Wait to start the song!

"So you just left?" Pete asked, bringing the axe down hard. The log split in half easily.

"What was I supposed to do? Almost everyone in there wanted me to die!" Josh exclaimed from where he sat in the back of an old wooden wagon.

Pete sighed, setting down his axe. "I'm glad I never had to go to school outside the community. Outsiders don't understand us. All of them think we're monsters or something."

"Do you ever think that maybe we are monsters?" Josh asked quietly, pulling his knees up to his chest.

"Why? Because our god is different?" Pete asked defensively. Josh shrugged. "Josh, Satan fell from heaven to defend our ability to make decisions for ourselves. Their god wanted to plan everything out and pretend they got to make choices. Satan didn't want that for us. He saved us."

Josh sighed. "I know, but this religion...it's so violent. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"Violence is a part of nature, not just Satanism. Humans are animals too. Our instincts are still a lot like theirs. Like, if I'm hungry, I eat. If I'm thirsty, I drink. If I'm horny, I find my husband. If I want a fight, I find one. We're animals. This is all normal." Pete chuckled. "Go home, Josh. Go talk to your wife, grow a pair, and take her innocence. She'll heal in time and then you'll be closer than ever."

"Pete, can I ask you a question?" Josh asked quietly.

"Sure," Pete replied.

Josh cleared his throat. "I, uh, I took Ashley out of the community yesterday to meet with Dallon, and-"

"You went to see Dallon? The Dallon who was excommunicated and got his name banned from ever being used within The Family?" Pete demanded in a low hiss, climbing into the back of the wagon. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

This wasn't a good idea and Josh already regretted telling Pete. His word vomit hadn't stopped since he'd talked to Tyler. It was like as soon as he'd tasted what it was like to speak freely, he couldn't get enough.

"I can't take Ashley's virginity by force because she's already willing to give it to me. I thought he could help," Josh told him.

Pete groaned. "Of course he can't! His wife was the same way. He should've gotten rid of her, but he couldn't. Instead, he ran. He's a disgrace to The Family."

That hurt Josh more than he was expecting. Here he was in Dallon's shoes, and for the first time, he knew he couldn't get out of them. He was trapped. He had two choices: to hurt Ashley or to run. Neither option was something he was emotionally prepared for. Pete was watching him now, though, and he knew that Josh was doubting their beliefs. That was dangerous.

"Look, man. Pray on it. Satan will help you figure out where to go from here," Pete told him. "I won't tell anyone what you did, but don't do it again. You're putting yourself and your wife in danger. Be careful."

Josh nodded. Pete was right. He just needed to think this through and find some guidance. Everyone doubted their religion at least once in their lives. All he needed was a reminder of why The Family valued it so much.

-----

Start the song. It's Circles Out of Salt by Snow Ghosts.

Ashley was still asleep when Josh went into his room. He was glad. It would scare her if she saw what he was going to do. In his hands was a small bowl, filled nearly to the rim with goat's blood. It was still warm, which was good. He set the bowl down on the wooden floor and sat down.

"Here we go," he whispered.

The blood was warm and thick as he scooped it out with his fingers. He drew the invocation symbol on the floor in blood, an upside down five-pointed star with a ring around it. He then pulled his sleeves up, drawing the complicated Satanic cross as best as he could onto each forearm. The blood cooled quickly on his skin, already beginning to dry there.

He closed his eyes as he spoke, muttering under his breath so as not to disturb Ashley. "I'm doubting, and it scares me. The Family has taken good care of me for all of my life, but something is still wrong. I can't hurt my wife. I hate that Tyler is in danger for no reason and I don't know how to protect him. I just need some kind of sign that I'm in the right place to fix things."

"Josh?" Ashley's voice asked groggily.

He opened his eyes and looked over at her. She was watching him tiredly, blinking sleep from her eyes. Today, she was wearing Josh's clothes, the black a shocking contrast from her usual white dresses.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Praying," Josh replied quietly.

Ashley nodded, frowning slightly. "Is everything okay?"

