BURDEN OF AN ANCIENT OATH by Joshua Brown (early reader books TXT) 📕

of a button on the steering wheel. A small screen on the center console of the vehicle showed the caller was Gwen Sullivan.

Who would’ve guessed Aaron, indirectly, was the bearer of bad news?

“Jack, you’ve got to get down to Jane’s place. They finally made their move,” I could hear the panic in her voice. The words left her lips at such an incredible pace that I barely managed to catch her say I needed to get to the Dench residence.

“Gwen, breathe,” I said. “Tell me what’s going on?”

“He killed Spencer,” she said. “And I think he’s going after Jane.”

I cussed under my breath, spinning the car around dangerously before flying off in the direction of Jane’s house.

“I’ll meet you there,” I said, cutting the call.

With the way I was driving, I couldn’t have the distraction of a phone call. Even Aaron realized not to bother as I swerved recklessly through what little traffic there was at this time of night. I flicked on the lights in front of my car, turning on a siren I had no business having, and rushed to save Jane Dench.

~

After their hellish night with the gaunt man who killed himself in her home, Jane Dench and her family were told to stay at a motel in the city. The place wasn’t unique in any way, just a place for her to stay safe while the investigation continued. To my understanding, there was a police cruiser outside all through the day and night. The Dench family were given instructions not to leave.

We skidded the parking lot where Jane currently resided, arriving first. Knowing Gwen, she no doubt had police backup on the way. It was eerily quiet in the parking lot, apart from a few vehicles from patrons of the motel. The police cruiser sat at the end of the parking lot, and from my position, I could see two men sitting inside.

A sigh of relief washed over me at the sight of the car. If the Witchfinder managed to get here after his business with Spencer, he wouldn’t be able to get through the cops.

“You think they’re here?” Aaron asked, making the same observation as me. “Or are they going to wait before the next attack?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, getting out of the car. Aaron followed, listening while I spoke. “If I had to hazard a guess, the Witchfinder’s going to try and do everything in his power to stop it before we catch up to him. If he’s not here yet, he’s going to come tonight, and at least we’re here to help out now.”

I took long, hurried steps from my spot towards the police cruiser. It was as good a guess as any to think he’d still come by tonight.

“You think he’d have the balls to come out when he knows there’s police protection on the family?” Aaron questioned.

“I don’t think anything could stop him at this point,” I replied.

We got to the police cruiser, and I walked around. I half hoped the officers might notice me approaching and get out to speak, rather than me having to knock on their window. But something about it felt off as I approached the driver’s side. From the second I saw them, up until now, they were motionless.

I presumed they might’ve taken a nap, but any cop worth their salt would’ve done it in turns. One, then the other, always having a watchful eye on their surroundings.

Tapping the window gave me no reaction either. Drawing my phone, I clicked on the flashlight and shone it onto the officers.

As the light shone over the officers, I saw it. Both of them took a single bullet to the head, and they were sitting still because they’d been shot. The passenger side window was rolled down—no doubt where the bullets came from.

The driver held the radio in his hand, most likely attempting to call for backup as the first bullet was fired. I drew my pistol and ran towards the staircase leading up to the second floor of the motel. Aaron chased behind, not questioning my actions.

A smarter man would’ve waited for backup, but I never claimed to be a smart man.

Running up the staircase, two steps at a time, I made my way over to Jane’s room. Having gotten confirmation on it that morning from the police officers that booked her into the motel, I was ready for whatever waited within.

Aaron and I approached the door, but I could hear the muffled voices from within as we neared.

“That’s all of them, right?” a voice asked. I could hear the muffled screams of Jane and her children.

“It is,” a second voice said. “Thank you for your service, gentlemen. Payment will be processed in the morning.”

I assumed that the second man speaking was our target, the Witchfinder General. He let out gleeful laughter, maniacal and monstrous. “Oh, how much fun we’re going to have, Marilyn.”

She tried screaming out again through whatever kept her mouth shut. It made me feel sick thinking about what was going to happen to them if I didn’t get in there on time. But I was here now, and that was the first step to getting them out safely.

“Right, we’re out of here before this shit gets too weird,” the first man that spoke said again.

I gestured to Aaron that he pin himself on the other side of the door. My breathing hastened at the sound of the footsteps approaching the door. I tried working out if there were three or four, a big distinction, but with everyone walking at once, all the footsteps blended together.

The Witchfinder didn’t speak, no doubt waiting for his entourage to leave. The doorknob jostled, and as it did, I brought the gun up to my chest. This was it, now. Do or die time. I knew these