The Renegade

by Amy Dunne

It was too late to back out. She had to keep playing the game. It was their only chance. “I do,” she whispered.

  “There is one final act. Stand,” Elijah said. He pulled Alex to her feet and led her over to a table. A gold ornate bowl, a sharp jewelled knife, a pen, and a leather-bound book occupied the table top. Elijah let go of her and turned his attention to the book. Using the red ribbon, he opened the book to the bookmarked page to a list of names written in black ink with fancy penmanship. Her full name was listed.

  Murphy’s wasn’t.

  Next to the names was an array of different signatures all written in pinkish ink. Near the top of the page, a black line scored through the name Benjamin.

  “Your hand,” Elijah said, reaching for the knife.

  “I…” Alex couldn’t form any words. She didn’t trust this deranged lunatic with a knife, let alone asking for her hand.

  “Now,” Elijah commanded, his expression darkening.

  No choice. Unseen eyes bored into her. The silence suffocated her. She weakly held out her hand.

  Elijah turned her palm upward. “Blood is the life force. It’s with that life force you now sign your allegiance to me, to us, and to our Lord God.” Before Alex could react, he swiftly sliced the knife across her index finger. The blade was so sharp it took a few seconds before she felt the sting. Crimson blood spilled as she helplessly watched. Elijah turned her hand and directed the fingertip over the bowl. Blood dripped into the gold base. The cut throbbed with each beat of her heart. Compared to the blood she’d given for Murphy’s transfusion this was nothing of significance, but the manner in which it happened made her want to cry. It was a violation and it sickened her to watch her blood pool before her.

  Elijah rested the knife and produced an ordinary plaster. He dressed the cut and offered the pen. “Sign your name here.” He pointed to her designated space. “And then the ceremony is complete.”

  Having come too far to turn back, Alex picked up the heavy pen. She dipped the nib into her blood and with a trembling hand touched the paper. After only three letters she had to dip in her blood again, and again, and one final time to complete her signature. She dropped the pen unceremoniously, causing a tiny splatter of her blood to sprinkle the page.

  “Welcome, sister Alexandra. May our Lord God bless and keep you,” Elijah said, roughly pulling her in close and wrapping his arms around her. “Our Lord God is watching you. Don’t disappoint him.”

  The room erupted into a ruckus, shouts, cheers, whoops and applause echoing off the walls. Before she could react to his warning, Elijah released her and invited everyone to come up. Alex numbly shook hands, accepted kisses and enthusiastic hugs. She didn’t hear the names or comments, didn’t notice the faces or answer the questions. It was an overwhelming blur.

  She glimpsed Gemma still slumped on her chair. Her complexion was deathly pale, which emphasized the deep purple of her black eye. In a flash, David pulled Gemma up and led her away.

  *

  Alex was disappointed she didn’t get to speak to Evelyn after the welcoming service, but was relieved that she’d rushed back to Murphy. She’d visit the medical room unsupervised later, but for the time being the members of her new community were determined to introduce themselves and chat.

  After what felt like the hundredth time of explaining that she and Murphy were married, faultlessly reeling off their make-believe backstory and exclaiming how privileged she felt about being welcomed into their community, she was physically and mentally drained. Most people seemed nice at face value, but that made their devotion to Elijah and his fanatical ramblings all the more disturbing. How had they all been fooled? And how deeply rooted were their beliefs?

  “The welcoming dinner won’t make itself,” Claire said in the direction of the few remaining stragglers and clapped her hands. “The devil makes work for idle hands. Let’s go.” She’d ignored Alex, and that suited them both.

  An elderly woman and her younger female companion who had only managed to half introduce themselves before Claire’s interruption swiftly bid good-bye and left.

  “Alexandra, are you planning on contributing?” Claire asked patronisingly.

  “Yes, I was—”

  A commotion pummelled through the doorway as Paddy bounded into the room and spotted Alex. His claws scraped on the marble until, pulling with all his might, he successfully dragged Scott over.

