Held (Gone #2) (5 page)

"They're getting married today?" Macy's eyes widened. She didn't even know her future fake stepmom's name.

"Tonight, yes. We can't have you all living in the same house otherwise. She is in another home, getting ready for the ceremonies so that you and your dad can settle in."

The men came around the cart. Isaac carried a pile of white cloth, which he handed to Macy and Chester. Macy held hers up, trying to figure out how she was supposed to wear it. Eve helped her put it over her head. There was only one slit on the head peace, allowing her to see. How was she supposed to breathe?

She looked down and noticed that it hung down away from her shirt, allowing air in.

"One more good push," Jonah called. "We've got the gate open."

Macy groaned. She was already sweating. Wearing the head piece would make it worse.

Eve looked at her. "Hard work is a privilege. It teaches us many things and we should always appreciate it."

"Okay." Macy nodded, unsure if Eve could even tell. They pushed the cart several yards, passing through a thick, wooden gate. Once inside, Jonah and Abraham closed and locked the gate behind them.

The gate was part of a larger fence with no space between the slats. It was about ten feet tall and had metal spikes on the top. No one was getting in or out. The fence went on beyond what Macy could see. As far as she could tell, it wrapped around the entire town—or community, as they called it.

She saw various buildings, some looked like homes and others looked they had other purposes. Macy turned to Eve. "How big is this place?"

"It goes on for miles, Heather. We're entirely self-sustaining with everything we would ever need here inside the walls. It helps to keep the world out. It's unusual for anyone to leave, because there's rarely need. What does the world have that we want?"

Macy could think of several things off the top of her head, but knew better than to say any of them. One of the rules of the community was not to speak of
the world.

"The horse is attached," Isaac said, walking around the cart. "I'll lead it to the house."

Chester, also covered with head garb, walked with Jonah to the front.

Eve took Macy's hand. "The men will lead the horse and we'll follow behind the cart."

Macy nodded, making sure Eve could tell through the cloth covering Macy's head. Eve let go of her hand and they walked in silence for what felt like more than a mile. The people that they passed, dressed in all white of course, paused to watch them. No one else had anything over their heads.

They were like fish in a tank with everyone staring at them from outside. Macy was glad for the covering, because she didn't want everyone staring at her. She'd never been so embarrassed in all of her life, though she didn't know why. All of the other people were all dressed in the same white clothes as she was, living with the same ridiculous rules she had just learned.

One girl who looked about Macy's age had a large "G" pinned on the front of her shirt.

Eve walked closer to Macy. "That's part of the shaming we discussed. The G is for greed and everyone who sees her knows she committed an act of supreme selfishness. She was already purified, but now must pay the price of her sin."

Chills ran through Macy. What had she done that was so bad? She didn't dare ask, remembering they weren't even to speak of sins committed. They could, however, speak of preventing them before they happened. But they had to be careful, so as not to become tainted.

As they continued to walk, more people came out of homes and buildings to watch the newcomers. What were they hoping to see? The only thing they could see was how tall they were and maybe their eyes, but no one came close enough to get a good look.

Macy tried to tell what she could of the people, but they were mostly nondescript, all wearing the same white clothes. The girls and women had their hair pulled back in tight buns, some of them wearing odd, white hats. The guys all had super short hair, and again, some wore hats, while others didn't.

Finally, they stopped. The horse and cart stopped first, and then Macy and Eve stopped also. She looked around, seeing a few small homes on either side of the dirt road. They all looked the same. Which one was going to be their new home? Not that it mattered. Wherever they moved wasn't going to be her
home
.

Jonah walked to the house closest to their left. He opened the door, not appearing to have unlocked it. Were there no locks?

Seemingly out of nowhere, about a dozen men showed up. They removed items from the cart and carried them into the house.

Eve took Macy's hand again and tugged. They stepped back several feet.

"We'll let the men do the heavy lifting. Once everything is inside, you two can settle in. Remember to keep the covering on until it's removed in the ceremony. Then and only then can it come off."

Chills ran down her spine. "Why doesn't anyone have a coat?"

"We don't wear coats. Suffering and trials lead us on the path to purity."

"What about when it snows?"

"No coats. Some go out in it specifically to become more pure. Sometimes it can turn into a fun competition." She smiled, her eyes shining.

Yeah, that sounds like a great time,
Macy thought sarcastically.

Before she knew it, she and Chester were inside the chilly, little house, unpacking. She got the shivers again. "Is there no heat?"

"You're not to speak until spoken to, Heather."

Macy's stomach dropped. She stepped back. Was he going to hit her? Lock her up? Make her wear a letter?

"You're free to speak—don't worry." It sounded like he was smiling behind his curtain of white. He actually sounded joyful. "Just don't forget it when other males from the community are around. About the heat: electricity is believed to be one of the evils of the world. See that wood stove?"

"Yeah." She looked at the small, black stove in the corner.

"I'm told those keep the homes nice and toasty. Would you like me to start a fire?"

"Yes, please. I'm freezing."

"Have a seat and make yourself comfortable."

Macy stared at him. Was he serious? He wasn't going to put her to work? She sat on the couch, pulling a heavy afghan over herself.

"Your new mom made that. She made a lot of things in here."

"Have you even met her?" Macy asked.

Chester picked up a log from next to the stove and shoved it in. "Yes, although not in person yet. We've been corresponding through letters. She's excited to meet us."

