Page 106 of Gideon
“I want to know why we weren’t all invited to this meeting,” Zeke piped up. He had his arm wrapped protectively around Talia, who looked to be doing alright, considering the information bombshell that had just been dropped.
“I’ve heard father and the Reverend talking about children. I couldn’t get any more information and couldn’t hear enough to speak on it, which is why I didn’t bring it up. Naomi, do you remember anything else about where you all were held? Anything at all?”
“No,” Naomi shook her head. “I’ve been trying. I feel like I’ve blocked out everything except what happened within the cabin. Nothing about the outside of it will come back to me, no matter how hard I try.”
“I feel like this is all getting out of control,” Ruth added.
“I was invited to it, just after Sunday school. Remember, Ruth?” Delilah offered.
“Yeah, but I don’t remember them mentioning anything about adoption,” Ruth responded.
“Oh yeah, that’s right. No, it was talked about and brought up as a prospective parent class,” Talia added, and the pieces started to make sense. “That’s why I didn’t want to go.”
“But youarea prospective parent,” Delilah teased her.
“And I don’t want anyone to know that, thank you very much.” Talia’s response made everyone chuckle. I was grateful for the moment of levity during such a heavy discussion.
“I’m feeling like you might be right, Ruth,” Zeke added abruptly. “This situation seems to be getting more and more involved. It feels like it might be too much for our small group to handle in the end. It might be time to call the authorities”
Zeke’s words held merit, and I found myself wondering what that would even look like. Could we call in the local police? Would they even care?
“If we involve law enforcement, I have no idea if it would even work,” Levi answered my silent questioning. “For all we know, Reverend Jacob has things situated here so that we are kept separate from the modern world. How are we to know if that extends to the law or not?”
“Why would it? Being a part of Zion doesn’t just give us special privileges to break the law,” Delilah argued.
“No, but we don’t know what that looks like. I know there are special circumstances for religious groups. It’s definitely worth looking into,” Levi agreed partially.
“I just wish I could remember more,” Naomi sighed heavily beside me.
“It’s actually pretty common,” Ruth piped up. “I’ve been reading up on the human brain as it pertains to trauma and it seems to be that the brain will black out details as a form of self protection against traumatic events. That’s what Talia’s brain did, and likely what yours has done as well, Naomi. Give yourself some grace. You both have already given us so much information.”
“My wife is right. We couldn’t do this without either of you,” Levi agreed, hugging his wife close to his side.
“What made you get into that?” Ollie questioned Ruth.
“I mean, look at all of us. In some form or another, each of us has experienced trauma at the hands of Zion. After that night when we learned of Talia’s story, I asked Levi to help me learn more. We researched and found some information that has been really interesting to dig through. All of you men are working hard to combat the evils here. This is some small way that I can help,” she answered, far more subdued than she should be.
“That’s an incredible thing, Ruth,” I commended her.
“Absolutely incredible,” Levi agreed, a look of pride on his face as he kissed the top of her head. “All of us are working together to take Zion down. None of it would be possible without each and every person in this room. We all are playing a part, working together.”
I caught Malachi’s eye roll from where he leaned against the wall, still sipping his drink. Probably at least his second, if I knew my brother well at all.
“So, how do we go on from here? What’s the next step?” Zeke questioned.
“And are we all eating dinner here? Coz I’m starving,” Ollie piped up. Eye rolls abounded at his comment.
“When are younothungry, Bartholemew?” Delilah playfully chided him, smacking her hand against his stomach.
“I’ll have you know I’m a growing boy. Growing boys have healthy appetites. I thought I’d made thatveryclear with you, love,” Ollie teased her.
“Ew, Ollie. Save it for the bedroom,” Levi scolded him.
“I actually prefer the kitchen table for such… delights,” Ollie shot back, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.
“That’s it. We’re never eating at Ollie’s house ever again,” Zeke remarked, all of us readily agreeing with his decision.
“Back to the matter at hand. The next step is more of the same. If we are going to get out of here and stop the Elders from taking more girls, we need information. We need to know where this cabin is andthenwe need to contact the authorities. If we were to reach out to them now, we would have nothing to give them other than speculation,” Levi explained.
