God's Will

Chapter 3: Breaking Point

June 7, 2224

Kallinikos, Heavenly Kingdom of Solomonia

Abraham had changed drastically. He had become the standard husband in the Heavenly Kingdom - at least by Mia's standards. He was quick to anger, demanding and borderline abusive. Perhaps it was because they still hadn't consummated their marriage, which made Abraham fidgety and frustrated.

He had known Mia since they were children, and knew she was as stubborn as a mule. That was the only reason he hadn't handed her over and gotten himself a more obedient wife. Mia feared he would soon force himself on her - which was in his full legal right - and that would be the end of her little rebellion.

She dunked the sponge into the bucket of soapy water and continued her work of scrubbing the floor of their home. That had been his one major command thus far, to keep the home clean and tidy. After she finished the floor, she stood up, straightened out her purple dress, and got to work dusting the shelves. She worked with efficiency, her mind wandering while her body worked on autopilot. After she finished dusting all of the shelves in her home she headed back to the kitchen to begin handling the counter. She heard the distant sound of an aircraft buzzing overhead but paid no mind to it.

As she was wiping down the kitchen counter, a faint thud from outside caught her attention. She paused, listening intently. The sound came again, this time more distinct, from the direction of the porch. Frowning, Mia set down her cloth and walked to the front door, curious about the source of the noise. When she stepped outside she looked around the neighborhood and saw no person or object which could have caused it. Then in her garden she saw it:

A nondescript package. Curious, Mia bounded down the stairs to the garden and collected the package before rushing back inside. It was plain, with no markings or indications of where it had come from. She turned it over in her hands, confusion echoing in her mind and eyes. She put away all of her cleaning materials, leaving the home spotless as Abraham liked it.

Mia carefully unwrapped the package. Inside, she found several pamphlets and a small booklet. The cover of the booklet bore a symbol she recognized from church sermons, when they talked about the evils of satanic propaganda.

It was from the Kingdom of Hell - or as it was more properly known - the Caspian Union. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened the booklet. The pages were filled with information about the Union: its governance, its values, its promise of freedom and equality. There were stories of defectors who had escaped the oppressive rule of the Heavenly Kingdom, finding new lives and opportunities in the Union. The language was hopeful, almost utopian, painting a stark contrast to the rigid, hierarchical world Mia knew. The language used even made her laugh at points with its comedic tone.

"Defect to the Caspian Union, where women are equal and nobody is forced to fight," Mia's eyes flickered across the words on the pamphlet, "No arranged marriages, no need to listen to a false prophet,"

She turned a page and chuckled, "Stop listening to the false prophet in Jerusalem! He cares not for you and only exercises your faith to strengthen his twisted regime! The Caspian Union serves freedom twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year! If you want to live a normal life free from constraint from the madman who runs you like a slaver, defect to The Union! The second you cross the border you will be protected by the greatest values: Freedom, Democracy, and Capitalism!"

The booklet further spoke of a society where people were free to choose their paths, all the ways where women were equal to men, and where one's destiny was not dictated by birth but by individual choice. The pamphlets contained more practical information: routes for defectors, safe houses, contact points. There were even maps showing the safest paths to the Union's borders. Mia's mind raced as she absorbed the information, the idea of escape growing more tangible with each passing moment.