Actions

Work Header

It all comes down to you

Summary:

Mary Wardwell is a detective and calls her wife Zelda Spellman for help, when a traumatized girl is found. Zelda Spellman, who is a psychologist for children, finds out, that the girl Zoey has been tortured and brainwashed. Mary and Zelda agree to let Zoey live with them, while they try to find out what exactly happened to her.

Notes:

There is so much I want to say here, but on the other hands I can't really find the right words, so maybe just read it, or don't if it might upset you.

Chapter Text

„What’s your name, dear?“, Zelda asked softly.

She didn’t reply and just kept staring at the table, pulling the arms of her pullover over her hands. Zelda sat opposite of her. An interrogation room wasn’t ideal for a talk like that, but they had no other place to go for now. Zelda has had difficult patients before, but never one with a background like this.

„Don’t you want to drink something? You must be thirsty. Or do you want something to eat? I’m sure we can get you anything.“

The girl still didn’t react. Zelda guessed she was about 16 or 17, but otherwise they knew nothing about her.

„I just want to help you“, Zelda said and reached out to touch the girl’s hand.

She flinched away, looking scared at Zelda. She had a black eye and a bruised lip. Zelda pulled her hands back.

„I won’t hurt you. You’re safe here, no one will hurt you. Can you tell me your name? We could call your family, or a friend?“
The girl kept silent and looked down again. A knock on the door made her flinch again and she anxiously stared at the door, that was opened by Detective Mary Wardwell, who send a warm smile towards the girl and an even warmer smile to Zelda.

„Could you join me for a second?“, Mary asked and Zelda got up. Mary closed the door of the interrogation room.

„We found her fingerprints on her jacket and they lead us to her mother, who was a cop“, Mary explained, leading Zelda to her desk.

„Was?“, Zelda asked.

„She died a few years ago in a shooting. I called her colleagues and yes, they remembered a daughter, Zoey or Chloe. The father is unknown and there were no other relatives. Zoey or Chloe was sent to a foster home. But she ran away after a couple of weeks and wasn’t found.“

„I bet they didn’t even try to find her“, Zelda said bitterly: „Any clues about what happened to her?“

„You know as much as I know. She was found in the school, where she was sleeping.“

„How did the arrest go?“

„I wasn’t there, but apparently she tried to run away. When they caught her, she was apologizing and begging not to be hurt. They thought she was maybe hiding from someone, that’s why they brought her here. She hasn’t said a word to anyone, that’s why I called you. Sorry for waking you up, again.“

„Don’t worry. I’m glad you did. Poor thing. I want to help her. I suppose she hasn’t been examined yet? She has several wounds in her face and I suppose she has other injuries as well.“

„No, no. Whenever we got closer to her, she got scared, so I wanted to wait for you“, Mary explained.
Zelda sighed: „I think we have to assume the worst. She was probably kidnapped or had to work for some asshole who hurt her. And I guess she is still under this influence.“

„Stockholm Syndrome?“, Mary asked: „What do we do now?“

„We treat her the way she is used to be treated.“

„You can’t torture her!“

„No! But since being nice doesn’t really work, we might have to push her a little“, Zelda explained.

„You’re the expert. That’s why I called you.“

„And I thought you were just missing me“, Zelda teased.

„Always“, Mary smiled and kissed her quickly.

Zelda smiled, but her features hardened after the kiss and she went back tot he interrogation room. She pushed the door open with force and slammed it shut. She saw the girl flinch. Zelda only shot her cold look, even though she felt bad already.

„I’m tired of this. I demand answers, now!“, Zelda said sternly and asked the girl for her name as she sat opposite of her again.
The girl looked up at Zelda, studying her stone-cold feature.

„Zoey, ma‘am“, she mumbled.

Zelda was pleased, but made sure not to show her smile and stay in role instead.

„Speak up“, she commanded.

„Sorry, ma’am. I’m Zoey“, the girl said louder now.

„That wasn’t so hard, was it?“

„No, ma’am. Please, I’m sorry, please, don’t punish me“, she begged and quickly looked up at Zelda. It almost broke Zelda’s heart to see how scared Zoey was, but she had to get more information about her.

„I won’t, if you keep answering my questions.“
Zoey looked relieved and quickly nodded.

„How old are you?“

„17, ma’am.“

„Why did you sleep in the school?“

„I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have, ma’am.“

„That doesn’t answer my question“, Zelda said as sternly as possible.

„I know it was a mistake. I was just so scared of the punishment, ma’am. I… I ran away and I just thought it would be safe to stay in the school.“

„What punishment?“

„I mean, I don’t know exactly, ma’am. But they wanted to put me in the Camp and we all know how horrible it is in there.“

„Who are they?“

„Well Miss A. and Miss D. of course. They are my supervisors, ma’am. “

„Your supervisors?“ Zelda asked confused.

„They will kill me for running away. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I was so scared, ma’am.“

„Noone is going to kill you. You’re save now“, Zelda said softly, but Zoey shook her head frantically.

„They will find me and bring me back and I will have to suffer for everything. They have their eyes and ears everywhere. I’m not save here. Everyone works for them“, she said almost crying. Before Zelda could find the right words to comfort her, she jumped up and ran to the door.

„Wait. No!“, Zelda said surprised.

Fortunately Mary had been watching and was quicker to react. She caught Zoey as she made her first step out of the door.

„And where do you think you’re going?“, she asked, holding her arm in a tight grip.

Zoey looked apologetic as Mary lead her back into the interrogation room.

„Don’t ever try this again“, Zelda said trying to sound angry. Mary closed the door and leaned against it with her arms crossed.

Zoey stood between the two women, shivering and telling them how sorry she was.

„Sit!“, Zelda ordered and Zoey was quick to oblige.

„Please don’t make me go back to the Campus, ma‘am“, Zoey begged.

„We won’t“, Zelda promised and exchanged a quick glance with Mary. She felt helpless, this girl has obviously been tortured and brainwashed. For now, maybe it was better to play along and step by step show her that she was free and save now.

„You will stay with us“, Zelda said and saw Mary nodding.

„With you, ma’am? But what about Miss A.? She said I could only leave Campus when I really follow all the rules“, Zoey wondered.

„I will speak with Miss A., so we can try a different approach with you“, Zelda lied.

„Please tell her how sorry I am, ma’am and I haven’t broken any rules since I ran away“, Zoey said.

„Good, I will tell her. And you will write down all the rules meanwhile, so you don’t forget them“, Zelda commanded still confused what exactly happened to Zoey.

Chapter 2

Notes:

Description of Zoey's injuries, might be triggering

Chapter Text

"This is crazy! Have you seen it?" Mary asked holding up the list of rules Zoey wrote down. Zelda grabbed the list.

"47 rules and she knows them by heart. I can't believe it" Mary continues.

"It's awful, she literally had no freedom. Rule number 7: the recruits are not to eat unsupervised. The supervisor decides what and how much the recruits get to eat."

"Check number 16: Supervisors are allowed to use any kind of punishment to ensure the recruits follow the rules" Mary said shaking her head.

"The poor girl. You have to find them! You have to find whoever did this to her" Zelda said angrily.

"Yes ma'am" Mary smirked saluting her.

"I'm serious!"

"So am I. I'll try my best, but to be honest, I need more. For all we know she could have just made it all up. There are no other clues, no evidence."

"Don't be ridiculous. She didn't make that up. You've seen how she acts, the bruises. She's clearly been tortured."

"I don't doubt that, but all this Miss A. thing sounds a bit I don't know..."

"There is no indication that she is untruthful. But let's see what the doctor says. Are you really okay that she lives with us?"

"Of course, honey, we have all these rooms and I mean we still have to do the paperwork, but she has nowhere else to go."

Zelda placed a soft kiss on her cheek. The door opened and a doctor stepped out looking worried and shocked.

"I've never seen something quite like this" she said:
"She has had some serious injuries, broken rips and nose, deep welts and scars all over her back and hands. And there is an A burned onto her shoulder blade. You've seen her face, she has a blackeye, a bruised lip and a light concussion. She's obviously been punched. On her wrists are bruises that lead us to the conclusion that she was tied up. On a positive side there are no signs of sexual abuse. She's a bit underweight. We've run a blood test, but the results will take their time. She didn't talk much, but she did everything we've asked her to do and seemed to have no problem with the examination. Normally victims of abuse tend to freak out when we try to touch them. Can I ask you what happened to her?"

 

"We don't know yet. Apparently she could run away from whoever did this to her and as you said she is not very talkative" Mary said.

The doctor nodded: "I see. Well good for her. It's incredible she survived it."

"Can we take her home now?" Zelda asked.

"Yes, it's good you take care of her" the doctor smiled at Zelda: "We'll inform you as soon as we get the blood results."

Zelda thanked her and entered Zoey's room. The girl straightened up as soon as she saw Zelda.

"Are you hungry?" Zelda asked.

"Yes, ma'am."

"What do you want to eat?"

Zoey looked confused: "Uhm whatever you think I should eat, ma'am."

Zelda raised her eyebrows. It hurt her to see just how little there was left in Zoey.

"What's your favourite food?" She asked.

"I'm fine with anything, ma'am" Zoey said.

"That's not what I asked" Zelda said sternly: "What do you usually eat in the evening?"

"Soup, salad or bread, ma'am" Zoey said.

"Do you like pizza?" Zelda asked.

"I'm not allowed to eat fast food, ma'am" Zoey said.

"What if I allow it?"

"It's against the rules ma'am" Zoey said: "You are trying to test me, aren't you, ma'am?"

Zelda was shocked and hurt, she wanted to wrap the girl in her arms and make her feel save, but she knew that wasn't what she needed right now.

"You're right, I was and I'm glad you still know the rules" Zelda said: "Come on, let's go."

 

At home Mary prepared a salad and sandwiches, while Zelda showed Zoey her room. It was the room her niece Sabrina usually stayed in when she came over for a visit.

"There are some clothes in the wardrobe, I think they might fit you, but we can buy you some new ones tomorrow. The bathroom is right over there. If you need anything, just ask. But now let's go downstairs for dinner."

Zoey didn't say anything about the room and just followed Zelda back downstairs. Mary had set the table and the three of them sat down. Zelda put some salad on her plate and Mary took a cheese sandwich, while Zoey just stared on her plate.

"Zoey aren't you hungry?" Mary asked pushing the sandwiches in her direction.

"Uhm how much am I allowed to eat, ma'am?", Zoey asked.

"As much as you want" Mary laughed.

Zoey looked uncertain at Zelda.

"Have some salad and three sandwiches" Zelda decided.

"Three, ma'am?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No ma'am, it's just Miss A. normally only allows me one, if anything."

"Well you haven't had anything else today."

Zoey nodded. She took some careful bites out of a sandwich.

"Zoey do you remember where the Campus is?" Mary asked carefully.

"Only the supervisors know, ma'am" Zoey said.

"You know you don't have to call me ma'am all the time" Mary said.

"But what about rule number 19, ma'am?"

"Right" Mary said: "How did you escape? Do you remember any signs or names?"

"No ma'am, I really don't know anything about the Campus. Please, don't kill me. I promise, I know nothing" Zoey said anxiously.

"We won't hurt you, we..." Mary said, but Zelda interrupted her: "Remind me of rule number 3 again."

"Recruits aren't allowed to lie to their supervisors" Zoey mumbled.

"Why did you lie when you're aware of the rule?" Zelda asked sternly.

"I uhm I'm sorry, ma'am."

"So? How did you escape?"

"I climbed over the fence, ma'am. I used my blanket to cover the barbed wire. Then I ran through the forest until I reached a street. I stopped a car and the woman took me to Riverdale. I don't know how long we drove, but it must've been a couple of hours. Then I took the first bus, in case they were following me, and that's how I came to Greendale. But I should've known that I have no chance to escape. They told us. I'm really sorry, ma'am."

Mary and Zelda exchanged a glance. There were others, Zelda thought, but she knew not to push Zoey.

"Eat up now, Zoey" Zelda ordered.

Chapter 3

Summary:

Zoey is in bed, so Mary and Zelda have time to talk and maybe find a way to take their minds of this situation...

Queen of hell is a pet name now haha

Chapter Text

"Do you think she'll be alright?" Mary asked when Zelda came back downstairs. Zoey was in bed and sleeping or so they hoped.

"Honestly I'm not sure. She's so caught up in thinking that these women control everything."

"But wouldn't it be better then to show her, that we are not part of this...this... cult" Mary poured Zelda a glass of wine. Zelda slowly shook her head taking the glass and giving Mary a tired smile.

"The thing is, I mean, yes we can try, but she didn't really react to us being nice. I fear that she got so brainwashed that she won't talk to us when she thinks we're not part of these people."

Mary sat down next to Zelda and cuddled up to her.

"I understand. It's just so hard keeping this up."

"Oh like you have a problem being strict. I've seen you interrogate suspects, honey." Zelda chuckled.

"That's different. She's just an innocent kid who's obviously gone through hell."

"I know. I just want to hug her and tell her everything will be fine and make her delicious food, so she puts on some weight. She's just too skinny. I don't understand how anyone could have done this to her."

"Well I'm glad she found her way here. I couldn't think of a better person to take care of her" Mary smiled and kissed Zelda.

"Trying to charm me?"

"Only stating the facts."

"Ha! Who's supposed to believe that? We both know that you just like my dominant side" Zelda smirked.

"Yes ma'am" Mary grinned.

Zelda pulled her closer to kiss her deeply.

"I love you."

"I love you more."

"Mary Lilith Wardwell, stop saying that, when you know exactly that I do love you more" Zelda pulled her ear softly.

Mary rolled her eyes: "I hate when you use my full name. It reminds me of my childhood."

"You mean it reminds you of the times when you got on trouble for being a brat, just like today" Zelda smiled knowingly.

Mary took a sip from her glass of wine.

"I will drive to Riverdale tomorrow, see if I can find that mysterious lady and ask her where she picked Zoey up."

"Do you think you'll find her?"

"Unlikely, but so far it's the only trace we have and if there really are more kids being tortured we better find these people as fast as possible."

They heard the stairs creaking and exchanged a glance.

"Zoey? Do you need anything?" Zelda called.

There was no answer and Mary shrugged: "The house is old. Maybe it was a ghost."

Now it was Zelda's turn to roll her eyes: "You and your ghost stories. Remember when you told Sabrina that the gates to hell were in the old mine? She believed it until she was 17!"

"Hilarious. But you have to admit, it kept her and her friends from ever going in there."

"I guess! I'll go check on Zoey anyway."

"I think I'll come upstairs with you, I'm tired and I should to leave early tomorrow" Mary said.

"You're just scared that the ghost will get you" Zelda teased.

"No way, ghosts would worship me and make me their queen of hell or something."

"Oh so you're a queen now?" Zelda chuckled.

"Yes, but don't worry, you could be the queen of earth and while everyone is worshipping me, I'll only worship you."

"Sounds intriguing" Zelda hums in a deep voice.

 

After she checked on Zoey who seemed to be asleep, she quickly went to their joint bedroom, where Mary was kneeling naked on the bed.

"What..." Zelda tried to ask, but Mary interrupted her.

"My queen! Never has earth seen someone more beautiful, your majesty."

Zelda couldn't help but laugh. It took the weight of the day off of her. That was what she loved most about Mary, she was playful and adventurous and could always make her smile.

Zelda straightened her features and commanded strictly: "Well undress me then!"

Mary beamed at her and practically jumped up from the bed, helping Zelda undress.

They've been together for over twenty years now, but she was still amazed by Zelda's beauty every time. She'd never found anyone as attractive as her, Zelda had so much class and elegance, that Mary couldn't help but admire her.

Zelda pulled Mary into a passionate kiss, letting her fingers run over the naked body of her lover. She directed Mary towards the bed, laying down on her back.

"You may worship me with your tongue now" Zelda said with a smile.

Mary was eager to start and placed herself between Zelda's legs. She slipped her tongue between Zelda's pussylips, licking through her slit. Zelda moaned softly as Mary circled her clit with the tip of her tongue.

