Three Converts

Part 62

In the house her sobs slowed. "We messed up. We got cocky," she moaned. We thought we had bonded with the Bradleys, but they balked when we asked if they ever considered leaving. They started lecturing us, then said they were bringing the council in to 'cleanse us' of our doubts." I gripped the arm of the chair. I could only imagine what that meant. Sure enough, Annie continued, "The cleansing consisted of holding us underwater until we were nearly dead. Torture. It was not cleansing of any kind!"

"Who did it? Does anybody know about it?" I had to believe that if somebody knew this was happening, they would put a stop to it. But then, nobody stopped the council when I was stuck in the pillory. Were all the Robes really so scared of the council they couldn't stick up for each other? Annie was shaking her head, and I could see some strands were still wet. "No, they did it in the dead of night. Nobody knows. They let me go, but they told Gibby that as the 'spiritual head of our household' he needed to be held for further spiritual training." Annie's eyes flickered to each of us, "I can only imagine what their 'training' looks like." I had to agree. The council only wanted to scare people into living lives the seven of them approved of.

Rocco paced back and forth across Sam's living room. "Okay, so we storm the commune, right? We have to expose them!" Part of me agreed with Rocco. The other part of me knew we had to be more calculated than that.

Misty patted Rocco's arm. "I don't know..." she began.

"The Robes are scared for their souls. They think the Brothers and Sisters hear from Diety himself and if they don't do what the council says they're going straight to hell."

"We need them to doubt that the council gets any word from Diety," Misty said thoughtfully.

"Let's waterboard their self-righteous asses until they confess they're a hoax," Annie said angrily.

"I'm not sure that's the answer," Misty said. "Though it is tempting."

"Actually," Griffin said slowly, "Annie might be on to something." I couldn't mask my surprise. Griff didn't have a violent bone in his body! He smiled at my alarmed face. "No, we don't waterboard them, but I think we can at least plant some serious doubt." He laid out his plan for us and we agreed it was great. It wasn't fool-proof, but it had to at least put a fracture in the confidence the Robes had in the council. At the very least it would shed some light on their evil actions.

The biggest downside was that we couldn't put our plan into action until next Sunday and today was only Monday. "I have to go back for Gibby," Annie said. "I'll go back, and we'll just lay low until you get there Sunday."

"Will you be okay, though? What if they think you aren't 'cleansed' enough? Won't they be mad you left the commune?"

Annie looked deflated.

"I might be able to help with that," I turned at Gordo's voice. He and Sophie were standing in the doorway. "Take me with you."

"What? Gordo, that doesn't make any sense," Griffin interjected.

"Sure it does. Annie got so cleansed she wanted to prove her loyalty and came to town to recruit a lost soul. Nobody would ever accuse me of not being a lost soul," he smiled a little sadly. Soph put her hand on the crook of his elbow. "Plus, I want to help. I've heard some stuff I don't like about that place." His hand covered Sophie's. "So let me help." None of us could think of a single reason to deny him. It was a really good idea. I would feel better having Gordo there anyway. He was smart and kind and he'd look out for Annie and Gibby. Griff hugged his brother tight. Annie and Sophie were gazing at him so lovingly I could swear their pupils were morphing into little hearts.

"It's no problem, guys. I've done crazier stuff than this. But we should hit the road, Annie. I think you've had adequate time to find me and convince me to live my life at the commune by now, don't you think?"

She nodded. I stood and hugged Griffin, whispering a thank you, then squeezed Annie. "When this is over, I'm buying you a donut every day for the rest of your life," I promised her. She gave me a terse grin, "Sunday can't get here fast enough."