Corn Stalked 2: Converted (Children Of The Corn)

Chapter #19: Hell's Eve

The plan had been put into action. Everything was on track. Over the past several weeks, I had taken the time to teach Annie how to defend herself -- passing on the skills I'd learned down to her. I had also introduced her to Sarah and Job, they got along well almost immediately. Sarah and Job were in on the plan too, they wanted out just as much as Annie and I did.

The only one not on board was Malachai...he still refused to leave Gatlin. In fact, ever since our argument, we hadn't really spoken much. I still cooked dinner for him and I every night and we would eat together, we still slept in the same bed together -- and even during the night I would feel him put his arms around me and pull my body against his while we slept. But we just wouldn't talk. It bothered me more and more each day that the silence went on.

It was the last week of October now, only a few days prior to when the kids and I were going to get out of this place. They asked almost daily why it couldn't be sooner and I always told them the same excuse.

    "November 1st just works out better." I would tell them. But in reality, I was holding off the date as long as I possibly could in hopes to curb Malachai's decision. So far, no good. I was beginning to get anxious.

My feelings weren't helped any by Issac either -- I had a horrible suspicion that he was on to me. I knew that he knew what I had done to Rachel that night in the cornfield. The looks he shot me during his angry sermon about the matter just a day after the incident said it all. He didn't say anything directly to me to tell me that he knew, it was just his face that told me. He knew that it was me that'd killed her again, who else would've done it?

Exactly. No one. No one but the untrustworthy outlander; Samantha.

Because of this, I tried to avoid Issac like the plague. For the most part it was easy -- I always sat in the back during sermons and apart from that, I never went near the church for anything. The closest I'd been was for Annie's initiation into the group.

It took place in the clearing in the cornfield, right in front of the police chief's crucifix. Issac, wielding one of the small corn husk knives, slit Annie's palm, making her yelp. The preacher then tilted her hand and allowed some of her blood to drip into the soil, making her one of the Lord's children. I watched in silent disgust as the whole thing played out and tried not to listen as Issac babbled on about how Annie was now under the watch and care of He Who Walks Behind the Rows.

Only did my attention return when Issac ended the ceremony and Annie came running over to me. She was trembling from her still cut palm. I made quick work of taking her back to my grandparent's house and cleaning and bandaging her hand for her.

Since that night her hand had healed up nicely, she was able to hold and carry stuff again without flinching in pain. And that's when I began to teach her how to fight and defend herself. She was a bit afraid to try, but eventually I got her to calm down, which is when she began understanding what to do.

After one of our training sessions one day, I inhaled deeply and managed a smile. Annie, a bit out of breath, returned it.

    "Am I doing this right?" She asked. In her hand was my old, small pocket knife I had when I first came to Gatlin. I'd given it to her after I found it one day when I was cleaning 'her' room.

    "Yes, Annie, you are. You've really gotten the hang of this!" I praised, sheathing my own blade back on my hip.

Off to the side, Sarah and Job sat on the bed watching us. I'd made a habit of keeping us all together during training. People always say that there was strength in numbers.

From where he was sitting, Job raised his fists in the air, cracking a cheesy grin.

    "Woo! Go Annie! Now you're just like us!" He cheered.