Faith let her breath out in a silent sigh as she sat on the fine leather couch. She wore her usual white dress with white flats that were partially hanging off her feet. Curling her toes, the back of the slippers cupped her heel until she straightened her feet out again. She did this a few times, alternating each foot while she hummed a soft tune. Despite the fidgeting, Faith was still bored as she waited for the other siblings to arrive. When John had reached out to them, Joseph had insisted they leave Henbane right away. His eagerness had been clear when they heard the news-which she couldn't blame him; she too was eager to see what the youngest brother had found out about the deputy. Would it be what they needed to break the woman? Growing more anxious, Faith looked around the room to see if there was anything to hold her attention.
In front of her was a mahogany coffee table with a matching couch opposite from that and below her was a magnificent red and crème splotched rug that looked to be high in value. To her right was a beautiful stone fireplace that kissed the vaulted ceilings of the lodge. Oil paintings of scenery and wildlife in elegant frames adorned the walls, with a few different bookshelves holding trinkets and manuscripts. On Faith's left was a simple desk that faced the warm glow of the fireplace with an antique green shaded lamp resting on the corner. Standing next to it was Joseph holding a crystal glass of whiskey in one hand while the other picked through a few reports left on the desk.
The man wore a gray button up with just the front tucked into his jeans, displaying his silver belt buckle. As usual, his yellow lensed aviators were present, and his hair pulled neatly into a bun. Blue eyes glanced over a document for a few passing moments before setting it back down to pick up another, sipping his whiskey as he did so.
The reports he was reading through explained the value of the properties acquired in the past month. John had been busy, with two homesteads and an empty lot to show for it. One of the farms had ample number of crops that would be ready to harvest in the next few weeks. Fortunately, the owners of the property had converted to Eden's Gate and had already atoned for their sins. This meant they would still be able to live in their house and provide food to the cause, without John having to reassign one of his followers to reside there. The same could not be said for the second homestead as the owners had fled. It was common for those in debt to flee the county and find refuge with family elsewhere. However, this was unlikely, due to the county being fortified since the officers came to arrest him. No one could get in or out since then unless they had a plane. It was safe to assume that the owners of the said house left to join the rebel sinners.
Thinking back on the past, Joseph could remember how efficient John was in his job to influence people. He had worked as a lawyer specializing in real estate which worked well for Eden's Gate to gain resources and property. The more they took, the stronger they became. It was no surprise that John had used his skills to successfully retrieve Avery Mason's records.
Setting the property report down, Joseph took another sip of his fire liquid and glanced around the large room. John was currently in another room, finishing up a meeting with his followers on new patrol schedules and Jacob was to arrive shortly.
Another quiet sigh left Faith's lips, reminding him of the other person in the room.
"We could have grabbed some dinner before this," she joked while playing with her shoes.
A thoughtful look pasted over the Father's face before he glanced to the double wooden doors. "I'm sure John has food in the kitchen you can get."
Faith seemed to think it over for a moment, causing her feet to stop moving. "Do you think I have enough time to make a sandwich before they come?"
Joseph nodded, taking another sip of his drink. He didn't want to tell Faith that her attendance wasn't required for the meeting, seeing as she had already lost any opportunity to sway the rogue deputy. Telling her this would only cause emotional stress and open the opportunity for John to start an argument with her. Best to avoid conflict.
Jumping to her feet, Faith jogged to the doors before pausing and looking back. "Would you like me to make you something?"
"No," the man replied. "But thank you."
Faith tossed him another smile and disappeared into the foyer. Only moments later did the doors open again, pulling the Father's attention to the newcomer. Sauntering in with the usual cool nature was his older brother who greeted him with a nod. Joseph didn't say anything at first and walked to the back of the couch where a table stood holding the crystal glassware and decanter. Pouring another glass of whiskey, Joseph mentally took note of the state his brother was in. Something seemed off in his presence and the aloof aura was more pronounced today. Walking around to Jacob while handing him the drink, his suspicions were confirmed.
Jacob took it willingly and muttered a thanks before downing a big swig. Hoping to find the cause of his distress, Joseph's allowed his eyes to wander over his older brother's appearance. Today he wore a tan canvas jacket that had seen better days. The pocket folds were twisted in odd angles from being washed and dried so often and there were some discoloration splotches. At first glance, one would assume he had accidentally put bleach in a load of colored laundry, causing the stains. But the truth was that Jacob had gotten some arterial spray on him that had sullied the material. Seeing as having blood tainted clothes was not an ideal outfit for socializing purposes, Joseph had advised bleaching it would be a better option. Realizing that the clothes revealed nothing new to the concerned brother, Joseph thought back to what had recently transpired that week.
Jacob had just gotten a new batch of recruits for his trials, which meant that his week would be filled with tests and martyrs of the weak. This alone didn't seem to be the case for his exhausted state. To a stranger, he wouldn't look much different, but Joseph could tell the way Jacob carried himself that he was wearing thin.
"You look tired, brother," Joseph commented.
Cerulean eyes met his and the red head shrugged. "It's not the first time and won't be the last."
