The Stars Never Rise

“Bullshit!” I stood, outraged, and Grayson shushed me with one finger over her lips, pointing at the wall our apartment shared with the neighbor. I sat again, but anger buzzed beneath my skin, setting me on edge.

“But there’s more.” Sister Pamela’s faux confidential tone and the excitement in her eyes promised more juicy details about my public scandal. “Kane is suspected to have made contact with a group of teen fugitives known to be in the area, and Church officials believe she may, in fact, be the reason for their presence in and around New Temperance.”

“Well, at least they got that right,” Grayson said.

“While details about this itinerant group of young malefactors remain sketchy, the entire group is suspected of possession and was just this morning declared anathema by the Church.”

“Oh shit….” Maddock stared intently at the television.

“What’s that?” Grayson’s brown eyes were wide. “What does that mean?”

“We’ve been denounced by the Church.” Reese took her hand.

Devi laughed. “?’Bout time!”

“It means we’re public enemy number one,” Maddock explained. “The Church’s top priority until we’re caught or someone pisses them off worse.”

Devi grinned. “It means they’re scared of us. I say we own it.”

“Own it?” Grayson frowned.

“Yeah. The Church says we’re anathema? I say we’re Anathema. With a capital A. We’ll make it ours.”

“I like it!” Reese declared. “We are Anathema.”

The rest of them nodded, and it was official. Their gang of outlaws had a name.

I couldn’t help wondering where I fit into that.

On television, Sister Pamela was still talking, and with every word she said, things got worse for us. “As the facts trickle in, the picture before us comes into sharper focus, and it is a grim picture indeed, Brother Jonathan. It’s beginning to look like the demon known as Nina Kane could, in fact, be the founder of a subculture of possession and corruption here in New Temperance, running deeper than anyone knew, and that’s why I’m on location today.”

“What does that mean?” I said. “Why is she here?” But no one had an answer for me.

“When police began investigating the Nina Kane case last night, they discovered that Kane’s fifteen-year-old sister, Melanie—who reportedly suffered a sudden breakdown at school yesterday—is, in fact, pregnant.”

Sister Pamela paused for the inevitable shocked gasp from her viewing audience, and I could almost hear it, though none of us was surprised by the revelation.

“Church authorities are not yet ready to confirm demonic possession in the younger Ms. Kane. Because of her condition, they’re forced to examine her slowly and carefully.” The very thought of which dumped fuel over the infant flames of fury simmering inside me. “But less than an hour ago, we got word that authorities have uncovered at least one other case of possession among the Kanes’ known friends and neighbors.”

“What?” I gaped at the reporter in shock. Who?

It could have been anyone. Demons were a much bigger presence in my hometown than the Church had any way of knowing. But one of my friends? Or neighbors?

“There’s been no word yet on the identity of this second confirmed case of possession, but I’m told that we’ll have a live update this afternoon, just in time for the evening news. Make sure you all tune in then for the latest on this resurgence of the Unclean in the quiet town of New Temperance.”

“I’m sure we all will, Sister Pamela,” the national anchor said as his image replaced hers on-screen. When he moved on with the rest of the headlines, Grayson turned off the TV and dropped the remote onto the coffee table next to her glass of water.

“I’m wanted for murder and possession.” My voice sounded hollow with shock. Nothing felt real. “The whole damn country is looking for me.”

“Welcome to the club.” Grayson clinked her water glass against my bottle.

“Like you know anything about the most-wanted club.” Devi rolled her eyes at Grayson, then stood and stomped into the kitchen. “They don’t have your picture. They don’t even know you’re with us.”

“That doesn’t put Grayson and me in any less danger, Dev,” Maddock said.

“They haven’t identified Grace and Maddy yet,” Reese explained. “I don’t think they even know for sure how many of us there are, but my picture and Devi’s are out there too, if it makes you feel any better.”