[Jo Gunning 05] Gunning for Evil by Renee Pawlish

Author:Renee Pawlish [Renee Pawlish]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Creative Cat Press
Published: 2023-09-11T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Claire bolted upright at the sound of her door opening.

She’d been asleep again without realizing it. That had been happening a lot lately, with her so hungry that she was weak, disoriented. She blinked, hard. The sole overhead light beat down on her, as it always did.

Brother Justice entered the room. He held a thermos and a sandwich, and Claire held back her excitement. Brother Marcus had brought her a bowl of oatmeal last night, and she didn’t think she’d get anything else to eat until tonight. Why the change?

Brother Justice wrinkled his nose at the odor permeating the room. She smelled it herself—it had only been getting worse. She longed for another sponge-bath, or a real shower.

“How are you doing today?” he asked.

She shrugged and lied. “I’m doing fine.”

He contemplated her for a moment. “How is your prayer time?”

The same, she thought. It had gone from repenting for whatever sins she had committed and looking inward, to just begging whatever might be listening for food.

“I understand my mistakes,” she said, optimism in her tone. “I’ll do what you ask.”

He stared at her, then handed her the thermos and the sandwich. Claire took them eagerly and wolfed down the sandwich in a few bites. She gulped some water, keeping at it until he reached out and took the thermos back.

“Slow down,” he said. “You’ll make yourself sick.”

He was right. The sandwich should have been welcome relief to her hunger pangs, but the food sat like a rock in her stomach. Claire looked toward the open door—not to run out, just hopeful.

“When can I go back to my room?”

“When the time is ready.” He stared at her. “This is for your own good. I have to know I can trust you.”

Her chin jutted out. “You can. I shouldn’t have been up at the buildings, and what I saw was an accident. I didn’t tell anyone.”

His tongue flicked out, like a snake’s, and he licked his lips. “Not even Britt?”

Jo shook her head. “I wanted to, but I didn’t.”

“Have you ever left your room at night?”

There it was, that question again. This time, she didn’t lie.

“Yes. Just once. I thought my parents might be outside the compound.” Her bottom lip trembled. “It was right after I got here, and I was lonely. But I never saw them. And I wouldn’t do that again. You all are my family now.”

He nodded thoughtfully, his gaze flickering with distrust. Then he held out his right hand and began to pray. Claire bowed her head, listening. Brother Justice was talking about the truth, about being prepared. When he finished, he took a step toward her. His face was soft, so she was surprised when he slapped her out of nowhere. She recoiled and gasped.

“Do you trust me?” he snarled.

“Yes.”

“You’ll do what I say?”

“Yes,” she repeated.

He studied her. “The time is near.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“And you’re ready?”

She nodded. “With what . . . I saw . . . will you train us? Brother Marcus and Brother Edward won’t say.

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