WARNING: Violence, blood, gore and mentions of rape.
Wrath's Theme: Conversation with Death by KHEMMIS
"Are you certain she's there?" Carrie asked for clarification as she stared at Reggie who frowned in discomfort.
"Yes, she's currently on a hunger strike." He sighed and shook his head, "The kid believes this is how she can fight back."
Carrie's eyes filled with pain, "She won't survive if she continues. Or worse, the Aunts will torture her until she complies."
June sat close to Carrie as her assistant while the leader spoke with the man who controls the spy network. She knew who they were talking about, the young Wife who helped the Handmaids, Esther Keyes. To learn she has become a Handmaid created another pit within her stomach.
"How many Handmaids?" Carrie asked as she made calculations in her mind on how many soldiers she can spare for this venture.
It's been a month since the bombings. They've run low on manpower and have barely conducted any rescue operations. The most they were able to do was smuggle the survivors who can no longer fight out of the country to their comrades across the Northern border and in the UK. Their help was most appreciated as it gave them assurance that their brethren can still live.
"68. They haven't posted these girls. Rather, the Commanders and their Wives visit the Red Center and perform the Ceremony in one of their 'special' rooms." Reggie answered with a grim look, "They don't want to take any chances and lose more Handmaids. I fear we don't have enough manpower or resources to overwhelm them. They have more Guardians posted at this building, inside and out. It's a miracle one of our moles was able to leak this information to us."
Carrie let out a long breath as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "This complicates things. We've already lost so many soldiers. We can't risk losing more." She said with a regretful tone.
"You can't do it with your power alone." June stated when she caught the exhaustion within the girl's shoulders. As God-like as Carrie is, she has her limits. Even stopping those bombs took all of her concentration and left her comatose for four days.
"No, I cannot fight them solo right now." Carrie let out another sigh, "But we can't leave these women alone."
June understood Carrie's frustration. With her second-in-command healing in Canada, she has to carry most of the responsibilities, forgoing sleep and sustenance which has already taken a physical toll on her body.
June had an idea; one she knew Carrie would be against. "Saint White, may I offer a suggestion?"
Carrie turned her tired eyes to her assistant. Ever since Janine left to be with her daughter, June has taken up the position to help their holy leader in their day-to-day schedule. From food, medicine, assisting in paperwork and writing letters to governing officials. It's one of the very few times her editing skills are needed.
June swallowed, "We can call your sister."
Carrie mulled over the idea. She hasn't seen Rachel since she woke up after Angel's Flight, since she basically told her about who Sue Snell's rapists are. She knew her sister is rightfully angry and has become increasingly violent from the reports. She has stepped up in her sadistic pleasures when torturing Gilead. The most recent one by literally hunting them through No Man's Land, an area not claimed by Canada or Gilead. That twisted game of dangling freedom in front of their faces if the abusers can escape to the border just for the thrill of the chase.
Reggie scratched his head and agreed with June, "She has more men with her than we currently do. She can help us like she did with Angel's Flight."
Carrie sighed, she's worried about her sister's state of mind hellbent on vengeance. But the one thing they agree on is saving the Handmaids above all else, no matter their methods. If she can lend them aide, it would go a long way for them.
"I suppose I can give her a call."
In the communications room, Carrie stood in front of the video screen Rachel's face was displayed. For the last ten minutes, Carrie talked about the current situation they are in and the Red Center they need to invade.
"...Can you help me?" Carrie asked after finishing her explanation.
Rachel leaned back in her chair and thought it over then shrugged, "Eh, sure, I got free time."
Carrie sighed in relief, "Thank you sister."
"When will this take place?" Rachel asked as she tapped her nails on her armrest.
"Nine days from now at midnight. No sooner or later." Carrie stated after receiving additional intel from Reggie regarding the vulnerability of the Red Center that was repurposed from an office building.
"With the number of Handmaids, you're going to need at least two school buses. Luckily, I have a couple to spare. I just need to get the stench of dead bodies off of it." Rachel muttered to herself with a sheepish expression.
"I won't even ask." Carrie said with a look of mild discomfort.
Rachel nodded then stated, "I know you don't approve of my methods."
Carrie gave her a grim look, "I don't, but I'm in a desperate situation, and we both want the same thing."
"Indeed."
Carrie sighed, "You heard about what happened a month ago."