No, everything was not okay. Chaos was swallowing Josh whole, and unlike The Family, Josh couldn't find the benefit in that. All he could see was a need to find his way out of the community and out of this cult. He was terrified.

"I'm okay," Josh told her.

She didn't need to know that her only source of protection was scared shitless.

Ashley watched him for a second before climbing out of bed. Her legs wobbled slightly as she walked across the room before sitting down beside him. She looked down at the symbol on the floor as she took his hand, interlocking their fingers despite the blood coating his. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"What are you doing?" He asked her.

"You can keep praying. I just don't want you to feel like you're alone when you aren't." Ashley replied distantly.

"What do you mean?" Josh asked.

There was no reply. He looked down at Ashley, but she'd fallen asleep against his shoulder. The sedatives he'd given her were too strong. He looked down at his stomach when it growled. He was forbidden from eating any meal apart from dinner. Knowing his parents, they'd probably cut his portions for that too. He was going to be short on food and blood this week, so he'd have to be very careful.

He looked back to the symbol on the ground. "Protect us," he whispered, hoping his god could hear. "Protect Ashley, Tyler, and me. Don't let them hurt us."

Josh looked up when his door opened. He must've forgotten to lock it when he came home. His father came in, looking unsure. He looked down at Josh's bloodwork and his wife's clothing.

"What's she wearing?" His father asked in a low voice.

Ashley's eyes fluttered open drowsily, but Josh wished she'd stay asleep. "It's cold, Dad. She was shivering so-"

"She hasn't earned the privilege of wearing black. When her innocence is gone, she can dress like she belongs to this family. Only then. Do you understand me?" His father demanded harshly, making Ashley shrink against Josh's side.

Josh looked down, knowing he'd shamed his father. He wasn't worthy of eye contact. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry."

"You better apologize to the Lord before you wrap up that prayer, Joshua. You've disgraced him enough recently." His father's voice was predatory and acidic, making Josh's empty stomach hurt.

"Yes, sir."

His father hesitated before saying, "And while you don't deserve it, there's something waiting for you in the basement when you've finished. Mathias brought you something that apparently belongs to you."

Josh's heart stopped. Mathias had taken Tyler. The amulet hadn't stopped him from being taken. It had just given Mathias a return address. He nodded slowly.

"Yes, sir."

"Is this why you haven't taken your wife yet? You need more than one spouse to own?" His father's voice was softer, like he felt guilty.

Josh's anxiety had grown so much that he could taste blood, his stomach twisting itself into painful knots. He didn't answer. He couldn't. Tyler didn't actually belong to him. He was just trying to keep him from becoming a sacrifice.

"Joshua, that's common in The Family," his father assured him. "You can take as many spouses as you need. Your mother and I just wish you'd told us that we hadn't given you enough."

Unsure of what else to say, Josh replied, "Sorry, sir."

His father nodded. He sighed. "You may have your eating privileges back, but I still expect you to bleed out your sins. Is that understood?"

Relief filled Josh. His stomach was so empty that it ached. "Yes, sir. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now finish up your prayer and come get that boy from the basement. He's getting blood all over the carpet," Josh's father said before leaving the room. He closed the door behind himself.

Josh's heart was hammering in his chest. They'd hurt him. They'd hurt Tyler and Josh hadn't protected him. He hadn't realised he was hyperventilating until Ashley began to soothe him.

"Hey, breathe. It's okay. He's safe now. If they think he's a potential spouse for you, they won't kill him. Mathias will be punished for hurting him," Ashley said softly. "Just close your prayer, and we can go help him. I'm going to change, and then I'll go with you."

Josh nodded, looking back down at the pentagram with wide eyes. He tried to catch his breath before closing them once again. "Protect him," he whispered desperately. "Don't let them kill him. Help me keep him safe. Help me know what to do. Please."

He reached forward and smeared the blood of the pentacle, closing the line of communication. His hands were shaking and his mouth was dry. He now knew that there was only one way to protect Tyler from The Family: He'd have to marry him too.