16

“Absolutely not!” James protested. “No way in hell!”

Kailie let out an understanding sigh. “I know how you feel. I didn’t want it to come to this, either.”

Standing only ten feet away from the doors to the outside, the conversation steered in a direction none of them had prepared for. A part of each of them knew what had to be done, but now how it could be done, exactly. Kailie had figured a blitz attack would be an interesting start.

She had said that they each would take different directions in the cemetery. They knew Kana had wanted to finish off Joseph’s bloodline, so, he would begin with her. No question about that. The others would find a way to distract him, while she would attempt to snatch away the pendent, taking away his only physical power. Without it, the process of destroying him would come easily.

“And you think you are the one to pull this off?” Michael pointed out. His arms were crossed.

Kailie glared at him. “I know it sounds nuts, and I don’t blame you for disagreeing. This is it, though. We have a limited window of opportunity, here, and something has to be done!”

“You’re setting yourself up as bait!” James exclaimed. “Do you even realize what could happen?!”

Kailie nodded, sighing deeply. “I have given it a lot of thought. Ever since that son of a b***h killed my grandfather.”

Go at him in different angles. That’s all they had to do. Because she was what was left of Joseph’s blood, Kailie had to be the one to pull this off. Thinking out the plan was a lot easier than verbally explaining it. He goes toward her, he could kill her. She knew that. She saw an example. But innocent people, including her friends, didn’t deserve to die without a fight. Certainly not because of some decades-old mistake.

Michael stepped closer to her. “You’re sure?” He put his hand on Kailie’s shoulder.

She looked straight into his eyes. They were tired and frightened. He looked like he hadn’t had sleep in almost a week. She knew that feeling all too well. Kailie knew she never gave him a chance to talk to any family members. That was the one thing she truly regretted. In any other case, she wouldn’t have any right getting innocent people involved in a dire situation. But they were all handpicked; Kana didn’t kill them outright because of his fear toward them. Saving Stephen was an idea in motion, from the first time she saw the marks on his back.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“In that case,” he concluded. “I better fill this bottle up.” He grabbed a small wooden canteen from the kitchen and began filling it with holy water. They looked at him like he lost his mind. “What? It saved my life! It could save a few others!”

James shook his head, violently, his cheeks becoming shiny against the dim light. They had been best friends since high school. He had considered her his only real family, and he was a wonderful addition to her own.

“I won’t let you!” he screamed. His face was red.

As gently as she could, Kalie said, “It’s not up to you. I’ve made my decision. Don’t jump to conclusions. Another person’s life depends on this.”

James knew that, but it didn’t matter. She was sticking her neck out where it didn’t belong. She had told him to look at the alternatives, but he didn’t care. He loved her. She loved him as well. This wasn’t just for Stephen; it was for all of humanity. Kana had to be destroyed, and she had to be the one to do it.

When Kailie told him this, his sobs slowed down. They stared at each other for what felt like hours. His eyes were misty and his bottom lip trembled. Shaking his head, he knew she had won. She was always so bold and stubborn.

“So,” Miriam interrupted. They all turned to her. She kept rubbing her shoulders, but her rocking had ended shortly after Kailie told her plan. “He must be nearby, right? No reason to send a message to someone if they don’t have a plan to meet elsewhere.”

Kailie pointed toward her. She couldn’t have made a better point.

“Out near this very church,” Michael suggested.

If this was a family matter, he would want his mother’s spirit involved. Somewhere personal and powerful, only toward his way of thinking. Of course. Where this whole catastrophe began.

“No,” Kailie said. “He’s in Bethesda Cemetery.”

#

Reviews

[Yash]

i have not read the previous chapters. I like the fact that there is some some anticipation before the fight.