Free One of Many by Emily Goodwin, Marata Eros Page A

the entire table goes silent.
    “You mean us, right?” Rachel quips. “We’re your family.”
    “Oh, uh, right.” I swallow hard and set down my fork, placing my fingers around my glass of water.
    I don’t pick it up, feeling the cool condensation under my skin. “You are my family, but I meant my parents.”
    “Do you miss them?” Father Weston asks.
    I make myself look at him again. “Yes.”
    Anger crosses his face. “You have been Chosen,” he says with practiced patience. “This is home. We are your family.”
    “I know, but I still miss my parents,” I blurt, not seeing why that’s wrong.
    Father Weston throws his fork down on his plate. “Well, I’m not hungry anymore.” He gets up in such a rush his chair crashes to the ground. Ginny jumps up and scrambles to set it upright.
    The other wives turn their heads down, but I catch Anna giving Father Weston the tiniest glare before diverting her gaze.
    “Audrey, come with me,” he says and extends his hand.
    Oh shit.
    With trembling hands, I push away from the table and follow Father Weston into his office.
    He closes the door behind us. “My darling wife, you are Chosen.”
    “I know,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself to keep from shaking.
    “It’s more than a title, you know.” He perches on the edge of his desk and sighs, rubbing his forehead. “There are many here who pray day in and day out to be Chosen. But God spoke to me , told me you were the one to carry out his word and save these people.” 
    His gaze meets mine, and the ice melts. “You are special, my dear.” His warm smile could fool anyone.
    But not me, not anymore. “I don’t feel special.”
    “You are. You are my wife.”
    Being a wife makes me special? More than being Chosen? “I am.”
    “You see, Audrey, you need to let go of the past and embrace the present. Embrace this.” He holds his arms out. “Listen to his word and trust that we will be saved. You have important tasks to do. You have a purpose and a reason in this world. You. Are. Chosen. ”
    Silken words wrap around me, warming me, getting inside my head. Words that are easily believed. Words that are used as weapons.
    “You’re right. The sacrifice of leaving my family is worth it for the greater good of The Community.” I only say words he’ll want to hear.
    His peaceful demeanor snaps away, and suddenly he’s right there, grabbing my arms and shaking me. I guess those were the wrong words.
    “Being here is not a sacrifice,” he spits out. “It’s a gift , and you better fucking show gratitude. I didn’t have to choose you.”
    “You didn’t. God chose me.”  My words are weapons, too, and I pulled the trigger before I aimed.
    He shoves me to the ground and kicks.
    His leather shoe strikes me in the stomach. Then the leg. Then the stomach again.
    “Get up,” he growls.
    Terror and fear paralyze me, and it takes everything inside me to get to my feet.
    Once I’m standing, he hits me—hard—across the face.
    “You need to learn your place, bitch,” he says and hits me again. Suddenly he backs away. “My dear Audrey.” His voice is soft. “Don’t make me do this again. Be a good wife. Obey. Go up to your room and don’t come out until I tell you to.”
    The tears I’m holding back threaten to come out. I nod and scurry away. I’m embarrassed as well as terrified. I didn’t mean to make Father Weston mad. I didn’t mean to be a bad wife. Maybe if I say extra prayers, surprise Father Weston with the new bra and panties he bought me today, he’ll forgive me.
    I put my hand on the banister, able to see into the dining room as I ascend the stairs. The wives stand when Father Weston comes into the room.
    Ginny refills his wine and lifts it off the table, bringing it to his lips.  Caroline hurries about to reheat the food on his plate.
    What the fuck am I doing?
    My parents are part of The Community. I’m part of The Community. Why can’t I see them?
    “Causing trouble