Chapter 5:

Faith Seed stared at the ceiling. She was confused. She had pulled the Deputy into the Bliss, finally, but what had she actually achieved? Had she just increased his doubts in her philosophy. Hopefully he was still worth saving. If John and Jacob both had tried, their efforts weren't good enough as it lead to both their deaths, hence why Faith believed she had to give this effort everything she had. Tyler had shown her something on the Bliss that she hadn't seen from anyone else before, hesitance and doubt. Faith returned to her gate and spent the rest of the day trying to read up about the Deputy from reports her brothers had sent to the family before they died. One particular one caught her eye. Tyler and two of his companions, Grace Armstrong and Sharky Boshaw helped to rescue a cult defector at the Silver Lake Trailer Park in the Holland Valley. This surprised Faith most of all because she knew of the sin that John deemed upon Tyler, wrath. But a person who shows forgiveness or mercy isn't one of wrath she had thought to herself that day. Faith let her thoughts drift out of her head and she sat up. An idea immediately replaced the empty thoughts and she called out for assistance. One of her most loyal Priestess' walked in with a sweet smile on her face.

"Lady Faith," she said. "What may I do for you?" Faith got up off her bed and walked over to the wooden desk in the corner of her room. A small notepad and a blue pen were on the surface. She wrote a series of numbers down before ripping off the page and handing it to the Priestess.

"Lucy," Faith said clearly. "I need you to find the Deputy. I need you to find a way to give him this." The Priestess, Lucy, slowly reached out and accepted the piece of paper.

"But Lady Faith, you know how he can be," she protested. "He killed your brothers with no pity, how do you think he'll react when I approach him?" Faith smiled and put a hand to Lucy's shoulder.

"Approach him unarmed and speak to him without violence. From what I know of him, if he isn't shown violence, he can have the capacity to accept and listen." Faith then removed her hand and nodded at the Priestess who turned around and left the room. Once she couldn't see her Priestess, Faith hopped back onto the computer on her desk and clicked open another file from the list of reports from her brothers. The Deputy had liberated every property the Project owned in both the Valley and the Mountains, he had rescued he famous dog at Rae Rae's pumpkin farm, Boomer, he'd helped kickstart Fall's Ends' iconic Testicle Festival. This man seemed like he wanted to please people. He was a hero. Faith had dealt with "heroes" all her life. People who worry too much about pleasing others when they could've helped themselves. Tyler had become an interest to Faith, she just hoped that he would receive the note.

Tyler stared out of the car window and just groaned. The drive to the Jail was a long one and Seb had forced them to leave the Hotel in a hurry.

"So when we get there, what's gonna happen?" Tyler asked.

Seb turned his attention away from the wheel and looked at Tyler.

"We'll, you go and find Tracey Lader, dark skinned girl with an attitude. I'll go talk to the folk inside the prison and then we'll both go talk with your Sheriff." Tyler nodded and let his mind drift to the last time he saw his other companions. Sure, Seb was a great addition to the squad but he couldn't lie and say that he didn't miss Nick, Grace, Hurk and all his other allies. He made a mental note to call them after he and Seb finished at the Jail. "Hey, Tye!" Seb shook Tyler's shoulder and snapped him out of his thoughts. They got out of the pickup and walked through the door into the courtyard in front of the main entrance. The Cougars had managed to repair the gate which was severely damaged in the attack that they helped repel. Tyler turned around and climbed up the ladder to get up onto the walkway. Tyler looked around to try and find the person that Seb was talking about. There was only two dark skinned people in the walkway and one had her hood over her head. Looks like she might have an attitude, Tyler thought to himself.

"Howdy," Tyler greeted the woman. "You Tracy Lader?" The woman turned to look at him and nodded once.

"That's me," she said with a slight gruffness to her voice. "Tyler is it?"

"Yeah, how'd you.." Tyler began, a little confused.

"Earl talks non stop about you, gave you all kindsa praise." She said.

"Oh," Tyler said. "I actually came here to talk to you, about Faith Seed?" Upon hearing that name, Tracy narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms almost defiantly.

"I don't know shit about Faith fucking Seed. I know almost everything about Rachel Jessop on the other hand." She said and the Deputy was able to hear the slight hints of resentment and anger in her voice.

"Who's Rachel?" Tyler asked, but he felt like he already knew the answer.

"She's now that Flower Bitch that Joseph uses like a goddamn puppet. Rachel and I used to be real tight. She was all I had and likewise with her." Tracey grumbled the last part. Tyler had curiosity spread all over his face and Tracey must've noticed it. "No point trying to find out about Rachel," she said bluntly. "There's no more Rachel left in that monster." Tyler nodded to show he was following. "You see, she was a total druggie back in our youth. She was either high, drunk or stoned. Me too, seeing as we were always doing shit together. It was only when the cult rolled into town that everything changed. It was I who brought her into the shit show in the first place. I brought her to one of the Father's sermons on a Sunday. She immediately became transfixed and bought each of word of Joseph's bullshit. She got close to him and Joseph being the sick fuck he was, groomed her into what he wanted from her. He helped relieve her of her drug addiction, he promised the whole world to her and she fell into his trap like a fucking fish at the end of his line. Of course I tried to get out with her but she refused and chose to stay." Tracey looked over the mountain range in the distant. Tyler followed her gaze and saw the top of the giant statue of the Father.

