Chapter One
The sound of Lilith’s skull cracking against the wood holds me frozen in place. Her body falls limp in between the pews and my heart stops.No, no, no. I can’t lose her.
I push through the rubble as the third and final bomb goes off. The large stone crucifix shakes from the blow, before coming unhinged from its hooks above the altar. It crashes down against the wooden floor, sending pieces of concrete scattering across the church. I freeze in place as I watch it slice into the altar boys. The two stare at one another with glassy eyes as their blood begins to leak through the white cloth. It drenches through the fabric, staining the material with violence. The sight in front of me portrays itself as a physical representation of the truth behind The Garden. Something that can take the innocence in you, whether you're filled to the brim of it or clinging on to the last strand, and drain it from you in the most lethal way possible. All while using Christianity as a weapon.
Almost as though the demise of each boy is in sync, they collapse to the ground. I quickly force myself back into control and move my body in the direction Lilith was standing. As I finally make my way to the pew she was at, my heart stops as my eyes scan the area for her body. A lump forms in my throat when I see my beautiful little sinner, crumpled in between the wooden seats, with blood dripping down her forehead. The sight is eerily similar to the thorn covered Jesus who had just met his demise on the altar.
“Lilith?” Her name escapes my lips before I can even process what I’m saying. “Stay with me baby, your angel has you.”
Her limp body is completely dead weight when I hoist her into my arms. I watch as her chest rises and falls at an alarmingly slow pace.
Please baby, I’m so sorryI think to myself as I push our way through the lane. Psalms and Hymnals are aimlessly strewnacross the ground, some of the pages beginning to catch fire as falling embers ignite them.
“Fuck!” I curse out, when we come to the edge of the seats. I was in complete tunnel vision with Lilith and I hadn't noticed that the path to the entrance had become a maddening scene. Women, dressed identical to Lilith with their red dresses, are crowded around someone on the ground. Their cries echo through what's left of the church.
“You monster!” One of them shouts as they spin on their heels to face me. “You killed our savior!” Her next scream comes out raw and desperate, the sound chilling me to my bones. I push past her and enter into the crowd. There in the middle is Apollyon, bits of wood spiking through his chest. A single line of blood drains from his ear, staining the collar of his suit.
My chest tightens as I stare at him, and my breaths become shallow. The edges of my vision begin to blacken and I cling to Lilith with everything I have.
Kameron- Age fourteen
“All guardianship rights will be handed over to Apollyon Huang as of today.” The judge lays her hammer down and stands, gifting me with a small smile full of pity. My soft hands shake in my lap as I sit next to Apollyon’s lawyers. My parents had gone to church with him throughout their entire lives, and knowing he wasn’t in a position to have kids but deeply wanted them, they left me in his hands.
He turns around from his seat in front of me and gives me a smile. “So it’s all set then Kameron, we’ll grab your things from the group home tomorrow. Tonight let's get some rest.”
I give him a small nod and stand. I haven’t spoken since my parents death, nothing else has been left in my control. I lost everything. I lost my mother and the way she would still kiss me goodnight even though I was getting older. I lost my fatherand our Saturday mornings spent at the baseball field. My home, my school, my friends, my faith… all of it was gone.
Once we’re outside Apollyon opens the car door for me. I give him a smile, hoping it'll be enough to express how thankful I am to not have to go back to the home. I buckle myself into the passenger seat as Apollyon walks around the front and opens the door to the driver's side, the smile still on his face. All of that changes the moment his door shuts, closing us off from the world outside
“You stupid little shit,” the words spew out of his mouth as spit lands onto me. Before I can comprehend a response he continues on. “They would beat you and rape you in that filthy fucking barn they call a home. You will show how grateful you are for me, and you will not disrespect me again.” His palm lands against my cheek and the pain immediately registers as my head flings to the side. “You will respond when I speak to you, is that understood?”
I nod rapidly as I turn back to him with my eyes wide. He slaps me once again, causing me to bite onto my tongue. The copper taste of my blood fills my mouth. “I said, do you understand boy?”
“Yes sir.”
My eyes peel open and the world slowly comes back into view, although blurry, I’m able to make out the blue of the sky above. Calloused hands grasp desperately at my collar as I try to blink my way back into focus.
“Kameron!” the owner of the hands yells out, “Please get up!”
The realization of where I am hits me and all I can think about isher. “Lilith!” I scream out, scrambling to my feet, forcing the stranger to release me. My eyes dart around with desperation,searching for my black haired sinner.Where are you?! Where did you go?
My heartbeat drowns out the screams around me as people rush out of the burning building. Many scatter about the courtyards covered in ash and various wounds. I scan each group praying to come across my little sinner, time and time again coming up empty handed.
“I already got her out!” The stranger yells at me. I spin around to face him, deja vu flooding my system.
“Where is she?” I frantically respond before I can waste even a moment pondering how I know this man. He reaches out towards me, and without having a better option, I grab his hand as he pulls me further and further from the building.
We get halfway through the yard before I tighten my grip on his hand and yank him to me. “Please, where is she?” My voice comes out hoarse, and I finally notice how charred my throat feels. I have no idea how long I was blacked out for, but the physical pain is nothing compared to the fear gripping my heart.
“She’s on the other side of the west gates,” the man says calmly. His dark brown eyes connect with mine, pleading with me to believe him. “We need to go, Kameron.”
The moment my name leaves his lips, the sound of sirens begins to mix with the screams of the patients. The cacophony sends ice through my veins, the knowledge that if I’m caught there's a good chance I will never be able to have my little sinner. I give the man one last glance over before nodding, his face fills with relief as he yanks on my hand once more. I allow him to continue to lead me to Lilith, sending a silent prayer to a man I don't believe in that he can be trusted.
By the time we reach the west gates, my lungs are on fire. I must have been out for at least a few minutes to be feeling the burn the way I am. Once the first cough makes its way out of my mouth I’m unable to stop. The burning intensifies as I fall to myknees, dry heaving in between coughs. The stranger rushes back over to me, gripping me underneath each of my arms.
He pulls with as much strength as he can muster, but my weight is too much for him, keeping me held down to the ground. “We’re almost there, come on!” He yells, attempting to drag me towards the metal gates. I push my feet against the dirt, internally begging myself to find the strength to stand.For Lilith,I think to myself as I do my best to help drag my body out of the exit.
My pulse palpitates beneath my skin as I scan the area for her. I turn around to begin screaming at the man, but before both feet are on the ground a large black van aggressively pulls up next to us, four men all dressed in black jumping out. The back door swings open while they attempt to corral me in. “Let me go!” I scream.
