by Ellie Aiden
With a quick kiss on the forehead and a promise, Cody is gone.
***
After Cody leaving, Ash and I are left alone sitting on the couch, and for quite some time no one speaks. Eventually, the two of us share what happened in the basement. I was right about Ash getting the worst of things. Not only did she receive six spankings by his bare hand, but that asshole then slid his hand up her dress, massaging and caressing her upper thighs. Unlike me, Ash fought back, leading to the limp she is currently suffering with. Her ankle is swollen and purple, and she has a hand shaped bruise from the tight grip he used on her right arm. She sobbed when she told me that when he finally subdued her, he undid the top two buttons of her dress, slipping his hand inside, kissing her neck and ear, then whispering warnings.
“He…said, if I was a go-od girl, this wou-ldn’t be hap-pening, Anna.” Her words are followed by a hiccup, and barely audible through her sobs.
Pulling her to me once more I try to console her. “He basically said the same thing to me. But it doesn’t matter Ash. He won’t ever hurt either one of us again. If we have to fight our way out of this Church, then so be it.”
“What if Chase isn’t okay?”
I want to reassure her, but before I get a single word out, the front door opens and the man in question rushes in. Sliding to the floor and pulling Ash into his lap, he frantically searches her face for answers.
They’re both crying now, but Ash speaks first. “I’m okay Chase. Just, glad you’re here. Can we, go to my room?” She looks to her brother and then to me, hoping we will understand.
I don’t think she’s looking to make-out, I know it’s innocent. I imagine she wants to tell him what happened, and to give him the opportunity to tell his story in private. Is it possible the Enforcer did to Chase what was done to us?
I’m sitting on the couch ten minutes later eating a bowl of canned fruit salad Cody snuck out of the Mess Hall, when I hear a shout from the other side of Ash’s bedroom door.
“That mother fucker! He’s fucking dead.”
The door to her room flies open, nearly breaking the hinges, and Chase storms out. His face is an unnatural shade of red, with a vein bulging out of his forehead. Ash is scrambling behind him on his mad dash to the front door. Her and Cody both attempt to stop him from leaving, but it’s no use. The front door slams shut, and my friend collapses into a heap on the floor.
Well this isn’t good.
CHAPTER 13 — FLOWER CUDDLES
Ash never really calms down after Chase leaves, but she does manage to fill us in on what Chase told her. As Ash was being taken down to the basement with the Enforcer, and I waited nervously on the hall bench, David took Chase to his room. And then, that was it. When he asked David what was going on, he was told he couldn’t be blamed for succumbing to the influence of two attractive women, especially at his age. That he should however, stay away from both of us, lest he make our punishment worse.
Succumbing to the influence of two attractive women? Are you kidding me? Sexist pig.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful Chase wasn’t hurt, but the fact that the blame along with punishment, was placed solely on us, simply because we’re woman well, it only speaks to the corruption inside the Church of The Way. Aren’t men supposed to protect woman? Not that I or Ash for that matter need protecting, but still. The whole thing stinks of shit, and makes it pretty clear the Elders are hand selecting certain biblical guidance’s, while discarding others.
Talking this until we’re blue in the face, Ash asks me if I mind giving her a few hours alone. I know she’s exhausted and just needs some privacy, so I don’t mind. To be honest, I could use a timeout as well.
The rest of the day seems to drag on, and I don’t accomplish anything other than a couple thirty minute naps, not even having the strength or energy to go to dinner with my family, but Mother manages to con the Hag out of a small bowl of steamed rice, along with some chicken broth, so I don’t go hungry.
I’ve just finished my last bite when my mother steps into the room carrying a bundle of wildflowers. Aww, well that was nice of her.
“Thank you Mother, but really, I’m fine. I’m only feeling a little tired today, probably just stressed about my Placement.”
I can’t read the look that crosses her face. Was that confusion, or suspicion?
“They aren’t from me, sweetie,” she says, crossing to my bed and placing them in my hand.
