The Cult

Fires & Closure

Jo's POV
The night of day six...

I'm shaking

I'm fucking shaking...

  I'm holding Sofie close to me as she tells me a story she made up and I can't seem to stop my hands from shaking. They're dying tomorrow. Tomorrow everything and everyone in that compound goes up in fucking smoke.

"Are you even listening?" Sofie asks me and I kiss her forehead.

  "I'm sorry honey, I'm just stressed," I say softly and she looks down.

  "Are mommy and daddy gonna be okay?" She asks me and I sigh a bit.

  "Mommy and daddy and I'm a rough situation... Do you remember Mason?" I ask and she nods. If he's done anything to her I'll rip his throat out myself. "They're really close with him, and I tried my best to save them but..." I trail off and she nods.

  "You couldn't?" She asks me softly and I nod.

  "Dinner is ready," Hero says, coming into the room and clapping his hands a bit. "Katherine wanted to talk to you, so I'll take her." Hero tells me and I nod, handing Sofie to him as she just giggles a bit.

  I make my way to Katherines room, and I find her on the bed, covered in sweat. "I see it's coming out of your system."

  "Easy for you to say, you were never completely under," she spits and me and I chuckle.

  "It wasn't this bad for Sofie," I say and even though I can't see her, I know she's rolling her eyes.

  "She's a kid, she only had one dose." She simply states and I nod.

  "I don't remember much from before we came here, but it's coming back slowly. When it hits me though, it hits me like a fucking truck." I chuckle and she smiles a bit.

  "At least I can remember my boyfriend," she tells me and I sigh.

  "Ex boyfriend, you broke up with him before you came to America." I say and she laughs a bit.

  "Damn it he was cute," she tells me and I nod.

  "Yes, yes he was," I mess with my hair and I feel like there's a big elephant in the room.

  "I hurt Elijah." Kat says out of nowhere.

  "Wait... wait what?" I say in complete shock. I know she's done some things to him but this...?

  "When he was in his crib, and calling for you... I don't even know how but I got him to shut up. I made him close his mouth and keep it shut, no matter what." She tells me and tears stream down my face. "I'm so sorry Jo," I choke back a sob and hold my stomach.

  "I... I need to go. Dinner is ready if you're up to eat." I say and walk out of the room. I don't know where I'm going, or who I need to talk to but I know one thing.

I feel like I'm breaking down.

  My sister, who I love, hurt my baby out of what? Jealously? I have no idea and I think if I did know it would only make it worse.

  "Babe?" I hear Hero say and I stop, just dropping to my knees and crying. "Babe?!" He yells not too loudly and rushes to my side.

  When he gets here, I curl up into a ball on his lap, needing his comfort. "She hurt him... she hurt my baby," I cry and he sighs softly, pulling me closer.

  "Let's get some food in you okay? You can sit right next to him." He whispers in my ear and I nod, leaning up and kissing him.

  "I love you," I say softly and he smiles at me.