by Payne, T. L.
Sitting up had made the headache worse. Now her lip was throbbing too. Beth looked around the room. She could only see out of her left eye, so she turned her head far to the right to take in the entire area. It was small and sparsely furnished. A framed portrait of an elderly female hung on the wall opposite the bed. She didn’t like the way the woman in the photo was staring back at her.
“When can I see Maria?” Beth asked.
“Who?”
“My friend. The woman I was traveling with.”
“Oh, yes. I will see when she is available.” Mother Lyra said. “I’ll have someone bring in some broth and crackers. Don’t try to get up on your own. We wouldn’t want you to fall and hurt yourself worse,” the woman said as she approached the door.
“Thank you,” Beth whispered as she shut the door.
Beth wasn’t prepared for the sound she heard next, but the key in the lock was unmistakable.
Shit—she’s locking me in!
Waiting in the small room, staring at a photo of the strange old lady was making Beth feel stir crazy. With nothing to distract her, wild thoughts soared through her mind. Just as she had decided to get out of bed and try to try the door, she heard the key being inserted in the lock and the door opened. The woman who’d been there when she awoke walked in carrying a tray of food.
“Mother Lyra said to bring you some soup. Do you feel up to eating? I brought some chamomile tea as well. It’s very soothing.”
“Where’s Maria? Why can’t I see her?” Beth asked, not responding to her offer of food.
“Your companion is working. No one is allowed to leave their shifts until all their work is complete. I’m sure she will be in to see you as soon as she finishes for the day.”
“Work?”
“Yes, everyone has assigned duties. Idle hands are the devil’s playground and all,” the woman said, setting the tray on the bedside table.
“I am Aurelia, by the way. Can I get you anything else?”
“A book or magazine to pass the time?” Beth asked.
“Oh, we aren’t allowed to read anything but Mother Lyra’s teachings, unless it is the holy mother’s writings that is,” Aurelia turned and bowed her head at the photo of the woman on the wall.
“Is this a religious mission? Are you a Catholic?”
“Not an organized religion. We are spiritual, though.”
“The other woman said you had prepared for this. What did she mean by prepared? Do you have supplies and things to sustain a group, or are you prepared some other way?”
The woman didn’t answer at first, and Beth thought she’d overstepped and offended her.
“Both, really,” she finally said, “We got ready, physically, by stocking up on supplies and food, and, spiritually, we prepared our minds and spirits. The holy Mother had been preparing her followers for years. Bless her holy name.”
Beth’s mind swirled with all the possibilities. One thing was clear. She and Maria were in trouble. Beth could feel it in her bones.
“How long have you lived at the mission?”
Beth wanted to keep the woman talking and glean as much information as she could about the place so she could plan her escape. At the moment, she had no idea where she even was. She could be back in California for all she knew.
“I came to the mission two years ago with my husband,” Aurelia said, raising a spoon of broth to Beth’s lips.
Beth was reluctant to drink it. There was no telling what could be in it. They could drug or poison her. She opened her mouth to refuse the offer, but Aurelia stuck the spoon in between her lips before she could speak.
“Does your husband have a job here too?”
Beth wanted to distract her from feeding her the broth.
The woman stood and walked toward the door. Beth thought that she was leaving, but she closed the door and returned to the bed.
“My husband was chosen. He is waiting for me in Khambalia with the holy Mother. When I am worthy, I will join him there.”
Her voice was shaky, and Beth could tell she was fighting back tears.
“I lost my first husband three years ago,” Beth said, trying to keep the woman engaged and talking.
“I didn’t lose Tim. He ascended.”
“Oh. Okay. That is good, I guess.”
“It is. It’s what we all work and strive for. After we have gathered, we will reap, and then we will all ascend. You’ll see.”
“I’m sure that will be lovely for you, but I will be home with my children by then I’m sure,” Beth said.
Aurelia didn’t say anything.