"Something tells me it has not been the recruits keeping from getting rest."
While getting to his feet, Jacob finished his whiskey and returned to the table to pour another glass. "Eli and his group decided to attempt a raid on the convoy. Got away before we could create any casualties on their side."
"Did they cause any damage or fatalities?" Joseph questioned with his brows knitting together.
"Nah." Jacob settled into the leather couch where Faith had been sitting prior while tossing an arm over the back and propping a leg up. "They just show up, start a fire fight and then take off… Just poking the bear."
The younger brother frowned while mulling over this information. It seemed like the militia may be testing their defenses for weak spots, but if they fled so quickly then he wasn't sure how good their findings were. He wasn't too worried about this, however. He had confidence in Jacob and his hunters' ability to ward off any attacks from the sinners.
"Jacob, what are you not telling me?" Joseph questioned softly. His older brother didn't answer right away but rather took another sip of his drink, letting the liquid sit on his tongue while frowning.
"For being so damn expensive, this is some shitty whiskey. I think John has a spending problem…. Maybe just bad taste."
A dry glare fell over Joseph's features as he tilted his head. "There is nothing wrong with the whiskey."
A dry smirk curled Jacob's lips as he pointed his glass at his brother. "Mine tastes just fine and is a hell of a lot cheaper."
"I would argue that." It was Joseph's turn to smirk while bringing the glass to his lips.
The soldier rolled his eyes and sat back in the seat again. "Good to know whose side you are on. From now on I won't worry about sharing when you come over."
Both men sat quietly for a few minutes, each to their own thoughts as the fire crackled softly. Joseph was fully aware that Jacob had not answered his question but decided not to pry right away. The soldier was usually patient although could be pushed simply enough if he was in a mood. It had yet to be revealed if this was currently the case or if he was just drained. Deciding to test the waters, Joseph persisted.
"What else has been going on?"
Jacob knew his brother was not going to drop the subject but had hoped the silence would last a little longer. He really wasn't in the mood to socialize after the fire fight earlier that morning. Eli Palmer and his band of misfits were really grating on his nerves, which he assumed was the point of the attacks. His guess was that Eli wanted Jacob to make a move—perhaps attempt to eradicate them which would, without a doubt, be some form of a trap. Jacob was not one to make mistakes, although taking the bait was becoming more tempting.
Knowing that answering would be less hassle than changing the subject again, Jacob began his explanation. "I sent a handful of hunters to infiltrate one of their safe spots a few days ago. The intel we got was wrong and ended up being a waste of time. The Whitetail Militia are playing games and my patience is thin. Especially when it is becoming a habit of Eli…"
Joseph mulled over the news and could feel irritation swelling in his chest. Eli Palmer, leader of the Whitetail Militia, had been a strategic opponent and worthy adversary for certain. However, Jacob could only stay patient for so long before he acted out and would go hunting. This was something the Father was not willing to risk-even if Jacob had been successful in eradicating the militia's members in the past.
This was something that would need to be pondered over later.
"Where's John?" Jacob asked as ice blue eyes took in the room. "I figured you guys would be waiting on me."
As if on cue, the double doors opened dramatically as the youngest Seed brother made his entrance with a file in his right hand, arms out to the side. "Sorry for the wait!"
"John," the eldest brother greeted. "For someone calling a meeting-and at their own house, no less- I didn't think you to be the one late."
Joseph noted the slight change in attitude of his older brother and realized that the soldier was putting on a farce for John.
Not noticing anything different, John tossed a mock glare to his brother's direction while his arms fell to his side. Despite the previous meeting lasting longer than usual and Jacob's teasing, he seemed to be in a good mood. "Funny… Not all of us have mindless robots as followers. Sometimes things need to be handled the old fashion way."
Just as he finished, a head of curly, flaxen hair appeared in the doorway, holding a plate of food. "Oh good! I didn't miss anything!"
Faith scurried into the room past John and plopped onto the couch with her plate on her lap, facing Jacob.
Looking at the opened doors, John turned back to shut them, muttering about how she had no manners or sense. After shutting them, he made his way to the others in the room while tossing a dry glare in the woman's direction. Of course, she remained oblivious as she bit into her sandwich.
The soldier sitting across from her studied the food for a second before motioning to the plate.
"Pass me the other half of the sandwich."
Faith's pleased features morphed into a frown before pulling her plate closer to her. "Get your own!"
Jacob rolled his eyes. "We are going to start the meeting, just give that to me and you can get another afterwards."
"No!"
John came around the corner and glowered at Faith.
"You shouldn't even be eating in this room anyway." Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat next to Jacob. He knew it was pointless to try enforcing house rules with Joseph around. The man would never take sides which meant that they had to bicker amongst themselves to solve something. Essentially, it was hopeless. Especially when Faith didn't have enough respect to just listen to him in the first place, without it boiling over into an argument.
Resigning to the fact that he was already late for his meeting, John sent a warning to the obnoxious girl. "Don't get crumbs on my couch or you'll be cleaning each up with tweezers."
This only earned him an eyeroll from Faith.
