ed through the crowd, his fa

baby, only Martha

excitement. "A miracle! You see? My daughters... they

ing with greed, with his

s eyes. "Patience, John. The Spirit ha

Emily and me, a clear pro

en untied us, the

nts' house, shoving us into my o

boarded up fr

r, sobbing. "What are

still aching. We had to ge

ds tasting like ash. "We need to f

emembered Dad fixing

rs probing cracks in the floorboard

th

er face set in a determined

rboards near the wall. One c

st, was a small, tarnished me

thread, and a few

urs, our hands trembling, bu

probably still with Thorne, celebrating. Susan was n

red to Emily. "Check the town hal

led with fear but also r

unnervingly quiet, the afterma

acred grove, my heart

been taken down wa

old, damp, smellin

ed branches, calling h

nned slightly, revealing

ere sh

ient oak, her white gown torn

reathed, ru

acant, like Martha Johnson's, but

spered, her voic

ently, putting an arm arou

o cry, harsh,

it," she choked out. "It was m

. The "sacred wedding" was a lie, a

sa

" she sobbed, burying

cold rage buil

twig snapp

nd, ready to f

stepped out fro

. Pastor T

rteen, physically frail, his skin

ng he was born sic

cent marks on his skin, like old scars, or the s

marks of a pa

urprisingly steady, though quiet. "

th an old, sad wisdo

do this. The 'healing'

knew it was

is gaze shifting to me. "A 'healer.' Brother Silas

born from the hear