The Last Woman (All That Remains #1) (36 page)

“Take a nap, and I’ll be right
here when you wake.”

“I love you,” I murmur.

“Me too, darlin’.”

Abraham

“Will you be visiting them
today, Abraham?” Cole asks.

“Yes, I believe I will. Do you
have any information for me?”

“The dark headed man is called
Airen, and he claims the woman, Abby, is his wife. The other man’s name is
Joseph. Airen’s the one to be careful around if you want my opinion. We had to
knock him out to capture him. He’ll be a challenge.”

“Fortunately, I love a
challenge.”

“Do you need anything else,
sir?”

“No, Cole, that’s all for now.
Just keep an eye on them.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hmm, do we have another Micah
in Airen? I doubt it. It’s natural to be defiant in the beginning, especially
if he’s trying to protect his wife. He’ll fall in line, but perhaps a small
demonstration is in order.

If I demand that Joseph be
tested with Abby that should shake things up. If Airen resists, he’ll quickly
learn who’s in charge. Yes, that’s the best way to bring him to heel. The same
goes for Joseph if he refuses, although I don’t imagine he will unless he’s a
homosexual. The chances of that are slim, and it’s more likely he’s hoping for
a chance with the girl.

Regardless, they’re mine now,
and I’ll see they behave accordingly. I suspect Troy will warn them of the
consequences of disobedience.

I may get to use my cane again
after all.

It’s evening when I wake, and
Joseph, Airen, and Troy are sitting in a circle, eating, and deep in a
discussion.

“How are you?” Airen asks
softly, as I join them.

“I’m good. How’s your head?”

“Not bad, those pills are
strong.”

“Joseph?”

“I’m fine, honey.”

Airen brings me a thermos
filled with tomato soup and a cheese sandwich. “You need to eat,” he insists.
It’s hard, but I manage to get enough down to placate him. I climb on Airen’s
lap in the beanbag chair and stay there for the rest of the evening. His hand
stroking my back is soothing, but I can’t relax. Who knows what will happen to
us tomorrow?

Joseph places a lantern beside
my cot as I snuggle down for the night with Airen. I give him a small smile,
and he returns to his bunk, wrapping himself in an old blanket. The night is
interminable. I lie with Airen for hours, listening to him breathe. At least
the pain pills help him sleep.

Troy wakes us in the morning.
“We have to make the beds and clean up before Abraham gets here.” Nearly an
hour later, the rattle of chains falling from the door warns us of his arrival,
and we kneel. When I get my first glimpse of the infamous Abraham, I’m taken
aback by his youthful appearance. I expected a much older man. He looks about
twenty-five. His head is shaved, and he’s dressed in black slacks and a white
button up shirt. His eyes have a creepy, vacant look.

“Good morning, Troy.”

“Good morning, Abraham.”

“You may rise and introduce
our guests.”

We stand as Troy introduces
us. “Airen Holder, and his wife, Abby,” he announces.

“Welcome, you look familiar to
me, Airen. Have we met before?” he asks, a serene smile painted on his face.

Oh, shit. Is he going to
recognize him from television? Somehow, I don’t think they will consider
portraying a stripper or a prostitute a holy endeavor.

“I don’t believe so,” Airen
replies, calmly. I know he’s seething inside, but he’s hiding it well.

Abraham smiles. “Have you been
married long?”

“Six months,” he lies. “We
were fortunate enough to meet a nice minister to perform the ceremony.”

“How wonderful.” He regards
Joseph, as Troy introduces him.

“This is Joseph, Airen’s
brother.”

“Surviving brothers! Rare
indeed! God has surely blessed you.”

“We share the same father.
Perhaps he passed on an immunity, although he didn’t survive,” Joseph remarks. These
two can lie on demand, I’ll give them that.

Abraham grins. “I’m sure God
has chosen you both for a reason. I’ll be speaking to each of you individually.
I hope to discern God’s plan for you.”

Airen grabs my hand. “I’m
staying with my wife.”

The serene smile never leaves
Abraham’s face. “It’s heartwarming to see such a bond between husband and wife.
I assure you she’ll be safe with me. If it eases your mind, I intend to speak
with each of you in these quarters. She won’t leave your sight.”

“Airen, please, you promised.”

“Fine,” he growls through
gritted teeth.

