CHAPTER NINETEEN
Sarah
I wake and am horrified to realize it is all real. Before I opened my eyes I could still pretend that the events of the past couple days were nothing but a terrible nightmare. But I was so very wrong. Once again I find myself on a hard cot in the compound. I stare dismally at the familiar locked door and just like before I know the camera is watching my every move.
My body aches, thanks to the beating from my bastard of a stepfather. I feel like I’m a giant bruise from my shoulders all of the way down to the back of my thighs. I roll over and if I had any tears left in me I’d cry, but I just wince instead. I can’t believe everyone just stood there and watched. Was Cain the only Covenant member who cared whether I lived or died?
And I can’t help but wonder if Cain’s intervention has really spared me at all. I’ve been taken from the boiling pot and dumped into the frying pan. I still have no rights. All I managed to accomplish yesterday was to swap out one jailer for another. Sure, Cain was nicer and better looking than my step-dad, but he was still a fanatic.
From Cain’s perspective, I’m just a pretty body for him to enjoy, and a uterus to house the ultimate soldier to take down the Krinar. I’m nothing more than a possession in his eyes.That’s why I left here in the first place, to keep my free will, and my vagina to myself. Yesterday was so awful that I dread what this day could possibly have in store for me.
I close my eyes again, determined to think of something wonderful, so of course my mind drifts to a memory of my time with Vorek. But I get hardly any time to fantasize. Someone must have spotted me on the camera, because the door is creaking open. My mother and sister step in and once again I’m filled with hurt and anger at their betrayal.
“How are you doing honey?” my mom asks as she reaches over and brushes the hair from my forehead. I swipe her hand away angrily, and glare at her with the venom that’s been brewing in my soul all night.
“Now, don’t be like that,” my mom cajoles. “You know how much I love you, Sarah.”
“I know how much you love that beast you are married to. You chose him and the stupid Covenant of Man over your own flesh and blood daughter.”
“Now honey, that’s just not true. Ezekiel loves you very dearly. His actions were only to bring you back to the fold. Your very soul was at stake, Sarah.”
“Are you honestly so brainwashed that you believe that rubbish Moses has been preaching?”
“That is quite enough, young lady,” my mother says with a new air of authority in her voice. “You have been chosen for an unspeakable honor, and your sister and I are here to prepare you for it.”
“What honor,” I ask uneasily.
“You’re to be married,” Amy says breathily.
I choose not to talk to Amy because her betrayal has wounded me far more deeply than my mother’s ever could.
I turn to my mother, and tell her bluntly, “I don’t want to get married.”
“Of course, you do. Your mind is just a little mixed up right now because you’ve been out in the world and they’ve filled you with their lies. You may have even accidently come in contact with the Krinar. And their mere presence can scramble our thoughts and memories. But now you’re back with your kind, and you’ve been chosen.”
“Chosen? Chosen for what?” I ask warily.
“Why … chosen to be the bride of our future leader, of course.”
“Cain?”
“Yes, Cain!” Amy gushes. “You will be married to Moses’ son. And the first son you bear will be our redeemer. It has been prophesied.”
“I’m not like you Amy!” I yell at her, no longer able to maintain my silence toward my sister. “You may be thrilled to have that redneck asshole stick his baby maker in you, but I want nothing to do with any of this!”
“That is quite enough, Sarah,” my mother says sternly. “I can’t believe such words would even come out of the mouth of a chaste young woman.”
“Well, mother I’m hardly chaste anymore.” At the shocked look on my mother’s face, I continue. “Yes, that’s right momma dearest. I’m no longer a virgin. I’ve had sex, and more than once. So, you can just tell your sweet prince these goods are damaged. I’m sure he won’t want anything to do with me now.”
“You’ve already told him yourself,” my mother says and glances toward the camera.
I could care less what Cain has or hasn’t heard. I’m not finished lashing out at my sweet sister who got me into this mess. Amy looks at me, and tears fill her eyes, threatening to spill onto her cheeks. But she doesn’t say anything. She really is an amazing actress.
“I tried to rescue you, Amy. I knew it was dangerous for me to come so close to them, but I didn’t even hesitate or think of my own safety. I came running to you because you said you needed me. And how was I paid back for my love and sacrifice? By your betrayal. You sold me into slavery. I want nothing to do with either of you.”
I sit up in the bed and turn my back to both of them. I hear them whispering, and a few moments later the door opens and closes. I feel the bed shift as someone kneels on it. I turn to yell at my mother whom I assume is trying to make up. But it’s Cain sitting on the bed beside me.