Rachel frowned, "I did. I also heard about what happened to Alex. How's he doing?" She asked, knowing how close the two were since the man awakened her. Rachel liked him during her time nursing her sister back to health.
"He's getting stronger. He insists on helping Mr. Tuello in spite of the doctors advising him otherwise." Carrie said with a light smile when Mark complained about his new colleague he's working with.
Rachel gave Carrie an impressed look, "I knew I liked him."
Carie let out a small laugh before she became serious again, "Before we take the Red Center, let's give them a chance to surrender first."
Rachel let out an exasperated laugh, "You wanna give them the head's up about our attack?"
"Rachel, I don't want any meaningless kills on this mission." Carrie sternly said, "Not all of them want to support Gilead. Fear and oppression will make anyone do something they don't wish to." She sighed, "This will be their last chance. If they lay down their weapons and come quietly, you are not to harm them. However, should they choose to take up arms against us, I will not stop you from doing as you like with them. Does that sound fair, sister?"
Rachel mused that little compromise. Carrie has always been merciful and is willing to offer people a second chance if they are deemed worthy, help them start over without Gilead's influence. Whereas Rachel, has the least amount of forgiveness and compassion towards those who support Gilead. As she stated before, they are two sides of the same coin.
Rachel sighed then relented, "I suppose I can work with that."
Carrie looked satisfied and relieved before the sisters began to discuss strategy.
The morning of another day of Liberation/Judgement came as Carrie donned her Saint ensemble and stood in front the microphone as it connected to the speakers around the Red Center. Reggie wasn't lying when he said the facility was heavy with Guardians and a fence topped with barbed wire.
In the distance, Carrie saw a large group of Handmaids being herded this way and that as they were corralled by the Aunts. As ever, she is sickened by the mistreatment and the betrayal of these so-called believers in God.
"Saint White, we're ready." June announced as the tech team gave them the signal.
Carrie sighed then blew into the microphone, the speakers whined as it caught everyone's attention. Everyone looked up in confusion before a gentle, yet commanding voice filled the area, inside and outside. "People of the Red Center, I am the Saint in the White Mask." The Handmaids gasped as they heard the name of the Holy Soldier who saves the oppressed. Hope filled their faces as feelings of anticipation and excitement welled up inside them. "You have heard much about me from good and bad people. I've come to you to let you all know it is time to leave Gilead behind. I don't just say this to the Handmaids, but to everyone in the Red Center." The Aunts and Guardians listened in confusion before the Saint continued, "Aunts and Guardians, you were all different people before Gilead, you didn't hurt people, you didn't torment them. I know you were all afraid at the time and believed that this is the only way to survive in this new world. But you no longer have to do that anymore. You don't have to be trapped or led astray by fear or be forced to hurt another." Some of the Aunts and Guardians had a look of genuine guilt in their eyes for the pain they inflicted on these helpless women. "I give you this warning...because the Wrath of God is also here." This caused most of the Aunts to quietly hyperventilate as terror filled them. They know all about the horrors inflicted by Wrath, the sadistic pleasure she takes by toying with her prisoners and ripping them to pieces little by little until nothing remains. "You know who Wrath is, and what she's truly capable of. But you can escape that nightmare. Lay down your weapons and renounce Gilead. Only then will you be saved from God's Wrath. However," A paused followed as discomfort filled the Red Center, "Should you take up arms and fight back, then you will be taken to Purgatory to suffer. This is your only chance for redemption. The only way you can save yourselves." Silence fell over the Red Center as they listened to the Saint's warning. "You have until midnight to decide your fate. I pray you make the right choice. Either way, you will leave Gilead behind."
Carrie turned off the microphone and took a step back, letting out a shuddering sigh as she silently prayed to God they will make the right decision.
June stared at her leader, "You still think it's a good idea to spare abusers?" She never held any particular fondness towards Aunts after the way they treated their fellow woman.
Carrie turned to her friend and comrade with a look sympathy and understanding, "You had to give up your friends' location out of fear for what will become of Hannah. Imagine what they had to go through when all this began. Not all of them are volunteers. They were brainwashed, and they are trying to survive just like us."
June thought back to Janine and how she was driven insane after much psychological, emotional and physical abuse, she was basically Aunt Lydia's pet until Angel's Flight. Her thoughts turned to Natalie and how she was the by-the-books Handmaid, how she accepted Gilead's society without quarrel.
