Sparrows & Sacrifice by Nellie K Neves

Author:Nellie K Neves [Neves, Nellie K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781075229596
Published: 2019-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Though I wanted to, I couldn’t risk tears. I was alone. Alone was all I’d known for years, but it used to invigorate me. Why did it leave me tense and twitchy this time around? Every part of me stayed rigid, waiting for the imminent attack.

Dinners improved. With the addition of the dining space, no matter how rudimentary it was, Harmony added a few extra bits to our meal. Never meat, but occasionally rice or bread or other grains that let our stomachs remain satiated for a little longer.

I’d noticed the lack of protein early on, too common to be a coincidence. I’d seen the livestock: chickens, two milking goats, and four fat hogs. There was no reason we couldn’t eat eggs or supplement with more goat’s milk.

Without protein, the women remained weak. Such a simple way to shackle us. My strength slipped away day by day. When I was alone in the garden, I often took a few seconds to press out five pushups or, if I had to carry something to Rain for the livestock, I’d curl the basket up and down to work my biceps. Weakness couldn’t be an option.

As I cleared my plate to be washed and stacked away by Breeze and her team of children, a firm grip closed over my shoulder. My heart leapt into my chest. My muscles tightened to retaliate, but Raife’s coal black eyes held me still.

“Sparrow, you are needed.”

“For what?” I snapped, completely forgetting my place in their world.

Instead of an answer, he shoved me hard. I caught myself on my fingertips and straightened slowly, my eyes fixed on the ground as Fern had advised.

“Your man requires you.”

The words filled me with dread. What did they have planned? Was it another lesson? Was my abuse Ryder’s final test? I had no choice but to follow. Thomas’ gun jammed against my ribcage assured me of that. I trailed after Raife, but I dared not look at any of the women. Seeing fear in their eyes would only increase my own. Each step felt like the march to an executioner’s chair. I was Marie Antoinette, and the gallows waited for me.

Thomas shoved me hard through the alley of two cabins, well on the other side of the compound. I nearly slammed into Raife, but stopped short of him. For the remainder of the trip, I fantasized plans for revenge on Thomas. I was positive that I wanted to jab the muzzle of his gun between his ribs at least once.

Our group stopped in front of Cyrus’ home. From where I stood, I saw the entire encampment— the bus, the cabins, the two rusted-out trucks, and the forest that surrounded us. It was no wonder Cyrus had chosen the property. From his vantage point, he’d be able to see everything. He could control everything. We were pawns, which drove me to wonder what game we were playing.

When Raife stepped away, I braced myself for attack. Men milled around, but not like before, circling and taunting me.

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