Chapter 21 The Meeting

My body screamed in pain as I still didn't feel the same after Squeaks' death. Jones said I could stay home as Liam and he could handle the mission alone, but it didn't sit right with me. I would have to hold back my emotions for a couple of days till this was done. After the meeting was a Festival of Blood for their god. It killed unwanted people as they would drain their blood in front of people of all ages. This was a gain of power over the people, making sure no one will leave or try to overpower them.

Jones was worried about the mission and the day they will blow the church sky-high. He seemed more protective of me as walk got into the car. He told me not to leave his side, even if I was asked for it. I could handle myself just fine, but my body seemed to be getting weaker by the day. It was close to a month and my body was showing a little bump, but I tried to hide it with an oversized shirt. Jones seemed to notice my change in appearance and action as I wouldn't let him hug me as often as before. If he found out I was pregnant, the chances of me being on this mission were no longer an option.

"Lize, you ready?" Jones asked

"As I'll ever be," I said with a long sigh.

"You know you could stay home," he remarked

"I rather help," I smiled as we drove away from the house. He didn't seem to like my answer but knew I would fight to go along anyways. The trip was long and hard, but it didn't last long as we were finally in front of the gates once again. It was different than before. Bodies were hung on the walls and words like Grace and God were written in their blood. But when we were inside it shocked me as booths and food were all around the area. People were walking and talking like this was normal, that killing should be a normal thing.

"Is this normal?" I asked Jones as he parked the car.

"For them," he replied, "yes."

"Shameful," I muttered under my breath as we walked towards the church. Karen had four of her top members be there for the beginning of the festivities. She wore her black cloak with a big smile and knife in hand. She was ready as her members stood beside her wearing red and white, their sighs of sin and purity. They all held their daggers in hand with evil smiles as I watched them bring a little girl onto the stage. She was afraid in her eyes as she cried for her mother to save her as Karen held her hand. My heart screamed for me to help as Jones held me back, knowing what would happen if I attacked now.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Karen spoke highly, "today is we shed blood for our God. Blood of innocence and purity for us to bath in. She will be shed by the last light of tonight under the moon."

There I thought about how I was going to save her and stop Karen from killing innocent people. Liam told us to keep it on the down low as I watch them put her in a cage on the stage, rolling her away from everyone. The feeling of dread washed over me as I watched where they were taking her. The place I was about to go to in a couple of minutes was where the child was going to be held till her death. Jones pulled me along as I hoped that something would change, that this mission would be over soon. Looking at him with worried eyes made him hold me closer as he knew what I was planning to do. We had to see about either moving the meeting early or finding a better place to destroy the cult headmasters.

"We have to do something," I said to Jones.

"For now, we stay in our place," he replied, "we don't want them to know about us."

"I'm going to help," I replied, "She is so young. A girl like her shouldn't be killed because they think it's right."

"I know," he said, "but it'll blow our cover."

I sighed and looked at the ground as I thought about what to do. Jones was focused on the mission as I wanted to save a life. A young one that has a life to live as they don't think about human life anymore. I had my cloak with us for the meeting, but I was thinking about using it for something else. A part of me that I kept at bay for a couple of months since the day I joined them. The feeling of death made me feel weak as I wanted to go home. I looked at him and smile telling him that I left my cloak in the car and wanted to go get it. He nodded as I walked away and around a corner where no eyes could see me. I placed the cloak on and walked back out acting like I was one of their soldiers.

I walked inside the church with no problem as I saw Jones talking to Karen. They didn't seem to know that I was there in the first place. The cage was tucked away in a room in the back as I walked by. Jones didn't seem to know that I walked on by them as I went to find the child. I held my breath as I saw a room open, with a bit of blood running on through. I looked inside to see people strung up the walls and tortured to the brink of death. The girl's cage was there as we were, her eyes screaming for her mother to help her. I walked on over to see if they hurt her in any way, but all I could tell was that she was hungry for some food. I looked at her and smiled as I placed my hand in the cage.

She started to crawl away from the cage door and looked at me in fear. I spoke calmly to hopefully get her to trust me as I figure out a way to get her out of there. There was a window to place her outside as I would have to get a cloak to have her covered by people. Sneaking her out and to the car, the bomb goes off. She didn't understand why a blood cultist was being nice to her as she was beaten at some point in time.

"It's okay, little one," I said with a soft voice, "I'm going to get you out of here."

"What…." she shakily said as I held out my hand.

"No one is going to hurt you, okay." I smiled, "I'll make sure of it."

"Okay…" she replied as I pulled away from the cage and headed back towards the main room. Jones was still talking as I saw Liam in the back with a smile on his face. He nodded as I walked by and went to Jones with Karen. He saw me and smiled as I walked over and pulled down my hood waiting for what was going to happen next. She seemed happy about me being there as she looked down at my stomach. Her smile changed as she snapped her fingers and pointed at me.

It didn't take long for a couple of guards to grab me and hold me in place. I looked at her, wondering what was happening in the first place. She looked happy about something as Jones watched in horror. He was soon held back as she walked over to me.

"Looks like we have a new sacrifice," she laughed, but I fought back, knowing what was going on. She saw something about me as I sat there pulling away from the men holding me. Jones was screaming for me as I was pulled away, not seeing what was going to happen to them. I was tied to a pole, looking out to the area, seeing people wondering what was going on. Karen smiled and walked back inside with a smile, starting the meeting as I stood out there. My weapons were on the ground as I looked down at my belly. I knew it was because of this and I wasn't going to let them hurt us.

I pulled at the ropes, but the strength I had before was gone as fought for my life. I heard Jones yelling at Karen about why she wanted me to be out there. She didn't say anything, thinking that he didn't know about the soon-to-be little one in our lives. I closed my eyes and wished for something or someone to help us. But I knew I was on my own, the sounds of something going bad made my body shake. I wasn't going to die here as I waited for a plan to come to mind. Liam had the bomb, but it would still affect the area around us.

The voices stopped as I knew that they forced Jones to be away from me. Not knowing what to do or say. I looked and saw that something was wrong. The sights of light flickered in the distance as it was past the wall. What was going on?

Then the sound of something blowing up as I looked up to see the part of the wall gone and people running inside. Did wishes would come true or was it an invading base fighting back? I watched as gunfire happen. Seeing that it was people that I didn't know in the first place made me feel safe in a sense. I closed my eyes hearing screams of people that were wounded and the footsteps of Karen and her men trying to get away. I hoped that this wasn't the end of our lives as a voice called out to me.

"Good to see you again," I said and looked up at a man, a man from my past. He was at the last base as I saved him and his family. Giving them a chance to live without their rules and to be free to make their own. I felt the ropes fall to the ground as I stood up and smile.

"Never thought I would see you again…" I smile, "Mister…."

"John Handcock," he replied and helped me keep my feet at ease. "We heard that they were throwing a party and decided to drop in."

"Glade, you did," I answered, "but I have to save a couple of my friends and a little girl."

"Well, Karma has some work," he laughed, "doesn't she."

"Lize," I replied, "Karma is just a name I came up with."

"Well, Lize," he smiled, "you should get going"

He handed me a gun and run back, helping people who were in the same problem. Captured and tortured to be a part of a group or cult as new members but fail to break their souls. I turned and went inside as I saw most of the members inside freaking out on what was going on. I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head and walked in with a smile. My gun held in my hand as I saw Karen looked over in fear, knowing that I was out.