MY MIND HAD CONSIDERED AND DISCARDED A dozen ideas of how to help Jamie before I knew that defending him was my best option. I couldn’t stay silent as the room started to lean with Colin. You could see it on the faces of onlookers. With nods of agreement, faces stricken with fear, people were quickly buying into the theory that my brother might be a source of evil among them. Possessed even.

My movement from sitting to standing felt slowed. Voices in my head urged me to stay put. What would my poor mother think? What would Andrew say? How would people perceive me? What would Rose do to me?

My knees knocked together and my stomach did flip-flops. But then I was standing, and speaking, and everyone was watching.

“He’s not lying,” I said again. Louder. I sensed Andrew stiffen, but I kept my eyes forward.

“You’ve been with him beyond the perimeter?” Harrison asked.

“No,” I said.

“So you’re defending his good character then?” Colin scoffed. He addressed Harrison. “Her word on his behalf means nothing. She is his sister.”

“I helped though,” I said.

Again, all eyes were on me.

“Grace, don’t,” Jamie whispered. It was too late for that.

“I helped him cross the perimeter unseen,” I said.

The room was deathly quiet now. I knew I was throwing myself into terrible trouble, but I was confessing. The shame and fear I’d been carrying around eased as I spilled my guts in front of the entire flock.

“I used my access to the guardians’ rotation schedule to help Jamie move in and out of the town without being discovered.” A beat. “He isn’t lying. He’s been out beyond the border for several hours at a time.”

“Impossible,” Rebecca said. I couldn’t bear to look at her.

“This is nonsense!” Colin objected. “She could be lying for him. To save him.”

“Grace wouldn’t lie,” Colin’s wife said.

But several others were murmuring in agreement with Colin, wanting anything but what I said to be true. I didn’t blame them. In fact, I agreed with them. Jamie was delusional, but I couldn’t let him take the fall alone. I had played a role, and for that I would accept responsibility.

“Holy Family,” came the voice of our prophet. The room fell silent. Most sat back down as Rose stood and stepped up to the platform beside Harrison.

“Husband,” Rose said, looking into his eyes. He offered her a gentle nod and stepped aside.

Rose stood behind the podium, scanning the flock. When her eyes reached mine, they paused a moment longer than I was prepared for. Guilt swallowed me again.