by S. E. Meyer
The Prophet
There were no lights illuminating the area in front of the elevator doors, making it very hard for Barb to see in the darkness of the double solar eclipse. There was only a faint red glow as she took the last steps toward the elevator car. Suddenly, there was an explosive blast from behind her, throwing both her and Aurora into the elevator in front of them. Barb’s ears were ringing as her head began to pound and then everything went black. It was several minutes before she regained consciousness. Her head was spinning as she tried to swallow, choking on the thick smoke that engulfed her. Barb opened her eyes and noticed a figure coming towards her through the dense black clouds billowing up from the ground around her.
“Hey we got a survivor over here,” yelled a guard from the wreckage. He was standing near the rubble of the elevators.
“Well, you know what to do with them,” answered a man from behind the screen of smoke. He had a gruff voice and seemed to be in charge. Barb could barely make out several figures as they approached. The smoke was making it difficult to see, but the group seemed to be dressed in army fatigues and were well armed. The man closest to Barb pulled out a handgun and reached down, grabbing a wad of her hair. She let out a yelp and felt terror grip her chest as the cold metal tip of the semi-automatic pistol pressed against her right temple.
“Wait, I have a daughter, a little girl. She’s right here,” Barb pleaded. She tried to move out of the way so the soldier could see Aurora. Just as she did, Aurora let out a whimper from under Barb’s chest. Barb started to become more lucid and tried to get away from the soldiers grip. “What’s going on?” she asked. “What the hell are you doing?” Her thoughts turned to Aurora again as she felt for her daughter in a daze.
The man let go of Barb's hair and looked behind him. “Hey, one of them is a kid!”
“Oh my God, please don’t hurt my daughter, I’ll do whatever you want, just please don’t hurt her,” Barb continued to plead as she pulled Aurora close.
“Shut up!” yelled the man next to her, still looking back over his shoulder. Two more soldiers ran up to the group that was standing nearby. A female soldier came closer. She bent down on one knee and rolled Barb over to get a better look. Aurora was crunched into a ball and not moving but she opened her eyes.
“Well now what the hell are we going to do?” the female soldier sighed.
“We’re going to do what we always do,” answered the man that was still shouting orders. He was a tall, thick figured, man with a beard and a cruel looking face. He pulled out his handgun and moved closer to Barb. “If you guys don’t have the guts then I guess I’ll have to do it myself,” he scoffed.
“Wait!” the female soldier shouted. “We can’t, I mean look, she’s just a little girl. We can’t kill them. That’s not what I signed up for. Not like this. Everyone was supposed to die in the blast. That’s what you said would happen.”
The bearded man stared the female soldier down. “Well Rebecca, I guess we didn’t count on one of them getting so close to the doors. The elevator must have protected her from the main blast. But we can’t take them with us. Not in their, um, condition,” he explained with a wincing grin.
“Well, I’m not letting you murder an innocent child Jim, so we’re taking both of them back with us,” Rebecca exclaimed with a burst of confidence.
“Well then, they’re your problem,” answered Jim. “You will need to get those things out of their heads. There’s no way he’ll let them through being marked, and you realize the position you’re putting us in here, right? I mean, don’t be surprised if he takes this out on you, and I won’t stop him. In fact, I’ll tell him that you snuck these two in. I’m not dealing with his craziness for a woman I don’t know, and a child that looks dead.”
Just then Aurora let out another whimper and spoke. “Mommy? I don’t feel so good. Is that scary man right? Am I dead?”
“Fine, I’ll take care of it and she’s not dead,” replied Rebecca. She turned towards Aurora. “Don’t listen to him honey, you’re not dead. You’ll be just fine,” she explained with a smile.
