Start the song. It's Lead Me Home by Jamie N Commons.

The Duns were frantic as their mother whispered orders to them, things that no one else could hear. "Joshua, put Batibat in your backpack. She'll need her when she wakes up. No, Ashley! Leave the teeth. Jordan, we don't have time for you to eat that. Come on."

Josh zipped his backpack before hurrying down the stairs to get the cups. His eyes burned with tears, but this was how it was supposed to be. It was how this was meant to end all along. He set five cups down on the counter before running back upstairs. Abigail was still unconscious on his bed, soaked to the bone with goat's blood.

"Who came to talk to him?" Jordan asked Josh as he pulled his shoes on.

"I don't know," Josh replied distractedly. "Get your knife, please. You're taking forever."

Their mother pulled one of Josh's hoodies out of the closet and tossed it to him. He caught it, pulling it on quickly. She tossed another to Jordan, who set it down on the bed beside himself and continuing to tie his shoes.

"It was the police," their mother said quietly as she used one of Josh's shirts to wipe blood away from Abigail's face. Her children all looked up at her slowly. "They asked if they could come search the community for proof that this is where the missing people go. They said they'll have a warrant by morning. Your father decided we won't be here in the morning."

Ash set her backpack down, looking over at her mother as tears filled her eyes. "He's killing us to save himself."

"None of you are dying," their mother assured them.

"What? But Dad said-" Josh began shakily.

His mother shushed him softly. "They're going to give us all wine. Not much, but it will have enough cyanide to kill us. Every member of the community will get one, children included. When he calls for everyone to drink, none of you will do it. Do you understand that?" Her voice was shaking as tears filled her eyes.

"But Mom-" Jordan whimpered out.

She shook her head, pulling her younger son into a hug. "The poison will kill them, and then we can run."

"And go where?" Ash demanded.

"I know a place. Just....I need you all to trust me. Can you do that for me?" Their mother released Jordan to look at each of her children in turn.

"Yes, ma'am," they all replied quietly.

When Josh had daydreamed about leaving this place, he'd expected to feel happy. That wasn't the case though. All he felt was petrified. Everything he'd ever known was here, but he didn't have a choice. It was either run or die.

"The code to the gate is 20-11-15," he whispered. All eyes went to him, surprised. "Dallon told me when I asked him how to get Tyler and Ashley out. 20-11-15. Remember that in case I can't be there to do it."

"20-11-15," Jordan repeated quietly. "Okay."

No one bothered to argue or reassure Josh that he would, in fact, be there at the gate. There were no guarantees here. They all needed to accept that not all of them might make it out. That was the reality they lived in.

"Ready?" Mrs. Dun asked them quietly.

They all nodded. Josh scooped Abigail up in his arms again. He was already drenched in blood anyways. Jordan took Ash's hand as they hurried down the stairs. Josh followed quickly behind with their mother turning off lights and picking up baby pictures as she went.

"Cups are on the counter," Josh told Jordan as they passed the kitchen.

"Got it!" Jordan replied breathlessly as he went and fetched them.

Ash held the door open for Josh and Abigail, smiling at him nervously as he passed. He tried as best as he could to smile back.

"Thank you," he told her quietly. They both knew he was thanking her for more than just holding the door open.

She nodded. "Anytime."

The calm state of the community was eerie given what they were all about to do. Everyone was chatting quietly amongst themselves while teenage boys walked around filling cups with wine. Parents were allowing sippycups and bottles to be filled as well.

"Ashley!" A voice called.

Ash looked over her shoulder as a small woman holding a bundle of blankets ran to her. She watched the woman in confusion as she approached before the bundle was being thrust into her arms.

"The prophet said the children leave the world with the people who brought them into it. I didn't bring her here. You did. She has to go with you," the woman said breathlessly.

Josh watched his sister's expression turn to one of complete and utter terror. "No," she whimpered out as tears formed in her eyes. She turned the bundle of blankets around to reveal the sleeping face of a child who looked just like her.

"Thank you," Josh told the woman, prompting her to nod and run back into the group of people.

"I don't even know her name," Ash whispered, not seeming to realise she was crying as she held the toddler closer.

Josh guided his sister down the stairs, each of them holding a sleeping little girl who should've never been in this place. Jordan trailed behind them, holding the cups. Their mother closed the door behind them before moving to the front of the group and leading them into the crowd. Jordan was quiet as he allowed their cups to be filled, handing them off to his mother until she held two and he held three.

Their father stood upon the elders' platform, watching them all sadly. Josh avoided his gaze. After years of doing exactly what his father said right when he was told to do it, his mother was taking charge. That made Josh a lot less scared than he should be, although he was still horrified.

"Brothers and sisters!" The prophet's voice called out. "Today is the day that we all return home!"

The candles flickered in the wind as The Family cheered, making Josh's anxiety levels rise. The shadows around them seemed to be dancing, creeping closer. Josh used to believe that shadows were just Satan's way of checking in on his followers. He used to find comfort in them, but now he wasn't comforted at all. It felt as though Satan himself was daring Josh to run, warning him of the consequences.

"Everyone, please be seated. Relax. This is a celebration!" Josh's father called excitedly.

Obediently, the audience sat down on the grass. Josh kept his little sister close even as Jordan passed the cups down so it would look like they were going to drink. Josh looked around at he crowd. He'd grown up around these people, and now he would watch every single one of them die.

His eyes met those of the girl who had told him about Ashley being in the Sanctuary. Her eyes darted away quickly, and he knew she was aware of what he'd had to do after that. Just like him, she felt the weight of what she'd done. She was human too. She was just another person who had been brainwashed by people like Josh's father.

