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CHAPTER FIVE

WYNTER

“ T he butcher will have everything we need,” says Martha, handing me a basket. “Alex will go with you.”

I nod and follow Alex through the tunnels and out into the open.

It’s been a week since I came here, and I’ve scrubbed every inch of the kitchen at Martha’s request, followed by the guards’ quarters, which leave much to be desired.

And today, I’m on kitchen duties. I’m not sure what that means yet, but right now, all I can think about is getting out into the village to breathe fresh air.

“Do you get out much?” I ask as we head down towards the village.

“We work a rota,” he tells me. “So, on my days off, I get to do what I want.”

“Will I get days off?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I doubt it. A lot of the women don’t.”

“Figures,” I mutter.

Out of all the guards, Alex is the best out of a bad bunch.

He’s vile to the warriors, but he’s been nice to me, showing me how to navigate through the caves and how to stay ahead of Martha and get things done before she asks, to save a lecture.

There’re two other girls like me who help Martha keep house.

They also ‘help the warriors prepare for ceremonies’.

So far, I haven’t been asked to do anything like that, much to my relief.

Jaycee and Anna are quiet, but they work hard and seem like nice women. I’ve yet to ask how they’ve ended up here as we hardly have any time to chat.

“I have some business to take care of,” he tells me, and I eye him suspiciously. “Can you go to the butchers yourself?” he asks. I nod, relieved he won’t be looking over my shoulder. “Great. I’ll meet you outside the store in five minutes.”

I wait for him to rush off before I cross over to the bakers and go inside. Abel glances up and smiles wide when he sees it’s me. “Oh my god, I’ve been so worried,” he says, rushing around the counter to greet me. We hug as he asks, “Where have you been?”

“My father sent me to the caves,” I tell him, and his mouth falls open.

“I’m so sorry,” he cries. “I should never have asked you to come to the church.”

“It’s fine,” I reassure him. “Being down there isn’t so bad.”

“Your father asked to speak to me earlier,” he adds, glancing away.

“Why?”

“He wants to know how you got a Bible,” he says. “Why did you tell him those things? He knows about the smartphone and everything.”

“I didn’t tell him about that,” I say, confused. “And the Bible thing just tumbled out. You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”

He hesitates, and I grab his arm and give him a shake. “Abel, you didn’t tell him?”

“Not yet.”

“What does that mean?” I cry.

“He’s offered me something in return.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“If Livia has a child, he said I can marry her.”

I glare at him. “Are you crazy?”

“You know how badly I want this.”

“It’s all lies,” I yell. “He’d never allow Livia Garcia to marry a villager. You know this.”

“Her father was there, and he agreed.”

“Why would they go to the trouble of allowing a warrior to see if she’s worthy and strong enough to carry a child if they were going to let her marry you? She’ll marry Reginald Morales, and you know it.”

“I think you’re just angry because you’re in the caves.”

I grip my head and growl in frustration. “Don’t you see? He’s lying to get what he wants. He’ll make an example of Jade, telling the villages she corrupted me to make himself look better. You can’t say anything, Abel, promise me.”

There’s a tap on the window, and I turn to see Alex, who holds his hands up with exasperation. I head for the door. “I have to go, but please don’t mess it all up, Abel.”

I step out, and Alex glares at me. “What are you doing?”

“Just trying to get us an extra loaf to walk home with.”

He frowns. “You’re not in the Sanchez clan anymore, so extras aren’t allowed.”

I nod. “Yeah, that’s what Abel told me.”

“Get the meat. We need to head back.”

“What’s the rush?”

“We’ve been summoned to a gathering this afternoon. An announcement is coming from the forefathers.”

I head into the butchers wondering if the announcement will be about Summer. Maybe she’s pregnant with the next Sanchez slave.

We stand in a neat line, Jaycee, Anna, and me, and all the guards.

Martha walks down the line, taking each of us in, occasionally straightening a collar or ribbon.

I feel like an idiot dressed in a black dress with white cotton detailing.

All the women are dressed the same, with a white ribbon in our hair.

All the guards have their uniforms on too.

I’ve seen them dressed this way before, at pregnancy announcements.

