Hi all! Sorry it takes a while to update! You know the score though! And again, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY APPRECIATE all your up-building comments and great reviews! Honestly, I couldn't write without all your support! So thanks very much again! I am so happy to be able to entertain!
BIG thanks to all of you for joining my journey and staying with me! :-))
Jill continued on down to Sabrina's room, with a lidded coffee from the café downstairs, but was dismayed as she turned in through the open doorway and found the rumpled bed empty. She set her coffee down on the side unit.
"Sabrina?" She called out and went to the bathroom. "Are you okay?" She asked as she pushed open the door a little. There was no response so she pushed the door fully open but found no-one. Jill felt a tingle of alarm. She was a little earlier than she said she'd be, but still - Sabrina should be in her room, surely? Unless…
She turned and hurried out of the room, anxiety swelling in her chest. Then she checked herself inwardly. Of course, there would be a day room somewhere. But Jill was pretty sure that Sabrina was unable to get out of bed just yet. Probably a nurse had assisted her? No, surely not? Sabrina was just still too injured… All these thoughts and more niggled at her and juggled for first place, as she approached the nurses station and waited patiently until one of the nurses could turn her attention to her.
"Can I help you?" The nurse smiled as she looked up from her records.
"Yes, actually I was looking for Sabrina Duncan - room 302. She's not in her room but maybe she's been helped to the day room or something. I just didn't think she was well enough to be out of bed yet." Jills frown emphasised her concern. The nurse muttered Sabrina's name to herself then selected and removed a file from a bunch neatly stacked in a large tray on the desk and flipped through the charts and notes inside.
"Hmm, let's see." She glanced through the notes for some moments before looking up at Jill.
"May I ask who you are?"
Sure, I'm a very close friend, Jill Munro. I was here yesterday to see Sabrina." Jill smiled at the questioning nurse. The nurse pursed her lips a little before replying.
"Well I can't actually tell you much, patient confidentiality you understand. However, you are correct - Miss Duncan should absolutely not be out of bed just yet." The nurse stressed, worried herself. "I would like to know how she managed it…" The nurse muttered, as she rechecked the notes.
She stood up from her seat and looked intently at Jill. Yes, this lady had definitely been here yesterday, during her shift, she recalled. And in all her experience, the nurse knew a genuinely concerned friend or relative when she saw one. She relented a little.
"…she isn't scheduled for any tests today either." She held Jill's look of dismay and concern, and saw the all too trademark look of someone who was haunted with raw emotional anxiety on the womans face.
"If you would like to check the day room, it's the fourth door on your left down the corridor." The nurse indicated, with her hand. "And I will page Doctor Lumley immediately."
Jill smiled a wide relieved smile. "Thank you!" She then quickly strode down the corridor and opened the door to the day room, glancing around for Sabrina. A few patients were dotted around, watching television or reading and they all looked up at her as she entered the room, then, curiosity satisfied, went back to what they were doing. No Sabrina. Jill backed out of the room and began to feel more stress gnawing away inside her. She looked up and down the corridor, then decided to head towards the exit signs, wondering if, and honestly, how, Sabrina had managed to procure a wheelchair from somewhere, and was now delicately meandering her way in the general opposite direction of her room, perhaps to try and escape all the medical paraphernalia. She knew how Sabrina felt about being in hospital. But that didn't give her the right to go worrying her friends by doing a disappearing act. Jill felt somewhat annoyed by her friend now, as she stalked the hospitals' many corridors in search of her fugitive. Why did every hospital have to look and feel the same, Jill thought glumly, as she turned yet another corner, feeling decidedly stifled by the stuffy air and mostly blank, unimaginatively coloured walls.
Then she saw Sabrina and let out a much pent up, relieved sigh, her previous thoughts on hospital décor completely forgotten. Sabrina was slowly making her way along in a small electric wheelchair, away from Jill, and yes, Jill conversed with herself - in the general direction of the exits. Jill hurried after her and called her name when she got up close. Sabrina turned her head slightly, in surprise, then very slowly turned her chair to face Jill, looking sheepish.
"Jill!" Sabrina said, still a little muffled through her healing lips and cheek. "You're early…"
She was still trying very hard to imitate the art of ventriloquism and talk without hardly moving her lips at all. Jill felt a little rush of sympathy, and awe simultaneously, that Bri was fighting to be out and about. She just hoped the fight in Sabrina didn't still have anything to do with wanting to quit.
