“Farmer Church!” Keeper Marie shouted as she placed her hands angrily on her hips.
I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me. I wanted to turn, but I was too afraid. If our eyes met, Commander Godfrey would take me away for being disobedient. For breaking the rules.
Keeper Marie didn’t realize she’d saved me. If she’d known, she probably would have kept her mouth shut.
“Let’s get back to work,” Keeper Marie said as I approached. “We’re going to lollygag much less from now on. You don’t need to wander that far off.”
“Sorry, Mum,” I said, keeping my eyes on my feet.
I followed behind the others, leaving the park and making our way back to the lake. The urge to look over my shoulder was incredibly strong. I tried to fight it, but I failed.
Commander Godfrey smiled as we left. My breathing stopped. He hadn’t come after me even though our eyes had locked. He could have pulled me away and punished me, but he didn’t.
I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it one bit.
9
Where was Hawk? Tyler and Irish seemed just as concerned as I was, but not enough to ask questions. That, of course, wasn’t unusual.
Was it possible that Watcher Jones had been able to sneak him to the Capital? I’d assumed we’d leave together, but maybe that wasn’t the case. Maybe he had to go when he was told.
Of course, there was always the option I didn’t want to think about. That something went wrong, or that Hawk was in trouble somewhere.
I’d have to try to find out more about what happened, although I wasn’t entirely sure how. Watcher Jones would have the answers. All I’d have to do was find him, but I hadn’t seen him around either.
“Ladies,” Keeper Marie said as she opened the door to our cabin. We must have worked longer as darkness was falling quickly. “The Capital has insisted upon providing all the workers with a parade. It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long since the last, but it is what the Capital wants.”
“Wonderful news,” Ivy said, clasping her hands together and bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Such a Blessing for us all.”
“Yes, indeed,” Keeper Marie said. “It is a Blessing, and as far as I’m concerned, it isn’t one that is deserved at this juncture.”
Silenced fill the room. I felt Ivy’s energy breeze by as it disappointedly left the cabin.
“They’re pleased with all your hard work, but sadly I am not,” Keeper Marie looked down her nose at Steph and then at me.
I bit down on my cheek. Her feelings on the matter didn’t have anything to do with Steph or me, they were rooted in the conversation I’d overhead her have with Commander Godfrey.
“Of course, the Capital always has the final say regardless of our reports to them,” Keeper Marie said. “This is a reminder to all four of you two be on your best behavior.” She straightened her spine. “I know you will be. There will be consequences if any of you let me down.”
There was one good thing about the news of the parade, though. It was possible I’d see that guy again—the one that looked like my brother.
“Let’s come together and pray to our Mother,” Keeper Marie said, flapping her hands toward us.
Ivy took her hand and Steph’s. I bit down reluctantly as I took Keeper Marie’s hand. Farmer Watson stepped between Steph and me and completed the circle.
“Good,” Keeper Marie said. “Oh, dear Mother, please, hear us….”
Keeper Marie’s voice faded. Everything was suddenly so different. The change in Steph had made everything in the cabin dark, sad, and depressing.
Normally she’d be excited about a parade. She liked to see the celebrities from the Capital. But Steph wasn’t the same person anymore. Maybe the parade would help her come back to us.
I tossed and turned, flipping between sleep and awake. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him. His features were so familiar. A man that looked just like a grown version of my younger brother Mason.
It took forever for the sun to kiss the horizon and the temperature to turn the cabin into an oven. I brushed my hair and straightened my smock, even though there was no way to look nice. It wasn’t like looking nice would help him recognize me.
Mason must have known I’d been sent to the farms. They probably were told to forget about me. Then again, after what I did, they probably wanted to forget all about me.
As I stood there waiting for Keeper Marie, my thoughts drifted to Watcher Brody. I still didn’t know what had happened to him. He wouldn’t be at the parade. It would be nice if I could find out what happened to him. If he was even still alive.
