The Family by Marissa Kennerson Page A

It’s exciting. It’s scary. It’s novel for you.”
    Twig just nodded. She wasn’t sure what to say. What was okay to say. She was on the verge of confessing her conversation with Dr. Young. Adam was back to his usual, powerful self, and it made her want to open up and say everything she was thinking. She was about to, when he spoke first.
    “But there’s something you need to know.” Adam began to stroke Twig’s hair, a bit too hard. The comfort went out of his touch. He slid his hand into the neck of her hospital gown and pressed it against her collarbone. “You are mine now. Talking to that boy was a sin, and it was dangerous. It is my job to protect you, to teach you. If you hadn’t just had an accident, you would be punished.” Twig felt him press the edge of his hand harder into her collarbone.
    It hurt, and she was scared.
    Adam removed his hand and began to stroke her cheek. A tear escaped Twig’s eye. “You poor thing. You’re exhausted. I’m sorry, darling, but I am responsible for you. I love you more than you could ever know. If I seem harsh, it is because you are so special. It is my job to guide you.” He looked at her with his powerful eyes, and he smiled. “Do you understand? Can you accept that?”
    “Yes,” Twig said dutifully.
    “You may be questioning things right now, my darling. That’s normal for your age. But soon you and I will become one. After our marriage. I will show you things you’ve never dreamed of. Your questions will be answered. Your faith will become unshakeable.” Adam brought his lips close to Twig’s mouth. “I will be a gentle teacher.”
    And suddenly, Twig knew he wouldn’t be. She could feel the brutality of his nature just below the surface. She could feel the harshness that she had seen on his face when he’d spoken to Leo, when he’d grabbed her the morning of Avery’s punishment. She wanted to gag as he put his mouth on hers, more punctuation than kiss.
    He pulled his head away and looked at her. She forced herself to smile.
    “I’ll get you to your room now. I want you to know you are safe. Talking to that boy could have been fatal, but because I just cleansed you the other night, you will be fine. You are protected from exposure.”
    Twig searched his face. How could she tell if he was lying or if he just didn’t know any better? He seemed completely sure of what he was saying. Why would he make something like this up? Why terrify everyone?
    To be the cure. He made up a disease so he could be the cure, our savior. So we would be completely dependent on him, and never leave him .
    Even as the thought occurred to her, Twig couldn’t make sense of it. Why would Adam want a community of people completely dependent on him?
    “Enough of all that now. I love you, my beautiful, young bride. I love you with everything that I am. I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you.” He stared deeply into her eyes. She felt hypnotized, unable to look away.
    “Let’s go get you some rest now.”
    Twig nodded. Internally, she felt pulled in so many directions that she could not speak.
    “All right,” Adam soothed. He stood behind her wheelchair and began to push her along the hallway and back to her room.

17
    Twig woke with a start. She heard shouting. People were shouting. She was in the wheelchair again. Had she fallen asleep in the chair?
    She was moving. Twig looked up and saw that Avery was pushing the chair. Fast.
    “Mom, what’s going on?” Twig was groggy. They had given her pills for her pain before she went to sleep. “Mom, slow down.” She was scared she was going to fall out of the chair onto the floor.
    “I’m so sorry, honey. I can’t. It’s going to be okay.”
    “Please, senora! Please, stop!” Someone was running after them, but Twig couldn’t turn around to see who it was. Was she dreaming?
    “Mom, what are you doing?”
    “We’re leaving.”
    “What? Why? Mom, I think I am going to be sick.”