Taken Bride by Alta Hensley

16

Ember

We’re all sitting around the fire in silence, eating leftover soup from last night. It’s awkward. We’ve been coexisting in a suffocating tension that I can barely stand. I look at Christopher with pleading eyes. I want this to be better. It has to get better.

Christopher must read my mind, because he clears his throat and says, “I’d like to apologize for my aggression last night. I really feel as if Richard and Scarecrow are out there, but regardless if they are, I feel I may have scared you with how I acted. I’m also sorry for accusing you both of keeping something from us.”

Holly looks up from her soup and gives him a small smile. “It’s a stressful time,” she offers. “We understand.”

Violets shoots daggers at Holly, clearly not appreciating having her sister speak for her.

“I know the topic of us all leaving is a sensitive one, but it’s still one we need to discuss,” Christopher continues, putting down his bowl. “The storm has passed, and I feel like we have a very small window to act. We need to get down the mountain to where I can reach a pilot to fly us out of here. We need him to reach us before he can’t due to more weather.”

I look at Holly and Violet. “Please come with us,” I beg. “I know you’re scared. I am too. But we’ll get through this together.”

“No,” Violet says. “My answer is no.” She gets up without another word and storms out of the chapel.

“We need a little more time,” Holly says, grabbing all our empty bowls and bringing them to a large barrel we use for dishes. “Just give her time.”

“I’m going to go check on her,” I say, getting up, feeling like I need to.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Christopher asks.

“I’ll be right back. I need to talk to her in private,” I reply.

I walk outside, happy to see the sun is out and the snow is indeed melting as Christopher was hoping it would do. I walk to the barn, which is the only form of real shelter other than the chapel on this property. When I don’t find Violet inside, I walk out and see her standing outside near the cliff.

“Violet? What are you doing out here?” I ask as I approach her. The snow has stopped falling, but the temperatures are still near freezing, and being close to the cliff isn’t safe at any time, but definitely not now.

She doesn’t turn to face me but instead looks out over the canyon. The clouds hang low, and all the treetops are covered in white.

“Did you convince Holly to go with you?” she asks softly. If the air wasn’t so eerily still, I’m not sure I’d hear her.

“She hasn’t decided yet.”

“But you have?”

“I have. I’m leaving with Christopher. I love him.”

I take a step toward her, noticing she’s dangerously close to the ledge. “Violet, why don’t you step away from the edge. It’s icy. I don’t want you slipping.”

“I thought you loved us.”

“I do. Which is why I want you and Holly to come with me. We can figure out our next chapter together.” I keep repeating this over and over in hopes that eventually she’ll believe me. I take another step toward her, not liking that she refuses to turn and face me. “Violet. Please, come away from the cliff. I’m worried you’ll fall.”

“I’ve seen what men do,” Violet says, her eyes on the canyon below. “They’re cruel. They’re ruthless. They truly are the devil in human form.”

“Not all men.”

She nods. “Yes, all men.”

“Violet…” I take another cautious step toward her, but I don’t want to get too close and startle her or have her try to take a defensive step away from me, causing her to fall. “Please come to me.”

“You hated it out there,” she says. “You hated it and didn’t fit in. You told us about the stories around the fire, and now you change it? You can’t take back what you said. You hated it! You told us so.” She still doesn’t step away from the cliff nor look at me. “You know Holly and I won’t fit in either. But Holly’s strong. She’s so much stronger than me. She may be able to adapt. If anyone can, it’s her.” She pauses. “But not me. I’ll never belong anywhere.”

“You belong with me.”

She shakes her head. “No, Ember. I don’t.”

“Do you want to stay here?”

“No. Scarecrow is a cruel man. And an evil man.” She looks over her shoulder at me for the first time. Her eyes are dark and appear sunken in. “Don’t you see? I have no home. I have nothing.”

“You have Holly. You have me. You also have you.”

I take one more step toward her, but this time she does move closer to the edge as a warning for me not to come any closer.

Fearing what she might do, my heart stops, and I struggle for the right words but decide I can only speak my truth. “You’re right that I was miserable out there. You’re right that I hated being away from Hallelujah Junction. We’re different people—outcasts. We’ve lived different lives than the masses, and no matter who I met, no one truly got me. Even Christopher. He sees me the way he wants to see me but refuses to see the damage inside. He doesn’t want to see the ugly, the pain, and the vileness that surrounds me. My past is suffocating and my future dim. He doesn’t want to see that. But I need to move forward for me. For me. Just as you have to move forward for you. You.”

“Move forward where?” Her voice is shrill, and I realize this is the first time I’ve truly heard her raise her voice. There isn’t a shred of timidness laced within the words she speaks.

“I don’t know. But I do know we can’t stay here. We have to escape Papa Rich and Scarecrow, and we have to stop being held captive. It’s time we’re free.”

She faces the canyon again and nods, taking a step toward the edge. “Yes, I want to be free.”

“Violet!” I stop myself from lunging toward her, fearing that my action could push her over the edge. “Don’t do it. I know you think all will be better, but don’t. Please. Think of Holly. Think of anything but what’s at the bottom of that cliff.”

“Go inside, Ember,” she says.

“I’m not leaving you. I’ll never leave you. Trust me on that. Never.”

She lifts her head and looks up at the sky, taking a deep breath. She extends her arms and says, “I’ve never been free. I’ve never truly been happy. It’s time I stop the suffering. It’s time. I have to escape the darkness, Ember. I hope you understand. I have to escape.”

“Violet, I love you!” I shout, hoping I’m loud enough that Holly and Christopher will hear and come running. I need reinforcements. I need help. But I’m too scared to scream for help, because I feel it’s all it will take for Violet to jump before Holly can see her do it. “Don’t do this. This isn’t your way out. It’s not your way out!”

She looks over her shoulder and gives me a warm smile. “But it is.”

Without hesitation, she flings herself over the cliff, disappearing into the mountain fog.