“Why don’t we begin, Airen?”
He gestures for him to follow.

They settle into two chairs
across the stable, too far away to be heard even with my advanced eavesdropping
abilities. Airen seems to be controlling his temper, and they talk for over
twenty minutes. Airen shakes his head, getting agitated, and I hold my breath,
just waiting for him to do something stupid. Finally, Abraham dismisses him,
and calls to Joseph to join him.

I pounce on Airen before he
has a chance to sit. “What did he ask you?”

“If I believe in God.”

I look at him skeptically.
“Don’t lie to me. You were shaking your head. What was he saying? Was it about
us?”

“No.” He sighs, resigned. “He
seems to be focused on Joseph. He thinks he shows homosexual tendencies.”

“Bastard has a gaydar, doesn’t
he?” I murmur.

“I think it’s the same for any
single man they meet.” Airen drops his eyes and gnaws his lower lip.

“What is it?”

“I told him I would swear
before God that Joseph is not, as he so eloquently puts it, a sodomite, but
that isn’t enough. He wants Joseph to prove his sexuality, just like Troy.”

Troy, with the cane marks
across his back. The comparison makes me shiver. “He’s going to force him to
make out with some random woman? Joseph will never do that.”

Airen’s head lowers, and he
releases my hand. “He wants Joseph to prove himself with you,” he whispers.

“What?” I reply, horrified.
“But he knows we’re married.”

“In his fucked up mind, the
fact that Joseph is my brother makes it acceptable. He quoted some biblical
bullshit about a wife belonging to the brother when a husband dies. He told me
if I made this sacrifice, I could prove my loyalty to God, as would you, and
Joseph would prove he’s straight.”

“Does he expect us to have
sex?” I ask, fearfully.

“No, only bring him to the
point where he could. His words.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I said no, Abby. It’s what
any husband would say. He’s trying to play us against each other. Force us to
resist so he can dole out some punishment.”

“He’ll do it. You know he
will.”

His hands travel through his
hair in frustration. “Look, sweetheart, he doesn’t realize how close we all are
to each other, or that Joseph kissing you won’t exactly break my heart, but I’m
not giving him permission to use you for anything.”

“It wouldn’t bother you if I
kissed Joseph?”

“I don’t like it, but it’s not
like you’re sneaking around with him or cheating on me. I just don’t want you
forced to do anything.”

“If it means that he won’t
hurt us,” I murmur.

“I know.” He sighs, his eyes
darkening. “I could take him out right now. Shoot him.”

“No! The bodyguards will kill
us all. We have to play along until we get our chance to run. Please.”

“Allowing him to control us
like this—it’s killing me,” he admits quietly. “I want to do something.”

“I know.” He buries his face against
my neck as I embrace him. “Air, I know, but you’re doing the right thing.”

“Forcing my wife to be
intimate with another man isn’t doing the right thing. If it were anyone other
than Joseph, I wouldn’t stand for it. I’d shoot him and damn the consequences.
You know that, don’t you?” he pleads.

“Of course I do, and
you
aren’t forcing me to do anything.”

“It feels like I’m pimping you
out.” His eyes brim with unshed tears. Airen never cries, and the sight kills
me.

“Airen, please don’t. It’s not
like that at all.” I force a grin. “Think of it as payback for your drunken
kiss with Joseph,” I whisper.

He smiles in spite of himself
and shakes his head. “Never going to let me forget that, are you?”

“It was a picture to remember.
Permanently and indelibly imprinted on my brain,” I tease.

Joseph walks toward us,
looking absolutely miserable. I grab Airen’s hand. “You told me I have to be
with Joseph, and I always obey my husband. Understand?” I say, frantically.

Airen nods, defeated. “I’m so
sorry.”

“Everything will be fine.” I
squeeze his hand. Abraham motions for me to join him.

I take a seat across from him,
and the look of arrogance on his face is sickening. Before the plague, I’m sure
he was a nobody, a loser. That must feed his need to dominate people and play
with our lives, as if we’re nothing more than toys placed here for his
amusement. I hate him already.

“Good morning, Abby. I just
want to ask you a few questions, and please, be truthful.” He flashes a
predatory smile. “Do you believe in Jesus?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know the Ten Commandments?”

“Yes.”

