After Theodore left the dining room, three cultists entered, carrying a plate of food in each hand. They set the table, and then returned with silverware, candles, three candelabras, and a box of matches.

The candles were white and new. Thaddeus aligned the candelabras and placed a candle into each holder. As William began to gain consciousness, Thaddeus lit the candles, and studied his captive.

William opened his eyes and tried to lift his hand to no avail. Thaddeus' eyes shifted as his lips curved down, and his brows began to furrow. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

Thaddeus said, "dear, sir, we found you in the swamp, and I am glad you're well enough to wake up!"

William scanned the room, his heart raced while his frown deepened as he looked for his family. He said, "where are my kids and wife?" He noticed the plate of food sitting in front of him. A steaming slab of meat, one large potato, and a dinner roll the size of his fist. Beside the plate sat a cup of tea, and water.

Thaddeus said, "please," he pointed to Theodore, "untie this man. I have no reason to fear him, and now that we know he is not a threat and of sound mind, we may break bread with him." Thaddeus reached for his cup and took a drink of water, and cleared his throat. He lifted his fork and knife and pierced the slab of meat.

He cut a small piece as he said, "my name is Thaddeus Grimshaw the Tenth, and I am the Voice of Syn. A subject of mine heard screams from the forest, and we found a mother fleeing from a bear. With her were two young children, and somehow, you were still at rest in your tent. I do not know where your family ran off to, but the bear had started to charge for your tent. We scared it off and brought you here to safety."

Theodore removed a small pocketknife from his gray robe and cut the ropes tied around William's arms and legs.

Thaddeus continued, "we intervened and provided a safe place for you to reside," Thaddeus stood up and towered over the table, he swept his hand across the boar's head, platter of grapes, apples, pears, slabs of meat, and a pitcher of wine, "I offer you this banquet to replenish your stores of energy, so that you may leave as soon as you are able."

William's mouth felt dry, and his tongue stuck to the bottom of his mouth. He said, "I was with my wife, son, and daughter. You mean to tell me that a bear chased them off, and I didn't hear any of it?" William's brows fell as his heart sank. Sweat beaded across his skin as goosebumps surfaced.

Thaddeus folded his arms and mirrored William's frown. He said, "unfortunately, we noticed a large gash at the back of your skull. We presume you had been struck or fell on a rock. You have been freed from your restraints, and you are welcome to leave. We are a kind people at the Church of Syn, and we only wish you well. I understand your doubt. I understand your concerns about your family. Last we knew, we saw them on the outskirts of the forest, lost, and cold. We tried to bring them here, but they fled deeper into the swamp."

William rubbed the back of his head and felt the gash Thaddeus mentioned. He stood up and the world wobbled as he approached the door. Suddenly everything turned sideways, and two cultists caught him as he fell to his side. The cultists walked him to his chair.

Thaddeus said, "sir, you have been with us for two days, and been fighting off a mighty fever. We do not know the severity of your illness, but I encourage you to eat well of our food, or at least drink the water provided. You are ill and not fit to foray into the swamp. I will not make you stay, but as you may have just learned, you cannot even walk to the door without collapsing."

William sat down. He counted the cultists surrounding him. Five, six, eight. Ten people staring at him. The hoods of their dark gray robes concealed their faces, and the robe itself draped to the floor. When the cultists walked, William couldn't see so much as their shoes. They bunched together in the dining room, even though it was small.

The cabin itself wasn't very large and it was a wonder how ten cultists, plus Thaddeus, could fit into such a small space. They watched him as he watched them. They were silent.

The air was heavy with the scent of mold and musk, and it was humid. William sat up in his chair and studied his plate of food and looked at his glass of water.

He said, "can you at least walk me to the kitchen? Please?" Two cultists crossed to his chair and escorted him to the kitchen, and once there, William filled a glass with water and drank.

He downed four cups of water before he felt his thirst had been quenched, but his throat still felt sore. His head ached, and his face felt hot. He wondered if he was running a fever. Once the water had settled in his stomach, he requested to use the bathroom, and the two cultists walked him to it.

William was escorted through a quaint dingy hall, decorated with paintings of people he had never seen. The odor of musk persisted. He assumed that this pervasive odor was everywhere. Once he arrived in the bathroom, he opened the door and stumbled in.

The bathroom was small and didn't have a shower or bathtub. Cracked white tiles made up the walls, and the ceiling was home to a colony of black mold. A vanity, marred with grime reflected the soft rays of the sunlight. A brown-stained toilet and a sink were to his left.

William sat and pushed his head into his palms. He thought of the camping trip and the last time he saw his family. The night they were abducted, he made s'mores with Daniel and Amy. He and Brenda told campfire stories. Horror stories about teachers giving too much homework. Though those memories were just made, he already missed them. He missed his wife and the way her burgundy hair swayed in the wind. His daughter and her chuckled laugh. His son, and his darling of a smile.

He thought of these things and more. It only made him feel worse.

His stomach dropped as he hoped they were safe and looking for him with the help of the police. He felt something twist in his stomach, and the urge to vomit tightened his throat. If these people abducted him, he knew that they probably abducted them, and who knows what has happened between then and now. 

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