Chapter 3: Merry's Plea
Zachary Goode's POV:
Everyone from our generation and several from the older generations were called into the room including Merry's father. And there stood Merry in the middle of the room looking nervous but unwilling to back down as she faced my father.
"You've all been called here because Katherine Montez has something important to discuss. I find it vital that this be shared with all of us." He paused looking in our direction, the direction of the youngest generation. He turned back to Merry. "Katherine go on, please."
Merry took in a deep breath, self-conscious of her audience which she obviously hadn't planned for. "Yes, well I've been thinking for a long time about this…this life. I've come to a decision that I can't live like this anymore. I just can't." We watched as my father paced around her nodding his head subtly. "Not that I'm ungrateful for what you've done to me…"
My father interrupted her, "Of course not. Why should you not be grateful or maybe you should be. Maybe you should leave and tell everyone you come in contact with what you know. Turn your back on the ones who raised you. Risk their own lives." He raised an eyebrow as Merry quickly shook her head.
"No, that is not what I meant. I don't plan on telling anyone what I know. You can keep watch on me. I…I just want out of this…this murdering and covering-up. It's not who I am. Not what I'm suited for. Please, you have to understood," Merry begged.
My father stood in front of her. "Oh but I do child. Don't we Mr. Montez?" He looked over at Merry's father and they exchanged an odd glance.
"She wants out and I think she deserves out," Mr. Montez said as my father seemed to agree. Merry looked quite confused on what was going on as we all did.
"Katherine would you mind getting on your knees?" my father asked. Keira looked over at me and we both knew that this wasn't a good sign.
"My…my knees?" Merry stuttered, unsure of what to do.
"Yes dear. Fredrick would you mind getting a Bible from the bookshelf."
A Bible? Keira mouthed. I shrugged, this was something different.
Merry and Frederick both followed orders. Merry stared up at my father as he held the book out towards her.
"Would you mind putting both hands on the Bible, Katherine?" Merry did as she was told. Her hands shaking as she held them out. "Very good, now I want you to swear to all of us witnessing and to God that you will not betray us. You will not let our secrets known. You will not be the death of us all."
Merry's eyes grew slightly wide at the last statement as I heard Harper take a sharp breath. As if she knew what was happening and what was going to happen next.
"I swear, certainly. I would never think of causing such a thing. This is my family after all. I would never betray your trust, I swear on the Bible."
My father seemed pleased as he nodded. "I'm sorry Merry it was just a standard procedure. We have many lives to look out for."
Merry smiled and nodded before trying to stand up.
My father held out his hand and asked her, "Are you sure you want to leave the comfort of the Circle."
Merry sighed but said, "Yes, I'm afraid I must."
None of us saw the sword coming. None of us were prepared.
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Keira Goode's POV:
(Warning: Violence)
With one precise swing of my father's sword Merry's head went flying off and her body fell to the ground limply. And that was the end of Katherine Daniela Montez 'Merry'.
There were a few gasps around the room, but I couldn't name any of the owners. I was too shocked, too numb to concentrate to even gasp myself. All I could do was watch as blood spurted out of her neck, Merry's eyes still wide open but far away from her body with no life in them, and my father…my father was wiping his blade as if everything was okay, everything was normal. And the scarcest truth of all was that it was normal.
(Warning: Violence)
Betrayal, no matter what kind, resulted in death. And not always the simple gunshot to the head.
I felt a tug on my sleeve from someone. A simple gesture telling me that it was our cue to leave.
So I did, we all did walking off one by one like we were always taught to do, trained to do. Only I had to tear my eyes from my decapitated friend, act like nothing was wrong, and drag myself out of the room. That was not the easiest thing to do and each step taken was heavier than the last. Even when I was out of the room an unwelcoming feeling of dread was still hanging over me.
We started out with eight in our generation. Now only five of us were left. That of course could drastically change in the future and I wasn't sure what I was afraid of more. Being one who didn't make it, didn't survive or being one who did survive, who adapted to the conditions.
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A/N: Sorry this chapter is the shortest one yet it just happened that way. Now you know the drill review and tell me what you think. I will try and send you a sneak peak of the next chapter in return but at the moment my e-mail has been acting strange. So I might not be able to, we'll see.