“Would you recite them for me,
please?” I rattle them off, and he stares at me intently. “Do you know The
Lord’s Prayer?” I recite it perfectly, and his smile widens. “Very good, you
should help your husband to learn it.” I nod. “Do you love your husband?”

“Of course.”

“Obey him in all things?”

“Yes.” No. Fuck no.

“Has he explained our issue
with your brother-in-law?”

“Yes, and I can assure you
Joseph isn’t into men.”

“And if your husband bids you
to spend time with Joseph to prove that, would you obey?”

I hesitate. “Would God look
upon me as an adulteress?” I know how to talk to these religious nuts.

A phony smile tilts his lips.
“No, sister, not if I and your husband command it.”

“Do you? Command it?”

“I’m afraid it’s a necessary
evil, my child. Rest assured neither you nor he shall suffer for it, in my
house or the Lord’s.”

I bow my head. “I don’t want
to hurt Airen, but if he says I must, then I’ll do as he asks.”

“You’re a good wife, Abby. ‘Who
can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies,’” he quotes.

“Proverbs 31:10,” I reply. I
may be an atheist, but I’m a well-read atheist.

His face lights up. “You and
your husband will be joining us in the house very soon. The rapture has removed
most of his children, but he’s left behind a few of the faithful to guide the
heathens, teach them to repent, and give them a chance at redemption and
eternal salvation.”

“I’ll do my best to help,” I
swear, trying not to gag on the words.

“I believe you will.” He
grins.

Then you’re insane and stupid,
you narcissistic asshole.

Abraham promises to send for
me and Joseph later in the day. After he leaves, Cole arrives with clean
clothes, soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. It feels so good to wash off the grime,
and I manage to find a pair of panties, sports bra, sweat pants, and a long
sleeve shirt that fit well. All the clothing still have tags attached. They
must have raided the local K-Mart.

Joseph and Airen have been
deep in a hushed conversation for the last few minutes, and Joseph is obviously
upset. It looks like Airen is trying to reassure him. What does one say in such
a situation? Please, let my wife give you a hard on, so they won’t hurt you?

“Is everything okay?” I
interrupt.

“You don’t have to do this,
Abby,” Joseph whispers as Airen discreetly walks away.

“It’s not exactly a
punishment. I meant what I said about those lips,” I reply.

“I’m sure you dreamed of this
situation.” He shakes his head.

“Look...Joseph...do you think
that you can get...you know...with me?” I stumble, blushing to my roots. After
all, Joseph is an attractive guy, and I don’t know what kind of girls he’s
dated, but I’m sure they were pretty.

“Abby!” he cries in surprise.
“Is that what you’re worried about?”

“Of course. They may think
they’re right, and who knows what the consequences could be.”

After a quick glance at Airen,
he studies the floor and responds, “How can I say this tactfully? I’m sure that
won’t be a problem. Sometimes, when we’re at home you wander around in those
little pajama shorts...and...” He shrugs, and it’s his turn to blush firehouse
red.

Oh.
“Do you think they’re just going to watch us or
what?” I whisper, trying to change the subject.

“I don’t know. Honey, are you
sure about this?”

“Sorry, you’re stuck. You’re
making out with me, and you can’t get out of it.”

“Do you think Airen will ever
forgive me?”

“He doesn’t blame you in the
first place, Joseph. We know you don’t want to do this. We’re surviving and
going home to our kids,” I insist, wiping my eyes.

“All right, honey, don’t cry.”

Right after dinner, Cole and
another man named Eric show up to escort us to the house. The anguish on
Airen’s face as they lead us away will haunt me for the rest of my life. It’s
dark, so I can’t make out much of the house, but it’s massive. They lead us
down several hallways until we reach a small bedroom, lightly furnished with a
full sized bed, night stand, and a small dresser.

Abraham materializes at the
door. “God would not wish that I, a married man, should look upon another woman
without clothes. You’ll both remove your clothing. You may keep your underpants
on for the sake of your modesty. Put the clothing outside the door. Joseph,
when you’re ready to be examined, knock on the door, and come into the hallway.
If everything is satisfactory, you may both get dressed and return to your
quarters. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I whisper. At least he
won’t be breathing down our necks the whole time. We’ll have a little privacy.
Joseph nods his assent.