Ignoring her, John glanced around the room before landing his attention on the oldest brother.
"Where are your pets? Leave them at home? Were they misbehaving?" he chuckled.
Raising a brow, at his brother's teasing, he replied, "I assume one of those pets is a reference to Peaches?"
"Whatever degrading name you call that piece of work," John retorted while waving his hand in the air carelessly.
It was Jacob's turn to chuckle. He wasn't wrong. Staci Pratt was not the ideal subordinate, but he was obedient. One of the reasons for bringing the man around was to demoralize him further, keep him submissive. The man was the first of his team to break and convert to Eden's Gate—not by choice of course. Classical conditioning was effective for a reason…
"He's outside waiting. I didn't realize you were going to miss him… I can always call him in if that would make you feel better."
"Oh, funny guy… Your humor never gets old, brother," John deadpanned with another dry glare.
Finding the interaction amusing, Joseph leaned against the desk and regarded his brothers. Each had their own techniques of converting followers; one more violent than the other. A part of him had felt that John may be able to do what Faith could not. But two nights ago, this mindset changed.
The deputy had entered Holland Valley, as planned, a week ago. For the first couple days, she had kept her head down, making them wonder what she had planned to do. If her strategist acts were anything to go off of, Joseph believed that she may have been getting settled with some of the rebel sinners. Wouldn't want to stir up trouble without a fallback plan. Once she did make her presence known, the woman didn't hold back. After recruiting Grace Armstong, they set their sights on the silos and supply convoys. Together, they were quite the team, he'd give them that, but the damage Eden's Gate was taking was not acceptable.
John's notorious temper made its appearance shortly after. Frustration and the determination to succeed proved to be a dangerous combination.
It became clear that John's sinful ways were resurfacing, after his capturing of the deputy. Upon hearing of Mason's arrest, Joseph drove to meet his brother on the banks of the river. The cleansing was a beautiful event that he always made a point to make. With the woman of the hour finally attending, he knew he could not be late. Fortunately for her, he had arrived when he did.
With wrath consuming John's senses, he had mocked the cleansing by suffocating the girl underwater. Not only was this a disgrace to the family and the title of The Baptist, but it was a shameful display of what Eden's Gate stood for. Joseph's own anger had surfaced, though he kept it reined in for the sake of salvaging the debacle John had started.
"She will reach atonement, or the Gates of Eden will be closed to you, brother…"
The words were harsh and spoken out of anger. But Joseph knew he had to shake the ground John had felt so confident in moments before. This behavior would not be tolerated.
To make matters worse, acting like this would only push the deputy away rather than to atonement. The weak usually buckled under the harsher treatment of John but these tactics wouldn't work on this woman who was acquainted with life-threatening situations.
If John wanted to bring her to atone then he would need to refrain from his outbursts.
"Did you find anything useful on her?" Joseph questioned with a tilt of his head. Blue eyes gazed at the file in question, eager to find out more of this troublesome woman.
John leaned back in the couch and rested his left ankle over the top of his right thigh. "I've only glanced through it but some of it seemed interesting."
Looking to his left, John addressed the red head. "You were right. Military background."
A satisfied smirk pulled Jacob's lips. "Makes sense, but I'm not surprised."
John wasn't sure if he meant he wasn't surprised he was correct or that she was military. Shrugging it off, he opened the folder to share the information.
"Avery Mason, age 28, grew up in California with her parents. No siblings. No criminal record of any kind unless you count a speeding ticket." Without her personal records showing anything extraordinary, he turned to the next page; her resumé she gave to Sheriff Whitehorse.
"At age 19, she joined the military, Worked as Military Police for the first three years, and was promoted above her peers. Became a K-9 handler after that, followed by another promotion… A year later, she was hand-selected for a special assignment and graduated the training at the top of her class…"
There was a pause as John turned the page and skimmed the text of the police records. Next to him, Jacob took a small sip of his whiskey, putting the tidbits of information on a mental timeline. From the sounds of it, she was competitive, always trying to come out on top. There was a desire to understand this girl and her past. The skills she knew, the stubborn determination… It was a refreshing change for him. Not to mention that knowing she was prior military made him feel a strange connection to her.
Despite Hope County being a lawless land, it was very different from true war. The military lifestyle was unique and those that went through it could always find some solid ground together.
Thinking back to his own time in the military, he couldn't help but feel the slight hypocrisy. He felt a connection to some girl he hardly knew but killed his own teammate to survive….
But that was the difference, wasn't it? Survival. They were both going to die in that desert, so why not ensure one to make it? Why succumb to Death's desires if you could find a way to live another day? Giving up was not in Jacob's nature. If circumstances were different, he would have surely tried to help Miller…. But fate wasn't so kind and he had to face his own trial to survive.
"What else is there?"
John flipped to another page again and furrowed his brows. "Says she was medically discharged in 2017…"
Reflecting to his timeline, Jacob realized that there was a large gap missing. Before he could make a comment, Joseph beat him to it.
"So, she joined in…?"
"2009," John answered.
The Father nodded before continuing. "Joined in 2009, promoted early in her 3rd year, so 2012. Became K9 handler, and was hand chosen for an assignment in what year?"