“I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, darling,” he says as he takes my arm and brings my hand tenderly to the side of his face, then presses it into the bed with his hand firmly on top of it.
“I’m feeling just fine,” I say defiantly as he wraps his other arm around and holds me tight.
“Cain, leave me alone. What do you think you’re doing?”
I feel a stabbing sensation in my arm. I whip my head over just in time to discover that the loyal cult doctor has jabbed me in the arm with a needle.
“What was that?” I ask in horror.
“It’s just something to calm you down, honey. I know your back is sore, and you have a lot of preparations to work through so that you’ll be beautiful in time for the wedding. This’ll just take away the pain and help you feel nice and relaxed so you can enjoy our special day.”
“But I . . .” The protest dies before it makes it to my lips. What was I trying to say? I know I was upset about something, but I can’t remember what.
“I can’t wait until tonight when we’re all alone after the wedding,” Cain whispers, his lips brushing up against my lobe.
As the drug begins to take effect my body loosens and a sense of apathy floods over me. Cain kisses my cheek tenderly. How nice. I’m getting married today.
“I’m gonna leave you now. I’m not even supposed to see my bride on our wedding day, so you behave, you hear?” he says in a sexy voice. Then he winks at me. “Your momma and sis are here to take care of you. Just leave all of the details to them. And the next time I see you, you’ll be a vision dressed in white, and we’ll be standing in front of my father as he pronounces us man and wife.”
“Wife,” I repeat with a giggle.
“Aren’t you adorable,” he murmurs. “Okay, just one kiss since you’re being such a good girl. And then Cain’s lips are on mine, but my lips must be numb or something, because it doesn’t feel right. A thought tries to emerge: another set of lips, the stroke of a tongue, but it dissipates before forming fully, and I shake my head with a giggle. No matter, I’m about to be married and then we’ll have lots of time for kisses.
I sit on the cot with my back to my mother and sister. Mother comes around to my side of the bed and walks me to a table and chair. Like a marionette on strings, I do exactly as my mother instructs. I sit down and stare sleepily into the mirror while she begins to style my hair into an up-do. She teases the ends, pokes in hair pins, and sprays it all down with enough hairspray to choke a horse.
The dosage of drugs in my system is so high that I drift off for a while. Hands gently shake me awake, and then my sister Amy is holding a white wedding gown out for me to put on. It’s like a big puffy marshmallow, or a cloud. I yawn and try to curl up with it, but she swats my hand and she and my mother manage to help me step into it.
The neckline is high, and scratches under my chin. I reach up to pull down the material, but my mother slaps at my fingers and tells me to “stop that” so I drop my hands and stand there as they do up all the buttons in the back. I lift my feet when Amy instructs me to do so, and she places a dainty white slipper on each of my feet. She quickly wipes my face with a warm cloth. No need to worry about makeup for the big event, because the women here are not allowed to wear it.
“It’s time to go now,” Mother instructs me.
I hear an organ playing the traditional wedding march. My mother places a large bouquet of cheap silk flowers in my arms, then presses a kiss to my cheek before she leaves me to walk to the front pew of the chapel. I’m getting married to Vorek, no wait, that’s wrong, it’s Cain. I’m getting married to Cain.
Amy leans in close and presses a kiss to my cheek. That’s nice. I feel dizzy, so I lean against the wall and wait for the wave to pass
“I know you’re upset with me, Sarah,” Amy says, but her words don’t make sense to me. How could I be mad at Amy? All I feel is love. “I know someday soon you’ll see the light, and realize my actions have saved your soul. I love you far too much to allow you to be damned for eternity for spending your days out in the world corrupted by the Krinar. Now you’re here safe with us, and you’ll have a loving husband to shelter you as Jeb does me.”
“Husband,” I parrot back with a smile and a nod.
Amy turns and walks down the aisle in front of me. She carries a nosegay of silk flowers. My mother is beaming with pride as she watches my sister who must be my maid of honor prancing down the aisle in her fluffy pink dress. I don’t remember asking her to be my maid of honor, but I must have. My brain feels fuzzy and it hurts when I try to focus, so I stop struggling.
I sway unsteadily on my feet as my stepfather takes my arm. We are alone now in the vestibule. I list to one side as I walk down the aisle. What was in that shot?
“Come on,” he says tugging on my arm. “You are marrying Cain, right here, right now.”
“Yes, father,” I tell him.
