Chapter 11

                                    

                                          
" You got two minutes to explain yourself son. " Ruben woke up to Eustace sprinkling a pinch of the Golden Virginia tobacco along the rolling paper, " now make it quick. "
Ruben caught his bad hand tied up to the cabinet by a jute rope. " What is this for? "
" I've got horse sense. I know you up to fled. " he went on to fetch his lighter, " though, I know innocence when I see it. If that ain't a fact with you, God's a possum."
" Okay, " Ruben gulped down his dry throat, " I just woke up to Lilith holding an ax over my head. I don't know who it was but it wasn't her. Something was controlling her. You were right! She is possessed. "
" Didn't you get help? " Eustace interrupted. 
" No. I didn't. I couldn't put her there. " Ruben started to become frantic, " I need to get there. Marci is alone. "
" You are not done, son. Besides, your daughter is safe." Eustace took a puff. 
Ruben didn't need to ask further, he believed Eustace. 
" I tried to stop her, ask her where Marci was and something just got into her. She sliced my fingers. ", his voice cracked. 
" Okay alright. " he stuck the cigarette into the side of his mouth.  " Get into that cab, " he gestured the skylight window, " He owes me. He won't ask you any questions. Neither do you ask him any questions. No conversation. He will drop you at my retirement home. It's sealed and safe as long as you stay in. There is limited stock for you to be fed. A lot of unlicensed medical equipment you could use. Just leave enough for your old man, " he inhaled, wincing, and exhaled in a long stream of smoke. 
" What about my girls? I can't do that! "
" you must. Your girls are safe. They are being taken care of. If you step out. You will never step out again. In fact, they want your head. They want to bury this matter. They got their tail up, son. If you are gone, who is going to look after Marci?. Lilith? Nah. She can't. She is at ___hospital___with a concussion. " Ruben almost blocked this new information, he didn't want to take it in. 
" Just do as I say, sure'nuff, you'll be fine. You'll be with them. It's either the death penalty in a fascist system leaving your family spineless or an escape to get them back later when the dust settles. Grab the best bull. " Ruben didn't have it in him to do anything but let Eustace take him to safety. Eustace saw the obedience and untied the rope around Ruben's wrist. The pain still lingered, but it was the last of his worries. Ruben stood up, didn't say a word. " Do not leave the place until I get there to get you out. I wouldn't trust anybody any father than I could throw 'um. You shall limit yourself to the nighttime. No time for burning daylight. " Ruben backed up into the door and walked off. Following the instructions, stripped off his life, as the car rumbled into the woods, Ruben laid low on the seat watching the sky take off with him.