It has to be about Summer. Maybe if they see I haven’t ruined her chances, they’ll reconsider sending me to work in the caves.

We’re led from the caves out onto the giant hill where all four large houses were built looking down on the village. The town hall is in the centre, and that’s where we head, joining other villagers who have gathered to see what awaits us.

The front of the town hall has been covered with a large sheet. It’s different, but then who knows what my father has planned for Summer’s announcement. He’ll want to make a show to take the focus off the antics I’ve pulled that he believes have embarrassed him.

The forefathers file out onto the steps, and my father taps the microphone on the lectern.

I frown as he greets the people, wondering where Summer and the other families are.

“Your time is precious,” he says as I zone back in, “and I appreciate you being here.” He clears his throat.

“Some of you have been here from the start. Your families continuing to grow here, bringing generation after generation of delightfulness. And some of you joined later, coming here for a better life, one that isn’t dictated by the British government.

We strive for peace and tranquillity here in our village.

Being off-grid is one of the most rewarding ways to live, and I think I speak for everyone here when I say this place is so amazing because of you.

Each person here brings their own skillset, making us a success.

We will always do whatever we can to keep safe what we have built here as a team.

We are one big family, and like in most families, there will always be one or two who decide to work against the rest of us.

” My blood freezes, and I glance around the crowd, trying to pick out Jade.

“Our peace and tranquillity have been put at risk.” There are a few gasps from the crowd.

“It brings me great sadness when I am called upon to deal with such evil amongst us.” He pauses, looking around the crowd.

“We promised to protect you, and to keep that promise, we have to make tough choices.” I scan the crowd again, desperately trying to find Abel. I swear, if he’s behind this . . .

“Our younger generation were being corrupted.” More gasps.

“Their minds being taken over with the one thing we have forbidden from day one.” My father holds up a mobile device, and the crowd becomes unsettled, some shouting out in anger, others looking around shocked.

I shrivel back slightly, praying Jade is safe.

“We all know the implications of this innocent-looking device and how it corrupts and controls people’s minds.

The devil himself uses modern day technology to get to our young people, and we cannot let that happen here. ”

He allows the crowd some time to process before holding up his hands, commanding silence.

“We have recovered everything that made it into our peaceful village, our sanctuary.” He removes the battery and throws the mobile phone into a metal drum.

Adrian steps forwards and lights inside, and when flames fan up over the top, the villagers cheer.

“But it doesn’t stop there,” my father continues.

“The people involved had already been corrupted. We were too late to save them.” He gives a solemn look before pointing to the huge sheet covering the pillars of the town hall.

“We had no choice but to put an end to the devil. Releasing them back into our world would have threatened everything we’ve worked for.

And so, it’s with great sadness that I now reveal the traitorous sinners.

” He holds his hand in the direction of the sheet, and it falls away.

My world stops turning as I stare into the lifeless hanging bodies of Jade and Abel.

I can’t breathe, and I tug at the white collar on the dress, snapping the button to loosen it.

I stare as the button bounces across the path in slow motion, coming to a stop by Martha’s foot.

She glances at me, frowning. I see her mouth moving, but the ringing in my ears stops me from hearing her words.

Crouching down, I dig my fingers into the stones as I painfully inhale each heavy breath.

I feel hands under my arms, and I am lifted to stand again, this time sandwiched between Jaycee and Anna.

Martha stands before me, and she gently taps my face.

I blink a few times. “That’s it. Come back to us,” she whispers.

I look around and notice the villagers are beginning to clear away, some sobbing, some looking angry.

“I have to go and see the forefathers,” Martha explains, concern playing out in her expression. “The guards will take you back.”

“Did you know about this?” I demand. “Is that why I’m here?”

She raises a brow. “You’re here because you’re the same as the rest of us,” she says, frowning. “Welcome to our world.” And she walks away.

By the time we get back to our rooms, I’m exhausted. I don’t have any more tears left to cry after these last couple weeks, and so I stare into space until I finally fall into a disturbed sleep.

I wake with a start to find Martha staring down at me. I yelp in surprise and skuttle back until I’m half sitting against the headboard. “I trust you slept well?”