Page 11 of Bloodmoon Ritual

The other women who had been kidnapped were crying, some quietly, others louder. Some were dressed in office wear and had obviously been snatched from work, others in yoga or exercise pants and had been taken from gyms or off the street. One woman was even still clutching an emptied grocery bag.

“Shh, shh,” I said.

No one could hear them now but any of the noisy ones would be in danger as soon as we stopped.

“Are they really as bad as everyone says?” a very pretty auburn-haired woman cried, holding me with hands so panicked they pinched my skin.

I glanced over at the Congregants, riding behind us in a tight formation.

“They’re worse,” I said. “The only way to survive this is to stay quiet and do exactly as they say.”

Chapter 3

My fingers tightenedon the chains, my mind working desperately.

I wondered if I could possibly slip between the bars nearest the door and escape.

It was dangerous, but once we left the city escape would be virtually impossible.

Experimentally, I moved part of my body to see if I could fit through the gap. I had always been small.

I might be able to do it.

The other option was being my brother’s whore.

So my desperate planhadto work.

The best time to try would be when the truck stopped in heavy traffic.

Occasionally, other Congregations would try to steal the concubines that had been collected for themselves. Though my former Congregation looked bigger and more prosperous now, this was obviously still a possibility, because they were following closely on their motorcycles, my brother in the front, his hands tight on the handlebars.

I turned away and moved to the opposite end of our cage. My hands were slick as I gripped the bars.

The street light was about to turn red. It was now or never.

“Don’t follow me,” I hissed in desperation at the other women, as I sucked in my breath to escape between the gap.

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