Rise Read Online Free PDF Page A

terror-stricken woman. "Ah, yes. Thank you." She said, and she whisked the bowl out of Victoria's hand and slowly began pouring some down the woman's throat. "Sssh. It's okay. Just get some rest. Think of soothing things." Victoria watched as the woman's shoulders sagged, slowly, and she sank back into her cot. The big nun wiped her forehead with a ratty handkerchief, and sank back into a chair. "Well, go on. Sit down." Victoria obeyed, and sat down across from her. Finally able to get a good look, Victoria realized that the nun was younger than she sounded. She was big-boned, but gentle. Her face was broad, and her skin was weathered. She was probably around thirty, which was young, at least when compared to Sister Katherine. "Want to congratulate you on your ritual last night. Good to be a sister now, eh?" Admittedly, Victoria was a little shocked, which must have registered on her face because the big nun started to laugh. "Don't be so shocked, dear. We all have our reasons for being in the other sisterhood. You'll find yours soon enough."
    "Hopefully." Victoria said, although it came out slightly more bitter than she would have liked. "Of course you will, you're still young. But, I love the traditional sisterhood too. I wouldn't have it any other way. Especially not that way." The big nun pointed far out towards the horizon line, where Victoria could just faintly see the hazy outline of the nearby city. She heard a car honking its horn, and suddenly became irritated. "Gets me too" the big nun spoke, her voice jolting Victoria from her thoughts. "It's hard to believe how people can live that way. But sometimes I wonder how I manage to live this way." Victoria and the big nun sat together for a few more minutes, until a small child with one crutch hobbled over. "Ah, got to get back to work. You are welcome to join though, whenever you like. Just call me Grace."
    Grace returned to the cot area, and began to wrap the child's leg. Victoria lifted herself from her chair and looked around, warily, for Sister Katherine. She was nowhere to be found, and Victoria didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. She hoped she wasn’t planning something for her, as Raela’s comments were still ringing in Victoria’s ears. She glanced over to the cot where Grace was still wrapping the child's leg. Although she had been invited over, it didn't look like Grace really needed any help. Victoria's eyes wandered over to Raela and her friends, who were serving slop. Or rather, they were supposed to be serving slop. Instead, it looked like they were throwing at each other. Victoria scowled. If she had been the one throwing slop, Sister Katherine would have been all over her, and she would have been given kitchen duty. Victoria shivered. No one wanted kitchen duty, and for good reason.
    She scanned the convent and its surroundings another time. Unfortunately, the most interesting thing going on was Raela. Victoria made the slow trek towards the meal tables, hoping Raela would just keep her mouth shut for once. She talked so much; Victoria often wondered how the other sisterhood could really even be a secret, since Raela was a member.
"Took a stroll in the woods today. Guess what I saw?" Raela's friends gathered around. Victoria rolled her eyes, positive that this was probably the third time she had told this story that day. "I saw that farmer's boy. Liam, I think it was. He was chopping wood." Raela's voice got very low. "Shirtless." All her friends squealed. Victoria sighed audibly, which, unfortunately caused Raela to notice her presence. "Oh Victoria, you'll never understand." Raela waved her arm and returned to her whispering.
Although momentarily irked at Raela's "pity", Victoria figured that if ignoring her meant that Raela would stop talking, then she was all for it. She fell in line, and begin serving slop. As the children filed in, Victoria was painfully reminded of Wes. She wondered what happened to him, if he went home,