loud. The mayor could be listening on the other side right now." Even if Pastor Timi and the other pastors knew about this place, I doubt they would take us out of here. There's a reason for that, and it disappoints me. Sometimes I question my feelings for him. Do I truly love Pastor Timi, or am I just infatuated with him? He was the first person to show me kindness. Maybe that's why I secretly have a crush on him. You could threaten me with a knife, and I would never confess my love to him or let him know how much I care.

That's how much of a coward I am.

"That's impossible," he quickly said.

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You would never speak to me if you knew he was there. But he isn't," he added, laughing once again.

How does this boy know more about me than I know about myself? It's getting annoying. "You know nothing about me," I snarled, resting my back on the gate. It's something I always do. What they don't know is that when I lean against the gate for a while, it warms me up. This isn't a place to stretch or sit upright.

There was a moment of silence, and I wondered if he had finally succumbed to his exhaustion. He didn't look well when I saw him earlier. Imagine eating an apple after a day of fasting.

"I saw you."

Saw me where?

When I didn't say anything, he continued. "I saw you following your brother. I will never forget that day. I wanted to know why you were so sneaky, as if you were doing something important. So I followed you out of curiosity."

I narrowed my eyes in the dark, trying to remember when that happened. Could it be the time I followed Jonathan and found out he was engaging in immoral acts like smoking and masturbating?

"There were many of them..."

"You didn't confront him or tell your father," he interrupted, and I could imagine the smirk on his face.

I rolled my eyes. "And what do you know about my father or me in general? You're just a spoiled brat who had the opportunity to grow up well." I was losing my patience quickly. "Just because you read your mother's note doesn't mean you know me. Now go to sleep. You'll need it when the rats start crawling over your body." I closed my eyes briefly, contemplating his words. So what if he followed me? Should I have told my father?

The painful part was that my father already knew.

"You're amazing, Rachel." His soft voice reached my ears, providing a comforting feeling.

My eyes snapped open. It was pitch black, and I couldn't see anything. Nobody had ever praised me like that before, not even Pastor Timi. "Amazing?'' I stammered, surprised.

"Yes, amazing," he replied.

It seemed like we wouldn't be able to sleep anytime soon. His words would keep me awake for a long time.

"When I come home from school, my parents always talk highly of you. People observe you, you know. Suddenly, my mother became fond of you. Sometimes I can't believe it. Rachel this, Rachel that, the bishops this, the bishops that," he grumbled, adjusting himself.

I smiled. They argued about it even in church! Please continue, Dennis. I want to hear more.

"My mother is nosy. Very nosy. She said she watched you from your bedroom window..."

"She did?" I blinked twice in shock. Mrs. Harrison didn't strike me as someone who snooped around. "Why?"

Dennis grinned. "She wanted to know the woman her son would marry." Realizing his insinuation, he quickly defended himself. "That's what she said, not me. Besides, you already have someone you like."

Don't forget to comment and vote ♥️
Oderah