Jesus lifted himself slightly from the floor. Straining to wipe his tears along a shoulder.

As Mother Susana observed the young shepherd, her brow furrowed. Despite Solomon’s assertions, Zahra’s choice confused her. From what she had observed, the child lacked any grounding that would enable her to embrace the life of a Sister. After all, the child clearly knew nothing of The Way or its guiding principles. And, stranger still, having spent her formative years disguised as a boy, she appeared profoundly out of touch with her own feminine power.

Given this apparent unsuitability, and without having the benefit of Solomon’s full explanation, she could only wonder what Zahra had seen in the child. But because Susana had fled to The Narrows so long ago—shortly after Solomon’s birth—she had not seen her twin in many, many years.

Perhaps she had merely taken pity on her? Perhaps she had been unwell and her judgment impaired?

Mother Susana shook her head. Given the loss and trauma that she and the Sisters had recently sustained, she could not afford to spend time deciphering the peculiar new arrival. She had many more vital matters to attend to first.

Jesus shifted his weight and moaned at the pain in his leg.

The elder woman gazed over at the shepherd. “You need not be afraid,” she assured her. “You will be safe here. But,” she added, drawing herself upright, “you must know that you are forbidden to ever leave.” Saying this, she lifted a small bell. “Go now in peace.”

The other spirits arrived and stood in the entrance. Seeing their elder without a hood, they felt safe to remove their own. As Jesus was lifted from the floor, he found himself staring into the faces of two women. One of them possessed the same full lips and high cheekbones as his mother.

That night Jesus lay on his back thinking over all that had happened. He could not decide if any of what he had experienced was real or the delirium of hunger and injury. But whether actual or imaginary, he feared that unless he escaped, he would slip into irreversible madness.

Alone in the dark, Jesus contorted his forearms and twisted his elbows until he loosened the ties at his wrists. With great discomfort, he sat up and broke the straps off his ankles. He slid down carefully from the stone slab. When his feet hit the floor, a bolt of searing pain shot through his leg and up into his temples. He wanted to scream, but swallowed his cries.

He had determined to escape.