Page 84 of Below The Surface
There’s silence again, but not for long.
“In the cult, you were either a servant or a divine. Kendra and I were both servants. Boys served boys, girls served girls. Except for Kendra. Charles forced her to be with the boys even after she begged not to be. Because she’s a girl.”
I don’t think I like where this is going.
“Two servants were assigned to every Divine. We did everything for them. Our Divine was Dorian. He was our entire world all day, every day. We loved him and he loved us. I couldn’t ever see my life without him or Kendra. We grew up together. As a Divine?—”
“Sorry,” I interrupt, “what does it mean to be Divine?”
Casey swallows. “I didn’t understand as a kid. I still don’t think I do. I was a servant and had to do everything Dorian or any of the other Divines said. And of course Charles. Charles was our main god. We had to doeverythinghe said. Divines could turn into gods. I think I was twelve?”
“How did Divines get turn into gods?” Hayden asks so softly I barely hear them.
“They go through a ceremony,” Kendra says.
“And I accidently walked in.” Casey squeezes the wheel.
What the hell did he walk in on.
“They wererapinghim. Charles and the other gods. I didn’t know that’s what it was at the time. I just knew Dorian was crying and begging them to stop. They didn’t.” He keeps his eyes narrowed on the road. “There weresevenof them. Charles is the last one left. I killed one the night I walked in. I stabbed him with the ceremonial dagger before the others wrestled me away. They never saw me coming.” He grins, but there’s no cheer in it.
“They locked me up, said I was going to be executed in the morning, but I was clever. I got out. Found Kendra and told her what I saw with the limited understanding I had. Charles kept us ignorant. I just knew Dorian was in pain. He was scared. I had to help. We found Dorian, and we ran. All three of us with just the clothes on our backs. No shoes. We ran until we couldn’t run anymore. Charles probably thought we’d die from the elements. From not knowing anything beyond the compound. But we lived. We found abandoned houses and forgotten food. We became like ghosts and the entire time we did what we couldfor Dorian. He was ours to protect. Ours to serve until his last breath.” Tears stream down Casey’s face.
“We lived on the streets for months,” Kendra says. “It wasintense, and we protected Dorian from as much as possible. We didn’t really understand the world outside of the cult. We were still children. I was fourteen. Casey was probably around twelve. We learned quick though.”
“Dorian got worse. He didn’t tell us, but we saw it in his actions. He wrote us a note before he did it.” Casey sobs out and clamps a hand over his mouth. “Sorry.”
“No, darlin’, there’s nothing to be sorry about. Maybe we should pull over for a bit?”
Casey shakes his head. “We have to keep going.”
“Let me take over,” Hayden offers. “I’ve driven a tractor and a combine at my uncle’s place. Shouldn’t be too much different, right?”
“I wouldn’t know, but I’ll take you up on the offer.” Casey takes the next exit and we sit in silence until he parks in a gas station parking lot. He gives Hayden a quick lesson.
Kendra comes up to me and drops a hand to my shoulder. “How about you sit with him?”
I nod and slide from the passenger seat. Casey climbs onto the couch and I pull him close. I need him in my arms. Need to feel his heat. His weight. His breath.
Casey hides his face in my chest and clings to my shirt. He’s not outright sobbing, but he still needs time.
I don’t know how long we sit like this before Casey pulls away and wipes his eyes. “I have to tell Kendra a secret,” he says so quietly.
Kendra shakes her head. “Please tell me it’s not about our time with David?” She takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly before continuing. “Don’t tell me it’s what I think it is.”
“He wanted you, but I didn’t want you to feel what Dorian did. I needed to take care of us. I couldn’t let him do anything to you.”
“You lied to me.” There’s a warble to Kendra’s voice.
“I had to. I didn’t want you to look like that.” Casey waves his hand to her face. “You’re giving me a look that tells me you feel sorry for me. Ichoseto pay the toll.”
“We could have done something else.”
“I was tired. David wasn’t cruel. He let us stay. He fed us. Kept us warm and helped. All he asked for was?—”
“You don’t get to defend him, Casey.” Kendra says. “Youknowbetter than that. Davidrapedyou.Hehad the power. You didn’t understand the consequences of what you offered. You were achild.”
“So were you.”
