Page 27 of Taken

My father read us some passages from His Word, and then he dismissed us so that we could make breakfast for the men and begin the rest of our daily tasks.

With a lump in my throat and a heavy feeling in my chest, I stepped out of the church and turned left so I could go to the nursery room. Today’s task for me was to help with the babies and young children. Lauren caught my arm and said a choked goodbye before heading in the opposite direction for the washing room, where she would spend the day scrubbing clothes.

A moment later, someone else touched my arm. I turned to see my father. He smiled down at me. “Before you begin your work, I would like to speak with you, my little lamb,” he said.

I nodded and followed him into his private quarters. I knew he spent most of his days (and many evenings too) up in the mansion above ground, but he still had a large room in the shelter to stay in if he wanted to.

“Sit down,” he said, patting a quilted chaise sofa. “Firstly, I wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss. I know Elena was one of your best friends.”

“Thank you, Father,” I mumbled.

He was quiet for a moment. Then he leaned over and patted my arm. “Do you remember the outsider who came here yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“I wasn’t sure if you recognized him when you saw him in the Museum of the Damned, but his name is Mason Ashwood, and you’ve actually met him before.”

“Really?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t realize I already knew that. My voice came out in a suspicious squeak.

“Yes, many years ago. In the old days. I did some business with his family.”

“Oh, I see. I think I might remember him now. I’m glad he survived the Great Reckoning.” I swallowed hard.

“Yes, it’s very fortunate. Anyway, I thought he might seem familiar to you, and that’s why I wanted to tell you exactly who he is. Just so you aren’t confused when he returns.”

My eyes shot up to meet his. “He is returning?”

“Possibly,” Father said. “We can’t let any old survivors into New Eden, as you know. Most of them are contaminated from the Wastelands, so they must be quarantined and subjected to a great deal of tests before they can be allowed to live amongst us.”

“So you will test Mason?”

“Yes. If he proves a good fit for our commune, he will come to live with us. If not, he will have to return to where he has been living. I have a good feeling about him, though. He seems healthy, and he seems extremely devout as well.”

“That is...” I paused and swallowed hard again. “It’s exciting news. It’s always nice to have new arrivals.”

“Yes.” He stood up and motioned for me to do the same. “Anyway, run along now, my little lamb.”

As I headed out of his quarters, a heavy sense of shame filtered through my body. My best friend had just died. I should be completely and utterly devastated, but a tiny part of my mind was actually excited instead because of what my father just told me.

I couldn’t help it, though. I wanted Elena to be with us again, more than anything, but the thing I wanted second-most in the world was for Mason to come and live here. I was drawn so strongly to him yesterday, like some sort of otherworldly force was pulling me toward him, and that made me think our God was sending me a message about him.

If he came to live at New Eden, there was a small chance he would become my husband in the spring weddings instead of Danny Miller. If that happened, he could punish me for my sinful ways. Punish me like I so deeply craved and deserved.

I’d never needed anything more.

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