Rebecca drew her knife and turned Barb's head to one side. Barb could feel the panic overtake her again, feeling the adrenaline rush through her veins. “Wait, what are you doing?” yelled Barb as she tried to squirm away. Rebecca ignored her. In one quick movement she made an incision in the back of Barb’s neck and pulled out the metallic chip. “Ow! What the hell?” Barb cried out. Rebecca grabbed Aurora and picked her up. “What are you doing? Please, please don’t hurt my daughter,” Barb pleaded once again as tears began to stream down her face. Rebecca continued ignoring Barb and cut the chip out of Aurora’s neck. She set Aurora back down and grabbed a piece of gauze from her pocket. She wrapped it around Aurora’s neck.
“There you go sweetie, now we can go home,” Rebecca said, wiping a black smear of ash from Aurora’s cheek. She turned to Barb and wrapped a piece of gauze around her neck as well while Jim and the other soldiers watched.
Jim let out a grunt before turning away. “Get ‘em moving and loaded up, we have to get going,” he said before walking away.
“What’s your name honey?” Rebecca asked Aurora.
“Aurora.”
“ Well Aurora, don’t worry okay? We’ll take you somewhere safe.”
“Where are you taking us?” Barb asked as she rubbed her hand across the back of her neck.
“We’re taking you to where we live,” replied Rebecca. “We have food there, and as long as you follow the rules it’s probably the safest place to be right now,” she explained.
“Wait a minute, why don’t we all just go down below, to the underground cities?” asked Barb.
“The last place I’m going is down there,” responded Rebecca, emphasizing the words with a grimace. “Now come, we have to go.” Rebecca helped Barb to her feet and then lifted Aurora up into her arms. They made their way through the rubble, then back towards the first main gate where they met a line of trucks and military vehicles. Barb tried not to look at the dead bodies lying all around her. “At least mom and dad are safe,” she thought.
“Come on, this way. We’re in the third Humvee,” said Rebecca as she led Barb over the last few pieces of broken block and twisted fencing before helping her and Aurora into the truck.
The line of vehicles mobilized and soon they were racing southeast along the back country roads of southern Wisconsin. The soldier that first found Barb spoke up. “You know this is a bad idea right Becca?” he asked as he cast a quick glance in Barb’s direction.
“It’ll be fine, what were we supposed to do Steve, I mean come on?” Rebecca replied.
“I’m just saying. I’m pretty sure he’s not going to like this much,” said Steve.
“What are you talking about? Who isn’t going to like this much and where are we going?” Barb asked.
Steve turned around in his seat to face her. “We’re going back to our compound outside of Chicago and you’ll be meeting the man we’re talking about soon enough,” he explained. Barb wrinkled her brow while Steve continued. She didn’t like the way he was speaking to her. “Oh, don’t worry, you’ll get to meet him right away,” Steve finished with a grin that made Barb feel even more uncomfortable.
“What are you guys doing all the way up here if you’re from Chicago? And why did you cut out our chips? We need those if we’re going to get underground,” Barb asked.
“Underground? Hmm, so that’s what they’re calling it these days. Well, that’s enough questions for now,” answered Steve. “Just shut up and do what you’re told and maybe he’ll be merciful.”
They made the rest of the trip in silence except for a quick bathroom break. Water rations were passed around along with a scrap of jerky before they loaded up again. Barb hummed quietly into Aurora’s ear while rocking her back and forth; helping her to fall asleep for the last hour of the trip until they finally made it to their destination. Barb looked out the windshield as the line of vehicles in f
ront of them, one by one, slowly pulled into an aircraft hanger. They all got out and were welcomed by a small group in the middle of the room.
“Welcome friends!” the man in the middle of the group said with a smile as he peered around the room before fixing his gaze on Barb and Aurora.
“How come my name is on the sign Mommy?” Aurora asked her mother. She was pointing at the ‘Aurora Municipal Airport’ sign with one hand and patting her mother on the shoulder excitedly with the other.
“Well, what do we have here?” the man who welcomed them asked, and then moved closer Barbara. “Is that your name honey? Aurora?”
“Yes, and this is my Mommy.”
