John

She was a fucking spitfire...that much was certain. Even in her wounded state, she still managed to get my nuts pretty good. I moved upstairs, waiting for Joseph to come back from the bunker. I wouldn't be surprised if we had to sedate her a second time… the girl was unbelievably angry and violent. I couldn't WAIT to drive that wrath out of her. Joseph emerged from the bunker, closing the door and leaving it unlocked. I took a deep breath and stood to join him. She was clearly a flight risk, so I didn't understand why he thought leaving the exit unguarded was a good idea.

"She has spirit." He smiled.

"Brother...this…" I paused. "You know I would do anything for you, but this…"

He rested both hands on my shoulders and his gaze bore into my own. I frowned and looked away.

"This is a test for you, John. For the both of you. Have faith and believe me when I say that God showed me your future. And it's with that woman downstairs."

I shrugged his hands off and walked away.

"He's asking too much. You're asking too much. I can't do... this. "

He followed me as I left the house to stand outside on the front porch. It was a fine evening. Not too hot, not too cold...just a peaceful evening. I could smell the distant hickory of a fire and not far off was the laughter of other members of the church. Nights like this were rare...especially with the rebels constantly trying to destroy everything we built. It seemed at every turn we were met with adversity.

"God never gives us more than we can handle, brother. You know what's at stake here."

"Joseph...I just…"

Joseph turned to me once more, a hand squeezing my shoulder for comfort. My frown deepened and I let out a long sigh.

"I have faith you will do the right thing, John. And you will not have to carry this weight alone. The family will be supporting you both too."

My lips pursed and I held back on every ugly thing I wanted to spout at him. He left that night. Left me with this horrible feeling growing in the pit of my stomach. It wasn't that he wanted me to impregnate this woman...it was that he wanted me to love her. The child had to be conceived in love. How did he expect us to do that? He wanted me to love this sinner? My job was to punish sinners. His job was to love them. Oh well. Whatever my job, it didn't need to be done tonight. I had other people that needed to atone that evening anyway...and I welcomed the distraction from Evangeline.

Joseph had removed her chain...apparently trusting her enough not to run off. I, on the other hand, didn't. Her sin was wrath and I had grown all my life knowing that wrath was stubborn. I had breakfast set out for both of us and the rest of my siblings. It would be up to the little spitfire to choose to come up.

"She won't eat." I grit out. "The supper we left for her last night hadn't been touched. Only the water was gone."

Faith smiled at me, and immediately I felt annoyed by her.

"It's her first night here...she just needs some time."

"Let me have some time with her," Jacob smirked. "I'll get her to eat."

I was about to comment when Joseph's hands slammed down on the table. Immediately we all fell silent and our gaze fell on our plates. He stood and glared at all three of us under his yellow sunglasses.

"That is the MOTHER of the new world and you will treat her with respect." He hissed. "Do not forget your roles in God's plan and always remember hers."

Breakfast continued in silence until I saw in the reflection of Joseph's glasses a ghostly silhouette. She was still in her nightgown Faith had given to her, but she had wrapped the thin sheet from her cot around her shoulders. There was purple bruising on her forehead from where the gun butt had slammed into her and her skin was shimmering with sweat. I had taken her temperature last night and had known a fever set in late in the evening. She had a seizure when we first brought her in...I honestly thought she would die on us before any of one got to speak with her.

"Good morning Eva!" Faith smiled. "Come sit with me."

As she did with everyone, Faith immediately pulled the "innocent little girl card". She ran up to Eva and tugged her by her hands to the table. Evangeline stumbled after her, but I could see that she would have much rather stayed downstairs. Her eyes had dark circles under them, and I could still see some dried blood towards the crest of her forehead. God, she looked like fucking Hell. The braid she had kept her strawberry blonde hair tied in was unraveling and several loose strands were pulled in front of her face. Still...she wasn't horrible to look at. At least she wasn't the ugliest woman to birth the savior of the new world.

"Good morning Eva," Joseph said. "I'm glad to see you are still with us. Please. Help yourself, you must be starving."

If she was, she didn't act like it. She accepted some orange juice but barely touched a piece of toast and some fresh fruit. I immediately felt my temper flare. What? Did she think we had fucking poisoned her? Was this some sort of hunger strike? Honestly, I hoped that it was. It would make my life easier if she just faded into nothingness.

"Faith has brought you some new clothes," Joseph remarked. "Then after breakfast, John can show you around the ranch."

It wasn't a suggestion, it was a command. I didn't have a choice. I smiled tightly and nodded.

"It would be my pleasure."

She nodded.

"Okay…"

Faith showed Evangeline to the master bathroom and came back to help us clean up from breakfast. I took to washing the dishes, hoping it would keep my siblings from trying to talk to me. It did not. At least as far as Faith was concerned.

