Sylous reached up and gently stroked Rose’s left cheek, his fingers running down the length of her chin and neckline. “If you fail God the whole world will be lost.”

Rose wanted to cry there in his arms. Wanted to beg for his forgiveness as the warmth of his touch flowed through her blood. She would rather die than lose the thing she craved most. Sylous’s communion. His loyalty. His love.

“Find him,” Sylous whispered.

Rose swallowed and nodded. “I will find him.”

“Gather the faithful. Press them. Search beyond the perimeter. Find him.”

“I will.”

“And?” Sylous said.

Rose inhaled his scent and let the fear of losing him sink deep into her bones. She would use it as her fuel.

“And I will kill him.”

AN EMERGENCY MEETING HAD BEEN CALLED AT dawn. Every member of Haven Valley occupied the creaking pews as bodies shifted nervously. Word of the missing boy was well known. Every home had been thoroughly searched the day before. The fear was palpable, and for good reason.

Evil threatened to crush Haven Valley. And yet no one suspected that I was complicit.

The rash that had taken to Evelyn’s body had spread to others. They were already calling it an outbreak. Colin and Rebecca had red blotches on their faces—the only members of the council thus far. But at least a dozen others were absently scratching at their arms and sides. Still, with the boy at large, the rash was of little concern. In fact, the boy’s disappearance was the cause of the rash, many were saying.

I sat in the pew, mind numbed by the madness of the role I’d played in the great reckoning facing us all. Eli was alive because of me. Haven Valley was under terrible threat because of me. I was a bundle of nerves, avoiding eye contact with anyone, thankful I was still expected to keep to myself in penance. Not even Alice approached me, despite news of her pregnancy. She likely hated me for endangering her unborn child.

If they only knew! Dear God, help me. Like the crest of a wave torn by a gale-force wind, my emotions were frayed and divided. What was I doing? Doubt raged through me.

But I was also still caught up in my interaction with Eli. Imagine living without fear for an hour. Then you could be like the brook. Wouldn’t that be something?

His way of being was peculiar, innocent, and terrifying. I felt the desire to both run to him and run away. I couldn’t decide what would be better.