Before I know it I’m standing in front of Cain. My stepfather lifts my veil, kisses my cheek, then places my hand in Cain’s. We stand together in front of his father. Moses is wearing a purple ceremonial robe. Such a pretty color. Amy stands next to me, and her husband Jeb stands next to Cain as his best man. Something makes me flinch away from Jeb, but that’s silly. Of course I like Jeb! He is my sister’s husband.
Cain squeezes my hand to assure me all is well. He’s so nice, and so handsome. I’m going to be his wife. Moses begins to speak in his sing song voice he reserves for when he is preaching. I’m so tired that my eyes drift shut as he speak, and Cain’s arm around me is the only thing keeping me from falling over.
“Welcome family . . . members of our holy brotherhood. We are gathered today for a most sacred ceremony. We’re here to witness the joining of two of God’s children. They come as two, but shall now be made one. And what God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
“Amen,” someone shouts from the congregation.
“Dearly beloved, let us begin with a reading of the sacred scriptures, for this consecrated occasion.” As usual Moses’ voice gets even louder and more dramatic as he reads from the King James Version of the Bible. “and the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”
Vorek’s ribs are beautiful, his whole torso looks like he’s one of those statues in a museum. Wait. No. Cain. Cain squeezes my hand and I open my eyes and smile at him. A bit of drool drips out of the side of my mouth and he dabs it away with his handkerchief. Cain is so wonderful.
“And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Moses closes his gigantic white bible, and looks down toward his son.
“Cain, my first born son. Is this the woman you have chosen to be your mate, the mother of your children?”
Yes,” Cain says.
“Then repeat these words for all to hear.”
“I, Cain, take thee Sarah to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward.”
Then Moses locks his eyes onto me. “And now Sarah, most favored one. Repeat after me.”
I’m already nodding before he starts to speak. Of course I will repeat his words. I will do whatever he wants. Something feels like it’s itching in the back of my brain, but I ignore it and focus on Moses’ mouth. I need to say the words exactly as he does, or Cain will be disappointed in me.
A deafening explosion fills the air. As one everyone turns toward the sound and sees that something has blown a jagged hole through the outer wall of the chapel. A debris filled smokey fog filters through the air, then there he is. Leaping out of the fog into the room, is a man whose name hovers just out of reach in my brain. I think I know him.
“Sarah!” he calls my name, but all that I can do is stare at him blankly.
“Take her to my house!” Cain shouts at my mother, who rushes over to grab my hand.
She pulls on my arm and I trip, crashing hard onto the floor. Something jars loose in my brain; I know him. How do I know him? Images struggle into focus in my muddled brain. This man, I see him laughing, I see him kissing me.
I press a hand to my head and shake it from side to side. I’m missing something, something important. My mother is screaming in my ear, and all around me are the sounds of battle, but I don’t stir. I’m too tired to move. I lie down on my side and watch as the man I feel like I should know fights the Covenant members. He looks different than they do, but it’s hard to describe how. He’s more perfect looking, and all of his movements are faster. It’s as though everyone else is swimming in Jell-O, but there’s nothing holding him back.
People have begun to shout the word Krinar angrily, and something about that word stirs another memory. The man, I think his name is Vorek, but I’m not sure, he’s holding a strange device and he’s using it to make a sand castle with me. Only it’s not an ordinary sand castle, in fact it’s not a castle at all, it’s an entire solar system, and it hovers off the ground and moves just like the heavens do.
I focus once more on the fighting taking place before me, and watch dreamily as Vorek’s eyes begin to glow an intense amber color. It’s as though they’re lit from within. So pretty. The burly men of the covenant close in around him. He picks them up two at a time and throws them into the air.
They crash into the outer walls of the building, and most don’t stand up again. They are clearly no match for him. Vorek has his eyes on me, and he easily dismisses anyone who stands between us. I feel like I should go to him, but that doesn’t make any sense. I belong to Cain. Where is Cain? Where is my new husband?
I scan the room, but I do not see him. I’m too tired to roll over and see if he’s on the other side of the room. My mother is screaming at me and I poke a finger inside of my ear to block out the annoying sound. My brother-in-law, Jebediah, runs at the Krinar male with a heavy floor stand candelabra, and swings with all of his beefy might at the alien’s head.
Vorek’s lightning reflexes catch the candelabra before it connects with his skull. He swings it like a golf club, and the crack as it connects with Jebediah’s leg attests to the fact that his femur has been broken. Jeb screams as he crumples to the floor, and for some reason I cannot explain this makes me smile.
