“Carter, we see death all the time. No need to apologize,” Jules casually remarks, putting on her hazmat suit.
“I know, but shit, Jules… no one should have to see this. It’s fucked up,” he says.
Carter has always been very protective of me and Jules. It slightly annoys me that he thinks we are some damsels in distress and can’t handle the jobs we chose to do.
“It is what it is. I’m going to grab all my gear,” I tell them both and head out front where I parked.
All the women are outside their houses, standing behind the caution tape—nosy little creeps.
I walk past the caution tape to my car. I open my trunk and start putting on my gear.
My necklace begins to beat under my shirt.
“Danika.”
I jump, accidentally hitting my head on my car’s trunk. The sharp impact reverberated through my skull, sending me a brief jolt of surprise.
“Ow!” I rub the top of my head and then turn around.
A woman with short, tousled, auburn hair stands before me, her lips curling into a faint, almost fragile smile. A torrent of thoughts race through my mind as I stare at her, drowning me in curiosity and uncertainty. I would recognize those eyes anywhere...
One of her eyes is vibrant green, the other rich, warm brown—they shift between my own as if searching for a connection. Her complexion gleams with an otherworldly radiance, untouched by time as if she exists only in the photo I have of her from 31 years ago, where aging holds no sway.
She is beautiful.
“It’s me, Danika.”
What in the actual fuck am I seeing right now?
This isn’t real.
I look around and catch Jules’ gaze from a distance. She starts to walk over to me.
“Mom?” I call out, my voice tinged with confusion and anger. My brow furrows as I study her, the uncertainty evident in my wide, searching eyes. I lean closer, feeling a strange sense of disbelief wash over me. Tentatively, I extend my hand, fingertips brushing against her shoulder to confirm her presence with a simple touch.
Yup, the bitch is real.
She nods her head up and down, tears brimming her eyes. She reaches out to touch me, but I take a step back.
“That’s fair,” she says.
“That’s fair? That’s fucking fair? I should punch you in your throat! Are you fucking kidding me? Do you live here?!” Anger engulfs me and I can feel my blood start to boil.
Jules stands by my side now. “Holy…” her voice trails off as she realizes who is standing in front of me.
Neither of us has ever met my mother. But I have one photograph of her still, which sits in the guest bedroom, inside a dresser drawer. She looks exactly the same as she did 31 years ago.
“I’ve lived here all your life. I’m… I’m the leader here…” she says proudly, as if this cult is something to be proud you left your family for.
As she speaks, a woman strolls past, a tender smile gracing her lips as she clutches her young daughter’s hand while an umbrella hangs over them. With a soft reverence, she acknowledges my mother, the leader, her voice ringing with sincerity as she exclaims, “May she shower us with her glory, Laney.”
“Laney? Shower us with glory?” I laugh coldly. “What the hell is going on!”
Carter notices Jules and me with this stranger, and he approaches us.
“I have so much I want to tell you… so much you need to know. I’ve always loved you, Danika.”
“It’s Dani,” I say sharply, interrupting her.
