Free Escape from Eden by Elisa Nader Page A

knob, slipped inside the bathroom and I saw her reflection cowering behind the door. Dina stood strong at Bridgette’s side. Juanita, though, still sat on her bunk, eyes on me, looking like I’d punched her in the gut. I’d said something terribly wrong.
    “There is nothing before Edenton,” Bridgette said. “Edenton is our one true home. It’s where we are meant to be.” She looked down at the book in her hand. “I’m going right to Thaddeus about this. This book should be burned.”
    I envisioned my sketchbook, along with my fading memories of Papa, being tossed into the fire like those rigid rat carcasses. My sight went angry red. I lunged forward, trying to swipe the book away from Bridgette, but Dina darted in front of her. Dina was small, strong enough, but smaller than me and I easily batted her aside. All I could see was my sketchbook clasped in Bridgette’s hand, as if I were looking down a long tunnel at it.
    My sketchbook.
    The one thing I had that kept me sane. The one thing that I could confide in without judgment. The one thing that was truly mine.
    In someone else’s hands.
    In Bridgette’s hands.
    And she was going to hand it over to Thaddeus. To the Reverend.
    I wasn’t going to lose it without a fight. I curled my hand into a fist and swung. It connected with Bridgette’s cheek. She tumbled back, hand clasping for the bedpost as she fell. She cried out in pain. The sketchbook toppled to the floor, pages fluttering open. She grabbed the side of her face, eyes wide with shock.
    “How dare you!” she yelled at me.
    I scrambled down on my knees and gathered up the sketchbook, clutching it to my chest. Glancing up, I saw Juanita’s confused expression. She looked at me as if she wasn’t sure who I was. A stranger. She reached down a hand to help me to my feet.
    “Thanks,” I mumbled.
    Dina sat next to Bridgette on the bed, stroking Bridgette’s hair back away from her face and inspecting her cheek. A red mark flamed on Bridgette’s skin.
    I should have regretted hitting her, but the solid feel of my sketchbook in my hands again erased the regret.
    “I’m going to Thaddeus,” Bridgette said, struggling to her feet.
    “No,” said Juanita.
    We swung our surprised gazes at her. She stood in the center of the room, her eyes narrowed on me. A sense of calm emanated from her, her breathing steady and deep.
    “What do you mean, no?” Bridgette said. “She broke a rule. Obviously she’s had that diary here since she came to Edenton. Snuck it in somehow. Mia can’t be allowed to keep it.”
    Juanita didn’t look at Bridgette as she spoke, she kept her focus on me with a look of curiosity mingled with disappointment. “She’s not going to keep it,” Juanita said. “She’s going to burn it herself.”
    A slow smile crept over Bridgette’s face. “That will make up for you hitting me, too.”
    “What?” I asked, clutching the book closer. “No, I can’t do that—”
    “You will, Mia,” Juanita said. “You have to. You keep that and she’s going right to Thaddeus.”
    Bridgette stood, brushing Dina away like a pesky bug. “We’d all go to Thaddeus about this. Not only me.”
    “I wouldn’t.” The meek voice came from behind the bathroom door. Aliyah peeked her head around the corner and met my eyes. “I would never say anything, Mia.”
    “You’re a fool, Aliyah,” Bridgette said. “Willing to put your friendship before the Reverend’s rules.”
    “I’m not a fool!” Aliyah exploded. “Don’t ever call me that!”
    Bridgette’s jaw dropped. “We’ll chalk up your attitude to exhaustion. Prayer Circle takes a lot out of you, doesn’t it Aliyah?”
    Aliyah cringed back into the bathroom and nodded.
    I looked up at Juanita. “I can’t burn this, Juanita. Please.”
    “I’ll help you do it,” she said. “Get dressed and we’ll take care of it before breakfast service.”
    “But Thaddeus should know,” Bridgette whined.
    Juanita placed her hand out toward