It's been years of getting to know each other, getting to know the other body and while others might find it boring to sleep with the same partner for so many years, Zelda found it to be an excellent way to improve her sex life to perfection.

Mary knew exactly what aroused her and how to get her earth shattering orgasms. It didn't take her long to bring Zelda to a point where she lost all self-control and grabbed Mary's dark hair to press her closer to her pussy.

She rubbed her clit against Mary's tongue, moaning her name until she felt the relieve in form of an explosion that went through her body and left her breathless.

"You really are the queen of hell, my queen of hell" Zelda whispered, pulling Mary into her arms and kissing her deeply.

Chapter Text

Mary groaned when the alarm woke her way too early the next morning. Zelda just blinked and wished her good luck, before she turned around to sleep some more.

Mary pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, collected her clothes as silently as possible and went to the bathroom.

When she walked back out, she nearly had a heartattack. Zoey was standing right next to the door.

"Damn Zoey, what are you... You know there is another bathroom upstairs, directly opposite of your room" she said. Only then she noticed that Zoey was already dressed.

"I know, ma'am."

"Honey, why are you already up? It's only six in the morning" Mary wondered.

"It's the normal get-up time, I didn't want to get punished, ma'am."

Mary stared at her in disbelief and didn't really know what to do: "Uhm well do you want to have breakfast then?"

Zoey seemed confused: "What about the fitness routine, ma'am?"

"You don't have to do that here."

"But Miss A. said..."

"Forget what she said, she's not here, is she? You can sleep in, eat whatever and however much you like and noone will force you to do anything" Mary smiled.

Zoey looked taken aback.

"Come on downstairs. I'll make us some eggs, or you can have cereal if you want."

Zoey followed Mary downstairs and sat at the table while Mary made some scrambled eggs and toast.

"There is juice in the fridge, if you want some."

"Water is fine for me, ma'am" Zoey said looking sceptical at the big portion of eggs Mary put on her plate.

"I'm sorry I don't have much time, because I have to go to work" Mary said as she quickly began to eat: "Do you maybe remember anything about the woman or the car who drove you to Riverdale?"

"It was a black car, ma'am. And the woman was blond."

"Did you see the license plate?"

"No ma'am, sorry."

"Don't worry" Mary said sounding more optimistic than she felt.

She finished her food and noticed that Zoey hadn't even touched hers.

"You should eat while it's still hot honey, if you want anything else, just feel free to take a look around" Mary said warmly: "Zelda will probably be up soon, and I'll be back in the evening, okay?"

"Yes ma'am" Zoey nodded. Mary smiled at her before she hurried outside to her car. She texted Zelda, hoping she would actually get up soon and look after Zoey.

 

***

 

Zoey waited until the car left the driveway before she got up. She was hungry, but she didn't dare touch her food.

She had a feeling that she had really screwed up by telling these two women about Miss A. It was an accident, she had really believed that they were part of the organisation. But it just didn't add up.

They were too nice, unaware of the rules and no member of the organisation would be like this after learning that a recruit tried to run away.

Rule number 1: Don't ever tell anyone about the organisation who isn't part of it.

It was the most important rule and Zoey was certain that Miss A. Would make her pay for breaking it. She didn't want to get into more trouble with Miss A. and figured the best way would be to behave accordingly.

Of course, Miss A. wasn't here, but it was only a matter of time until she would find her again. Like she had always found her and anyone else who tried to escape.

Maybe it would be better to go back to the Campus, to Miss A. She would receive a punishment of course, but maybe it wouldn't be so bad when she returned herself and behaved better this time.

After all it was only her own fault. Then again she didn't know how to find her way back to Campus. So her only option was to wait for Miss A. to find her and until then she would live according to the rules she had learned and not let these outsiders fill her head with lies.

Miss A. had warned her, she's warned all of them about the danger of outsiders. They would make them weak, undisciplined and soft. And then there were the others, enemies of the organisation, who would do anything in their power to keep them from reaching their goal.

But Zoey wasn't weak or soft, she was a chosen one, she was part of the organisation and had to fulfill her task in order to make this world better.

"Aren't you hungry?"

Zoey flinched as Zelda's voice interrupted her thoughts. She had been walking around the living room to find out more about these two women.

She turned around to stare at Zelda, who just stood in the door to the kitchen watching her with an intense gaze.

"No, ma'am" Zoey said quickly: "I think I have to go now. Thank you for letting me sleep here."

Zelda was surprised, but she didn't let Zoey see it: "And where do you want to go? Certainly not back to Campus as you don't know where that is, right?"

Zoey bit her lip, regretting how much she had told her about the organisation.

"No, ma'am. But maybe you can take me there, as you must know where it is" she said feeling clever to clarify if Zelda was actually a part of the organisation or not.

"As I said we agreed that you'll stay here" Zelda said calmly.

"And who agreed on that exactly, ma'am?"

"Me and Miss A."

"Can I talk to her then, ma'am? Please I want to apologize for running away" Zoey asked innocently.

"I'm afraid that is not possible" Zelda kept her eyes on Zoey already fearing what was about to come.

"You've never talked to her, have you? You're a liar, a pretender, you're not even part of the organisation" Zoey yelled and started to shiver at the same time.

"That's right. We're not. We're here to help you, to keep you save from these crazy people, who hurt you so badly" Zelda said calmly and made a step towards Zoey.

Zoey backed away: "They're not crazy. I have to go back. Miss A. will kill me when she finds out I told you about them."

"No-one will kill you, we'll make sure you're save."

"You can't keep me save, you're weak! The only one who can keep me save is Miss A."

"But honey she did this to you, she hurt you like this."

"Only because I deserved it. She makes me stronger" Zoey exclaimed.

"No, no, no, you don't deserve it. There is no reason to ever hurt anyone like that" Zelda shook her head, but she could see that Zoey didn't believe a word she was saying.

She was scared and still under the influence of Miss A. Zelda figured there was only one way to break this spell, she had to act stronger than Miss A. It was apparently the only thing Zoey reacted to.

"You don't understand this" Zoey mumbled.

"What was that? Speak up if you have to say something!" Zelda said sternly.

Zoey instantly straightened her back and looked a bit insecure.

"Uhm I said you don't understand this, ma'am" she repeated anyway.

"You're right, I don't, because if you need to hurt someone to ensure your authority, you don't really have any authority."

Zoey looked confused, but Zelda didn't care to explain it to her yet.

"Since you live with us now, you will play by my rules and follow my orders, is that understood?"

"I can't live here, ma'am, I have to go back, please."

"Hush! You don't have a choice. You won't ever go back there. Follow me now!"

Zoey didn't dare to object and followed Zelda back into the kitchen.

Zelda pointed to the table: "Sit down and eat up!"

"Ma'am, please I can't."

"Why not?"

"Miss A. wouldn't allow it."

"I couldn't care less, this is my house, my rules, and you will follow them one way or the other" Zelda said sternly: "And rule number one is: you will eat three proper meals a day."

Zoey looked uncertain, but didn't make a move.

"Fine, the hard way it is then" Zelda commented: "You won't leave this table until you emptied your plate."

"But..."

Zelda cut her of: "No buts. You'll do as I say."

Zoey kept her mouth shut, but also didn't start eating. She just stared at the plate while the eggs got colder.

Zelda shrugged, before pouring herself a cup of coffee and sitting opposite of Zoey with the newspaper. She had taken the day off and would wait as long as it took for Zoey to eat up.

Having to force her wasn't ideal of course, but until the girl was back to a healthy weight and able to make her own decisions, Zelda didn't see another way.

Chapter 5

Summary:

A visitor shows up and convinces Zoey to break a rule.

Chapter Text

It was past noon and Zoey still hadn’t touched her food. Her stomach grumbled, but she refused to eat even one bite. Zelda would have been impressed by this level of stubbornness had it not been induced by her traumatic experiences.

The phone rang and Zelda got up, but before she left the kitchen, she turned back to Zoey.

“Don’t you dare leave the table!”

“Yes, ma’am”, Zoey mumbled.

She heard Zelda pick up the phone in the other room and talk in a low voice. Zoey took a look at her food and then to the backdoor of the kitchen. She thought about running away, but somehow Zelda’s words were binding her to the chair.

Suddenly the backdoor opened and Zoey flinched thinking it was Miss A. who’d come to get her. But it wasn’t Miss A. It was a friendly looking, blonde lady.

“Oh!” she exclaimed: “I didn’t know Zelda had a visitor. It’s alright, honey, I’m her sister, Hilda.”

Zoey didn’t know what to say and slowly nodded.

“What’s your name sweetie?” Hilda asked.

“Zoey, ma’am” she mumbled.

“What a lovely name! Would you mind giving me a hand, Zoey? I have some stuff in the car.”

“I uhm I am not allowed to leave the table, ma’am.”

“What do you mean?”

“Miss Spellman said I couldn’t leave the table until I finished my food.”

Hilda stepped closer and Zoey backed away, fearing she would be hit. But Hilda just took the plate.

“These eggs are cold. No wonder you don’t want to eat them. I brought some lunch over, I bet you much rather eat that, hm?”

Zoey still didn’t know what to say as she watched Hilda throw the eggs into the trash.

“Come on, honey. I even have freshly baked cupcakes and if you don’t tell my sister you can have one before lunch” she said with a
wink.

Zoey looked at her with wide eyes and slowly got up from the table and followed Hilda outside to her car.

Hilda opened a basket and revealed all sorts of cupcakes.

“You can take whichever you want” Hilda offered.

“I’m not allowed to eat candy, ma’am.”

“Don’t worry. I can keep my mouth shut. What’s your favorite flavor? I have strawberry, blueberry, chocolate, vanilla, lemon…”

“I like blueberries. Last summer I found some on Campus and ate them when nobody was looking” Zoey whispered.

Hilda looked confused, but it wasn’t too unusual that her sister was treating kids with a difficult past.

“Well then, nobody’s looking now” Hilda giggled and handed Zoey the blueberry cupcake. She turned around demonstratively, pretending to look for something in the front seat.

Zoey bit her lip, looking at the cupcake in her trembling hand, before checking her surroundings. There was no one around. All she could hear were birds in the trees and Hilda rumbling in the car.

Miss A. would never find out about this, she said to herself, taking a huge bite out of the cupcake.

The frosting was melting on her tongue and she hastily swallowed everything without chewing.

“ZOEY!” she heard Zelda scream from the kitchen and quickly threw the cupcake under the car. She wiped her mouth, hoping there would be no trace of the cupcake left.

Zelda appeared in the door, feeling relieved as soon as she saw Zoey standing next to Hilda’s car. She was scared the girl had run away.

“It’s not her fault, Zelda. I asked her to help me”, Hilda explained.

“Sorry, ma’am” Zoey mumbled.

“Did you eat your food at least?” Zelda asked trying to sound calm.

“These nasty eggs, of course not, how could you expect that. I threw them away” Hilda said with a little laugh earning herself an angry look from her sister.

“I brought Mac and Cheese and cupcakes”, Hilda explained and handed the basket to Zoey, while taking the Mac and Cheese: “Come on, let’s have lunch.”

Zelda was furious at her sister, but didn’t want to argue with her in front of Zoey. She’d totally forgotten that Hilda would bring lunch as usual, because she and Mary were always too busy to cook for themselves and Hilda always cooked more than she and her husband could eat anyway.

 

Hilda filled three plates while giving Zoey an extra-large portion that the girl eyed skeptically.

“Oh honey are you vegan or something? I’m sorry, my sister forgot to tell me, you would be here, but I can quickly make you something else, if you want.”

“No, ma’am, it err it’s fine, I’m not vegan or anything.”

“Well then, eat!” Zelda said sharply.

Zoey hesitated for another moment. She caught Zelda’s angry glare and quickly took up the fork. After all she was hungry and biting
into the cupcake had her realize that Miss A. really wasn’t here right now.

Zelda’s anger disappeared when she saw the girl taking first careful bites and then hastily empty her plate. She send a soft smile to
Hilda, who was always happy when people liked her food.

“Do you want more, Zoey?” Hilda asked.

“No, ma’am, thank you. We usually only get half of that” she replied.

Zelda was glad enough that she ate anything at all and didn’t dare push her, by commenting this.

“Well then how about dessert?” Hilda smiled pointing to the basket.

“Uhm” Zoey blushed and looked questioningly at Zelda: “May I, Miss Spellman?”

“You may” Zelda said hiding her smile. It was the first sign that Zoey started to accept her as an authority above Miss A.

“Thank you, ma’am” Zoey mumbled. She got up to select a cupcake. Her hand was trembling as she opened the basket. The scars reminded her of that one time when she was so hungry that she stole some food from the kitchen. Miss A. caught her and beat her hands with a wooden ruler until they started bleeding.

“I can’t” Zoey started to panic and quickly closed the basket. She turned around, seeing the confused looks of Zelda and Hilda, she panicked even more and ran out of the kitchen to her room.

“I should go see after her” Zelda said worried.

“I hope I didn’t do anything wrong” Hilda asked.

“No sister, you were marvelous! I’ll explain to you later” Zelda got up and smiled at Hilda.

It was rare enough that Zelda was so nice, that Hilda didn’t dare to hold her up with any more questions and just nodded.

Zelda found Zoey in her room, slamming her hands against the table again and again. She walked up behind her and grabbed her arms to stop her from hurting herself. Zoey was crying and trying to free her arms, but Zelda’s grip was too strong.

“Let go of me. I deserve this. I need to be punished. I need to…” her last words were more sobbed, so Zelda couldn’t understand her.

“No, shhh, no you don’t. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Yes, I did. I deserve this. I have to be punished” Zoey cried and slammed her hands on the table with sudden force so Zelda couldn’t hold on to her anymore.

“Zoey! Stop now” Zelda yelled sternly, making Zoey nearly jump from her seat, but she stopped.

“Turn around!”

Zoey obeyed and turned in her chair, her eyes drilled on the floor. Zelda softly raised her chin with her fingers, until Zoey looked into her eyes.

“You didn’t do anything wrong and I won’t allow you to hurt yourself. Is that understood?” Zelda’s voice didn’t leave any room for discussion. Of course she knew this wouldn’t be solved so easily, but for now it would be enough to stop Zoey from breaking her own bones.

“Yes, Miss Spellman” Zoey whispered, tears still running down her face.

“Good! Now give me your hands” Zelda demanded.

Zoey’s hands were shivering as she hold them out for Zelda, already expecting the worst. She flinched, but Zelda took them softly into her own hands investigating the damage. She could already see bruises forming and the skin on Zoey’s knuckles was slightly torn open. Seeing all the other scars is what really hurt Zelda and she had to blink away her tears.

Chapter 6

Summary:

Zoey opens up a bit and Mary's in Riverdale investigating

Chapter Text

Zelda carefully patched up Zoey’s bruised hands.

“Thank you, ma’am” Zoey whispered.

“You’re welcome” Zelda forced herself to smile.

“We have the same disinfectant on Campus” Zoey said, holding the bottle in her hand.

“So someone took care of your injuries?” Zelda asked.

“Yes, we have our own infirmary. The doctor is really nice, sometimes she let me stay there longer than necessary.”

“Did you…did you have to go there often?” Zelda was happy that Zoey was finally opening up a bit and wanted to gather as much
information as possible.

“Yes at least more often than others. I’m really not good with rules” she blushed and bit her lip.

“I think you’re doing rather well here” Zelda said friendly.

“Well I don’t know all your rules yet and so far it is easier to follow them than the ones on Campus” Zoey shrugged.

“Then maybe the rules are the problem and not you.”

“Miss A. always says that the rules help us to achieve our full potential. And we can only be useful members if we use our full potential.”

“It’s good to be ambitious, but I think being happy is equally important.”

“Miss A. says that doing our tasks will make us happy.”

“And what was your task?”

“I’m not allowed to tell anyone, ma’am. And first I have to become a full member anyway.”

“And how do you do that?”

“I have to make a diploma, it includes good grades in school, physical fitness, and of course obeying the rules of the organization.”

“So you went to school the whole time?”

“Yes, we have our own school on Campus. I was one of the best students in my class.”