  “Paddy,” Alex said, dropping to her knees, trying to calm the not-so-little guy down. He pranced around her in circles, his furry backside wriggling and his tail wagging with glee. “You’ve grown so big.” He really had. Scott was right. He’d grown taller and filled out, too. One of his ears stood up at attention, while the tip of the other remained floppy like a folded corner of a page. His paws were still massive in comparison to the rest of his body, and they flounced around with little grace. “I’ve missed you so much. Have you been good?”

  Paddy gave a playful bark and dropped into a roll, presenting his tummy for a long-overdue tickle. She was so relieved he was perfectly fine and thankful he hadn’t forgotten her.

  “Get that out of here,” Claire said, her expression aghast. “This is a special place.”

  Alex looked up, but didn’t stop fussing Paddy. He cuddled up against her and she kept his gangly body pressed close.

  “I’m sorry, Claire. I cleared it with Elijah first,” Scott said, looking sheepish. “After they’ve been reunited, I’ve been ordered to show Alex to her room and give her a tour of the grounds.”

  “She’s supposed to be working in the kitchen.” Claire’s mouth contorted, as if she’d tasted something sour. Her watery eyes burned as her hands pressed to her hips. “It’s not right that she just swans off doing whatever she pleases when there’s work to do.”

  “It’s her first day,” Scott said with a placating shrug.

  “All the more reason. She needs to start pulling her weight, as do a few others. She’s eaten our food and used our facilities. She needs to earn her stay.”

  “If it’s a problem, maybe you should mention it to Elijah,” Scott said.

  “Don’t think I won’t.” Claire stormed from the room.

  “I’m sorry for putting you in an awkward position,” Alex said. She found a particularly sensitive spot behind Paddy’s ear and he slowly slid to the floor, writhing in happiness while one of his hind legs danced on the spot.

  “You haven’t. I know how desperate you’ve been to see him.” Scott shoved his hands into his pockets. “I just hope she doesn’t speak to Elijah. He told me to take you to your room and show you around, but he didn’t mention bringing Paddy.”

  “I think her bark is worse than her bite. Thank you, though.” She’d missed the doggy smell, the feel of running her fingers through his soft fur and being covered in stray hairs. It felt like home. “I was scared he’d forgotten me.”

  “This is the happiest I’ve seen him,” Scott said wistfully.

  “You know, I have a feeling Claire’s going to keep me really busy. Do you think you could do me a big favour and spend some time with him in the day? Maybe fuss and play with him? I’d feel terrible leaving him all alone.”

  “Sure,” Scott said, his disposition changing instantly back to cheerful. “I’ll brush him, let the kids play fetch with him, and he can keep me company when I do my rounds.”

  “Wonderful.” Alex stood and tried to brush away the dust and dog hairs. “How about showing us our new room?”

  “Sure thing, miss,” Scott said, presenting her with the lead. “I’ve already put his stuff in there, just to help you get settled. I’m glad you’re a part of our community. You’re going to fit right in.”

  Alex forced a smile. “I hope so.”

  *

  The room was similar in size and layout to the one in which she’d been locked up, but was on a different floor and had more amenities. True to his word, Scott had put Paddy’s stuff neatly away in a corner. A single bed made up with two pillows and an additiona
l blanket had two folded towels on top.

  A rickety chest of drawers had a few items of her clothing resting on top. Every piece was feminine and had been packed when she’d originally left her home. Unsurprisingly, not one item of her newly acquired masculine attire had been provided. Her walking boots were clean and placed on the carpet. The rest of her room was made up of basic things; a mirror, empty shelves, a Bible, and a pair of curtains that actually closed.

  No matter how much she tried to convince herself this room was different from where she’d been kept, it still felt like a prison cell. When she’d asked Scott about bathroom facilities, he informed her that the toilets were in the same building as the shower block and gym. It meant leaving this building and walking outside. Already unappealing, it got worse when Scott warned it was best to try and wait until morning, use a bin, or go in a small group, as since Gemma’s kidnapping the armed security had increased and were being “extra cautious,” which she took to mean “potentially trigger happy.” The thought of wandering around this place at night, vulnerable, with armed men like Elijah, Phil, and David around, made the prospect of using a bin actually appealing.

