Max Cady x Reader | Murder in the name of a loving God
Part I | Part II
TW: abusive relationship, emotional abuse, gaslighting, twisted religious beliefs, horror, violence, death. (you have no idea how difficult and disturbing it was to write this 😢)
The weather is gloomy, and rain clouds are getting ready to pour forth rain.
You turn on the radio as you watch the fields pass by. There are some disquieting cross-shaped placards planted amid the wildflowers, hand-painted, on which they read some phrases, most of them are questions about eternal life and soul redemption. You raise an eyebrow and turn to Max.
“Where are we going?”
Max initially ignores you, turns off the radio, then finally answers your question. “You’ll see.”
You stare at him, dumbfounded. You start feeling anxious.
“Max, please, tell me where you’re taking me…”
“Home.”
“Home?” you repeat, puzzled. You know he’s not taking you home, or at least not what you consider your home.
“Max, everything’s alright?” you keep asking as he remains silent and stares at the road. You can tell he’s upset. You sigh deeply. You’re about to burst into tears.
“Max, please… I beg you, answer me!” you want to take his hand, but you’re afraid he might lose his temper and do something bad. “Did I do something wrong?” you finally ask.
Max abruptly brakes, pulls over to the side of the road, and stares at you through his sunglasses. “You tell me.”
You gasp in shock and quickly lower your gaze. Your mind is racing, but you are unable to recall anything. “I’m sorry…” you apologize, even though you don’t know for what.
He takes off his sunglasses and looks at you, disappointed. “For what? Are you sorry for what?”
“I don’t know, Max.” you admit, ashamed.
“You don’t know… See, that’s the problem. I respect you, but you don’t respect me.”
“No, Max, that’s not true.” your eyes well up with tears, and you gingerly touch his arm, but Max ignores you.
“Then why were you flirting with that guy earlier?”
“What? What guy? I didn’t flirt at all.”
He clicks his tongue in disapproval. “I saw you—the way you were looking at him.”
“Max, listen to me, I—I only care about you. You know that I need you more than anything. Okay, I’m sorry, if I upset you. Please, forgive me…”
When Max doesn’t reply, you start to worry.
“I didn’t do anything wrong!” you yell, exasperated, and try to walk out of the car.
Max glares at you. “Where do you think you’re goin’?” he asks, grabbing your arm.
“I need to pee…”
“Can’t you wait?”
“No, I’ll be right back…”
He lets you go, and you walk across the field, hiding behind a large bush. You look around and spot some trees and a barn in the distance. You look back, then start rushing to the barn.
Max is patiently waiting for you. “Come on, darlin’. It’s getting late.” No reply. “Look, I’m sorry… Darlin’?” he raises an eyebrow and begins to get suspicious. “Darlin’?” he gets out of the car, grabs the handcuffs from beneath his seat, and walks around the bush and freezes. You’re not there. He looks around and spots you as you enter the barn. “You little bitch…”
The barn looks abandoned. You go inside and look around for a place to hide. You spot some large wooden boxes and hide behind them, crawling on the ground. Your breath is heavy, and your heart starts pounding.
Suddenly you hear footsteps and cover your mouth to avoid whimpering. Your eyes well up with tears again, then you hear his voice and stop breathing.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” singsongs Max, walking slowly. “Daddy knows you’re here. It’s alright, honey. I’m not angry at you, why should I? I’m not gonna hurt you, I promise.”
You know he’s lying. His mellifluous voice sends shivers all over your body. Footsteps get closer and closer, and your heartbeat gets faster.
“Darlin’? I’m sorry for earlier. It’s not your fault, I swear. C’mon, come to Daddy!”
You’re about to believe his words and come out in order to bury your face in his chest, longing for his touch, his arms wrapping around you in a protective hug. You need him to make you feel safe and accepted again. You resist yourself, even if it’s very hard. You just want this to end.
“I was tellin’ ya’ the truth before. I am taking you home. You ain’t happy, sweetheart?” he keeps talking as he comes closer. “Do you wanna play hide and seek, huh? My lil’ girl wanna play and Daddy’s gonna find her…”
You try to remain still and quiet, but you’re so frightened that you start shaking uncontrollably. You look around for another way out, but you are unable to move. You suddenly jolt when you hear Max sigh deeply, right next to you, and immediately you see his shoes. You lower your gaze and try to cover yourself with your arm.
Max is towering over you, just smiling. “There you are, sweetheart.” he says softly as he lightly smoothes your hair. Your heart races, and you tremble, closing your eyes. His fingers stroke your cheek, you keep your eyes closed and stay still.
“Please, don’t hurt me. I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll be a good girl, but please don’t hurt me…” you whimper.
“Poor little thing, you cried… don’t worry, a promise is a promise. Everything’s gonna be okay. Daddy’s here, now. You wanna a hug?”
You find yourself nodding. Max gently holds your arm and helps you up, then he wraps you in his arms. You start sobbing as you feel sorry.
“Ssh, it’s alright. Why did you run away?”
“I was scared, I’m sorry…”
“It’s alright.”
“You’re not mad at me?”
“No, honey.” he lifts your chin and gives you a lusty kiss. And you let your guard down, calming down. You no longer tremble.
“Max?”
“Yes, darlin’?”
“I—uhm, I respect you. You’re very important to me and I—well, I did something for you.”
Max looks at you with interest.
You inhale deeply and begin quoting a psalm. “He restores my soul. He leads me—” you close your eyes and try to remember it well. “—he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
Max is so surprised. “Well, well, well… I’m impressed, honey. I think you did your homework. When did you learn that?”
“Last night, while you were asleep.” you smile shyly. You spent the whole night flipping through his Bible and memorizing the psalm over and over. You know he would have appreciated that.
