A writing of the cult

Prologue part 2

Much later I pulled on clean trousers wincing at the fresh pain that would turn into bruises on my thigh and throat. My husband walked out of the bathroom drying his hair. "Take yourself to the sanatorium. Have those wounds seen too before they turn to bruises."

"I will before my walk." I said quietly.

He picked up the rest of his clothes and walked out of the room. I watched him leave I lamented the lack of breakfast knowing my next meal was dinner.

Annabell walked in as I picked up my shirt. "Thank you, Tia."

I smiled at her. "It's alright. You came to us to be safe. I can keep him from hurting you for now. Do you need something?" She nodded coming closer and putting her head on my shoulder. I knew Annabell was not much older than I had been when I came here, so I felt the need to protect her. "What do you need then?" I asked quietly.

"Tomorrow at the time of punishment they are going to kill you. They know it was you who has been passing notes. You said you might be able to get us out.... is it true?" She asked in a whisper.

I nodded. "They are planning on attacking the police that come for them. I told the police it's a trap but they are doing it anyway. That's our time. The men will be gone and you can gather anyone that will come to the garage. I'll get the keys." I said in the same low whisper.

Annabell nodded standing. "I had better get to the children." She said then left me alone in the room.

The rest of the day was taken up with a visit to the healer, then to the garden until sundown weeding. I never got my walk because the pain my husband had written into my skin left me stiff. Then we all gathered in the dining hall for the meal at the evening bell. After the silent meal, I picked up my daughter from the moses basket stand next to my chair and carried her to bed.

I tucked her into her cot as two arms came around my waist. I jumped slightly from the sudden contact. "Tia.. I need to go to the storage unit tonight. I will come back to your bed but I will take Annabell as my wife tomorrow." I straightened as he spoke and stroked his hand.

"I hear I will be killed tomorrow." His arms tightened on me as I spoke.

"They will not kill you. Not after we take care of the problem. Besides you are my first wife, I'm not going to let them get that far." He said running his hand over my skin under my shirt. I suppressed my repulsion. "If only I had time to enjoy you before I have to leave." He kissed my neck and squeezed my breast hard. I bit my lip to not cry out at the pain. "Ahh well, when I come back."

With those words, he pulled his hand out of my shirt and stepped back. I turned looking up at him. "Luck be with you knife of the people." He smiled at my words and left the room.

I took a shuddering breath to steady my nerves and hurried to the cot. I picked up my daughter and placed her back in the moses basket. Next, I ran to my husband's office. I grabbed three books full of papers belonging to the cars. I tucked them in the basket under my daughter.

Leaving the room I crept down the stairs and out the back of the house to the large garage near to the small house. When I opened the door to the garage I was surprised by the group of women and children waiting for me. It was larger than I thought it would be.

I disabled the other cars in the garage. Then I grabbed three sets of keys and handed one to another woman. "Take Gloria, I'll take Rose. Who will take Pepper?" Another woman walked forward and took the keys I offered. "We are on our own here ladies. Before the police put a hold on the account I moved money into three different accounts. The cards are in the glove box. use them if necessary."