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“What’s happening?” I gasp as I am tied to the chair with a rope.
My heart lurches in fear as Reverend Peters steps into view and I try not to stare at his evil face as he peers at me with a slightly crazed expression in his eyes.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” He says with a hiss.
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
He snaps, “What is the psalm I recite?”
My mind struggles to focus as I think back on what I read, but the panic inside me is controlling me right now and I sob. “I don’t know.”
He strikes me hard around the face and the tears splash down my cheeks, no longer able to stay hidden.
“How can I be happy in this life?”
He says roughly. “That is the meaning of the first psalm of the bible, and you must raise that question every day of your life. Let me tell you what that means for you.”
I say nothing and hate how my face burns as he sneers, “Happiness to you is serving me. If I am happy, you are happy. If I smile, you smile. If I sleep, you sleep. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes.” He strikes me again, causing me to scream, and he roars, “YES, SIR!”
“Yes, sir.”
I sob as he starts to pace the small room.
“You must renounce evil. Turn your back on sinners and pledge undying love to the lord.”
“Yes, sir.”
I am saying whatever he wants to hear because I am in no position to make a stand.
“Let me make this clear, whore.”
He snarls, dropping down before me and grabbing my smarting face with his hands, causing me to wince at the pain.
“I am your lord. You will serve me and if you don’t measure up, you will be punished.”
He squeezes hard and I almost believe he will break my jaw as his eyes burn into mine with an intensity that scares the shit out of me. He is something else. Mad, crazy and dangerous and I can’t fight against one of them, let alone all three.
“Tonight, I will teach you. You will learn from your master and tomorrow you will return to the bible and memorize every word. Every night I will return and if you fail my test, your punishment increases. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir.” I gasp through the pain, and he releases my face and grabs my hair in a strong grip, pulling down hard on it, causing me to scream in pain.
“The day after our wedding, you will lose this monstrosity. You will be required to wear a bonnet in public, and no man will ever look at you again.Iwill try not to look at you because you have the eyes of a witch. I will use your body for my own pleasure and to plant my seed, and you will spread your legs for no other man. You have committed the ultimate sin and will endure your punishment in penance for them. Only then will I allow you to see your child. Only when I am assured you will not corrupt another innocent soul, and only when I am certain your bastard has not inherited your wantonness.”
I long to ask after my daughter. I am crazy with fear for her. This is a nightmare I can see no way out of because they are using the one weapon against me that will win them this war.
Hope.
CHAPTER10
JONNY
The frustration is tearing me up inside. When Purity left, I waited one hour before making my way to the cabin Mr. Gaston provided and, as I turn the key, I am emotional when I see the supplies resting on the scrubbed wooden table. His kindness means more than he will ever know because inside this town, I haven’t received much of it.
I fix myself a plate of eggs, bacon, and fried potatoes and as I sit, I consider my options.
My entire focus is on only one thing. Faith. There is something I’m not seeing. Something that has lit the fear of God in the eyes of Purity and Mr. Gaston. Something they can’t speak of, and the answer lies with only one person.
