After dinner, Joe took me aside.

"Tomorrow is going to be a life-changing day for you," he told me. "I will be introducing you to my circle of friends."

I wasn't sure what Joe meant, but it sounded exciting.

"Great," I responded.

"You realize that once you get involved, there's no turning back," he said in a very serious tone.

His facial expression changed from relaxed to serious in a matter of seconds. He folded his arms across his chest.

"I'm here to stay," I told Joe, looking him in the eyes.

"I will warn you, what you're about to see tomorrow will shock you, but I will be here every step of the way."

I nodded my head and smiled at him. If Joe needed me to do something for him, I would do it in a heartbeat.

"I'll let you get some rest now. You've had a long day."

"What time should I be ready?" I asked.

"I usually eat breakfast at around 8:00 am. The others in this house go by their own schedules. Once you get situated, you will know what works best for you."

"I'll join you for breakfast at eight," I replied.

"That sounds delightful," he said to me, smiling.

"I'm going to head up to my room now. Thanks again for everything."

"You're welcome."

Joe placed his hands on my shoulders and planted a kiss on my forehead. I didn't see that coming, but I liked it. I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. I figured that was how a daughter felt when she received affection from her father. My father gave me a kiss goodnight, so that was my first time feeling those emotions.

I went up to my room and finished unpacking. After that I wrote more of a story I had been working on. I went to bed around 11:00 pm. I had an early day ahead of me, and I wanted to be well rested.

My alarm clock went off at 7:00 am. I rolled out of bed, and went into the bathroom down the hall. I took a hot shower and changed into the outfit I was going to wear that day. I picked out a pair of jeans and one of my college t-shirts. I stood in front of the mirror and dried my hair. I wasn't sure what Joe and I would be doing, so I tied my hair back in a ponytail. By the time I had finished getting ready, it was very close to 8:00.

I went downstairs into the kitchen. Joe was just finishing making breakfast.

"You're right on time," Joe said, smiling at me. "I take it you like scrambled eggs."

"I love them," I replied.

"I also fixed bacon, toast, and potatoes. Please, help yourself."

I got up and took some eggs, potatoes, and a piece of toast. When I sat down at the table, Joe looked at my plate.

"I'm glad to see you're eating," he said.

"I try," I replied, looking down at my food.

I hadn't even finished my meal and the guilt was already setting in.

"Hey," Joe gently said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "You need to eat. You don't want your health to deteriorate, do you?"

I shook my head. I took a few bites of my eggs. Joe gave me an encouraging smile.

"Keep eating," he said.

Joe and I finished breakfast. I ate every bite.

"I'm proud of you," he said, looking me in the eye.

All I could do was smile at Joe. Tears formed in my eyes again. My father never encouraged me to eat. Every time I ate something, he would say, "Why are you eating?" "Don't you know that will make you fat?"

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded my head.

"It's just that you encouraged me to eat. My father never did. He told me I would get fat if I ate."

"That's far from the truth."

Joe smiled again, and he pulled me into an embrace.

"I want you to forget about your father. You have a new family."

I hugged Joe tightly. A few moments later, Joe pulled back and held me by the shoulders.

"Are you ready for your life to change?" he asked me.

"Yes," I replied.

"Follow me."

Joe and I left the house. We walked up a path to a wooden shed. He opened the door for me.

"Try not to scream," he said.

I stepped into the shed. I froze in my tracks as soon as I saw her.

She was a young woman, probably in her early twenties. She was bound and gagged to a table. Two other men stood over her. Her face was soaked with tears, and she squirmed.

Joe came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.

"It's alright," he whispered in my ear. "Stand closer."

I walked closer to the table. I didn't know to think.

Joe picked up a knife off of the table. He hovered over the woman.

"Pay close attention, Leah," Joe said.

Joe walked around the table. He ran the knife along the woman's flesh.

"Don't go in for the kill right away. You have to connect with your victim," he said.

Joe's facial expression turned sinister. He plunged the knife into the girl's stomach. She cried out.

I backed away from the table as Joe stabbed her again.

"It's alright, Leah," Joe said, his tone very soft.

Joe stabbed her a third time, killing her.

"You won't be killing for a while, but I will be training you."

Joe washed his hands.

"Go dispose of the body," he said to the two other men in the room.

After Joe finished washing his hands, he walked over to me.

"Welcome to my circle of friends," he said.

He smiled, but it was a different type of smile. This was a side of Joe that I had never seen before.