So she said the only thing she could think of to cut through it all. She hated having to do it, but she knew right then that it was the only way to keep these people safe.
"No, I don't think you can. Not against Adam. If he comes here, you won't see him coming. You won't be able to protect anyone. Who is in the house?"
"Me, my wife, our younger son and daughter, and our older daughter."
Paige hated what she had to say next, but she knew that if she didn't, these people would insist on staying here, and that would put them at risk. She had to be harsh about this, because it was the only way to save their lives.
"He'll kill you first," Paige said to the man. "He'll probably do it quickly. Most likely, you won't even see it coming. Adam has taken men as victims before, but given the choice, he seems to prefer women. He'll kill your younger children quickly, too. Your wife and your eldest daughter, though... he likes to tie his victims up, and torture them, until finally their bodies can't take the strain of it anymore."
“Paige, that’s enough,” Christopher said. “That isn’t… you can’t do that.”
It was done, though, and Paige was sure that she’d had the effect she needed to. Paige saw the man swallow, his fear obvious. Even though that was the point of everything Paige had just said, she hated that she’d had to say it.
"You want to protect your family," Christopher said, in a much more conciliatory tone. "But the best way you can do that right now is to take them to a motel for a couple of days, or to visit relatives somewhere. That's how you keep them safe."
"What about our house?" the woman said, obviously not liking the idea of leaving it empty while Adam came to look around.
"We'll take care of it. We’ll make sure that he doesn’t do any damage. Just go," Christopher said.
Paige watched as the couple looked at one another, then nodded. They headed back into the house, the man calling out.
"Kids! I need you to pack a bag. We're going to visit Aunt Rene for a couple of days!"
He was obviously trying to make it sound like an exciting adventure, but Paige could hear the note of fear in his voice. While they started to make preparations, Paige turned to Christopher.
"I hate having to scare people like that."
Christopher nodded. “It’s hard to play the bad guy, but if it keeps them safe, it's worth it.”
And now they were going to be there instead.
"If we're here, that's going to mean he's coming after us, isn't it?" she said.
"Yes. But it's better than the alternative. You don’t have to be here, though, Paige.”
“I want to be,” Paige replied, instantly.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I,” she shot back. “If you have to take me back, he could come while you’re doing it. And what if I’m wrong again? What if I go home, and he comes for me?”
She didn’t want to be home alone. Not tonight.
“All right,” Christopher said with a sigh. “Looks like we’re waiting here together. Adam will come, and we'll be waiting for him."