Macy looked around the room, feeling like she'd stepped back in time. Everything looked like the
Little House on the Prairie.
A few years before, she and her mom watched all the seasons. Macy never would have guessed the show would become her life one day.

Chester looked at her through his head dress. "It might take a bit for this to warm the place up. Why don't you unpack your room and get settled in? That way you don't have to worry about it after the wedding."

"Uh, sure." She rose, keeping the blanket around her.

"I'll get the rest of our stuff ready."

She found her bedroom. It was a tiny room with just a bed, a shelf, a desk, and small dresser. Obviously, they didn't have a wide variety of clothes, so a large dresser or a closet was unnecessary.

Macy set a box on the bed and opened it. She gasped. Her teddy bear was on top. It was the one that she had had at home—her real home—that Chester had stolen and teased her with. How long would she have it back? Picking it up, she smelled it. It mostly smelled like the farmhouse, but when she breathed deeply, she could smell her home.

Images of her room filled her mind. She heard a noise outside the room and stuffed the bear next to the pillow. Could she find a place to hide it so that Chester couldn't take it away again?

Disagree

As soon as school was out, Alex texted Zoey again. She hadn't texted him all day, and he needed to know what was wrong or if everything was okay. He had texted and called a bunch of times during lunch, but her phone had to have been off because it kept going to voice mail.

He found an empty seat on the bus and sat by himself, hoping everyone would leave him alone. He was tired of all the questions about Macy. As if it wasn't bad enough that he had to deal with his sister's disappearance, he also had to put up with everyone's stupid questions and comments.

He sent another text, and just as he hit send, someone sat next to him. He groaned, not caring if he hurt anyone's feelings.

One of the jocks looked at Alex. "Hey, dude. Any news on your sister?"

Alex jumped up. "You really think if there was, I'd just be sitting on the bus?"

"Whatever." The jock shrugged and went to the back.

Alex looked out the window, ignoring everyone else until he reached his stop. The house was empty. His dad had had to go back to work not long after Macy disappeared, and his mom often went out look for Macy or passing out fliers.

After eating a banana, he threw his bag into his room and headed back outside. If Zoey wouldn't answer his texts, he'd go to her house.

When he got to her house, only two houses away, Valerie answered.

"Sorry to bother you, Ms. Carter. I didn't know you were home." Maybe that was why Zoey was ignoring him.

"You're never a bother, Alex. I'm just working from home today. Zoey hasn't been feeling well and I wanted to keep an eye on her."

"Is she okay?" He regretted the urgency in his voice, but he couldn't help it.

"I think all the stress of the last month has finally caught up with her. You should take care of yourself too. The doctor gave her some vitamins to help with her energy. You might want to look into getting some if you're tired."

He was already on anti-depressants, but he wasn't going to tell her that. He hadn't even mentioned it to Zoey. She probably wouldn't care, but it was still embarrassing. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks. Can I talk to her?"

"I think so. She's locked herself in her room. Want me to check on her?"

Zoey appeared around the corner behind her mom. "I'm up. Can I walk around the neighborhood with Alex? I bet some exercise and fresh air will do me some good. Right, Mom?"

Valerie looked relieved. "I'm so glad you want to get out of the house." She gave Zoey a hug and then tousled Alex's hair. "I love that you two are still close, even with Macy missing. How are your parents, Alex?"

He shrugged. "Still getting along, but upset about Macy. Sometimes I hear them crying when they think I'm not listening. It sucks."

"I wish I could do something to make this better. I'm worried sick about Macy. If anything ever happened to my Zo, I don't—"

"Mom, please don't." Zoey pushed her way around Valerie and stood next to Alex. "We won't go far, okay?"

Valerie nodded, still giving him a look of pity. "Do you guys have someone making you dinner? I haven't heard from homeowners' association. They were the ones putting that list together.

Zoey grabbed Alex's arm. "Mom, if they need you to make dinner, they'll ask."

Alex nodded. "After everyone from the HOA made our meals, some church took over. I think there are even some other churches that want to help too. We're covered for a while, but thanks."

Valerie leaned against the door frame. "Oh, good. Okay, you two have a good walk. Be home by dinner, Zo."

"Okay." Zoey managed to give that one word three syllables. She yanked Alex down the driveway. "Can you believe her? I swear, she never knows when to stop talking."

He shrugged, pushing some of his bangs out of his eyes. "She's not so bad. Did you turn your phone off? I texted you, like, a million times."

"I slept all morning and then I forgot my phone at home on the charger."

"You should at least check it, you know. I was worried something had happened."

"Sorry." She looked like she meant it. "I just haven't been feeling myself lately. I need more sleep or something."

"Is that what the doctor said?"

"Something like that." She looked up at the dark clouds. "It's going to snow again. I hope Macy's somewhere warm."

Alex's heart sunk. "I hope so too. But she's smart. She can take care of herself."

"Not smart enough to come home."

Alex scowled. "It's okay to admit it hurts. You don't have to say crap like that."

Zoey rolled her eyes. "Did your shrink tell you that?"

He pulled his arm from her hold. "What's with you?"

Her eyebrows came together. "I'm. Tired."

"No, it's something more than that. What's going on? Tell me."

"Nothing," she said, way too fast.

"Whatever. Don't tell me. I'm only your boyfriend who loves you." He walked faster, forcing her to speed up if she wanted to catch him.

"Alex, come on."

He stopped and turned around, letting her catch up. He grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop too. "You're keeping something from me. Why? Just tell me something so I'm not completely in the dark."