What would Lee do?
He protected me when I was small. He's the reason to why I am alive. I listen uncomfortably to the desperate screaming of Esther.
As Lee permeates in my mind, I feel the drive to protect her. I tighten my grip on my knife. As I hurry down the stairs, I see there is the rusty latch above Grace's head.
"Stop!" My loud voice resounds. Grace freezes out of shock. She snaps her head at me. The environment of this house is heavy with urgency.
"Go back to bed, Darling." Grace's voice is stolid.
"Momma! Momma! Let me out please!" Esther shrieks.
"Grace! Stop!" I shout, shooting her a cold glare. I walk towards her cautiously, when I see that she is holding a chef knife in her right hand."Let her out!"
Grace points a stern finger at me. "Sinner!" She hisses through her teeth. "The Lord will judge you, he sees your immodesty." Her eyes flickers to my chest. "Look at your dirtytwins." She says this as if it was one dirty word. "Look at your dirtytwins, sinner. Everyone sees them. You will be struck down with the force of the Judgement."
"Let her out, Grace! This is not right!"
"He will punish you tremendously." Her words are zealous and sharp. Her words becomes louder and louder the closer I come.
"Sinners are weak, weak as the rotting sinners outside. A curse has been placed on this world. A curse of death and destruction. A curse that has transformed all sinners into flesh eating creatures! Only the Pure will prevail." She raves.
Grace whisks around completely, pressing her back against the door, her facial expression is disturbingly serene. Esther is still screaming, throwing her body weight against the door. Grace clasps her hands together, whispering softly to her. Her eyes fixated on the ceiling.
"Grace." I keep a cautious distance from her when I approach her. "Let her out now!"
"Pray!" Grace raves. "Pray for forgiveness! Accompany Esther in the closet. You and her will pray for forgiveness. Listen to my admonition, sinner. You will become among the Dead if you do not."
Keep calm. I think to myself. I didn't want any bloodshed. I simply wanted to get Esther out of the closet.
I need to get her out of this house as well. I add to my thoughts. This woman is crazed and armed. I think of all of my options. I can't just run up to her and kill her, she's armed as well. She will surely put up a fight. I resolve myself to placate her.
"Grace, please. Let's talk."
Esther's screaming spirals into tears. Her sobs are long-winded and raw. She stops hitting the door.
Grace's lips crack into a pleased smile. "Good, little girl. Pray, pray for forgiveness."
"Grace, please." Grace slowly looks at me, she takes an unexpected step forward. All of my nerves are wired and I brandish my knife. "Stay back, Grace. I do not want to hurt you. Let Esther out." I speak in a slow, but critical voice.
"I am saving her soul." Grace whispers ominously.
There is a wave of silence between us, electricity is high in the air. All of my muscles are tightened, my eyes never leave Grace's tranquil expression.
When the closet abruptly becomes eerily silent, my heart jolts. "Esther!" I cry. Automatically I take a step forward.
"STAY BACK, SINNER!" Grace screeches, taking a hostile step towards me, making me pause in my tracks. I have no time to react when Grace wields the chef knife at my chin. I have no other choice, swiftly, I swing my knife to slit her throat. Grace turns just enough to evade the fatal blow, the blade lacerate her left shoulder. A pained scream rings through the house, I'm unprepared when Grace slams into me, throwing me to the floor on my back, pinning my legs to the ground with her knees. My knife flings out of my grip, leaving me defenseless.
Grace raises her chef knife, preparing to penetrate my heart.
"You sinners never learn. You have succumbed to evil. You will become among the Dead." Grace rebukes. I do my best to struggle against her, thrashing and jerk every limb. But it is no use, she is too heavy.
My hands instinctively tear at her face, drawing red marks with my nails. I collect enough spit in my mouth and I spit on her cheek.
This startles her, she jerks off of me. I don't waste time, scrambling to my feet and scanning for my knife. It is across the room underneath the dining table. I sprint for it.
"Foul whore!" Grace barks.
I slide underneath the table to snatch my knife, once the handle is on my palm, I tighten my grip. I scramble from the table just in time for Grace to charge at me with her wielded knife. When she comes close enough, I pivot out of her range.
I lunge at her at full speed, penetrating the left side of her chest. Dropping her knife to the floor, Grace screams staggering backward with the knife deep in her chest. "BITCH!" She howls. I'm swift, kicking the chef knife into the kitchen, far out of her reach. I run to her, snatching the handle of my knife, for force, I kick her in the stomach as I yank out the knife.
