"Eisley, you were explained that you are a woman now, weren't you?"I froze. My eyes blinked rapidly at the horrific memory of my body bleeding from my private area. That's what they'd told me. That the bleeding meant I was a woman.She saw my reaction and nodded."Well now that you are a woman, it's time to become a wife. To join the Family."
"I don't want to become a wife."I backed away from her.
"This isn't about what you do or do not want." She said with such authority it shook me. "You will be married, and tonight, you'll fulfill your duties to your husband and the Family."
"I don't understand."
"You will. The Minister will be there to teach you. For now, keep your dress clean and your hair nice. I will return once we are ready for you." She stormed out of the room, leaving me to soak in her words and grow more and more terrified with each minute.
I stared at the wall, wondering where Kansas and Constantine were. They'd been taken too by a Father. We had reached for each other but were pulled away and dragged to different rooms. Were they together? I hoped so.
I stood and paced in my too-long dress. They were so much smarter than me. I heard them talking at night. All the time, they spoke in hushed whispers about how to get us out. I was sure today that if they were trapped somewhere together, they were planning a way out of here.
And they'd never leave me behind.
When the Mother from before came for me, I was dragged out and brought down the hall. It felt almost like a death march. I trusted nothing here in the Church. Too many times I'd been tricked into thinking I was safe, only to be attacked moments later.
We entered a small room. It was darker than the others. Hundreds of candles were lit all around, and a mattress was placed against the wall. There was a table, along with a tripod with a camera attached. Were they making a movie?
The only people in the room were the Minister and Kansas and Constantine. Relief washed over me and I broke free of the Mother's grasp to launch myself at them. I rested between them, trying to put my arms around them both. Any other time, they'd hug me back, but today, neither made any attempt to touch me.
"You're here!" I gasped and stood back. I looked at them both. They wore the same all-black suit.
The Minister cleared his throat and reached for me, pulling me back by my dress.
"Yes. Both of your potential husbands are here. Now, Eisley, do you understand why you are here today?" He reached for a large book from the table. "And what will happen tonight?"
"No. Why am I here?"
"Today is a wonderful day," he bellowed and waved. "One that has been long coming. For five years, we have planned and waited for this blessed day when Eisley would take one of these young men to be her husband, and for those two to enter into the Family. The other shall bless us with his sacrifice."
What was he talking about? I looked over to Kansas and Constantine, whose heads hung down, almost as if they'd given up.No. They couldn't. They couldn't give up.
"Eisley, I have prepared the rings that you and your husband will present each other as a symbol of your faithfulness to each other. Once you give your ring to either Kansas or Constantine, you will be wed, you will be bed.”
And the other will be dead.
I was beginning to understand things. I'd heard Kansas and Constantine talking. Offering, sacrifices, blood.
He handed me two chains. Each necklace held a gold ring on them.
"Once you are older, they will fit and you can wear them properly," he explained. "Now, which young man shall be given to the Reanimator, and which shall serve the Family in other ways?"
I turned to both Kansas and Constantine. Both of my friends, my constant companions, my...hearts. They shared a look of utter desperation, pleading for me to pick them.
I looked at Kansas first. With his bent glasses far too small for his head. He was so smart. He'd kept me going so many times, reassuring me I could survive with just the bare minimum. He made sure I kept walking, talking, and without him, my spirit would have died years ago.
Then, Constantine. He was tough. He brought us news and items when it got rough. When they were starving us out, he provided for us. He was the one who insisted every night I sleep between them, right in the middle, so that I stayed warm. Each night, I fell asleep to the rhythm of both their hearts. I couldn't pick which one to stop forever.
"No."
"No?" the Minister asked. "No?" His voice grew louder. "Eisley, no is not an option. If you will not choose, then I shall." He stormed over and snatched Constantine up.
"You will serve the Family as Eisley's husband." He glared at me with cold, evil eyes. "Give him the necklaces."
The iciness in his voice made me do just that. I handed both to Constantine. He took one and handed me the other. Looking up to the Minister for guidance, he nodded for me to put it over my head and down to my neck. He then returned to his book.
"A man and wife shall lay together in the carnal way for all to see. The Family cannot succeed unless the newly coupled touch, flesh to flesh. With the rings, Eisley, you promise to not allow another man to enter you, nor give you the ultimate pleasure a body can experience. You will wait for your husband to bestow his seed and his gifts to you. Do you understand?"