Ash really shouldn’t have then. Actually, I should be the one bringing her flowers. The bundle is full of blue, purple, and orange wild flowers, with sprigs of greenery throughout, and wrapped in a shimmery paper I’ve never seen before.
“Ash then?” I ask, pulling the flowers closer to inhale the sweet scent.
“No, not Ash.”
In the center of the bundle lays a single yellow rose, it kind of reminds me of…
“Who then?” It can’t possibly be. There’s no way he could have gotten in.
“Anna, this isn’t a good idea.”
I don’t have time for this. “Who Mother!”
Shaking her head I think she won’t tell me, but just before I’m about to shake it out of her, she softly speaks. “A boy.”
What boy? Why is she being so frustrating?
“I didn’t recognize him Anna, but he had a very unusual hair color.”
Before she can finish the sentence I’m up, dropping the flowers in my haste. I don’t even bother with shoes before I’m running. This shouldn’t be possible, not to mention dangerous, but I know deep down, Luke is here.
My feet barely hit the ground as I run out of our apartment and into the hall. With a quick scan its empty and I’m off again, running toward the main hall. There are so many exits in this building, it’s impossible to know which way he went, but I have to try. Turning several corners I hardly run into anyone, much less Luke.
He’s not in the building unless he’s hiding in a room, but that could take hours to search behind every door. No, he wouldn’t stay in the building. If it was Luke, however he managed to get in, it had to have been dangerous. Which means, he wouldn’t have stuck around, but not knowing how he got in, makes it impossible to know how he’ll get out.
My best bet is to search outside. It would be nearly impossible to climb one of the walls, but I guess it’s possible. The walls surrounding the Compound are at least twenty feet tall, made of a concrete material with a stucco like finish. In each corner stands a turret, with no less than two guards twenty-four hours a day. Approaching the east wall I see no footholds, so unless he had secured a rope on the other side, this doesn’t make sense. I can’t imagine him just walking in and out of the front gates.
If he’s still in the Compound, then he has to be hiding somewhere, and short of searching every building and every room, the only other possibility would be the wooded area on the northeast corner of the property. I’m not far from there now, so turning I make my way, staying close to the wall, hoping the shadows will be enough to keep me hidden. If I’m caught here, even alone, after last night’s fiasco, this could be the end for me.
Seeing the line of trees come into few ahead, I scan every visible inch, looking for any sign of movement. Nothing. It takes less than ten minutes to search the whole area, and in the end I come up empty.
Plopping down in the dead grass, praying I’m well covered by the dense foliage, and leaning against the cold concrete wall, I try to decide what this means. Luke wouldn’t have known what had happened last night, unless he had been in the Compound already, or unless he knows someone inside, but even that is stretching. He already risked being caught just by being here, but then coming to our apartment, letting my mother see him, and for what? To give me a bouquet of flowers and then just disappear? Why not talk to me? Why do all that just to bail?
What if the flowers had nothing to do with last night?
Well, at least one question is answered. He definitely remembers me.
It isn’t going to d
o me any good to sit out here in the cold. In my haste, I’m not wearing shoes or a coat. Standing, I make way along the edge, running my hand along the wall for guidance, when something catches my eye a few feet in front of me. Embedded in the concrete wall is a hook. I don’t know a lot about climbing, but it looks like it could be used to guide rope up the wall. Looking up, I see one more before my eyes reach the top.
Pulling on one, there’s no way it’s coming out. The hook itself is part of a massive screw that’s been embedded in the wall, and after pulling again it seems pretty deep. Did Luke use this to climb the wall? No way he just attached these tonight, these look like they’ve been here for quite some time, the one closest to me covered in rust. So, does that mean people have been sneaking in and out of the Compound for years?
Regardless, Luke is long gone now. I need to head back to my room and get some rest. Tomorrow, we need to figure out what kind of damage Chase has done, and bigger picture, how the hell we are going to expose what the Elders have been doing, without losing our lives.
***
Getting back to my room was no easy task. I had to duck into rooms twice to avoid Elders. The first time, dashing into a community bathroom when Mutter Vera stepped out of the Vater’s office, and the second time, rolling my ankle when I heard the Enforcers voice from just down the hall. Luckily, the kitchen is empty this time of night, allowing me to hide until his voice faded away.