  They’d spent too long sorting her room and talking to leave enough time for Scott to guide her on a tour. After apologising profusely, he rushed off to his security detail, happily taking Paddy with him.

  Left to her own devices, Alex knew she should go to the kitchen, wherever that was, and help prepare the meal, but she didn’t want to. Claire had gotten on her very last nerve, and the list of chores delegated to her would most likely be humiliating and brain-numbingly tedious. Instead, she decided to have a look around by herself.

  Closing her door, she surveyed the corridor. As tempting as it was to nose around in other rooms on the floor, she resisted the urge. Breaching people’s privacy on her first official day wouldn’t be a great start. Outside, she wandered aimlessly, noting mentally as much as possible. The fences were high and the barbed wire rusty but sharp. From what she could see, there would be no escape over them. Even if she somehow miraculously got past the first fence, there were still another two to face, and by then the security at the guard tower would have seen.

  “Hi,” Tanya said timidly.

  “Whoa,” Alex said, clutching her chest. She’d jumped in surprise. Tanya had silently appeared from nowhere.

  “Sorry.”

  “No, it’s fine. I was daydreaming,” Alex said, hoping her scouting wasn’t obvious.

  “Are you by yourself?”

  “Yeah. I figured I might as well look round and try to get my bearings.”

  Tanya nodded and seemed to hesitate. “I can show you around—only if you want me to. If you want to be alone, that’s fine.” Two red dots blushed her cheeks.

  “No. That’s great. Thank you.” Alex decided she liked Tanya. It was just a shame her nervous nature made her so awkward.

  “I’ll show you the gym first,” Tanya said leading the way. They walked into the building with the shower block, but entered through a different door. “If you need the shower or sinks, then you turn left along this corridor.”

  Alex nodded and tried to map it in her head.

  “The toilets are to the right. They do flush, but the rule is to try and save both the water and toilet roll. Claire’s a stickler for checking.”

  I can think of a few other choice words to describe her, Alex thought.

  They went up to the next level and entered a gym area. Most of the machines and equipment didn’t require electricity. It was a self-sufficient setup.

  “The women have to do an hour in here a day,” Tanya said.

  “Mandatory exercise?”

  “Yes. We don’t leave camp, so this helps us stay physically fit and healthy.”

  Questions bombarded Alex’s mind. “Anything else that’s mandatory?”

  “Act of worship first thing in the morning. The rest of the day is spent doing tasks. We cook, clean, and do laundry. Everyone except the men on guard have to be in their rooms by nine at night for the curfew. But in here, even if you’re alone, you have to do your full hour of exercise. If you don’t, it’ll get back to Elijah and David,” Tanya said, as if what she was saying was the most normal thing in the world.

  “What about the men?” Alex asked, trying to wrap her head around what she was being told.

  “They do ninety minutes in here a day, but they also do a lot of self-defence training and walking around the grounds. The scouting expeditions are happening every other day, so they’re physically active with that, too. Shall we carry on?” Tanya asked.

  “Sure,” Alex said. The men had a better deal.

  Tanya led them outside and pointed to the shooting range. Three men—from this distance it looked like Phil, Bob, and another man she didn’t recognize—availed themselves. The sounds of distant gunshots reverberated. Alex flinched. “When do we get to shoot?”

  “Women aren’t allowed to touch any weapons,” Tanya said, folding her arms against the cold breeze.

  Alex wasn’t surprised; she’d expected that exact answer. There was definitely a chauvinistic vibe to this community, and it grated against every fibre of her being. “Any animals?” She looked down at the large grassy area near to the shooting range. It’d be perfect for growing crops and vegetables, and even keeping animals.

  Tanya shook her head. “I’m afraid not.”

  “What about the electricity? Are there solar panels?”

  “No. I haven’t seen any. We rely on the generators. The big tankers are topped up after every expedition. The plan’s to fill them before winter.”

  “Is there an allotment?” Alex asked, searching the perimeters. “Fruit trees? Berries?”