He’d fired his gun. There was a good chance he was working as a servant or had been hung.
My lips pressed together as Keeper Marie knocked before entering. She must have felt like being polite today. Knocking wasn’t something she often bothered with.
“Morning Blessings, ladies!” Keeper Marie said. “It’s a wonderful day for a parade. A few degrees cooler than yesterday, I think. Everyone must have done a great job for the Mother to give us such a wonderful Blessing.” She flashed us each a wide grin. “Perhaps it was our prayer she’d heard.”
Ivy’s lips curled at the end, and she nodded. Ivy was too far lost in The Way of the Mother to ever come out. Brainwashed like everyone else.
Evil. That’s what I was. My thoughts were punishable. Thank the Mother, or whoever, that Keeper Marie couldn’t read my mind.
“You all look very nice,” Keeper Marie said. “The Supreme Lord will be pleased if he spots you. Farmer Church has already received her gift, but maybe he’ll notice you today, Farmer Sterling. Or maybe you Farmer Watson.” Keeper Marie forced a toothy smile at Steph. “Or perhaps it’s your turn, Farmer Ripley.”
Steph didn’t acknowledge her. She kept her head down, waiting to follow the group out to watch the parade. I wasn’t even sure if she’d bother to look up when the important people passed by.
I stepped in line behind Steph and followed at her heels. The back of my throat was dry.
“Steph,” I whispered. “Aren’t you excited for the parade?”
Her shoulders dropped. “I’d be excited if I were in it.”
I hadn’t been able to stop the small laugh that vibrated my lips. Steph turned and glared at me.
“Why is that so funny?” she asked sharply.
Keeper Marie stopped. I looked down at my boots.
“Serious, Farmer,” Steph growled. “Why is that so funny to you?”
“Farmer Ripley, please calm down so that you don’t miss the parade,” Keeper Marie hissed.
Steph turned away, but I could feel the hot anger radiating out from her. The instant Keeper Marie was back to the front of our line, she looked at me over her shoulder.
“I will go back,” Steph said. “And one day, maybe I’ll be in the parade too.”
“You know that’s not possible,” I said, even though maybe she was right.
Maybe there was a chance, but even if we could get back to the Capital, we’d never be allowed to participate in a parade. We wouldn’t be celebrities.
“We’re not all as horrible as you are,” Steph said. “Some of us follow the rules and can find the path to righteousness. Sinners will pay. The Mother will see, and she’ll reward me.”
“You sound like you’ve completely lost your mind,” I said, sucking in a breath. I stepped to the side and hesitated, letting Farmer Watson go ahead of me so I could put a small amount of distance between Steph and me.
It was almost as though her crazy was contagious. And if it was, I didn’t want it.
Even though we’d left early, we weren’t one of the first groups there. The groups at the front of the pack must have come before sunrise to get a good spot. It was mildly surprising Keeper Marie hadn’t been anxious enough to force us to arrive early.
The sun above was hot. I fanned myself with my hand, but it made no difference. Plus, the scowl on Keeper Marie’s face was enough to get me to stop. It felt
like someone had placed hot coals on the top of my head.
When the parade started, a round of oohs and ahhs drifted in the air. Some even clapped with excitement. Ivy, of course, was one of them.
I didn’t give a shit about anyone in the parade but my brother. My eyes darted around, but there wasn’t anyone that even came close to looking like the man I’d seen the last time.
The man that looked like Mason had been with the people from the Temple. If he was in this parade, he’d be with them again.
Gifts were passed out when the Supreme Lord was pulled by in his carriage. I saw him sitting there and looking around at the farmers. His expression was blank as he watched the gifts going out to various individuals.
I was far away from him, but at the same time, it was the closest I’d ever been. His eyes glowed as bright as the sun as he looked out over the crowd.
The Supreme Lord had thin, trimmed facial hair and perfectly pale skin that appeared as though it hadn’t ever been touched by sunlight. His jawline was angled and strong. His eyebrows arched with curiosity even when he smiled and waved at the people.
