Zen's War: Captivity
Chapter 28: Tales of a False Prophet

As Mary led them away from the refectory, the Sisters of Mercy studied them with suspicious eyes. They came to the door that they had entered the room from. They descended the staircase and turned right to another door that was across from the door they had entered the chapel from. Mary pulled out the skeleton key and unlocked the door. Zen was the first to enter the doorway behind Mary. Flickering candlelight glowed around them as they proceeded to their left down the hallway. To their left and right were doors of the cells that the Abbess had spoken of. The hall resembled a prison cellblock. Eventually they came to a door and Mary stopped in front of it. The door was solid wood with a cross carved in the center of it. Mary then inserted the skeleton key into the door, unlocked it and opened it.

When they entered the room, they saw a girl lying on a small white cot in the corner of the room. The girl who had been sleeping suddenly startled awake. Zen’s heart sunk when he noticed that the girl was not Sahara. Her blonde hair hung in dirty locks around her head. She was beautiful, except for the dirt on her face. She wore a similar white habit to the one that Mary wore. She sat up and opened her eyes which reflected the candlelight.

“Couldn’t you have knocked before you came in?” the girl said, looking around curiously at the group of strangers that stood around her. “Who the hell are these people?”

“Watch your mouth,” Mary said. “These people are trying to find another missing child of God.”

“It’s obviously not me. Now get out of here, and let me go back to sleep!” she screamed, defiantly.

“What’s your name?”Aurora asked in a calming tone.

“My name is Cassandra. Now, piss off, I’m losing sleep,” she said, then turned over on the cot to go back to sleep.

“I’m sorry, it doesn’t look like we’ll be of much help,” Mary said, suddenly empathetic.

“We’re just wasting our time. What are we supposed to do now?” Derek asked. “We might as well give up. Sahara’s probably dead by now anyway.”

Aurora walked up to him and slapped him across the face. “Don’t ever say that again! We can’t give up hope of finding her. Not until we know with all certainty of her fate.”

Derek stood there, his face red with shame. Deep in his heart he hoped that his sister was still alive, but he was on the verge of giving up all hope of ever finding her. Somehow Cassandra had already fallen back asleep and was snoring noisily, not in the least bit disturbed.

“Let’s go speak with the Abbess. She may have some suggestions,” Mary said, trying to help the situation.

“The Abbess may have some ideas,” Zen said, trying to remain somewhat hopeful.

Aurora gave into Zen, and the group followed Sister Mary away from the cell. They followed her back the way they had come. They went back up the stairway and returned to the refectory. The same group of nuns sat at the table. The Abbess Anne looked at them as they entered the room.

“So, the girl was not your daughter. I figured as much,” the Abbess said, in a slightly disappointed tone.

“I told them that you might have some ideas about their daughter’s whereabouts,” Mary said to the Abbess, seemingly afraid to make eye contact with her. Mary seemed intimidated by the Abbess.

“Why on earth would I have any idea where their daughter is? Do I look like a witch or a sorceress?” The Abbess asked sarcastically.

Mary didn’t answer her, she just stood there hanging her head. Zen who was standing behind her reached out and touched her shoulder to comfort her. “Don’t worry. I’m sure that some explanation will present itself.”

“Do you not understand what kind of world we are living in? Every day innocents are murdered, or sold into prostitution and slavery. Your daughter was just one of many,” the Abbess said, seeming to lose her empathy.

Colonel Krakowski, who was not one to take shit from anyone, came forward. “I thought that this was a place of charity, but I guess I was wrong. Sisters of Mercy, what a bunch of hypocrites,” he said, while he glared at her.

After the Colonel had spoken his piece, the Abbess Anne looked like a frightened sheep. Her eyes were wide with shock. She was not used to being questioned.

“Do you have any suggestions, or are you just gonna sit there like a frightened child?” The Colonel asked, continuing to intimidate her.

“I have heard tales of a self-proclaimed messiah who has been abducting girls. He is simply another false prophet,” the Abbess replied.

“Is there any truth to these tales, or are they just more evidence of superstition?” Zen asked, reluctant to believe her.

“To you infidels everything is superstition. What I tell you is what I have been told. Whether you choose to believe me or not is your choice. This is a matter of free will,” she continued.

“Who is this supposed false prophet?” Zen asked, his desperation for help becoming more evident.

“His name is Joshua, or so I’ve been told. He claims that he is of the House of David. He also claims that he was born of a virgin. These of course are prerequisites of the Son of Man’s second coming. I however don’t believe he is the true Messiah. I believe he is simply another puppet of Satan,” she said disgustedly.

“Sounds like another cult leader. Where can we find him?” Zen asked.

“I’ve been told that he dwells somewhere beyond the Dragoon Mountains with his followers. That’s all I know,” she said, growing tired of the conversation.

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