Part 5<\/b><\/p>\n
Serenity, California
\nJune 23, 2003<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAre you certain, Henrietta?\u201d Sheriff Brady asked. \u201cJosiah would be displeased if we showed poor judgment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m certain, Sheriff,\u201d Henrietta. \u201cShe healed Annabeth with her power. She touched my daughter and began to glow. Annabeth\u2019s fever broke.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d Henrietta\u2019s sister, Mary, said. \u201cI saw her yesterday evening. Annabeth was very sick. But this morning she was playing in the yard as if nothing were wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group murmured in excitement. After all these years, had they finally found The One? It was almost too good to be true. But after so much prayer, Josiah was bound to eventually show them The One.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould we begin to make the arrangements?\u201d a man in the back asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes!\u201d the crowd shouted. \u201cWe should take her before Josiah! He will certainly be pleased!\u201d<\/p>\n
Brady couldn\u2019t help but become caught up in the enthusiasm. If what Henrietta said was true, then their search was finally over. All their hard work would finally be rewarded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Brady said, much to the delight of the group. \u201cWe shall take her before Josiah tonight. We must be ready to perform the ceremony. He will certainly be pleased with this girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
Faith yawned as she threw back the sheets. She propped herself against the headboard and stretched, trying to work the sleep out of her limbs. As she wiped the sleep from her eyes, she noticed the other bed was empty.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Seer chose that moment to step through the front door, cell phone in hand. \u201cHey,\u201d she smiled slightly. \u201cAbout time you woke up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat time is it?\u201d Faith asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost noon,\u201d Cordelia said. Cordy smiled as that information sunk into the dazed head of Faith.<\/p>\n
\u201cFuck. Why didn\u2019t you wake me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo reason to. I went by the garage. They\u2019re saying they should get our radiator tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKick ass. That mean we\u2019ll be gone tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr maybe tonight.\u201d Faith looked on in confusion. \u201cI called Angel. He, Fred, and Gunn are going to leave around sunset. They think they can be here around eleven or so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKick ass,\u201d Faith yawned. \u201cMaybe then we can figure out what the hell is going on here.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you want to take this?\u201d Fred asked. She held up a hurling axe for Angel\u2019s inspection.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I do,\u201d Angel answered as he loaded his crossbow. \u201cGunn?\u201d he called out. \u201cYou ready?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn walked through the courtyard doors. \u201cYeah. I got the swords we wanted all loaded up. Just a matter of waiting for the sun to go down now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich is still two hours away,\u201d a frustrated Angel said. He didn\u2019t like the idea of Faith and HIS Cordelia being all alone in a bad situation. He loved Cordelia more than anyone, and he had come to see Faith as a daughter or little sister. He didn\u2019t like it when his girls were in trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cDude, remember what I said. Faith and Cordy are big girls. They can handle themselves in a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, I know. But make sure you\u2019re ready. Because as soon as the sun goes down, we better be on the highway.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
Serenity, California
\nJust before sunset<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure we should be doing this?\u201d Faith asked. \u201cI mean, with Angel coming, shouldn\u2019t we wait for him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Faith trailed a few steps behind Cordelia as they waded through the brush leading to the clearing behind the garage. Faith had spent most of the afternoon researching, and had come up with more disturbing bits of information.<\/p>\n
The body count had risen to eighteen in the past six years. None of the missing girls had ever been found. According to Faith\u2019s research, somebody finally raised an eyebrow and a pair of FBI agents came out in early 2000. From what Faith could find, they stayed about a week before growing frustrated with the locals. The official report spoke of the possibility of transients being responsible for the disappearances.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just going to do a little recon,\u201d Cordelia assured her. \u201cSince you pulled the information regarding what cars these women drove off the Internet, we might as well see if any of them are here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d Faith said. This place was freaking her out more than she cared to admit. And with backup coming, she didn\u2019t want to make some stupid mistake that would get them both killed.<\/p>\n
Both women flipped on their flashlights as the sun dipped below the horizon. Faith pulled out her copy of the car list as the girls split up. Faith\u2019s blood began to run cold as she found four matching car makes. After several minutes of searching, Faith and Cordelia made their way back to each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many you got?\u201d Cordy asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cFour. You?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree.\u201d<\/p>\n
The girls sighed as they stared at each other. They had seven possible matches. Seven girls that were possible victims of the town of Serenity.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Cordy said. \u201cLet\u2019s go back and wait for the others. We got some evidence now. Maybe we can run with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d Faith questioned.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was confused by the question until she realized Faith was pointing her flashlight at the brush in the opposite direction that they had arrived. The girls stepped closer until they realized it was a path leading away from the highway. Cordelia took the lead as they cautiously stepped along the dusty trail.<\/p>\n
They followed the path for thirty yards until they reached another clearing. They shined their flashlights around. Both were horrified at what they saw.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh God,\u201d Faith whispered \u201cCordelia. Are those\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so,\u201d Cordelia said, equally shocked.<\/p>\n
They stepped forward slowly, both trying to avoid stepping on the mounds littering the clearing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are graves, aren\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so,\u201d Cordelia said softly.<\/p>\n
Dozens of mounds covered the open area. And all about the size needed to bury a full-grown woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is where they put them,\u201d Faith said. \u201cAfter they\u2019ve\u2026\u201d She couldn\u2019t even say the word aloud. \u201cThere has to be sixty, maybe seventy graves here. My God, Cordelia, what the hell are these bastards doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tens of bright lamps suddenly lit around the area, blinding them both momentarily. \u201cWe have been searching,\u201d a voice called out. \u201cWe have been searching for The One.\u201d<\/p>\n
The voice stepped forward, a rifle in hand. Both recognized him as the sheriff. \u201cAnd now our search may be over.\u201d Brady turned away from the girls and spoke to the crowd. \u201cGrab them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several men rushed forward from all directions, catching both girls flat-footed. In moments, both were bound in handcuffs. \u201cNow you both shall be judged,\u201d Brady told them.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d Faith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d Cordelia answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish we were home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia glared at the sheriff in contempt. \u201cWhat? And miss all this? This is supposed to be the fun part of the job.\u201d<\/p>\n