The knock on his door brought a quick smile. They were on time. At least that basic human respect was still intact for them.
He rose, the rickety chair squeaking its protest, as he moved across the room and opened the door to two nervous smiles. He used his best relax-this-won’t-hurt-a-bit grin. It seemed to help them.
“Good morning. I’m glad you are punctual. That shows character and willingness toward obedience,” he said.
Ushering the two young women into the room, he motioned for them to sit in the chairs against the tattered inner wall at the back of the room. He then went to the solitary window facing the street and closed the blinds.
With a reassuring look that exhibited genuine concern and care, he pulled up another chair and sat across from them. Both women stared at the floor, the one on the left, the one with the flowing red hair, desperately trying to control her shaking left hand with her right.
“My children, does anyone know you are here?” he asked. His voice soothing, but tinged with an air of authority. Practice made perfect.
“No, we came just like you asked,” said the dark haired beauty on the right, her bosom heaving.
The redhead shook her head.
“Good. The first step to absolution and reconciliation is obedience. Do you understand the strength of that statement? Does the meaning of that word dive deep into your souls and reside there to the point that you will not question me?”
Again, there was no hesitation as they answered him in unison.
“Yes.”
“Shall we test that obedience?”
“Yes.”
The echo of their response was already different than their last. They were excited. He suspected in more ways than one.
“Hold out your hands, palms up, and look at me.”
Two heads raised quickly, wide eyes glistening with emotion. Four hands then shot toward him, this time both women were struggling to hold their quivering hands still.
He almost laughed out loud. What was wrong with them? Did they not see what was coming?
Yet, his internal question was rhetorical. Of course he knew what was wrong with them. Or perhaps right, depending on one’s perspective. Their reactions were a door into their past.
They had never been told they were beautiful, not even as young children. Nor had they heard that they had done good things and had enormous potential to succeed. That they possessed talent and gifts no other held. That they could live a dream and fulfill a destiny that was theirs alone.
Instead, and for as long as they could remember, they had gone to bed in fear, insecure, alone on the inside, wondering what they had done to alienate their mother and father to the point that these children hadn’t mattered to the people who had brought them into this shithole world.
It hadn’t taken long for their pain, their isolation, their anger to burn like hot coals deep in their hearts. Soon, they sought different sources of acceptance and intimacy.
Older men, drugs, alcohol, even crime. Anything that could bring them desperately craved attention that would help them to discover a sense of meaning and instill a fraction of genuine life.
Anyone’s attention.
That’s where men of destiny, like him, came into the picture. Their pictures.
He spoke words of love and kindness. Of acceptance and forgiveness. Even though they were sinners, they could be free, if they let him help. He would lead them and they would follow, just like the dozens before them. They would find purpose, if only for a time.
Standing, he pulled the horse whip from behind his chair, raised it in the air, bringing it down with the entirety of his strength. The whip stopped an inch from their upturned hands. Neither woman had so much as flinched.
Dropping the whip, he bent and kissed each of them on the head.
“You are to be praised! You’ve done well, so far. I am most impressed.”
“Thank you. You are kind,” said the dark-haired woman, bowing her head.
“Yes, thank you,” followed the other.
Walking over to the dark curtain that hid the bubbling hot tub, he yanked it open and then pointed to the women. “Remove your clothing. We must cleanse you on the outside as well, purging you from the sickness that rots you from the inside.”
Both women rose immediately and began to disrobe.
He could hardly contain himself.