watching in ridicule from a safe distance. Jacob moved one step forward, suddenly urged from within to go after this man, and bring him into the light...
"Jacob!"
Jacob immediately turned to his left, to see Elias approaching him. Jacob felt that Elias’ look of concern was somehow all too obvious. He met Elias with an equally effective show of concern, though one tinged with genuine sadness for Melissa, whose memory made its presence known again in Jacob’s mind. Jacob would share nothing with Elias about what he had seen, about the stranger in black. For now.
"Yes Elias?"
"Brother Jacob, it’s Melissa. I saw her leave the village from my cabin. I could see her enter the woods. I wasn’t spying on my sister, just gazing out of the window. I had finished my prayers."
Jacob raised his right hand, as one taking an oath, with a reassuring, though weak, smile.
"I trust you Brother Elias. I already sensed she had departed our village. You have now confirmed it. We have lost another member to the world outside."
There was a moment of silence between the two men. They looked deep into each other’s eyes. For them both, this was an opportunity to discover what lay beneath. For Jacob, the same weak smile accompanied his analysis of Elias; for Elias, there was no longer any attempt made at warmth.
"Should we organize a search party Jacob?" asked Elias, with a certain sneer creeping into his voice, or so Jacob thought.
"We started Happy Valley as a village of freedom, not as a group of cultists. Freedom of choice Elias, freedom of choice. We made it an unspoken rule when this village began that we had the choice to leave at will, just as we came here by choice, though I had always believed that we would stay together. But God will not drag people into his kingdom kicking and screaming; he wants volunteers Elias. We are a village of volunteers."
Having finished his speech, Jacob awaited a reply, secretly hoping that Elias would again challenge him, so that Jacob could move one step closer into gaining entrance into Elias’ innermost and perhaps darkest thoughts. Elias obliged his wish.
"Surely Jacob you, as our leader, do not wish to see our ranks depleted as God’s soldiers?" Elias spoke now with a certain affected poignancy, which might have caught those less wealthy in the Spirit off guard.
"Elias, have we ever run back into the world to bring back those who do not wish to remain in our fold? Have I ever established a search party to bring back those who have made it clear they do not wish to remain? We are now left with only seven members. Did not our Lord make it clear that if only two are gathered in his name there he will be? I would rather have a village of seven faithful members than an entire city made up of those who know God with their mouths but not in their hearts. As I said, we are here by choice, not by force. Those who choose to leave must choose to return."