by Chris Ord
‘I thought I’d gone mad.’
Freya put her hand on Gaia’s shoulder.
‘I’m sure you did. The drugs unlock something in your mind, open your thoughts. They take over and you feel as though you’ve lost control. In the right environment they can be amazing, but in the wrong place and the situation we were in last night. I can understand why you panicked.’
Freya sat on a dining chair and faced Gaia who was looking around the room in search of the others. Aran was sleeping in the armchair in the opposite corner. The table was a mess, broken crockery and food scattered on the floor. Ridley and the girls were not there. Gaia spoke.
‘How is Aran?’
‘Aran’ll sleep it off, like you. I’ll wake him soon.’
‘And you?’
Freya grinned, one of her sly, knowing grins.
‘I was fine. I didn’t drink any of the wine. I made it look like I did, but you know me by now I trust no-one. I never liked that slimy bastard from the start. I never trust the righteous, they usually have something to hide.’
An image flashed into Gaia’s head. It was a dim, dreary, candle-lit room, an iron-frame bed, handcuffs, blood stained sheets, a girl chanting, Rebecca. Gaia struggled for a moment, thinking it was a dream, another mad thought. She realised it had been real. An overwhelming sense of pain and sorrow swept through her as Gaia felt the depth of Rebecca’s suffering. An image of Clara flashed into Gaia’s head. Rebecca, Clara, then Rebecca again, the two images jostling until they blurred into one. This was real, all of it.
‘Freya, I saw something last night. Rebecca was in her room.’
‘I know.’
Freya interrupted her, got up from the chair. Leaning forward Freya gripped Gaia’s shoulders. It was a firm grip. Freya let go, knelt beside Gaia and began to stroke her shiny red hair. Gaia was crying, tears trickled from her eyes. Freya wiped her friend’s cheeks, caught them with her fingers, and spoke.
‘Everything is sorted now. We’ll wake Aran, and decide on our next move.’
Freya got to her feet and extended her hand to help her friend up. Gaia took her arm and struggled to her feet, putting her arm over Freya’s shoulder as her feet buckled.
‘I’m still a bit frazzled. Where are Ridley and the girls?’
‘I’ll show you.’
They woke Aran who was still dazed, drifting into other thoughts, wincing at the dark images. Freya explained everything, that it would fade, they would be fine, with the occasional flashback. Freya led Gaia and Aran into the main church area.
Ridley was in front of the table by the large stained window. He was on his knees, hands stretched out straight, tied with a rope across the table. The priest resembled the cross that stood on the table just behind. Ridley’s head was also bowed and he too was bleeding from his face and forehead. At first Gaia thought the old man was dead, but noticed the slow, steady movement of his chest, and heard the rattle of breathing. It was weak and laboured, he looked exhausted, near dead. Freya approached the table.
‘We need to decide what we do with him. I didn’t want to do anything until you woke. You might think I took matters into my own hands.’
Freya looked at Aran, who was still too dazed to catch any hidden meanings. Gaia spoke.
‘Where are the girls?’
‘Ruth and Mary are in a room in the back. Rebecca ran away just before you woke. She slipped out of a door at the back. We need to move quickly. She might have gone to get others.’
Aran’s eyes were still glazed. The decision sat with Gaia and Freya. Gaia spoke.
‘What do you think?’
Freya leant over the old man and grabbed him by the hair, pulling his head back. Gaia could now see his battered face, caked in dried blood. His cheeks and eyes were swollen, his mouth quivered as he snarled at Freya. The priest opened his dry lips, ripping them apart.
‘Have mercy, please. In the name of God have mercy. Leave me here. I can do you no harm.’
Freya sneered at him, pulling his hair tighter. The priest winced with the pain, as Freya pressed her face close to his ear and spat the words at him.
‘Mercy. Is that what you showed Rebecca, Mary, and Ruth? Is that what you call mercy? I’ve been round the back and seen the fresh graves. Did you drug their parents and kill them? What were you planning to do with us? You’re a sick old man hiding behind your words. I’m going to show you our mercy.’