He was extremely good looking, but it was apparent he knew it. The woman he was with was impossibly gorgeous. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, exposing her delicate neck.
She was smiling, but she didn’t look happy. If anything, the woman looked bored. She was too good to waste her time visiting the farms.
For a split second, it looked as though the Supreme Lord was looking at me. His smile faded, and his brows dropped.
I lowered my head. I shouldn’t have been staring. He’d noticed, and he wasn’t pleased someone as lowly as I was had been so bold.
A Watcher was probably already on his way to collect me. I waited for someone to grab my shoulders and pull me away, but it didn’t happen.
The only thing that happened was a woman, several feet away from me, screamed. I looked up in time to see her faint, dropping the gift she’d been given at her feet.
I dared a glance toward the Supreme Lord, but he’d already moved down the road out of view. No one was coming for me. I smiled and pulled in a breath to fill my lungs. He probably hadn’t been looking at me at all.
The parade was coming to an end. I stood on my tiptoes, trying to get a look at the Scholars from the Temple.
Keeper Marie reached over and slapped the back of my hand. “Control yourself.”
“Sorry,” I said. “It’s the people from the Temple.”
“I didn’t know you cared about the Scholars,” Keeper Marie said, pressing her lips together.
“I didn’t know I did either,” I mumbled.
Keeper Marie bobbed her head. “All right. The Mother would be pleased with your enthusiasm. Just don’t embarrass me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I muttered, biting my lip as I searched for him.
I need to get a better look. I had to get closer.
I turned slightly. Keeper Marie was engaged in a conversation with the Keeper at her side.
I ducked down and squeezed between the two farmers in front of me. They barely seemed to notice. They were both still taking their own peeks at the Supreme Lord’s carriage.
I was near the front of the crowd when my feet stopped. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. So familiar.
Could it be?
No. I wanted to laugh at myself. Make myself go back to my group and forget all this insanity. Perhaps I’d caught Steph’s craziness after all. I spread quickly.
But what if it was him? I had to know.
I charged forward. The crowd of farmers and servants stood shoulder to shoulder, trying to get a closer look at everyone passing by.
I stood on my tip-toes as the man that looked like Mason stepped closer. My eyes brightened as they locked with the man’s gaze.
He smiled, and my mouth opened. The sound that came out was louder than I’d expected.
My hands were shaking. “Mason?”
10
The young man’s brow wrinkled with confusion. Our eyes locked together, but it didn’t last. I was jerked away, his eyes narrowing as they tried to stay focused on me.
Did he recognize me?
“Mason!” I called out again, but I couldn’t see him anymore. The crowd that had parted was now closing in around me as I was pulled backward. They blocked the view of my brother, or rather the man I thought was my brother.
He’d looked so confused, and he hadn’t responded. Surely, I’d made a mistake.
My hands shot up to my neck, clawing at my smock that had been yanked back so far it was choking me. I kicked my legs, trying to regain my footing so I wouldn’t be strangled by my own clothes.
It wasn’t until we were a fair distance from the crowd when I was thrown to the ground like a bin of trash. My body rolled for several feet until coming to an abrupt stop.
Pain shot up my spine from my hip and numbed the back of my skull. I reached up and felt a massive bump on the back of my head.
“What was that about, Farmer?” Commander Godfrey growled. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
He kicked me in the stomach. The acid in my stomach swirled, burning as it made its way up the back of my throat.
“Sorry,” I said, tasting blood.
The back of my hand shot up, pressing against my puffy bottom lip. I pulled it back, unable to focus on the red splotch of blood on the back of my hand.
“You will be,” Commander Godfrey said, spittle sprinkling out between his lips.
“Trust me,” I said bravely. “I already am.”
He slapped me across the face with the back of his hand. The world spun. My surroundings faded and blurred as he jerked me to my feet.