Max nods and smile, satisfied. “What about the other psalms? Do you still remember them?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good girl… I’m so proud of you.”
You blush as he leans in for another kiss. You can't help but smile.
“Well, I think you might be ready. You’re gonna adore your new home.”
“Is it far?”
“No, sweetie—oh, I almost forgot: aren’t you afraid of snakes, are you? Not that it matters that much… ”
“What?” you don’t understand.
“You’ll get used to it.” he shrugs. “Now, shall we go, honey?” he offers you his hand. “It's gettin' late, so...”
You hesitate. You’re confused and don’t know what he’s talking about. Why is he being so evasive about this new home? Where exactly is he taking you? Suddenly you realize everything: all those crosses you’ve seen along the way, his speeches about taking you home, his home or whatever he means by it. And the fear you’ve been feeling, how bad you’ve gotten, how much you want to please him because you need his approval more than anything else. You no longer know if you can really trust him. You only know you have no control over yourself.
“No.” you find in yourself the courage to rebel against him.
“No? Did I hear you right?” he stiffens.
“I—” you hesitate again.
“It’s alright, honey. It’s normal to be afraid, but I’m here. I’m not gonna leave you, y’ know that.”
His gentle tone of voice confuse you.
“No, I said.” you convince yourself that you can stand up to him.
Max simply smiles, then abruptly grabs your arm, pulls you towards him, and puts a hand on your head. “I forgive you, sweetie. Now, just do as Daddy says.” the smile fades from his face. “You don't wanna upset me, do you?”
You suddenly feel anger bursting inside you. You hate him, you hate how he’s looking at you, and how he’s manipulating you.
“Don’t fucking touch me, you bastard!” you yell, wriggling to get free. He holds you tightly and forces you to kiss him, his hand gripping your chin to make you open your mouth. You bite his lips, Max groans, letting you go. “Naughty girl… are you suggesting something? Mmh?” but before he can stop you, you scratch his face with your nails. Max grabs your wrists, you try to wriggle out of his grip, but he keeps you from moving.
“You’re a sick, twisted man! You’re just a piece of shit, Max.”
“You poor thing, did you really think you could hurt me? It’s just a little scratch…” he chuckles as he checks his face. His fingers, covered in blood, stroke your face, leaving traces of blood on your cheek.
“You have no power over me, not anymore.” you yell before spitting in his face. Max is shocked. He loosens his grip, and you take your chance, pushing him aside and backing away. “You don’t own me.” you look around for some kind of weapon to use against him.
“After all this time, this is how you pay me back, huh? I’ve committed myself to you and you treat me like this. Daddy’s disappointed, very disappointed… His little girl is really acting very badly.”
“I'm not your little girl!”
You almost trip on something. Your hand reaches for what appears to be a pitchfork.
A thunderclap suddenly strikes, and Max is taken aback for a moment. A heavy downpour begins. You take your chance, lift the heavy pitchfork, and strike Max on the head. He groans in pain and collapses to the ground, but quickly gets up, panting, and staggers towards you. Blood flows from the deep cut on the left side of his head.
You try to hit him again, but he dodges the blow and grabs the pitchfork from your hands, tossing it away. Then he grabs you by the hair.
“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” he recites by heart.
“Down on your knees! Now, take off your clothes. Hurry up!” he yells.
You refuse, whimpering. “No, please… Max, please…”
He pushes you down, and you eventually fall to your knees. You keep sobbing hopelessly.
“Take off your clothes!”
You try to defend yourself, but Max grabs you and rips your shirt open.
“You’re gonna learn to be an animal, to live like an animal and to die like one!” he yells, threatening you.
You are in shock. You don't want to die.
Max notices the fear in your eyes and grins. “But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I had no idea that they were planning to kill me!”
You stare at him wide-eyed, scared.
He looks around and has a sudden twinkle in his eyes, staring at the chain and the gas tank in the barn’s corner. He takes the handcuffs out of his pocket and binds your wrist to a metal ring hammered on the ground.
“Max? Max, please...”
He grabs the tank and begins pouring gasoline around a wooden shaft. Then he grabs the chain and approaches you, smiling.
“You’re gonna burn like the witch you are. The fire will purify your soul from your sins.”
He removes your handcuffs and drags you back by pulling your hair. You whimper in fear, trying to wriggle out of his grip. He throws you to the ground as he puts a foot on your back to stop you from escaping.
“Repent for your sins!” he says as he lights up a cigar.
Max is about to pull you up and handcuff you again when a bolt of lightning strikes the barn’s roof, breaking through it and hitting the chain next to you and Max.
The sudden electric discharge throws you against a pile of straw. Max trips over the chain, absorbing the majority of the discharge. He collapses to the ground, unable to move and screaming in excruciating pain. His cigar lands on the gasoline, which ignites istantly.
You get over the shock and stagger to your feet, staring in horror at Max, who is lying on the ground, unconscious. His clothes are in tatters, and his skin is covered in burns. You’re about to drag him away from the flames, but the fire and the smoke are spreading so quickly that you can’t help but flee this living hell.
You cough and tears stream down your cheeks as you run; you stumble, but you immediately get up and walk out of the barn, where the rain soaks you and washes the blood away. You fall to the ground, exhausted, and cry out all your tears and pain. Gradually the rain stops, and the barn goes up in flames. You pant in short breaths, watching it burning.
Max is still inside. A part of you wanted to save him. After all the bad he did to you.
You get up, still coughing. You're covered in bruises and you stagger a bit.
You suddenly realize you’re free, finally free.
Now you can go home, you think as your eyes well up with tears, tears of joy.
