Page 3 of Hell Yes
“So, who are you really running from?” Rochelle finally asked. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell anyone. I live with people that value privacy and personal freedom above all else. But I couldn’t help but notice the red mark on your face.”
Alessia looked at Rochelle’s eyes and immediately had a good instinct about her.
“I was due to be married tonight. On my eighteenth birthday. To a man who’s almost sixty.”
“But you’re a teenager.” Rochelle grimaced. “Arranged?”
“Yes. I’m a…I mean, I was, a member of a religious order. Very strict. No one leaves or questions things. Except me. Except today. I thought it was my sister who was going to marry him, not me. Until two hours ago. And when my mother ordered me to get ready and I objected, she hit me.”
“And you just packed up a bag and ran?”
“Yes. I couldn’t go through with it,” she whispered. “And no one knows, but my dad has a secret stash of books. Books that aren’t about our religion. And I read them. I know the world is bigger than the compound I grew up on.”
“That’s very brave.” Rochelle smiled and then her face fell. “It takes a lot of courage to leave a bad situation.”
“You sound like you know from personal experience,” Alessia replied.
It was the first time in years she’d had a conversation with an outsider, and she was fascinated.
“I left an abusive ex-boyfriend six months ago. Ran away to a different town, to the only person I could trust, even though I hadn’t seen him in decades. But it was the right choice. I followed my gut and that can never steer you wrong. It all worked out.”
“I’m kind of shy around people at first. Sometimes they think that means I’m obedient and don’t question things, but it’s not true. I just like to observe and think before I speak.”
“You don’t seem shy right now. And so what if you are? Not everyone is an extrovert. It takes all kinds.”
“Do you like living in Longford?”
Rochelle nodded, her black hair gleaming in the cab. “It’s a small town, but like I said earlier, people respect your privacy. It’s kind of unusual in that way. That means if you don’t want to tell them anything about yourself, you don’t have to. They’ll mind their own.”
“I don’t have any papers or anything. Founder Simeon didn’t believe in government documents. He said they were trying to control us. But I’ll need to find a job to support myself.”
“I can help you out there. The local diner is looking for a server.”
“A waitress?”
“That’s right. Taking customer orders, serving food, cashing out.”
“That sounds like a lot. I don’t know how to do that.”
“I’m sure you’ve been cooking and cleaning since you were able to walk, am I right?”
“Yes. It’s women’s work.”
Rochelle laughed. “No, it’s not, but men like to tell us that. Anyway, being a server is not much different to housework. You’ll get training. It’ll be fine. Not only that but there’s an apartment above the restaurant that’s vacant. I’m sure the owner would be happy to rent it to you.”
“Okay.”
Suddenly, Alessia was overwhelmed.
She’d left her whole life behind. Her family. Her beliefs. And with nothing but whatever was in her bag.
But she also knew in her gut that she’d done the right thing. Somewhere deep inside her was a wildness, a willingness to question authority that she’d never dared let anyone hear or see. And now, she had a chance to find out what that was.
To find out who she was.
Alessia Rault was gone.
And on this night, Val Renn was born.