The youngest glanced back to the paper once more to verify. "2013. Then there is nothing until her discharge in 2017. But remember, this is a resume that came with her file, not her military record. The rest of her profile here is the cases at the Sheriff's Office, which-if I'm being honest—seems like a fucking joke."
"What branch of military was she in?" Jacob questioned while staring at the coffee table in front of him.
John snorted and tossed the file onto the table. "Doesn't say. Fucking waste."
Silence filled the room as each mulled over the information. It was clear that this was a frustrating conclusion to what they had hoped would reveal a chink in the girl's armor. The military background had been confirmed, so that explained why she was so disruptive. But there had to be something they were missing…
No one lived a perfect, happy life.
The fact that she was comfortable with death and violence was proof that she was no exception.
"So… I'm not sure what all this means," Faith said hesitantly while setting her empty plate on the table. "You said her police work was a joke? Why?"
Beginning to look disgruntled over the failed records, John crossed his arms. "Mostly inmate transfers, or traffic stops. Nothing glamorous about it. Just rookie jobs."
"And what exactly was her discharge for?" Jacob questioned.
John's patience was thin and it showed. "A General PTSD discharge."
"… what?" the soldier asked with a raised brow. He chuckled to himself. "What you just said didn't make sense."
Picking the file off the table, John handed it to his brother. "General something or other with PTSD. Not all of us understand your lingo."
Taking the file, Jacob flipped to the page John was referring to and was greeted with a photo of the girl. It had been taken recently seeing as she was in her deputy uniform, but the difference was blatant.
Her green eyes did not hold that fire he had seen before, as if all that was left was dying embers. Her skin was pale, and she was thin… almost like recovering from a bad illness. It seemed that the Sheriff's Office had been rather good for her, noticing as she looked much healthier now. What puzzled him further was that John had been correct…
Well, sort of…
"General discharge with PTSD … This is interesting," Jacob muttered in a low voice, more to himself than anyone else. His attention was firmly on the photo in hand.
Realizing that Jacob was not going to elaborate, Joseph tilted his head questioningly. "Meaning what?"
"Yeah, brother," John added. "Not all of us are so graced to have served in the military. Explain to us lesser mortals."
"You're being extra snarky today, John," the redhead said in warning, but his younger brother shrugged it off. "Medical separations mean you get an honorable discharge. Normally some unfortunate circumstance happened, and the person was injured in the line of duty-no fault of their own. Instead she got a General discharge which is not common and makes this more interesting."
"Meaning…." Faith dragged out, still confused.
Jacob sighed and set the file back onto the coffee table. "Honorable is obviously good. Dishonorable is when you fucked up; breaking laws, doing drugs—that sort of thing… General discharge is…" he hesitated, trying to think of how to explain it best. "You didn't fuck up, but you did something that was frowned upon.
The first three years or so of Mason's career, she was excelling in everything that was put in front of her. Then she is hand-chosen for an assignment, no public records during that time, so the assignment was important… Then she was deemed unfit mentally while getting the boot with a General discharge?" He crossed his arms over his chest and met Joseph's eyes. "Oh yeah. There's something that happened during those four years. And that's just what John needs in order to make this work."
"Great." John shrugged and mimicked the red head, leaning back in the couch. "I'll just need to figure out which branch she was in to get the records."
Jacob scoffed at the idea while standing to his feet. He could already tell that plan wasn't going to work for John.
All eyes turned to him as he made his way to the double wooden doors.
Joseph was the first to question it. "Where are you going?"
There was no response as the soldier opened one of the doors and peaked his head out, looking for someone. John and Faith exchange questionable glances before returning to the strange behaving sibling.
"If you have something, please share with the rest of the class—"
Jacob whistled loudly, cutting off John. Still not paying attention to the group behind him, the soldier addressed one of the peggies in the foyer. "Yeah, I called you. Find Pratt and tell him to get his ass in here."
Shutting the door, he returned to the desk where Joseph stood, before offering an explanation. "Seeing as the records don't have the information, I'm pretty confident the topic would have come up in the sheriff's office. If anyone can shed some light, it would be her teammate."
Taking the wooden chair, he lifted it with one hand and brought it to the other end of the coffee table, blocking the glow of the fireplace.
"Right, demand it from your pet. Makes sense."
"Glad you agree, John. Though I'm sure you will just be happy to spend some time with him. Try not to be too excited when he gets here."
A murderous glare was sent his direction. "Fuck off. Last time I checked, it was you giving your subordinates pet names."
Jacob chuckled again, finding it amusing to get a rise from his brother. Walking back to his spot, he picked up the file and folded the cover back. Soon, one of the double doors creaked open and revealed a timid man who quietly shut the door behind him.
Seeing he held the attention of all the Seed siblings, Pratt gulped nervously and adverted his gaze to the ground, trying to show his submission.
What did I do? Am I being punished? I didn't do anything wrong though….
His thoughts were panicked but he tried to keep his composure, wondering why he was called into the meeting with the leaders of the cult.
