At the same time that the heavenly hosts were making their visits in Hamilton miles away June Weymouth was having nightmares. It had been years since she had had any nightmares, the air at the Convent had been peaceful and allowed her to rest with ease. The cave that she found herself sleeping in did not have the same calming presence.
Every time that she closed her eyes and tried to sleep she was met with the same recurring dream. She was standing in field of growing corn, the first sprouts just punching through the loamy soil. In front of her was a beautiful one story house with outbuildings, the beauty of the house was unfortunately over taken by a roaring fire. Every building the surrounded the house was fully engulfed in flames and the house itself had the flames licking up its sides.
Running away from the burning building she could see two figures. Even with the light from the fire and moon high above she could not make out any features of the two running, but even without seeing their faces she could tell from their sprinting that they were were scared. The smaller figure in front was making great speed while the one behind was slower but still running as fast as they could.
Tension was at a zenith when the figure in the back fell down to the ground and her cried filled the smoke filled sky. These cries caused the small figure to stop and turn, for several moments that figure was stuck in a trance-like state watching as the flames consumed the house. As the moments passed and the trance seemed to break the smaller figure approached the one on the ground before they both were on their feet again.
They were able to make it several more feet before the larger figure collapsed again. This time she made no attempted to get back up and waved off the small figure. More tense air formed around the two of them until eventually the smaller figure ran off into the distance, leaving the injured figure on the ground.
A chorus of wolves howled in the sky as a third figure walked out from the burning house with wolves at his heel. His walk seemed more like a hover as he made his way to the grounded figure. Words that June could not hear were exchanged that ended in the third figure launching a fist at the grounded figure. June then watched as one of the wolves torn into the figures next, the blood and viscera highlighted by the flames. She was helpless as she stood there. The third figure turned and noticed her in the corn field. He walked towards her with the wolves in toe.
After a few breathless seconds he stood in front of her. His skin was a deep mahogany and his eyes glowing orange embers. In every instance of this nightmare that she had he never spoke, the wolves never moved, they just stood there immovable and staring at her. That was until the fire reached out onto the crops and caught them ablaze. She would than spend what felt like an eternity waiting for the flames to dance their way to her and set her alight.
Four times that night June woke up in a cold sweat, still feelings the heat of the flames that had consumed her mind. If she had any tears left to cry she would have, but they were all shed. The fire that her captors had built had long since gone out, they were fast asleep in on their sleeping mats while she was left on the cold ground. She was tired but knew that if she fell back asleep she would have the nightmares again.
When she had awoken from the first one she had prayed to God to save her but she now felt that prayer had been on deaf ears and that she was truly alone.
During her moments of awareness that were stitched between the nightmares she began to wonder what happens at the end. The face in the fire, which she was fully convinced was just an illusion or effect of her dehydration, had said to deliver her. But to where and who? She had heard rumors that there were groups who smuggled woman all the world for the Kings and Sultans to have their way with. If she was to be trafficked then why did they kill all the other Nuns?
The big one had said that they were two days away. She tried desperately to think of where they could be in relation to the Convent and where two days further would be. The trouble she was having wasn't from a lack of knowledge of the surrounding area but a lack of any idea of where she currently was. North, south, east, or west she could be anywhere.
June also realized that the further they were from somewhere she may be recognized her chances of that happening dropped considerably. She needed to escape. Of course she knew this and reiterating it was just stating the obvious, but she did not want the spark to die inside of her. The issue was not want to escape the trouble was how did she do. Her ankles were bound and her wrists were tied behind her back. If she could just free her hands. Looking around for a sharp rock or a leftover arrow head from some Native hunting party, she saw it! A stalagmite.
It was jutting out of the ground with its rough surface and sharp point, it was perfect to cut through the ropes. The only method she had to move to it was to scoot along the ground on her backside, it would be slow goings.
Taking a deep breathe she began to make her way to the rock. Slowly but with growing confidence and speed she scooted across the cave floor. When she had made it about ten feet from her starting location she froze. The Kid was starting to stir, his loud grunts echoed the empty cave as he rolled around. If he saw her she had no idea what might happen. Of the two captors he was the one that scared her the most. The memories were still fresh of him trying to rape her in the wagon after they had taken her.
After a few moments of his tossing and turning he settled, she waited several more minutes before continuing to the rock. When she reached it could had to contain herself from celebrating, reaching the rock was only half the plan. She placed her back against it and began to scratch the ropes on it. The fibers were tough and tightly wound but after putting all of her weight into it she could feel the bindings starting to fray and tear.
Time became a frozen blur as her mind focused slowly on the sawing motion she made. After an indeterminate amount of time her hands were free. She rubbed her hands on her wrists, the bindings had left raised, red welts. Quickly she undid her ankle binds and attempted to stand.
She fell.
Just as she had feared her legs were soft and useless, the blood was flowing much slower than she wanted back into them. She began to punch at her legs, hoping to spark an increase in blood flow. It took more time, something she did not know how much she had, before she was able to stand.
Cut into the rocks on the far side of the cave she could see an opening and the briefest glimpse of moonlight. On the tips of her toes she made her way to the opening past the still sleeping mounds of her captors. June could feel the cool, evening air making it's way through the crack in the stone. Each step brought her closer to freedom and she found herself moving a little more recklessly that by the end she was sprinting out of the cave.
She was outside!
The cave sat in a collection of other hills and caves that stretched on for miles. Much to June's displeasure she had no idea where she could be. The moon was still early on its rise and with anything her former captors would be asleep for most of the night. Allowing her to put some distance between the two of them and her. If the moon was rising directly in front of her that meant that was east, that was the direction she would go.