June let out a long sigh then shook her head as she stared at the Red Center. "I understand, but that doesn't mean I trust them."
Carrie laid a hand on June's shoulder and locked eyes with her, "Remember why we're here."
June nodded, "Liberation."
Carrie gave her a small smile as she glanced at the other building where Rachel was stationed at. The younger sister stood at the edge, wearing her trademark black trench coat as it flapped in the wind. Carrie can tell from her stance that Rachel is ready for another fight and is looking forward to any who turn down their terms for surrender.
Carrie let out a long breath, this is probably going to be a long night ahead of them.
The day wore on at the Red Center, Handmaids spoke in excited whispers about the Saint and the Wrath, how it's going to end. Unfortunately for some, a few of the Aunts overheard them and shocked them with their cattle prod. Just the very idea of the two most notorious rebel leaders coming to the Red Center sent everyone into a tizzy. After that announcement, Guardians sent word to their superiors requesting backup for a fight. Now the number of soldiers have tripled and are armed to the teeth. Some of the Aunts wanted to get the Handmaids transported to another Red Center, but that idea was shot down as they anticipated an ambush from the rebels.
That night as midnight approached, the Handmaids laid awake in their beds, no one could sleep, not that it's ever peaceful for them. They were too afraid and excited to see what will happen when the hour struck even with the Aunts looming over them.
Outside, the Guardians were restless as the second ticked by, midnight drew closer. Many of them heard the stories of Wrath's vengeance and what she has done to men who have raped little girls. None of them are ready to face that kind of hell.
As the clock struck twelve, the Guardians tensed up, guns ready, the only way they can see right now is through night vision goggles. But even with this gear, it didn't bring them any comfort. They waited with bated breath for the first attack.
The ground shook beneath them, sending them off balance and onto the ground as fissures appeared on the concrete and into the building. The fences whined as they were bent and crumpled, lowering the first wall of defense to the cage that is the Red Center.
They felt pressure around them, it felt suffocating, but they can somehow still breathe. It reminded them of a parent putting a child in their place.
The lights turned on as the Saint walked through the torn down gates with calm and confident strides. Her white cloak billowed out behind her as her mask gleamed under the lights. She stopped when she was halfway to the building, none of the Guardians raised their weapons, but they never let go either.
Then the Saint opened her mouth, "Guardians, have you made your decision?"
The men were silent, many of them were there when she made her announcement. She sounded so sincere, so compassionate and understanding towards them. Not all of them wanted to join Gilead, but after seeing the horror done upon its citizens, their friends, their brothers and sisters, they were too afraid for themselves and their families to go against Gilead.
One of the Guardians stood up from the ground and slowly walked towards her, sweat coated his brow as he stood before her, his gun still in his hands. She still gave him a kind smile, the same one he remembers from his girlfriend from his college days before Gilead took over. He took a deep breath and knelt before her and placed his weapons on the ground at her feet.
"I beg you and God for forgiveness." The Guardian said, loud and clear for all to hear.
Her smile widened as she offered him her hand, "You made the right choice. Forgiveness granted."
The Guardian took her hand, and she lifted him up, though to him, it felt as though God has pulled him out of hell.
He turned around to the soldiers who watched them, "Come on guys, none of us belong in Gilead."
Though they were hesitant, one by one, they each stepped forward and followed their comrade's motion, kneeling before the Holy Soldier and pledging their allegiance.
"Stand the fuck up and pick up your weapons!" Their commanding officer shouted, looking angry at them before he pointed his gun at one of them, "You take one more step, and I will shoot you."
A gun's barrel nudged the lead Guardian's back. "You don't wanna do that hombre."
This caused the defectors to aim their guns at Gilead supporters.
Guns flew out of the Guardians' hands and were now beyond their reach.
A dark malevolent voice filled the area, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, and here I was thinking all of you had brains. Though I suppose shouldn't ask for miracles." The Wrath floated down from above, smirking as the Guardians were pushed forward, their hands behind their head in surrender before they were clumped together in a group and were forced on their knees.
The defectors tensed under the presence of the Wrath. Between her and the Saint, going with the Saint is a thousand times safer.
A delighted chuckle left Wrath's mouth, "You all made a wise decision. Don't go back on it." Her eyes filled with bloodlust and warning.
