'The stage' as the woman had referred it to laid just outside the main building. Dozens of benches faced a wooden platform and people were crowding the yard. You would think there would be chaos, but they moved in an orderly fashion, each taking their rightful spot. The cool evening air helped ease some of the nerves boiling inside of her. Confused, she searched for a place to sit, but there didn't seem to be any left. Elizabeth's eyes roamed over the group again, but found nothing. She felt like a fish out of water in her white robes amongst dozens of crimson attires.
Suddenly, everyone stood up, wonder shining in their eyes. Micah stepped onto the stage, a smug smile gracing his features. He was proud of his position as a leader and craved for people's submission, the profiler in her deduced.
Clearing his throat he began:
"Tonight, an honoured guest of mine joins our family," he paused for effect," Joe Carroll."
At Micah's cue a tall, imposing figure climbed up on stage. He had raven hair, his stubble hardening his otherwise handsome features. At least the ones that were visible because he was also wearing a white robe just like her. If Elizabeth hadn't known the man's face from the news, she might have been surprised and maybe in disbelief that he could commit all that he was accused of. More so, he was the type of man that naturally drew women in, without having to work hard or pretend to be someone else. Two other people, women, she assumed because of their build clung to Joe in a strange way: as if they were relying on him for protection and safety.
"Greetings everyone," a British accented voice reached Elizabeth's ears, bringing goose bumps on her skin. "It is an absolute honour to be received in your midst by my dear friend Micah."
That being said, and he already having won some of these people's trust, a smug smile wanted to erupt on his face, but it was reigned in and replaced by a warm one. Meanwhile, Micah and his wife had resumed their places. They were wearing strange costumes and an even stranger mechanism took center stage. It was a contraption unlike any she'd seen before and it seemed to bear the symbol of Corban. An entire speech was delivered by Micah and Elizabeth only understood a part of it. Mostly, it seemed to be revolving around some kind of blood sacrifice that meant salvation. The kind of crap that served as a means to exploit weak, needy persons.
Thankfully, the enthralled people surrounding her reminded her that she was just like them. Well, Katherine was and at the moment if she allowed any shred of Elizabeth to come to light she was as good as dead. The only one who seemed unnerved was Joe Carroll who was eyeing curiously the proceedings.
All of a sudden, Julie started spinning as if possessed, searching for their next sacrifice. Her little 'pointing stick' stopped briefly on Joe, but resumed its moving until it pointed at the woman on Joe's right- Emma. Elizabeth was shell-shocked. There was obviously no deity guiding her moves so why was Julie threatening to kill Joe's most devout follower? Something that she wasn't aware of had transpired between Micah's wife and the serial killer. This was obviously a power play designed by Julie, but to what end?
"No! Micah, please!" Joe desperately shouted, looking at the man on stage who merely responded that this was God's will. Another rage filled plea followed and the men behind Joe had to grab both of his hands to keep him from stopping this deranged spectacle. Everyone was cheering and seemed to be enjoying themselves. She felt like vomiting. Did she really end up in a place where she would have to watch a woman, whether be it Emma Hill or anyone else, be killed in front of her? Was she really supposed to just go with it, pretend like it did not affect her?
Still, it was not Elizabeth's job to save Emma Hill. No, her job was to keep a low profile, and attempt to reach the phone to alert Ryan Hardy of Joe's whereabouts. That was it: Ryan Hardy. What would he do in this situation? He would follow the mission protocol and not risk jeopardizing it.
They roughly dragged Emma to the stage and threw her in another man's arms. The contraption had spun around and it now showed that it had sturdy restraints that a mindful follower had opened in anticipation to the upcoming blood ritual.
"Stop!" she found herself yelling at the bottom of her lungs. Apparently, she was no Ryan Hardy. Everyone, even the ones carrying Emma stopped to look at the woman in the white robe. She'd really fucked up this time, she could tell by the look on Julia and Micah's faces. How in the world could she explain this outburst? Poor, meek and submissive Katherine would never have done such a thing. Curious, disdainful, even hateful glares were thrown her way while Elizabeth was trying to conjure up a way to get herself out of the hole she'd dug herself into.
"Apparently our newest member, Katherine, has something to say," spoke Micah."Tell us, what troubles you, my dear?" he added ironically. Thankfully, judging by the lack of a more severe reaction, her word had been interpreted as a momentarily show of weakness. It wasn't a bad outcome so Elizabeth decided to roll with it. Keeping quiet, she lowered her eyes, not before catching Joe's stare. It was laced with more suspicion than she would have liked, him clearly being the more intelligent one between the cult leaders. If she made it tonight she would have to pay even more attention to the murderer.
