Bleeding Edge: Elliot Security (Elliot Security Series Book 2) by Evie Mitchell (short story to read .txt) 📗

I watched, dread a heavy rock in my belly as he called out my charges.

“Spousal abandonment, extramarital relations, treachery, theft, lust, greed, deceit…” he paused, arms sweeping to engulf the room at large. “And worst of all, dishonour to God.”

He turned back to me, folding his arms over his chest. “How do you find her?” he asked his eyes boring into mine.

“Guilty.” As one, the disciples spoke my sentence.

Edward smiled. “And her punishment?”

Able stepped forward. “Excommunication.”

Another stepped forward, a young woman I didn’t recognise. “Concubine.”

A third. “Stoning.”

Finally, after each had spoken, Edward walked the room, considered their words. “Is Abishag not a daughter of Eden?” he asked.

“Yes,” came the response.

“And does God not punish, then forgive those who abandon Him?”

“Yes,” came the reply.

“Do we believe Abishag worthy of forgiveness?”

There was a mixed response.

Edward tapped his lips with a finger as he strode around, circling my chair.

“Can I say something?” I asked, fighting to get the words out. All eyes came to me.

“Speak, Sister Abishag,” Edward invited.

“You guys want the cash, I want out. Abel delivered me to you. He also wants out. I’ll give you what you want if you let both of us go.”

Edward propped a hip on the desk, crossing his arms as he considered me. “Your husband has asked for your return.”

I swallowed the bile that rose at his comment. “He has other wives. And like you said, I’ve been with other men.”

One man. I’ve only been with one man because you fucked me up. You told me I was useless. You made me think sex was dirty. You made me associate pain with love. And that one man helped me blow away all the hate and disgust you’d built.

David shoved his way through the crowd, face flushed. “I’ll take her!”

Edward considered his brother.

“The code has a kill switch.” I dropped my last bargaining chip. I looked directly at Edward, speaking just to him. “You make me stay, and it’s all gone.”

“I’ll make her–”

Edward raised a hand to silence his brother. “You wish to take her back. I understand.” Edward remained focussed on me, his head tilting slightly to the left.

“You would deprive your brethren of their dues? Your God, His glory?” he finally asked.

“You aren’t my God, and you have never been my brethren. I abandoned the church long before I physically left.”

There were gasps. David surged forward, slapping a hand across my face, sending me sprawling from the chair.

Groaning, I pushed myself up, spitting blood. Hands gripped me, hauling me back into the chair. Edward hadn’t moved.

“You rape children, impregnate teenagers, beat those who are different to you.” My head drooped, too heavy to lift from my chest. “You’re all monsters.”

A fist landed in my stomach, doubling me over. My hands clutched at my middle as I rapidly swallowed against the bile filling my mouth.

“Quiet, whore,” David threatened. “Edward?”

The silence was filled only with the sound of my laboured breaths.

“Brother Abel, what say you?” Edward finally asked.

There was shuffling, and then Abel’s strong voice filled the room. “I have no loyalty to my sister. I simply wish to be with my wife.”

I struggled, lifting my head as I blinked to clear my fuzzy vision. Abel’s hands clenched and unclenched, his jaw rigid.

“Sister Margery chose to leave us,” Edward pointed out. “She put her faith in man and not God.”

Abel’s hands relaxed. “That does not mean I am not still her husband.”

“You would leave our Church?”

Abel nodded once sharply.

Edward tsked. “You delivered on your indulgence. You may leave.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Take nothing with you but the documents we’ve approved. When the Final Solution comes, you will find no pardon from God. From this day, you are dead to the church.”

Abel’s knees buckled, and I watched the painfully stark relief etch across his face.

“I understand. Thank you, brother.” His eyes briefly turned to me before he looked away. “God bless you all.”

He turned on his heel, heading for the door. Edward gestured to me, beckoning me forward. Two men hauled me up, heedless of my injuries.

They pulled me forward, my feet dragging loudly on the concrete floor. They dumped me in front of Edward. My legs, unable to sustain my body weight, collapsed and I fell in a heap at his feet.

“Sister Abigshag. God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church I will cleanse you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

“Amen,” murmured the crowd.

Dread and fear clawed at my throat, as a heavy weight settled in my chest, constraining my breathing.

“David. You are to discipline your wife. Under your hand, she is to give us the password, transfer the money, then follow your instruction. You are to cleanse her however you see fit.” Edward squatted down, his fingers wrapping around my chin, lifting my head until my eyes met his. “You are our greatest asset, Abigshag. God has returned you to us. You will learn your place, and you will rejoice in the love of your husband, your family, your brethren, and your God. After today you will serve us. Your place is here.”

I smothered the whimpers that threatened to escape.

“They’ll come,” I whispered. “You won’t break me.”

His lips twisted up at the corners. “They can try.”

Chapter Fifty-Six

Luc

The bush land around the farm lay in shadows. Nocturnal animals prowled, and the noises of the night played soundtrack to our activities.

I’d been lying in this hole for three hours, my gaze trained down the scope of the .50 calibre rifle.

Back when I’d served, this weapon had been an extension of my body, as familiar to me as my hand.

Activity at the farm had slowly reduced over the last hour. A flurry of movement to and from an outhouse, a patrol of the immediate grounds by some armed, but ultimately undertrained militia,