"Sabrina, you're not even supposed to be out of bed! How on earth did you get out of bed anyway?" Jill scolded, incredulously. She inwardly winced at the spread of bruising over Sabrina's gaunt white face, especially over the right side, but noticed that the swelling seemed to have gone down a little. She leaned over Bri and set the switch to manual on the chair, then moved round the back of Sabrina and began to push her back the way she had come.
"Spoilsport." Jill thought she heard, nonchalantly, from her friend. But Jill wasn't amused. She very lightly patted the top of Bri's shoulder.
"You scared me, Bri!" Jills' voice was scraped with worry. "What are you doing, escape from Colditz? You have broken ribs, a fractured cheek and have had major concussion, among other things…!"
Jill continued to berate Sabrina, allowing some of her anxiety out, to impress upon her friend how much she'd worried her.
"…I bet your doctor doesn't even know you're out of bed! How on earth did you manage it Bri? And where did you get the wheelchair from, anyhow? It wasn't in your room yesterday!" Jill finished, exasperated.
Sabrina let Jill continue, as she suddenly realised with shame that she did totally deserve this ear-bashing for going AWOL. She felt her heart almost drop to her stomach with guilt. But she'd just had enough with the same four walls staring back at her, and decided she needed a change of scenery. Mostly because she felt worried and guilty that she wasn't around to help Kelly and Kris on this ugly case. And not being able to do anything useful at all for her friends, coupled adversely with a desperate need to really work out her creeping intentions to leave Townsend Investigations, was just driving her crazy! But she did now feel very bad that she'd caused Jill this extra worry. Huge hearted Jill who had flown all the way from Spain to be with her, who no doubt was worrying about her younger sister and also Kelly and had listened to her going off on one yesterday - who was always there for her friends... She suddenly felt even more like crap.
"Sorry, Jill. Really. But you know how… I- I…" The tired and slow spoken response came over Sabrina's shoulder, an excuse petering out lamely. Jill sighed herself, only half sorry she was giving Sabrina a hard time.
"It's okay Bri, I know. Let's just get you back to your room before…" Jill didn't finish her sentence, because Sabrina then gave a slightly muted groan which alarmed Jill all over again. She stopped the chair and quickly stepped around and crouched down to face Sabrina.
"What, Bri? What is it, do you hurt? Shall I get a doctor?" Had she gone too far?
Sabrina heard the panic rising in Jill's voice. "No need…" She waived her arm a little towards a stern looking doctor that was walking in their direction. "Here's… my other guard…"
Doctor Lumley stopped and folded his arms, anxiety and disapproval clear in his expression. He approached Sabrina and Jill, taking in Sabrina's exhaustion and pain as he swept his concerned but professional eyes over her .
"Miss Duncan, please! Have you any idea how much damage you could be causing yourself?" He sternly admonished his patient.
Sabrina felt like a little child, all of a sudden. If she had been a child, she would have been inclined to kick the doctors shins and run off. But under the present circumstances, that would prove somewhat difficult, if not… childish. So she held her hands up in submission instead, then winced as she did so, momentarily forgetting about the fractured ribs.
"I know, I know!" She said wearily, as she caught her breath. "Sorry Doctor Lumley. I just needed the air."
The doctors scowl became less stern and a patient sigh escaped his lips.
"Well, Miss Duncan, there's plenty of air to breathe in your room, I can guarantee you, without you having to go…" He looked pointedly at Sabrina's mode of transport "wheeling yourself off outside!"
As Jill found herself wholeheartedly agreeing with the doctors last statement to Bri, she also found herself looking at him and thinking what a pleasant kind of man he looked. Probably in his early forties. A few gray hairs peaking out of his dark hair above his ears. Interesting green eyes that seemed to give away his caring personality. Hmmm, she considered further. Not bad, not bad at all.
Sabrina wasn't slow, regarding Jill's attention to the good looking doctor. She caught the doctor sneaking a sly appraisal of Jill over her head, and a small smile tweaked the corners of his mouth. Bri sighed inwardly. Trust Jill to get in there. She never would stand a chance when a Munro was around. And of course, she wasn't exactly looking her best. She resigned herself to the fact that she obviously looked like hell, and then some, and was in no shape whatsoever to be out and about, never mind hoping to catch the eye of a good looking doctor. She winced again as her ribs sharply reminded her of why she should be in bed. She suddenly felt very weak and dizzy, and the pain she was endeavouring to hide from Jill was growing more unbearable as the minutes ticked by.
"So, Doctor - back to my room, huh?" She almost whispered.
Jill heard the strain in her friends voice and looked at Doctor Lumley, who held Jill's worried glance for a moment, then looked Sabrina in the eye.
