Leaving The Way: Book Two (The Way Trilogy), стр. 37

And those thoughts led to my unprovoked outburst. “Stop!” I stand abruptly, knocking my chair over in my haste, and every head turns to me. Scanning each face, I see various expressions ranging from shocked, to concerned, to anger, and everything in between. But I don’t care about any of that. I’m done with this, and even if they don’t want to, I plan to make them listen, even if for only a minute.

“Stop.” I repeat much more calmly. “Listen, I’m not trying to shame you, but while you sit here laughing and joking, telling stories of the old days, people are out there suffering. The church is doing horrible things to people as we speak, and you aren’t doing a damn thing about it.” I stop to take a breath and before I can continue, Mateo speaks out.

“Anna, we are doing something about it. That’s why we’re here. That’s why I called a meeting of the council. Listen, I know…”

Before he can finish I cut him off. “No, you listen.” Judging by the look on his face my outburst offended him, hurt his feelings, so I decide to tone it down, but only a little. “Listen, Mateo you know how much I appreciate and respect you. I’m not trying to be rude.” I see Lord Paul lean over to Easton asking who I am as Easton whispers an explanation but I trudge on. “I don’t understand the need for secrecy. This isn’t a true council meeting, only three leaders are even here. Everyone here wants to see the bad aspects of the Church of The Way destroyed. So instead of following guidelines,” I say, putting quotation marks around the last word, “how about we all work together. Instead of laughing and joking over breakfast, how about we spend this time planning how we go about doing this? Every person at this table has a vested interest in taking down the church.” Sucking in a deep breath I look to Ash, studying her features. She looks proud, and that gives me the confidence I need to finish this, but before I can I’m interrupted by Lord Paul.

“Young lady, I understand this may affect you differently than it does the rest of us, but…”

With a smile, I beg him to let me finish, “It does, but Lord Paul please, just let me finish, and then if you don’t agree, fine.” Siting back in his seat, he nods. “Do you see that girl down there?” I nod my head at Lord Paul and Dakota before pointing to Ash as she waves. “That’s my best friend Ash Booker. It’s been a few days, so she’s healed quite a bit, but do you see her face? Do you see the gash, the cuts, the bruises?” Turning, I look to each of the leaders faces before going on. “They did that to her. The church did that to her. And the physical stuff, the stuff you can see, well, that’s nothing compared to things you can’t. I won’t give you the gory details because that’s not my place but…”

Before I can finish Ash stands from her seat. At first I think she’s mad at me for drawing attention to her like this, for calling her out, but when she speaks it’s clear that isn’t the case. “Each compound has an elder over the security department. At ours, well at the one closest to here, that was Elder Jacobs. He molested me,” and then pausing to look at me she adds, “he molested both of us as punishment. No telling how many other girls he did that to over the years, but then he died and was replaced by David.” She shutters when she says his name, a chill going up my own spine. “David is the one that attacked near here the other night. I’d been his prisoner for the last couple weeks. He…he kept me bound and gagged in his guest room most of that time.”

She stops as a tear tracks down her cheek, and I look around realizing everyone seems uncomfortable, especially each of the leaders at the table. Oh yeah? Well too bad. I hope your uncomfortable. How uncomfortable do you think Ash was when he was abusing here? How uncomfortable do you think she is now, replaying her story for complete strangers just so maybe you will listen.

Chase reaches up whispering that she doesn’t have to do this, but she shakes her head, clearing her throat and finishing. “What Anna said is true. The physical stuff you can see, that’s nothing. In fact, I wish that was all that happened. I prayed he would only beat me or cut me, but that wasn’t the case. David did everything short of raping me, and the only reason he didn’t cross that line is because there is enough good left in the Vater that if he had found out he would have banished David. David knew that, and I promise it is the only reason he didn’t cross that metaphorical line. He did awful things to me, but I’m alive, and I’m here. I want to see the church destroyed. Not for me, but for all the girls still stuck behind those walls, and not just at the Texas compound. If you think it’s only happening here your wrong. They are selling girls to the Vater at the west coast compound too. What do you think he does with those girls? He does what was done to me only worse, and I want him destroyed too.” She pauses, sucking in a breath and I think she’s done until she says, “So cut the crap! We don’t need a tent and some rigidly ruled meeting. We all want the same thing. So let’s do this.” And with that she plops back down in her chair, crossing her arms across her chest as she eyes everyone around the tables, daring them to contradict her.

I do the same, and I can