"Your artistic soul does not condone our practices?" Micah's cold voice drew her back to him. He knew she was supposed to be a writer- they'd really done a thorough background check on her. Staying in line with her personality, she kept quiet so the man felt compelled to fill the silence. "Tell me, do you not approve of the Holy Spirit," he lifted his hands to the sky," getting what he deserves?"
She wanted to scream in his face that he was a deranged psychopath but that would get her killed so she maintained quiet. If not for the shout before, she could have successfully passed as a mute.
"Your silence tells me what I need to know. You are afraid of what must be done and you do not understand it. Yet you will, He will show you," he pointed to the sky. "The Lord has spoken to me," he turned to his audience. "Release Emma," he ordered to the surprise of everyone, the relief of Joe and Julia's contempt. Elizabeth was preparing her victory dance because she'd not jeopardized the mission and kept a human being from being butchered on an alter when Micah's following words nearly knocked her down. "Take Katherine instead."
Emma rushed to Joe's side and was that genuine concern and relief when Joe got her back? Unfortunately, fleeing was not an option and the only person who had previously opposed to this sadistic practice had no reason to do it again. After all, he was a sociopath so why should he intervene for someone he didn't even know?
Two masked men roughly grabbed a hold of her, pulling her towards the strange machine. The cheering had resumed. Briefly, she attempted to fight, her F.B.I instincts kicking in, but that would only damage her position further. So she ceased all movement and allowed herself to be carried and strapped to that horrible device so much as a whimper of protest.
This is how I die, she bitterly contemplated as Micah spewed some more of his religious babble. She'd told Ryan she wasn't ready and that she would monumentally fuck this up, but he'd been stubborn to send her in anyway. Now, with this turn of events, fate seemed to agree with her. Unfortunately.
In spite of the leather bounds digging into her skin and the fear building in her stomach, she could not miss the glares Joe and Julia threw each other. Julia caught her eyes first and sneered at her, clearly angry at Elizabeth. I ruined her plan, thought the agent, she wanted to weaken and humiliate Joe in front of the cult and all she got was one of her own people standing up against her methods. Another enemy to worry about if I make it past tonight, she sighed.
His speech having ended, she found herself upside down, her head and arms directly above a metal vessel. Micah was coming closer, the glint of moonlight reflecting on his steel knife. In that moment, Elizabeth risked a glance at Joe Carroll. The reason for doing this was a mystery to her, but something pulled her towards gauging his reaction. The two women were each clinging to one of his hands and, surprisingly, he didn't seem to mind. This Joe Carroll that she was seeing right now seemed to defy the diagnosis imposed by countless psychiatrists. He seemed to care about Emma and the other one. A shudder went through her entire body when she realized that he too was intently staring at her. Their eyes met and for a few moments neither one of them moved. It was as if a competition had begun and they were fighting to see which one could figure the other first. Then, the most unexpected thing happened: Joe nodded at her.
Was it a sign of gratitude for practically taking Emma's place on this 'cross' of terror? Was it his way of saying he was onto her? Or had he already seen through her act?
There was no time to dwell on either option because Micah pulled up the sleeves of her robe and without further warning slit her wrists. Louder cheers erupted from the crowd. It made Elizabeth want to puke. That is how sickening these people were. Pain radiated from the cuts and she could feel blood slowly making its way to the bronze coloured vessel. The smell of copper filled her nostrils as more and more crimson rolled down her hands. Micah had ensured to slice as deep as possible and she was starting to grow fainter and fainter with each second. The cult leader went as far as taking some blood in a goblet and drinking it, clearly savoring every moments of her torture. What kind of monster was Micah?
Tears had formed and try as she might she could not hold all of them in. Black dots clouded her vision and she prayed to the real God out there to allow her to pass out. Give her some reprieve so she would not have to endure the sight of people cheering for her suffering. A last, confusing impulse took over and she had no fight left in her. It had been drained along with her life-giving liquid. Ironic how she was sent in to apprehend Joe Carroll and Emma Hill and she ended up dying for them.
After that, she gave in and turned her head as much as her fading strength would allow it. All so she could glimpse into Joe Carroll's eyes once more. Why she did it though, was a mystery. Soon, she surrendered to the darkness as blood continued to seep out of her.