Marital Law Page 4

  Dropping to the ground again, I proceeded to low crawl my way over to the area of interest. I had only made it about ten feet before two young boys jumped out from behind the fort of tree logs and rushed towards me.

  Bounding back onto my feet, I prepared my spear for flight. Realization quickly dawned that both boys were too close, forcing me to change my position to that of the defensive.

  The boys took up position on either side of me, their expressions mocking, taunting. I never had to fight a male before because the opposite sex back in Providence wasn't allowed to fight, and besides, detested violence—they were kind, gentle-natured family men. My anger grew to new heights. The nerve of these fools to challenge me!

  Lunging forward with my knife, I made to strike the boy on my left directly in the chest. To my surprise, he side-stepped my advance causing me to temporarily lose balance. Before I had a chance to recover, the other boy brought a rather large stick down across my upper back and shoulder area. The blow dropped me to my knees.

  In a slight daze, I heard the boy on the left grunt as he swung a similar stick at my head. I fell to my right side, narrowly avoiding the blow, and placing my legs directly underneath my backside, propelled myself back onto my feet.

  The two boys laughed amongst themselves. The one on my right said, “Looks like we've got a real hellcat on our hands here, Colin.”

  “Yeah, she's a lot faster than any of the ones that have come through here before her. We may need to hit her over the head and take her to the camp, Thomas.”

  “Not until I've had a little fun,” Thomas said mischievously.

  I didn't like the way they spoke of me, as if I weren't right there between them. I liked their taunting words even less. Using the wooden end of my spear, I swung at the legs of the boy on the right, effectively lifting him into the air. The medium-built boy hit the ground with a thud, a loud yell of pain coming from his mouth almost immediately.

  The other boy almost dropped the stick he was holding as a torrent of laughter, pointing at the one called Thomas, came bursting out of him.

  I once again used this to my advantage. I spun around and kicked the other boy in the stomach. When he folded like a used ironing board, I sent the wooden part of my spear down across his back with incredible force. He quickly joined his buddy on the ground, dazed and struggling to get back onto his feet.

  Ripping the shirt off the boy closest to me, I quickly used my knife to make two long, separate pieces of cloth. I bound the boy’s hands together and then his legs.

  Noticing the other boy, Thomas, making his way up onto his knees, I raised the spear to whack him again. Just as I brought it down, something fell on top of my head as if the entire sky was crashing down on me.

  Stumbling forward a few steps, I struggled to pull myself together. I was seeing stars, the biggest one's ever—possibly enough to fill the entire sky over Providence.

  On the ground to my left, I spied what had hit me: a large rock, about the size of a nasty possum. This particular rock was tied inside a rope; a rather ingenuous way to trap and possible kill an animal, or human being.

  Following the trail of the rope upward, I noticed the other end was wrapped around a large tree branch. There was a young boy, no more than six years old, waving at me with a mischievous grin on his face. I remember thinking, what a cute little boy.

  Even though it felt like an eternity, mere seconds had lapsed between the rock hitting me and seeing the little boy. And then I saw no more. A state somewhere between sleep and unconsciousness found me, and I hit the ground. In the distance, seemingly miles away, I thought I heard voices, many of them, and giggling.

  ****

  “Is she dead? She looks dead,” said the one I recognized from our earlier engagement as Colin.

  “Humph! You wish. And after the butt whooping she gave you and Thomas, I don't blame you,” said the unfamiliar voice of one I assumed to be their leader.

  I could hear them, feel their eyes on me.

  “She didn't kick anyone's butt. We were too busy laughing at her to hurt her. Besides, we knew you would want her unharmed.” Thomas offered.

  “If it weren't for little Isaiah here, Colin would've been carted off to Providence and you, Thomas, would be nursing a possible concussion.”

  Slowly, I began to come to. Instantly, I realized I couldn't move my arms or my legs. As I opened my eyes, the bright light flooded in like a flamethrower splashing across my retinas. I immediately shut them. Squinting, I tried again.

