Part 2
Detectives confronted Travis with Vanessa’s notebook.
He broke down.
“Yes,” he whispered. “I obeyed him.”
But Travis insisted obedience had never meant loyalty.
During the first years, Corbin fought Bennett openly.
He cursed him.
Refused rituals.
Tried to escape.
Colby went the opposite direction.
He became quiet.
Withdrawn.
Barely ate.
Travis watched both of them deteriorate.
And made a terrible calculation.
Resistance would kill him.
So he became what Bennett wanted.
A disciple.
He memorized Bennett’s religious teachings.
Followed rituals.
Worked without complaint.
Smiled for photographs.
When ordered to supervise chores, he obeyed.
The more convincing his submission became, the more freedom Bennett gave him.
Sometimes Travis secretly shared his extra food with his friends.
But Colby could not always see that.