“That’s impressive” Zelda tried to sound earnest and smiled.

“Miss A. used to punish me for bad grades, so I made sure to do better.”

“Do you want to talk about how she punished you?”

“There are different punishments, depending on which rule was broken or what I did wrong. And if I happened to something repeatedly the punishment would get worse. Like when I didn’t do my homework, the first time she’d just give me an additional writing task, the second time she had me starve for a day, the third time, she beat me with a pointer, and so on.”

“That’s horrible” Zelda was shocked.

“No, it’s effective. Miss A. says punishments are good to remind us of our goal, stay focused and disciplined.”

“And would you agree?”

“Of course, I became so much better at everything.”

“But didn’t it hurt terribly?”

“Yes, but it makes me better. The organization is relying on me to fulfill my task. It is all for a good cause.”

Zoey sounded so convinced that it broke Zelda’s heart. It was unforgivable what these people had done to her.

“Why did you run away then?”

“It was a mistake, I was just so scared in that moment.”

“Well you don’t ever have to be scared again. You’re save here. We would never hurt you.”

“Not even… when I did something wrong?”

“No, of course not. We all make mistakes and we can learn from them and do it better the next time.”

“But what if I did something really bad?”

“Like what?”

“Lie to you” Zoey mumbled. Zelda raised her eyebrows, focusing Zoey with her intense gaze.

“While I detest lies, I would never hurt you. Nevertheless I hope you’ll be honest with me.”

“Uhm…” she bit her lip and looked to the floor.

“It’s alright. You can tell me. What did you lie about?”

“When Miss Wardwell asked me about the woman who drove me to Riverdale, I wasn’t exactly honest.”

“Why not?”

“I… I just couldn’t risk it. If they find out that I’m the one who lead strangers to the Campus, I don’t… I mean, they will kill me. I’ve
seen it. There was this girl, she ran away and tried to tell the police, but the cop was a member, so he brought her back to Campus and they… they killed her.”

Zoey was shivering and Zelda wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“You won’t ever go back there, Zoey. You can trust us, you’re save here. No-one will kill you as long as you are with me. And you can
help us and yourself by telling us everything we need to know about these people.”

“I can’t” she sniffed and tears ran down her cheeks.

“It’s alright. We’ll start slow, hm? Can you tell me the name of the organization?”

“They always call it organization in front of us. They say it’s easier to keep it a secret if it doesn’t even have a name.”

“I understand. And what about the woman in the car?”

“She told me her name was Alice and she told me where she lives, in case I needed a place to stay, but I thought it would be too dangerous to go to her house. That’s why I came to Greendale instead” Zoey explained.

“That was very smart of you, do you remember the address?”

Zoey nodded.

“Good, we will call Mary now and tell her, is that alright with you?”

“Will she be angry?”

“No, she’ll be happy you remembered such an important detail.”

“Alright then…”

 

***

 

“Zelda? Is everything alright?” Mary asked.

She’d been strolling through Riverdale for hours, asking blonde women if they knew Zoey. It was more than annoying, but she wasn’t ready to give up. She had taken a lunch-break with a burger and fries and was thinking about her next steps.

“Yes, everything is alright. Zoey remembered the address of the woman who drove her.”

“That’s fantastic” Mary said quickly finishing her drink.

“Yes, but you have to be careful and maybe not mention Zoey’s real name, in case someone is looking for her.”

“I’m so glad you know how to do my job” Mary said sarcastically, but smiled. It was what she loved so much about Zelda, the way she cared about people. She remembered when they started dating and she could never really tell if Zelda genuinely liked her. Instead of just admitting how much she cared, Zelda would passive-aggressively scold Mary for getting into dangerous situations. Having an overprotective wife could be especially hard as a cop, but Mary enjoyed it. It made her a better cop, because she would never want to disappoint Zelda or even worse, give her the impression, she was right being so protective.

“Alright. See you tonight then! We’ll have dinner at 7, you better be on time” Zelda said strictly.

Mary grinned, it was Zelda’s way of telling her to watch out and come home safely.

“I love you, too” she replied.

“I love you” Zelda said and hung up.

Mary could imagine Zelda sitting on the sofa, looking worried at the phone and trying her best not to show it. She shook her head, as much as she enjoyed thinking about her wife, she had to focus on her work now. She paid the bill and drove to the address.

 

“Hello! My name’s Detective Mary Wardwell, may I come in?”

“Did anything happen to my daughter?” The blonde woman asked.

“No, don’t worry. It’s about a girl you gave a ride a couple of days ago” Mary calmed her.

“Oh uhm yeah, I remember her, is she alright?”

“If you don’t mind, I’d rather discuss this inside” Mary said.

“Of course, yes, sorry, come in, please” the woman opened her door and let Mary in: “Do you want to drink something?”

“No, thank you” Mary took her sunglasses of and looked around.

“So, you remember the girl?”

“Yes, I wanted to drive her to a hospital. She was bleeding on the lip.”

“Did she tell you what happened?”

“She said she had a fight with her boyfriend. Can you believe it, in that age? I don’t allow my daughter to have a boyfriend yet. Is she alright, though? Did he do something to her? Oh, the poor mother, I can only imagine what she’s going through right now.”

“You know her mother?” Mary asked.

“Well at least I assume it was her mother. It was yesterday, at our office. You see, I am a journalist and publish the local newspaper together with my husband. A woman showed up with a picture of the girl, asking if we’d heard anything about her or seen her. I told her all I knew. I mean I gave the girl my address, what more could I have done?”

“What did the woman look like?”

“She was about our age, brown hair, glasses, uhm…”

“Did she give you her name?”

“No, she just kept asking me about her daughter, but I really don’t know where she went, after I dropped her off at Pop’s.”

“Did the woman say anything else?”

“No, but she gave me her number, in case the girl showed up. Shouldn’t you be looking for the boyfriend?”

“Can you please give me the number?”

“How about you tell me who that woman really was, and I give you the number?”

“Excuse me?”

“It would make a great story. Mysterious girl on the run from her mother. Or whoever she really is.”

“I tell you what” Mary said in a dangerously low voice, making a step towards the woman: “You give me the number right now and I won’t arrest you for obstruction of justice.”

“You can’t scare me. I know my rights, I’m a journali…”

Before she could finish the sentence, Mary had twisted her arm to her back and handcuffed her. She deeply hoped that would be enough to scare the woman, because legally she couldn’t arrest anyone in Riverdale.

“This is not a joke. You say you have a daughter yourself, how would you feel if she got in trouble and a nosey journalist would keep the police from doing their job?” Mary growled.

“Alright! Alright! Sorry. Please. I’ll give you the number. But how about an interview as soon as you find the girl?”

Mary rolled her eyes, but opened the handcuffs again. She was eager to get back to the office to contact the woman who might be
Zoey’s tormentor.

“If the woman contacts you again or shows up here, call me right away” Mary said, before leaving the house.

Chapter 7

Summary:

Mary found out where Zoey used to live and Zelda is not happy

Chapter Text

“Zelda? Where are you beloved?” Mary called when she finally came home.

“Kitchen” Zelda called back.

With a tired smile Mary entered the kitchen, where Zelda and Zoey were having ice-cream.

“You’re late” Zelda said after Mary kissed her cheek.

“I know. There was a lot to do, sorry.”

Zoey watched the interaction between the two women, but her eyes quickly darted back to her ice-cream when Mary looked over to her.

“Did you have dinner already?” Zelda asked with a soft smile: “We have some Mac’n Cheese left. I could warm it up for you.”

“That’d be lovely. I take it Hilda was here?”

“You don’t think I can cook myself?”

“I mean…”

“Save it” Zelda snapped and Mary smirked.

“Zoey can you pass me a cupcake?” Mary asked the girl friendly.

“You can have one after dinner” Zelda chimed in before Zoey could even react.

Mary was about to protest, but a warning look from Zelda silenced her.

“It was really good you remembered the address, Zoey” Mary said instead: “How was your day?”

“Good, ma’am. We took a walk through the forest.”

“Do you like nature?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mary was thinking about what else she could say or ask. She didn’t want to talk about the case while Zoey was still here. She was scared it would upset the girl to learn that someone was already looking for her.

Zoey finished her ice-cream just as Zelda set a plate full of cheesy pasta in front of Mary.

“Thanks, honey” Mary smiled.

“Do you want more, Zoey?” Zelda asked pointing to the empty bowl.

“No, ma’am, thank you.”

“Alright, but just so you know, if you’re getting hungry, just take whatever you feel like eating, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good” Zelda smiled contently. She felt like, she’d made a big progress with Zoey today. She ate her dinner without any hesitation.

While she still wasn’t comfortable taking a cupcake, Zelda offered her ice-cream for dessert. She refused at first, but then decided to try it, because she couldn’t remember what ice-cream tasted like.

“When do you normally go to bed?” Zelda felt weird asking her that. She remembered when her niece was in that age, the last thing she’d wanted was a bedtime. And Mary had of course supported her in that matter, so Zelda accepted the fact, that she was old enough to decide herself, when she would sleep. But with Zoey it was something completely different. While being technically 16, she was not even close to making her own decisions. She would need rules and a clear structure until she would have processed everything that she had gone through.

“We are to be in our beds at 9, ma’am, but we are allowed to read until 10.”

“That’s awfully early” Mary exclaimed.

“Mary…” Zelda said in a low voice.

“What? It’s true. The best thing about being young is staying up all night and still looking fresh the next morning.”

“What would you even do all night?” Zoey asked genuinely interested.

“Sleepovers, phoning with your friends and talking about whatever teenage drama is going on in your lives, eating candy, watching
movies, going to parties, driving around with your best friend in her car and mak…”

“Enough!” Zelda interrupted her slamming her hand on the table.

“Just because you were a nerd in high school, doesn’t mean we all have to…”

“I said, enough!” Zelda said sternly, glancing over at Zoey, who looked unsettled.

“Oops I…” Mary bit her lip. She hadn’t realized how her words had affected the girl.

“We’re not allowed to do these kind of things. It’s bad for us and we’re supposed to stay away from anything like that” she said quietly: “I’d like to go to my room now, if that is okay with you, Miss Spellman?”

“Of course, you may. If you like I can help you pick out a book from the living room. There are also some in your room, but I’m afraid my niece’s taste in literature wasn’t exactly classy.”

Zoey nodded shyly and walked out of the kitchen with Zelda, who shot Mary another angry look.

“Wow you have many books, ma’am.”

“Yes, I love reading. What kind of books do you like?”

“I also like it” Zoey said with a tiny smile: “Miss A. usually selected what I got to read. Mostly classics, but sometimes contemporary books as well.”

“Hm, then I suppose you’ve already read 1984?”

“No, ma’am.”

Zelda smiled and took the book from a shelf.

“It’s a classic, maybe you want to give it a try.”

“Yes, ma’am, of course.”

Zoey took the book with a smile and looked at the cover.

“When do I have to be done with it?” she asked and looked back up at Zelda.

“What do you mean?”

“Miss A. always tells me when I have to be finished with a book. Then I have to write an essay about it.

“Well, I’d be interested in your opinion on the book, so let’s say I’d like your essay at the end of next week” Zelda said.

“Yes, ma’am” Zoey nodded eagerly, almost happy she got this task.

“Do you need anything else before you go to bed?”

“No, ma’am, thank you.”

“Good, but don’t hesitate to ask if there is anything you need.”

“When should I get up?”

“We’ll have breakfast at eight. I expect you to be there.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Sleep well then” Zelda said with a smile. She wondered if she should hug Zoey, she felt like it, but she figured it might be too much.

“Thank you, ma’am. Good night” Zoey said equally smiling and walking up the stairs, the book pressed tightly to her chest.

“Sorry Zel, I didn’t think…” Mary apologized as soon as Zelda walked back into the kitchen. She had cleaned the table and was pouring each of them a glass of wine.

“I understand, but Zoey is very sensitive and you have to be more careful.”

“I just don’t understand what harm it could do to tell her about the good things in life.”

Zelda glared at Mary: “She was harming herself after she bit in a cupcake, because it was forbidden by the organization.”

“I…I didn’t know, sorry, Zel.”

“It’s okay, we both need time to figure out, how to deal with this situation, with her.”

“I think you’re already doing a great job” Mary smiled.

“At least I hope I am” Zelda sighed: “So care to tell me what you found out?”

“Okay, so apparently there was a woman in Riverdale looking for Zoey. Maybe it was this Miss A. she talks about, but we don’t have a
name, and not even a proper description. But I have a phone number. We couldn’t track the phone yet, but it is registered. It belongs to the BC Foster Home for difficult children.”

“What? What is this BC?”

“Blackwood Church.”

“I’ve never heard of that.”

“Of course not. None of us ever had. It’s one of those private churches, or cults or however they wanna call it. So the Blackwoods, or
Father and Mother Blackwood, how the call themselves, founded this church two decades ago. They believe in some apocalypse they want to prepare for or so they say on their website. Somehow they made a lot of money, or inherited it or I don’t know, but we’re on it and they bought this huge area, which they call the Campus. Only the highest members are allowed on Campus and it also happens to be where their so called foster home is.”

“But how is it possible? How did Zoey get there?”

“You won’t like what I’m about to tell you, but their foster home is officially registered as a youth facility where problematic kids are sent to.”

“I thought Zoey ran away from her original foster home?”

“Maybe she did and was sent to the Blackwood’s foster home and somebody just forgot to mention it.”

“But there must be like complaints about these people. It’s illegal what they are doing to the children.”

“Yes, but as I said, none of us was even aware that these people exist, there are no signs of abuse or anything connected with them.

The only news articles show them as a happy, large family, that is helping poor kids find a home. They live rather old-fashioned, growing their own foods and damning new technology, but they seem to have a clean record.”

“That can’t be possible. There is always people who leave a cult.”

“If so, they haven’t gone public.”

“Zoey told me they killed a girl after she ran away and tried to tell someone about them.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised…”

“You have to do something to stop them.”

“I will do everything I can, but it won’t be easy. So far Zoey is our only evidence against them and she’s not exactly a reliable witness.
It wouldn’t be enough to get a warrant and I’m certain they won’t let us search their precious Campus.”

“I hate this.”

“I know, but I will find a way, I promise.”

Zelda sat down on Mary’s lap, wrapping her arms tight around her. She felt helpless and sad, which was unusual for her. Mary kissed her cheek softly.

“Everything will be fine” she whispered, hugging her wife even tighter.

Chapter 8

Summary:

Zoey "steals" a cupcake and an unexpected visitor shows up at Marys office

Chapter Text

Zoey didn’t need an alarm to wake up at 6 in the morning. For the last eight years this had been the time to wake up. In the organization the day always started with physical fitness, it was exhausting and even after years of training, it wasn’t unusual that someone threw up or fainted.

Zoey had tried to keep up with the fitness program since she escaped. But today she felt a huge unwillingness. It wasn’t that she was too lazy, in fact she had never felt so well rested and energized, but something in her mind screamed to skip the exercises.

But now she was awake and breakfast wouldn’t begin for another two hours. She thought about the cupcake, she had tried yesterday. It had been delicious and she figured if Miss Spellman and Miss Wardwell were still asleep, she could maybe steal one.

She had done that often enough on Campus, but that was because she was so hungry, that the risk of getting caught didn’t matter to her anymore. This here was a completely different situation and she wondered if she should really do it. She remembered the way Miss A. had punished her for stealing food and flinched. Miss Spellman was also strict and quite intimidating, but there was a certain warmth in her eyes and she hadn’t hurt Zoey even though her behavior was far from acceptable. Also she had said, that Zoey could take whatever she wanted, but maybe it didn’t apply on the cupcakes, after all she hadn’t allowed Miss Wardwell to eat one before dinner.

Zoey opened the door of her room as slowly and quietly as possible. She held her breath, and carefully walked downstairs. She kept the lights of, she was used to moving around in darkness. The basket was still standing on the kitchen counter and Zoey opened it, grabbing a random cupcake and making her way back upstairs.

