The Leader of Purgatory
Carrie's feet touched the ground just outside of Fort Stevens' gates. The men posted at the gate raised their guns at her. Carrie stood still as she tried to pacify the soldiers, "I'm not here to fight you. I came here at the behest of your leader."
"Why should we believe you?" One of the soldiers, who looked to be barely fifteen glared at her. His eyes screamed distrust, anger, and hate, but not at her. He was only a child when Gilead stole everything from him, and that loss created deep wounds for him.
"Stand down Ryder." His commanding officer ordered him as he lowered his weapon. "This is the Saint, God's Holy Soldier."
"'Holy Soldier?' I'm just a representative." Carrie stated before the air shifted and a chill ran down her spine. The trees moved, yet there was no wind. The ground trembled, but it wasn't from an earthquake. The Purgatory soldiers stepped aside and bowed their head in respect towards their leader.
Carrie's eyes widened behind her mask at the approaching stranger. She looked around Carrie's age, if not a bit younger. Her hair was black as night and her pitch black ankle length dress hugged her slim figure and exposed her right leg with a gun and knife strapped to her thigh and a chain belt tied around her hip. She carried herself with confidence and looked very pleased with everything around her.
Light blue eyes locked onto Carrie's as a small smirk came onto the dark woman's lips. "I knew you'd come."
"Are you 'Wrath'?" Carrie asked as the two leaders watched each other.
"I am. Walk with me, we have much to talk about." Wrath started walking away from Fort Stevens with Carrie beside her as they entered the forest area. Once they were far away from the gate, Wrath turned to Carrie. "You might as well take off that mask Carrietta. No one but I shall see your face."
Carrie's heart dropped into her stomach the moment she heard those words fall from Wrath's lips. Trembling, her hands came up and removed her mask, for the first time, someone other than Alex has seen her face. "You know who I am?" she whispered, clutching the mask in her hand.
Wrath gave her a look of compassion as she smiled fondly at her. "Yes. You're from Chamberlain, Maine. Your mother was a religious fanatic who abused you. You were a victim to bullies at your school. And you massacred them on what is known as 'Black Prom'."
Bloody memories of what happened that horrible night came flooding back to Carrie. The faces of her abusers and those who didn't know her appeared in her mind, terrified and twisted in agony as she gruesomely killed them in her fit of rage. She sat down on a fallen tree behind her, unable to stand under the weight of those memories.
"I know your pain Carrie. No one understood you, they didn't try to. The only three people who showed you compassion couldn't save you. One died right beside you, and the other two, you spared from your anger." Wrath strode over to Carrie until she was in front of her, "The woman who was supposed to love and protect you, tried to kill you. And for what, for having a gift...a gift that saved you and brought you to this terrible future."
Carrie raised her head to look at Wrath. "How do you know these thing? Who are you?" her voice cracked as old wounds opened up.
Wrath knelt before Carrie and grasped her hands in her own. Blue eyes bright with joy and a fond smile lit up her face. "My name is Rachel, I'm your sister."
It didn't register in Carrie's mind at first, but after a few moments, the word 'sister' began to echo in her mind. "S-Sister?" Carrie choked, "That's impossible. Mama never had other children and Daddy died before I was born." This didn't make sense, it was hard for her to process after so much that has already happened.
"Indeed Ralph White did die, but not before you were born. He ran away from responsibility. Then he stumbled across my mother sixteen years ago." Wrath stood up as a melancholy smile graced her lips, "Your mother wasn't the only one that raped by him. But my mother was courageous enough to kill him." At Carrie's wide eyes, she continued, "That's right, I too was conceived through a heinous crime. That makes us half-sisters."
"Then, our power-"
"-came from him." Rachel finished as she began to pace. "His only gift to us makes up for the hell we've endured."
Carrie bowed her head as she processed what she just heard. "I have a sister." she let out a laugh, "I have a younger sister." Tears streamed down her face as she picked her head up again, "I don't know whether to feel joy at finding another who's like me, or anger towards the man who did such a thing to your mother."
