Messiahs by Matt Rogers (bookstand for reading txt) 📕

see you again.’

‘Could I…?’

Addison trailed off and looked over her shoulder. She was clearly paranoid of being overheard.

Alexis said, ‘What is it?’

‘Could I speak to you somewhere private?’ Addison said. ‘It won’t take long.’

Alexis looked from her to Slater, who hadn’t moved.

Addison said, ‘Please.’

There was desperation in her tone.

Alexis ushered her round the back of the bunkhouse, to the perimeter of the commune. It made no sense for the building’s exterior to be bugged, and the grasslands swept out endlessly, capable of snatching their words away.

Alexis put a hand on Addison’s shoulder. The girl was trembling.

‘What’s going on?’ Alexis said.

Addison looked left and right, then mustered her courage and said, ‘I need to get out of here.’

51

King stepped outside into the morning light and found Slater standing motionless, staring into the distance.

The disciples flowed smoothly around the commune, attending to their tasks.

King walked up beside Slater and muttered, ‘You good?’

Slater said, ‘They’re here.’

‘Who?’

Slater hesitated. ‘The girls from the bar.’

King looked around, assessing their surroundings. He lowered his voice. ‘You think they’re listening to everything?’

Slater turned and raised an eyebrow. He mouthed, ‘Not worth the risk.’

They looked away from each other like nothing had happened.

King felt it. The cold tendrils of paranoia, slowly enveloping his world. That’s when it struck him — how hard it would be to break free from a cult. The lack of control, the uncertainty…

Not knowing who was listening, and when.

It was so much easier to obey.

King raised his voice to full volume and proclaimed, ‘I’m going for a walk.’

Slater shrugged. ‘Be my guest.’

Then it clicked.

King thought, If they’re listening, they’ll stop me.

Slater nodded when he realised.

King strolled through the commune, passing the church and the mess hall, heading in the general direction of the farmhouse.

He rounded a corner and Dane was there.

Waiting for me? King thought. Or just a coincidence?

‘How did you sleep?’ Dane asked, leaning against the side of an outbuilding. His hair was perfect and his eyes were sharp.

Like he’d been up all night.

Plotting.

Scheming.

King said, ‘Like a baby. After two tours you can sleep anywhere.’

Dane shrugged off the insinuation that the living conditions were terrible.

Dane said, ‘There’s a congregation this afternoon. You can see how Maeve runs it.’

King said, ‘Can’t wait.’

‘What are your plans this morning?’

King thought, He knows.

He decided to test the man by sticking to his guns.

‘Thought I’d go for a stroll.’

Dane shook his head. ‘You don’t want to do that. There’s nothing out there. You’re better off staying here, meeting the disciples, getting to know them.’

‘How’d you know I didn’t mean a stroll around the commune?’

Dane quashed a wry smile and said, ‘There’s not much of it. I figured you wanted to walk in the prairie.’

‘I do.’

‘I wouldn’t.’

‘I’ll be okay. It’ll be good to clear my head.’

‘Clear it from what?’

King hesitated, made up his mind, then pressed forward. ‘Listen. I’m not here to be a follower. I’m looking for employment. If you have a problem with me doing things that the disciples aren’t allowed to do, then I’ll have a problem, too.’

Dane raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh?’

His eyes were steel.

King had seen the worst of humanity. He could deal with a withering gaze. ‘You heard me.’

Dane thought about escalating it. King could see it in his eyes. He was drunk on his own power, considering mustering reinforcements. If he called thirty followers over to prevent King from leaving, then King’s only option would be to break free with brute force. Dane wanted to call King’s bluff.

But he didn’t.

He said, ‘Go on, then. But we’re going to have a proper discussion about who the boss is when you get back.’

‘I know who the boss is,’ King said, subtly de-escalating the tension. ‘I’m just very particular about my own freedoms.’

‘Mother Libertas is the true freedom,’ Dane said. ‘Remember that. Remember what you felt last night with Maeve. There’s so much more of that to come. If you listen. If you obey.’

Compared to Maeve’s subtleties, Dane was like a sledgehammer.

But King wasn’t fazed. ‘Sure. Just let me have a walk.’

‘Are you asking permission?’

Silence.

King said, ‘Yes.’

Dane smiled. ‘There we go. Of course. Don’t wander too far, though.’

King knew the last thing Dane wanted was losing track of the newcomers, but the power trip had him in its grasp.

King nodded respectfully and walked away, heading west.

52

As soon as Addison spoke, Alexis’ stomach knotted in fear.

She tightened her grip on Addison’s shoulder, raised her eyebrows, and waited for the girl to look her straight in the eyes before she shook her head vigorously.

Addison lowered her voice. ‘What?’

Alexis leant in close and whispered, ‘Don’t say that to anyone other than me.’

‘That’s why I asked to speak over here. And that’s why I asked to speak to you. You’re not—’

She stopped herself short.

Alexis whispered, ‘I’m not what?’

Addison’s eyes were wet. ‘You’re not in too deep. Yet.’

‘Listen to me. Addison, listen. You need to be very careful. I don’t want you ever repeating this to anyone. You hear me?’

Addison said, ‘That’s what you just said.’

‘I need you to understand.’

Addison chewed her lower lip, thinking. ‘You know they’re evil, don’t you?’

‘Who?’

‘You know who.’

The Riordans.

Alexis opened her mouth to respond, then froze. She had a sudden, overwhelming urge to walk away. It wouldn’t surprise her if Maeve or Dane had put Addison up to the task of ensnaring traitors. She was barely an adult, easily influenced, and she’d obey anyone in a position of power. They could take advantage of her.

No, she told herself, looking into the young woman’s eyes. No.

Addison wasn’t faking it. She’d have to be an Oscar-worthy actress to do it, and the fear in her eyes was palpable.

After a long rumination, Alexis said, ‘Yes. I do.’

It made her heart hammer. If she’d judged the girl wrong, now was the time for Addison to walk away, report her findings to the Riordans. Then Alexis would be taken, overwhelmed by the sheer number of followers, maybe imprisoned and tortured and killed for her dissidence.

Addison didn’t walk away.

She nodded slowly, shocked that she’d found someone who didn’t worship the Riordans,