  The two boys that had attacked me appeared to be standing guard over their catch with sticks held ready. The one whose name I remembered as Thomas had a nasty look of hatred on his face. He obviously hadn't enjoyed the beating I'd given him as much as I had.

  When I looked at the face of the other boy, I was surprised to see a completely different expression on his face. He was smiling, but there was something else there too—something that might possibly be admiration. I knew that look all too well: I’d respected and admired my cousin, Ellen. But why would this boy admire me? And why were they holding weapons when Munford Law stated clearly that women were the protectors, the hunters, and gatherers. This was an abomination!

  “Why have you come to our land, little girl?” the one I’d heard them refer to as Jeremiah asked, towering over me. At six feet, four inches, Jeremiah was tall, and he appeared full of brawn as well. The man’s chest stuck out quite a few inches from his small waistline, and his strong chin and jaw line screamed warrior. But this couldn’t be.

  “Once I free myself from these bonds, I will show you why I'm here!” I said defiantly.

  A rather large woman standing in the middle of the crowd let out a laugh and the others followed suit. I didn't realize there were so many people around me until I heard the multitudes.

  From the sound of all the cackling, I estimated around sixty or more people. My heart sank, because the possibility of escape had gone from doable to improbable in a matter of seconds. If it were just the people around the table they'd strapped me to, I felt confident I'd be able to break free. Not the case against so many.

  “My, my, you are a feisty one. My people never get bored of having guests from Providence stop in and visit, my dear. What's your name, by the way? I'm Jeremiah, and this is my family: Hannah, my wife, Thomas and Colin, the two you planned to take home with you, are my sons, as well as this little fellow here, Isaiah. We welcome you to the Land of Manumission, for we were once all slaves to Marcella Munford, but now we are free.”

  “Watch your mouth, forest dweller! Those words could get your throat slit,” I said seething at the man's disrespect for MOM.

  “Ah, I see MOM has brainwashed you just like all the others. We hope during your time here that your eyes will be opened to the truth, little one. You will see that MOM is not what she appears to be. To the contrary, she's an evil woman, bent on killing anyone who stands in her way.”

  Anger flooded my little body as I struggled to free myself from their bonds. “I won't be staying here for long! As soon as I'm free, I will kill every last one of you!”

  A tall, slender woman made her way over to where Jeremiah was standing, tapped him on the shoulder and took his place hovering. I couldn't help but take in her beauty, her commanding presence. She was absolutely stunning: her long brown hair was full of bouncy curls, and her rich brown eyes were almost hypnotic. She wore what appeared to be the fur of a large animal, but it only covered the top of her body, leaving her strong legs exposed as well as her toned arms. She was just a fit as Jeremiah.

  “My name is Hannah, one of the original founders of the land of Manumission. My husband used to be in charge of Marcella’s monitors, until he saw firsthand all the things going on behind closed doors.

  “Marcella took over for her mother, Annabelle, when she turned sixteen years old. Marcella was just a kid. She knew nothing about leading a nation, and honestly, she really didn't care. She was a spoiled little girl, not subject to the same laws
and regulations she forced upon everyone else in Providence.”

  “You lie! If it weren't for MOM, none of us would be here today. All of you included! She created Providence, made it possible for the different regions across the country to survive. MOM showed our people how to hunt, how to farm; she's the savior of the free world.”

  “Free world? If you think Providence is free, you are sadly mistaken, little girl. Marcella cares about nothing but herself! Every rule, every regulation contained in Munford Law was created to make your people follow her! She adheres to none of them! She has over twenty-five husbands, marries when and whom she chooses, and murders anyone who speaks out against her!” Hannah said angrily.

  “I don't believe a word any of you have to say! You are traitors! All of you!” I shouted.

  “Ah, but you will, little girl. You're about to have your eyes opened to things you never would've fathomed. Dark things.”

