Page 7 of Brutal Sinner
I can’t even say the words and Goody squeezes my hand a little tighter. “I’m so sorry, Miss.”
“I’m screwed, aren’t I, Goody?”
“Yes, Miss.” She doesn’t even try to pretend, which makes me smile. I always could rely on Goody to say it how it is.
“I’ll miss you, Goody.” I lean against her, and she says softly, “Me too, Miss. Faith.”
I cast my eyes around the room and note the small piles of clothes. There isn’t much because possessions are considered the bounty of the devil. We exist on the bare minimum and so I’m sure that all my worldly goods would fit into one small case. Hope’s things will probably take another one.
Goody says apologetically. “I was sent to help you pack.”
“That’s ok, thanks.”
I watch as she begins packing my things with care and I wander across to the window and stare outside on a back yard that is practical rather than a pleasure to look at.
I catch sight of a glint in the distance and say quickly, “I’m just going to grab some fresh air. I won’t be long.”
“Are you sure they will allow that, Miss?”
Goody sounds worried and I sigh. “If I could run anywhere I would, but there is nowhere to run in Heaven. I tried that once and look where it got me.”
She nods. “Of course, Miss.”
Rather than face my parents again, I open the window and drop the short distance to the ground. As I take off across the yard, I head to the stream that runs at the bottom of the field.
As I reach it, I’m happy to see I wasn’t wrong, and my friend Purity races toward me with a horrified expression.
“This is a disaster.”
“You’re telling me.”
She pulls me into her arms and holds on tight.
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m open to all suggestions.” I say with a groan and pull her down on the edge of the bank and flick a stone into the river.
“I could drown myself, but what about Hope?”
“Is it true?”
“What?”
“That they took her when we were at church.”
“Who told you that?”
I’m interested more than anything and she shakes her head. “Everyone knew, it seems. Everyone but me and you and I expect they never told me because they guessed I’d warn you.”
“I hate them all.”
I huff and draw my knees to my chest.
“Tell me what to do, Purity?”
She says in a sad voice. “They’ve made it so you don’t have time. You can’t escape because everyone knows where you’re heading and would stop you leaving.”
“We could try, though.” I say thoughtfully.