"Just take it one step at a time." Rachel told her as she waited for Carrie to calm down.
After five minutes of crying and hyperventilating, Carrie was able to calm down. "How did you know about me? How'd you know you had a sister?"
Rachel shrugged as she paced around. "It's all quite simple, Mother told me the name of my father. She was never one to mince words, she merely told me the truth." she levitated the fallen dead leaves around her and made them dance around her hand. "Just like you, I never had that many friends growing up. Except I wasn't too bothered by it. It wasn't until I was eight did my own powers reveal themselves. Mother didn't take it all that well." she crushed the dead leaves into confetti pieces. "It drove her crazy. Couldn't deal with it anymore. She chose death over me."
Carrie's heart broke for Rachel. "I am so sorry."
"Don't be. Better by her own hands than by Gilead. She was too kind, too gentle, and too fragile to survive this disgusting world. So really, her death is a blessing in disguise. One less person for them to take from me." Rachel said with a bitter smile. "For a long time I blamed my father for my existence, for causing Mother pain. I repeated his name like a curse. I truly hated him, I still hate him actually. It wasn't until I entered middle school did I find out about you through an old friend of yours, Sue Snell." She watched Carrie's eyes widen in recognition of that name.
"Sue? You actually met her?" Carrie asked, shocked and amazed by this revelation.
"She was the guidance counselor at my school. It was during an incident with my bullies did she witness my power." Rachel smiled as she remembered one of her dearest friends. "We started talking, she told me about what happened at her high school prom all those years ago. When we learned that you shared the same last name as my father, it wasn't hard to figure out our connection."
"And you confided in Sue about your powers." Carrie asked as she remembered the beautiful blonde who tried to make up for her past mistakes.
"More than that, she took me in. I was only twelve, way past my expiration date for adoption, but she didn't give two shits. I had a mother again, and a younger sister." Rachel smiled as her adopted mother came forth in her mind, smiling and guiding her into her home.
Carrie smiled. "Sue was pregnant the last time I saw her. I sense the baby inside her and saw it was a girl."
Rachel smiled with her, "Amelia Carrie Snell. Sue honored you to remind herself of what happened and to prevent other incidents like that from repeating."
"That's noble of her." Carrie said before her smile disappeared. "Where are they now?"
Rachel's eyes went dark, "Gilead separated us." The ground shook as anger filled her core. "I didn't get there in time when they stole Sue away from us. Because she bore a child out of wedlock, they considered her a fallen woman. But she was still fertile, so they turned her into a Handmaid. Her daughter, my sweet innocent little sister, ripped away from my arms as they destroyed her name." She shook at the memories. "I only had the Snells for six months and they took away my family." She breathed heavily as she fought to regain control over her anger. "I was barely a child anymore. I bled before Gilead, and that was enough for them to train me to become a wife. I could not control my power yet. I stayed quiet like the good daughter they want. They gave me a new slave name, one I dare not mention anymore. I spent two years being meek, seething in anger and hate. Two years I honed my powers, waiting until the right moment to burn Gilead to the ground." A sadistic smile took its place. "When my Commander of a father told me I was getting married, I said 'no'. He did not take that too kindly. He slapped me, and I snapped." She paused as she recalled what happened that fateful day. "I can still hear the bones snapping as I bent his fingers backwards, the terrified screams of his wife, and the smell of the burning flesh as I set fire to their house while they were still alive inside. That was the day, I became Wrath."
"Then you created Purgatory." Carrie whispered as she felt bloodlust and pleasure coming from Rachel as she spoke about her now dead Gilead parents.
"Slowly, little by little. I started with the Colonies first, those who feel the most hatred towards Gilead." Rachel smirked hatefully. "I spent two years gathering enough soldiers for Purgatory. Little by little, we got stronger, we fought and we took back what was ours."