"Y-you called, sir?" he questioned calmly despite his frantic thoughts and racing heart.
Jacob, who remained standing, regarded his subordinate before motioning to the wooden chair. "Let's have a little chat. Take a seat."
Swallowing his fear, Pratt made his way to the seat before sitting in what he felt should have been an electric chair. With hands in his lap, he allowed his fingers to grip the material of his pants to keep from shaking.
During the long weeks locked in Jacob's compound, Pratt had been subjected to torture until he was broken to becoming an obedient subservient. Of course, the suffering didn't end there for him.
Originally, he had intended to play possum; pretending to give in until someone came to rescue him. In truth, he was brainwashed, but when he was conscious and in control, he obeyed and played the part of servant. He had heard that Mason and Cameron Burke had gotten away during the night of the arrest. Even after the Marshal was captured, she had still managed to evade the cult to this day. It was that little strand of hope that he had clung to… until Jacob ruined it for him.
To display his 'new loyalty', Pratt had been forced in to reading a confession of his sins on television which was aired around the county. The soldier taunted him, explaining that he didn't want any of the officers to get the wrong idea that he was forced to join the cult. Therefore, the statement—the swearing-in to the Project's cause, was made public. No one would try to save him now…
Since then he had just been trying to make it through each day. Find his place in this new world that he found himself bound to. It was no secret that he missed his team and he knew Hudson and Whitehorse were taken to other regions. But in spite of that, he had hoped to see them again one day. He hoped they were still alive…
Even With his bluff failing, a small part of him couldn't find fault in himself. By giving in quickly, Jacob had grown bored and allowed him to skip the God-awful trials of his. Oh, he was so thankful for that too. Just the thought now, brought a feeling of relief to him.
There was no way he would have outgunned the other recruits… Perhaps that is why Jacob had spared him?
Even if that was the case, Pratt wasn't stupid. He heard the other members talking and occasionally, they would allow him into the conversation. It was his way of keeping up with what happened outside the compound between his little 'trips' with Jacob.
Avery was still causing problems, and there was a chance for him to become bait for her… But surely that meant that Jacob had then messed up his own plan… Afterall, his plot to deter a rescue effort worked against the plan to use him as bait. The idea had left him feeling bitterly amused but the knot in his stomach told him the hollow truth.
There was still a chance for Avery to fall for the trap.
After realization hit him, he knew that the hope he had been holding to until that moment needed to be extinguished. If the cult got Avery-No….
If Jacob got Avery… She was finished. They were all finished.
Eden's Gate was going to stop at nothing to get her. Especially when the Father preached of God's plan for her, which would reveal the outcome of the collapse.
It terrified him. The sermons, the possibility of it all being true. Hell, he had thought brainwashing was a myth and yet, it had so effortless been applied to him. It was all so much for Pratt and he struggled to make ends of the situation. All he did know was that he would keep his head down and be the good subordinate. He would keep up this image so that maybe Avery wouldn't come to rescue him. Maybe the world wouldn't come to an end.
It was a sacrifice on his end but if he was being honest, not all days were bad. Jacob had allowed him more freedom as the days passed, even providing his own room in the St. Francis Veteran Center. Occasionally, Pratt would make a stupid mistake which would result in a minor discipline. If he did as he was told, though, he would be alright. It was strange that he was becoming accustomed to living like this.
But that didn't make days like this any better.
"How well do you know the deputy?" Jacob asked, drawing the man's attention.
Pratt swallowed again, eyes flickering to the closest sibling, John. Were they referring to Hudson? He feared if he asked for clarification, they would think he was mocking them.
Deciding to test the waters, he started with Hudson's description, though fearing it was actually Avery they wanted to know about. "Um... Well, she was always a good cop. I have known her for three years now—"
"Not her. Mason." Jacob interrupted.
…Damnit…
Blinking, Pratt nodded in understanding before starting over, knowing not to push his luck. "After we lost Deputy Brian, Mason and a few others applied to the position. She had prior police experience which got her the job and she did pretty well. But she hasn't been with us very long."
He wasn't sure what they wanted to hear exactly and didn't want to say something they would take personally. 'Hey, she's great! Has you idiots chasing your own tails like morons!'
That wouldn't go over well. His nice cushion room and ventures out of the compound would be snatched from him, followed by some distressing disciplines.
"Prior experience," Joseph drawled out calmly, noting how Pratt refused to meet his gaze. He wasn't surprised, though as it was a usual reaction of new followers when they were faced with the Father. "Tell us about that."
What am I doing? Am I really telling the Project about my own teammate? Was this even alright?
Well… so far, the questions seemed innocent enough and he couldn't see how it could be used against her… Maybe he could offer them some truths to appease their appetite and just hope it was enough…
"When Whitehorse was interviewing the applicants, he had invited her in as more of a courtesy then to actually hire her. There was another guy who was more qualified and actually attended the academy… But," he paused, looking to his boss who watched on with an unreadable expression. Seeing he wasn't being stopped, he continued. "She must have been convincing because after the interview, Whitehorse introduced her as our teammate.