There was another Watcher with us, maybe two, but it could have been the same one, and I was seeing double. It was hard to be sure of anything when it felt as though I was trapped in a dream… no, a nightmare.
I didn’t fight him as he dragged me by the arm. I knew where I was going, even though I couldn’t exactly orient myself. The torture room would welcome me, and the whip would soon tell me hello once again.
One of the Watchers opened the door, and Commander Godfrey shoved me inside. I tripped over my feet and flopped to the floor. My hands stuck out in front of me, helping to break my fall.
“Tie her up,” Commander Godfrey said.
“Yes, sir,” one of the Watchers said as the other picked me up, holding my arms behind my back.
“No,” I said, jerking my arm forward.
A muscle in my shoulder tightened and tensed throughout my neck. My shoulder rolled forward, and it felt like my arm was going to pop right out of its socket.
It took both of the Watchers to tie my wrists together. Commander Godfrey stood back, smirking as I futilely fought against them.
“Her feet too,” he ordered.
“No, please no,” I begged. “It’s not like I can go anywhere anyway!”
They lowered me to the floor, and I jerked my foot upward, making a direct hit between the Watcher’s legs. He squeaked as he doubled over.
Commander Godfrey strong-armed him to the side and grabbed the piece of rope off of the floor. He grabbed my ankles and stared into my eyes as he lifted my legs toward the ceiling. I slid to my back. He smirked at the rage boiling inside my eyes.
“Let’s go,” Commander Godfrey said, jerking his thumb toward the door.
“You can’t leave me here,” I shouted only seconds before the door slammed shut.
Of course, they could leave me there. They could do whatever the hell they wanted, and there wasn’t anything anyone would do about it.
After I caught my breath, I looked around the room, trying to find something I could use to cut the rope. It was a stupid idea because I really couldn’t go anywhere, even if I did manage to cut myself free. Unless, of course, I planned to climb the fence and escape the Capital and farms forever.
But that wasn’t really an option either. It seemed like every choice ended
with me dead. Even waiting for them to return might end with that same result.
The room was empty except for a wooden chair pushed against the wall. I leaned back and exhaled.
My eyelids were heavy. The back of my head pulsed with each beat of my heart. I must have been hit harder than I’d realized. I’d tried to fight it, but I passed out.
A groan escaped from between my lips at the sound of voices. The room was dimly lit, with glowing lanterns positioned in the corners of the room.
Commander Godfrey was back with three Watchers—two of the new ones and Watcher Jones. The sight of Watcher Jones provided me no relief.
“Watcher Davis, Watcher Oliver… put her on the chair,” Commander Godfrey said, crossing his arms. He leaned back against the wall at the door, turning the lock with his fingers.
I was too weak to fight them. No food. No water. And the growing bump on the back of my head didn’t help matters.
They positioned me on the chair with my body facing the back of the chair. My arms were looped around the backrest.
“All right, Watcher Davis, you’re up first,” Commander Godfrey said. “Take the whip.”
“Yes, sir,” Watcher Davis replied with a twinkle of enthusiasm in his voice. I couldn’t turn to see him, but I could easily picture the curl to his lips. “What about her smock?”
“Pull it down,” Commander Godfrey said.
I squeezed my eyes shut and hugged the back of the chair. My body repulsively twitched at his touch.
My collar had been stretched out from when Commander Godfrey had dragged me away from the parade, so I wasn’t surprised when my smock ripped. I hugged the chair tighter.
“Over her head, you idiot,” the other
Watcher said.
“Watch your mouth, Watcher Oliver,” Commander Godfrey growled. “The Watchers are your brothers. Treat them with kindness and respect as you were taught. Watchers are good people who follow the rules and are here because of how committed they are to The Way.”
I turned my head slightly, catching a glimpse of Watcher Jones. With him staring at me the way he was, it was impossible to believe he could be trusted.
After The Fires | Book 2 | The Trials Ahead Page 5