The Cult

By Alex Baldwin

After a career as a S.W.A.T. officer ends with a botched hostage rescue Alan Reeves relocates with his sister to a small town in the pacific northwest looking to serve as a deputy and live a quiet life.
Alan soon finds there may be more going on in the small town of Pine Creek than meets the eye as he hears rumours of a cult, meets an eccentric billionare and a mysterious woman just as a series of murders rock the small town.
Thrown into a deadly supernatural game Alan must use all his skills to survive, save his family, the woman he loves and possibly the entire world as we know it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jun 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781984506214

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Alex Baldwin.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/27/2020

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1     Arrival

Chapter 2     the man in black

Chapter 3     the Azmuth family

Chapter 4     the woods.

Chapter 5     connections

Chapter 6     Radioman

Chapter 7     Wrong side of the bars

Chapter 8     Cloack and dagger

Chapter 9     The party

Chapter 10   The order of the purple rose

Chapter 11   Getaway

Chapter 11   The diner

Chapter 12   The longest night

Chapter 13   Under seige

Chapter 14   Darkness

Chapter 15   Ancient horror

Epilogue

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CHAPTER 1

Arrival

Alan Reeves stood in the waiting room of the small sherrifs office waiting for the receptionist. he had rung the bell a half dozen times but nobody had ansewred yet, outside a light rain fell over the quiet town of Pine creek.

just as Alan was about to ring the bell again a short woman in her late 50s walked out from the back room, she was greying and walked with a cane and a look of discontent permenantly plastered on her face. as she shuffled over to him she asked grumpily can i help you young man? Alan responded courtiously i was looking for sherrif Black, is he available? the old woman looked at Alan for a long moment silently before replying simply with no

well when will he be in? Alan asked firmly. again the old woman simply stared at him silently before replying flatly with later Alan thought about pressing the question furthur but decided better of it, can i leave him a message? inquired Alan as politley as his frustration would allow, the old woman nodded silently and handed him a blank slip of paper and a dull pencil.

Alan jotted down attn: sherrif black. my name is Alan Reeves the new deputy sent by the state. i need to speak to you at your earliest convinience Alan then jotted down his mobile number

passing the slip back to the old lady he thanked her before walking out into the morning rain.

it was a cold morning, it would have been miserable weather even if it hadnt been raining. the rain seemed to add a sheen of dreeryness to the entire town.

Alan strolled down the street towards the diner. a very steryotypical small town diner it was hard to miss on the main road, its old neon sign glowing brightly against the grey sky.

turning his collar up to shield his neck from the damp Alan looked across the street at the fishery, the lake wasnt known for its plentiful fishing but a few small trawlers tried to make a living out there. a ferry too was pulling into the dock, no doubt it was farmers or ranchers comming across from the north side ot leviathan lake for supplys in town.

as Alan walked into the quaint diner he heard the crackling tones of a old record jukebox playing a country song, a pair of older gentlemen sat in a window seat talking quietly and a tall slender woman stood at the counter filling salt shakers. coffee? she asked with a kind smile as she looked up at Alan. smelling the burnt coffee on the air Alan decided not to assult his tastebuds with the questionable brew and instead replied no thankyou, but a bacon and egg roll would be nice the waitress smiled broadly and replied with comming right up as she turned around and started going about making the breakfeast for her new customer.

Alan sat at the counter silently looking out the front window as the rain made long splitting trails down the glass for a time untill eventully his attention was brought back to the diner as a plate was placed infront of him with a soft thud followed closley by a steaming mug of coffee. Alan looked up startled and the waitress replied knowingly with its fresh its not from the batch i burnt thismorning Alan smiled and handed her a crisp 20 to pay for the meal.

as he took a bite from the warm breakfeast the waitress returned with his change and placed it lightly by his plate not from town are you? she asked as she returned to her task of refilling salt shakers. no im not what gave me away? Alan asked as he looked up at the young woman only now paying her any real attention.

she was in her late 20s with long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, a tall slender woman with a bright disposition and clearly a freindly nature, it was peaople like this that had first attracted Alan to apply to be a deputy in this aria.

the woman smiled and laughed a little replying to Alans previous comment with im from out of town too, youll notice we kinda stick out she said what do you mean? asked Alan to wich the woman replied with the locals all shuffle about grumpily and ansewr evrything with short or condecending ansewrs, when i moved out here i thought country folk were warm welcomming peaople. i was wrong aparently

Alan thought the statment over as he took a mouthful of his coffee so just passing through? the waitress asked no ive just moved into town, im the new deputy the waitress smiled at him warmly well from one out of towner to another, welcome. im katrina by the way Alan swallowed his mouthful of egg and bacon im Alan its a pleassure to meet you katrina

Alan stood and walked to the door with a nod to katrina who smiled back sweetly enjoy the rest of your day deputy Alan she called after him.