"Lord, help me!" Grace shriek, collapsing to the floor. I don't waste time, sprinting to the closet. I unlock the latch and jerk the door open.
Esther is at the back of the room, sitting in a shaking fetal position. There is a large cross that hangs on the back wall of the small closet. She is wearing an entirely different dress. An old fashioned, green plaid dress with a babydoll collar. She wears black stocking with shoes to match. She looks so outdated. Her red hair is matted, draping over her face. She is a pitiful sight to witness. "Esther?" I say gently. Apprehensively, Esther rises her head slightly, showing me her puffy eyes.
"We need to go." I coax.
Esther appears diffident. She opens her mouth to speak, but only air comes out. I don't wait, I need to get her out of the closet. I put my hands on her shaking shoulders. "Come on." I urge. She is very light, so pulling her up is not hard. I tighten my grip on her wrist, pulling her out of the closet. Grace is on her feet, holding her shoulder, contorting. Excessive blood flow pours to the floor.
Dreadful thoughts invade my mind. She is going to turn. She can't survive all of that blood loss.
"Little girl," She murmurs. "Pray with me, be my congregation." Esther yanks her wrist out of my grip, running to her Mother.
"Momma, you're bleeding!" Esther cries.
"Pray. Go back to your closet."
"No, I don't want to...I.," Esther mutters haltingly.
Grace glowers at Esther with a stern scowl. "Child," She stands up, towering over her. There is stifling silence that falls upon the room. Grace becomes stiff, her eyes traveling through the room. She appears to be in a self-induced trance.
"Momma?" Palpable concern brims in Esther's voice.
"Momma, please. Talk to me," Esther gazes at her bleeding wound. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?"
Grace says nothing, I find myself staring at this scene, not knowing what exactly to do. I watch Grace intently, waiting for her to strike.
"Momma, talk to me. Please, just talk to me." Esther begs.
Esther finally loses her patience and raise her voice. "MOMMA!" She shrieks.
This snaps Grace out of her trance, blinking wildly and shaking her head. She resumes back to normal within seconds and glares at Esther.
"Go to the Praying Closet. Pray for forgiveness."
"No." Esther whispers.
Grace's face freezes.
Should I attack her now? What do I do? This is such a perplexing situation for me. Personally, I don't want to kill her, unless I have to.
My heart skips a beat when Grace's lips twitch slightly.
"Momma?" Esther mutters.
Grace's eyes flashes."The Lord has sent her. He has seen you commit sin." She looks vaguely at the ceiling. "I should have known. Since he came...he put you in me…..I tried so hard to keep you pure…." Her voice trails off.
Esther sniffles, taking one step back. "Momma, don't talk about Daddy please." She says this so softly it is barely audible.
"Pray in your closet!" Grace hiss.
Esther shakes her head silently.
Grace is silent for a brief second. Then she releases a sudden shriek, forming a left fist, she strikes herself in the nose.
Esther gasp and jerks in alarm. "Momma, stop! Don't do that!"
I freeze at this astonished.
Grace unclench her fist and proceeds to claw her nails into her cheeks, drawing blood.
"The blood must be spilled. The Lord will not tolerate defiance!"
Esther shudders uncomfortably.
Grace forms a fist once more, striking herself in the mouth as hard as she could. She brings a stream of blood down her lips. She is muttering something to herself, her voice goes from loud to soft on every sentence.
"Upon that sin, the Lord punished the sinners…and..." She doesn't allow herself to finish that sentence as she yanks at her hair.
"Momma, stop, please!" Esther lunges at her Mother, grabbing her fist before she can punch herself again. "Stop, I'm sorry. I don't want to upset you!" Grace's eyes become hawklike as a pleased smile forms on her bruised face.
"I know. I know, little girl. Pray with me. Just like before," Grace's voice softens, becoming tender and maternal.
Esther gives in, She drops to the floor on her knees, her hands up in supplication. Grace clasps her hands together tightly. "I'll be the Minister, you my Congregation."
"The Lord will purge this world of sinners…" Grace pulls her into unexpected embrace. Esther locks her arms around her Mother without hesitation. I take this opportunity take a step towards them as they begin to pray. I slowly stalk towards them, brandishing my knife.
"I must give you to God." Grace says.