"You read my mind, Miss Duncan. You do understand you must completely rest to give your body a chance to heal? I have requested another x-ray for you - Nurse Hopkins will arrange this as soon as you return to your room." He then looked back at Jill.
"I do hope you were just about to return my patient to her room…?" He asked, raising his eyebrows at Jill.
"Oh yes, of course, doctor!" Jill took the hint and began to push the chair again.
"And Miss Duncan?"
Jill stopped the chair and looked back over her shoulder while Sabrina turned her head slightly to listen.
Stay there until I say otherwise - please." He finished, with no room for objections. For once, Sabrina didn't have any. She was now acutely aware how selfish and stupid she had been.
Jill took control of the chair and began to wheel her chastened friend back to her room but just couldn't resist a glance back over her shoulder at Doctor Lumley. "I'll make sure she gets back safe and sound doctor. And I'll be by again tomorrow…!" She wondered at herself, flirting again, when so many other things should be the sole focus of her attention. But still...
She smiled her dazzling smile at Doctor Lumley, who returned a smile, then disappeared among the patients, nursing staff and visitors that straddled the corridor.
The large Main Hall was now occupied by everyone in the sanctuary. The sisters were standing in three rows of ten, a few sisters behind these and a brother at each end of the rows. Marcus, Faelen, and Reardon had taken up positions on a raised platform at the front of the hall, with Kelly and Kris standing down from the platform, facing the rest of the sisters. Then two other brothers were at the rear. Waiting. All were waiting silently for Brother Marcus to speak. His head was bowed and he appeared to be in silent prayer. He was now also wearing his robe, as were all the brothers, and the cowl hung over his head, completely covering a view of his face. Then slowly, he raised his head and pushed the cowl back off his head and gazed almost serenely, at his audience.
Reardon risked a surreptitious glance sideways at Marcus. Honestly, he was actually really interested in what this nutcase was going to announce to everyone. Whatever he had to say, it was obviously very important. As long as he didn't start with "Friends, Romans, countrymen…" Reardon would be able to keep his cool.
"Brothers…!" Marcus began in a loud voice, sweeping his gaze around the hall. "Brothers and Sisters!"
He then raised his arms in an all-embracing gesture, and smiled benignly at everyone.
"Our salvation has come at last!" His voice was loud with the zeal that he felt and his eyes were lit with his own sense of victory. He paused and allowed his statement to sink in, waiting for a wave of adulating cheers from his sheep. Yet only a few murmurs of surprise and confusion greeted him from the rows in front of him. Even the brothers were quiet. This was not what he expected. He almost grimaced with disappointment, but held his self control. He decided to change tack slightly.
He raised an arm, then pointed down at Kelly and Kris, who still had their backs to him, not wanting to turn and cause Marcus further agitation at this time.
"Brothers and Sisters, give your attention to these two sisters in front of you!" He ordered, still pointing at Kelly and Kris. "They came to us in dire straits, and we gave them sanctuary! Yes, we all gave them help - the balsam of gilead!" Marcus gathered his momentum.
"Yet, they now show us their true colours! they have deceived us! They are NOT our sisters! They seek to scorn us! They seek to dishonour us before the rest of the world!"
He raised his voice higher to catch everyone's attention. Some in the crowd murmured further, and one or two gasped. Marcus found the attention he needed and followed up quickly.
"Yes, Brothers! These are NOT of the flock of God! They are of Satan and his hordes! They have come to stop us finding our salvation! They are indeed, in allegiance with the devil! But god has seen fit to uncover their unholy deeds! He has seen fit to show to me their black hearts and falsehoods! These two unbelievers will NOT stop us from serving our god, will they?"
Marcus's voice rose with passion as he looked down at the women congregated before him. And then suddenly, the women were raising their own voices.
"No Lord!"
"No!"
"I wait for my salvation!"
"Yes, salvation!"
Brother Marcus threw his arms out wide. The sisters became quiet as they waited for Marcus to speak again.
"We have waited such a long, long time for our salvation, have we not?"
"Yes!" Came a chorus.
"We have been faithful all this time, have we not?" Marcus looked upwards as he asked this next question.
"Yes!" "Yes, my lord!" Came back the response.
Kris and Kelly looked at each other, both understanding the power that Marcus now had over all the women before him. Yet, both felt suddenly powerless to stop this religious aberration. Marcus and Faelen were both armed. Possibly the other brothers were. They could only hope that Reardon really did have an ace up his sleeve. They exchanged glances that told each other a lot, even though words were unspoken.
"And isn't our God a God of justice and righteousness?" Marcus continued, booming out and stirring up his followers with every question, every nuance, every inference. Seeking and finding the adulation and devotion he so craved. Finding the devout respect that had for so long been absent from his life.