She picked up the spoon and shoved it hard into Beth’s lips. It clanged into Beth’s front teeth, causing her mouth to open involuntarily.
“I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry. Please don’t tell Mother Lyra. Please, tell me you won’t tell her,” Aurelia’s eyes were wide, and tears spilled down her cheeks.
“It’s okay. There’s nothing to tell. I’m sure you didn’t do it on purpose. I’m a nurse. I have accidentally done that with my patients before,” Beth said, trying to reassure her.
She had no intentions on tell Mother freaking Lyra anything. Beth didn’t know what scam the woman was running here, and she didn’t care. All Beth wanted was to find a way for her and Maria to get the hell out of there. She’d have to find Jack first, of course. She couldn’t leave him with these freaks.
Who knows—they may eat dogs.
Beth shuddered at the thought.
“Are you a nurse, Aurelia?” Beth asked, filling the silence.
“I was a nursing assistant before I came here, but until the gathering, modern medicine wasn’t allowed here. It was against the rules to treat an injury or illness.”
“What?”
Beth was shocked. She tried to remember which religion it was that didn’t allow medical treatment.
Is it Mormons, Christian Scientists or Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pentecostals?
It made her head hurt trying to think of it.
“Did something happen to change that rule? I mean, you obviously provided me medical care.”
“Mother Lyra made an exception. Since the gathering began, she has allowed treatment so that we can meet our numbers and be ready when it is time for the ascension to Khambalia.”
“Is Khambalia similar to the Christian heaven?” Beth asked, earnestly curious now.
“Somewhat, I suppose. Except there is not one god, but everyone has the potential to be a god. The Khambalians are the supreme beings and have empowered each of us to obtain the power of the gods.”
“I see,” Beth responded.
“And who are the Khambalians?”
Beth was afraid to hear the answer. Hearing it out loud would make it just that much more unsettling.
“They are the superior beings that created the heavens and the earth. They reside on the Khambalian star. That is where holy Mother and my Tim are now.”
Beth said nothing.
A light tap on the door sent Aurelia to her feet. Beth was not sure exactly what had Aurelia so jumpy, but it confirmed to her that whatever plan she and Maria came up with, they needed to proceed with caution.
“Come in,” Beth called.
Jet black hair was the first thing Beth saw poking from around the door. She exhaled a sigh of relief. A huge smile crossed her face as Maria stepped into the room.
“Wow, Beth, you look like shit,” Maria said, walking over and plopping down on the bed beside her.
“Thanks. You look at little banged up yourself. That is an attractive dress you’re wearing.”
Maria was dressed like Aurelia and Mother Lyra.
“You and Jack gonna be twins or what,” Maria asked, pointing to Beth’s eye.
“I sure as shit hope not,” Beth said, then swiftly turned to see if Aurelia reacted to the swearing.
She didn’t.
“So, how’s the foot?” Maria asked smacking the splint on Beth’s ankle.
The pain shot through Be
th’s foot, causing her to jolt upright.
“Damn, girl. You trying to kill me?” Beth chuckled.
“No, but I owe you one for this here shiner,” Maria said, pointing to her shiny black eye.
“Have you met, Aurelia?” Beth asked Maria.
“Nope. Haven’t really been introduced to very many folks yet. I’m Maria. Nice to meet you.”
Maria stretched out her hand, but Aurelia just stared down at it. Beth and Maria stared at each other as Maria slowly lowered her hand.
“So, Aurelia what the hell is up with this place? You guys a cult or what?”
“What? No. How rude. We saved you and you come in here insulting us and behaving like street thugs.”
“Street thugs? Damn!” Maria said.
“Exactly,” Aurelia said.
“I’m sorry, Aurelia. I’m sure Maria didn’t mean to offend you. She is likely just uninformed. Maybe if you tell her what you were telling me about the holy Mother and the Khambalians, she can be enlightened. We all want to be prepared for the ascension, correct?” Beth said, glaring at Maria.