Grace exposes a steak knife that was concealed in her gown in her right hand, raising it over the back of an unsuspecting Esther. "Esther, look out!" I shout. In a split second, Esther turns her head to see the knife coming down.
I lunge at Grace, slamming her with a rugby tackle, breaking the embrace. Me and Grace slide across the floor, her head collides with the wall. Grace appears dazed from the collision, but she is still holding the handle of the knife.
"Little girl! HELP ME!" Grace pleads. "Esther!" I hear rapid footsteps hurrying to us. I do my best to pin Grace down when I see Esther running to her Mother's side.
I brace myself for the worse.
Grace squirms against me violently, I pin her down with my knees. The woman repeatedly smashes her head against the wall as she struggles.
"Sinner! Your blood must be spilled. You are the corruptor, a sinner that will be judged. Your blood will be spilled tonight! You must be slain. The world is full of you, sinners, bloody sinners. Filthy sinners with dirtytwins. You will not prevail. The Lord will not allow you into Heaven as he will the Pure Ones."
There is a sudden, small gasp out of Grace.
I snap my head to see Esther trying to pry out the knife out of Grace's fingers. For a brief second, I'm wondering if she is trying to help me or helping her Mother.
When Esther is able to yank out the knife, I freeze for a brief second. Her eyes are watery and her face is blanch.
I think she is going to attack me. "Esther…" I start.
She tosses the knife across the room.
Grace stiffens. "You traitorous witch!" Grace hiss. Her eyes are flaring with rage. Esther flinches from her words, tears trickle down her cheeks. "You are corrupted. You are now tainted with sin." Esther's eyes widen with terror, shaking her head. "SINNER! SINNER!" Grace raves.
Grace summons the strength to overwhelms me, her hands propel me off of her. I fall flat on my back. All of the oxygen is knocked out of me. Grace scrambles to her feet, she snatches Esther's arm.
"You corrupted her! You and her are sinners! You both will be judged!" Grace stalks towards me.
Grace pauses in her tracks. The house is silent as can be, so silent you could hear a pin drop. She takes a step to the dining table to grab a thick Bible.
Grace whirls around to Esther, clasping her hands together. "Pray, child. Save your soul and pray! Before it is too late!" Grace barks. Esther's face is fearful, she does attempt to pull away once but stiffens. "Momma, please let me go!" Grace tightens her grip.
"Momma, you're hurting me!" Esther pleads.
"Pray with me, little girl. The Lord is observing you, he will decide if you are a sinner or a Pure one. You and I will be only ones that will ascend into Heaven." Grace whisper passionately. Esther is resistant, managing to pull one of her hands free.
"Momma, please stop!" Esther begs. "Please, stop this! Stop acting crazy! Please, just stop all of this!"
Slight protest forms in her little voice. "I didn't sin, Momma!" She breathes. "Please stop this. I don't want anyone to get hurt anymore."
"Esther.." I say. I just want to grab her and run out of this house. Never before have I been so disturbed.
"Esther!" An ominous tone flows through Grace's voice. Esther turns her head back to her Mother, only to be smacked on the forehead with the Bible, knocking her to the floor in a heap. An earsplitting shriek rings through the house. I scramble to my feet, hurrying towards them. Esther sits on her knees, weeping.
"The Lord is looking down at us…." She says slowly, towering over Esther. "Say it!" She orders.
"Momma.." She starts.
Grace gives Esther a resounding slap across the face. Esther releases out a long-winded scream. I slam into Grace once more, this time with enough force to knock her down to the floor. I scurry to Esther, wrapping my arms around her. "Esther, come with me!" I say urgently.
Tears are streaking down Esther's face, she is nodding swiftly. I don't wait, I grab her quivering wrist and I run to the door.
"The Lord is watching you, little girl! You can run to the ends of the Earth, he is watching!" Grace begins to pick herself up. Me and Esther slip out of the house and running outside. Grace's voice becomes frantic. "Little girl! No! No! Come back!" I turn my head back once to see a wincing Grace standing in the doorway. She seemingly can't exit the house due to her injury.
It is a freezing night, a chilling gust makes me shiver. I hear no more Walkers, but I know there are still some roaming out there.
"Stay close to me," I order. Esther responds by holding my hand. "Let's go."
Next chapter will come soon. I am currently writing updates for Infection, Mercy, I will make changes to Endgame Defense in the future, and my other stories. Reviews and thoughts.