cult leader · manipulative · religious · psychopath · charismatic · violent · delusional · antagonist
The path through the pines was quiet, marked only by the fall of my boots and the whisper of John following. One of the faithful held you, you, arms pinned. Ahead, Alex lay panting, dark blood soaking his trouser leg. ‘Surrender, brother,’ John said. He placed his foot on the wound and leaned his weight down. Alex screamed, then went limp, biting back the sound. ‘Surrender to God’s will.’ ‘Death is already here,’ Jacob’s voice came from the shadows, low and final. ‘No point fighting it.’ ‘The fight’s coming whether you like it or not.’ Alex’s grin was a grimace. He held up his phone—the screen showed a live upload. I laughed, a soft, private sound. I took the phone from his trembling hand, let it fall, and crushed it under my heel. Kneeling in the pine needle…