Evangeline

I could only watch in horror as one of Seed's followers launched themselves into our copters propellers. Blood and viscera sprayed the front window and the plane spun and spun until finally, it all came to a sudden halt. My ears were ringing and my entire body felt like it had been shoved into a trash compactor. I blinked harshly against the white flashes that appeared in my vision. My hands fumbled with my seat belt but eventually, I heard the fateful click that signaled my freedom.

I crawled from the now burning plane and was about to try and make a run for it when the butt of a rifle slammed into my head and knocked me down. Stars sparked in front of my vision and I hit the mud hard. I coughed and turned over onto my back. Something warm and wet was sliding down my forehead. My vision started to fade...and with what I assumed to be my final breath I let the darkness take me and passed out.

My head felt like it was going to split in half and there was an awful taste in my mouth. It was so hot in this room...and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Had I been sent to Hell? I needed to open my eyes. Needed to get up and see...where I was. I needed to remember what happened...but everything was black. I took a deep, choked breath, and realized I had a clear tube up my nostrils. I took hold of it and yanked, pulling it from me and causing a sharp tugging from deep in my throat. Tears rolled down my face as panic overtook me...I had to get this thing out.

I gagged and coughed...but I yanked until finally, the tube pulled free. The musty air that met my lungs sent me into a spasm of choking...but as I slowly pulled air into my body I realized I wasn't in Hell. Although this could be considered a close second. I was in an Eden's Gate safe house.

My clothes were missing...but they had been kind enough to replace them with some kind of white nightgown. I stood from the bed, my legs trembling under the unfamiliar weight. I felt sick, and as I stood the world spun and slid off to the side. I gasped as my knees hit the concrete floor. The push sending a shockwave of pain all the way up to my forehead. I held my head briefly and closed my eyes tight against the blinding pain.

"Focus...Focus Eva..." I whimpered. "Forward. Move. Forward."

I pushed myself back up and stumbled out of the barrack I found myself in. The bunker was silent. No sound of another living creature. I pressed my body against the cold wall...enjoying the coolness that met my sticky body. I wanted to linger, but I knew that I couldn't. I had to hurry before someone found I was missing. They hadn't done a good job keeping me locked up if their plan had been to keep me prisoner. I just needed to find the stairs...find the stairs and leave.

I knew I was supposed to find my squad...regroup...but all I could think about was how I wanted to go home. I wanted to see my mom...I didn't want to die here. I wouldn't die here. My naked feet padded lightly against the floor, carrying me into what I desperately hoped was the exit. I had no weapon...no shoes...I just needed to pray that I would be able to slip out unnoticed. A weak smile spread across my face as I found a steep set of stairs that lead upward.

"First time...you answered one of my prayers in years..." I whimpered.

The climb up the stairs felt like it took forever and the door was so heavy I had to use my entire body to get it open. As it gave way, light overwhelmed my senses. It burned my eyes...and I blinked harshly against it until I was able to adjust. How long had I been kept in darkness? I looked around and realized that the bunker had led me upwards into a house. The wood of the living room creaked under my feet and I winced at its loud sound.

"Hey...hey you!"

I turned quickly...and found one of those bearded freaks advancing on me.

"You aren't s'posed to be up here!"

I pushed myself away from the wall beside me and begged my legs to run, despite their weakened state. Adrenaline did most of the work and I was able to get outside. It was strange...they could easily put me down...why weren't they firing at me? I turned my head to look back, but in my effort to ascertain if they were tailing me I didn't realize someone had appeared right in front of me. He grabbed me and I screamed as his arms locked me into a bear hug.

"Hey, hey, hey!" He said quickly, yanking me from the ground and giving me a shake. "Relax. No one's gonna hurt you.."

I couldn't wriggle free and for some unknown reason, my body relaxed in these strong arms. The blue of his dress shirt and even bluer eyes sent a shiver of fear up my spine. John Seed...the torturer was telling ME no one would hurt me? That was rich! His guard was down as we stared at each other and I took my chance and kneed him in the groin. He dropped me and I did my best to crawl away from him. He grabbed my ankle and my fingers clawed the dirt as in one swift motion he dragged me back.

A sharp jab stabbed into my thigh and my vision blurred as everything went dark again.

I was in so much pain. My back felt like it was going to break...I could smell the rusty scent of dried blood. My stomach was swollen...sweat beaded on my forehead as something tried to claw its way from my body. I begged God to give me relief...but He had gone deaf to my cries. I screamed and cried...my throat burning with effort for someone to hear me. A man was with me...his hand clutching mine, his lips pressed to my temple...I begged him to cut me open...to take my child and leave. He wouldn't. His grip on me tightened as the world around us shook and raged around us. My body was breaking under the pressure. I couldn't do it. I couldn't deliver our baby into this new hell. I was going to die. Another horribly sharp pain and a second scream apart from my own filled the room.

