The Enforcer's Bride

Chapter 6

Jude

“What did she look like?” Asked Malachi, balling up pieces of trash and aiming them in the garbage. I took off my glasses to clean them, “Why do you want to know?”

“Esther was asking, she’s getting rounder with child every day and I’m trying not to cross her,” Malachi shrugged his broad shoulders. Esther and Hannah grew up in the same year and would’ve been married and betrothed at the same time had Hannah not up and disappeared. Esther and Malachi have three children already and one more on the way. All the boys in my year said Esther was the prettiest catch with her corn yellow hair, bright blue eyes and petite features, but I always preferred Hannah’s red hair and curvy figure. Esther and Malachi always made an interesting combination, with his dark hair  and olive skin versus her fair complexion. 

“Hannah looked like she needed re-education,” I told him and turned back to my papers so he couldn’t see me smile. Hannah looked perfect. Covered in dirt and needing a shower, but after all these years she still looked absolutely stunning. It took all the self control I had not to rip her dress from her short frame, lick down her body and worship her dripping p***y. I shifted myself in my chair, c**k straining against my black dress pants. All in due time she will be my wife. A knock at the door distracted my thoughts. “Enter.” 

“He is Salvation.” 

“We are Saved,” Malachi and I stood and greeted the Sister. 

“Pardon the interruption Head Enforcer, but I believe the lost sheep has made significant progress and is ready for her examination.” The Sister was speaking about Hannah. We hardly ever had lost sheep that remained alive, let alone were allowed back into re-education. No one escapes The Province and if they do they are usually brought back and executed publicly as punishment. They would’ve killed Hannah too, had I not convinced the Elders otherwise. 

“She’s too much of a risk,” huffed Elder Smith, rubbing his salt and pepper beard. The other men grunted in agreement. 

“What if I took responsibility for her re-education and re-assimilation?” I asked. I called for a special audience with the Elders upon my appointment as Head Enforcer last year. My predecessor hadn’t made any headway in the case for months, but a few recent developments lead me to believe that I was close to finding her. I had to know I could guarantee her safe return, or I’d make sure she wouldn’t return at all. I steadily gazed at the middle-aged men in the room, not backing down. 

“Son, you’ve impressed us immensely with your dedication and loyalty to The Province, you’ve worked hard,” Elder Wyse, my father, started. 

“But?” 

My father narrowed his eyes. “But how can we guarantee she will not be another flight risk, you deserve a better match.” I knew my father would be the hardest sell, he originally brokered the betrothal with Hannah’s father and then was the one to pass his death sentence. 

“Because she will be re-educated, re-assimilated, and as soon as possible we will host the marriage and bedding ceremony. Hannah will be pregnant in no time and then she won’t be going anywhere.” I shrugged. The Elders murmured amongst themselves, I had a point after all. Children are precious, are our future. Elder Chatham finally spoke, “God calls us to forgive and to bring the lost sheep back into the fold. Do not disappoint us.” With that, he and the other Elders left the conference room where only myself and my father remained. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he warned me. 

I smiled, “You’ll have grandchildren soon.”

Hannah

Sister Leah lead me down a gray, windowless hallway to a set of double doors. Through the double doors was a long bright room with large windows and rows of beds. The beds had sets of medical equipment and curtains to partition each section for privacy. “Excuse me Sister Leah, but I am well, I don’t need to be in the infirmary,” I protested. Sister Leah ignored me and continued to lead me to another door, opened it and waited for me to step through. It looked like a normal examination room for any doctors office, except Jude was sitting in a chair by the examination table. I immediately froze.

“He is salvation,” Jude stood and greeted us. 

“We are Saved,” answered Sister Leah while I remained quiet and stared at my boots. I felt faint, Jude stared at me intently so I tried to remember the last time I ate. Jude crossed the room, placed his hand under my chin, and ran his thumb along my lips. “And I was told you were doing so well, do you need to return to class?” I shook my head, avoiding eye contact. My body trembled under his touch. “Sister Leah, I will fetch Doctor Clarkson. Hannah needs to change,” Jude instructed then left the exam room. Sister Leah rummaged through the cabinets until she found a patient gown and gave it to me. “Clothes off, you will wear this for your examination.”

“But I’m not sick or hurt, I don’t need an examination,” I protested. 

Sister Leah sighed, “Child, your womanhood is being examined, for purity.” 

My stomach dropped further to the floor and I slowly started undressing, “And will Jude, will he be present for the exam?” I swallowed, my mouth going dry. Why does Jude need to verify if I am a virgin or not? Why does it matter? 

“Of course he will, you are to be his wife and property,” Sister Leah folded my dress. 

“But wait, why didn’t Jude just marry someone else when I left?” All of a sudden things were starting to make sense. The timing was too perfect, Jude becomes Head Enforcer and all of a sudden they were able to find me. As the realization started to dawn my breath became quicker, my panic starting to rise. 

“And as a man he has a right to verify that you are coming to the Bedding Ceremony pure.” Sister Leah continued. Tears pricked in the corners of my eyes, I couldn’t forget the Bedding Ceremony. Esther and I snuck in to watch a Bedding Ceremony a few days before our Betrothals. We watched one of the older girls be married and bed to her husband. I started trembling, remembering the screams. All of a sudden I threw myself over the trashcan and started dry heaving, the door opening to a surprised Jude and Doctor Clarkson.