Ronsel was found later in the night by his family. Hap, Marlon, Florence, and other community members pushed the door open and entered the scene of the crucifixion. Ronsel hung bleeding from the crossbeam, the Black Messiah. Dennis curled up at his feet curled in a fetal position. Eyes wide awake but unmoving to persons around him. Hap and Marlon immediately set to levering Ronsel down. Florence’s hand goes to her mouth as she rushes over to her grandson. All she could do was hold the boy as he shivered. 

A river of blood pooled from Ronsel’s mouth as Hap lowered him to the floor. Dennis shaked and squeezed his eyes shut at the sight. Letting her grandson go, Florence wrapped Ronsel's nude body in her headscarf.  Marlon scooped up his brother’s legs. Florence touched his chest, howling in sorrow. She cupped her hand over his chest. 

Bomp Bomp Bomp.

Ronsel coughed and sputtered. His son bawled.

Meanwhile, Jamie was taken and thrown back in the McAllan bar. Take it with mercy or shame to take his son away.   Jamie was thrown onto his bed, wet, beaten and unconscious. Pappy and Orris Stokes glower above him. Stokes drifted out. Pappy frozen, stared at Jamie. He removed his son’s boots and threw a horse blanket over him. Jamie sputtered in his sleep. By the time Jamie awoke, he had only two things on his mind. To get to Ronsel was one. The other - Jamie pulled on his shoes - was just for his Pappy.

Driving rain and howling wind outside. Pappy slept peacefully, his breathing deep and steady. A lightning flash accompanied by thunder briefly illuminated the room. Several beats, then more thunder and lightning and we see Jamie as he stood by Pappy’s bedside. He stared at Pappy as he clinched the pillow in his hands. Then finally he shaked Pappy violently. Pappy jerks awake and squints up at Jamie.

“The hell are you doing, boy?” Pappy said.

“I wanted to make sure I looked you in the eye.” 

With that Jamie shoves the pillow onto Pappy’s face. Pappy thrashed and clawed. Jamie pressed harder. Then soon the thrashing weakens. Pappy’s leg kicks became twitches and his hands loose from Jamie’s. And then Pappy was still. Jamie  the pillow there for several more minutes. Then, slowly he pulled it from Pappy’s face. Pappy’s eyes were wide and his 

mouth agape. All Jamie could think of was his mate's blood curdling screams.

By morning, Laura knocked on the door. No answer. Perplexed, she pushed the door open and entered. A sharp gasp escaped her when she saw Pappy eyes wide open, lifeless and frozen in shock. Then she reached out, touched his skin but quickly recoiled from the cold. As she scanned the room further, she spotted a note pinned to the bedpost.

Dear Laura

I know you will find this letter. It is exactly what you think it is. They got Ronsel. I tried to stop  it. But, there were too many of them.  They made Dennis watch and he had to choose. I don't even know if he is alive. You have been a wonderful friend Laura. A beautiful aunt to my children and a wonderful mother to my nieces. Please don't miss me too much. I don't think I will ever be coming back here. If you can visit, you know where to find me. 

Your Brother-in-Law

Jamie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

His nightmare was always the same.  First he's in a tank wearing a helmet. Then he's in the back of a car with a burlap sack over my head. Surrounded by enemies and the stench of their hate was suffocating. The scar it left on his children, his son. The numb look that plagued his alpha's face when he thinks he is not looking. The nights he screamed. His lips moved and he could feel the strain. But nothing was coming out. Nothing. Jamie's tight grip wrapped around him only for both to breakaway to comfort the young screams from the other room. It has become a habit. A scar on his family that shall take many years to fade. 

But should their story end there? Silenced and defeated? Oppression, fear, deformity. It would take an extraordinary man to beat all that. After years of seeking help and learning the new way of life they have found peace in the storm.

A boy has grown into a man. He looked in the mirror that hung behind his childhood bedroom window. A slight sheen of sweat spotted his brow. He wiped the sacred skin with a sleeve before a gentle smile came to his lips. Taking a turn, he walked down the stairs. Annabelle looked up from her book and walked up to her brother. She paid no mind to the neat look of her brother and gave him a squeeze. Dennis returned the affection tenfold. 

“I see you are all ready to go.” Jamie, now much older, gazed at his son.

He takes a good long look at the boy. Barely twenty five years and is meant to fight in a war he had no part in. He thought wars were supposed to be a thing of the past. Things never changed. Nothing did. Wars still rage both abroad and in the streets at home.

“Don't try to be a hero. You hear firing, you run like hell.” Jamie said more like a promise than anything else.

Ronsel placed a hand on his mate's shoulder from behind. Jamie calmed. “Just come back. Alive.” Jamie concluded.

“I will Dad.” Dennis nodded.

Ronsel took a long look at his first. He gave him a good long hug. He finally understood what his mother felt all those years ago. To hold your son's heart in your hand. Hoping for it to still be there.

“I love you. All of you.” Dennis said. Slinging on his duffle bag, he gave one final hug to his sister before making his way down an old but familiar path. Ronsel didn't look back. It's bad luck to look back. Just like momma said.

As the cycle continues.