"You also took revenge on them, you raped them back, and you do things to them that are far worse than what they've done to you." Carrie said as she rose from her seat on the fallen tree. "I heard about what you've done. Though the information was vague, I got the sense that Wrath and Purgatory aren't just menacing names and titles."
"That is correct." Rachel's smirk widened. "'Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.'" she quoted the phrase from the Bible that stuck with her from the moment she was given a Gileadean name.
"So you do unto them what they've done to you?" Carrie questioned as she felt sadistic pleasure trickling out of Rachel's being.
"Of course. It's the only way for them to repent their sins. The rapists no longer have the ability to rape, and their stupidly deluded pious wives shall never hold down another Handmaid again. I make sure of that." Rachel smirked with vicious delight.
Carrie's eyes widened at the implications. "What have you done?" she asked, even though she was terrified to know the answer.
"Oh," Rachel shrugged, "nothing they haven't already done to the women of the nation. You know how gruesome their punishments are; should they read or write they lose a hand, should they have sex with another woman... well, you know the answer to that. I'm just giving them a taste of their own poison." she smirked as she remembered the screams and agony over losing something precious to them.
Carrie felt her insides turn to liquid at the image that sprang forth as her hand flew to her mouth as she doubled over and started to dry heave. After she was done, she was breathing heavily as she regarded her newly found sister in a new light. "Rachel..." she coughed and gagged, "...what you're doing...is demented."
"I'm the leader of Purgatory, what did you expect?" Rachel deadpanned with arms crossed over her chest.
Carrie let out a slow exhale to calm herself back down. "As much as I hold supporters of Gilead in contempt, that goes to far in my book. No matter how evil they are, we should not stoop to their level." she said as she stood upright though shakily.
"Oh no dear sister, I believe I'm low enough to cut off their toys and drag them to Hell." Rachel snidely said, "But the most important rule in Purgatory, we never go after the innocents, no Handmaids, Marthas, or children. Fore they are the real victims in this regime." She stepped closer to Carrie until they could feel each other's breath. "You see Carrie, while you're going around freeing every slave in your path, I'm the one who takes care of the misogynistic pricks and cunts. I don't mind the dirty work, I consider it a hobby, one that gives me a form of entertainment."
"The twisted kind." Carrie commented disapprovingly.
"Yeah, well, I do have a reputation to maintain." Rachel waved off her disapproval as she paced around her sister.
Carrie shook her head as her eyes followed Rachel. "Why did you ask to meet with me? If it's for some sort of alliance, I'm not sure I can work with someone who derives pleasure from her enemies' pain no matter how just they believe it is."
Rachel scoffed, "I'm not looking for an alliance from you. I just wanted to meet you face to face." She said with hands clasped behind her back. "I heard rumors about you, the Holy Soldier sent by God to save His children from evil. I applaud your pacifistic methods in taking down Gilead. As much as I want you on my side, I knew that you'd never cross the lines I've already stepped over. You're far to kind. It's not something I hate. But Purgatory isn't for the pure of hearts."
She paused as she stared at Carrie with the fondness and admiration she reserved for her long lost sister. "For a long time I thought you were dead. I mourned the idea of never truly getting to know my older sister, the one who suffered the most at the hands of humans. But then I saw you on TV." she smiled at Carrie's surprised expression, "Sue Snell gave me a picture of you, how innocent, frail and beautiful you looked. I'd always stare at your face and pretend you were still here as I talked to you. I memorized that picture every single day, and I kept your face in my mind these last four years even after Gilead stole it from me. In my eyes you were a source of inspiration for me." She sighed peacefully then said with admiration, "To learn about what you did all those years ago shocked me. But you also impressed me with that kind of destruction and death. Your name reminds me everyday what happens when pain and abuse goes to far."
Carrie shook her head, "No Rachel. What happened that night is not something anyone should be proud of or even emulate." She clenched her eyes shut. "I can never take back what I've done. I don't want you to go down that path."
