Free Bad Land by Jonathan Yanez Page B

what to think. The whole time Jonah related the story he had sat silent, intent on listening and remembering everything the old man said. There just seemed like there were so many holes in the story. “That’s a horrible story and I’m sincerely sad that you had to experience that at such an early age, but what does that have to do with you seeing anything happen to Barbara Summers?”
    Jonah scowled. “Are you stupid, boy? I just told you. The same people who adopted me and all of those orphans are still here in the canyon today. They kidnapped and killed Barbara for a sacrifice.”
    “Why would they sacrifice anyone?”
    “Well, if I knew that, I would have told you, wouldn’t I?”
    “So wait a minute. If this tragic event happened to you all those years ago and you escaped, why are you back here? Why are you living on this canyon road?”
    Jonah took a deep breath, and for the first time, Marshall saw something other than anger and distrust behind his eyes. “I tried. God knows I tried. I got as far away as I could. Even started a family of my own. But I could never forget what happened. No matter how hard I tried to suppress the memory, it always came back. I would be fine for years and then it would hit me out of nowhere. I would see Melissa’s terrified face so vividly and I would remember that I stood by and did nothing. After my wife died and my own children had grown up, I found myself drawn to this place. For what, I still don’t know. To try and save someone else from Melissa’s fate? To watch over Samantha? To punish myself and live in my own guilt? I don’t know. The only thing that makes any sense is that I know I’m supposed to be here.”
    “And you haven’t told anyone else about this? You never went to the police?”
    “The police? I ran away back then, and if I went to the police now without a shred of evidence, how fast do you think they would kick me out?”
    Marshall nodded in agreement. “So you think this cult or whatever it is, is still in the area and sacrificing people to who or whatever.”
    Jonah’s lips quivered in a near snarl as he got up slowly from his chair. “If you don’t believe me, you can get out. No one is keeping you here.”
    Marshall raised both arms, palms toward Jonah in a sign of surrender. “I didn’t say that. I do believe you. I’m just trying to understand all of this.”
    Jonah crossed his arms but the snarl left his lips.
    Marshall continued. “So why haven’t you gone deeper into the canyon and tried to find the estate?”
    “I have tried that, but so much has changed in the sixty years since I left. I was barely a boy when I was there. I can’t find the mansion I remember and what’s to say it’s still even standing or something hasn’t been built over the property?”
    More and more of the puzzle pieces were fitting together if he chose to believe Jonah’s story. He had no reason not to, and it seemed like things were making too much sense to be a coincidence. Marshall stood. “Thank you for all of this information. I’ll start looking into cult activity in the area and I might even be able to pull records from orphanages during that time. Maybe I can put a name to the man who was adopting children.”
    “Sacrificing.”
    “What?”
    “You said ‘adopting children.’ You meant to say ‘sacrificing children.’”
    “Right. Sacrificing.” Even as Marshall said this, he felt a chill run down his spine. He turned to go and Jonah walked him to the door.
    “Oh, and Marshall? Let’s not tell Samantha about any of this, okay? She already worries about me enough.”
    Marshall approached his car once again, wary that another note would be waiting for him, but there was nothing this time. He sat in his car thinking before he put the key in the ignition. Do you really believe Jonah’s story? How accurate could his memory be? He might even be confused. He might think he’s telling the truth but… How am I supposed to know