We were all surprised. Hudson wasn't pleased about it at first… The guy who was supposed to get the job was a pal from the academy, I guess. She wanted answers from the Sheriff, and he said Mason had valuable field experience the other guy lacked."
"Right… And what military branch did she serve in to get this experience?" Jacob questioned.
The tightness of his voice didn't escape Pratt and he knew it was a warning. Lie and I will know.
"… Air Force. Said she was a K9 handler… We were told not to ask her about it though."
"And why is that?"
Pratt paused while thinking of how to phrase his answer. He knew he needed to be cautious and pick his words carefully. "Some terrible accident, I think. It happened while she was deployed. She was injured and… something bad happened to her team… That's all I know."
The nervous deputy gripped his pants tighter, feeling his knuckles ache. He really hoped they believed him because he really didn't know what happened. But he knew that whatever happened in the past, no good came from it.
There it was, Jacob pondered. That was what they needed to get to the girl. Though, now his curiosity had peaked, and he wanted more answers. "Had she ever acted out when she worked with you? Any signs of trauma?"
Faith couldn't help but look questioningly to the oldest brother. She was aware that during his time of serving in the Army, he had left with many wounds and scars; PTSD being one of them. But she never seen him act out from it before… Nothing like she expected from the movies. When she had asked Joseph about it, he had explained that Jacob busied himself with what he knew how to do best; a distraction by training new members of the Project. That was why he was their lead recruiter. That was why he was the most violent of them all…
Pratt seemed to hesitate, thinking back on all his and Avery's past interactions. He wasn't sure what they were planning with this information and it seemed strange to him, but he knew he would have to provide some answer.
"W-when she first started, it took her a few weeks to lighten up around us. She was really uptight and occasionally cold. But I figured she was just adjusting to her new life. Outside of that, she seemed normal and never did anything to raise questions."
"Hmm…" Joseph nodded. "Because she wasn't from Montana. Do you know why she chose to move to Montana rather than go home?"
Pratt could feel his mouth getting dry and it was hard to swallow his fear. He was beginning to think he was supplying the ammo they needed to bring her down. "Doctors told her she needed to leave the city and go somewhere with less people… Safety concern."
"For whose safety?"
"… I'm not sure."
Joseph glanced over to Jacob who scowled but otherwise was unreadable.
This time it was John that had a question for the deputy. "Does she have any family issues that would make her want to choose Montana? Perhaps stepparent issues or domestic distress?"
Jacob knew what his brother was getting at. Did she have family trauma, abuse, or maltreatment? After all, that was what he specialized in exploiting.
But Pratt only shook his head. "Both parents are alive, and they get along great."
Well that plan went out the window.
There was a slight pause and Jacob looked to his brothers. "Do either of you have any more questions?"
For the first time that evening, Pratt risked a timid glance to the Father, taking in his appearance and calm demeanor. He was met with a piercing gaze through yellow lenses and he felt his heart jerked to a stop. Quickly, he looked down to his lap, praying that he would be able to leave soon.
Joseph found his fear amusing but knew the goal wasn't for his followers to fear him. Whether Staci Pratt was truly a follower at heart was yet to be determined but he wasn't far from it. There would be a time soon that he would need to sit down with the former deputy to rid him of his fear.
"No, I believe we are done with him."
Jacob looked to his subordinate who kept his gaze on his lap, awaiting for the final word. "You're dismissed."
Pratt didn't waste much time excusing himself from the room. Watching the man all but run out of the room, made Jacob amused. The event had proved to be useful though, and he was glad that the man didn't try to be disobedient or evasive with the questions. Usually, the soldier didn't mind distributing punishment but for the sake of just getting the information, he preferred the straight answers.
"So," John broke the silence. "I'll reach out to the Air Force lawyers tomorrow and get her information."
Jacob shook his head, taking a seat next to his brother. "Don't worry about it. I have a contact inside I can reach out to."
The youngest brother twisted in his seat to face the soldier. "Um-no. I think I can manage without your hovering—"
At the sight of Joseph raising a hand, everyone stopped talking.
Bringing his attention to Faith, the Father politely asked, "Can you give us a minute, dear."
Trying to hide the pout, Faith nodded and took her plate, leaving the siblings alone to talk.
Once the doors closed, Joseph walked over to sit down in Faith's seat. Both arms stretched across the back of the couch and he crossed one leg over the other. "You should let John do the research. It is his turn to sway her."
Ignoring John's smug smirk, Jacob explained his reasoning. "I'm not doubting his abilities to get it, but I can get the records faster. I guarantee they are classified files. And even though John can get them eventually, he will have to jump through a lot of hoops before then."
"You think they are classified because there wasn't any public documents about her assignment?" John clarified with a curious tilt of his head.
Jacob nodded.
"How long will it take for you to get them?"
"I wouldn't expect more than two days."
John met the Father's eyes and leaned his elbows on his knees. He knew Jacob had a point and to be honest, John really didn't want to waste time if he didn't need to. "I'm fine with him getting the files. Less headache for me… but…"
He looked down for a moment, trying to word his question. He wasn't sure if he was in his right to ask something of Joseph after his display at the cleansing. Part of him feared that his brother was still angry.
