Elysium by Jennifer Marie Brissett Page A

knew it.
    The guards did as they were told. This only made the four shout more, even as their mouths were gagged.
    One great morning when the world is over, I’ll fly away … away, away, so far away I’d fly, and no one would ever catch me.
    “We have been too lax here of late,” Mother said. “Perhaps the changes in our dress and the other new freedoms have led us to forget who and what we are. This is a time of war, Ladies. Our people look to us to be a shining example of our country’s courage. We must never fail to keep the flame. It is our only purpose.”
    The air was charged with static that pricked the skin. Adrianne had no idea what was going to happen next. Each guard, including Thomas, stooped into the corner to pick up something. They reentered the circle and stood about six feet away from the posts. Adrianne squinted her eyes tight, trying to make out the objects in their hands. They were whips. The whites of Kim’s eyes showed as a guard ripped off her slip, then that of the girl next to her, then the next, and the next.
    Mother began to sing — My country, ’tis of thee …
    The rest of the Order joined in, singing lightly in shaking soprano — Sweet land of Liberty …
    The first lash sent red rippling. The splatter of it stained white robes. A scream, even through the cloth tied around their mouths, pierced the ears and filled the room. Mother sang louder to cover the echo — Of thee I sing …
    The second lash — Land where my fathers died
    The third — the fourth — Land of the Romans’ pride
    Lash after lash after lash after lash — From every mountainside
    Let freedom ring …

    “So, are they dead?”
    “No,” Adrianne said. “But I’m sure they wish they were.”
    Antoine ran his fingers through her dreads and kissed her exposed shoulder. Then he pulled up the blanket to warm her.
    “I didn’t think they did things like that anymore.”
    “They do. I saw it with my own eyes.”
    “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
    “It wasn’t me that went through it.”
    The silence the Sisters lived in was now filled with a sense of terror. Their steps were more careful. Their gowns more starched and sparkling white. Mistakes were hidden more quickly. And the fire blazed hotter and brighter. To escape watchful eyes, Adrianne had used every trick of evasion to get to the room where Antoine was waiting — their special place of hiding — their place of love — that felt more and more like a tomb. She folded into his arms, feeling safe for only brief moments. Then the fear would filter through again and cover all they had in a thick black cloud.
    “I leave tomorrow. We’re being shipped out.”
    Adrianne rolled over to face away from him.
    “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said.
    “I know.”
    “Maybe it’s better if I’m away.”
    “How do you mean?”
    “It will be safer for you. Less chances to take for a while.”
    Adrianne didn’t know what to say to that. It had been on her mind. Thoughts of him being so far away, of him running from bullets, or being blown up in his vehicle swarmed in her mind. She hugged herself tighter.
    “You’re being awfully quiet about this,” he said.
    “What do you want me to say?”
    “What are you thinking?”
    “I’m thinking about the fire going out,” she lied. “They say that it is a bad omen for the war.”
    “Adrianne, do you honestly think that what you do in that park makes a hell of a difference when I’m out there getting shot at?”
    “No. … Maybe. … I don’t know. …” she said.
    “The war is already going badly. It might even —” He stopped mid-sentence and nuzzled her hair.
    “It might even what?”
    “It might even reach our shores someday.”
    Adrianne thought about this for a moment, then dismissed the idea. Antoine could be so melodramatic sometimes. She turned over and faced him.
    “I wish you would get away from that crazy cult you’re in,” he said.
    “Antoine, I wish you would stop