One of the Guardians glared at Wrath and muttered under his breath, "Fucking bitch."
Unfortunately, Wrath heard him very clearly as she slowly turned to the Guardian who insulted her. Her hand came up and pointed at him. "You, on your feet."
Not knowing what she wanted, but knowing better than to disobey, the Guardian in question stood up among his group.
"Can you speak louder; I couldn't hear you very well." Wrath asked, as she gave him an expectant smile.
The Saint stepped forward and tried to put a stop to what she knew her sister was about to do, "Wrath, now is not the time for this."
Wrath ignored her and held up a hand to silence the Saint, her eyes never left the Guardian.
"Well?"
The Guardian wrinkled red face set itself into a glare before he spat at her feet. "Fucking. Bitch."
Wrath's eyes never wavered, but her smile widened. A soft laugh filled the area, "You're quite bold. What is your name?"
"Johan."
"Johan." Wrath nodded and sighed, "It takes...a lot of spine to insult a God. For the likes of you, you've been doing that for a long time now." Her smile widened as she slowly raised her hand, "Though it's funny, looking at you, I didn't think you had one." With a snap of her fingers, Johan's back was ripped open as his spine was slowly and painfully torn from his body. His blood and internal organs splattered all over his fellow Guardians who yelled in shock as they were bathed in their leader's insides before he dropped dead onto the concrete.
Wrath levitated the bloodied spine to her hand and stared at it in fascination before she tossed it aside like it was a boring toy.
The Saint breathed deeply as she felt nauseous, she's glad she ordered June to hang back at the buses with Wrath's men.
Some of the defectors and Guardians began to spew vomit at the literally gut-wrenching sight. The Saint rubbed the back of one of the defectors on his hands and knees dry heaving. "At least it's not you." She assured him with a look of discomfort on her face.
Wrath held up her hand and gave a signal as she made a beeline towards the building entrance as her men swarmed the Red Center, donning demon masks and brandishing their guns.
The speakers whined before music echoed throughout the area and beyond.
Oooh, Death, oooh, Death.
Won't you spare me over 'til another year?
The electric guitar tore through the air, giving everyone a feeling of dread of what's to come.
Well what is this that I can't see?
With icy hands gettin' hold of me.
Well I am Death, none can excell.
I open the door to Heaven and Hell.
Up on the second floor, the Handmaids and Aunts gathered at the windows and witnessed the entire scene. While some held their hands over their mouths to keep from vomiting, others were outright laughing at the sight of their abusers being killed.
Too late, too late, to all farewell.
My soul is doomed so heed me well.
As long as God in Heaven dwell.
Your soul, your soul shall scream in Hell.
One of the Aunts slowly backed away, shaking her head rapidly before the sounds of gunshots rang through the Red Center, followed by screams and flesh being torn apart at the bones. Hyperventilating, she ran from the room and towards where their most difficult Handmaid-in-training was currently kept.
Wrath held the severed arm of a Guardian as she dragged a very stupid Aunt by the hair. She had the nerve to try using the cattle prod on her. Stupid.
She came upon the last door where two more Guardians were posted, they didn't raise their guns, their eyes filled with fear when they saw the severed arms of their comrade.
The Aunt she had in her grasp cried and gasped as she tried very hard to get the Wrath to release her. The Guardians glanced at each other before they dropped their weapons and kicked it away from them before dropping to their knees.
Wrath smiled, "Wise choice." She dropped the arm on the ground, a thud and splat filled the hall as the Saint came beside her. She needed to direct the defecting Aunts and Guardians to a safer part outside the building, so they won't be killed by her sister.
"Hello, Aunt Silva, was it?" The Saint asked politely as she held Wrath's wrist and slowly got her to let go of the older sobbing woman. "Hi, I'm Saint White. If you could input the code and open this door, please?" She requested as the shaken Aunt turned to her with fear in her trembling face.
When Aunt Silva didn't move an inch, Wrath's hand touched the woman's head and whispered, "My sister asked you politely."
That got the Aunt out of her stupor before she got to her feet and shakingly punched in the code beside the door. With a beep and a hiss, the door unlocked before it was pushed open.
The Saint turned to the two Guardians beside the door and laid gentle hands on both of their shoulders. "There is a group of defectors on the East side of the building. Wrath agreed not to harm you as long as you surrender. Is that clear?"
