Page 3 of Nun’s Prayer

Mary Immaculate turned an eye on me. Shit. I was in trouble.

I staggered through the passages, barefoot and in agony. Somehow Mary Immaculate had made what happened in town my fault, and I’d been punished for it. My robe was sticking to my back, and every moment grated against my open wounds. The cold stones were stained with my blood too, as the Reverend Mother had whipped my feet for my sins. What damn sin? I’d only stood there.

I staggered out into the crisp air, hearing the clocks chime. It was one a.m., and I wasn’t at the gate.

Silently, I prayed Belladonna was there, and that she’d wait, and wouldn’t leave me because I couldn’t do another day here. My knees gave out, the pain too great in my feet, but I began crawling, driven by desperation.

Please don’t leave me. The thought kept repeating. It took me fifteen minutes to reach the gate, and there was nobody there.

“No!” I gasped, disappointment rushing through me. Desolation and despair swiftly followed on its heels. It was a cruel trick, a mean joke. They hadn’t been waiting for me. Then boots appeared, and Sapphire crouched in front of me.

“Christ. Belladonna, Sparrow, get here. I’ve the nun, and she’s badly hurt,” she called softly.

“I told you I could hear her… fuck,” Belladonna gasped.

“How the hell is she going to ride in this state? She’s barely conscious,” Sapphire pondered.

A light switched on in the priory.

“No time. Come on, little nun, we gotta move,” Belladonna murmured. She and another woman swooped and picked me up.

“Tinkerbell, cover us and slow them down,” Sapphire commanded, hearing shouts and seeing lights illuminating the priory. I was dragged away, but as I was, I swear I saw the gate freeze over. What the hell? They pulled me a short distance down the lane—to where they’d hidden their bikes.

“You need to stay awake, okay? We’ve got a motel, but it’s ten minutes from here. Little nun, you can’t drift off to sleep because you’ll topple off and die,” Belladonna declared and swung her leg over the Harley. “Help her on, girls.”

I settled behind Belladonna and wrapped my arms tightly around her. The others picked my long robes up and handed them to me.

“Don’t let them drop, or you’ll be dragged off,” Sapphire said. I nodded.

Moments later Belladonna roared out. The lane was unsteady enough to send shivers of pain racing through me. There was no chance I’d doze off to sleep, although passing out might be an option.

Luckily for me, I stayed awake until we pulled into the motel. I slumped against Belladonna’s back as her friends came to help.

“Come on, girl, nearly there,” Belladonna urged.

I nodded. Sparrow and Sapphire helped me off the bike, and I attempted to stagger after them, but my feet were raw meat.

“What’s up?” Sparrow asked as I tried to follow again. I left bloody footprints behind.

“Pick her up,” Sapphire instructed, coming back to my side and hefting me. Between them, they carried me into the room.

“She’s badly wounded,” Sparrow said.

“Call Stitch; we’re going to need her, and let’s get a doctor out. I want these wounds recorded, and find a cop, Belladonna, who won’t turn her in,” Sapphire commanded. “Strip her.”

Moments later, I was sitting on the bed, shaking with fear, shock, and cold.

“Christ, those bitches did that?” Sparrow demanded.

“Take pictures,” Sapphire ordered. “They’re going to pay for this.”

I held Sapphire’s gaze. “What happens now?” I asked with tears in my eyes.

“Little nun was forced into this at the young age of seven. Poor kid wasn’t even given a chance; she’s been trying to escape for fifteen years,” Belladonna said.

“Nun. They forced you to become one; you’re gonna make that name your own. From now on in, you answer to Nun alone.” Sapphire grinned, and it was frightening. “Welcome to the girl gang, babe; you’re going to be a Royal Harlot prospect, just like the rest of us.”

“How do you know that about me?” I asked weakly as Sparrow brought me a glass of water. I cupped it and sipped carefully.