They all nodded before heading around to the back of his place. He went through the house and unlocked the gate. Flora looked nervous when he stepped in. Ellis and Andie had brought in food and were putting it together in his kitchen. Talia headed over to Flora to introduce herself.
Flora felt this was a huge mistake. These women didn’t know her, and she felt like she might just break into pieces having to deal with them.
She could see the men outside, and she longed to have Q beside her. Fear clawed its way up her throat, threatening to take over. Two more women came inside and gave the other women hugs.
“Okay, so Flora, I know I already introduced myself, but I’m sure meeting this many new people is chaotic. I’m Ellis, and this is Vera.” Ellis introduced each woman, and Flora tried to remember their names.
She wasn’t sure what to say or what they should talk about. Maybe she should have prepared food. Would they think she was rude because she hadn’t made anything for them?
“So Q said you needed some help.”
She licked her lips, worry filling her. “I know nothing.”
Talia’s eyebrows rose. “Nothing?”
She shrugged. “You’re all going to think I’m stupid. I mean, my mom taught me how to read and write, and I’m good with numbers, but I don’t know anything. The community was different.”
“How?” Talia asked.
“Well, the way I found Q was I’d been buried in the purification field before my marriage, and I couldn’t do it. The man my father picked was old. I couldn’t marry him and spend my life with him. I crawled my way out of the dirt and ran. I hadno plans, but I had to get away. Do you think that makes me bad?”
All the women shook their heads, but it was Clove who spoke. “Buried, as in covered you with dirt?”
She nodded. “It’s the purification ritual. They bury you in mud.”
“How would you breathe?”
“They gave me a tube. I’ve been buried over night before when I was punished for being bad, but three days is a long time. I knew I could get away so I dug my way out and ran. That’s how I found Q.”
Ellis reached out and squeezed her hand. “I don’t know how you were raised, but being buried for three days is wrong. I guess the only good thing about it was it gave you time to escape.”
She shook her head as emotions rose. “But everything is different, and I don’t know how to deal with it.”
“What is different?” Vera asked.
“Well, first off, they told us most of the Earth’s population died, and there were only five million people left on Earth.”
Talia shook her head. “Oh no. You were in a cult. That’s wrong. So wrong. I’m sorry I’m going off, I just hate that kind of manipulation.”
“What is a cult?” Flora asked.
Vera shook her head. “It’s when a group like your community uses manipulation to keep you under their thumb.”
“Yes, that’s what it felt like. I was always under their thumb. I had to follow the rules at all times. We were told to accept their word as law.”
Ellis reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “We’re here for you now. We’ll make sure you know how to call us on the phone.”
She gasped. “I couldn’t use a phone.”
Ellis smiled. “Sure you can. It’s not that hard.”
Clove chuckled. “You’ve probably never seen a computer, either.”
Flora shook her head. “What is that?”
Vera hugged her. “We’re here to help you.”
Flora was amazed these women wanted to help her. They all hugged her then pulled her into the kitchen and they began eating and talking about everything. She was overwhelmed by the amount of information they gave in less than an hour. They set up a schedule to come over during the week while Q was at work and make sure she had what she needed.