She closed the door of her room and quickly ate the cupcake, scared someone had heard her after all. After she heard no sound for another five minutes, she let out a breath, relieved that nobody caught her. She took the book from the nightstand and continued to read.

She liked the book, it was easy to identify with the protagonist. The control, the fear, which was described just felt so tangible.

When Zoey came down for breakfast at 7:55, she noticed, that she had forgotten to close the basket again. She prepared herself for a punishment and looked to Zelda, who was making herself a coffee.

“Good morning, dear. How did you sleep?” Zelda asked warmly instead.

“Good morning, ma’am. I slept well, thank you. I can’t remember the last time I had a room to myself” she said in attempt to distract Zelda from the basket.

“So you share a room on Campus?” Zelda asked curiously.

“Most of the time, yea, we have dorms for eight people, but sometimes we also have to sleep outside” Zoey explained as if it was the most normal thing.

“Outside? Like camping in the summer?”

“Not exactly, it’s more like a punishment. Especially in winter, we can’t even take a blanket then. Miss A. says this way we learn to appreciate the comfort and hospitality of the organization.”

“And did it work?”

“No, ma’am. The only thing I could think about, was how cold I was, I couldn’t sleep and moved around to stay somewhat warm. And to be honest, the beds weren’t half as comfortable as the bed here" Zoey said with a smile.

“I’m glad you like your room” Zelda returned the smile: “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll make us some breakfast. What do you normally eat?”

“Porridge, ma’am” Zoey says still eyeing the basket. If Zelda turns around, she will notice that it’s open and a cupcake is missing.

“And would you like that or rather something else?”

“Uhm to be honest I never really liked it, but it was the only thing we had.”

“Well here we have plenty and you can feel free to choose. I take it you don’t like eggs either, since you didn’t touch them yesterday?”

“I don’t really know what they taste like, ma’am. Eggs are only for supervisors.”

Zelda scoffed and Zoey bit her lip, scared she said something wrong.

“How about I’ll make us an Omelet with Cheese and mushrooms? Do you like mushrooms?”

“Yes, ma’am, I do” Zoey said.

“Alright then, take a seat” Zelda said and turned to the kitchen counter. Zoey’s heart stopped for a second, but Zelda just smiled to herself, closed the basket and didn’t even mention it. Zoey relaxed and finally sat down.

“Would you like some juice?” Zelda asked.

“Yes, ma’am, please.”

“You’re such a polite girl” Zelda smiled and set a glass of orange juice in front of her.

 

***

 

“Mary Wardwell?”

Mary turned her attention from her computer to a pregnant woman. She had spent all morning researching this weird Blackwood Church and waiting for a call from the woman, who’d been looking for Zoey.

“That’s me, yes, how can I help you?”

“My name is Constance Blackwood” she introduced herself. Mary stared at her aghast, unable to say anything.

“You’ve called me yesterday, saying it was urgent that we speak. I thought it would be easier, to speak face to face” Constance explains.

“You uhm you didn’t have to come here. I could have come to you” Mary manages to say. She couldn’t believe that woman was supposed to have harmed Zoey.

“No worries, I didn’t mind the ride. I want to enjoy my freedom as long as it lasts” she says with a laugh pointing on her belly.

“Ugh I’m sorry, I should have offered you a seat” Mary says, getting up now and leading her into the same interrogation room, Zoey had sat it: “Unfortunately we don’t have exactly comfortable rooms here, but at least it is a bit more private.”

“I hope I’m not arrested” Constance Blackwood says with another laugh and sits down.

“No, no” Mary says quickly: “Can I offer you some water or maybe a tea?”

“No, thank you.”

“Okay, well then…”Mary sat down opposite of her.

“Should I be worried? You weren’t exactly specific in the voice message. What is this about?”

“Is it correct that you were in Riverdale looking for a girl?”

“Oh my god, is this about Zoey? Did you find her? How is she?”

Mary felt uneasy, this woman seemed really concerned about Zoey, but the bruises and scars on her body told a completely different story. That’s what made it so hard to detect child abusers, often enough they presented themselves as kind and loving parents.

“She’s alive” Mary said coolly: “In what way are you related to her?”

“In no way. Sorry, I’m the head of a foster home down in Greenhill. Zoey used to live with us, but she ran away and we’ve spent days looking for her.”

“Why did she run away?”

“You know how teenagers are, Detective. There is always some sort of drama, they feel like running away from. And Zoey is not exactly an easy child, she has troubles adjusting to the rules.”

“I see. I don’t think I’ve ever heard about your foster home before and Zoey didn’t mention it either” Mary asked carefully trying to gather more information.

“Well, Greenhill is a rather small community. What exactly did Zoey say then?”

“She hasn’t talked much” Mary lied.

“She’s probably disturbed. Who knows what she experienced while she was on the street” Constance said

“I’m more interested on what she experienced while she lived with you” Mary replied coldly.

“What are you implying?”

“There are signs of physical abuse all over her body” Mary growled.

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“You are aware?” Mary yelled: “How could you do this to her? She is a child!”

“I? I didn’t do anything to her. She has a tendency of freaking out, hurting herself and others. We try to stop her as good as we can, but we can’t pay attention to her every second of the day.”

“Her bruises are not self-induced” Mary snapped angrily.

“How would you know? You weren’t there, were you?” Constance said unimpressed: “As I said she is a runaway kid, we don’t know what happens to her on the streets. Anyone could take advantage of a young girl.”

“That’s bullshit!” Mary yelled.

“Calm down, Detective. I wish to see Zoey now.”

“Oh, you won’t ever get to see the girl again.”

“I’m sorry?”

“You heard me.”

“I am legally responsible for her and I demand to see her.”

“Until we have investigated the case and your so called foster home, you’re not allowed to go near her.”

“Did she say I abused her? Hurt her? Harmed her in any way?”

Mary stayed silent. In fact Zoey had never mentioned Constance Blackwood, she’d only talked about this Miss A.

Constance huffed: “I thought so. That means you have to legal ground to…”

“I do” Mary lied: “And you should work with me, if you don’t want to spent the rest of your life in prison.”

Constance laughed again and stood up: “I think we’re done here, Detective. My lawyer will be very interested in this. Maybe you should reconsider this and not risk your career for a mentally instable girl.”

Mary narrowed her eyes, now she was certain that this woman was somehow involved in the abuse and she wouldn’t stop until she and all the others involved would be arrested.

Chapter 9

Summary:

It's been a week and Zoey is starting to trust and like Zelda.

Zelda and Mary have a talk about Zoey staying longer, which ends up with amazing sex...

Notes:

Thought you deserved some positivity and smut, before it's getting dark again ;)

Chapter Text

„Zoey? Are you alright?”

Zelda turned the light on and Zoey held her eyes closed. She was sobbing and crying and Zelda quickly sat beside her.

“I heard you screaming” Zelda said and carefully wrapped an arm around the girl.

“She was here, she came to get me and she…” Zoey sobbed, leaning in to Zelda’s embrace.

“That was just a nightmare, honey. Everything is alright. No one will come and take you away” Zelda whispered soothingly.

“She was so angry, she hit me in the face and choked me and then she wanted to drag me to the pit. I don’t want to go into the pit again, please, no” Zoey cried.

“You’re save here, no one will hurt you. You won’t go into the pit” Zelda said wondering what Zoey was even talking about.

“Look at me, Zoey, look at me. It was just a nightmare” Zelda asked her and softly pushed Zoey’s hands from her face.

“Oh my, Zoey, you’re bleeding” Zelda was shocked seeing blood trickle from the girl’s nose.

Zoey wiped over her nose and stared at the blood on her fingers.

“Come to the bathroom with me” Zelda said and helped her up. When she wanted to let go of the girl, Zoey wrapped her hands tightly around Zelda’s arm.

“Please don’t go” Zoey whispered.

“I won’t go, but we should clean your nose” Zelda said friendly. She couldn’t deny that it warmed her heart how Zoey clang to her and apparently trusted her.

Zelda offered her hand and Zoey took it. Together they went to the bathroom, where Zoey sat on the toilet lid. Zelda wetted a towel to wipe the dried blood away.

“Just hold it in front of your nose, until it stops bleeding” Zelda said.

“Thank you” Zoey took the towel.

“You must’ve hit yourself while you were asleep” Zelda figured and Zoey nodded.

“Sorry, I woke you up” she mumbled.

“Don’t you worry. Nightmares can be very cruel and so realistic.”

“Yea, it was as if she was right in front of me” Zoey agreed.

“I take it, you’re talking about Miss A.?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m really scared of what she’ll do to me, when she finds me.”

“She won’t find you.”

“But I can’t stay here forever, right? This is just a short-term solution and all the legal stuff needs to be sorted out” Zoey said suddenly very frightened.

“It’s correct, of course sooner or later we’ll have to make this more official, but you can stay here as long as you want” Zelda tried to calm her down.

“But…”

“No, that’s it, if you want to stay here, we will find a solution. You see, we have enough space and we enjoy having you here. The last week wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“No, ma’am, I really like being here, with you. You’re so nice to me.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.”

“Why do you do all this? I mean I’m a stranger.”

“So? If we’re not nice to strangers, then we wouldn’t be nice people. And you’re a kid, that has gone through a lot, I couldn’t allow myself not to help.”

“I just don’t want to be a burden to you” Zoey mumbled.

“A burden? Oh no, dear, you’re far from being a burden. It’s marvellous to have you around, you’re such a sweet girl and to be honest I miss having my niece here, so it’s just perfect to have you.”

Zoey smiled and put her hand down. Her nose had stopped bleeding.

“We should get back to bed” Zelda said and threw the towel to the other laundry.

“Could you, um, maybe come with me?”

“Of course” Zelda smiled and followed Zoey to her room.

“Can I tug you in?” Zelda asked and Zoey smiled with a wide grin.

“Can you stay until I fall asleep?”

“Yes, dear” Zelda said and pulled a chair up to the bedside.

 

She waited until Zoey was asleep, the girl looked so peaceful, and went back to her own bed, where Mary was already waiting for her.

“What happened?”

“A nightmare. She hit herself in her sleep.”

“Oh no, the poor thing.”

“She is scared that she will have to go back to these people eventually. I told her, she could stay as long as she wanted” Zelda said, laying under der covers.

“Mhm” Mary mumbled. She hadn’t told Zelda about Constance Blackwood yet. Five days had passed and so far she hadn’t heard from her or her lawyer, but the prosecutor she had consulted, made it clear, that it would be difficult to keep Zoey away from the Blackwoods if they had the legal documents and there was no indefinite proof that they had abused Zoey.

“What’s the matter? Shouldn’t I have offered? I thought we were on the same page” Zelda said worried.

“No, no I mean yes, we are on the same page. I know how much you enjoy to be a mom” Mary grinned.

“Oh as if you didn’t like it. Do I have to remind you of all the secret projects you and Sabrina had, that you wouldn’t tell me about” Zelda rolled her eyes and Mary laughed.

“Well I admit I enjoyed it and I wouldn’t mind taking care of another.”

“Taking care is what you call that? All you did was corrupting her, so she would break the rules” Zelda tutted.

“Ugh are you still not over this band battle thing?” Now it was Mary’s turn to roll her eyes.

“She was half-naked on stage!”

“It’s not like I chose her outfit, and she was 17 already!”

“Still.”

“Also I made sure she broke up with this weird boyfriend, Caliban.”

“You threatened to shoot him, when he’d show up at our house again.”

“As I said, I made sure they broke up. He was way too old for her and he was a stripper!”

“Well, I’m not saying that they should have stayed together, just the way you handled it…”

“Oh come on, you fucked me so good that night, you enjoyed the way I handled that.”

“Did I? I don’t remember” Zelda teased.

“You don’t remember the roleplay? Are you serious? You pretended to be a prosecutor in that tight black pencil skirt and the white blouse, not to forget your glasses
and you said someone was pressing charges, because I threatened to kill him and that would be a serious offence for a Detective.”

“Right, and I remember you had the audacity to ask me if we couldn’t settle this in a more enjoyable way.”

Mary smirked. She remembered well enough how Zelda had handcuffed her and asked her what exactly she meant by that. When Mary had described all the lustful ways she’d want to have sex with her, Zelda was visibly turned on.

“It makes me horny, just thinking about that” Mary hummed and grinned at Zelda.

“Well that isn’t exactly surprising” Zelda said dismissively.

“As if you aren’t aroused yourself, thinking about how you spanked me back then, how you made me pay for my insolence.”

“I admit it is always intriguing to think of you on your knees begging for an orgasm” Zelda smirked.

“Oh please, Zelda, please” Mary whispered into her wife’s ear, nibbling on her earlobe.

“You’re such a naughty woman” Zelda tutted, but turned her face to kiss her passionately. She was happy that Mary was still so attracted to her, because the sex they had was amazing and she wouldn’t want to cut back on that for anything in the world.

“Very naughty” Mary smirked and started to undress Zelda.

It was a matter of seconds and they were both naked, wildly kissing each other.

“Lay on your back!” Zelda commanded and Mary complied already knowing what was about to follow.

“Do you want to be good for me?”

“Yes, Zelda, I’d do anything for you.”

Zelda smiled. She positioned herself on top of Mary, her dripping pussy was only inches away from Mary’s tongue.

“If you’re doing a good job, I might return the favour” Zelda offered with her eyebrows raised.

Before Mary could answer, Zelda lowered herself and Mary was greedily pushing her tongue out to lick her wife.

Zelda enjoyed the view of her obedient wife, laying naked under her. She played with Mary’s nipples, slowly riding her tongue.

She opened the drawer of Mary’s nightstand and pulled out a dildo, then she bend over, so she was able to reach Mary’s pussy.

Zelda flicked her tongue out and licked over Mary’s clit, while enjoying the sensation of being eaten out. She heard Mary moan loud as she pressed the dildo against her entrance.

“Oh yes, please, fuck me” Mary’s moans were muffled, but Zelda knew what she was asking for.

She pushed the dildo a bit further and it slid easily into Mary’s wet pussy.

Zelda thrusted it all the way in and circled her tongue over Mary’s clit. It didn’t take them long to find a rhythm and Zelda enjoyed riding her wife’s face, while simultaneously fucking her.

“Mmmm Mary, yea that’s it” she moaned as she pressed herself tight against Mary’s tongue.

They came almost at the same time, orgasms rolling through their bodies, having both women scream and leaving them behind with quivering muscles.

“You’re the sexiest woman, Zelda Spellman, I love you” Mary gasped and Zelda smiled as she moved down from Mary and cuddled up to her.

“No, that would be you, Mary” she replied and kissed her wife deeply.

Chapter 10

Summary:

Mary is in trouble and Zelda does everything to help

Chapter Text

“Hey Zel, it’s me, uhm what are you doing right now?” Mary asked on the phone.

“Mary? Are you alright? What’s wrong?” Zelda asked. It was rare enough for Mary to call her during work and Zelda could hear in her voice, that something was up.

“Yeah, I’m fine, don’t worry. I was just uhm, so err…”

“Spit it out already” Zelda hissed. She couldn’t stand the stammering and was anxious to know what happened.

“Is Zoey with you?”

“No, she is in her room.”

“Okay, well hm I need to speak with you in person, maybe uh you could come to the precinct?”

“What is this all about, Mary? I don’t want to leave Zoey alone already.”

“Hm yea, you’re right. But um well, I err maybe Hilda could take care of her? It won’t take long, like an hour or two maximum” Mary mumbled.

“Mary Lilith Wardwell, I want to know what exactly is going on right now!”

Mary swallowed hard, she knew she was in trouble, but she rather explained it in person.

“Once you’re here, I’ll tell you everything. Love you, honey” she quickly said and hung up before Zelda could reply. She was fuming, but she knew it must be something important.

“Zoey!” she called upstairs and the girl was quick to reply.

“I’m really sorry, Miss Spellman, I didn’t mean to…” she apologized anxiously as she hurried down the stairs.

Zelda narrowed her eyes: “What are you talking about?”

Zoey looked confused and quickly said: “Uhm nothing, ma’am.”

“Nothing?” Zelda replied raising her eyebrows: “You’re sorry for nothing?”

