Yesterdays Gone: SEASON TWO (THE POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIAL THRILLER) (Yesterday's Gone)

scream, or anything else really. He had saved his life after all. Desmond felt a wave of guilt as he realized he’d cast John as Judas in his head just a few minutes earlier, ready to end his life.
    “Sorry.”  
    John said, “Don’t worry about it. Just ...”
    The sudden crackle from John’s radio finished his sentence.  
    It was Lenny, one of the soldiers at The Sanctuary. “Brother John? We found ‘em.”  
    John lifted the receiver to his lips. “Where were they?”
    A crackle of static, then, “They were down by the river if you can believe it. Having a picnic.”
    “Are they in custody?”
    Another crackle, then, “Yes, sir. Brother Eli and I are headed back with them now.”
    “Thanks, Lenny,” John said, “See you back at The Sanctuary.”  
    They never finished their conversation. John said, “They’re safe. It’s time to get back.” He stepped past Desmond, then left the cave and headed back over the hill toward the Audi. Desmond followed close behind, a chill accompanying the crunch of every leaf.  

    * * * *

REBECCA SNOW: PART 2

    The white Suburban drove through the front gates of The Sanctuary, then pulled into the courtyard. The driver’s side door opened and Lenny, the man Rebecca overheard Desmond call an “all-purpose grunt,” opened the back door. Rebecca and Carl stepped from the vehicle, heads hung, and were met by Eli who got out from the passenger side, then led them across The Sanctuary courtyard to the site of the unfinished church. A group of watchers were waiting and working, including some of the new people: the man-boy Luca, Paola and her mother, Mary, and the weird old guy, Will.  
    Mary smiled at her, but she could tell it was a fake smile masking sadness, like there were words she couldn’t say. Paola’s mom seemed so nice, not like Mother at all.  
    Mother had been terrifying for a while, especially when they were alone. Rebecca couldn't imagine how Mother was going to respond to her getting caught on a picnic with Carl, but she was terrified. Mother would give her a beating for sure, and might make her do the starving secret, where she was only allowed to eat if someone was watching. Otherwise, she had to spit out most of her food for a week. That’s what she made her do the last time, when she asked if God was wrong for leaving them behind.  
    Whatever happened, it was going to be terrible. While Rebecca wasn’t afraid Mother would kill her, she was pretty sure she’d make her wish she was dead. Mother was almost always quiet in front of others, particularly the men, whom you were supposed to always obey. But behind closed doors her hiss was loud and her fangs sank deep.
    Rebecca trembled with every step, doing everything she could to keep her knees from knocking. Carl walked beside her. Rebecca could feel her hand drawn to his, could feel herself wanting to take it. Could feel him wanting it, too. But she ignored the feeling and kept walking forward, both arms dangling limp at her side. Their picnic had been so magical before the men showed up. She’d never met anyone so interested in what she had to say, and who seemed to find her so pretty.
    Mother was crossing the courtyard from the far end, approaching Eli and the juvenile outlaws. Her walk was steady and chin straight, eyes sailing straight through Rebecca on their way to Eli.  
    Mother stood a few feet from them. “I’m so sorry,” she said to Eli, her voice barely above a whisper.  
    There were a few dozen eyes on Rebecca, but they felt like a million. In addition to her friend Paola and all the other “new people” watching her, Rebecca could feel the judging eyes from Brother Rei, standing at the edge of the onlookers, eyes moving from Mother to the open book in the palm of his hand.  
    Brother Rei took a step forward and opened his mousey mouth. “You realize The Prophet will have no choice but to hold court and declare judgment, don’t you?”  
    Mother nodded.
    Brother Rei held the book open for Mother, then led her eyes to where he wanted them to go with his finger. He cast a disapproving glance at Carl then turned his stare to Rebecca. Mother didn’t need to see whatever Brother Rei had in the book. Rebecca thought The Prophet and Mother seemed to share a brain. Most of the time when The Prophet was speaking, Rebecca thought it sounded just like Mother, only fancier. She knew the Book of The Sanctuary Law as well as any of them.
    “Of course, Brother Rei,” Mother