The Covenant's Burden
👉 Previous Decision: You chose to confront Lindqvist directly in private to pressure him into testifying.
I waited outside the courthouse, my heart pounding. Seth Lindqvist emerged, looking even more disheveled than he had on the stand. His eyes were wide, darting nervously around the busy street.
“Mr. Lindqvist,” I called, stepping forward. He flinched, almost dropping his briefcase.
“Grace? What are you doing here?” he stammered, his face paling.
“Your testimony today,” I began, my voice low and urgent, “it confirmed everything. Jonah’s claims are baseless. You have to tell the full truth. Testify against him.”
Lindqvist wrung his hands, his gaze flicking toward a black sedan idling across the street. A flicker of fear, not just discomfort, crossed his features. “Grace, you don’t understand the forces at play here. Jonah Cross has… influence. He is not a man to be trifled with.”
“He’s trying to steal Mother Abigail’s legacy!” I pressed. “You owe it to her, to the Order, to expose his lies.”
His eyes darted to the sedan again, then back to me, full of terror. “I can’t. I simply cannot. My family…” He trailed off, his mouth working silently.
Suddenly, the sedan door opened. Jonah Cross stepped out, his face a mask of cold fury. He hadn’t even waited for us to leave the courthouse perimeter. He must have been watching.
Lindqvist gasped, his entire body stiffening. He took a frantic step back from me, as if my very presence was toxic.
“Mr. Lindqvist,” Jonah said, his voice deceptively calm, “it seems you’re having an unauthorized conversation. One that directly impacts the Order’s legal standing.”
Lindqvist practically crumpled. “No, Brother Jonah! I was just… I was just explaining the futility of her efforts. I assured her you are in the right.”
Jonah’s gaze shifted to me, heavy and dangerous. “Grace Kincaid. Still sowing discord. Still refusing to accept the clear will of the elders.”
Before I could respond, two burly men emerged from the sedan, moving with practiced efficiency. They were the same men I’d seen guarding Jonah’s compound.
“We have paperwork,” one of them said, his voice flat. He presented a document to me, “Guardianship petition. Filed by the Order council. Citing mental instability and a history of unsound judgment. You’re coming with us.”
My blood ran cold. Jonah hadn’t just predicted this; he had prepared for it. Lindqvist’s betrayal, whether intentional or born of terror, had sealed my fate. The men took my arms, their grip firm, as Lindqvist scurried away, avoiding my gaze. My protests were futile, lost in the busy street. I had walked straight into Jonah’s trap, and now, my freedom was gone.
⚠️ BAD ENDING / GAME OVER
Your attempt to secure an ally resulted in your swift confinement and loss of liberty. 👈 Click to return to CHAPTER 3A to choose a different path
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