Chapter Text
Val sat in the shadow of an old mighty hackberry tree. She waited patiently for her dearest fellow, Marta, to come. Watching sunset was stripping her of anxieties well tied with the chief deacon’s duties. The job was exhausting and boring, her faith was slowly dying with every worship she was forced to attend. This isn’t god, she thought, god doesn’t crave slaughter of the innocent. As the time passes, Val lies on the ground, feeling every vibration of the soil underneath her. Strong smell of copper hit her nose, as she rose up to her feet, feeling heavy footsteps behind her. Turning her head, a lanky figure approached her and sat next to her, pale skin glowing in the bright moonlight. Marta returned from the slaughterhouse late, her hair soaked with the smell of blood, crimson red stains stuck behind her fingernails.
,,Sorry if I kept you waiting Val, we had to kill bunch of cows because..y'know..Papa said so.’’
,,Papa said so’’ repeated Val, staring into the ground, anger rising within her ,,Because Papa said so’’ Val took a deep breath, tears falling on her cheeks. Marta saw Val crying, leaning to hug her dearest friend. To her surprise, Val pushed her off. ,,Val….you okay?’’ she asked, not exactly sure how to deal with great emotions ,,Because Papa FUCKING SAID SO-’’ Val screamed at the top of her lungs, unable to hold it in anymore. Old pals glared at each other. The valley got quiet, only locusts chirping in the distance. When Val spoke again, her voice was trembling.
,,Well Marta, you see, I’m trying to tell You again and again, Knoth is nothing but a murderer and his God is lie, he’s feeding You lies for years but you’re still so blind. Listen to me please, remember, when He said ‘’Oh children, Your greatest sins will haunt You in your dreams’’ but my dreams are nothing but murder of my beloved children. Marta, I'm not the only one who had these dreams. Why don't you listen to me?’’ Marta stared at her with a scowl ,,My dear, I think you drank way too much wine today, what a nonsense you’re babbling about. Just look at yourself, not paying attention to the Bible but proudly talking about Papa’s ‘’sins’’. You are a fool, Val. Keeping your mouth shut would be the best you could do for the wellbeing of our village. I'm leaving.'' Marta turned around to let her stubborn friend come to her senses again.
,,You’re not going anywhere cunt’’ Val grabbed a pebble and hit Marta in the back of the head with it. Dear lord, it did upset Marta greatly. Firm slap on Val's cheek and war began, two friends jumped after their throats. Val spat Marta in the face, Marta’s fist found her place in the bridge of Val’s nose. Blood flowed onto Val’s chin. Two rivals writhing in dirt and sand of the Arizona desert. Val grabbed a handful of gravel and threw it in Marta’s face. Marta roared as she was blind now, swinging her fists frantically around her.
Val was smart. She took the opportunity and ran for Temple Gate, stumbled in the rocky terrain, ran into trees and bushes, but she didn't care.
She needed to tell Josiah.