#deputy reader

You shifted uncomfortably in your chair, a quiet exhale falling from your parted lips as the led of your pencil glided across the paper laid on your desk in front of you. A subtle knock on the open door had your eyes flicking up, spotting who it was.

Lee.

You looked back down as his heavy footsteps dragged into your office, striding right up to your desk.

“A little birdie told me that you’re slacking on these reports.” Lee spoke, his authoritative tone making your heart thud against your chest just that bit harder than it was before.

“You better get them done and on my desk by the end of the day, and if they’re not, i’ll start wondering whether you’re cut out for this job.”

“Yes, sir.” You replied, your tone quiet and meek, far opposite from his.

Lee stared you down, taking in how your eyes never lifted to him when he was informing you of your mistakes. You’d been avoiding eye contact with the man all day, trying so desperately to forget about what went down just last night.

You both knew you weren’t supposed to do it.

The silence was deafening, until Lee finally said,

“Look at me when i’m talking to you.”

Your eyes flicked up to his at the rough tone in his voice, instinctively sitting up straighter in your seat. His large hands settled onto the wood of the desk as he leaned down, closer to your face.

You blinked and swallowed the saliva building in your mouth. A knowing smirk tugged at his lips.

“Maybe i’ll just have to give you a different form of punishment if you don’t finish these papers by the evening…”

Your heart pounded as you ran through the woods of Hope County. You were headed northbound.

The sunrise caught the woods, casting an orange hue through the trees. You were somewhere between the Henbane River region and the Whitetail Mountains.

You had gotten too close to the river earlier. Who knows how much bliss had been spilled into it this week. Next thing you knew, you were running from sounds and seeing things that weren't there. You didn't want to take your chances, so you ran through the woods, hoping it would eventually stop.

Suddenly, you heard a scream. It caused you to trip over a rock. You were quick to cover your ears as you curled up behind a tree. Covering your ears didn't help. You could only hope it was a hallucination. The world felt like it was spinning.

Were you dying?

Your skin suddenly felt like it was on fire, and paranoia was kicking in. What about this was bliss?

That's when you felt something or someone grabbed you. You were quick to stand up and move. You turned to see if anyone was there, but nothing was.

That's when you heard a giggle, a laugh. A girlish one, Faith. "Get away from me you bitch!" You screamed, your voice echoing through the forest.

Her laugh came through again, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Can't you feel it, Deputy? The bliss? Isn't it wonderful?" Faith's voice called out, its usual dream like tone trying its hardest to get under your skin.

You could hear your heart in your ears. Every hair stood on edge. Was she real?

"You still have a chance; The Father will save us. If you just accept him into your life you can atone." She called. You caught a glimpse of her. She was circling you like a fowl vulture searching for a carcass to feast on.

But when one vulture circles, more follow.

You could hear other voices. They were mixed. It sounded like a few different people all speaking at once. They were men's voices. One was deep yet soft and understanding, another gruff with a baritone quality to it that commanded attention, the last voice held a more tenor quality, laced with manipulation and a false understanding.

You saw Faith again peak out from behind a tree. You ran again, through the forest. You had to get away.

Your heart raced in your chest. Its hard thuds echoed in your ears. Your lungs burned from each labored breath you forced yourself to take. Terror and fear pumped through your veins. You couldn't separate reality from your hallucinations. They seemed to be bleeding together.

Next, thing you knew you had reached the riverbank, the rocks rolling under your feet, causing you to stumble a bit.

You heard the voices grow louder. The rushing of the river didn't seem to drown it out.

"Go away!!" You screamed, you could feel yourself beginning to hyperventilate.

"Poor Deputy, reality and bliss don't seem to mine well, do they?" A voice called out from the side of you. It was Jacob. The tallest and eldest out of the Seed brothers, but honestly, he was just as demented as them all.

"You're not real!" You shouted at him. Attempting to reach for your pistol, but it wasn't there, it was gone.

"Oh Deputy, I'm real. Faith got you pretty bad, didn't she?" He asked. Stepping closer. His pale blue eyes stayed on you, their gaze held power and command.

You stumbled back, falling on the hard rocky bank of the river.

Jacob reached into his back pocket, no, not again. Please not again.

The music box.

"Only you..." When that soft tune began, from just the simple turn of the key on the music box, things got much worse.

Your head began to pound, and the world was spinning faster.

Jacob came closer, standing over you. Quietly humming the tune. Watching contently as you began to black out.

You didn't know how long you had been out for, but it was long enough to make you realize it was night.

You felt awful and sick. The bliss mixed with whatever brainwashing crap Jacob had been doing on you for the past month was really taking a toll. You weren't sure how many seizures you had within the past few weeks.