Aurelia shrugged her shoulders and patted the tight bun on her head before adjusting the tie around her plain denim blue dress.
“I suppose you are right. I, too, was ignorant before Tim explained it to me.”
“Ignor…” Maria began before Beth reached down, grabbed her hand, and squeezed it hard.
“Tell us about the Khambalian star and the gathering. When can we all go there?” Beth asked her lips curling into a fake smile.
Aurelia spent the next half hour going into detail about the group’s strange belief in aliens and the matrix that kept mankind enslaved. She told them how the holy Mother spoke to Mother Lyra and told her about a coming apocalypse that would unplug the chosen ones from Lucifer’s electronic control. Most disturbing to Beth was the gathering part of their plan. It seemed that in order for the aliens to return and collect the chosen, the group had to gather 144,000 people worldwide. That was why she and Maria weren't allowed to leave.
“What if you aren’t worthy of ascension?” Maria asked.
“Then you would keep doing penance and sacrifice until you are. At least that was how it worked before the gathering,” Aurelia said. “I haven’t been told otherwise.”
“What would you do for penance and sacrifice?”
“That is not for me to say. We aren’t allowed to speak of it. Those things are for holy Mother and Mother Lyra to decide.”
An uncomfortable silence settled between the trio. Beth tried desperately to come up with a plan that did not include them being sacrificed to some alien god. Her imagination ran wild. She feared for Jack. Had he been sacrificed?
“Well, Aurelia… That is a pretty name. What does it mean?” Beth asked, turning her head to get a good look at the woman with her one good eye.
Aurelia turned and looked at the closed door before speaking. It was obvious that she was about to break another rule.
“It means, dawn. Dawn was my old life name. I thought it would be easier for me to remember.”
“Oh, Dawn is a very pretty name too,” Maria said, her lips making a fake smile of her own.
“Well, thank you. I haven’t been called by that name in so long I had almost forgotten it,” she chuckled.
“Is it against the rules to use your old life name?” Beth said, lowering her voice to a whisper.
“Yes,” she whispered back.
“I like Dawn better,” Maria said.
Dawn checked the closed door again before responding.
“Me too!”
Chapter 19
Langston Cabin
Evening Shade, Missouri
Event + 16 days
Maddie was putting the second pot of coffee on the wood cookstove to percolate when she heard Buster begin to growl. She hadn’t even known the dog was in the room with her. They’d gotten past their differences and had even made friends in the last few days. She remained cautious around him, however, having not forgotten their first encounter.
“What is it, Buster?” Maddie asked the dog as she opened the back door.
Buster jumped up and hit the handle on the screen door, and it flew open. He was down the back steps in an instant. By the time Maddie had grabbed her rifle and stepped outside, he had disappeared around the side of the barn.
The sun was up, but the cloud cover made the sky look dark and gloomy. Maddie shouldered her rifle and moved toward the barn.
“It is just Ron,” Austin called from the loft.
“Oh, okay,” Maddie said, lowering her rifle.
Buster and Ron’s Australian Shepherd, Mugsbie, ran past her chasing each other.
“Hi and bye, Mugsbie,” she said as they passed.
Ron’s horse nickered as he stopped in front of the barn.
“You’re out early. Come for breakfast?” Maddie asked as she approached him.
Ron dismounted and led his horse into the barn.
“I could eat. But no, I came to tell you guys that I was hit by poachers last night,” Ron called over his shoulder.
“What? Oh no. What did they get?”
The back door opened, and Lugnut and Rank stepped out. Maddie turned toward them.
“Ron’s place was hit by poachers.”
“I knew it would happen sooner or later. People are probably getting desperate by now. Maybe we should post a watch over at your place,” Rank said.
“We are spread pretty thin here. I’m not sure we could spare anyone. Ryan is still down with his leg injury,” Lugnut replied.
“I understand, guys. I don’t expect you to guard my place too. I just wanted to let you know so you could be aware.”