Zoey bit her lip: “No I mean, I um well I…”

“What did you do?” Zelda interrupted her. She didn’t mean to be so harsh, but now it was too late.

“I took some ice cream into my room, I know you don’t like it when we eat dessert before the main courses, I’m really sorry, it won’t happen again…”

“Oh Zoey” Zelda smiled: “Don’t worry about it.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“No, not at you at least. I just have something urgent to do and I’d like to take you to Hilda’s. She’ll have lunch and probably more ice-cream waiting for you.”

“Can I bring my book?”

“Yes, but hurry up” Zelda said and grabbed her coat.

 

“Hey honey” Mary greeted Zelda who just send her a cold look.

“Save it, why am I here?” Zelda asked.

“Well, um we… come with me first, we can’t talk here” Mary said secretive. Zelda rolled her eyes and followed her to the Captain’s office. Mary closed the door.

“Zelda, nice to see you again, even if the circumstances are not the best” the captain welcomed her and offered her a coffee.

“What exactly are those circumstances?” Zelda asked, taking the coffee.

“You haven’t told her yet?” the captain asked, turning towards Mary.

“No, she hasn’t” Zelda answered.

“Alright so, after Miss Blackwood was here last week…” the captain started.

“Excuse me, what?” Zelda interrupted and glared at Mary.

“Oh…”

“Yes, Constance Blackwood was here last week, asking for Zoey, but I told her we would investigate the case and she should not hope to see Zoey ever again” Mary
explained quickly.

“Unfortunately she contacted a lawyer and not just any, but a very good one. We just had a hearing and let’s say it didn’t work out as we planned it. The judge said that there wasn’t enough evidence…”

“Not enough evidence? For what exactly? Have you shown them a picture of Zoey’s bruises?” Zelda asked angrily.

“The Blackwoods argued that there is no evidence that they are responsible for the abuse as Zoey is a runaway and whenever they pick her up and save her from the streets she got into worse trouble hence the bruises.”

“That must be a joke.”

“I assure it isn’t.”

“So what now? We have to give Zoey back to these monsters?” Zelda yelled.

“No” Mary tried to calm her down.

“At least not yet…the judge gave us two more weeks to gather evidence. If we don’t find anything that shows that the Blackwoods are undoubtedly the abusers, then yes, Zoey will have to go back living with them.”

“I won’t allow it” Zelda said simply.

“And we don’t want that to happen either, therefore we have to find the evidence. Unfortunately it is nearly impossible to get close to the Campus and there are no other witnesses” the captain explained.

“What about Zoey’s testimony? Shouldn’t that be enough?”

“She is not exactly a reliable witness. The Blackwoods were able to proof that Zoey is mentally instable and has a tendency to lie.”

“But she doesn’t. Let me testify to the judge, I’m an expert on children psychology and I can assure you Zoey is not lying about that!”

“Zel…” Mary tried to reason, but Zelda just snapped at her: “No! You knew this! And you didn’t say a word to me.”

“I just wanted to protect you and Zoey.”

“That went really well” Zelda scoffed and Mary looked hurt.

“We wouldn’t want you to testify, but instead ask you for another favour” the captain said.

“Another favour? What would that be?”

“You don’t have to do it, if you don’t feel comfortable” Mary explained.

“Mary thinks it’s too dangerous and I agree it is risky.”

“If you tell me what this is about, maybe I can tell you how I feel about it” Zelda said annoyed.

“We want you to go undercover. Only insiders of the Blackwood Church are allowed on the Campus, so this would be our only chance to get an actual insight about what is going on there” the captain explained. Zelda looked confused.

“Miss Blackwood was here in the precinct and chances are high she would recognize one of my Detectives or Officers. We also asked in Riverdale, but they only have
the Sheriff’s Office and enough on their hands with the Serpents.”

“So you thought I should go?” Zelda asked still not believing it.

“As I said, you don’t have to go. But you work with children, you know how to talk to them, how to get through to them, so they might tell you what they experience there. Also we found that you actually went to Highschool with Mr Blackwood, which could make it easier for you to gain his trust” the captain explained.

“I hope you’re not talking about… oh no… Faustus Blackwood? This is the Blackwood we’re talking about? He was already a psychopath back in school, I can’t believe, are you sure?”

“Yes, we are and if you say the risk is too high, we will find another solution…”

“How would that even work? I mean the whole undercover thing? I can’t just go to this Campus thing and knock on the door, right? I mean we don’t even know where exactly it is, do we?”

“No, we don’t and no you can’t. However they do have public services, in different churches, where they try to gather new members. You could just go there, pretend to be interested and maybe talk to Blackwood, we’ll make up a background story, portraying you as desperate, single and unemployed, so he might offer you to live on the Campus.”

“Do you think this will work?” Zelda asked.

“We don’t know for sure, but to be honest, this is our best chance. I mean you are the expert, but groups like this tend to be very biased towards outsiders and since you at least have a lose connection it might fasten the process, but so far we have only very little information about them. We don’t know how they work, how long it takes for new members to be included into their cult” the captain explained.

“Indeed, it will be hard to gain their trust” Zelda agreed.

“But that is not what worries us. The fact that we know so little about them means that it will be hard to protect you” Mary said.

“You taught me how to shoot, I think I can take care of myself” Zelda brushed her worries aside.

“You certainly won’t be allowed to bring a weapon” Mary argued.

“It’s not like they will show me this Campus on my first day, so once they will take me there, it should be easy to follow me. Then you’ll know where the property is and in case of an emergency you can get me out of there” Zelda said.

“That is the plan, yes, but there is still a risk… I mean you’ve seen Zoey, we have to assume that these people are very violent and won’t hesitate to kill anyone they see as a threat.”

“I’m aware. But I will need equipment anyway, to contact you, to collect the evidence and send it to you.”

“Yes, we have bugs and miniature cameras, but if these things are found, you’ll be in much trouble.”

“I’ll do it” Zelda said.

“But… shouldn’t we talk about it?” Mary wondered.

“Like you talked to me about all this before? I trust you, all of you, that you will get me out and I can’t let this kind of abuse happen. As you said, I have the best chances to become an insider and I would do anything to save these children.”

“I’m glad to hear you think that way, but Mary is right. You should carefully consider this and tell me your decision tomorrow morning. Then we’ll prepare you and discuss the further steps” the captain said.

“That is fine by me, but my decision stands” Zelda said: “And it’s not like we have a lot of time. It’s questionable if I can gain their trust fast enough to be allowed on this Campus in the next two weeks.”

Chapter 11

Summary:

Zelda is at Blackwood's service

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

„Brothers and sister, I am glad, all of you found your way here and I want you to know, how proud I am. I am proud that you took the first step to lead a worthy life. No longer shall you belong to the unworthy, hear my words and become a member of the Blackwood Church in order to lead a fulfilling life. We will welcome each of you, your soul in our church and you will become a better human, you will become worthy of love. Thank you, brothers and sisters” Faustus Blackwood finished his sermon, letting his eyes wander through the room.

He’d already seen her, Zelda Spellman, the girl he had a crush on all during High School. Now she was an even more admirable woman and he was astonished to see her here, in his church.

“Zelda?” he asked even though he knew it was her, she hadn’t changed all that much.

“Faustus or shall I say Father Blackwood” she smiled.

“I’d prefer the latter, just you know, while we are here in church” he enjoyed hearing these words from her. In school he’d been too shy to approach her, but now they were in his church, she had come to see him, to listen to him, maybe she wanted to join.

“Of course. That was marvellous, your words, I am… I can’t really phrase it, but it was like you knew exactly what I am feeling” Zelda said still smiling.

“Is that true? I never thought of you to be the religious type.”

“Indeed, I wasn’t, but lately I felt so lost, so lonely, as if something was missing in my life. I just feel like I need to give back, do something important, be a part of something bigger.”

“I take it you’re not married then, no children?”

“Unfortunately not. What about you?”

“I- yes, I have a wife, Constance Blackwood, she’s right there and we’re in fact expecting twins.”

“A blessing, truly, she is beautiful.”

“How did you find us, I mean our church?”

“Online, I had never heard of the Blackwood Church before, but when I saw you, I just had to come.”

“I’m happy you did. We are always looking for new members, who want to become worthy.”

“I mean, I’m not sure I actually want to become a member…”

“Why not? I thought you liked what I said?”

“I did, yes, a lot actually, but… sorry, I don’t want to bother you with my problems” Zelda turned her face and Faustus touched her shoulder reassuringly.

“You could never bother me. And after all that is what you are hear for, I can tell if someone needs a friend, a shoulder to rely on and we just dedicated our lives to
help people.”

“Well… I guess, I… it’s hard to talk about it. All my life I spent working and I was successful you know? I thought I was really getting somewhere, helping those kids, but now, all of a sudden my methods are being criticized, someone even threated to sue me, but I swear I did nothing wrong. I just wanted to help these kids and ultimately I did, I made them better.”

“What is it you do exactly?”

“I am a psychologist for children and young adults.”

“Yes, I remember, you’ve always wanted to work with children.”

“And now I am basically jobless, oh, Faustus, I just don’t know what to do” Zelda cried and leaned against Faustus. He patted her back, trying to calm her down.

“What exactly did you do?”

Zelda wiped the tears from her eyes: “Oh you know all these parents with their anti-authoritarian upbringing, wondering why their kids won’t listen to them. Well, I just had a different approach, discipline and strictness. The same way we were raised and did it hurt us, no, look at us; we are formidable adults, worthy members of the society. I mean when has a good old spanking done any harm to anyone?”

“You hit the kids?” Faustus looked surprised, not shocked, but it was the last thing he’d expected of Zelda.

“I didn’t really hit them; I mean what is a whack on the ass when they are being too impertinent, too stubborn.”

“I know what you mean Zelda and dare I say, I agree with you completely, but as it appears, our society is changing, for the worse. Children are being disrespectful; they have no boundaries and don’t have to face any consequences. It’s a shame.”

“I’m so glad to hear that from you. I swear I didn’t find a single soul to agree with me. Even my sister, I think you remember her, she called me a cruel woman that should be put behind bars. My own sister! Can you believe that? And now I don’t have a job, no friends, no family, I am… well that is why I came here. To be honest you were my last resort, when I found all that information about your church, I figured that you’ve truly build something amazing.”

“Oh well, thank you, Zelda. And I assure you, we believe in a more traditional way of education. All this modern, liberal nonsense had no place in this church. To become worthy, you must proof yourself to be worthy that is what we believe in. That is the way to become a member of our church and eventually of this society. I always tell the kids, that we all have our task to fulfil and you should see how well they can behave.”

“Kids? I thought you are just expecting?”

“Well, just like you we wanted to give something back, so we founded a foster home for children.”

“That is incredible. You truly are a blessing.”

“Thank you” Faustus smiled proudly as Constance joined the two and put her arm around Faustus: “May I introduce you to my wife. Constance this is Zelda, we used to go to the same school and you wouldn’t believe what she has just been through.” Faustus briefly explained Zelda’s situation and Constance looked shocked.

“I can’t believe how anyone would think so poorly of you, it is clear to me that you have a good soul” Constance said smiling warmly at Zelda.

“I was just telling her about our foster home” Faustus added.

“Yes, we love children. For years we thought that I wasn’t able to get pregnant, so we thought adopting is just as good and now look. I think it shows that we are truly
worthy.” She rubbed her stomach and Zelda nodded.

“It is all thanks to you, darling” Faustus said: “While I am doing most of the work here in church, Constance is taking care of the children and everything else back at Eden.”

“Eden?”

“Oh sorry, Eden is what we call our little space, where we live and work. There is the foster home and we even managed to build our own school for the kids. We just
want to keep them safe from the bad influence of the unworthy.”

“That sounds beautiful” Zelda said. Constance and Faustus exchanged glances.

“We actually need some help. We’ve grown a lot over the last years and there are more and more children being sent to us” Constance explained.

“I imagine it to be quite a lot of work.”

“Especially because most of them have a very difficult history. And we don’t get enough support and money from the government.”

“That is always a problem, I’ve experienced that myself many times when I tried to find a new home for kids.”

“I understand. We are lucky enough to have the support of our church members. We’re like a big family and always looking to expand.”

“Why don’t you join us, Zelda?” Faustus said.

“You would be a perfect addition to our family. The kids need psychological help and you would be free to work with them as you see fit. Of course we have certain rules, but I suppose you might approve of them.”

“That is a very generous offer, but…”

“Well of course you need some time to think about it. But let me tell you a bit more about Eden. It is like a little farm. We grow our own food and take care of ourselves. As an educator, you would get your own room and certain privileges. You’d be a member of our church, but your task would be to work with the children, in order to become worthy.”

“That sounds too easy to be true.”

Both of them laughed: “We just see what your soul is capable of and we want to welcome you in our family.”

“Could you show me Eden, it is kind of hard for me to imagine all this.”

“I’m afraid that is not possible. Only members are allowed there, as I said we want to keep everyone safe from outside influences.”

“I understand, of course, well I have to think about it.”

“Maybe you want to join tomorrow’s service, we could have lunch afterwards and talk through some details?” Faustus suggested.

“That would be lovely” Zelda smiled.

Notes:

Sorry for anyone who ships Blackwood and Zelda, but in this AU they never were a thing and never will be haha. Next chapter will be some family fluff in the Spellman/Wardwell household :)

Chapter 12

Summary:

Last day at home, when a sudden realization hits Zelda and makes her worried about her undercover mission

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Zelda wore a bug the next time she met the Blackwoods. It was sewed into her clothing and would record everything that was said. As small as the device was, it was only designed to record and couldn’t send the information.

Needless to say Mary was anxious, but it was their only chance to gather evidence.

The Blackwoods told Zelda more about Eden, their rules and their idea, but no matter how many questions Zelda posed, they didn’t mention any kind of abuse going on there. She still got the impression that they handled the kids with force and corporal punishments, but they were smart enough not to admit it to any outsiders.

“Zelda you are as impressive as I remember” Faustus hummed after they finished their lunch.

“We would be really happy if you join us” Constance added.

“Have you made up your mind?” Faustus asked.

Zelda could tell that this wasn’t the first time they tried to persuade someone to join their weird cult, but she was prepared for that and played her role immaculately.

“I have thought about it, yes, and I uhm…”

“Please you can’t possibly turn us down” Faustus said.

“Let her finish, Faustus” Constance reprimanded him with a smile.

“I wasn’t going to turn down your offer. I just really can’t imagine Eden and I have to admit I am hesitating to agree to something that I don’t fully know. I am sure you understand.”

“Well of course, Zelda. This decision will turn your whole life upside down, but we just have to be really careful and can’t let an outsider see Eden. However I am sure we can agree on something that will be satisfying for all of us” Constance spoke.

“Right. Since we are a family, everyone has to contribute in the same way. We share everything and new members are required to hand over their possessions, properties, financial savings, because we use it for our family to grow. But we could make an exception in your case” Faustus explained.

“An exception?” Zelda asked.

“Yes, we could call it something like a trial, of course this needs to stay between us. You could move to Eden and start your work there, but we won’t ask you for your possessions until you are sure you want to stay with us. Of course we would all have to sign a contract. For all our protection. In case you decide to leave us, we need to be sure that our family is protected and you won’t tell other outsiders about us” Constance explained.

“Has anyone ever left?” Zelda asked and Faustus and Constance shared a look.

“No, not a full member that is. The kids, you know, they are difficult and they try to run away from time to time, but we always find them and bring them back to the safety of our family.”

“I understand, well I think under that condition, I would love to stay with you. If Eden is as you described, I won’t have a reason to leave and will gladly become a full and worthy member” Zelda said with a confident smile.

Faustus and Constance each grabbed one of her hands and smiled happily.

“I’m sure you won’t regret your decision. I am sure you have to pack some stuff, but maybe you could already move in tomorrow. We can always go back to your house if you need something, but as I said we really are in need of some help with the kids and it would be appreciated if you come as soon as possible.”

Zelda looked surprised, she hadn’t expected to be invited to Eden so soon, but she nodded slowly: “I think I can manage. As I understood you live kind of minimalistic, so I’m sure I won’t be needing too much?”

