I nodded, my concern obviously visible.
“Brother, I’ll do all I can to help,” he reassured me.
“We just have to bring her back.”
Micah nodded. “I hear you. I mean, we don’t choose them, but once they’re ours . . .” His words trailed away. Micah was a good man, a good pilot, and a good husband. There weren’t a lot of men who treated women the way Abraham did, at least not at the Northern Light. I mostly credited Luke with that. He worked hard, monitoring and doing what he could to keep the wives safe. If someone else had his job, the outcome could have been much different. I didn’t know how it was at other campuses.
We pulled up to the back of the large white building housing The Light, located on the corner of Second and Glendale Avenues. When I turned, Sara’s eyes were closed. She was concealing her fear visually, but damn, from her pulse and grip I felt it. Hell, I even smelled it, if that was possible. It emanated from her, creating a cloud.
The Northern Light had grown to nearly five hundred followers, and yet the Eastern Light had stayed relatively stable, its population hovering around one hundred. With that number, its temple was much smaller than ours, composing only a small part of the total building. Taking Sara’s hand, I led her through the doors. Each step was smaller than the one before, the old tile floor became figurative quicksand, sucking my shoes into the muck, slowing our steps as dread glued our hands together. Even the thought of letting go of her seemed impossible.
Perhaps I was paranoid, but as the followers made their way to their seats I sensed a different atmosphere from the one at the Northern Light. Everyone here seemed more tired and reserved. It made sense. The only male followers who remained at the Eastern Light were the ones who worked on either recruitment or logistics. Most of the female followers worked in the building across the street. While they had a small Preserve the Light operation, mostly they made illegal substances. It was Father Gabriel’s backup plan, his way to deflect law enforcement from the bigger illegal operations, if operations behind The Light were ever questioned. These followers were more aware of the dangerous side of The Light because they lived it.
Using the seating at the Northern Light as my guide, I took Sara to where I assumed the Assembly wives sat. I must have been right, because a woman stood.
Bowing her head, she said, “I’m Sister Teresa, my husband said to expect a new sister.”
New? What? Not new, just visiting.
“Sister Teresa,” I said, “this is my wife, Sister Sara. We’re visiting from another campus. I’ll return for her after service.”
She looked to the empty seat beside her and then reached for Sara’s hand. “Welcome, Sister.”
I made my way to the front, where Elijah too had an empty seat beside him.
“Brother,” Elijah said, “before service begins, I believe you’re wanted for a few minutes in the offices, on the second floor. Do you remember where you’re going?”
I swallowed my concern. I didn’t want to leave this room, not with Sara out there alone. “Yes, I remember.”
He nodded. “I’d try to be back before Father Gabriel gets here.”
My gaze narrowed. “Father Gabriel isn’t the one who wants to see me?”
Elijah shrugged.
I took a deep breath and looked out toward the congregation and sighed. I felt a little better seeing Teresa and Sara speaking.
The Eastern Light’s temple was on the first floor. This building was quite large and used for many purposes. When I’d first entered The Light, like most voluntary followers I’d spent most of my time in this building. The second floor held offices as well as classrooms for new-follower training. Part of the introductory process was learning and retaining Father Gabriel’s teachings. The third floor had testing centers—individual cubicles where daily examinations were performed. There was constant analysis of a follower’s dedication to The Light before that follower could be assigned to one of the other campuses. The fourth floor had dormitories for new followers and apartments for permanent residents. The Assemblymen and Commissioners’ apartments were in the far end of the building across the street, giving them some privacy.
As I rounded the corner at the top of the stairs for only a brief second, I saw Richards as he stepped in front of me.
What the fuck?
“Let’s see how you like it, asshole.”
I didn’t have time to process his words before his fist contacted my jaw, catching me off guard and sending my face flying to the left. Instinctively I reached to the wall. Before I steadied myself enough to retaliate, my arms were seized from behind.
CHAPTER 19
Sara