“Well hello Mommy,” the man said as he redirected his gaze back to Barb and held out his hand. “Pardon me for staring ma’am but I want to know who-” he paused a moment and spun around to face the group that had just returned. His voice rose louder with each word as he continued. “Who in God’s name decided it was a good idea to bring anyone back here?”
“It was me sir,” Rebecca said, stepping forward. “And I would do it again. She’s just a little girl.”
“Well, it’s perfect timing. Everyone is gathered for evening services. Bring them in and I guess we’ll see how God sorts them out,” the man finished with a grin.
Two soldiers moved in next to Barb, who was still holding Aurora on her hip. One on each side, they escorted them to the end of the hanger and into another large room while the rest of the group followed. There was a substantial gathering of people, seated in a circle on bleachers. The metallic seats were laid out in a large ring surrounding a tall man in the center. The man was wearing a suit and freshly polished black shoes. The group that was seated appeared to have been giving the man in the middle their undivided attention. That is until Barb entered the room. All eyes were now on her and Aurora as she was led to the center of the circle and placed next to the muscular man. The man ignored them; instead, he turned to face the leader of the attack party that had just returned.
“Jim, it looks like you are all safe and accounted for,” he said with a broad smile. “It would seem you once again have been delivered from the clutches of Lucifer.”
“Yes sir, it was a success and we also retrieved additional supplies,” Jim responded.
“But that’s not all you retrieved is it?” The man turned around to face Barb as he posed the question. She stared right back, making eye contact with the gray-haired man. Barb thought he would have been almost handsome if it were not for the long gruesome scar that ran from his left temple down to his chin in a long smooth arc, like a fresh crescent moon. Barb felt uncomfortable in his gaze. It made her heart pound against her breastbone and terror grip her nerves as he slowly studied her with his dark hazel eyes. He turned to face Jim before continuing. “Well Jim, you know the consequences of bringing anyone back here. I guess we will let the congregation decide your fate. And theirs.” The man sneered in Barb and Aurora’s direction with a menacing grin. He spun in a slow circle as he outstretched his hands. He began to speak in a loud, clear voice to the people all around them.
“People of New Aurora!” he paused making sure all eyes were on him before continuing. “What shall be done with traitors? What do you say the penance should be for bringing the devil to our doorstep?” The crowd roared to life and then slowly died down to a low chant. Barb could barely make out what they were saying. As the chant grew louder she understood what they wanted done with the man named Jim.
“Twenty lashes! Twenty lashes!” the crowd continued chanting, crying for blood.
Rebecca ran to the middle of the room. “Wait! It was me, I am the one that brought them here,” she yelled over the roaring crowd, who immediately became silent. Then a rush of quiet murmurings rippled through the gathering. Finally someone from the crowd spoke out.
“Thirty lashes!” the assembly roared, and then began to repeat it. One of the soldiers still holding Barb leaned in towards the leader of New Aurora. “Your own daughter sir?” he whispered.
“So be it! The congregation has spoken!” the man with the scar replied.
The soldier moved in close to Rebecca and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to the center of the room. “Daddy!” she cried out over the crowd.
It was the soldier holding her that replied in a hushed tone. “Do you think they care that your father is the Prophet?” he hissed in her ear. “And he has no choice but to make an example.” The soldier pushed Rebecca to her knees in front of the Prophet.
“Daddy, please don’t. I had to help them. Have mercy on me!” Rebecca yelled.
The Prophet stared down at her for a silent moment before speaking again. “Spare the rod,” he said and then paused. He cocked his head to one side and raised an eyebrow. “Spoil the child,” the Prophet finished and then turned his back on her. The crowd erupted in cheers and the prophet waved his hand. “Take her away,” he ordered.
Another soldier stepped forward and the two of them dragged Rebecca out of the room through a side door. The crowd quieted down as the Prophet once again spun slowly in a circle. “And what say you of our new guests? Shall they be cleansed of their sins?” he asked.
“The cleansing! The cleansing!” the crowd roared. The Prophet turned back to face Barb and Aurora.