"Those of you who wish to flee, you may. Just know that your salvation will leave with you as soon as you exit that gate," Josh's father told them all.

Boos and angry shouts echoed through the crowd when one man ran, pulling a young child behind him. Josh remained silent. That man was brave to run, especially when he wouldn't actually be able to get out without the combination to the lock.

Josh looked around the crowd again, meeting Pete's eyes. They were filled with tears, but his face was hard. He wasn't allowing anyone to know that he was doubting, just like always. Patrick's head was rested against his shoulder, and his shoulders were shaking with sobs.

"Run," Josh mouthed.

Pete shook his head solemnly. He pointed down at the ground before mouthing, "Home."

"Don't drink," Josh whispered back, holding his cup up slightly.

He watched his best friend hesitate for a second before nodding. He turned his head and whispered something to Patrick, who nodded. His dark eyes shot back to Josh.

"I love you," he mouthed to the younger boy.

Josh smiled sadly as tears filled his own eyes. "You too," he whispered.

"What?" Ash asked quietly, still not taking her eyes off of the tiny girl sleeping in her lap.

"I love you," he told her. He looked to Jordan and his mother. "I love all of you."

Josh's mother sat forward and kissed his forehead softly. "I love you too. Always and forever."

Ash rested her head on his shoulder while Jordan brushed Abigail's blood-soaked bangs off of her forehead. They didn't reply, but Josh knew they loved him too. Everything would be okay, one way or another.

"Tyler told me to tell you that he loves you, and he's praying for you," Ash whispered. "He said to give you this." She lifted her head and pulled his face down, kissing his forehead.

A feeling of warmth washed over Josh. Things always worked out when Tyler prayed for him. Suddenly, he didn't feel alone. He didn't feel as scared. People loved him inside and outside of this fence. He was going to survive both.

"Now, brothers and sisters, Satan opens his arms to you. Drink, and we shall be with him again!" Josh's father shouted.

All around Josh, people robotically moved the cups up to their mouths; some lifted them to their babies' mouths. Sobs broke out across the community. Josh watched Pete, who didn't move. His eyes then moved up to the platform, where all of the elders were downing their drinks. His father drank deeply from his own.

Ash pulled her daughter protectively against her chest. Josh did the same with Abigail. Jordan buried his face against his mother's shoulder. She held him as he sobbed.

"I love you," Josh whispered into Abigail's ear, well aware that she couldn't hear him. "You're safe."

As soon as bodies began to slump, Josh's mother was pulling them up. They ran after her, ignoring the angered shout from their father, whose teeth were stained with blood. Josh saw Pete and Patrick run in the opposite direction. They were safe.

The community was empty and the sanctuary was silent, but screaming could be heard coming from the centre of the community. Josh sobbed as he ran, hearing everyone he'd ever known choking on their own blood behind him. He looked back only once, seeing the girl from before laying still on the ground. Her eyes were still open, staring at nothing. She was gone.

Josh handed Abigail to Jordan as he put the combination into the lock with shaking hands. Tears blurred his vision, making the numbers hard to read. Ash's daughter began to cry as he yanked the lock. It didn't budge.

"Fuck, please. Please, please open," he sobbed out as he did it again. His hands were shaking too hard, making him miss the last number every time.

"20-11-15," Jordan said quietly.

Josh looked over his shoulder at his little brother. He nodded, holding his hands out for Abigail. Jordan handed her over before going over to the lock. He twisted in the combination before yanking down on the lock. It clicked open.

"Oh, thank God," their mother whispered. "Follow me. Come on now. It's okay."

It was too dark to see very well, causing them to stumble occasionally as they hurried through the forest. Ash's baby continued to cry and beg for her mother, but they had to keep going. She tried to speak softly to the child as she ran, but it was no use.

"Bubba?" A tired voice asked.

Josh nearly stopped running. "It's okay, Abigail. We're safe. You're okay."

"Who's crying?" She asked groggily.

"It's Ash's baby. We have to keep going, okay? Just rest," his voice was trembling and his breath was laboured from running. They were staying within the forest, but following the road.

To his surprise, Abigail began to hum quietly. After a moment or two, the toddler quieted down, listening to Abigail. She continued to hum until she fell asleep. The toddler fell asleep not long after.

They'd been running for ten minutes straight when Mrs. Dun stopped in front of a house. She was gasping for breath, but led her children up the sidewalk anyways.

"Where are we?" Jordan asked fearfully as she knocked on the door. "Who lives here?"

The door opened after a moment to reveal an old woman whose eyes widened when she saw the group of exhausted and bloody people before her. As soon as Josh saw her, he knew who she was. With her dark eyes and her thin lips, she looked exactly like their mother.

"Mom?" Mrs. Dun asked quietly, her voice breaking.

The woman's eyes widened and filled with tears. "Laura?" Their mother nodded and the woman pulled her inside, hugging her tightly. "You're alive. You're...and are they...?" She pointed to Josh and his siblings.

"These are my kids," their mother said quietly. "We don't.... We had to run. They were going to have to.... We wouldn't have...."

"Come inside, dear. It's freezing out here. It looks like you all could use a nice warm shower and some warm food. Come on." The old woman said softly. She looked to Josh. "How old are you?"

"Sixteen," he whispered, keeping his eyes on his shoes.

"Well, I've got sixteen years of being a grandma to make up for then. Come on in. I'll make us all some soup." The old woman held the door open for them all as they stepped inside.

For the first time in Josh's life, he wasn't afraid of what The Family was going to do to him. He wasn't trapped inside of a fence like a dog. Just this once, he felt like maybe he could do this. Maybe he could be okay for a while. Fear still pulsed through him with every rush of blood from his heart, but maybe he wouldn't always have to feel like this. Maybe things were going to change.