We snap out of the paralyzing fear that has overtaken us and swiftly head towards the church. Because of the sinister nature of the bells, I work especially hard at not having them distract me. What had happened to Jana for being late is seared in my mind.
As I take my seat in my preferred area in the sanctum, Miguelito's eyes catch mine. He's not his usual jovial self. His face looks grief stricken. He knows something very bad is about to happen. I wish he could tell me what it is.
I search in my head trying to remember which girl's 30th birthday or helper-boy's 20th one came up. Those are the ages we're allowed to reach. My mind draws a blank. I'm sure that not any of us has a birthday today. What's going on? Miguelito's eyes turn away from me and glue themselves to the middle of the front where Jana had been made to kneel over rice.
Unfortunately, that's also where the sacred altar comes out as the floor shifts apart to let it through during the Returning to the Great Master ceremonies. The familiar sound of movement underneath the floor echoes through the sanctum and a huge dread eats my stomach.
Who's going to die?
I want to turn away as the sacred altar comes up slowly, but I can't. I have to see who the victim is. Highest Holy Bledsoe is already at the podium.
"Today is a very special day for our True Faith ministry!" he shouts, enthusiasm in his voice.
I cringe.
"Today is especially holy."
I shudder.
"The Great Master has spoken to me!"
Whenever the Great Master supposedly speaks to him, tragedy for us is around the corner.
The sacred altar is finally on top of the floor. There is a body indeed on the slab of white marble, and I abruptly turn away. It's very difficult to keep looking. When a communal gasp reverberates through the sanctum, I force myself to turn back. I almost wish I hadn't.
Every breath rushes out of me.
On the sacred altar, lying motionless and waiting to be murdered is Beatrix. She's semi-conscious as she moans in pain. My eyes desperately dart around to search for Master Smythee. There's no way he'd be permitting this, but he's nowhere.
What have they done with him?
"Last night as I was saying my prayers," Highest Holy Bledsoe continues his sermon, "the Great Master honored me with his command. He said that he needed Beatrix sooner than expected."
Another communal gasp echoes through the air.
"Beatrix, you're so lucky to be handpicked by the Great Master for a special mission after you go with him. So lucky."
Nasty bile rises from my stomach. Beatrix is only twenty years old. She was supposed to have ten more years.
I want to yell at Bledsoe so badly. I want to shout out that all of this is total garbage, that the Great Master can't be so cruel, and that the Elders and Masters are agents of evil and not good. But like a coward I shut up. I know that if I say even a fraction of what I want to say, I'll be in serious trouble.
Just like Master Smythee obviously hasn't been allowed to get away with his supposed betrayal.
Helga had been so right. I eye her to let her know that I'm disgusted with the whole thing. To my surprise she isn't savoring being correct. Instead, her steady gaze of profound sadness stays on Beatrix.
Helga has a heart. Who would've guessed?
"Let's say our Return to the Great Master prayer," demands Highest Holy Bledsoe.
I mouth the words but don't say them. Why should I thank a Great Master who does such things to his children?
Great Master,
Thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for your gifts. Thank you for loving us worthless human beings. We gladly return to you what is yours. Beatrix is going home to you, to your kingdom. She thanks you for that privilege and can't wait to serve you.
Thank you, Great Master.
According to Bledsoe's teachings, girls aren't supposed to get into the Great Master's Kingdom without permission from their destiny husbands. How is Beatrix reaching that place without the consent of Master Smythee? Usually during these ceremonies the husband says a loud prayer asking the Great Master to let her in.
TOTAL GARBAGE! All this is such a lie!
I make my hands into tight fists, trying to hold the tumultuous fury bursting from me. Dr. Eckhold, the only physician in Paradise Village, takes the lethal injection from his black bag. He holds it up as if a trophy.
"No," mumbles a weak Beatrix. "I want the drink." Apparently, she was somewhat conscious of what was happening to her.
"Did you hear that?" gushes Highest Holy Bledsoe. "She wants to move on from this world with the greatest honor."
People on the sacred alter had two choices. Either the injection would be forced on them or they could drink the poison. Usually, they were drugged before the ceremony to get them compliant. If a person chose to drink it, the Elders declared that that person would sit in honor next to the Great Master.
Highest Holy Bledsoe takes the injection from Dr. Eckhold's hands and empties it in a gold grail adorned with red rubies and diamonds. He makes a point of raising it to the filtered sunlight coming from the stained glass ceiling.
"May your mercy on our wretched souls never cease, Great Master," he utters.
He steps over to Beatrix who is finding it difficult to keep her eyes open.
"Where's Master Smythee?" she manages to ask in her groggy state.
Highest Holy Bledsoe's mouth drops open as if he's taken aback. After clearing his throat, he still doesn't speak for a few seconds.
"He. . . he . . . he had to leave . . . to do the Great Master's work."
"Master Smythee," she mumbles.
"Here, my child, drink it," he says, putting the grail to her lips. "The Great Master is waiting."
I cringe in heartbreaking pain. She chugs the poison. When it is all gone, Bledsoe's hands the cup to Dr. Eckhold and caresses Beatrix's hair. "You are a wonderful child of the Great Master. The greatest. You're willingness to drink the holy liquid will be rewarded."
Beatrix abruptly opens her eyes, but this time they're not as unfocussed as before. She looks straight at Highest Holy Bledsoe. "I'd rather die a thousand deaths than remain one more day in this place!" she yells as she uses her remaining strength to thrust him away from her.
As Highest Holy Bledsoe crashes to the floor, the gold grail escaping his fingers and clattering loudly, Beatrix lies back down and dies.