The Priest by Monica La Porta

Author:Monica La Porta
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, slavery, forbidden love, alternate reality, matriarchal society

Chapter 9

A guard who wasn’t Guen woke him up. She wasn’t gentle in the execution and seemed to enjoy having to activate the collar to convince Mauricio that it was time to go to work. She could have powered it up another two notches, he thought, trying to find the bright side of the stinging burn on his neck. He was out of the cell in mere seconds, and the collar returned to a comfortable buzz. Mauricio automatically turned toward the door opening onto the fields. Arias was already there, peering through the window, waiting to escort him to the cafeteria.

“Other plans for you.” The guard redirected Mauricio to another hallway.

He saw the distressed look on Arias’ face and saluted him with a nod, mouthed, thank you, and even tried to smile at the other man. Arias’ eyes stayed on him until he turned around a corner. Mauricio dragged his legs after the guard, his mind jumping to the conclusion that he was being led to the slaughter. They walked for several minutes through a series of well-lit chambers, and then the guard slowed down before a glass door.

“Now, you’ll do what you do best.” She pointed at a low table with a tray full of plastic cups, waited long enough to be sure he understood, then left, sliding the glass door shut behind him.

Mauricio took a depressed look at the room. I was born and raised in a place like this, and I’m going to die in a place like this. He sat down on the customary white chair and took one cup in his hand. This is all I’m worth to them. He gingerly tossed the cup from one hand to the other. I’m not going to make it easier for you. He couldn’t have, even if he wanted to. Now that I know the truth, I want to make a difference. This’ll be my last act of rebellion before dying. I was born a slave, but you are going to slaughter a free man. Mauricio put the cup back on the tray with the others. He started playing with them, rearranging their order until he was satisfied with the result. I’m sure after today, you’ll remember my number. Then he stood up and knocked on the glass door.

“Done?” The guard appeared from around the corner.

“Yes. I am definitely done with this,” Mauricio answered. You have no power over me anymore.

The guard looked at him for the first time since she had come to his cell and then looked at the tray.

“What does that mean?” she asked, enraged.

“Exactly what it looks like.” Mauricio smiled proudly. This feels good.

“You… you…” The guard was in shock; a slave had dared to defy a woman’s direct order. She was staring at the tray with the cups neatly aligned to spell the word ‘no’ and no other sounds came from her mouth.

Mauricio knew that there was a camera somewhere in the room and fervently hoped that later, when the guards analyzed what had happened there, they would see how happy he was at that precise moment.

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