"You know...a little bit of Bliss might make her a little easier to...talk to."

"The Father doesn't want the choice made for her Faith...you know that."

"I understand...but I'm here to help you if you change your mind. Just a little in her tea...and-"

"Faith...fuck...off," I growled.

She gave me a sickly sweet grin and proceeded off to bother someone else with her false perception of innocence. I was more than halfway through the dishes when Evangeline came into view.

"Well hello sunshine," I smirked. "You clean up well, I must say."

Faith's wardrobe was limited to dresses, but this one was a little more practical than that ripped piece of garbage she chose to constantly wear. The garment was a white and mid-knee sundress with a blue satin ribbon that tied around the waist...perfectly appropriate for the Mother of New Eden.

"...thank you…"

We both stood awkwardly in silence. I didn't know what to say to this woman...and judging by the way she kept just looking around the room, she felt the same way about me. So. We said nothing and I motioned at her to follow me outside.

"My brother requested I show you around."

She walked beside me...inching closer as more of the congregation came out to greet her. I worried she would lash out...that the sin of wrath would be too much for her...but as a child stepped forward...something shifted. Evangeline knelt down to the little boy that had grabbed her dress' hem. He handed her a dandelion...and I watched as she gently took it and placed it in the tighter loop of her braid. He gave her a big smile and I cleared my throat so that I could regain her attention.

She turned to face me and it was like a switch had flipped. Nothing but a blank slate. No sparkle like what the child had received. I started the Jeep and slowly pulled away from the lodge I had made into my home.

"That was a nice show with the kid." I chuckled.

"What show?" She repeated. "What are you talking about?"

"You think you can fool me? I know your kind, Evangeline...I know the anger that sits just waiting for the opportune moment to make an appearance...You can't hide it from me like you can the others."

Her eyebrows narrowed together and I felt a smile spread across my face as I waited for her to confirm my suspicions.

"I haven't hurt anyone," she growled. "It is your people that tried to kill me, remember?"

My lips tightened into a straight line and I said nothing as I drove around the ranch. I pointed out the various spots she could go if she needed a doctor and where the church would be for the sermon held this weekend. She didn't react. I couldn't read her. I couldn't understand her. Jesus Christ, I couldn't fucking love her. How was this sinner going to be the mother of my child? What the fuck did Joseph see in her...and why wasn't I able to see it too?

"Eva…" I sighed as we returned to the lodge. "I know...you are less than happy with this arrangement. Honestly. I am too. But...Joseph isn't crazy. And I know that somewhere you believe that too."

I attempted to touch her shoulder, but she flinched away as I drew near. She was afraid of me. I wanted to be offended, but in all honesty, I haven't given her much reason not to be.

"You are the mother of New Eden...you can't run from your fate."

"...if you let my friends go…" she whispered. "I will...stay."

I felt my eyebrow raise and I sat back in my seat. She wanted me to release those offenders? Free them back into the world to cause mayhem? And what did she mean by that? Did she plan on leaving today?

"I cannot decide that."

"Then ask the man that can. If you let my friends go...then...I will stay with you."

I couldn't believe she was trying to make a deal with me...and part of me admired the genuine concern she had for the other people in her group. She cared about their welfare. Just as Joseph cared for ours.

"I can't make any promises...but I will ask him."

That answer seemed to satisfy her and she nodded and escorted herself back into the lodge. I sat in my jeep and ran my hands over my face with a groan. What the fuck had I just agreed to?

Joseph was with other members of our congregation, talking to the mothers and fathers that made up our strange family. I cleared my throat as I neared and watched as Joseph gently squeezed their hands and came back to me.

"I need to talk to you, Joseph."

We walked back to the lodge, but before we went inside I stopped him.

"Evangeline has a request…" I began. "She wants us to release her friends. She says if we do, she will stay here with us...permanently."

He watched me and I felt more like an insect under a microscope than a man talking to another man. I couldn't believe I was asking this of our leader...I knew he wouldn't allow it, but at least I could say that I had...and that would be enough to keep Evangeline under our thumb.

"Then do so."

Wait...WHAT?

"Joseph...you can't be serious." I laughed. "Just let them leave? They will come back with more in tow!"

"Then that means God has led them home again. If that is all Evangeline requires for her to bring us into the new world...then do it."

I couldn't believe that Joseph was okay with this. Okay with letting this woman make a decision that not even myself could make. How could he trust her so foolishly?!

"Love, John. We must show them love."

"And what happens when they take advantage of that love brother? What happens when they strike back?"

He brought his forehead against my own.

"Then we love harder. Release her people."

I closed my eyes but nodded.

"Yes, brother. "

(I HOPE YA'LL ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER! SORRY IT'S SO SHORT. PLEASE COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YA THINK :D)