"Gee," Tyler puffed out loud. "She want the only one was she?" Tracey looked at him with confusion.

"The only what?" She asked.

"The only Faith," Tyler said as he pulled out the crumpled letter he found in the Hot Springs Hotel. He handed it to Tracey who read it.

"What kinda psycho treats poor girls like that. Treats them like they're everything to him and he can spit them out and discard just as easily." Tracey looked physically ready to punch something. Tyler decide he had enough and took the note back from Tracey. "Deputy…" she started.

"Call me Tyler please." Tyler interrupted.

"Tyler… do me a favour will you?" She asks.

"Sure thing, what do you need."

"See that statue over yonder," she pointed in the direction of the statue. Tyler nodded. "Blow that fucking thing into dust. Drive some kinda big-ass fuck you to that asshole Joseph Seed. He has hurt so many people in this county that he doesn't statue to let those hippie shitheads praise him every day." Tyler nodded and looked at the statue. It looked giant, this might be a case he would need that favour from Adelaide that he was owed.

"Will do Tracey," Tyler nodded as he walked towards the ladder. "Thanks for the chat. I need to know just what it is we're up against here." He started to climb down as he heard Tracey call out.

"Don't trust Faith, she may seem innocent but she will break your mind and leave you hollow if you let her."

Tyler walked into the prison and met Seb who was talking with the Sheriff. The two noticed him and nodded at him.

"So what have you found out?" Seb asked.

"A long story for the road. What about you, learn anything?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah, your Sheriff here seems to have an idea on who she might be. Told me about this old Conservatory northeast from here. Might be worth a checkout." Seb recapped. Tyler patted his friend on the back and said,

"Cheers man, go get the car ready. I gotta finish something here." Seb nodded and let the room.

"So why did you need all the intel Rook?" The Sheriff asked him.

"I need to know what it is we're going up against." Tyler said. "Faith is different to John and Jacob and I'll have to approach this differently."

The Sheriff nodded his head and fiddled with the brim of his hat.

"Just remember son, we have one job on hand and that is to shut this operation down. That ain't no option. That's an order Deputy." Tyler nodded and wrapped things up with the Sheriff and let the prison. Seb was leaning against the truck.

"C'mon Tye, let's get back to camp." They both entered the pickup truck and drove away.

As they pulled up to the Youth Camp, Tyler noticed something. There was a Peggie truck parked behind the trees. Tyler didn't pay too much attention to this and they both made the walk up to their camp at the furthest cabin. As he walked up the hill, Tyler couldn't help but feel as if something was following them. He glanced back, the only thing he was able to see in the night was the slight sway of the tall pines swaying in the wind. He was starting to get anxious. As they passed the Counsellors Cabin. Tyler was certain he heard the sound of twigs snapping.

"Hang on," Tyler whispered to Seb. "Something ain't right." He scanned the area, looking at the cabin, the bushes, the trees and the small shack next to the cabin. Then his eyes returned to a bush just near the shack. He could see a figure crouched in the bush, and then, a pair of white eyes. The figure rose from the bushes and both Tyler and Seb back-pedalled on instinct as they saw a cult VIP standing right in front of them. It also didn't escape his mind that this person wasn't armed.

"You don't need to be scared," She said soothingly. "I'm not here to hurt you. I have been ordered by Faith to give something to you." She stepped close and the two men held their ground. She pulled out a piece of paper.

"What is that?" Tyler asks. "How can we trust you?" The VIP just keeps moving forwards.

"You just have to take my word for it. I'm alone and unarmed."

Tyler then reached out and took the note from her.

"How'd you find us?" Seb spoke up.

"We'll, I had some idea of where to look. It wasn't easy but I eventually saw you leave the jail and followed you back here." She said as she backed away from the two men.

"Right," Tyler said as he allowed a small smile to form on his face. "Thanks for giving me this then." The VIP nodded and then walked into the forest and disappeared within seconds.

"What is it?" Seb asks Tyler. He opens the not and looks. It was a series of numbers.

"It's just a bunch of numbers." Tyler groaned. "Nothing of value."

Seb quickly grabbed the paper and looked at it closer.

"Hang on," He said. "Get your radio out." Tyler pulled his radio out.

"And do what?" He asked. Seb rolled his eyes.

"Punch in the frequency dumbass." He laughed. Tyler turned his radio on and heard the dull crackle. He tuned to the frequency and the crackle disappeared. Tyler hit the talk button.

"Hello, anyone there?" He asked. A crackle sounded and a familiar female voice came from the other end.

"Hello Tyler." Tyler couldn't help but be slightly happy.

"Hello Faith." He finally had connections that could uncover this mystery.

Note: Hi all. This chapter was easier then expected. Some help and ideas were needed but I feel like this might be final "introductory" chapter as everything sorta has opened up a bit. Please leave a comment or PM me to give me your opinion. I enjoy reading them.