There were some things important to remember. Even if it hurt.
Pastor Carter kept his eyes firmly fixed on the road on the other side of the gate.
Once the pain had subsided and my mind was blissfully tranquil again, I focused on the dusty gravel. It wasn’t a big road. Only wide enough for a single car, but with The Retreat at the very end, two lanes were unnecessary.
I couldn’t see far; the road was obscured by a sharp bend and I couldn’t recall what lay beyond it. I never ventured into the town seven miles down the mountain. I had no idea whether there were houses along the way.
It didn’t matter. What existed past the gate was inconsequential.
Theoutsidewouldn’t prepare me for The Awakening, so I couldn’t worry about what happened out there.
Minutes turned into an hour and still we stood. The day slipped away and darkness seeped in. And with it the cold. I hadn’t thought to bring a coat. I hadn’t anticipated being out here this long.
I licked now chapped lips and restlessly shifted my weight. Even Pastor Carter seemed to be losing his notable patience. I saw him check his watch several times in the past thirty minutes, his brow furrowed in what seemed to be annoyance.
“Pastor, should we go back—?”
“No. He will be here soon,” Pastor cut me off testily, but then softened it with a smile. I could see the gleam of his teeth in the gloom.
So we waited. And I chewed the skin off my bottom lip. And I ran my finger along the ever present scar.
And I prayed. Because that’s what I had to been taught to do in quiet time. In stressful times.
At all times.
Finally, after the sun sank behind the trees, two figures slowly trudged up the steep incline of the hill. I could hear the heavy tread of their footsteps, though I could barely see them. Pastor Carter had gone back to the truck and gotten a gas lantern that did little to provide any light.
My stomach clenched into a tight knot. Anticipation tasted metallic on my tongue.
Pastor Carter walked towards the gate, standing just inside the wide opening. I remained where I was until he told me otherwise. I watched as his face transformed. His eyes softened. His mouth turned upwards in a welcoming smile. His posture was non-threatening and benign.
I tried to mimic him. I took my hands out of my pockets, even though the tips of my fingers were tingling with cold. I braced my legs so I looked more relaxed than I felt. I smiled. Then decided against it because it felt brittle and forced.
As the arrivals drew closer I could see that only one carried a duffle bag. The tallest one. Slouched and weary, the bag seemed to weigh him down. Both men appeared to be broad and tall.
The one carrying the rucksack was larger, with thick shoulders. He shuffled his feet as though walking were difficult. I didn’t know how long it would have taken them to get from town to The Retreat, but given their obvious tiredness, it probably would have taken them a significant amount of time.
The taller man’s face was turned downward, eyes trained to the ground. I couldn’t see much of his face, especially in the dim light.
The smaller one was still large by most people’s standards. With similar build and size, the two were most likely related. But whereas the taller man trudged along, barely able to put one foot in front of the other, the slighter man kept his head up, his arm firmly around the other, eyes trained on Pastor Carter.
As they moved closer, the bigger man stumbled, coming down hard on his knees, pulling the other guy to the ground with him.
I rushed forward to help but Pastor Carter grabbed my arms as I moved past him. “No, he must do this part on his own,” he said quietly. Almost fiercely.
I frowned. “But they look exhausted. Surely we can help them—”
Pastor Carter’s expression hardened. “Do not question me, Sara. It’s God’s will.”
God’s will.
AlwaysGod’s will.
I swallowed my defiance like the good girl I was and didn’t move another inch. Instead I watched as both men struggled to their feet. The smaller man grunted with the effort but finally the two made their way to the gate in short, halting steps.
Once they were within a few feet I was able to get a good look at both of them. I focused on the larger of the two first. He seemed older than the other one by quite a few years. His head was covered with a thick stocking cap that had seen better days, but I could see dark hair poking out from underneath it. He glanced up at Pastor Carter and I noted that he had a decently handsome, yet weathered face. He hadn’t shaved in a while and his jawline was covered in unkempt scruff. He seemed exhausted, his expression wild and desperate.
He broke away from the other man to step towards Pastor Carter. “Pastor,” he said in a deep, raspy voice. It was the voice of someone barely keeping it together. Someone with a lot of chinks in their crumbling armor.
