“Escape from what?” Alice asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You came to meet me didn’t you. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Now finish your drink and get in the car, before we’re spotted.”

Taking a final swig of his coffee he slapped a few euros on the table, grabbed her rucksack and headed for the door.

“Hey, bring that back.” Alice rushed after him. Had this all  been a scam? Was he just a common thief? Outside he was pulling a parking ticket off a black Mercedes, he flung her bag in the back.

“If you want your bag, get in.” He growled, all pretence of civility gone.

“No way.” Abandoning her bag she made a run for it. He caught her easily, dragging her back to the car.

“Look, I’ve tried to be nice. I’ve tried to explain why you need to come with me. But if you insist on resisting, I will take you by force. Do you understand?” His grip tightened, the smell of the Turkish coffee strong on his breath as he leaned closer.

Alice looked around, hoping someone would see she was in trouble.

“Do you understand?” He pushed himself against her, forcing his lips onto hers, his hand grabbing her bottom and pulling her into an embrace. She realised he was faking it, to stop her reaching out to a couple walking by, but they barely glimpsed in their direction.

With no other choice she nodded and got into the car. As he started the engine she tried the door.

“Child-lock.” He laughed. “Do you think I’ve not done this before?”

“I don’t have my passport. You won’t get me on a flight.”

“Rubbish, it’s one of the rules. Keep your passport with you at all times. We’re already booked on a flight.”

“I won’t get on it.”

“You will.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because you want to see your parents, your grandpa. Because you are already beginning to believe me.”

Alice lapsed into silence. Knowing he was right. She did have her doubts. But she’d been trying to ignore the nagging voice in her head. Wanting to believe the explanations Saul gave for the little  inconsistencies. Everyone looked up to Saul. He had told her she was special, that she had potential. No one had ever said that to her before.

The call had come into the commune that morning. It was the first time anyone had contacted her since she’d joined the church four years ago, moving from commune to commune until she’d met Saul and he’d told her she could stay. She still wondered why her parents hadn’t replied to her weekly letters. Saul said it was often the way, that families found it hard to accept that their loved ones had found a different path. He’d suggested she restrict her letters to once a month, initially she’d thought it was to reduce his admin, as he read every letter she wrote. But with no response she realised he was right and so hadn’t written anything for months.

She shouldn’t have answered the phone, it wasn’t her job. But it kept ringing and ringing and no one from the admin team seemed to be around. She didn’t think they’d mind. After all she’d been a secretary before she joined, she knew how to take a message. When the man on the phone asked for her by name, she was so surprised she forgot the rules and said “yes, speaking.” He said he was calling on behalf of her parents, that they had been trying to reach her. He had some news which could only be delivered face to face. He needed to be sure she was who she said she was. She said he could come to the commune, could make an appointment. But he said he’d tried that already and had been turned away on numerous occasions.

Alice wondered why they would turn away him away? It was an open commune. Another inconsistency.

He said her parents had been searching for her. They’d never received any of her letters. That this was normal practice for the cult she was involved with. She’d told him it wasn’t a cult. It was a Christian community, doing lots of good work. Raising money for the poor, providing food and shelter for those in need. She nearly put the phone down on him, but he said Popsey, her grandpa, had asked him to find her, he was gravely ill and needed to see his little Mischief before it was too late. No one but her immediate family knew these private names. Well apart from Saul, from her letters.

He told her to tell Saul she had left her bag at a cafe, when they were town that morning. She wondered now how he knew she’d been in town, he must have been watching her.

“You’ve been there four years, you should be at level two by now. They should trust you to go out on your own.”

How did he know so much about the group? She resolved to ask him as she agreed to meet.

“See you at 7.20.” He even knew the local bus times.

Saul came along just as she was putting down the phone. She told him it was the cafe reporting they had found her bag. He asked her how they knew it was hers and where to contact her. She said she’d left one of their leaflets in the bag. He seemed happy with that, agreeing she could go on her own, as long as she returned immediately and didn’t engage with anyone. Exactly as the man had said he would. They met as arranged in the little bar behind the main fishing port. He was about forty, good looking, in a rough sort of way. He’d already ordered coffee for them both so she joined him at the table. She asked him to explain himself.

“My name is Max. I’m an ex-member of your group. Well, excommunicated is a better way of putting it. I spend my time searching for young idiots like you who are too naive to realise what they’ve got themselves into. Your parents reached out to me about six months ago. It’s taken me awhile to locate you. I hope I’m not too late. How’s my old friend Saul?”

“You know him?”

“Oh yes. Still a mentor no doubt. Still issuing invites to his room to study. Late at night. When it’s quiet and easier to concentrate.” 

“I’ve never been to his room.” Alice was shocked, wanting to defend Saul. But inside she knew he was right. She’d heard talk of the privileged ones, his favourites. She hadn’t quite reached that level yet, but she’d wanted to. They all wanted to.

He told her more about what the future would hold, as she worked her way through the different levels within the group, fulfilling her potential. It wouldn’t end with Saul, he told her, that was just the start. He’d asked her if she wanted to escape.

“Escape from what?” She’d asked, but she knew.

The car began to slow and they turned into a small hotel. 

“Where are we?” She asked.

“Bring your bag.” Was his only reply.

She saw her chance as they entered the lobby. He had got slightly ahead of her, letting his guard down. She pushed him forward, the surprise knocking him off balance. She ran out of the front door planning to head for the bar they’d driven past but colliding instead with a man in the doorway. A man she knew. Knew well.

“Saul?”

“Well done Alice. Well done. I knew you wouldn’t go with him.”

He led her back into the lobby where Max was waiting with a grin on his face.

“This should be fun.” He laughed, shaking Saul’s hand.

There was no escape, there never had been, as they led her to the bedroom they’d booked for her initiation into Level Three.

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