A year passed. Time led Bray Wyatt away from the compound, but kept Ruby there. She did the same things she had always done, but now she was surrounded by not just orphan boys, but grown men, brothers, and servants. They all were servants to the master of the house. The master would not show for months, then appear as if an apparition. He would walk the grounds, talk to the men, and check on the condition of things. His dealings with Ruby were professional, and somewhat curt. She was grateful for that, for the longer she was by him, the more she hoped to feel those hands on her face once more. His lips to burn again upon hers. Alas, it was not meant to be. He would walk away from her, and out of her life again for God knew how long.
The day had started out cold, with showers moving in and out of the area. The day was shot for anything outdoors, so she thought to revisit Abby's room, and clean it. Bray had specified it not be tampered with, yet kept immaculate, and Ruby had done so. This day, she gathered her dust cloth, broom, and other supplies, and brought them into the room with her. It was only after dusting Abby's dresser top that Ruby realized something was missing. She blinked in surprise when it dawned on her that Abby's rocking chair, the one she would sit in, and gaze out the window in, was missing. Did someone come in here and borrow it? She made a mental note to ask around later. She was not in a mood to face Bray's annoyance when that time came he would find out. Her feelings matched the weather. She needed coffee. Ruby had already had some with her early breakfast, but with her foul mood, and a bit of a headache settling in, she figured another cup wouldn't hurt.
The kitchen had just been abandoned by the last breakfast-eating stragglers, it seemed, and the coffee was fresh out. Frowning, Ruby started a new pot in the trusty percolator, older than any one of them who drank from it. Once it was done brewing, Ruby gratefully grabbed her favorite mug; a large, simple white mug that held a good amount of any beverage, and poured the drink into it. The aroma alone warmed her, and she slid onto a seat by the large island. Not happy with just coffee alone, she reached for the sugar container to find that wasn't there either. Ruby groaned audibly, and pulled at her hair. This day, though.
"Looking for this?" a voice behind her asked. Her head shot around at the speed of light to find Bray standing there, sugar in hand. How he had sneaked in without her knowing, she couldn't guess. Ruby figured it was due to her desire for coffee.
"Brother Bray! We were not expecting you today!" She cried out. Normally he would call, or write her saying he would be home at a certain time. He shrugged.
"A surprise visit. Had some time to come over. Came in very early today, you see." He passed the sugar to her. She just held it limply in her hand. How had he gotten that sugar? Bray laughed, his head thrown back in amusement. "Things are not always as they seem, Sister Ruby." There was a look in his eyes as if he held a secret. Ruby just stared. "Come on. Let's have some coffee before we go. I need to show you something."
Mugs of steaming, sweet coffee were consumed, then the two set out into the gray late morning lands. Thankfully the rain had cleared up, but the ground was churned mud, and soaked grass. Soon Ruby's shoes were beyond wet. Still, she followed Bray. Her master. In the distance was a shack. She could see growths of witch hazel surrounding it. How this building was here, and she never saw it, was beyond her understanding. The night Abigail died, she remembered the days of building Bray did. This must have been what he had done. Yet for all of her walks around the compound, she had never run into this. He must have scavenged each bit by hand, and procured the rest somehow. The air was thick with something that was just beyond Ruby's perception. Bray motioned her to come forward, to the door of the place. He smiled.
"Do not be afraid, Sister Ruby. You'll like this."
The door swung open. There was so much to take in. Crude, old fashioned lights had been brought in, and they shone on two people, which turned out to be Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. The other thing the light hit was a rocking chair.
"Sister Abigail's chair! I..." Ruby broke off. It didn't feel right to ask why the chair was here. It didn't feel right to talk, period. She closed her mouth, and just let Bray lead her inside. The two brothers of Bray stood beside the rocking chair, and looked down. Ruby followed their eyes, and saw the floorboards were missing in a rectangular area, dirt showing. Ruby knew what was there. No, Ruby knew who was there, for the place was just like a grave. Awareness dawned that this was Abigail's tomb; her hastily built mausoleum.
"Sister Ruby. You were one of Sister Abigail's most beloved. That is why you must be here. She is here as well, you see." Bray placed his hands on her shoulders. Fire crept through her body, but she fought against it. Not here. He turned her so she faced the rocking chair. "What do you see?" Bray asked. She wanted to say just a rocking chair, but she knew instinctively that was the wrong answer. In the glowing golden light of the swinging lamps above, she almost saw a shimmering spot on the chair. Then, it started to rock. By itself. Ruby froze in fear, and Bray laughed. "No, no my sister. Do not be afraid. Sister Abigail is here! Her spirit remains, and animates me. Empowers me! She drives me forth to do my works. She wanted you to know she is here. She said it was time." Bray's voice dropped to a whisper. He smiled a big smile. "This is the place for unwritten apocrypha. Welcome to my temple, dearest Ruby."
Much later, only after Bray had left, Luke and Erick in tow, did she give herself the opportunity to sit down and think about what she had seen. Resting in the same modest bed she had been given when she first arrived, she stared at the ceiling. It was that old popcorn ceiling type, and sometimes, if she looked hard enough, she would see faces. This night, she didn't even see the ceiling, but beyond that to a rocking chair covered in light.
"You are part of this mystery, my sister," Bray had told her, walking her back to the compound after the shed. "You are as much a part as I am. Now is the time to work against the wolves. The wolves are in the machine; they are the machine. The machine must fall. For the sake of the sheep. Do you see?" Ruby had nodded her head as if she understood. Shock would have made her agree to anything Bray said. Grace, every night said, had to be they key to this mystery. They always prayed for the sheep in the world. Prayed for a shepherd. Bray Wyatt, was he thinking himself a shepherd? So many questions. She was sure of two things, though. One, that she was the servant. She would follow Bray into the fires if need be. Two, she loved that man with all her heart, and all her being, and that she would suffer for it.