You had woken up on a wooden floor. It was cool to the touch. You had to blink a few times to get your vision clear.

You stared up at the ceiling. It was an open ceiling, with exposed beams and everything. You looked around a bit more. You were in a church. Your eyes darted to the altar, there on the wall, a stained-glass window, it was the edens gate cross.

Fuck, no. That could only mean one thing, you had been handed over and put into Joseph's custody.

You attempted to stand up, and your body felt heavy and unstable. Your legs wobbled under your weight and gave out. You grabbed ahold of the altar, trying to hold yourself up.

You ended up knocking something over. It was glass, with no shock it shattered when it hit the hard wood floors.

The door to the church opened, and there stood Joseph. He shut the door behind him and walked towards you.

"You shouldn't be up and moving." He said, his voice its usual soft and understanding tone. Joseph came and helped you, his arm going under your arms to hold you up. He was a charismatic man; it's why his followers worshipped him.

"My siblings have done quite a number on you, Deputy." He observed.

You didn't have the strength to even try to fight him. Your head pounded, and your body ached like there was no tomorrow.

"It's going to be alright. Let's get you some rest." Joseph said. Helping to towards the door of the church.

As you walked through Joseph's compound, many of the Peggie's' side glanced you.

You had brought death and destruction to Joseph's operation, and yet, their leader was still helping you.

None of them dared to challenge Joseph. He was their Father, their leader, the prophet from God.

Soon, you reached Joseph's private quarters. He helped you lay down into bed; he even tucked you in.

"Why must you fight me, Deputy?" He asked after a silent moment. "Your sin of wrath knows no bounds. I just wish to help you, as god intends."

"You're killing people." you murmured, your head pounded harder.

"Untrue," Joseph said. "I'm saving us all." He sat down on the side of the bed. "The collapse is coming. I will ensure that my flock survives Deputy."

You stared at him. You were in far too much pain to deny or fight with him.

"I'm showing you kindness not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it's not too late to atone Deputy. Your sinner friends are far gone, and I believe that you aren't." He spoke.

"You've killed many, awful and disgusting acts, yes. But perhaps you and I are two sides of the same coin." Joseph suggested, his hand gently running through your hair. "My flock kills sinners. We reap them in the name of God. The collapse will have no room for sinners."

His hand tightened slightly in your hair. "But you," he began. "You deputy kill because you do not understand; you are angry, your sin is wrath. But atonement is just around the corner for you, I truly believe you would make a good addition to my family. Give it a chance." He hummed

You stared up at him, not saying a word. The pain you were experiencing shockingly got worse. Perhaps you were experiencing some form of withdrawal from the bliss? You were shaking, you felt cold.

Joseph watched you, then pressed his wrist to your forehead. "You're burning up." he murmured.

Joseph adjusted your position on the bed, sitting you up a bit. He grabbed the glass of water off the nightstand, gently pressing it to your lips. "Take a drink." He wasn't asking, he was telling.

As much as you didn't want to, you had no other options. You carefully took a drink; your mouth was dryer than you thought originally.

"Take it slow. You'll throw up if you don't." Joseph said gently.

You listened; you weren't in a position to do anything but.

"I'll get you some medicine, as well as some food, once your stomach settles." He hummed as he set the glass of water back down. "For now, you need to rest." Joseph grabbed a wet cloth out of a nearby bowl of ice water. He rang it out first before pressing it to your forehead, attempting to lower your fever.

"Why are you helping me?" You asked after a silent moment.

"Because, in order to teach you that what we are doing, you must be shown kindness first." He answered. "I hope that in time, you'll learn that our ways are what you need Deputy. I hope you will learn that what we are doing is in everyone's best interest."

You began to drift off; there was definitely something in the water you were given. Whatever it was, made you feel even more fatigued than you already were.

You were woken up by Joseph; it was about noon the next day. He had brought in a bowl of soup, and a fresh glass of water.

"You haven't eaten in what, two days?" Joseph asked. "You'll need your strength."

He walked over and sat down, setting the glass of water down on the nightstand. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

You were definitely feeling better than yesterday, no awful headache. Maybe slightly feverish, but good lord you were hungry. "I could eat." You answered gently.

Joseph nodded. Taking the spoon out of the bowl. "It's chicken and rice. Its light enough to not upset your stomach." He hummed. He brought the spoon to your lips, waiting for you to take a bite.

You did what was expected of you and took the bite.

The soup was quite good; it was savory and comforting.

You still weren't sure what Joseph's motives were with helping you. It was hard to say.