“What’d they get?” Rank asked.
“Someone raided the hen house and I found a cow butchered in the field with only the hindquarters missing.”
“I bet it was those convicts. If it was, they’ll be back. That isn’t enough food to feed the group they got there. We should set up a watch at your place tonight and catch them red-handed. Maybe we can scare them off and make them afraid to come back,” Rank said.
“We could do that. I imagine if they run into resistance, they’ll go elsewhere. Those cowards want easy pickings. They don’t want a fight,” Lugnut said.
“I’ll bring all the cows and horses up near the barn and make them have to come in close,” Ron said, handing Maddie a leather saddle bag.
She nearly dropped it to the ground. It was so heavy.
“What the hell is in here? It weighs a ton.”
“Beef. I finished butchering the cow. No reason to let it go to waste.”
“It’s still good after being out in the field all night?” Maddie asked, wrinkling her nose.
“The carcass was still warm. The poachers must have hit in the early morning hours.”
“Oh. We didn’t expect that gang to be out last night after all the partying they were doing. We should’ve set watches on the road,” Lugnut lowered his head and shook it.
“It’s okay, Lug. We were all exhausted. We’ll do better,” Maddie reassured him, reaching up and placing a hand on his shoulder. He ran his hand down the length of his beard and shrugged.
She could tell he was feeling the pressure as he had subtly stepped into a leadership role for the group.
“Maybe it wasn’t them. I’m sure convicts aren’t the only hungry people out there,” Rank said.
“That’s why we need to set up watch and see if they come back. We need to know,” Lugnut said.
“I don’t think it’s anybody from around here. I know everyone who lives out this way. They know me well enough to just come ask me if they need food. I would have given them the cow. As a matter of fact, I’ve taken food to several families in Evening Shade. I think it’s definitely not someone from around here,” Ron said, grabbing the saddle bag back from Maddie and heading for the door.
Maddie fell in behind him.
“We should grind some of this beef and gril
l hamburgers. I bet Harmony can make buns,” she said.
“Oh, my gawd. That would be amazing,” Rank said, smacking his lips.
Maddie looked at him. His black beard reached to the center of his chest, and his mustache covered his lips. She wondered if she’d ever see his handsome face again. He was shaving his head less these days. Maybe she’d see him with hair on his head too someday.
“You’re helping me with the grinder,” Maddie said, flicking his beard.
“Whatever. If it gets me a burger, I’ll crank that old thing,” Rank said, grabbing her and rubbing her head with his knuckles.
Yep. He still sees me as a kid sister.
Lugnut held the door open, and Ron carried the meat inside.
“I’ll follow you back home, Ron, and help you get the animals back to the barn. We’ll scope out where to set up watch tonight,” Lugnut said.
“That would be great, Lug. We can bring a bunch of potatoes and onions back and make fries to go with Maddie’s hamburgers.”
“Wow, I can’t believe we get to eat hamburgers and fries in the apocalypse,” Maddie said.
“I miss Alex’s Pizza. I used to drive all the way to Rolla just for a slice,” Ron said.
“I miss ice cream,” Lugnut said.
“Cold beer is what I miss most. I used to pop the top on a Guinness every evening after dinner, put my feet up, and watch Netflix and chill. I cannot believe all that is gone now. Shit, that is all I thought about over there in the sandbox,” Rank said.
Maddie recognized the look on his face. Her dad would get that look when he spoke of his time in Iraq and Afghanistan. She’d asked him once what he missed most when he was there, besides his family. He said, running the 5K with her. That was what she missed most—running for pleasure instead of for her life.
Ryan was sitting in the living room when they went inside. He was having problems with his leg still swelling if he stood much, so Jason and Ron had both been getting on to him to stay off it as much as possible.
“Hey, Ryan. Guess what. We're having hamburgers and fries for dinner,” Maddie yelled from the kitchen.