Gaia stepped forward and tugged at Freya’s free arm.
‘Let him go Freya. We need to talk about this, think it through. We’re better than him.’
Freya let go of Ridley’s hair and stepped back. Her eyes were still locked on the priest, her face gripped with fury and disdain. Freya wiped the spit from her mouth and spoke. Her voice was cool and calm, still in control.
‘We’ve got two choices. We leave him and go, or I finish him off.’
Gaia was hesitant, trying to come up with alternatives, but her mind was still a blur.
‘Do you not think there’s been enough killing?’
Freya’s eyes remained focused on the priest, locked in a cold stare.
‘I think there’s been too much death, and too many innocents have died, but this is different. Some people deserve to die.’
Ridley laughed collapsing into a fit of coughing. The old man looked up at Freya, swollen lips trying to force out words, bloodied eyes searching for her face. He mustered the energy, his voice frail.
‘Do what you will. You can’t hurt me. I’ve got God on my side. Whatever happens I’m prepared to face him. It’s only his judgement I recognise. Only he can grant my forgiveness.’
Gaia looked at the priest’s pitiful face. There was a glimmer of pleasure behind the blood and bruising as the old man still clutched his blind passion, even in the last throws of death. Gaia knelt down in front of him, much closer, so he could make out her face.
‘Why’d you do it? Why them? They trusted you. They’re just kids. Why?’
The old man lifted his weary head. Blood filled saliva ran from his cracked lips, head scanning the room, searching with his bruised and swollen eyes. Ridley was trying to find the girls, but they were safe. The priest’s voice was just a broken whisper now.
‘God gave them to me to love as though they were my own.’
The old man lowered his head and began to mumble, his voice and body draining of all energy and life, managing to splutter a few final words.
‘I will answer to the Lord for my sins, not you.’
Freya stepped forward. She stood over the old man, lifted his head and stared down at his face. Without expression Freya thrust her knife into the centre of the priest’s chest, lifting him from the floor as the knife twisted in her clenched fist. Ridley winced, his mouth open wide, gasping for air. Freya kept thrusting and twisting, as the priest struggled, the life seeping from him. Freya pressed her face close to his, and whispered, her face a sneer.
‘Consider this an act of mercy. Go meet your saviour, face the truth and be judged.’
Ridley’s body relaxed as the life slipped from him. He lurched forward against Freya as she eased the knife from his chest, a circle of dark red blood forming in his pullover. Freya shuffled back, rose to her feet, and stood over the old man. All three looked down at the lifeless body as it hung from the table, arms still outstretched, head leant forward. Gaia looked at the cross on the table, and back down at the priest. Gaia reached out and took Freya and Aran’s hands.
Freya took a white sheet from one of the tables and threw it over the body. Gaia collected the girls from the room at the back of the church. They were cowering in the corner, the room they had shared for many years. This had been the scene of their torture and abuse at the hands of someone who was meant to protect. The room was sparse and filthy, both clutched the red book in their hands. They were chanting passages, dazed and in a trance.
Gaia found the girls some socks, shoes, and warm clothes. She took the red books and placed them on bloodied beds,
then led each girl to the door. Neither said a word. Gaia looked back at the room, their life. It was a pitiful scene, just two beds, covered in filthy mattresses, some wall mounted candles and a crucifix. Ruth still clutched her blanket and sucked her thumb, both stared with blank expressions. The girls were gone. They had been destroyed. The priest claimed he was saving their souls, but he had taken them instead. Ridley had raped their innocence, and stolen their youth.
Gaia led them back into the kitchen. Aran and Freya were rummaging through the cupboards, taking anything useful they could find. Freya was agitated.
‘We need to move quickly guys. Rebecca could have found people, raised the alarm. Let’s get going.’
Freya checked outside in case any rats remained. Reassured it was clear Freya led them out the rear door and through the graveyard. They soon reached the woods that surrounded the church. The girls were slow, but followed without speaking. The group zig-zagged through the sparse trees and thin undergrowth with ease. After a short while Gaia spotted something up ahead, something odd moving in the trees. The view was obstructed. She stopped and signalled to the others to wait. Aran stood by her shoulder and spoke.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Can you see that over there? There’s something in the trees.’