Back in my room, I change out of my dress and into a pair of sleep shorts and a t-shirt. It’s nearly midnight, which means I won’t be getting much sleep tonight, what with me having early kitchen duty tomorrow. On my bed lays the beautifully bundled wild flowers. Can you cuddle flowers? Because I wanna cuddle flowers.
Pulling the covers up to fully encase me and the flowers in their safety, something falls from just beneath the yellow rose and lands on my chest. Shoving the covers back and sitting up, I see it’s a small folded slip of paper. This boy left me a message explaining, and I just spent the last few hours running around the Compound like a crazy person. I swear.
Inside is a hand written note.
To: Anna
I wanted to thank you for the warning.
There are things you need to know about
the Elders. Not just here, but in the other
Compounds as well. This is bigger than
you know.
Come to Bonham. I’ll be waiting.
See you soon,
From: The Admirer of the Girl with the Lamp.
When I read the signature, admirer of the girl with the lamp, my heart skips a beat. I want nothing more than to run from my room, scale the walls, and head straight to Luke, never looking back. I know that’s not possible, but a girl can dream.
And squeezing the note to my chest, then closing my eyes, that’s exactly what I do.
***
The following morning I wake to the sun shining in through my bedroom window. Stretching and letting out a yawn, I look for the note. I must have shoved it under my pillow in the night, because that’s where I find it. I need to find some place safe to hide it. Elder Thompson is already gunning for Luke, I’m honestly surprised he isn’t dead already, but then again, I don’t really know what Luke is capable of. So while someone finding this note wouldn’t immediately point to Luke, at the very least, I would be in trouble. Not to mention, if they know I’m even considering leaving, they would start watching me like a hawk. I can’t imagine Elder Thompson will be happy if he loses his payday.
Leaving the warmth and safety of my bed, I look around for a possible hiding place. There isn’t much to choose from in here. Our rooms are pretty sparse. Mine has a full size bed with the head pushed flush with the wall, a small bed side table with nothing on it, but the flowers from Luke, and a lamp with a green base and cream colored shade. On the other side of the room sits my dresser, with an oval shaped mirror attached. The only other thing in my room is the tiny closet. It doesn’t need to be big, I only own six dresses. The dresses hang from a rod that’s stretched from one wall to the next, and above it is a small shelf. Hey, so that’s where Malibu Barbie was.
Moving her aside, I see there’s a crack in between the shelf and the back wall. Seems like the best option. Folding the note three more times, its fits perfectly in the space. Hopefully, no one will be in my room anyway, much less my closet.
After a quick shower and no less than ten minutes deciding on my yellow dress for the day, I head to the kitchen. Ash is also on shift in the kitchen this morning, but surely Cody will make some excuse for her.
When I walk in five minutes early, she isn’t here, but everyone else is, and I do mean everyone. Vater Henry stands closest to the entrance reviewing a document, Mutter Vera on his other side. Elder Thompson sits on a stool near the center island, staring at me. My mother and father stand huddled together with Cody in the furthest corner from me, and the Hag stands a few feet away, but instead of preparing todays meals, she too stares at me.
Before I have a chance to speak, Vater Henry beats me to it. “My Child, it seems we need to have a talk, but I thought under the circumstances we best do it some place less traumatic, and with your good parents present. I have already spoken with Ash this morning, and she’s now back home resting.”
My brain is running a million miles a minute, wondering what this could possibly be about. If I was in trouble, I would think the Enforcer would be here, the fact that he isn’t, is telling. My parents haven’t been involved in any conference with me since I was eight. After that, I assume they thought I could handle myself. Whatever it is, clearly involves Ash. Is this about Luke, and why would the kitchen be less traumatic than his office?”
“Would you like to sit, my child?”
Absolutely not. I’m gonna just stand right here, next to the exit, or should I move to the other side of the room? That door leads outside.
I need to respond though, the number of eyes on me right now is unnerving.
“I’ll stand here, if it’s alright.”
