Chapter 22: Aftermath

Odin knew what he had to do once the FBI started figuring out about the cult. He didn't like the thought of having to do it. He knew it was the only way. The cult had not been what he had hoped anyway, and the feeling that he had expected from having all his attachments to his old life gone didn't leave him as happy as he thought. He wasn't sure where all his planning had gone wrong, he thought he had done everything he set out to do, but it seemed he had accomplished nothing.

The explosions had been planted under the camp grounds, before the building had gone up. None of the cult members knew about them, the only ones who knew were him and Marilyn. He would have the entire cult members gather in the main hall, where he was thinking of joining them later that day, a few seconds before the blast went off. In his plans the only two who would make it out would be Marilyn, and the lost brother Andrew who was in FBI custody at the moment.

He told Marilyn his plan one night, so she knew what was going to happen. They had a fight. Marilyn was against the idea on two grounds, which maybe they didn't need to use the explosives, and that she was not going to let Odin die. She didn't think anyone should have to be sacrificed.

Instead of answering her, he had walked out. Not angrily like he did after some of their fights, just in a very sad manner which worried her greatly. So, she followed her out, she agreed to allow him to continue, but she offered two alternatives to the plan which were as followed one that he would go with her, and two that they would be far from the camp when it happened.

He agreed.

A few days later, they got into one of the vans, and had instructed one of the other disciples to lead the wayward brother home, and Marilyn and he would go get some supplies so that they could celebrate the return of the brother to the flock, and possibly a new disciple reaching another level in their work.

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Marilyn watched the blast on the news from a small hotel room. She sat on the bed, watching the whole thing as Philip sat on the floor with a far off look in his eyes. She waited till the end credits, and then went to sit beside him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders.

"I failed," He murmured softly.

"You didn't fail O—"

He stopped her. "Philip, I'm no good being Odin. I thought with the cult and the death of my family everything would be okay, and this urge to escaper who I am would disappear." A tear rolled down his cheek, and he made no effort to wipe it away.

She pulled him closer to her. "Whatever you decide to go by, I will love you for everything you are, and for everything you're not. Maybe all you need to do is stop running love." She picked up his chin and drew his face towards her, so that their eyes met. She kissed him lightly on the forehead. "I'll be with you every step of the way regardless."

He pulled her into a hug, "Without you, I don't know what I would do." He nuzzled her shoulder with his head softly.

She wrapped him into a hug. "You are my world, sweetheart. And I've been by your side through thick and thin, and here I will remain. Nothing will make me leave."

"Good, because I'm definitely going to need you," He whispered.

"I know." She kissed his hair, and held him tight as he begin to cry releasing a lot of emotions he had been holding back for almost 20 years.