  “No,” Tanya said with shrug. “Everything we eat is tinned or dried.”

  “You don’t grow anything?”

  “No. Evelyn’s been trying to persuade Elijah for weeks to let us have a patch of soil to try and grow a few crops. It looked like it was going to happen, but then got waylaid with Gemma’s kidnapping and your husband getting hurt. I don’t think it would’ve happened anyway.”

  “Why wouldn’t Elijah want fresh food?” Alex asked. Evelyn’s ideas matched her own. In order to have a future and be healthy, they needed to be self-sufficient and to produce their own food.

  “We’ve not been here long. The priority is to make this place secure and have enough supplies to keep us comfortable through winter.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Alex said, dismayed by the blatant ignorance and disregard of other people’s opinions.

  “There’s not much we can do about it. But we’ve got vitamin and mineral supplements that we take every morning. Like I said, Evelyn gave it her best shot and got nowhere. If she can’t persuade Elijah, no one can.”

  “Why’s she the only one to persuade him?” Alex asked.

  “She’s his wife.” Tanya’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Didn’t you know? I shouldn’t have presumed you’d been told. It’s just, well, you’ve spent time with Evelyn.”

  Alex was hurt that Evelyn hadn’t told her. It was so important. How could Evelyn be with him? Love him? Shocked to her core, she felt utterly betrayed. It was unfathomable. How could she ever trust Evelyn again? How could she look into her eyes? And there was something more—a burning rage akin to jealousy. Evelyn was married. She was married to Elijah. Alex despised him; he didn’t deserve Evelyn’s love.

  Aware Tanya was watching her, she asked the first thing that came into her head, trying to shirk the limelight and regain her composure. “Are you married?”

  Tanya shrank back. A shiver tore through her body. “Yes, to Phil.”

  “Oh.” No wonder the poor woman was downtrodden. “How long have you been married?”

  “A few months. We were one of the first marriages to happen here.” Tanya looked wholly uncomfortable with the conversation. She nibbled on a fingernail.

  “You didn’t know each other before the Red Death?” Having met Phil, Ale
x had yet to witness any redeeming qualities. The pairing was odd. What on earth did Tanya see in him?

  “No.”

  “You met here?” Alex asked, surprised that after such a short space of time, Tanya felt so strongly toward Phil. Maybe there was a softer side to him.

  Tanya nodded and her complexion paled.

  “Wow. You must have fallen head over heels in love straight away,” Alex said, trying to lighten the tension.

  “I don’t love him,” Tanya said so quietly it was barely audible. She looked around fearfully as if she’d revealed a huge secret and was afraid someone might have heard.

  “Then why marry him?”

  “It was decreed by our Lord God. We can’t talk about this,” Tanya said, tears welling.

  “What do you mean decreed?” Alex asked, a little more forcefully than she’d intended. What the hell was going on here?

  “Our Lord God revealed his intentions to Elijah. We were paired in marriage with the intention of procreating.”

  “Procreating?” The word was so cold and impersonal. Evelyn’s initial warnings now had a very different meaning. The threat of being married to someone—only she hadn’t taken it seriously and never considered it would be a forced marriage. “You didn’t get a choice?”

  Tanya shook her head. “We can’t do this. I’ve got to go. Sorry.” She ran down the path, leaving Alex alone.

  As more gunshots echoed through the otherwise quiet compound, Alex tried to comprehend what she’d been told. Forced marriages. Procreation. The end of feminism. How could the rules and thinking of hundreds of years of fighting for equality, diversity, and human rights all be undone in less than a year? And if things could change that quickly, what did the fate of mankind have in store?

  She needed answers. An explanation. More than anything, she wanted to talk to Evelyn. The betrayal hurt far more than she cared to admit, and the sting of jealousy only added salt to the wounds. Alex had been up front and honest to a fault. Was it too much to expect the same courtesy in return? Her face warmed and her anger stoked. She’d been made to look foolish. She strongly suspected Evelyn had deliberately chosen not to divulge her marriage, and Alex wanted to know why. Maybe there was a good reason? Maybe hearing it would make everything better?