“Ah, I just knew you would fit with us perfectly” Faustus grinned: “You already have the right spirit.”

Constance smiled as well: “Let’s meet here tomorrow then at 10 am and I will take you to Eden, show you around, introduce you to everyone?”

“Alright, I’ll be there” Zelda smiled and they shook each other’s hands.

 

 

“Why did you agree?” Mary said angrily. Zelda knew this was her way of expressing her worry.

“We don’t have much time left…”

“I know, but we need time to prepare you. What if…you don’t even know how to defend yourself” Mary exclaimed.

“I am a big girl, Mary, don’t you worry” Zelda said.

“But I do! I worry, these people are crazy, you saw what they did to Zoey! Do you think they won’t do the same to you, if they suspect anything?”

“There is a big difference between me and Zoey, I will be there as an adult, a full member how they call it, they won’t try to discipline and hurt me.”

“Are you sure? Because I am not. We have no information how they treat adults, and you will be new, you will have to learn their rules and play by them, and you are not used to let others dictate the rules.”

“Oh is that your way of telling me, that you want to switch some time?” Zelda smirked.

“Zel, this isn’t a joke. They are dangerous.”

“I know, honey, that’s why I am doing this!”

“But…”

“Why?” Zoey said standing in the door. The women hadn’t realised she had come downstairs and Zelda was wondering how much she had heard.

“Why what, honey?” Zelda asked.

“Why are you doing it?” Zoey looked at her worried.

“Because somebody needs to do it, somebody needs to end this” Zelda explained calmly.

“But why you? Why can’t someone else go?”

“Because they trust me and it would be hard for a cop to gain the same trust fast enough.” They had decided not to tell Zoey about the lawsuit. Zelda didn’t want her to feel guilty or responsible.

“I don’t want you to go” Zoey whined and tears ran over her cheeks.

“Come here, Zoey” Zelda said softly, stretching out her arms and pulling the girl on her lap.

“Nothing will happen to me and Mary will be here with you, protecting you” Zelda whispered and ran her fingers through Zoey’s hair.

“They are really mean and dangerous people, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I won’t get hurt” Zelda promised and tried to sound as confident as possible.

“Are you doing this because of me? I should have never come here” Zoey sobbed and tried to free herself, but Zelda wrapped her arms tight around the girl, not allowing her to leave.

“Stop! Stay here!” she said sternly and then added much softer: “This is not because of you, it’s because of all the other kids who are still in danger. Don’t you want them to be free?”

“I don’t want to lose you” Zoey winced.

“And you won’t. I will always be here for you, and so will Mary and Hilda. But I need to help these other kids, because the thought of them being tortured is something I can’t live with. Do you understand?”

Zoey nodded and buried her face on Zelda’s shoulder. Mary looked at them lovingly and smiled at her wife.

“But you’ve seen what they did to me, why aren’t you scared?”

“Oh baby girl, I have no fear, I have only love and that will help me to stay save and rescue the others, okay?”

Zoey wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at Zelda in disbelief.

“How can you say that?”

“What?”

“How can you love me, them, when you don’t even know us, when we’re not even part of your family?”

“First of all, you are a part of our family now. Secondly every child deserves unconditional love.”

Zoey looked at her wide eyed and Zelda nodded with a smile.

“Can you do something for me, Zoey?”

“Of course.”

“Will you be a good girl until I return, Mary will be worried and annoying while I am gone and it would surely help if she didn’t have to worry about you on top of that.”

Zoey grinned at Mary and said: “Yes, ma’am.” Mary and Zoey already had their fair share of secrets, or so Zoey believed, because Mary had sneaked candy into Zoey’s room and told her not to tell Zelda. She had always enjoyed the role of the fun parent and together with Zelda she figured it would help Zoey to have a fun and a strict mom, so they could slowly figure out, what Zoey actually liked and what she was just doing, because it was drilled into her.

Zelda pretended not to see the look the two of them shared. Mary kept her updated on all their misdeeds.

“Good girl” Zelda praised and Zoey smiled. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had called her that, and she was hungry for any kind of appreciation.

“May I ask another question?”

“Sure, honey, you know you can always ask us anything.”

“If you go there as a full member, does that mean you will… work there?”

“Yes, that is one of the reasons they trust me and invited me to live with them. They need help with the children.”

“But… doesn’t it mean that you will have to punish them as well?”

Zelda hadn’t thought about that part yet. And neither had Mary, they were too busy worrying about keeping Zelda save that they had totally forgot about her tasks there.

“I mean, I don’t know, but I am sure I could find a less physical punishment” Zelda answered slowly.

“That doesn’t work” Zoey said and she noticed the girl began to shiver.

“Why not? What do you mean?”

“Well, Miss D, my other supervisor, she was the same when she started working with us. She never hit anyone, and thought of other ways to punish us. Then there was this girl, her name was Dorcas, she was a bit older than me. She always got in trouble with the supervisors, they punished her, but she kept breaking the rules and tried to run away. Miss D was thinking of a punishment for her, when she freaked out and started screaming at her and then…” Zoey stopped and sobbed.

“Shhh, it’s okay, you can tell us.”

“Well, Dorcas really went nuts, she pushed Miss D. and ran away. Miss A. caught her and locked her up and then she had a word with Miss D., or more like a scream. A friend of mine heard her yell at Miss D. for being too soft with us. They said if Miss D. wouldn’t change they would throw her out or treat her just like us. So they forced Miss D. to publicly whip Dorcas. She did it and she only stopped when Dorcas fainted. But if she hadn’t done it, they would have killed her. I don’t want you to get killed!” Zoey started crying again and Zelda hugged her closely.

“I won’t, don’t worry” she tried to calm the girl, but she was really worried now. She couldn’t hit a child, but there had to be a solution. She bit her lip, glancing over at Mary, who looked worried herself.

“We’ll figure something out…” she formed with her lips and Zelda nodded.

 

Only after she tugged Zoey in and cuddled up to Mary under their blanket, Zelda could talk to her about her fear.

“I can’t hurt a kid, I just can’t…”

“I know, sweetheart, it is horrible, but maybe you’ll have to do it, in order to save them.”

“How would Zoey see me, if she heard that I was no different from the other people who tortured her.”

“You are different, you’re just doing it to blend in…”

“Mary, could you hit a child?”

“Well, remember when Sabrina was 16 and refused to write her name in that damn schoolbook? I was kinda thinking about it…”

Zelda rolled her eyes and tutted: “This is serious, Mary.”

“I know, sorry. Well, maybe you will get around it, but if you have to do it, no one will blame you. Ultimately, you will rescue these kids and save them from any further pain.”

“I guess... I still don’t want to…”

“You can always decide to stop. If you don’t want to go or want to be pulled out, you know what to do and I will get you out of there within minutes.”

“I know…”

“I love you” Mary said and kissed her softly.

“But will you still love me when I beat a child?”

“Not one bit less” Mary reassured her.

Zelda kissed her, but couldn’t stop worrying about the days to come.

Notes:

I don't really know what to say, but I'm kinda excited for the next part, so I will try to update very soon.

Chapter 13

Summary:

Zelda enters Eden and thinks she must have taken the wrong turn, because it looks so much like hell.

Notes:

Alright, here you go, two updates on one day, cuz you had to wait so long- and because I also wanna know what happens next haha ;)

Chapter Text

„I’m so glad to see you, Zelda“ Constance smiled and kissed her cheek. Zelda forced a smile as well, thinking about how Mary kissed her this morning and she wondered when she would get to kiss her wife again.

They didn’t stay long at the diner and Constance asked Zelda to leave her car behind, she promised it would be save at the diner and they could get it some other day, but she wanted to talk during the ride.

Zelda didn’t mind, as she knew they were closely followed by someone from the precinct. She tried her best to distract Constance, so she wouldn’t notice that a car was following them.

“I just wanted to tell you a bit more about the way we live in Eden. I already told you that each kid has two supervisors, but of course everyone takes care of everyone in the end. We just want to ensure some continuity, and to have someone track the progress of the kid.”

“That sounds smart. So I will be a supervisor as well?”

“Yes, but not right away, I mean, you’ll probably get some kids assigned to you by the end of the week. I’m sure you have a basic understanding of how everything works by then. For now you can just work with one of the other supervisors, she’ll show you everything. I would do it myself, but I’m mostly doing administration these days.”

“I understand, someone has to keep an eye on the big picture.”

“Exactly. But Miss A. is our best supervisor, so far she managed to deal with even the worst cases.”

“Miss A.?” Zelda asked surprised. She was eager to meet the woman who had tortured her poor Zoey. She imagined her to be a monster.

“Oh yes, right, I forgot to tell you. We call all supervisors only with the letter of their last time. So you will be Miss S. and don’t ever use another name.”

“May I ask, why?” Zelda was really curious.

“It’s a kind of security measurement. You see, not all our methods are… perceived well by the public. And we don’t want a closer investigation, because that would mean outsiders in Eden. They would disturb the peaceful world we created there. So in front of the kids, we only ever talk about us as the organization, we call Eden the Campus and supervisors only with one letter. In that case, if they run away, they can’t give away any useful information and most cops will think they are making it up.”

“That is really clever” Zelda said through gritted teeth. Her hatred on this woman and the whole Blackwood Church was growing. Not only did they torture the children, but they made sure that they could not ever seek any help.

“We’re just really careful, you know how easily people are condemning something they don’t fully understand.”

“That’s true, I mean I’ve experienced it myself, everyone is complaining about their kids going wild. They thank me and are happy that I help them with them, but once they hear about my methods, I am supposed to be the bad person” Zelda lied, sticking to the story she made up.

Mary somehow managed to have a journalist write a fake article about that. She had showed Zelda the headline, that stated “Children’s psychologist accused of abuse”. They didn’t mention Zelda’s name of course, but if the Blackwoods did a background check, they would stumble upon it.

“Well, you’ll have every freedom to test your methods at the Campus” Constance smiled and Zelda noticed a lustful glare in her eyes: “What did you do exactly to the kids?”

“I used some more traditional punishments. Having them stand in the corner or putting them over my knee” Zelda quickly made something up.

“You really hit them?” Constance asked. There was no accusation in her voice, she seemed to be curious and even more turned on. Zelda was disgusted, but forced herself to make up some details.

“Well that one boy, he wouldn’t stop throwing tantrums, screaming and kicking around, nothing worked, so yes, I spanked him and gave him a reason to scream. And that one girl, she was a teenager already, they can be so frustrating and insolent. She called me a bitch and I slapped her.”

“In the face? I bet she didn’t dare to misbehave again that day.”

“Unfortunately she told her parents and I was the one in trouble…”

“Well, you won’t have that problem in Eden. As we already told you, we believe in a more traditional approach and corporal punishments are very normal.” Constance winked and suddenly took a turn into a small gravel road leading into the forest. It seemed like an endless ride, but that was only because they couldn’t go faster than 15 kmh.

They kept driving deeper into the forest, but at the end of the road, there was a parking lot and a giant fence surrounding a huge area with several buildings.

“Welcome to Eden” Constance said with a proud smile.

“Wow! It’s wow, so huge, I hadn’t expected…” Zelda was really impressed and overwhelmed. Part of her was scared that her whole undercover plan was going to fail.

This was quite obviously a very well organized cult.

“We’re constantly working on growing bigger and bigger” Constance explained: “I’ll show you around. Come on.”

She lead Zelda to a gate, where two men with guns greeted them friendly and Constance introduced Zelda as Miss S.

“Don’t worry, they are really friendly and the guns are just to scare the kids from running away.”

Zelda laughed stiffly and followed Constance through the gate. She stared up at the fence, remembering how Zoey told her she climbed over it. It was four meters high and there was barbed wire on top.

“Okay, so here we have the house for supervisors, I’ll show you to your room, so you can leave your things there. But first, down here is my office, you can always come and see me, if there is anything you need. Faustus has his office in the town, because he is mostly working from there, trying to win new members.” Constance explained pointing to a door.

They took an elevator to the fourth floor and Constance lead Zelda into her new room. It was not big, but contained everything she would need and had its own bathroom. Zelda put her suitcase down and forced herself to smile happily.

“It’s beautiful” she said looking around.

“I’m glad you like it. Here are the keys. Let’s continue, shall we?”

Zelda nodded and followed Constance back outside. She showed her the other building, where the children lived. It wasn’t nearly as luxurious, in fact they had to share dorms with eight people and Zelda noticed that they didn’t even have warm water.

They walked to the infirmary and Zelda met the doctor, who she remembered had been nice to Zoey. Maybe she could get this woman to work with her, but then again she wondered what kind of monster would work here.

Constance showed her the school building, they had different classrooms and even though the kids were inside right now, not a single tone was heard outside on the corridor.

“And there is our community building. We all gather there for all the meals, but as a supervisor you have access to the kitchen of course and can get anything you want anytime. On Sundays we have a service here, but when the weather is nice we also do that outside. And then over there you see our food supply, we grow all the veggies and fruits ourselves, but of course we also do regular orders in the city, so don’t worry, you won’t have to do without anything.”

“It’s very impressive” Zelda said again, trying to take it all in, trying to understand how something like this can be kept a secret: “How are you paying for all of this?”

“Well, you see, we get money from our members, and from the state for taking care of these children.”

“That’s hardly enough to pay for all of it” Zelda said in disbelief.

“You’re a smart woman. We don’t just take care of these kids, we improve them, we make sure they have the best grades and if they prove to be worthy and obedient, we allow them to study, once they graduated, they are to fulfill their tasks, which is basically, to find a high-paying job and sending the money here. Some of course have other tasks, but you’ll learn about that later.”

“Amazing” Zelda murmured and Constance just smiled.

“I haven’t even shown you the best part yet” she said and lead Zelda to a swimming pool and a sports ground. Some kids were working out, being screamed at by a woman, who Constance introduced as Miss H.

“Do you know where Miss A. is?” Constance asked her.

“Maybe at the Camp” Miss H. said, not keeping her eyes of the kids who looked pale and exhausted. Zelda felt terrible watching them, but she couldn’t say anything yet, she had to play the role of a sadistic, evil woman.

“The Camp is a small area for special punishments” Constance explained while they walked there.

There was a wooden fence around a seemingly empty area with a tiny cabin in the middle. A girl was tight to a wooden pole outside and a dark haired woman was caning her. The girl’s back was bleeding and she was crying and sobbing uncontrollably.

“Oh my…” Zelda gasped and Constance looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

“As I said we use corporal punishments to teach the kids some discipline. Why are you so shocked, I thought…”

Zelda caught herself quickly, finding back into her role: “I just didn’t really expect it to be true. What did the girl do?”

Miss A. had overheard them and delivered another hard smack to the girls backside, before she dropped the cane. The girl could barely stand anymore, but Miss A. left her tied to the pole and walked over to Zelda, with a wide grin on her face.

“You must be Miss S.! I already heard so much about you. Glad to have you on our team” she offered Zelda her hand who shook it against her will. All she could think about was what this hand had done to Zoey and the other kids here.

“I am pleased to meet you” Zelda says without a smile, but the others don’t seem to notice.

“Miss A. will show you how we handle everything around here. I leave you two alone now. If there is anything you need, you know where to find me” Constance said and left.

“I suppose Miss B. already told you about the rules here?”

“Some of them” Zelda said eyeing the woman in front of her. She looked normal, almost nice, had it not been for the dark expression on her face, the cruelty in her eyes.

“The kids have 47 rules, they have to remember them all and of course respect them all. We are to punish every transgression how we see fit. As for this delinquent, she didn’t do her chores properly and had the impertinence to be sassy instead of apologizing” Miss A. explained nodding to the tied girl, who was still crying.

Zelda had trouble keeping a straight face. She was horrified, she wanted to run to the girl, free her, help her, comfort her, but she couldn’t risk it just yet, she had to save them all at once.

Chapter 14

Summary:

Miss A. is showing Zelda how to treat the children correctly and Zelda is trying to gather as many information as possible

Chapter Text

„It’s almost lunchtime, let me introduce you to the other supervisors“ Miss A. suggested.

