The next morning, Emily woke up still tingling from the experiences of the day before. She sat up and stretched, realizing that she was naked. In a flash, the image of Brother George's guiding touch leapt into her mind, and her body felt that familiar warmth between her legs.
A pang of guilt gnawed at her conscience, and for a moment, a mental image of Jacob flashed through her mind. Had she forsaken him? No, she was doing what needed to be done for their future together, for The Father. She had pleased The Father. Her guilt was cast aside as the warmth between her legs began to course. Biting her lip, Emily lay back down on her bed. Her fingers explored her body, raising the hairs on her arm. She let out a soft sigh, finding her wet folds as images of The Father washed over her.
When Emily sat back up from her bed some minutes later, she was even more at peace than before. She hoped Jacob found his place here, but she couldn't let him hold her back from continuing to win The Father's good graces. As if on cue, The Father's deep, resonant voice filled the room.
"My children," he began from his pristine garden. Like before, Emily noticed the women in the background, all smiling and carefree. Their bodies moved with a certain elegance, dancing around the scene as their fingers effortlessly glided over one another's most intimate parts. Emily realized she was jealous of them. Jealous not only of their carefree nature but of their close proximity to The Father. "Each day brings us closer to true enlightenment. Follow the path that I have set before you now, and you will know complete fulfillment and happiness."
As Emily watched, on-screen, the women began to dance closer to The Father. They kissed each other longingly, their hands caressing body after body until they finally came to rest on The Father's hairy chest. Images from yesterday continued to flash in Emily's mind. The sharp, vivid visions in the Chamber of Enlightenment, the overwhelming sensations. Her hands, as the women in the video, were pawing at The Father. Yearning to be closer with him with a want she'd never felt before. A shiver ran through her body as she rubbed her thighs together.
"Cast aside the shackles of your former life," The Father added. His words felt like a direct address to the confusion in Emily's heart as the guilt resurfaced; she did not worry about Jacob. "Embrace the love and pleasure that await you in our family."
Emily's breathing hastened as her nipples began to harden once again while she absorbed The Father's words. The guilt she felt had ebbed, replaced by an intoxicating mixture of arousal and spiritual passion.
As The Father's sermon came to a close, Emily rose from her bed, more energized than ever. A renewed sense of purpose flowed through her veins, her skin still tingling from her earlier activities. She dressed quickly, slipping on her flowy white dress and running her fingers over the fabric to help smooth it out. She slipped on her well-worn sandals and adjusted her choker-style necklace. With a smile on her face, she practically skipped on out the door, ready to start her day.
At breakfast, Emily seemed to scan the room till her eyes fell on Grace. She got a couple of slices of bacon, an omelet, and toast. Then, pouring a glass of orange juice, she made her way over to Grace. The powerful words of The Father still echoed in her ears.
"Good morning, Grace," Emily said, sitting down next to her friend while working her teeth over a crispy strip of bacon. She had quite the appetite worked up. "Did you hear The Father's words this morning? They were so... inspiring."
Smiling, Grace took a sip of her orange juice. "I did. His words are always just what I need to hear. This is the family I've always wanted," she said, reaching out to take Emily's hand. Her brown eyes sparkled. "And I'm so happy you're a part of it now."
Emily's lips curled into a smile. She had never had a sister before, but she imagined this was what it felt like to have one. Even though she had only just met this girl, the bond that was there between them was so powerful.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, savoring their breakfast and each other's company. Emily just marveled at how she had found her place in this new family. She thought of the events that had transpired to bring her here, and as if reading her mind, Grace suddenly spoke up.
"How are you feeling after yesterday? The Chamber of Enlightenment seemed to hit you pretty hard."
Emily felt a blush creep up her neck. Images of The Father filled her mind, followed closely by the aftermath with Brother George. As she took a bite of her omelet, she felt her pussy pulse with desire. "It was... overwhelming," she admitted, afraid to look Grace in the eyes.
Grace saw the reaction and wanted to press her on it, but she knew it wouldn't be wise. Emily would open up more when she was ready. She squeezed Emily's hand reassuringly. "I'm so glad you're embracing the teaching, Emily. The Father has great plans for all of us."
As they ate, Emily found herself opening up more to Grace about her life before coming to the island. She spoke a lot about her parents and how strict they were, an experience Grace knew all too well. Yet, she barely mentioned Jacob at all. It wasn't that she was consciously excluding him; she just seemed to focus on her own experiences and would mention Jacob's presence almost as an afterthought.