Gaia pointed in the direction of the object. It was white. They caught brief flashes as it moved and twirled through the gap in the leaves and branches. They edged forward, and neared a gap. Gaia realised what it was. In a tree, hanging from a long overhanging branch was a body. It was limp and lifeless, twisting and twirling from a thick rope. A pair of soft, delicate feet pointed to the earth, and a grubby white dress covered a slender frame. The broken neck was draped in long, flowing black hair. It was Rebecca.
Gaia turned to shelter the two younger girls, protect them, but it was too late. The girls stood there impassive, staring at the swinging corpse. There was no reaction, no expression. Gaia turned Ruth and Mary the other way while Aran and Freya cut down the body and laid it on the ground. Freya placed Rebecca’s hands on her chest and sprinkled some of the golden, fresh fallen leaves across her body until she was covered and out of view. Gaia knelt before the girls.
‘Look girls. What we’ve just seen, your sister. I’m sorry. Maybe she’s in a better place now, away from all this.’
Gaia hugged the girls, held them tight for a few moments, let them go.
‘Don’t worry. I’m going to take care of you now. You’re safe now. I’ll protect you. Do you understand?’
The girls looked at Gaia, the same blank expressions, Ruth still sucking her thumb, Mary’s face cold and vacant. There was no comment or reaction. Gaia spoke again.
‘We’re going to the hills. There’s a community there who can help us. We’ll be safe there.’
Gaia hugged the girls again, feeling their bodies both stiffen as she held them. They were trembling. Gaia let go and got to her feet. Aran had approached. Gaia took his hand and whispered.
‘We’ll take care of them, won’t we?’
Aran squeezed Gaia’s hand and nodded, she put her head on his shoulder. Aran lifted Gaia’s hand and kissed it. They looked at each other, his face was soft with a warm, gentle smile. Gaia felt a rush through her body again, the burning in her stomach. For the briefest moment Gaia felt safe and happy, as though nothing else mattered. All pain and fear had gone. It was as though the past few days had been just dreams. In a world of fear and chaos they still had a chance of a better future, something to live for. It was something Rebecca never had, something she never found, something they were all searching for, even those who did not know it.
Everyone gathered around the mound of golden leaves with heads bowed. Gaia and Aran held the hands of Mary and Ruth. This was their opportunity to say goodbye. The girls were silent, without emotion, but Gaia was sure they would be hurting. The sisters had spent a long time together in those dark cells, in the clutches of the priest. They were united in the bond of their pain and suffering. They had been a family of sorts, a dark, dysfunctional family. Perhaps this was the only type of family left in the world. Gaia had never known family. Her only family had been the community. Gaia had no mother or father, no sisters or brothers. Maybe that was what she was searching for? The love, security and stability of family. Maybe that was the truth she was meant to find?
Gaia gazed into the treetops. The morning breeze was crisp and biting, playing with the branches. A few russet leaves drifted to the ground lilting like boats on the waves. Autumn was in its prime, the harvest month, the time of endings, and new beginnings. The time before winter comes and the long darkness falls. Like all the seasons it heralds change. Gaia heard the squawk of a bird, a harsh and bitter call. She looked into the branches and saw two black crows with grey hooded caps. One had a small bird in its mouth, struggling, flapping its wings, desperate to escape the murderous grip. The crow played with it, squeezed the last droplets of life from its victim. The other bird stood by letting out a callous cackle, a triumphant cry of victory. They both flew down to the earth beneath the tree and began to peck at their victim, rip its small, lifeless body apart with their black pointed beaks. Gaia looked on, fascinated and horrified by the cruel sight. Ruth and Mary gazed ahead in silence letting the world and chaos drift by, the controlled chaos of nature.