“What about her?” Zelda asked pointing to the girl.

“She will stay here for some time, thinking about what she did” Miss A.’s face was cold and stern and Zelda tried not to show how worried she was for the girl.

“How old are the kids?” Zelda asked while they walked towards the community building.

“We mostly get teenagers, but occasionally younger kids. The younger ones are easier to raise and control as you can imagine” Miss A. explained.

“Of course, teenagers are difficult.”

“They are, but we have our methods of keeping them in control.”

“How many kids are here?”

“Currently 74, with you there are 15 supervisors, so we have a lot to do. And we have a runaway, but Miss B. has already found her and she should be back in no time.”

Zelda had her features under control, she would never allow Zoey coming back here: “That requires a lot of organization.”

“It does, we have everything strictly coordinated. The kids are divided into two groups, those who will stay here and those who have a chance to proof themselves worthy and help our cause in the outside world.”

“How do you decide who is worthy and who stays here?”

“We run some tests when they arrive, seeing how intelligent they are, if they have any special talents and then we help them to become even better. Of course we only let them into the outside world, when we can be sure that they are truly worthy and will fulfill their task.”

“I understand, and what do the kids do that stay here?”

“They work for us, do the gardening, cooking, cleaning. That is their only chance to proof themselves worthy” Miss A. explained.

They arrived at the community building and Miss A. lead her inside into a large hall with twenty tables.

“Each supervisor has her own table and the recruits are to sit with them. That’s how we control how much they eat, it is also a suitable punishment to let them starve for some time, if they didn’t behave well. You can just sit with me, until we assigned you some recruits. You can help me keep an eye on them, they always try to trick and sneak away some additional food” Miss A. explained, pointing to her table.

There were five teenagers standing there, they all looked awfully skinny and one boy was especially pale.

Miss A. seated herself at the tabletop, while Zelda took place on the opposite end and Miss A. introduced her as Miss S. The teenagers greeted her politely and were asked to sit down as well.

A young woman carried over a tray with a large bowl of potatoes and one with vegetables, as well as two small portions of butter and three bottles of water. She placed it all on the table, handing one of the butter portions to Zelda and the other one to Miss A.

“What would you like to drink Miss S.? Miss A.?” she asked her eyes cast down to the ground.

“Water is fine for me” Zelda said friendly and Miss A. ordered herself some coffee, before taking herself some potatoes and veggies. Zelda was next and already felt bad, seeing the kids’ hungry eyes following every motion.

“Two potatoes for each of you and a spoon full of greens. Jake, how did you do on your assignment?” Miss A. asked the pale boy.

“Uhm… I had a C, ma’am” he mumbled, biting his lip.

“C? No lunch for you then” she said and the boy looked devastated.

“But I haven’t eaten anything for two days” Jake whined: “Please, Miss A., I’m so hungry.”

Miss A. slapped him hard and said sternly: “And if you keep talking bad, it will be another two days.”

“Sorry, Miss A.” Jake said quickly.

“We’ll talk about that after lunch.”

Jake looked like he was about to cry, but didn’t dare say anything, neither did one of the others. It was so quiet during lunch, that Zelda found it hard to believe that there were really more than 70 kids in here.

She noticed how the girl next to Riley, was sneaking a potato from her table, but before she could hand it to him, Miss A.’s voice interrupted the silence.

“Ashley, put the food back on your plate and stand up, hands behind your head!”

The girl shot Jake an apologetic look and dropped the potato back onto her plate, before standing up.

The rest of the lunch was spent in silence.

Ashley and Jake had to stay behind as the others were dismissed, heading back to school or doing their chores.

“You see what I have to deal with, these impertinent recruits think they can get away with anything” Miss A. said shaking her head.

Zelda didn’t say anything, and just nodded in agreement.

“Any suggestions for a punishment?” Miss A. asked her and Zelda noticed a sparkle in her eyes. The woman was enjoying this, a true sadist, but it was a chance for
Zelda to protect these kids by choosing a relatively mild punishment.

“Well, I’d say no dinner for Ashley, as she apparently wasn’t even hungry enough to eat up her lunch” Zelda said, trying to sound a cold as possible. Miss A. nodded in agreement and Ashley shot her an angry glare.

“Save that look, girl!” Zelda hissed, she wanted to appear as strict as possible, so no one would question her loyalty.

“Sorry, Miss S.” Ashley apologized looking to the floor.

“And Jake… he could write a letter, reflecting on his behavior and apologizing for it” Zelda suggested.

“That shows you’re new. You’re suggestions are a good start, but not enough to really teach them their lessons” Miss A. explained with an evil glare: “I always think the punishment must suit the crime. Ashley, fetch me a spoon from the kitchen.”

Ashley’s eyes widened, but she left for the kitchen anyway.

“So, Jake, talking back was only the tip of the iceberg, you’re behavior the last week was inacceptable. And the C? Care to explain how exactly that happened?” Miss A. stood right next to him, but her voice was loud and Jake flinched.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I… I didn’t have much time to work on it, because of the punishment you gave me…”

“Oh, so now it is my fault?” Miss A. hissed.

“No, ma’am, I just, uhm…”

She didn’t let him finish and punched him hard in the stomach. Jake bend over, holding his stomach and Zelda bit her lip not to say anything. Miss A. raised her knee, into Jake’s stomach, sending him to the floor, he was holding his stomach, trying to catch his breath.

Ashley returned with a wooden spoon and Miss A. told Jake to stay down.

“Show me your hands” Miss A. ordered, taking the spoon into her hand. Zelda knew what was going to happen, but she didn’t know how to help Ashley without revealing who she really is.

Miss A. started hitting Ashley’s hands with the spoon, making the girl scream and cry loudly.

“These…hand… should not… try… to… sneak… food… from… the table” Miss A. hissed, emphasizing each word with a hard smack on her hands.

“I’m sorry, Miss A., please I’m so sorry, it won’t happen again, I promise, please” Ashley sobbed and Zelda felt angry and helpless. When Miss A. stopped Ashley was shivering and crying, but there was no mercy in Miss A.’s eyes.

“If you ever do that again, you won’t be able to use your hands for a week” Miss A. threatened and told Ashley to go to her class.

Zelda was shocked, but she didn’t know what to do. She regretted coming here so unprepared, but as soon as she was back in her room, she could call Mary and help free all these kids.

Miss A. looked at her: “What’s wrong? Oh, I’m sorry, I should have let you punish her, but don’t worry, you can help me with Jake.”

She kicked the boy in the side and he groaned in pain.

“Come on, let’s go to the Camp” Miss A. ordered leaving no room for discussion, not that Jake even thought about arguing with her.

Zelda’s knees felt weak as they walked over. She didn’t know what to do, if Miss A. expected her to hurt Jake. She couldn’t hit him, she just couldn’t, but what would happen if she didn’t? Would they suspect her to be undercover and lock her up? Or worse?

Chapter 15

Summary:

Meanwhile... what are Zoey and Mary up to?

Chapter Text

„Zoey? Mary is here to pick you up“ Hilda called and turned to Mary.

“Did you have a good day? How was she?” Mary asked.

“She is such a polite girl. Kenny is showing her some books. Apparently, reading was the only form of entertainment they had there. She doesn’t even want to watch television. And she didn’t eat well, I think she is worried… or missing Zelda. Have you got any news from her?” Hilda looked worried.

“No. No, we haven’t yet. But it should only be a matter of time. She probably has a lot to take in on her first day and will call as soon as possible. A colleague took over watching the phone” Mary explained. She was exhausted and worried, but tried to keep a hopeful smile.

“But you could follow her to that place?”

“Yes, well to a certain degree. They took a gravel road into the forest and we couldn’t follow them there, it would have been to obvious, but we tracked the road on GPS and send a drone to take some pictures” Mary explained, leaving out the part where the drone was shot.

“Oh, that is good. So can’t you just go in and get her out again. I know my sister is strong, but I am worried about her nevertheless” Hilda asked.

“I’m afraid we can’t. Not yet. The problem is we need the evidence before we can make a move and even then we have to be really careful. Groups like these have a tendency to become really violent when they are facing a threat and we can’t risk them killing the children.”

“That is so horrible” Hilda mumbled and rubbing Mary’s back. She knew how stressed and anxious her sister-in-law must be. They shared the fear of loosing Zelda.

“Can I drop Zoey of tomorrow morning?” Mary asked.

“Of course, we are always happy when she is here. It reminds me of having Sabrina around” Hilda smiled.

“Thank you.”

Zoey walked in with the backpack Zelda had bought for her, closely followed by Dr. Cerberus.

“Do you have everything?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you, Dr. Cee” Zoey said with a polite smile.

“Great. Maybe you can help me unpack the new deliveries tomorrow” he said cheerfully and smiling at Mary and Hilda.

“That sounds like fun” Zoey said and nodded.

 

“Are you hungry? I heard you didn’t eat too much today” Mary asked as soon as they got in the car.

“No, I’m good” Zoey mumbled, staring out of the window. She was clearly not good.

“How about ice-cream, we could stop by the store?”

“I don’t think Miss Spellman would approve” Zoey mumbled.

“Well, she’s not here, is she?” Mary tried to sound cheerful.

Zoey sobbed loudly: “Yes, and that’s all my fault.”

“Oh, shh, hey, Zoey, no. Hun, it’s not your fault. Not at all. Zelda wanted to this, to help the other kids” Mary said laying her arm on Zoey’s shoulders.

“But she wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t run away” Zoey said, trying to hold back tears: “And now she is there and…”

“No, it is a good thing you ran away. Somebody had to end this. You are a hero, Zoey.”

“But I don’t want her to get hurt” Zoey sobbed.

“She won’t, she’ll be alright. I promise, nothing will happen to Zelda” Mary said firmly. She had to believe in her own words, she was too scared to face the possibility of anything happening to Zelda.

“Did you talk to her? How is she?” Zoey asked trying to calm herself, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“I haven’t yet, she is probably busy and will call later tonight when everyone is asleep” Mary explained. She didn’t want to lie to Zoey, it would only backfire and she wanted the girl to trust her.

“What if they found out that she is undercover?”

“They didn’t, trust me, we have someone right there, who is looking out for her” Mary tried to comfort Zoey. It wasn’t a lie, there was an Officer in the forest, close to the Campus, but still a couple of miles away, so they wouldn’t detect him and suspect anything. But Mary doubted that he would be of much help if anything happened inside the Cult.

“I don’t want her to die” Zoey whispered.

“And she won’t. I promise. Look at me” Mary demanded softly.

Zoey looked up with sad eyes and Mary smiled at her.

“She’ll be back with us, keeping us from eating ice-cream before you know it, okay?”

Zoey smiled weakly and nodded again.

“So how about we drive to the store and get some peanut-butter cup ice-cream?” Mary suggested.

“Could I umm maybe get rocky road?”

“Sure thing” Mary smiled, relieved that Zoey was obviously feeling better.

 

Mary parked in front of the supermarket.

“Can I stay in the car? I don’t really feel like going in looking like this” Zoey asked shyly pointing to her face, her eyes still red from crying.

“Umm yea sure, I’ll be quick. So rocky road? Anything else you want?” Mary asked with a smile.

“No, just the ice-cream, please” Zoey replied.

“Okay” Mary nodded and took the car keys and her wallet.

Zoey waited until she entered the store before she opened the car door. She knew it was probably not okay, she knew how worried Mary would be, but she just had to do it.

She couldn’t just sit around and wait for Zelda’s return. She had to save her. After all it was her fault, without her, Zelda would have never gone there.

Zoey took a look back at the store and started to run. She knew it would take Mary a while to find the ice-cream, she had overheard Hilda telling Dr. Cee that they were out of rocky road, which was his favorite flavor.

It wasn’t nice to trick Mary like this, but Zoey was certain, that she’d forgive her, when she brought Zelda back home.

But Mary was a cop and Zoey had to act quick if she wanted to get ahead. Taking the bus was not an option, it would take too long to get to Greenhill.

She ran along the road, stopping a car that was going in the right direction. A man and his son were inside, and Zoey figured it would be safe to ride with them.

“Hello, I umm missed my bus” Zoey explained: “I need to be back in Greenhill by 9 or my mum will kill me.”

“You really shouldn’t be out here so late” the man said: “You can hop in, this is my son Theo, who also missed his bus going back to college.”

“Hey” the guy said and Zoey immediately felt like she could trust him.

They were trying to catch his bus in Greenhill, where it was supposed to take a break for twenty minutes.

“What did you do in Greendale?” Theo asked with a friendly smile.

“Umm I was in the bookstore, we don’t have one quite as good. And Dr. Cee is so nice” Zoey lied.

“He sure is, ah, I remember spending all my time there back in high school with my friends. We would always… ah well never mind” Theo said with a look towards his father.

“Oh come on son, I am curious, what exactly did you do back in high school” the dad laughed: “He was a trouble maker and so were his friends. You wouldn’t believe what they did and how much I had to worry.”

“Daaaad, please don’t” Theo said, rolling his eyes. Zoey grinned, but she felt a sting in her stomach.

She missed her mom, but so much had happened since her death that she couldn’t even really remember how it had been. And now that she had finally found something like a home again, she had to leave it behind.

She was scared to face Miss A., scared of what she might do to her. Running away was the most serious offense and was punished severely. If they had found out about Zoey telling the police about the organization, they surely would kill her.

But Zoey had to go there, she couldn’t let Zelda risk her life. It had been only two weeks, but she had felt so homely with Zelda and Mary. She just didn’t want to ruin their life as well, they were such an adorable couple, genuinely loving each other.

No, no matter how scared Zoey was, she had to save Zelda.

She thanked Mr. Putnam for the ride as she got out at the bus station. She quickly walked away from them, scared that otherwise she might change her mind.

Her whole body was shivering, but she knew what she had to do. There was only one way and she would do it, for Zelda, for Mary and for herself.

After all there was a tiny bit of hope left in her, that she would make it back out together with Zelda, alive and maybe she could really move in with them and live with them forever.

It was unlikely, the organization was too powerful, but Zoey would rather have them torture her for the rest of her life than have Zelda suffer there.
Zoey took a deep breath and walked into the Sheriff’s office.

“Hello, young lady, how may I help you?” one of the Deputy’s asked with a friendly smile. Zoey was sure that he was an outsider.

“I need to talk to Deputy Blackwood” she said.

Prudence Blackwood was just a couple of years older than her, she had been something like Zoey’s big sister back on Campus. She had tried to protect Zoey, showed her some of her tricks. Prudence had changed when she had turned 16. Suddenly she was all about respecting the rules, obeying her supervisor and even telling on others.

“Sure, I’ll fetch her” the deputy said and walked to the back.

Turning 18 every recruit has to prove they are worthy by completing a test. Zoey was in one of the quiet rooms, when Prudence had her initiation. It was always a big celebration for the ones who passed the test and officially became members and for the ones who did exeptionally well, they were allowed to carry the name Blackwood.

“Zoey?” Prudence seemed surprised, then angry: “What on earth? We have been looking for you?”

With an iron grip she grabbed Zoey’s arm, pulling her to the side, so the other Deputy wouldn’t hear them.

“Where have you been?” Prudence whispered angrily.

“Hiding” Zoey said, her whole body was shivering: “Miss A. wanted to send me to the Camp, so I… I don’t know, I just ran away, without thinking.”

“Dumb girl” Prudence hissed, but there was a somewhat sympathetic expression on her face and Zoey couldn’t believe when Prudence mumbled: “You should have stayed away.”

“What do you mean?” she whispered with wide eyes.

“Why did you come back? You know what they will do to you” Prudence looked sad.

“But I thought- I mean you’re a member?”

“I am. That’s why I will have to take you back.”

Chapter Text

„Where were you?“ Prudence asked as she and Zoey sat in the car.

“Hiding” Zoey mumbled.

“Where exactly? We looked everywhere around here? I heard you went to Riverdale. How did you survive?”

“Stealing food and stuff” Zoey shrugged.

“Stop lying. They would have found you. Someone must have helped you. Why didn’t you stay there?” Prudence knew something was up.