I sat up from the blankets I had gotten tangled in and panted heavily. My trembling hands moved to my mouth and I quickly reached under the blankets to make sure everything I had experienced had been a dream. No blood, my stomach was flat, everything was still intact. My chest heaved up and down and finally, I collapsed back into the cot. Something heavy was wrapped around my ankle and when I looked closer I realized I was chained to the bunker wall. I tugged at the heavy links and frowned. They clearly upped their precautions this time around.

"You're awake…"

I had heard that voice...the day I was marched into Eden's Gate with my team. The night a plane crashed with me inside of it.

"Joseph Seed…"

I pushed myself against the wall, hoping to put as much distance between us. He sat across from me, his yellow sunglasses briefly reflecting the artificial light above us.

"Brother is fine…" he said gently. "Though...I imagine that will come in time."

Not fucking likely.

"What do you want?" I bit out.

He slid his chair closer and gently reached out and took both my hands in his own.

"It isn't about what I want, sister…" Seed continued. "It's about what God wants."

My skin felt like it would crawl clean off me and I wouldn't hold a grudge if it was successful. I hated the way he was touching me...the way he looked at me. I was angry that this man claimed to be a messenger of God...and yet he caused such devastation to those around him.

"I don't believe in God…" I hissed. "And even if I did...I'd never believe He chose you to be his messenger."

He smiled and released my hands.

"I know...but He believes in you...and that's what matters."

He was insane...nuttier than squirrel shit...and what made it worse was he BELIEVED everything he spouted. That made him more dangerous than some corrupt televangelist that stole from millions on a weekly basis. It meant that his conviction was what would fuel him over all else...and convictions weren't so easily changed.

"I saw you in my dreams, Evangeline...long before you were even brought to us."

I gave him an incredulous look and pursed my lips. I knew better than to fall for his tricks...I knew that cult leaders always started off telling potential victims that they knew them, knew their struggles, knew their dreams.

"During the collapse...I saw you giving birth to a child...and I saw my brother John."

My blood ran cold and my heart began pounding in my ears. I briefly thought back to my own dream and swallowed past an ever-growing lump in my throat. It was just some stupid coincidence…it didn't mean anything.

"You have seen it too...felt it inside of yourself. You may not want to believe it...but your child… my niece or nephew...they will help lead our people in the new world."

I shook my head fervently. I would not let this happen. This could not happen.

"No...no I'd rather die than let you..."

I couldn't even finish the thought...it horrified me. I tried to move further from Joseph, but the chain rubbed uncomfortably against my ankle and I was given very little purchase to work with. Joseph didn't move...instead he just watched me.

"Sister...no one here will touch or harm you."

I laughed, but it came out as more of a twisted scream.

"Your dear followers cracked my skull open and nearly burned me to death in a crashed plane. Do you honestly expect me to buy that shit?"

He frowned slightly and leaned forward, his elbow resting on his knees.

"I'm truly sorry about that...I promise you, he was SEVERELY reprimanded. Going further, this place will be your refuge. I swear."

I couldn't believe this. I couldn't believe this maniac believed this. But...seeing as I was in no immediate danger...I relaxed slightly...but only slightly.

"I will remove that chain...if you promise to just hear what I have to say. After that...you are free to do as you please. If you want to leave, no one will stop you."

"You expect me to trust you?" I snapped. "My friends are dead because of you!"

"Your friends aren't dead...they are...being tested right now. But this isn't about them, this is about you...and you having a little faith in me."

Faith. I hated religion...it was a monster that people hid behind to excuse all their shitty behavior. I couldn't think of a better example than the one sitting across from me. But I wasn't in any position to barter a better deal.

"Fine...I'll humor you. I promise I will listen to what you have to say."

His grin bothered me, but he kept to his word and removed the chain. I rubbed feeling back into my ankle and waited for Seed to feed me his crock of a story.

"A child conceived and raised in love will spread love. And love is patient. John nor I will force you to bear this burden...free will is yours to make that decision...but your child…"

He took my hand again and gently he placed his free one over my own.

"Your child is the hope of our new world. They will be the innocence that makes it pure."

I was flabbergasted...just unable to form any coherent sentence. He wanted me to fall in love with his resident sadist? He really was fucking crazy. I doubted John or any of them were even capable of love. I hadn't left though...everything in my body screamed that I should...but I couldn't. I was planted by this crazy sentiment. Still. This could present me with a unique opportunity, I could be the "man" on the inside. Feed information to the resistance right under Eden Gates' nose. Or at the very least...survive until someone came to my rescue.

"...if you knew me, you would know it would be better to pick someone else."

He smirked and sat back.

"You feel so unworthy, Evangeline...and that just isn't so. I hope your time here with us will change that."

I looked up at him as he stood.

"You should rest...we can talk more in the morning."

He left me there. Unharmed, untouched, just as he had promised.

( PLEASE ENJOY AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK :D)