Chapter 4 Ordered By Letters 1

• Desperate to clear himself of whatever mess he'd just got into, Grey returned to The Fiery Serpent church—eager to return the contents of the letter (the gun hidden in his dress), and go back to his normal way of living, which could involve prison time. The gateman directed Grey to the pastor's office inside the church.
• Grey spotted the pastor come out through a door he assumed was his office, then ran up to him.
• "Sir! Excuse me, sir."
• The pastor turned to face him.
• "Someone made a mistake," Grey came to a stop, trying to explain. "I am a first-timer in your church, and I was given this creepy envelope. Somehow, I think someone's tithe was given to me."
• Grey showed him the contents.
• The pastor looked at him with keen interest, then said, "I think you're mistaken son. I personally oversaw the arrangement of each envelope. I know what I put in there. The church bulletin and a daily guide were all we put in there with some invite fliers for your friends. We don't conceal money and all these in envelopes. We can't afford such."
• "You see pastor, I thought the same thing. Just check—ask a member—official—anyone may have tampered with something."
• The pastor shook his head. "The Lord is your strength, son."
• "I killed a man," Grey said, slightly raising his voice. "I killed someone, sir. Look at the contents." He opened the envelope. "This watch spoke to me. A lady spoke through this wristwatch."
• The pastor refused to look into the envelope, but simply stared at Grey, took both his hands which were shaky as he still clutched the envelope.
• Hoping the pastor provides him comfort by saying it was all a joke, then he'll wake. Instead, the pastor said to Grey, "Killers don't tell anyone they are murderers. And ladies don't speak through watches. Stop day drinking, son. Stop it." The pastor released his hands, Grey watched him leave.
• This man thought he was only imagining things, huh? He wondered whom he would tell that would believe him then. A better idea came to mind. Grey didn't want to scare the pastor with the gun which he hadn't brought out when he explained. Instead, Grey ran to the altar, deposited the envelope, got out the silencer he dropped close to it, then left the church. Grey thanked the gateman on his way out, flagged a taxi, and was happy to leave this environment thankful he had deposited the envelope back there.
• When he arrived at his lodge, Grey noticed his dead neighbour's room was slightly opened. Grey thought to close it before he'd be discovered, but something caught his eyes. His neighbour's body was no longer there, neither were there bloodstains on the floor. Was he losing his mind? Was something playing tricks with him? Someone passed him, he turned…it was one of the guys living in the lodge. Grey thought to ask, thought against it, then finally concluded.
• "Hey!"
• The boy turned.
• "Did you see Anthony today?"
• The boy shook his head. "I thought you knew."
• "Knew what?" Grey knew he was busted. This boy was about to say he just saw him shoot Anthony.
• "Anthony moved out yesterday."
• "What?"
• "Ah. He told my guys. Most of us wished him goodbye and all."
• Grey didn't know where this was going. He had called his name, Anthony had opened to him, even more, Grey had shot him. All that was just an hour ago...could he really be losing his mind? Something definitely seemed off.
• Grey simply nodded, thanked the guy who turned to leave, opened his door, and got in. He closed his eyes, processed all that had happened, then began undressing. He passed something on the table, Grey walked back, turned...it was another envelope, brown as the first.
• Grey stood rooted on the spot for some seconds, his joints gently quivering. He walked up to the table, ignored the fact he was perspiring heavily. He rubbed his eyes, face, cleaned his moist hand on his dress, then took up the envelope...his hands still shaky, leaving wet prints on the envelope. It must have arrived when they came to clean up Anthony's body. How had they gotten into his room? He never shared keys with anyone, not that his padlock could be trusted.
• Grey tore the envelope open, it carried the contents of the first envelope, but this letter seemed different and untouched. He took it out, then straightened it to read:
• Dear Mr. Garrett,
• You were told to stay in your room and await your next mission. For your violation, your assignment begins now. You're to take the gun in your drawer, walk out to the road, and just keep on walking.
• Should you refuse to do as told, someone is on their way to kill you. Choose wisely.
• Yours faithfully,
• The Secret.
• The watch began to tick. Grey's soul left him. He could do as told, but then he thought it through. He was a Christian, taught never to murder as all killers would go to hell. Grey had done what he would never conceive even for his worst enemy, and he had killed his neighbour when he was told to love his neighbour as himself. He refused to kill anyone, and he would never believe whoever was trying to mess with his life.
• Grey went down on his knees. "This is not the life you promised me, Jesus. I am sorry for sinning against you. I come to you asking for your forgiveness. I killed a—"
• He stopped praying on noticing someone was picking on the lock. He rose with serious focus, walked to his drawer, there was another silencer, he took it out and rolled under his bed, the person came in.
• Grey watched the person's footsteps, saw the door close, then a click sound, indicating the door had been locked.
• This was probably a professional, and Grey was going to die. He made a silent prayer as the person stepped into his bathroom. He heard the kitchen door open, then the voice of a man say, "Ah, under the bed."