  “Quit calling me a little girl! I am fifteen. In one short year, I will be able to wed.”

  “What would you have me call you then? And as for you being able to wed—just because you can, don't always mean you should,” Hannah replied.

  “I am Sidnie Rashellus, daughter of Sonia Rashellus. And I look forward to marrying the man that my mother has chosen for me to spend the rest of my life with.”

  “The rest of your life? Don't you mean as long as you can fend off the other women on the hunt for a man?” Hannah said.

  “Did you say, Sonia Rashellus?” Jeremiah asked, taking up position adjacent to Hannah.

  The two shared a short knowing glance.

  “Yes, and she told me all about your evil ways of torturing our people. Well, let me save you the trouble and effort. I'm not telling you anything. You might as well kill me!”

  “I can see your mother has brainwashed you as well, Sidnie. Have you ever wondered why the monitors are all male, the sex strictly forbidden to ever take over as the head of household? I'll tell you why, Marcella doesn't allow females to hold positions of authority anywhere in her cabinet. She doesn't trust them because she's afraid they might try to move in on her territory. Sure, she’ll allow them as servants, but never in power.

  “When I was a monitor, Marcella invited me to her sleeping chambers one night and when I refused, she immediately had me locked up in one of her dungeons below the capital. Fortunately, I'd been meeting in secret with Hannah, and when I failed to show up at our normal gathering spot, she came looking for me,” Jeremiah said.

  “You both are traitors! I demand you release me! Put down your weapons and surrender yourselves to the monitors for your punishment!” I said authoritatively.

  Laughter exploded all around the camp. My anger grew even more.

  “Your mother is a good woman, Sidnie. A little naïve, but good nonetheless. When we were only seven, she would tell me almost every day that we would wed. We used to pretend Munford Law didn’t exist, that boys and girls could marry whomever they chose. That sort of thinking didn't last long though. Once Sonia's mother got wind of our plans, she forbid her from every seeing me again. And my mother shipped me off to the palace to train to become a monitor.”

  “I don't believe you. My mother would never go against the law. She'd do anything to protect the palace and our people.”

  “Because that is what has been beaten into her head, day in and day out. Sonia is afraid to go against Marcella, just like everyone else in Providence,” Hannah added.

  “My mother isn't afraid of anything! If you'd like to test me on that, you can accompany me back to our place and I'm sure she'd be willing to show you!” I said forcefully.

  “Has anyone ever told you that you have the same intense eyes as your cousin, Ellen Reyes?” Hannah said, changing the subject.

  Shock came across my face before I had a chance to mask it. “What did you do to her? She was never the same after she left here!”

  “We didn't do anything. Ellen was ready to know the truth. When she arrived, she immediately placed her sword on the ground and asked my guards to allow her to enter in peacefully.”

  “You are a liar! She would never do that!” I shouted.

  “There's so much more going on here than you realize, Sidnie. Your cousin Ellen, she already knew the truth about MOM and the things she does unbeknownst to the residents of Providence. She came to us, begging for our help in stopping Marcella Munford.”

  “I don't believe a word you are saying! Ellen...” I started.

  “Ellen grew tired of living the same lies as her mother. She wanted something more, something better. You had to have seen this, Sidnie. She showed everyone here the picture her mother had given her—the one from the old days. She said she would give her very soul to live as people did back then. Free to do whatever, whenever they wanted.”

  No words of denial came to my mind. I had seen and recognized Ellen's erratic behavior, had known my cousin had crossed the line. Would Ellen come to these people for help? Would she betray her family, Providence? And the wink. At the time, I had thought it was assure me that my cousin would be okay, but now I wondered.

  “From your lack of a response, I can tell you were at least suspicious of Ellen's behavior, Sidnie. Try not to hate your cousin. She only wants what everyone in the world wants: freedom to be the girl she deserves to be, and to fall in love naturally. Not have someone forced upon her, and then possibly taken away in some senseless battle.”

