Under His Rule

Gertrude stops at the door and talks with the other woman. “This one is a handful, so take measures. But be gentle. Patriarch’s orders.”

“Of course, elder sister,” the woman says, and they nod at each other and then give each other two kisses on each cheek and a bow. Strange.

Another woman enters, and behind her is a girl with that same frown I saw before. I bet she’s like me.

A captured.

The women talk with each other, and then they direct their attention toward me. “Sit down,” one of them says.

I figure it’s easier to do what she says than to fight. Because through the window blinds, I can see several men standing guard outside the building. They’re prepared, of course. We’re a flight risk … and the more we try, the more skilled we get at trying to escape. Because a fawn desperate to get out will try any means necessary, any exit she can find, even the unconventional ones. And they want to nip that in the bud before I even try. Smart.

“Sit,” barks the elder sister who’s left.

I sit down on one of the benches as instructed, and so does the other captured.

The elder sister turns on the slideshow and holds out a long stick which she uses to point at the screen.

“Education time,” she says. “For the purpose of assimilation, we will now explain the customs in our commune.”

Commune. Another word for cult, but of course she won’t ever use that word.

“You are now in the Holy Land, property of the Family. You will abide by our rules, set forth by the president. He is the anointed one, chosen by God to continue His Legacy.”

I don’t know what the heck she’s talking about, and I’m not sure I really want to know … but I have no other choice than to sit here, listen, and hope there’s an explanation for why they took me.

“You will be staying in huts. All houses are called huts here. Each family unit has their own hut. The one you’ve been staying at”—she eyes me now—“is the one you will be living in, so get used to it.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat. The question is not where … but how long?

“Do not under any circumstance try to enter any other hut except your own without explicit permission from an elder or his wife. Understand?”

When we don’t speak, she slaps my table with her stick so hard it almost snaps into two. I jolt up and down in my seat from the sharp sound.

“Answer me.”

“Yes …”

“Yes, what?” she sneers.

“Yes, sister?” I lift my shoulders, hoping it’s the right choice because I don’t want to get punished.

“Good.” A petty smile forms on her lips, and the mixed emotions it gives me makes me feel ill.

“First, the hierarchy. The patriarchs are our leaders, of whom the highest is our president. Patriarchs are not to be bothered with trivial matters, as they are watching over and caring for the entire family here at the commune.”

“What do they do?” the other girl asks.

The elder sister rubs her lips together, probably annoyed that she asked a question. “Raise your hand, captured.”

The girl slightly lifts her hand.

“They pray and offer blessings, and they watch over our rituals so that we may give the Lord more children. Furthermore, there are elders who look over our people. They make sure everyone abides by the rules set forth by the patriarchs.”

So they’re soldiers. Henchmen of the ones who trapped me here. Great.

“Helpers are those who do most of the working labor at this community. Our women here are our sisters, and our men are our brothers. A man will always look over his wife. A wife will always listen to her husband and do what she’s told.”

What kind of sexist shit is this?

“A husband can have multiple wives, but a wife can never have more than one husband. Wives are here to bear children for God. Husbands give the wives children to make them happy. A wife will care for the children while a husband toils and works during the day, and his efforts will always be rewarded with his wife’s attention.”

What the …?

“You must be wondering why I’m telling you all this,” the woman says with a smirk.

I sink back into my chair and watch her lips move slowly.

“Once you are finished with your initiation, you will become wives.”

Chapter 6

Natalie

“What?” I say before I realize it.

The elder sister slaps my desk again so hard the stick now snaps in half. But it doesn’t bother her even the slightest. She just stares at me point-blank.

“Do not raise your voice at me, captured. I am your teacher, and you will respect that position. Just as you must respect any other position here in the commune.”

“Not mine,” I rebuke, folding my arms. The other girl throws me a scared look, almost as if she’s trying to warn me for what’s to come if I continue resisting. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Why I have this sudden urge to fight back. But it’s probably her story that did it.