Then again, John was also angry. The junior deputy had really got under his skin with her causing all this damage in a week's time.
/./././. Falshback././././
When he saw her at the cleansing, stumbling from the water, looking more confused than scared, it awakened something in the pit of his stomach.
He wanted her to be afraid. He wanted to see her fear ignite in her eyes and see her body tremble. Where was her shame in causing the damage to his buildings and killing his followers. She was no hero. Just a sinner like the rest of them.
"Not this one," he motioned to one of his trusted members who was escorting her from the river. He regarded her for a moment, feeling the bubbling rage build up as he took in her appearance.
Standing before him, Avery Mason was soaked, causing her clothes to cling to her tone body. Her hair, which had been in a ponytail, was now falling around her in dark waves. But her eyes only held anxiety and uncertainty. No cold fear present…
Deciding to mess with her, he handed the bible to the follower and took a step closer to her.
The reaction was brief, but he had caught it. Avery had tensed up at his closer proximity and a fleeting glimpse of fear passed her eyes, but she had hid it from him as soon as it appeared. This only angered him more.
"This one is not clean." John's arms shot up, wrapping his fingers around her throat. In one quick motion, he placed a leg behind her heels and pushed her back, causing her to fall into her shallow water.
Just as her face disappeared beneath the surface, he caught sight of the delicious panic in her eyes.
Avery struggled beneath his grip but could only resist so much while bound. He made sure not to squeeze too tightly to cause damage, but his grip was still firm, enjoying the feeling of her racing pulse beneath the palm of his hand. Lifting her out of the water, she gasped for air, and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Aww, sshhh," he shushed, drinking in her dread. But it wasn't enough. He wanted more. He wanted her to be sorry for ever crossing him.
Stepping forward, he made a move to knock her off balance once again, hearing her breath hitch in her throat. But before he could follow through, his brother interrupted.
"You mock the cleansing, John…"
/./././././
His fingertips tingled at the remembrance of grabbing her throat. The racing pulse and pumping veins was like a melody hiding beneath her skin. It was something he wanted to feel it again, very badly.
John knew he was not a simple man. He had many emotional and physical scars; each one came with a different quirk. Although he hadn't meant to lose his self-control, he knew it was something that needed to be fed occasionally. Once these needs were fed, he could neatly tuck it away in the back of his mind and focus on being the good little brother. Normally he was very discrete with his… questionable actions but this woman had brough something dark out of him…. And he liked it.
The thing about his emotions-his need for sin- was that if he didn't find a way to appease it, then it would be harder to control. This is what was currently happening to the Baptist. The past couple days, after Avery's rescue, he kept imaging his next encounter with her. It was an itch lingering beneath his skin that he couldn't scratch. The longer time went, the more he couldn't ignore it.
This next time, he would follow the rules… but that didn't mean he couldn't bend them a bit…
"Go on," Joseph encouraged.
Bringing his gaze back up, John continued, hoping for the best but knowing straight to the point was the only strategy. "I want to bring her in. She is still out there causing damage to our supplies and now that Pastor Jerome has her, it will only get worse."
Joseph considered it for a few tense moments, mulling over the last events and weighing the odds of a repeat. He knew John wasn't intentionally trying to do harm to the Project. He just struggled with self-control when his emotions became too strong. Opening his mouth to reply, he was surprised to be cutoff.
"I know I messed up last time. But allow me to redeem myself. I can bring her to atonement."
The Father closed his eyes and smiled softly at the declaration.
"I know, brother," he said while opening his eyes and studying John. "I will allow you to do what you deem necessary to bring her to atonement. But do not forget yourself…"
He allowed the warning to hanging in the air between them for a few moments. Looking between both brothers, he continued.
"Do you plan to bring her in with just the knowledge you have now? Or are you going to wait for Jacob to get her files?"
John looked to his left at the redhead who had his head resting on the back of the couch and his eyes closed. He knew the soldier was awake but figured he was just tired. After all, it was getting late.
"I feel confident in by ability to get confessions… But I would like to have the files as a fall back."
"Give me a day." Jacob spoke, still with his eyes closed to the ceiling. "You can get what you can from her and then I'll stop by as soon as I get the report."
Turning his head to the right, he peaked open one eye with a mischievous smirk. "But if it takes me more than a day to get the papers, do you think this time you can contain her for 24 hours?"
John narrowed his eyes. "Jerome got lucky last time. It won't happen again."
Sitting across from them, the Father nodded his head. "Alright. I trust you two in this task."
After a while of different discussions, John bid them goodnight and called in for the evening. Faith had fallen asleep on the couch in the front living room, leaving Joseph and Jacob to finish their last glass of whiskey.
"I appreciate you helping John," Joseph murmured while eyeing his brother.
Jacob nodded. "I talked to him about his behavior. What you said got to him. I don't think he will be stepping out of line again anytime soon."
"Yes," Joseph agreed, though a frown pulled at his lips. "I was harsh with him. I know he struggles to stay the path, but he needs to remember to be an example."