  “If Ellen liked it here so much, why did she leave? Why did she come back to Providence?” I said, knowing I’d snared them in their web of lies.

  “Only time will tell where Ellen’s true loyalty lies, Sidnie. But enough about her for now. You came here to kidnap one of my own and failed. For that, you will at least listen to what we have to say and see what we show you,” Jeremiah said, and I could tell from his tone that he was getting irritated with me.

  “Where is all of this heading? I mean, what are you hoping to accomplish here? Are you trying to get me to turn on my people? Because if that's the case, you might as well save your breath! Nothing you say or do can erase all the pain and heartache you have caused the people of Providence. Do you have any idea how many good women you've killed?”

  Chapter 6

  Jeremiah and the Dwellers

  “Killed? Is that what you think, Sidnie?” Hannah said. And then she turned towards the group of dwellers gathered around them. “Brianna, Chastity, Claire, and Whitney, please come over here.”

  Recognizing the names, I turned my head and strained to see the crowd.

  The four girls obediently moved forward and took up positions next to Hannah and Jeremiah.

  “Girls, it seems Providence thinks you are all dead. Would you please tell Sidnie why you decided to remain here and not go back there?”

  Brianna stepped forward, seemingly taking on the role as spokesperson for the group. “Just like you, Sidnie, I came here when I turned fifteen. My only desire was to please my family, to please MOM. With my bow in hand, I entered the forest and went on the hunt for an innocent victim. You see, Sidnie, we have it all wrong. We are being bred to think these people are hunting us, but in all actuality, we are the ones after them. We are kidnapping them and taking them back to Providence, so Marcella Munford and her monitors can torture them to death.”

  “I remember hearing about you—all of you! When you failed to come back, the monitors came out to tell your families that you were all dead! Your parents grieved your deaths, are still grieving. How could you betray them like this?”

  “Sidnie, our birthdays are all one day apart. We left Providence, came here with the intent of dragging these poor people away from their homes and families, into the mouth of the lion. We aren't the only ones here, Sidnie, just the latest ones to leave and not come back. There are at least thirty of us. Some were mortally wounded in their attempt to harm the people of Manumission, but the majority of us decided of our own free will to remain here with our new family. We're truly happy here, truly free
.”

  “Free? You think this is free? You are all hiding out here in the forest while my people live in the cities all over the world! You people are nothing but common criminals, a band of misfits!” I said, although, I couldn't deny the fact that we were the ones taking the forest dwellers against their will. But the dwellers refused to live by the law! They were fugitives, deserving of their punishment! We are bringing them to justice!

  “As with many of the others before her, it's obvious we're getting nowhere, father! We should give her a little taste of what Marcella has been doing to our brothers and sisters!” Thomas said.

  “No, Thomas. You know the rules. We give them all a free pass their first time,” Jeremiah said.

  “But she'll be back. They always come back when we allow them to leave,” Thomas protested.

  “Not always. Listen, all we can do is show her what is really going on around her, and she will have to decide from there,” Hannah said, looking me directly in the eyes.

  Her look was too much, causing me to look away, and I hated myself for allowing a filthy dweller to stare me down.

  “Okay, it's settled then. Colin, I want you to take Sidnie across the river to the village. Keep her hands bound. If she tries to run, wound her. Try not to kill her, unless she forces your hand,” Jeremiah said.

  I didn't say a word. I planned to bolt the first chance I got. I did, however, notice the look of frustration that had come across Thomas's face at his not being selected to play babysitter.

  There were too many men and women standing around with various weapons for me to make a sprint for it. This was my original plan, as Colin undid the restraints binding my legs and arms to the table.

  It felt good to be off of the cold slab, and to have my arms down near my sides. They had gone to sleep numerous times while tied above my head, as well as my legs.

  I massaged my hands roughly, doing my best to bring some feeling back into them. This didn’t last long, as Thomas came forward and lashed my wrists together with a small piece of hemp rope, forcefully.