The group made their way through the woods until they reached the edge of the trees. A field beyond snaked down and around the foot of a hill. The other side was where the river began again. Freya and Aran led the others across the field towards the water. The river was much narrower now, just a few isolated trees dotted its banks. The land was rising, the going tougher as they neared the hills. They would reach the lower stretches by nightfall, and by tomorrow would begin the steeper climb into the higher ground. They would continue to follow the river, to its source, to the place where its journey began and theirs would end.
Later that morning, as the sun reached its highest point in the sky they saw a small village in the distance, about a mile beyond. They could see no people, only a trail of smoke billowing from one of the chimneys. Freya led them as they crept towards a small barn, a safe distance from the village. Aran and Freya ran ahead to search the building while Gaia hid with Ruth and Mary behind one of the few remaining trees. Despite the clear sky and sunshine it was cold, and Gaia huddled close to the girls to keep them warm. The sisters were silent, still locked in vacant expressions.
Aran and Freya returned. The barn was empty apart from some rusting farmyard equipment and a few bales of hay. Keeping low they shuffled towards the building and took refuge inside, throwing down their packs and lying back against the bales. Everyone lay in silence. Gaia could still feel the effects of the drug, but the sickness had gone, replaced with a hunger. Gaia sat up and spoke.
‘Is anyone hungry?’
Aran and Freya nodded. Gaia took some food from one of the backpacks and handed it to the girls. They took it, ate without speaking. It was clear both were hungry. Aran and Freya devoured the cheese and fruit, then Aran lay down and closed his eyes. Freya got to her feet and paced around the barn, disappearing for a while. Soon she returned and approached Gaia.
‘Stay here and watch these. I’m going to have a look in the village and see what I can find.’
Gaia frowned.
‘Are you sure that’s a good idea?’
‘There’s people there, I’ve just seen some. I just want to check out if they’re friendly or not. We’re not far from the hills. They may know something about this community we’re looking for.’
Gaia was still nervous, but knew Freya and there was little point in trying to change her mind.
‘OK, but be careful.’
‘I will.’
Freya winked at Gaia and scurried off. The girls were sleeping. Gaia shuffled closer to Aran and laid her head back alongside his, staring at the ceiling. It was a pitched roof of wooden beams, stained with bird droppings and peppered with old nests. The frame of the barn was met
al, lined with wooden planks, many of which were rotting. The floor was scattered with hay and dirt. The opposite side of the barn had a pen for animals, with metal fenceposts and intermittent troughs. The barn smelt dank, a mixture of rotten hay and animal dung. The putrid smell made Gaia feel nauseous. Her eyes felt heavy, struggling to stay open and soon Gaia drifted and began to daydream. Her mind was filled with the picture of a moment earlier, when Aran had smiled at her. Gaia could feel all her emotions again, how the care and worry had washed from her body. She longed to know that warmth and pleasure, never let him go.
Gaia felt Aran take her hand, and play with her fingers. Her eyes stayed closed, focusing on his gentle touch. Joy flowed through Gaia’s body, a warm sensation in the pit of her stomach, rising to her heart. She sensed Aran move and felt the heat of his breath against her cheek. Their lips touched. They both opened their mouths, locked together in a tender embrace. Gaia’s heart was racing, her whole body felt alive. Her eyes were still shut, and a kaleidoscope of colours swirled inside. Their lips parted and Gaia could still feel Aran’s breath on her face. As her eyes opened Gaia saw Aran’s piercing blue eyes staring into hers. There was a life in them, something she had not seen for days. There was a joy and longing, as Aran whispered.
‘I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I’ve been wanting to do that for some time now.’
‘There’s no need to say sorry. I’ve been hoping you would.’
Aran kissed her again, a shorter kiss but still filling Gaia with the flurry of emotion.
‘I guess we haven’t had much of an opportunity with all that’s been happening.’
‘I guess not.’
Aran lay back and held Gaia’s hand. They lay in silence as he played with her fingers once more. After a while Aran spoke.
‘You like that don’t you?’
‘What?’
‘Me playing with your fingers!’
‘Oh that, yes.’
Gaia tickled the palm of his hand, and Aran laughed.
‘You don’t mind, do you?’