The Guardians nodded before they got to their feet and left the building. Five seconds later, she heard them dry heaving when they saw the bloody massacre down the hall.
Wrath roughly pushed Aunt Silva through the door as the Saint followed close behind. The sounds of screams filled the large room up ahead of them as they transversed the hall with a floor-to-ceiling window on one side.
The two sisters plus the Aunt made it into the Handmaids' 'sleeping quarters' and were surprised to see over a dozen Aunts kneeling in the middle, curled up in pain as their cattle prods were no longer in their hands.
The Handmaids wearing their sleeping clothes gathered around their oppressors, some of them holding the cattle prods they just stole from the Aunts.
Wrath smirked, "Well, this is a sight I don't get tired of seeing." She said before she tossed Aunt Silva towards the group, relishing in the sounds of pain she drew out from the woman.
The Saint gave her sister a disapproving look for the excessive violence before she turned to the Handmaids, "Ladies, I do apologize for the commotion this night. But would you be so kind as to tell me where a young girl names Esther is?"
One of the Handmaids stepped forward, "She's on the third floor shackled in Room 306."
"Thank you." The Saint turned to her sister who eyes the Aunts like prey, "Can you watch them for a bit?"
Wrath smirked, "Gladly."
The Saint in White left for the third floor to find Esther, she winced when she heard the Aunts screaming behind her. While the merciful side of her wants to go back and save them from a horrible fate, she knew Esther must come first.
She found the numbered doors, each of them was opened, but one in particular had voices coming from within. Keeping her feet levitated off the ground, she slowly approached the room.
"I don't wanna go!"
"You will do as I say Esther, this is for your own good!"
"Go to Hell you fucking bitch!" A scream rang out as the sound of a cattle prod was used upon them.
The Saint floated in the doorway before Aunt Ruth was tossed into the wall, dropping the cattle prod on the ground.
Esther cried as the pain coursed through her body, the electric shocks were excruciating as heck. She slowly picked her head up and saw the one person she heard stories about standing before her.
"Saint White?" Esther whimpered as she struggled to push herself off the floor beside the bed.
The Saint floated over to her knelt beside the child. "I'm here Esther." She hugged the girl who cried into her chest. The Holy Soldier gently rocked her while running her hands through her dark blonde hair.
"You actually came." Esther sobbed as she was surrounded by the Saint's warmth.
"I'm sorry I took so long." The Saint whispered in her ear.
Blue-green eyes turned to Aunt Ruth who recovered from getting thrown against the wall and stared at the incarnation of God in shock and fear.
The Saint decided to be merciful towards the Aunt and warn her, "The Wrath of God is downstairs torturing your sisters. If you don't want to be met with that same fate, then run."
Aunt Ruth knew she stood no chance against a sadistic monster like Wrath, she had hoped that by presenting Esther to either of the most powerful beings in the country, she could be spared. But the look she got from the Saint basically told her she won't be under God's protection.
Scrambling to her feet, she ran out of the room towards the opposite end of the building.
Esther pulled away once she was done crying as the Saint wiped away her tears.
The Saint looked down at the shackle around the girl's ankle and unlocked it with the wave of her hand.
Esther stood up with her savior's help as she was guided out of the room.
The two entered the Handmaid's sleeping quarters and saw pulls of blood everywhere as an unconscious Aunt was dragged out of the room by Purgatory soldiers.
The Wrath wiped the blood off her knife then turned to her sister and Esther.
"Hello Esther." Wrath greeted with a small smile.
"Blessed night." Esther greeted, surprised to stand face-to-face with the Wrath of God.
The Saint glanced around the empty room, "The Handmaids?"
"On the bus with June and the defectors." Wrath answered, smiling in satisfaction at how she and the enslaved women tortured the Aunts together, give them a taste of their own medicine.
Esther's eyes widened, "June's here?"
The Saint placed a hand on Esther's shoulder, "Yes, she told me about you and how your poison works. You're quite clever and resourceful."
Esther beamed under her savior's praise.
Wrath's com-link echoed in her ear, her face filled with curiosity then intrigue as she turned to her sister and Esther. "We got one more in the cafeteria. An Aunt was trying to escape."
Esther's eyes flared, "Aunt Ruth." She whispered as she rubbed her stomach, the spot where that bitch shocked her.
