The wind swept over the fields making the crops rustle gently. She sat alone along a small river nearby the town that they used to gather fresh water. She played with the flowers there. Twining them into a halo to wear upon her head. It was her seventeenth birthday and no one had yet said anything of it to her. But then again it was early in the morning and the others were all at breakfast in the kitchen of the school that they used to bake and cook. But that's all the old school was used for. The other rooms of the school were forbidden by Isaac except for the kitchen for the necessity of cooking. That didn't matter now. What she wanted was to be alone this morning to think about what she had seen last night at Amos's ritual. It was his nineteenth birthday yesterday and he had given himself to He Who Walks Behind the Rows last night. Though it was also the day that the interlopers had entered their town and desecrated their home. Malachi and the other older boys took care of them though and made a beautiful sacrifice of them. Now their bodies hung in the clearing, already beginning to rot. Isaac spoke with Him and weeded out the non believers also that night. Sarah and Job were killed, and their bodies tossed upon the road as to not pollute the corn, next to Joseph the betrayer. We are now free of unbelievers and free of sin. But this is not what has troubled me. When Amos went into the corn and did not come back out, I saw something. It was the silhouette of a man. Completely black, it's red glowing eyes looked right at me. I was scared but at the same time I felt safe. Looking down at the flowers in my hand I sighed and laid back in the tall grass to gaze up at the lightening not sky. When I looked up I jumped slightly. Isaac stood over me, his hands behind his back as he looked down at me.
"Oh, Isaac," I breathed slightly startled. I sat back up and turned around to face him. He smiled lightly and motioned for me to stand. I stood and bowed my head, looking at the ground. His fingers tilted my chin up to look at him. His brown eyes sparkled as he looked down into my blue eyes.
"Fear not child," he spoke barley above a whisper,"I know what troubles you." My breathing hitched as my grip on the halo of flowers tightened.
"He has given you a very special gift. The gift of sight to see Him," he said watching my face carefully. Tears brimmed in my eyes and I turned away. He took my hand and I turned to look at him again. He wiped away my tears with his thumb. His touch felt nice. Warm and caring.
"Do not fear Him my child. He is our savior and watches over us always. He keeps us safe from sin." I sniffled and looked at the field of wavering corn. A shadow darted away but I felt a wave of safety wash over me. Yes, he does watch over us and keep us safe. But yet like all humans, we are God fearing.
"Thank you Isaac," I said and bowed my head. He took the halo of flowers from my hands and placed it upon my head. Smiling, my eyes met his. He was taller than me by a few inches. Isaac is the same age as me. But I've never really spoken to him much. I am a loyal follower and listen to his sermons intently.
"Happy Birthday Rachel."
"Thank you Isaac," I said blushing. He turned around and walked back to the corn. Following him we walked to the clearing where everyone was sitting, waiting for his morning sermon. I sat in the back as he walked to the front and stood before the rotting corpses of the defilers. As he spoke his eyes met mine and heat rose to my cheeks. Looking down into my lap, I played with the hem of my light blue dress. My heart beat fast and I found it hard to sit still. When it was over I left quickly and went to do my daily chores. Walking into the old house that the girls used to live in I picked up a basket of dirty clothes. Taking it outside I grabbed a wash basin and scrub board and went down to the river again. Filling the wash basin I placed the scrub board in it and began to wash the clothes. When I was done I took the clothes back up to the town and grabbed a basket of clothes pins. Taking the wet clothes I began to pin them up on a clothes line that ran through a yard. One of the sheets was heavy and I struggled to throw it over the line. A pair of hands reached up around me and strung it over the line easily. Turning around I saw it was Isaac.
"Th-thank you Isaac," I stuttered and blushed madly as I looked away and took more clothes and hung them to dry. He waited patiently as I worked until I was done.
"It is about time for lunch," he said and smiled at me. A small smile crept onto my face and I nodded. I walked beside him to the kitchen and was going to take my place among the other girls but he grabbed my hand.
"Rachel, would you mind sitting with me today?" He asked politely. Swallowing I nodded and followed him up to the front table. Sitting beside him and Malachi on his other side.
"Hello Rachel," Malachi said as he sat down on the other side of Isaac.
"Good afternoon Malachi," I said quietly. I never really talked to Malachi either very much. I'm a quiet girl and mostly keep to myself. Isaac stood and the room quieted.
"Thank you Lord, for the bountiful meal. You have provided the crops for us to eat and food so that we may not know the pain of hunger, for you watch over us always. Thank you for this food, He Who Walks Behind the Rows, amen,"Isaac said and sat down. Everyone repeated amen and began to eat.