"Too late, I've chosen this path long ago." Rachel said with a ghost of a remorseless smile.
Carrie stepped towards her with pleading eyes, "Then turn around and go back. Don't lose your soul anymore than I have."
Rachel scoffed, "Please, my soul was already gone the moment Gilead was created, along with my name."
"Yet you gave me your name." Carrie pointed out.
Rachel gave her a bitter smile, "The whole Handmaids and 'Ceremonial' process was inspired by that Biblical bitch. That Rachel held down her handmaid for her husband to rape and impregnate. To share such a name with that bitch pisses me off because of what it represents. It is disgusting, and I hate it with every fibre of my being."
Carrie was silent as she watched her sister with a pitiful gaze. "I don't want pity or sympathy. I'm way passed that. To everyone, I am Wrath, the leader of Purgatory. But to you, you are free to call me 'sister.'"
"Am I allowed to call you 'Rachel' though?"
Rachel was silent for a moment. "Only when it's just us."
Carrie nodded in agreement, "That seems fine then. What else do you want from me if not an alliance?"
"Simple, a truce." Rachel smirked slightly, "You'll remain the hero the slaves look up to, and I'll do my work as the monster that sniffs out the evil and destroys them. We play the parts God wants us to play, and everything is fine. I'll stay out of your way and you'll stay out of mine." she stated her conditions to Carrie who looked unsure.
"And let you rape and mutilate Gilead officials? I'm not sure I can let that be." Carrie said, conflicted over what Rachel is doing to Gilead leaders and supporters.
Rachel stated, "We share a common enemy, but not the same methods in achieving a common goal. I'm doing what you don't have the stomach for. You're a good person, and frankly, only one of us should have blood on our hands. 'Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.' So you see, I am the one who delivers vengeance for the victims, living and dead, fore I am the Wrath of God. They that have done evil, will and shall be taken to Purgatory to pay for their sinful deeds."
Carrie was silent throughout her speech. She watched her sister's expression fill with certainty and unwavering resolve in her endeavor to root out every Gileadean and make them suffer. While a very strong part of her wanted to put a stop to these malicious acts, the dark corner of her soul reveled in the sadistic idea of paying each monster back with the same treatment. She clenched her hands into fists as she stomped down that darkness inside her and remind herself who she's fighting for. She already has one sin hanging over her head. As much as she wants to stop her sister, she doesn't want to fight her if it meant killing her only family.
With a resigned sigh, she asked, "How long will you keep them for?" There was no way she can save the Gilead supporters without incurring her sister's wrath.
"Only until the Gilead is destroyed. Fore as long as this regime exists, so will Purgatory." Rachel said with a satisfied smile.
"Is there nothing I can do to convince you to seize your handling of your prisoners." Carrie asked one more time.
Rachel shook her head. "No. I will not let them off easy. They started the war, I will finish it. I'll rip them out root and stem until there's nothing left of Gilead. My soul will never rest in peace until I see it all turn to ash." She vowed to her sister, never backing down in her mission no matter how cruel and sadistic it is.
Carrie nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Very well then. I'll keep to my own devices, and you'll keep to yours."
Rachel smirked, "Good. That's all I wanted for us." She took Carrie's hand and clasped it firmly. "I'm so glad we finally got a chance to meet. I wish you the best of luck in this war."
Carrie shook her sister's hand. "You too. I'll see you soon sister." She then placed her mask back onto her face and floated towards the sky to return to the Rebellion.
Rachel watched her sister leave and whispered, "Until we meet again." She walked back to the Fort with a very satisfied smile. She was looking forward to the next step in taking down Gilead once and for all.
AN: Rachel is not an OC, she's from the sequel to the original Carrie film called "Carrie 2: The Rage". I figured, why not. It creates a new kind of parallel for Carrie. Their relationship is already complicated, but that is what makes it interesting. Thank you for your patience. Until next time.