Wrath felt anger and a thirst for vengeance from this girl and offered her hand, "Would you like to see her one last time?" She asked with a sadistic smile that promised pain upon her prey.
The Saint shook her head and pulled Esther back, "No she will not. Come Esther, let's go see June."
Esther took the woman's hand off her shoulder, "Aunt Ruth tried to use me to make you think she's a good person. She believed by 'saving' me, you would not hurt her."
Wrath nodded, "That does sound like something a coward would do. Let's have a friendly chat with her, shall we?"
Esther smirked as she followed beside Wrath out of the room with the Saint close behind them.
They entered the cafeteria where they saw Aunt Ruth getting slapped and punched by a circle of Purgatory soldiers and angry Handmaids. Her face was swollen, bloodied and bruised from their attacks as laughter echoed in the cafeteria.
The sound of boots clacking across the hard floor made everyone stop and take a step back as their leader got closer. She stopped just within the circle and looked down upon the Aunt who is face down and shaking, one eye swollen as she looked up at the Wrath of God.
"Esther, is this her?" Wrath asked as the young teenager came to stand beside her, a look of hate and rage etched onto her face.
Esther breathed deeply as she watched Aunt Ruth writhe pathetically in agony.
Wrath could feel the simmering rage deep within the girl, "What else has this woman done to you?"
Esther shook with anger as she glared at her abuser, "She shocked me, whipped me, and threatened to cut out my tongue unless I don't 'behave'."
Wrath nodded in understanding, "I see. Do you wish to see her punished?"
Esther took a deep breath, never looking away from her tormentor, "Yes."
Wrath stepped closer and whispered in her ear, "Would you like to be the one to do it?"
Esther turned to Wrath whose smile widened as she presented the girl with a knife. "Since she wanted to cut out your tongue, it's only fitting for you to administer the proper punishment."
Esther took the knife by the handle, the smell of blood still fresh on the blade. She slowly turned to the Aunt as a sadistic smile crawled onto her face.
Aunt Ruth shakingly scrambled backwards, whimpering and crying in pain as she tried in vain to escape. But she was dragged onto her knees by her hair and her hands tied roughly behind her back. Kneeling before one of her students, she cried and began to pray to God for help.
Esther slowly walked towards her with the knife in her hand, the delight she feels in the woman's fear is delicious.
"Esther, stop!"
Esther turned as the Saint moved forward, only to be halted by the Wrath before she could enter the circle.
The Saint glanced from her sister to the child, "Listen to me, you don't need to do this."
Esther frowned, "Yes I do. What she and the others did to me and the Handmaids, she deserves it and much more."
The Saint stared at Esther with sadness and sympathy for the pain Gilead caused her. "I know, and she will answer for her crimes. But it doesn't have to be by your hands."
"And why not? Because I'm a child?" Esther let out an exasperated laugh, "I stopped being a child the second my husband invited all those men and raped me."
The Saint nodded sadly, "I know you've been hurt. June told me what you went through. It's impossible to forget that kind of trauma. But I can help you. I can get you somewhere safe, far away from Gilead, from all of this." She gestured to the Red Center, "Esther, come with me, you can still heal from this and start over."
"She can't, not with all that anger inside her." Wrath argued as she stood face-to-face with her sister, "As long as the men who violated her are still out there, she will never know peace."
The Saint turned to Wrath and shook her head, "Vengeance will never bring her peace." She turned back to Esther, "I know what it's like giving into your anger and unleashing your hate upon your abusers. You have a right to feel angry, but you can't let it control you. It will eat away at you until there is nothing but a black hole within you." Tears shimmered in her eyes, "And there will be no going back."
Esther felt the love and compassion flow from the woman, she can also see the regret with her eyes from past mistakes that haunt her. Her eyes filled with tears of her own as she remembered all the pain and disgust she endured at the hands of those men, those evil men. How they laughed in victory whenever they spilled their seed into her, like it was a fucking game.
Esther pursed her lips as she glanced back at the terrified Aunt, fury written all over her face as she breathed through her nose. She turned back to Saint and saw fear and hope within her blue-green eyes, begging her not to do it.
"That black hole you speak of...is already there." Esther said as she marched over to Aunt Ruth.
"No!" The Saint tried to stop Esther, only to be subdued by Wrath who pinned her to the wall, keeping her there with her powers as she held her wrists tightly.
