Chapter Text
Joseph's POV
The mist seemed to clear faster than it had cast itself across Hope County and I continued to wander through the town I was quickly beginning to call home, it was strange here but the people were friendly and for the most part, I was beginning to feel like I could breath easier... Aside from the mist.
I was currently out in the Henbane, soaking in the fresh air and becoming more accustomed to my surroundings when a scream tore me from my thoughts and I started off running in the direction just as soon as I could control my limbs again. When I finally found the owner of the noise I found myself staring at a young girl sitting by the river "miss?" I asked, "are you okay?" I stood and watched her quietly, trying my best to not disturb her too hastily. She sobbed "they're all gone. They're all gone. they're- they're ahhhh" she wailed harder and pounded her fists roughly into the edge of the river, her body collapsing onto the ground. I stepped forward cautiously and lay my hand on the girl's shoulder and she jumped at the touch turning her head towards me "J-J-J-Joseph?" she stuttered, her eyes widened as she looked at me "it's you!" she jumped forward and clung tightly to my neck. Burying her face In my shoulder, she sobbed.
"Follow me" I ushered softly and the girl stood, still clinging tightly to me "my name's Faith" she introduced and my body stiffened, "I shouldn't be here. The Project will miss me, my Angels will lose direction, my Joseph will be mad and the gates will close. John and Jacob are both dead - he NEEDS me, you don't understand!" she pleaded and I was confused but continued to walk with her nonetheless "I'm going to get you out of here" I promised as Faith and I finally made it back into some sort of civilization.
Max's POV
I worked happily as Jacob filtered through paperwork at his desk when my walkie-talkie came to life "you there Deputy?" Staci questioned through the coms and I hurriedly tried to answer "this is he" I quipped, laughing quietly to myself and Jacob rolled his eyes judgingly across the room "she's here" Staci answered quickly and I went over the many things he could have meant "who Staci? Who's there?" I asked again and I swear I could hear Staci curse under his breath. "Damn it, Rook. Rachel, Rachel Jessop's here. In the back of my squad car. She was just wandering up the road, lost as hell. Has this haunting look in her eye - she might be using again" Staci relayed and my mouth swung open "so aside from the 'probably using drugs' thing, how does she look?" Staci waited a moment before answering "she keeps mumbling about some guy called The Father, it's freaky. She thinks the worlds ending"
"I'll see you soon" I replied and Staci said a quick goodbye before I went back to work "you okay?" Jacob ask as I passed his desk "hmm? Yea", I replied and he grabbed my wrist "are you sure? You've been chasing this for weeks Max" I smiled and nodded, and Jacob dropped my hand again and continued on towards the break room to wait for Staci. It wasn't long before the man himself showed up with none other than Rachel Jessop in tow "I told you!" she belted, trying her hardest to pull away from my coo-worker "My name's not Rachel! It's Faith! Faith Seed" at that my eyes snapped to hers, Staci mentioned she'd cried and tried to run when she saw Jacob at his desk "you mean like my boyfriend? Jacob Seed, out there?" I pointed out towards his desk and she spun around, it confused me how she hadn't noticed I was there "YOU!" she screamed, "YOU KILLED THEM!" she continued as she tore herself out of Staci's grip and darted over yo me "YOU!" she repeated, punching tiredly at my chest, by now Jacob had come to the break room to see what the commotion was and I looked at him confused as the lost girl continued to pound at my chest "mind explaining to us what you mean?" I asked as I effortlessly moved her away from my body and sat her at the table, her hands still balled tightly into fists and cheeks stained with tired tears, even so, she relented and began to tell us about The Father, Joseph Seed, as it happened and all about how myself and my co-workers had come to their compound in the middle of the night to arrest Joseph but as we tried to leave everything went tits up and we spent days if not weeks fighting back against what Rachel had said totally wasn't a cult (it totally fucking sounded like it was), Jacob ironically, groomed me and I killed Eli in a fit of rage even though he and his militia had been helping me - Jacob laughed at that "good one, babe" he praised and I could have sworn I could hear Rachel's blood boil.
I kill Jacob
I kill John
"And then you came for me" she sobbed "the last thing I remember is fighting with you and eventually we stopped like the carpet had been pulled from under us and we just stopped. I talked at you about how we were saving you, not harming you and then I climbed into the river - by then I just wanted to die, you see and that's what I intended to do but then I- then I woke up here. And then he found me". She sobbed a little harder and I looked at her for a moment "you mean Staci?" I questioned and she looked at me as if hadn't heard a single word she'd said "no, Joseph! Joseph found me!" she jumped up quickly "why am I here?" she questioned "maybe you're here to stop it from happening in our timeline... I just hope our Rachel is ok". I added "She'll be fine, if she was sent to live out my life she'll be fine - I was the prize pony after all" she laughed to herself and I myself got up and buried my face into Jacob's shoulder.
"So what the fuck do we do then?" Pratt asked from across the room and I rolled my eyes, the girl looked at me frightened "god, I'm not a monster!" I choked back at her and she, for some reason seemed to calm down at my half-assed outburst "I say, we put her in one of the cells for a few days, just while she sobers up from whatever the hell she's on... The nicer, bigger cell, Staci, not that shitty one you enjoy locking Hurk and Sharky in when they're drunk. And" I added as Staci was heading back out the door with Rachel "she gets real food, meals like we do - and books, things like that... She's not a prisoner. She's home. Staci nodded and kept moving with Rachel in tow, I could hear him talking more but she stayed quiet. Jacob smirked at me from across the room "you killed me, huh?" he laughed and I shook my head "sounds like you deserved it, Mr. Seed" he laughed roughly as we stopped at his desk "we're going to figure this out, okay?" he assured me, squeezing my hand tightly as he spoke "I know, Jake. I know" I kissed his cheek quickly as I threw on my jacket as it was my turn to go out on patrol "BE NICE, STACI!" I ordered loudly and I could hear the man laugh from somewhere distantly in the building I'll see you later?" Jacob questioned as I made my way to the door "you know it, baby" I promised, winking quickly before dashing out the door... The world was slowly becoming a sci-fi reality but at least we were getting closer to the answers we so desperately wanted.
Or so we thought...