The women in front of him now raised their voices high in agreement, raising their hands also, and keeping their eyes fixed constantly on their reverent leader in front of them.
Reardon looked on, struck by the fervour that was gathering pace in front of him. There weren't many people he knew could whip up a crowd like this. But he also knew that Marcus had been dosing these good folk up with something. And he knew that this was just a warm up. What the hell Marcus was warming up to, he could only speculate. Well, don't speculate too long Reardon, he told himself, or you'll miss the main feature. He shuffled slightly, placing his hand inside his robe, finding his gun and resting his hand on the butt, ready.
"Brothers, Sisters - as I said at the beginning - the Day of our salvation by our God - now …" Marcus continued, then paused for effect. "… HAS ARRIVED!"
He finished with an exultant shout, and raised his arms and his face upwards, in a show of expectation. And as he did so, the hall became filled with noise - shouts of joy, hand-clapping, expressions of gratitude - even the two brothers at the rear became caught up in the zealous cries - a small multitude expressing great appreciation. Marcus kept his hands and face raised for a few moments longer, then resumed a more relaxed stance. Yet as the noise died down, an air of immense expectation replaced the jubilation, became more intense with every moment. Again, every single face in front of Marcus was turned avidly towards him. Marcus drank in this heady sense of worship and felt a power roll over him which, he decided, put Vincents pathetic little life to shame. He took a deep breath.
"Now…Brothers, Sisters - there is one more final act of faith which we must all perform." Marcus lowered his voice a little, but infused his tone with such reverence, that had Kris and Kelly exchanging glances filled with stressed anxiety.
"Are you ready for this last act of obedience to our creator?" Marcus asked his completely captivated audience.
Cries of "Yes my lord!" Went up loudly.
Marcus once more, raised his arms upwards.
"Are you all ready to finally be proclaimed holy, and be given at last, the ultimate privilege of being with our God?" This question brought a small silence to everyone, before they all acknowledged Marcus's words. In an uncannily single voice, almost everyone in the hall said a respectful…
"Yes, my lord."
A few sisters even bowed their heads. The sight of which brought even more pride to Marcus.
There remained however, a few conscientious objectors, namely, Kris, Kelly and Reardon.
Marcus now looked at all the robed brothers in the hall and nodded to them. The ones who were standing at the ends of the rows now walked along each row, handing each sister a small white pill. As the sisters took the pill in their hand, each brother could be heard muttering a few words to each one. Kris, Kelly and Reardon all heard the words but only Kelly recognised them from a passage in the Greek scriptures. She felt even more horrified and sickened to hear this precious scripture being used in such an insipid evil way. Even though her logic had screamed at her for the last few hours, she still found herself stunned by the evil miscarriage of Gods word that was about to take place. She also realised that whatever backup plan Reardon had in mind, it was just going to be way, way too late. She looked at Kris and mouthed … "Ready?"
Kris nodded, her eyes belying a small tinge of fear, but her stance told Kelly that Kris was ready for the fight.
Marcus once more addressed his flock.
"This …" He gestured with his hand, as the brothers finished passing out the pills. "…is your way to the promise of our God!" He raised his hand up, in a another gesture of pause.
The sisters looked back up at Marcus. Kelly spotted a couple of girls that looked doubtful, but yet still seemed to hang on Marcus's every word. She recognised two of them. This had to stop right now. She wished she knew what Reardon was thinking. But there was no hint. It seemed to Kelly that all they had right now were her and Kris's instincts. The plan that she had in mind was now fully padded out with detail and ready to be executed. All that was needed, was … dare she think it? Yes - a miracle.
Yet just as this thought had manifested itself, one of the brothers suddenly appeared in front of Kelly and held out one of the white pills. She looked steadily at him, and he glared back, daring her to refuse. What the hell were they all waiting for? Why wasn't Reardon making his move? Kelly was confounded. He surely still wasn't waiting for backup? She had absolutely no idea of Reardons intentions now. She had two options. Refuse the pill and start a ruckus all too soon, and put Reardon in jeopardy, or take the pill and wait for … the phrase 'divine intervention' seemed to echo hollowly somewhere in the back of her mind. She made the decision and accepted the pill and the brother moved on to Kris, who quietly followed Kelly's lead. When Marcus was confident that everyone had been given a pill, he cleared his throat and addressed the small crowd before him.
"Before we ascend to our salvation, I shall now offer up a prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of us all. Please follow me in prayer and may the peace of God continue to be with us always!"
Marcus bowed his head, and everyone in the hall followed his example, all except the conscientious objectors among them.