“Well, I guess there you have it. Your lives have been spared. If you can repent of your sins and pass the cleansing then you may join us,” the Prophet explained.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Barb asked through labored breaths, her face twisted up in confusion.
The Prophet faced her as he explained in a loud voice. “Mortification of the Flesh in order to atone for your sins and find the path to sanctity.” He paused for a moment and smiled, stretching his wicked scar into the shape of a sickle. “That means thirty lashes.”
“You’re crazy!” Barb spat.
The Prophet turned once again to face the congregation. “Yes, thirty lashes.” He paused and smiled more broadly. “Each!” he bellowed and the crowd went wild.
“My God, no! No, don’t touch my baby. Please I’ll do anything. I’ll take her punishment. Give me sixty. Please!” Barb continued pleading as more soldiers came and pulled Aurora from her arms. Two more grabbed Barb and began dragging her towards the doorway that Rebecca had exited a few moments before.
“She’s just a little girl!” Barb shrieked from between clenched teeth, kicking her legs.
“Mommy!” Aurora screamed as the soldiers pulled her away. The Prophet ignored them both and raised his arms above his head as he yelled out to the multitude around him.
“Spare the rod, spoil the child!” he repeated. The throng was on their feet now, cheering. Aurora was carried off in the opposite direction that Barb was being dragged. Barb continued to scream and kick, trying to get away from the soldiers that were dragging her across the floor away from her daughter.
“You’re crazy. You’re all crazy!” Barb screamed as she continued to struggle. “Not my baby. Not my baby girl,” she yelled, shaking her head frantically in terror. She continued to fight, struggling to get away. Barb could hear the roar of the crowd die down as she was dragged into a smaller room attached to the hanger. There was a long metal pipe in the middle of the room, bolted to the floor and ceiling. The two soldiers handcuffed Barb and bound her to the pole on a short chain. Next they forced Barb into a kneeling position and shackled her legs in place. A man dressed in robes entered the room with a cruel looking whip in his hands. There were several long strands of material hanging from it with twisted pieces of metal attached to the ends. The man in the long robes pulled his hood back and away from his face before he spoke.
“You have been found guilty by the citizens of New Aurora and your punishment sanctioned by the Prophet,” the man in the robes said. “Your sentence will be carried out in public before the people of New Aurora, and witnessed by the Prophet, at precisely six o’clock tomorrow evening.” The man paused a moment and then swung the whip back. In
one fluid motion he cracked it across Barb’s back. She let out a yelp of pain as the small metal shards tore into her flesh and then pulled away, leaving the blood from her wounds free to soak her cotton shirt. She bit her lip to keep from wailing in pain and closed her eyes, rocking back and forth on her knees.
“That will give you an idea as to what to expect tomorrow,” the man in robes explained. An evil grin crossed his lips as he spoke. “May God have mercy on your soul.”
He stared at Barb for a moment and then quickly exited the room.
The Devil is in the Details
John and Frank exited the elevator slowly with Jenny and Ninti close behind. They gazed around the parking garage they found themselves in, making sure they were alone. Once they were sure it was clear, Jenny pulled out a small electronic device with a video display on the top showing a map. She nervously touched a few buttons and then stared at the screen with an apprehensive squint before relief washed over her. “Good, we came out in the right place. We’re on the north side of Chicago and Barb and Aurora’s signal is showing up not too far from here. They’re at the north side evacuation center.” Jenny paused a moment and wrinkled her brow.
“What’s wrong?” Frank asked.
“Nothing, well, I don’t know. I’m only getting a signal from Barb and Aurora. My mom and dad aren’t showing up on here. Either way, we have to hurry. It looks like they are already through the screening process so they’ll be going down soon,” Jenny finished, quickening her pace. The others jogged along behind her as they quietly made their way to the location on Jenny’s map. After several blocks they could see smoke rising up through the darkness from behind the buildings in front of them. Jenny began to run, and within minutes the group could see the evacuation center. Jenny stopped and her three companions almost ran right into her; their eyes focused on the destruction that lay in front of them.
