“How did that work?” Clove asked.
The front door opened, and Vera and Ellis came in. They all said hello before Clove turned to her and asked her again how they kept her from having friends.
Flora shrugged. “There is so much to it. Like shrugging. In the community, I was never allowed to shrug, even if it felt like the right answer.”
Vera’s nose scrunched. “Wait, how did they keep you from shrugging?”
“Beatings and burials. They used pain and violence to control us.”
Vera held up a hand. “I still have a hard time believing they actually buried people in the ground.”
Flora wasn’t sure if Vera thought she was lying or what. “I really was buried a few times before the one when I ran. But those were only for the night, not three days.”
Vera put her hand on Flora’s arm. “I believe you. I just can’t believe anyone was that evil to come up with that as a punishment. It’s wrong.”
Talia shook her head. “There is no way I could have ever survived being buried.”
Flora shrugged again. “It was scary. I only had a tube for breathing. I panicked the first time and almost lost consciousness. I was able to calm down and not die. That time, it was only one night, and they uncovered me the next day.”
Clove set a cheese and cracker plate on the table, and she grabbed a cracker. The other women started munching on the snack while Clove put a casserole dish into the oven.
“Do you need any help?” Flora asked.
“No, thank you. The casserole is in the oven, and we’re good. Anyone want any wine?”
Flora couldn’t stifle the gasp. “You all drink wine?
“Yes. And other things. Not all the time, but one glass of wine isn’t going to mean much.”
There was clomping on the stairs, and Flora turned to see a child. She wasn’t expecting a child to come down the stairs. Her mouth opened as she stared at the girl.
“Oh, I didn’t mention I have a kid. This is Neo. She turned six recently and is in school.”
Flora spoke without thinking. “I never went to school.”
Neo cocked her head to the side as she stared at Flora. “Why didn’t you go to school?”
She turned to Clove, wondering how much to say to a child about her reality. Clove met her gaze and nodded.
“This is Flora, and she grew up in a cult.”
Neo’s mouth fell open. “I was reading about a cult last week. They were in South America. Did your cult make you drink Kool-Aid?”
Flora shook her head. “What is Kool-Aid?”
“It’s a sugary drink you make from a powder. It contains red dye, so Mom won’t let me drink it,” Neo said.
“Oh. I have no idea what you’re talking about. The cult I was in put a lot of rules and restrictions on us.”
Neo nodded like she knew exactly what Flora was talking about. “They usually do.” Neo turned to Clove. “Can I get my food and go upstairs? I’m still reading and don’t want to stop, but I’m hungry.”
“Sure, honey. Just make sure to bring your dishes down. We don’t want any bugs coming in.”
Neo visibly shivered. “Yes, I know.”
Flora watched the exchange with wonder. She would have never been allowed to speak to her mother that way. Not that Neo was being rude or anything, but she would have had to stand quietly along the wall until her mother acknowledged her.
Neo went upstairs, and Talia moved closer, then bumped her hip. “You look disturbed.”