"Rachel stop her!" Saint White pleaded with her sister as she helplessly watched Esther get closer to Aunt Ruth.
"She made her choice!" Wrath responded as her sister pushed back, the air felt heavy as the sisters tried enforcing their will over the other.
Aunt Ruth's jaw was pried open by extra hands from Purgatory soldiers who looked ready to break jaw. Incoherent screams echoed in the cafeteria as Esther stuck her hand in her mouth and gripped her elusive tongue. The Aunt's eyes stared up at her, begging the young girl to spare her.
Esther glared at the Aunt and spoke with spite and fury, "Blessed be the fruit Aunt Ruth!" Then the knife came up and began to slowly saw the woman's tongue out of her mouth. Blood filled her screaming mouth and spilled onto her brown uniform as the torture continued, staring up at Esther's face as the young girl smiled in sadistic pleasure. When the tongue was finally sliced off, Esther took a step back and dangled it in front of Aunt Ruth as the older woman began to choke on her own blood. She stilled after a few minutes in agony before she was unceremoniously dropped face first onto the floor, her eyes wide in permanent terror as life left her body.
Esther smirked before she dropped the bloody tongue.
Wrath finally released her sister who fell to her knees as she watched Esther become corrupted.
"Esther..." Despite the mask, her eyes carried many emotions, guilt, regret, sorrow, and grief.
Esther turned to the two incarnations of God and smiled, happy, relieved, and satisfied. "Now she can't hurt anyone again."
Carrie stood on the roof as she watched another Liberation leave by bus while Judgement was passed onto the remaining Guardians and Aunts, their screams of pain and fear filled the air as she listened to the oppressors get raped and tortured by Purgatory. The wind blew her cloak behind her as she watched the city with sadness.
Footsteps approached her from behind then stopped at a fair distance.
"Esther says she wants to join Purgatory." Rachel informed her sister who stood on the edge of the roof.
"I see."
That curt short response made Rachel raise an eyebrow, "Are you seriously gonna stay mad at me?"
Carrie finally turned to Rachel with sadness, fury and disappointment. "You had no right to do that to Esther."
Rachel stared at her with her mouth opened as she stared at her incredulously, "I didn't do anything to her. I gave her the justice she deserves."
Carrie hopped off the edge and stood on level ground in front of her sister, "You poisoned her." She breathed deeply, "For God's sake Rachel, she's only a kid."
Rachel fired back, "But she's not. Gilead ripped that away from her."
Carrie put her hands together against her mouth as though in prayer, but she wasn't praying. "I came here to get Esther far away from Gilead's darkness, to heal her, to help her build a life."
"What kind of life will she have after what her rapists committed against her? They still live and breathe, raping more children like her. She'll never move forward unless she gets closure." Rachel argued with her sister.
Carrie shook her head furiously at Rachel as she began to pace, "But she'll never heal if she lets that pain consume her."
"So, you think she should just ignore her pain and just let it go? Forgive a man's sins because it makes you the better person?" Rachel laughed in exasperation as she stared up at the sky.
"I didn't say ignore her pain, but to let people who care about her help her." Carrie said with frustration.
"I am helping her!" Rachel argued, "That anger inside her won't disappear even if she tries to forgive. The only way she releases that rage is with my people. You think she'll get that if she were in Australia, England or Ireland? That won't work for her. She needs to heal in her own way."
Carrie clenched her teeth then pursed her lips before she looked away and shook her head. "I thought this would work between us. Even if we weren't related by blood, I'd hope there was at least some understanding despite our views." She let out a breath, "I was wrong. You're too full of hate and anger to realize what people truly need."
Rachel scoffed, "So what? It's not like it changes our current position in this war."
"No, but this will be the last time you and I collaborate. While you make them dwell on their suffering, I want them to find happiness beyond Gilead." Carrie shook her head then turned towards the edge, "Goodbye Rachel." Then she flew off into the night, leaving her sister behind on the roof.
I'll be honest THIS is the chapter I've wanted to write for years but needed to cross many bridges to get here. What I love about this chapter is how the sisters were willing to compromise in the beginning but need to have their quarrel. Esther embodies trauma and pent-up rage. To me, she and Rachel are very similar in regard to their pain. For Rachel, she sees what will become of her sister in Esther.