Alan returned to the hotel to find a chubby man in his mid 40s or early 50s in a ill fitting suit standing at his hotel room door writing a note against the door. can i help you sir? Alan called out and the man looked across startled why yes, are you mr Alan Reeves? he asked why yes i am Alan responded cautiously wonderful! the man exclaimed posotively my name is Tom Willis, im with the town planning office. i have here the keys to your new property.the one down on stag drive Alan walked over and firmly shook the mans hand im so sorry for the mix up with the paperwork originally mr Reeves, mayor Johnson sends his appologies Tom said as he handed over a small yellow envelope.

opening it Alan saw the deed to the house and a ring of keys great the moovers are comming tomorrow its probably best if i have a house for them to move furniture into eh Alan chided. Tom laughed lightly at Alans comment ofcorse mr Reeves, and as i stated on the phone mayor Johnson will be footing the bill for your hotel stay Alan nodded and thanked Tom for his help. Tom departed sharply and Alan went inside to retrive his things before driving to the small house he had brought for a bargain on the outskirts of the small town.

the drive to the house was uneventful, Alan arrived before lunch and carried his duffle bag into the house dropping it by the door with a thud on the floorboards as he shut the creeking door behind him. looking around it was no supprise the house had been so cheap, it was in a horrible state of disrepair, a cold breeze blew through a missing window while the roof leaked in a few places. the wooden floor had seen better days also.

Alan walked through the house lingering in the bathroom. looking in the mirror Alan regarded his reflection, he was a very handsome man in his late 20s with short dark hair and bright blue eyes his former life as a swat officer showed in his athletic physique. welcome home he said quietly as he returned to the entryway to pick up his bag.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! came a sound from the door that shocked Alan to the point where he nierly jumped out of his skin. is somone home?, please! came the pleading voice of a woman from the other side of the door.

opening the door slightly Alan looked out to see the figure of a woman in a long dark hooded robe of some description. whats wrong? Alan asked the woman please, im being followed can i come in? she said pleedingly, Alan hesitantly opened the door the rest of the way allowing her in.

as he shut the door the woman wrapped her arms around him throwing him off balance thank you she breathed.

Alan regained his balance as the woman let him go and took a few cautious steps into the house id offer you a seat… if i had one he said with a forced smile. the woman wiped rain from her face as she pushed back the hood on her cloack.

she was strikingly beatiful despite looking battered and tired, in her mid 20s with shoulder length dark hair and warm brown eyes set against lightly tanned skin she looked astho she had been through hell. her soft features covered in mud with scratches on her face and hands, her matted black hair clung to her face from the rain that was now getting stedily heavier outside. you said somone was following you? who? Alan asked looking out the front curtains. the woman diddnt respond.

wait here ill call the police Alan said but the young woman quickly cut him off NO! no police, please Alan slipped his phone back into his pocket sorry to tell you this but i sort of am the police

the young woman looked up at him shocked as Alan went on introducing himself im Alan Reeves the new deputy. i just got into town today the womans expression softened slightly you just got here totay? the woman asked absently as she shivvered in the drafty house here you look freezing Alan said handing her the heavy wool lined coat he had been wearing.

she took it and wrapped the coat around herself as she shivered, the coat looked huge on her petiete frame but the young woman looked greatful as she huddled in the corner.

Alan went to his bag and retrived a newspaper he had brought in town. as he walked to the fireplace he was greatful somone had stacked a large amount of split timber nearby to fuel the fire. Alan began stacking wood into the fireplace and lit the newspaper with his flip lighter. soon there was a modest fire going and the young woman moved to sit by it, altho still shivering she allready looked better for the warmth and dry shelter. so whats your name? Alan asked her tentatively.

after a long pause the woman said quietly Savanah Alan looked down at her "its a pleasure to meet you Savanah. do you want to tell