"He hasn't had it the best, you know. When we were both gone, he had to fend for himself against some shitty people. He's a fighter and sometimes, he just needs to get it out of his system. It's a part of him now." Jacob explained. He knew of John's little secrets and his eventful strays from the path. Joseph was not aware of all the misadventures, but Jacob didn't bother enlightening him either. Those two didn't always see eye to eye which left Jacob to fill in his duties of older brother/referee.
"You know…" Joseph started while regarding the redhead. "You have surprised me."
This seemed to catch Jacob off guard, but he chuckled despite it.
"Oh yeah?" he asked while bringing the glass to his lips. "How so?"
Joseph did answer right away but looked at the last of his whiskey as he swirled it around. "You want her… but you haven't requested it."
The amusement died out for a moment, as Jacob took in his words before a humorless smirk curled his lips. Shaking his head, he didn't say anything and swallowed the rest of the whiskey.
Joseph waited for a response, watching as his brother set the empty glass on the table and crossed his arms.
"Nothing to say?... You know, she reminds me of you. Stubborn and a fighter," the Father teased.
Jacob sighed and let his ice blue eyes meet his brother's. Ignoring the last comment, he explained his reasoning. "I told you before I know our roles in this. I'm the last in the lineup."
"And you are telling me you don't want the opportunity sooner? Believe it or not, you aren't the only perceptive one in this family. I know you have interest in her, so why not ask for it?"
Jacob could feel his annoyance grow. He wasn't too pleased that Joseph was able to pick up on his little fascination with the girl. In all honesty he had expected to hide it better. Despite this, he knew his brother was right and not much got passed him. "What do you want me to say? You aren't going to take the opportunity away from John when he has barely started."
"That's not what I'm saying. Just that you haven't asked for the option prior to this."
"If John succeeds, then good…."
Joseph raised a brow, waiting for Jacob to continue. "But…"
"But," Jacob continued in a clipped tone. "If he doesn't succeed soon, then we shouldn't waste anymore time. Mason should have never stayed in Faith's region for as long as she did."
There was a pregnant pause as each retreated to their own thoughts. Joseph had been planning on taking a couple days off for meditation at his church. He needed to try to get clarification on the girl's purpose, though a part of him felt that God had already revealed all he would on the matter. Regardless, a couple days to himself may help view things from a clearer mindset.
Looking at the clock on the mantel, it read 12:52am. It was getting late, and his brother was already exhausted from a long week. Deciding not to push the subject further for the night, he nodded his head.
"Well," Joseph smiled. "If John is not able to bring her to her senses this time, we will need to discuss the next step… Including what you have planned for her…."
Not getting much of a response, Joseph's smile only grew. It wasn't very often that he had something he could hold over Jacob's head. He might find this to be amusing for a little while…
Deciding to turn in for the night, the Father dismissed himself, heading upstairs to his designated room.
Finally alone, Jacob laid across the couch while kicking off his boots. Tucking a hand behind his head, he pulled out his phone in his free hand and searched through his contacts until he found the name: Lt. Col. Ruiz.
Typing out his message, he hit send and rested the phone on his chest. Blue eyes examined the ceiling above him, following the lines of the wooden panels of the cabin to the wall. He was in the middle of feeling exhausted and restless, but his mind wouldn't shut off.
Joseph was right. He did want a chance at Avery. He was almost too eager to see how she would perform under his trials and wondered if she could outperform some of his hunters… Of course, that was just wishful thinking. She was talented and highly trained but that didn't mean she was better than his men. He had much more elite training than her and for a longer time. But the desire to spar with her was strong. He wanted to challenge her and see just how tough she really was…
Reaching his free hand to the folder on the coffee table, he retrieved the photo once more. She was an attractive girl but not considered gorgeous. She was shorter than most at 5' 3" but he knew that wasn't a bad thing. Smaller fighters were usually more agile and faster.
Remembering the night she arrested Joseph only reaffirmed his suspicion that she was not in a good place when the photo was taken. It looked like whatever happened on that 4-year assignment really took its toll on her. She looked exhausted.
Fast forward to the night she arrived at the church, and it was a difference. She had been alert with a healthier weight and no bags under her eyes. While the idiot marshal was barking at her to arrest the Father, she had been calculating the outcomes, trying to think through the danger she was in.
Yes, he was aware.
To the untrained eye, it would have seemed she was hesitating, probably out of fear. But the way her sea green eyes evaluated each one of them, clearly showed she was fully in control of her emotions. She was just trying to be smart about it. This was further confirmed when their gazes met, and he tossed a challenging smirk her direction—goading her into making a move…
And she had.
Glaring right back at him defiantly, she had arrested Joseph and left the Church.
Chuckling at the memory, Jacob commented "You're a spirited little thing…"
Not getting a reply from the photo, he set the picture back down and decided to try to get some sleep.
Before he could get comfortable, the vibration of his phone on his chest interrupted his thoughts. Picking the phone up, he opened up the message and a smile curled his lips.
Hope you guys enjoyed! I know it is a longer story than most that just get straight to the point, but I promise you its for a reason!