Chapter 96: Surprise!

Victoria’s POV

I finally got the call that they have Gracie and are heading this way. Good, we need to get this done, and quickly. I made sure that he held the cloth over Gracie’s nose and mouth for a longer time this time around. Evie had woke up earlier than we thought she would. It helped to mess the whole night up for us. Her struggling made us late with getting her dealt with. We should never have had to struggle to hold her down, and then that wolf drove us off my property.

I knew that we had scared the hell out of Evie. I saw it all over her face when she first saw me yesterday. She never came back to her old house, and we saw that it had been cleared out, and was now for sale. I kind of wanted her to come along tonight, to finish what we originally started. I also wanted her to not tell the cops that I was behind Gracie’s abduction, like I was behind hers. It was supposed to be two birds with one stone, but I guess that I can live with it being just Gracie tonight.

I doubt Evie will be causing me any further problems. She will not be able to prove anything, and she will look bad in trying to accuse us again. I swear I will sue her for slander if she does go to the police again telling them that I took her. I didn’t take her, my men did, so I know that I can pass a lie detector on that. She has no proof, and she has no idea exactly where we are out here. She might blow some smoke in her anger, but I am sure she will have to shut her mouth when they ask her for some proof. She can’t just run around and say whatever she wants to. It is against the law.

Even if she wanted too, it is too late now to save her friend. I wish I had a little more time to draw this out, so Evie would hurt a little more about it. I did choose Gracie because she fit our needs. Mainly it was because it was going to hurt her little friend Evie. That was the reason that I blurted it out. But there was no way that she would be able to put something together fast enough to try to stop me. It is going to break her heart to know that I not only took her friend. But the fact the she will know that same fear that Gracie was experiencing here with me tonight. I do get a lot of happiness just from knowing that. I hope it breaks that little bitches heart. She had some kind of nerve sending the police to my doorstep. I will never forgive her for that humiliation.

I took my ceremonial knife out, and prayed over it. I remember the flash of fear on Evie’s face when she saw it. She knew that I was going to kill her, and she could not stop me. She was absolutely terrified. I cannot wait to see what Gracie does when she realizes that I am going to be the last person she is ever going to see in this lifetime. I bet she will regret taking the internship after seeing me in all my glory tonight.

We are ready to go, as Mike called to say that they were 20 minutes out a little while ago. I am glad that they will be here soon. I am kind of creeped out. The swamp is really dark tonight. The light that I put up near the road to guide us into the driveway, is over 200 feet away. The moon is just a sliver in the sky, and we don’t have a lot of light out here to work with tonight. I am getting chills, and I can’t shake the feeling like we are being watched. I am sure it is just paranoia, but this isn’t the first time I felt it since I arrived here. I am sure it is just an animal, but after that last incident we are not taking any chances.

The men in the van are armed, and so are a few of my congregants tonight. We won’t be running off like we did the last time, if that wolf comes back. We will be killing anything that tries to stop us from getting our work done. I have to get this done. We are a few months away from having to declare bankruptcy. That is not an option for the Coleman family. I will get us back on track, and if I need to, we will do this again, and again, until it takes properly.

“They are here, I saw the lights flash after they left the highway,” Frank announced to the group a short time later. He and his wife were trying to get pregnant, and needed this blessing greatly. I am hoping that they do not realize that they are robbing another family of their own child in order for us to do this.

We all watch as the van pulls into my little patch of land. It was big enough to build a nice little cabin on. I didn’t need a lot of room. The realtor who sold it to me, couldn’t believe that I wanted it. I had to tell them that Rhett and his friends liked to going fishing, and frog gigging at night. I doubt she believed me, but if I told her the truth, she would have been even more stunned. It is just a patch of land that ends up meeting the water on the side, and back of it. It isn’t the best plot of land ever, but it has served its purpose well. It also makes disposing of bodies very efficient.

They pulled in and Mike got out to help get the van backed up for us to unload Gracie. She was a little heavy too, just like Evie was. They got the van parked and everyone took their places quickly. We need to get this done, before she woke up. She was clearly still very out of it, and I wanted to stay that way. It takes a few minutes for me to get this properly started. Thankfully, my followers knew what to do. They started the chanting, and dances that needed to be done.

We had already set up the shrines to the gods that we needed to call upon tonight. The ones that we needed favor from. Luckily for me, the gods are over more than one thing. So it looked like I was trying to get everyone present taken care of tonight. Healing Mikes son, allowing Frank and his wife to conceive. For the gods to help to heal our members who were having health issues in our group. Last but certainly not least, to solve the cash flow problems for both my temple, and my husbands business. Even if the gods did nothing else, for anyone else, I needed that done.

I had prayed earlier for their help in specifically getting that done. So, in my mind, this whole ceremony was just a formality. The gods will always help me out with my needs. I noticed that Gracie seemed to be moving some now. It appeared that she was about to be waking up, as the chanting and singing were not quiet. I don’t mind if she wakes up now. She is already fastened to the table. What could she possibly do now? I leaned over and pulled the hood off of her head, but I was the one that was shocked. This isn’t Gracie. I don’t even really know who this woman was. She gave me a smile, and then mocked me by saying, “Surprise.”

I stagger back, and that was the first sign that there was a problem. The singing and chants slowed to a stop. My temple members were looking at me to explain what the problem was, but I couldn’t even speak. I looked over to Mike and asked, “Who is she?” I could feel a nagging memory and suddenly realized that this girl was the same one that was with Evie at lunch. She had somehow switched them out.

“She was in Gracie’s room, at the address that you gave us. We took the girl in that house. We didn’t have any issues this time around. We assumed that since she was the only one there, that we had the right girl. It is dark in the room, so it is hrd to see. Don’t blame us for this. We did our jobs,” Mike responded.

“We need to get out of here, right now,” I told them in a low tone, and started heading for my SUV. The feeling of being watched has never left me, and now I know why. They knew we were going to take Gracie tonight, and had set me up.

“I am afraid that none of you will be going anywhere,” a voice boomed out of the darkness.

I started running to my SUV. They can’t make us stay. I am getting the hell out of here. I get to my car, only to find that my keys are no longer in the ignition. I know that I left them there, and I started checking my pockets in my ceremonial robes. I see Evie standing about 50 feet away, with Gracie standing right next to her. Evie lifted her hand up and shook my keys at me.

I ran towards her because I refuse to stay here here. I will not be waiting for the police that I know they called to arrive. I refuse to admit to doing anything wrong here. I get to right where Evie was standing, but she was no longer there. I started to hear shots ringing out, and turned to my people falling to the ground. I am shocked as I watch as the eight people that had been participating with me, had been killed. I hit the ground on my knees shocked to see them in this state. Only one minute ago I had warned them to leave. I can tell right now that none of us are going to be allowed to leave here tonight.

I can tell that someone is right behind me, but I still have an ace up my sleeve. I am armed tonight. I doubt that they will realize that in enough time to be able to save themselves.