It feels like something is squeezing my brain and it hurts. So I close my eyes again. I feel someone shaking my shoulder, and I moan, because I’m bruised there. Something small is pressed against my lips, and the cool dribble of water follows it and I swallow involuntarily.
Cobwebs begin to clear from my brain and I gasp and jerk away from my mother as I realize what almost happened. My thoughts grow clearer by the second and when I see Vorek standing over me, I sob his name and latch onto his leg because I still feel too weak to stand on my own. He came for me. I don’t know how he found me, but he’s here to rescue me.
Ezekiel is in the front row, and I hear him tell his first lieutenant to pick two more men and accompany him to the armory. They run out the side door behind the pulpit, and I know when they return they will have guns for everyone. We need to be gone by then.
Vorek pulls me to my feet and when he sees the blood staining the back of my white wedding dress he is livid. “Did he do this to you?” he asks as he glances toward Cain.
I can feel my injuries healing even as we speak and I understand that the small object I swallowed must have been one of Vorek’s magic pills. I consider my words before I speak. I want to be out of here, and never return, but I don’t want anyone’s death on my conscience.
“No, he actually stopped them. Please just take me away from here,” I whisper, leaning my head against his chest.
“But Sarah!” Cain protests. “How can you choose him over me? He’s a stinking Krinar? Has he perverted your mind with his alien magic?”
I cringe when I remember the adoration I felt for this man just moments ago. I don’t know what he injected me with, but whatever it is should be outlawed. It took away my ability to think for myself, and made me love my very enemies. But the drug was no longer controlling my brain, and I wasn’t at all hesitant to speak my mind.
“Cain. I am not yours. I never was. And this cult is the only one trying to control people’s minds.”
Cain thrusts his hand toward me, and Vorek grabs it, squeezing painfully. I think I hear bones crushing as Cain steps back cradling his hand to his chest.
“If you touch her ever again, I will kill you,” Vorek promises solemnly.
Dismissing Cain, I turn to my sister and mother. “Come with me,” I plead with them. They’ve betrayed me time and again, but after the love drug’s influence who’s to say if that was the real them. I have to give them one last chance to escape, after all they are my blood relatives. They both look horrified and shake their heads no.
“Mother, Ezekiel will beat you if you stay, just like he always beats you when he loses his temper.”
“He is my husband, and I love him,” my mother says with blind loyalty.
“Amy, please?” I ask as I look gently into her eyes.
“I would never go with you and your spawn of Satan. This is my home. Here with the true believers. I want nothing to do with you. May God have mercy on your soul.”
“I’m never coming back,” I say softly. With a heavy heart I turn to Vorek and ask him to take me away from this horrid place. He gathers me in his arms and leaps above the crowd who are yelling, grasping at us, and trying to hinder our escape.
I hear their shouts from below me. “Whore! Get the whore of Babylon! Kill the alien spawn of Satan!”
It’s almost like we’re flying through the air above them, out of their reach. When we reach the hole in the wall, he climbs through and then starts sprinting. I see the aircraft just a few feet from the entrance and when Vorek sets me down on my feet I run toward it as Vorek combats the last line of defense. I’ve seen him in action so I shouldn’t be worried, but I am. As I run to the craft a doorway forms, and I climb inside. I don’t stop biting my lip until Vorek climbs in beside me and I know we’re safe.
As we rise into the air I watch the angry mob through the opaque floor of the aircraft. I see my crazy stepfather and his goons raise their guns and shoot at the aircraft. Of course their bullets cannot penetrate the superior alien technology. The Nanos are too powerful. They’ve switched to using machine guns and the rapid fire sounds like pellets as it hits our craft.
They are so stupid it takes them a while to realize the bullets are ricocheting back at them. I see blood spurting from injuries as some of them are hit before I see Ezekiel give the cease fire command. They’re all still standing, so I don’t think anyone was fatally wounded, although I can’t say it doesn’t serve them right if they are.
Our craft quickly gains altitude, and the last thing I see is the rat like eyes of my stepfather staring upward, as if he can actually see me; here in the craft, finally safe from him forever. I’m never going back. There’s nothing they could possible do to lure me in again. As far as I’m concerned my family died tonight. I don’t have any more compassion left to give.
They drugged me and literally marched me down the aisle to become a man’s slave. And even after that, when I’d tried one last time to save them, they’d spit in my face. I am done. From now on I am only interested in spending time with people who actually have my back, and that means Vorek. He risked everything to save me.