Once they finished eating, the girls slowly walked toward the feminine education pavilion. Emily's mind eventually drifted toward Jacob. Where was he? She had hoped she'd get to see him again today. Was he finally learning to embrace The Father's teachings? She made a mental note to ask Brother George about it the next time she saw him. The thought once again caused her to rub her thighs together.
****
Jacob's eyes opened slowly, the harsh morning sun filtering through the holes in the roof of his makeshift cell. His lips were cracked and dry, and swallowing was becoming increasingly difficult as the minutes passed. His stomach growled with a vengeance, but he knew getting out of his cell had to be his first priority. The guards would be coming soon with his breakfast, and that might be his only chance to escape.
As he lay there, memories of Emily flooded back. All that she had endured to ensure they stayed together. He remembered her fights with her family and how she had nearly been kicked out on more than one occasion. He could still smell her, lavender and vanilla, some fancy bodywash she would spend way too much money on. The memory was so vivid it almost hurt.
Jacob clinched his hands into tight fists as his fingernails dug into his palms. He wanted a distraction from the pain in his chest, anything to stop the memories. Emily's face flashed in his mind, her soft smile, the way her eyes crinkled when she laughed. He sucked in a ragged breath, slowing his pulse just enough to be able to focus.
The dark walls of his cell seemed to close in, but beyond them lay the vastness of the compound. He pictured the map he drew, noticing key places. Somewhere within its maze of trees and buildings, Emily was waiting. Jacob's muscles coiled, ready to spring into action at the slightest opportunity.
Right on schedule, he heard the familiar jingling of keys outside his door. He positioned himself near the door, trying to steady his breathing in order to appear as if he were near death. As expected, the creaky door opened, and two guards entered. One was carrying a tray of food, while the other nervously looked over his shoulder to make sure that no one saw the near-death prisoner.
"Hey, you think this one's still breathing?" the first guard grunted, as he looked over Jacob's lifeless body and walked inside.
The second guard whipped his head around, scanning the area. "Keep it down, will ya?" he hissed, his voice tight with anxiety. "I don't want anyone seeing us with him like this. Let's just drop the food and go."
"Relax, you worry to much. No one comes down here anyway," the first guard replied, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, well, I'm not taking any chances," the second guard muttered, glancing over his shoulder again. "C'mon, hurry up. This place gives me the creeps."
Their casual disinterest in his existence fed Jacob's determination. In one smooth, swift motion, Jacob was charging at the first guard, who had knelt to check that Jacob really was breathing. His shoulder connected with the guard's sternum, and he reeled backward, the sickening crunch of bone meeting concrete as his head snapped back against the wall. Without missing a beat, Jacob wrenched the door shut.
The second was caught completely off-guard, and Jacob launched himself at him, sending him crashing to the ground. They wrestled for a moment, but desperation and adrenaline surging through his veins proved to give Jacob the added strength he needed. He got his hands around the guard's neck and squeezed hard. His eyes bulged, and his face began to purple as he was clawing desperately at Jacob's vice-like grip. The seconds ticked into eternity until finally his struggles weakened, then ceased altogether.
Jacob stopped, panting hard for a moment as the weight of his act bore down on him. He could never have thought he was capable of such bloodthirstiness, but then sometimes it was the things that life did to a man that he was not proud of. He cast the thought aside and dragged the guard into a nearby bush, managing as well as possible to conceal the man's body.
As he straightened up, he caught the scent of food from the breakfast pavilion just over the hill. His stomach growled loudly, dictating where he was going to go next. But first, he needed to get his bearings.
Jacob paused a moment, taking in his surroundings. Before him sprawled the Sanctuary's compound: a mix of reused and new buildings alike. Farther on, he could just make out the high walls that separated them from the outside world. A pang hit him, making him think of the freedom beyond those walls.
He waited for some time for an opportunity to slip inside without being seen, since he knew he couldn't risk it. Finally, the woman at the table got up to refill her water, and Jacob seized the opportunity. He ran inside, snatched food onto a plate, and scurried around a nearby tree, his back pressed against the rough bark.
In a matter of seconds, he wolfed it down without really tasting any of it, his mind still preoccupied with surviving. When he was done, he approached much more cautiously the water jug, filled a cup, and drank greedily. The water slowly soothed his parched throat and gave him a new sense of determination.
