Ch. 30 | Wolves in Workout Gear

Sam turned the corner and began her descent back into the chaotic hedonistic den also known as Lago Tierra.

“Back into the belly of the beast, Auggie,” she told her dog, who seemingly understood the assignment.

At the fob-controlled gate, she gave a lackadaisical wave to “officer george,” who responded with a crisp salute. Sam didn’t have time to unpack what led him here—but she always had a soft spot for the world’s weirdos. Most folks never do the work to heal. Sam knew the price of being the healthy one in a family: exile.

Lost in thought, she wouldn’t have noticed Grant on her own, but a very weary and guarded Auggie alerted her to the oncoming influencer. Auggie let out a warning growl, positioning himself between Sam and their unwanted guest.

“Hello, enchanting Sam,” Grant said breezily. “God is so good for bringing us together.”

“I doubt this was God’s doing,” Sam shot back. This would prove to be interesting.

“You’ve had it tough in life, haven’t you, Sam?”

Now with the dime-store psychology, Sam thought. She knew his type. Say an obvious and shallow truth to prompt the target to open up. This wasn’t her first rodeo. Buckle up, she thought.

“I could tell,” Grant said, leaving space for silence as he gave her a seemingly understanding look.

Sam was having none of it. She knew a grifter when she saw one. Neither was Auggie, who moved forward to let Grant know he wasn’t to come any further.

“Even your dog is guarded, sister.” Grant said, still pretending to be knowing and full of empathy. “At some point, you’re going to have to let someone in. Do you know Jesus?”

“As much as anyone can, I suppose.”

“Well, He’s worth getting to know.”

You should take your own advice, Sam thought to herself. I wonder when this is going to turn sexual.

And, like clockwork, Grant didn’t disappoint.

“You know, we could spend time together, searching the word and other things,” he said with a smarmy smile as he moved closer.

Auggie went on the defensive and pushed the creepy man backward.

“The only thing I’m interested in exploring is putting my foot up your rear if you don’t go back to the slimy cave you crawled out of,” Sam snarled. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, invoking the name of Jesus to prey on people. I’m curious how successful you’ve been?”

Grant moved back and his eyes darkened with rage.

“You’re just a troubled girl,” he spat out. “You created something out of nothing. Go ahead, tell—no one would believe you anyway. Dr. Ellison already let the congregation know that you’re a lost cause.”

“Oh trust me, I’m not the one you have to worry about, Mr. Youth Pastor,” she said with her words dripped in disdain. “You should probably read your Bible a little more studiously. I believe your lot gets judged more harshly. So you should be more afraid of God than me.”

Grant flinched and then muttered a curse word at the woman.

“How Christian of you,” Sam returned in heavy sarcasm. “Make sure you ask Jesus for forgiveness.”

“Freak,” Grant said, heading in the opposite direction.

Sam chuckled at the encounter. False teachers are everywhere and obviously this place would be no different. I wonder if Erik is aware that he’s got a predator in his midst? Sam thought for a second. What was her responsibility in this? Sure she’s an adult that can hold her own. But what about the kids in his charge? They’re highly influenced and vulnerable.

She looked at Auggie and sighed.

“Good boy,” she murmured, patting his head. “You always know.”

“Wow,” a voice behind her chimed. “I guess some girls have to act tough to feel powerful.”

Sam turned to see Macey LaDeux, casually sipping a matcha in workout gear far too coordinated for spontaneity. She wore the smugness of someone who thought herself above correction, newly anointed in some faux-spirituality gleaned from a podcast and a tarot app.

“Macey,” Sam said flatly. “You always this bold when your husband isn’t around?”

“I just think it’s funny,” Macey continued, stepping closer, “how some women make everything a spiritual war when really—it’s just jealousy.”

“Jealousy?” Sam echoed, then offered a half-smile. “Macey, I want no part in your demonic flirtation or your lothario husband. Trust me, there’s nothing about that man I envy.”

Macey’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t even know me.”

Sam’s tone softened—not in kindness, but in precision. “That’s the problem. You don’t know you either. But you’re trying to find her. In crystals. In potions. In seduction rituals wrapped in Pinterest boards.”

She took a step forward, voice low and steady. “Be careful what you tap into, Macey. Darkness doesn’t give gifts. It gives loans—with interest. And you don’t know the terms.”

Macey’s face faltered just enough to betray the hit. But she quickly lifted her chin in defiance, muttering something under her breath as she turned and stalked off.

Auggie growled again. Sam smirked.

“Yeah, I felt it too,” she said to the dog. “Whatever she’s playing with, it’s not from here.”

The pair traipsed back to the Ellison home. While Sam was headstrong on what she would do next, she couldn’t help but think about this weird neighborhood. Everyone save Jesse, Elaine, and the Fraziers seemed gross as all get out.

She shook her head. She didn’t know everyone in the neighborhood. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that more sinister things were afoot. She especially got the sense to keep her humble abode on lockdown. I’ll need to grab some blackout curtains for the windows, she thought. The sheer ones weren’t cutting it. Sam knew she could just be being paranoid, but hey, better safe than sorry. Especially since folks seem to disappear or turn up dead here.

That certainly won’t be me.