The Wanted Daughter (The Devil All The Time Fanfic: Arvin Russell x Reader)

Connecting The Dots Made By The Devil

It's been three months since then, I know what you're thinking, no, nothing really happened during that time.

Lenora was going to church on her own from then, Y/n hadn't been to church and seen her father since that fateful time, and her and Arvin had never been happier. Even Emma had started to go back again after the last time...

But things were about to horrifically wrong...

Lenora and Preston Teagardin were sitting in the Church one evening, because Lenora had something important to tell him...

"I've heard of cases in my readin'... about sin. Where someone got so sick... over some sin, they felt they had committed that was so terrible, that they started imaginin' things." Preston said to Lenora in the church, late in the evening. "Back, I read a story about people. Poor people. Barely able to write, thinkin' they're the president, or, a Hollywood celebrity like Ava Gardner."

Lenora didn't know what to say. She couldn't say anything. He was accusing her of being delirious and imagining all the time they had spent together. He mind was going a-wall, questioning everything that had been happening over the past weeks...

"I... I don't understand what you're talking about." She finally admitted.

"Thing is, that's the part of it. The book says... its not, not understandin'." Preston pressed further "See, think about it. How... could I be the Daddy? When all we done was spend time with the Lord?"

************
Arvin walked outside to the front porch to have a smoke. Y/n sent him out because she didn't want him smoking around Lenora while she was sick. She wouldn't tell him, but she didn't want him smoking around anyone. But she knew he would do it anyway.

"Late night?" Arvin asked his uncle, who was half asleep in a rocking chair outside next to him.

"Played cards over at Elder Stubbs's garage again." He explained.

"You win this time?"

"No, not really." He chuckled "Saw Fred Dinwoodie over there. He said his boy is just about healed up... still think you could've held back a little bit."

"Well, he ain't bothered Lenora since." Arvin argued, blowing out some smoke. "Him and his candy-assed buddies. I gotta go check on her, she ain't been feelin' too good. You keep and eye on me while we're at church."

************
Y/n held Lenora's hair back as she threw up over a bowl next to her. It was horrible to see her in such a state. But she was completely fine yesterday... why has this happened so suddenly?

"I ain't never missed church before..." She breathed "I'm so ashamed."

"You ain't got nothin' to be ashamed of. I'm sure the Lord will forgive you for missin' one Sunday." Y/n reassured. "Ol' Jesus probably had his fair share of bad mornings."

That made her chuckle...

"Y/n... I love you like a sister... thank you." Lenora said out of nowhere. Y/n took the compliment, but something didn't sit right with her. So she asked her carefully...

"Lenora... do you know what could have made you sick? You eaten somethin'?"

Lenora laid back into her bed... avoiding her gaze.

"Delusions..."

It was barely audible. But Y/n heard it. It was a confusing word to say as a response to a question like that. Arvin walked in the room after that, cutting her train of thought off its tracks.

"Feelin' any better?" He asked, sitting on the bed slowly.

"No... not really."

"...How's about we go see your mother's grave after church? All three of us."