Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(2)

“I swear. There’s no evil in me. Please.” Tears streamed down my face.

The man wiped one away with his thumb and straightened, studying the liquid. He stared at it and sniffed. “You’re lucky they didn’t taint you. It’s a miracle. I saved you just in time. You’ll be a good match for my Ian one day.”

“Match?” The question was out before I could stop it.

The man grinned. “Meant to be. Never see worldly girls who are free of evil. But you knew that fair was bad. Knew you should stay away. I had to protect you. Get my son a good wife, too.”

“I can’t get married. I’m not old enough.” The words came out in a croak. Some foreign fear made my muscles quake. This was wrong. A voice inside told me to run. To fight with everything I had.

The man chuckled. “Of course, you aren’t old enough.” The amusement fled his face. “But I wasn’t going to leave you with your devil family to be tainted and ruined. We’ll keep an eye on you here. You’ll stay pure.”

Pure. It didn’t make sense, not like that. I’d only heard it used when it came to water. Dad would check the stream to make sure it was clean enough for the horses and cattle to drink from. It couldn’t get stagnant—too full of dirt and algae. It had to keep moving. That meant nothing when it came to describing a human being.

The man picked up one of the water bottles and tossed it at me. “Drink that water.”

I said nothing, still frozen, but the urge to run was so strong.

“I said drink it. This is my family, and what I say goes.”

I pulled the blanket tighter around me, covering my mouth as if that might protect me. All I could think about was being poisoned—or worse. He’d given me drugs at the fair. I knew it. I wouldn’t let that happen again.

The man grabbed the bottle of water. “You will drink this, or you will pay the price.”

“Dad?” It was a girl’s voice. I could just make out a figure in the dark by the trees. They looked about my age. Had she been taken, too?

“Get back to your room, Everly. This isn’t your concern.”

She didn’t move.

I pleaded with my eyes. Then, I let the words fly. Maybe she would hear my truth. Maybe she would see. “Please, let me go home. Please.” I didn’t want to be here. Didn’t want this man’s crazed world to be real. I just wanted my mom and my dad and my room. I wanted to go where nothing could hurt me.

“Everly, go back to the house. Now,” the man barked.

The girl still didn’t move. “She didn’t do anything wrong. I can take her back to town and—”

“Ian!” the man bellowed.

“Yeah?”

I jolted at the new voice. It was younger than the man’s—much younger. A figure stepped into the light on the outside of the shed. He was older than me but still a boy. Maybe my brother Hayes’ age.

His face wasn’t twisted in rage the way his father’s was. It was almost…gentle. But something about it made my insides feel funny, a little sick. Like I might throw up. But there was nothing in there to empty.

“Take Everly to her room and make sure she stays there.”

The boy nodded and stalked towards the girl. She stiffened, but when he got close, she turned and ran for the house. The man watched as they went, so focused that I knew it was my only chance.

I launched myself from the mattress and ran for the door. Even though I was tall for my age, I was slender. I just needed to duck under his side. I tasted the fresh air and the scent of pine. A hand fisted in my t-shirt, yanking me back. Hard.

I slammed into the mattress as hands tightened around my throat. The man shook me, his face a mottled red. “I’m trying to save you! You will obey!”

Spittle landed on my face as my vision went dark around the edges. He shook me harder, and all I could think was that this was the end. There were so many things I wanted to do, and now, I wouldn’t get to do a single one. But most of all, I wanted to tell my family that I loved them. To make sure they knew.

Just as the darkness was about to claim me, the man released his hold on my throat. “I won’t let the evil take hold.” He stormed out, the door slamming in his wake. Even through the howling wind, I heard the lock clicking into place. Then, I was alone.

I shook violently against the flimsy, stained mattress. Every part of me trembled so viciously it rattled my bones. I was going to die here. And no one would ever know.

I shook harder as the rain started to fall. The roof of the shed was cracked in places. A spiderweb that I could see flashes of lightning through. Splashes of wetness hit my skin.

My teeth chattered violently, but I wasn’t any colder than I had been moments ago. Raindrops hit my lips. Water. I forced my mouth open, taking in all the liquid I could—water that couldn’t be poisoned because it came from the Heavens above.

I stared up at that fractured sky, my only salvation. The faintest glimmer of hope took root in my chest. I opened my mouth wider and prayed for home.





1





SHILOH





SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER

The sun lit the fields in a way that said it was showing off. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, just that dazzling sun. I pulled my flat-brim hat lower to shade my eyes as I scanned the pasture, looking for a telltale speckled coat.