He nods, but over his shoulder Mutter Vera sneers in my direction. “Of course it’s all right. We want to make sure you, are comfortable.”
Oh, this is bad. Is this like a final meal?
“I am aware of an incident that occurred last night.” He pauses, maybe for dramatic effect? “Between you, and Elder Jim.”
My body is visibly trembling, and its instantly difficult to breathe. Why in the world would they talk to a sexual assault victim in front of a room full of people? Is this what they did to Ash?
“Could you tell us what happened, Anna?” Elder Thompson asks. I think he’s getting off on this. Fuck that.
“No!” My mother visibly winces with the tone of my exclamation.
With a snarl, Elder Thompson questions my refusal. “And why is that, need to get your story straight with Chase and Ash first?”
“That’s enough!”
I’ll be honest, I have never, and I do mean never, heard my father yell, and at an Elder, this is definitely uncharted territory. It seems I’m not the only one shocked by his outburst, every head in the room now stares at him.
“Vater Henry, forgive me. You know myself and my wife have the utmost respect for you, the Elders, and The Way, but this is simply going too far. This conversation should be had with my family and you alone. I cannot understand why we would subject Anna to this, with this many onlookers. This should not be a spectacle.”
I just love how my Father can tell an entire room full of people off, all while still being respectful. I did not inherit that gene.
“Of course, you’re right.” Vater Henry nods his understanding to the Elder and two Elder-Wives. That’s their cue to leave. The only one who hesitates, Elder Thompson, but then he too walks past me, his shoulder brushing against mine. I’m inclined to take that as a threat.
Cody is the last to exit, whispering as he walks past, “It’s okay.”
Well, that makes me feel a little better.
“Now
Anna, I understand this is difficult, but under the circumstances, I cannot help you if I do not know what happened. I need the full story.” Again he motions for me to sit, and again I refuse. “It was reported to me this morning, by a member of your Father’s team, an intern actually, that while you did break several rules, your punishment was quite inappropriate. Is that true?”
Of course it’s true, but I don’t know what Ash told him, and I don’t really want to have this conversation. It’s not like they will cast the Enforcer out. If I tell Vater Henry what happened, the Elder could come after me, only next time, I know it will be worse.
I don’t speak for some time, trying desperately to keep the tears from falling, but eventually they do fall.
“Oh my child, I’m so sorry. You don’t need to give me details. Just tell me if it was inappropriate. That will be enough for me.”
I’m barely able to nod, choking out a, “Yes,” through a sob.
He believes me about the Enforcer, but if I tell him the Mutter and Elder Thompson knew, would that change his mind?
Before I can make a decision he speaks again. “I will take care of this. You needn’t worry my child. Now go rest, you’re excused from lessons and any shifts you may have for the remainder of the week.”
Both of my parents cross the room, my Mother wrapping her arm around my shoulders leading me away.
My mother is trying to stop her own tears, as I let my mine fall freely. I wasn’t expecting any of that. I wasn’t emotionally prepared.
When my mother speaks, it startles me. “Oh, Anna. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry it happened, and even more sorry you felt like you couldn’t tell us, at least me.”
I knew she would be upset about that, but I don’t know what to do about it. So instead I stay silent other than a few sniffles, and continue down the hall.
CHAPTER 14 — THAT WAS SARCASM
For two days I don’t leave my room, and no one other than Ash comes to visit. Not like I have any other friends, and Chase doesn’t count. Apparently, when Chase left Ash’s apartment the other night, he flew off the deep end, finding the Enforcer and attacking him in front of two other Elders, all while screaming, you touched her, you piece of shit. According to Ash, the Elders drug him off the other man, taking him to one of the old cells they use to use for punishment, back when the Compound was first built, a jail. Apparently, Elder Berry, one of the two witnesses, told Vater Henry he should speak to Chase personally, he was afraid this wasn’t just a case of a mental breakdown. Otherwise, I think Chase might have rotted in that cell. Once the Vater spoke to Chase and learned what happened, he went straight to Ash, who had no problem telling him everything.