“I was hiding in someone’s house, but they didn’t know” Zoey wouldn’t tell on Zelda or Mary.

“You better think of a more believable story, because if I’m not buying it, neither will Miss A.”

“Do you think they’ll kill me?” Zoey was shivering.

“No, but…” Prudence sighed. It was pointless to lie. They both knew what these people were capable of, what they did to runaways: “Why did you come back here?”

“I had to” Zoey said and looked out of the window as Prudence started the car.

“You really should have stayed away” Prudence said after a couple of minutes.

“Why would you say that? I thought you’re a member, you’re worthy and…”

“Oh come on, did you really believe…? I did what I had to do in order to survive. I needed to get out of there and that was the only way. I never made it out of there. If
I had been in your situation, I would have run as far away as possible.”

“Why don’t you run now? You’re an adult, you even work for the police, you could just go away.”

“I thought about it, more than one time, but I can’t. I have no money, I have no other family than this and I just… I want revenge. I’ll make them pay for everything
they are doing to us” Prudence growled and then bit her lip. She glanced over at Zoey who seemed shocked.

“Are you serious?”

“No” Prudence said, scared the girl would tell on her: “Of course not. Actually my life ain’t too bad now. As you said, I have a job, I’m an adult, so I don’t have to follow the rules too closely anymore, just the services and all that.”

“How would you even get revenge?” Zoey asked, an idea forming in her head.

“It was a joke, Zoey. I’m not planning on any revenge.”

“I don’t need revenge, I just want to get out of there. You know what they are doing to us, what they did to you. Why can’t you help us. You’re a cop and what they are doing is against the law.”

“Oh Zoey, if I could, I would. But it’s not so easy. They are so powerful. My boss is a member, the mayor is a member, hell I don’t even know who else is a member, so
I can’t talk to anyone, because if they tell on me, I will be back on campus, most likely tortured to death!”

They fell silent for another moment. Zoey was trying to figure out if Prudence was telling the truth, but she had no reason not to trust her.

“The only reason I’m driving you back is that my boss would find out if I didn’t. I would be a traitor and I’m sure I don’t have to remind you of the punishment for traitors” Prudence explained, biting her lip even harder.

“I know… and I think they might see me as one…” Zoey mumbled.

“What? Why?”

“I umm… the police found me and picked me up. And there was this woman and she tricked me into believing she was part of them, so I told her about Miss A. and the others and…” Zoey started crying.

Prudence stopped the car, turning to Zoey.

“You did what?”

“I told them everything. They brought me to a hospital, they saw all the scars, I had no choice! I’m so scared. What if Miss A. will murder me?”

“Wait a second. Who were these people? Why didn’t you stay with them?”

“I wanted to, I’m so scared, but I had to make it right. They were so good to me. And now she is here, probably in trouble and pain, just because of me…”

“Who is she? Why is she in danger? What are you talking about?”

“They started an undercover operation. One of them is on Campus right now, because they want to save the other kids. But they haven’t heard back from her yet and
it was all my fault, so I just thought if I come back, I could help her escape.”

“You’re telling me that there is a police investigation, an undercover operation even?”

“Please don’t tell them, Pru. Please. They did so much for me. Just drop me of at the campus.”

“No, Zoey, you don’t understand. This is all I’ve been waiting for. If these people are as trustworthy as you say they are, I want to help them!”

“You, what?”

“I want to help them, you, and everyone left on Campus. But I never knew how. I thought about contacting the FBI, but they would have informed my boss and all I’d
have achieved, would have been my own death.”

“Are you serious?” Zoey asked, but she had already decided to trust Prudence. Prudence had helped her back at the Campus, she had been one of the few good people there and it was reasonable enough that she changed, just to get out of there.

“Of course I am. Just tell me how to contact them and I will ask if and how I can help.”

“Well they haven’t heard back from the one on Campus, that’s why I wanted to check in on her. It’s difficult to get close, because it’s so deep in the woods and well protected. I think they’re struggling with a proper way to communicate and track what’s going on there. Eventually I suppose they have to make a move to get everyone out. But of course they don’t want it to end in a shooting or something.”

“I get that, yeah. So what was your plan. Just knock on the door and seeing if you’re lucky enough to survive?”

“Something like that. I mean I got out once…”

“That’s crazy. They will make sure you never get out again.”

“So be it. She’s risking her life for me.”

“Sounds like a really good person.”

“The best.”

“Alright, I have an idea. I can pass the messages on. I can go in and out of campus without raising suspicions.”

“Would you really do that?”

“Of course!”

“But you’ll have to take me to the campus anyway, now.”

“Unfortunately yes. My colleague saw you, you’re on tape and if you don’t show up there, it will raise questions.”

“I know, but that’s okay. You can get me out again. It will only be a matter of days, right?”

“Exactly and they will probably just lock you up” Prudence said, trying to sound positive, while fearing for the worst.

“Okay, let’s go then.”

 

It didn’t take them long to arrive at Campus. Zoey told Prudence more about Zelda and Mary, giving her Mary’s phone number so she could call her.

“Oh Prudence, what are you doing here so late at night?” They were greeted at the front gate.

“Found a runaway” she explained casually.

“Zoey?!” the warden said in disbelief: “Miss A. sure will be happy to see you. Should we call her?”

“No, I don’t think that will be necessary. I’ll just lock her up in one of the quiet rooms and leave a note for Miss A.” Prudence explained.

The warden nodded. It was reasonable, nobody wanted to be the one to wake up Miss A. Not even when they had good news.

They let Zoey and Prudence inside, before closing the gate again.

They walked up to the supervisor building. The quiet rooms were in the cellar. They had agreed that Prudence would stay the night and look for Miss Spellman in the morning.

“What are you two doing outside?” a stern voice called them from behind.

They turned around to see Miss D. and Zelda walking towards them.

“Oh Prudence, I thought you were…Zoey?!”

“I found her, or rather she found me. She walked into the station earlier” Prudence explained: “I was about to take her to one of the quiet rooms. I didn’t want to wake anyone.”

Zoey and Zelda stared at each other in shock. Zelda’s face turned white. What on earth was Zoey doing here?

Miss D. nodded towards Prudence, before turning to Zoey. She didn’t say a word and then slapped the girl hard. Zoey flinched and Zelda tried her best to appear calm and disinterested.

“That is the runaway I told you about. Well what a perfect timing. We were just about to check on the quiet rooms” Miss D. said turning to Zelda, who managed to nod without taking her eyes of Zoey, quietly asking her, what on earth she was doing here.

"Prudence, may I introduce, this is Miss S. our newest supervisor! Well, let's go!"

Chapter 17

Summary:

Zoey is back on the campus and Zelda has to find a way to keep her save.

Chapter Text

Zelda wanted to ask Zoey what she was doing here, but it was impossible with Miss D. and Prudence present, so she just glanced at Zoey, trying to read her mind.

They walked downstairs to the so called quiet rooms. Whereas rooms didn’t really fit the description of the empty and cold cells.

Prudence held on to Zoey with a tight grip, as Miss D. opened the first cell.

Zelda had helped bring Jake down here a couple of hours ago. Miss A. had beat the boy up in camp and Zelda could barely stop her, but she managed to talk her into locking the boy up. As bad as these windowless cells were, she figured it was saver to have him locked up here for 24 hours.

But now the boy was lying motionless in the middle of the cell. Miss D. called his name, shining a flashlight into his face, but he didn’t move. Zelda’s heart sunk as she quickly walked over to feel his pulse.

His heart was still beating, but that was only a weak relieve.

“We need to call a doctor!” she said turning to Miss D.

“He’s probably just faking it” Miss D. said with a shrug.

“No, he’s not…” Zelda argued.

Miss D. walked over, bending over the boy and slapping him hard. He didn’t move or even flinch.

Miss D. sighed, handing the flashlight to Zelda: “I guess you’re right. Prudence, go get one of the docs. Can you take care of Zoey, just lock her up in one of the free rooms. Miss A. will look after her tomorrow.”

“Of course” Zelda said. She felt happy for having the chance to talk to Zoey alone and guilty at the same time.

“So you’re that runaway, I’ve been hearing about” she growls, trying to sound stern as she walks over to Zoey. Prudence lets go of the girl and rushes back upstairs.

Zoey dares to smile just the slightest bit up at Zelda, as she grips her arm forcefully and walks her down the corridor to the room at the far end. She wanted to get out of earshot. Only after opening the door and pushing Zoey inside, she dared to speak.

“What on earth are you doing here?” she hisses angrily.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Spel…Miss S. I…I thought you got hurt, I wanted to check on you and and…” she sobbed and hugged Zelda tight.

Zelda felt a warm tingle in her stomach and hold the girl close.

“Did Mary sent you here?” she asked.

“No…no, she…I ran away…” Zoey admitted, biting her lip.

“Zoey! Why would you do such a foolish thing? You know how dangerous these people are! You shouldn’t be here and now Mary doesn’t even know you’re here. What were you thinking?!”

“It’s just, we didn’t hear from you and I just didn’t want them to hurt you, just because of me…” Zoey mumbled.

“Oh honey, I was just being careful, taking my time around here, I…oh Zoey” Zelda tried to remain calm. She ran her hand over Zoey’s hair, kissing her forehead. She couldn’t be mad at the girl for worrying about her, but she was scared for her health and safety and that made it hard to appreciate the gesture.

“I’m sorry, Miss S.” Zoey cried.

“It’s okay…shhh, everything will be fine…” Zelda tried to comfort her: “We’ll just have to get out of here as fast as possible. This Miss A. is a complete psycho…”

“Prudence will help us” Zoey said.

“Can we trust her?”

“Yes, she promised to help us. She can contact Mary, I gave her her phone number. She hates this place and everyone here…”

“Okay, that’s good. We’ll figure something out and you…oh god… I try to keep you save, but…”

“Don’t worry, do what you have to do, to save all of us! I’ll be fine. Please it’s more important to stop them…”

“Oh Zoey, you really shouldn’t have come here. I couldn’t take it when something happens to you…” Zelda tried her best to blink her tears away.

“I can take a punishment” Zoey tried to sound strong.

“I know, you can, but you shouldn’t… it… oh this place is so messed up…”

“I hope you haven’t been acting like this the whole time. You don’t really sound like a supervisor” Zoey said smirking half-heartedly.

“And I hope you keep these comments to yourself when you have to face Miss A. tomorrow” Zelda said in a serious tone.

“Yes, mom” Zoey said, rolling her eyes.

Zelda’s heart skipped a beat. She had never been called mom and even in this shitty situation, it warmed her heart.

“Sorry, I meant, ma’am” Zoey said quickly taking Zelda’s silence for disapproval.

“It’s…err…”

“Miss S.? Any problems?”

“Uhm no!” Zelda called back: “Just making sure this one will behave until tomorrow.”

She squeezed Zoey’s hands, not daring to give her a hug in case someone walks up here.

She was unable to say another word to Zoey, she felt overwhelmed and scared for the girl’s life.

Zelda walked out, locking the cell and trying to appear hard and cold as she approached Miss D. who was standing in front of Jake’s cell as the boy was lifted on a stretcher.

“They’ll have to take him to the medical unit for a proper examination. Did Zoey cause any trouble?”

“No, no, not at all. She just apologized for running away.”

“I bet now she’s regretting it. Well, it’s her own fault. Miss A. will have her fun with her. That stupid girl…well…it’s late, we should go to bed.”

“Yes” Zelda nodded and Prudence followed them upstairs, waiting for a chance to talk to Zelda in private.

“Good work, Prudence. I’m sure Father Blackwood and Miss B. will be very proud.”

“Thank you, Miss D., but I didn’t really do much…” she waved it off.

“How exactly did you find her? I think it would be good to know, so I can tell Miss A. everything in the morning” Zelda asked.

“Good idea. But if you’ll excuse me, I’m exhausted” Miss D. wished them a good night and walked off to the supervisor’s building.

“She came into the station, ma’am. I’m a deputy and she asked for me…” Prudence started to explain, but Zelda interrupted her as soon as Miss D. was gone.

“Zoey told me, you will help us?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You have to contact Detective Mary Wardwell in Greendale. Tell her I’m fine. But she’s got to get us out of here as fast as possible. These kids…oh I don’t want them to suffer any day longer! And don’t call her, drive there. Do you understand?!”

“Yes, ma’am…I… I’m sorry I didn’t do anything earlier…”

“Don’t waste time regretting your past mistakes and act now. That’ll do more good than looking back.”

“Yes, ma’am” Prudence looked to the floor. She was ashamed that she had never tried to destroy the Blackwood Church and now poor little Zoey was in danger, because she had been too afraid to act.

“It’s not your fault, honey. You’re a victim just like all the other kids here. But now you can do something really good. Just please find Mary Wardwell and tell her everything, will you?” Zelda tried to encourage the young woman in front of her.

“I’ll find her and help her to get you out of here” Prudence promised.

 

****

Zelda couldn’t fall asleep. A part of her hoped that any moment Mary would come storming into the room, telling her it is all over, telling her, that Zoey is save. But the hours passed and when it dawned outside Zelda finally managed to fall asleep.

When she woke up a three hours later, she was starting to doubt Prudence sincerity. Maybe she shouldn’t have trusted that girl. After all she could have just pretended to help them and give these information to the Blackwoods. But then they would have probably already put her in one of the quiet rooms herself.

“Miss S.? Are you up?” A knock on her door had Zelda jump up.

Were they here to lock her up?

“Umm yes, yes…” Zelda called back and Miss A. opened the door.

“Sorry, I know you had an eventful night, but I was unable to reach Prudence and Miss D. said you talked to her about the details and I just need to know what happened exactly.”

Zelda stared at Miss A. wide eyed. There was fresh blood on her shirt and Zelda assumed it was Zoey’s.

She tried to stay calm. Mary would be here soon. She just had to keep up the act for a little bit longer.

“Uhm, well, yes, of course. Prudence said that Zoey walked into the station and just asked to see her. Apparently, she refused to say anything about where she had been. I asked her as well, but she just apologized for running away. So I’m afraid there is not much that I can tell you. Did you already speak with her?” Zelda asked anxious to know what Miss A. had done to her Zoey.

“That stupid girl is not saying a single word. But don’t worry, I know exactly how to break her” Miss A said angrily.

“No!” Zelda called out in panic and Miss A. raised her eyebrows questioningly.

“No?”

“I…err… I think there might be a better way. I know, I’m not as experienced as you are with these kids and I don’t know that girl at all, but you said that she maybe talked to the police about the Church?”

“Yes…and I will make her pay for telling on us!”

“But, I suppose it would be helpful to know exactly what she said. Just so if there is an investigation, we know what accusations to face” Zelda tried to reason.

“That’s right, that’s why I will make her tell me everything.”

“She might hide something, if she still thinks the police is coming to rescue her. So maybe I should talk to her?”

“You? Why?”

“I’m a psychologist; I know when kids lie to me and trust me I have some tricks up my sleeve to make them talk. And she doesn’t know me yet, so she might be more open.”

“I guess it’s worth a try. We can still beat her up if it doesn’t work.”

Zelda forced herself to nod. She would do everything in her power to protect Zoey.

“I’ll put Zoey in one of our interrogation rooms, so you have time to get ready.”

“Perfect” Zelda forced out as Miss A. already left the room.

 

***

 

Zelda watched Zoey through the two-way mirror being tied to the table. She looked horrible. Her nose was bleeding, a black eye forming and her lips burst open. It was unbearable to look at her like that, but Zelda couldn’t allow her cover to be blown. That would mean even more danger for herself and Zoey.

“So how are you going to do this?” Miss A. asked curiously as she joined her in the watch room.

“I’ll try to be the good cop” Zelda explained.

“That won’t work. These kids, and Zoey especially need a strong hand!”

“I know, but she is expecting to be hurt and screamed at, so being nice might take her by surprise and she might just spill all that she knows.”

“Fine! But you can’t allow her to break the rules. If she is being disrespectful, you have to punish her.”

“Don’t worry. It will be my pleasure” Zelda lied.

She walked into the interrogation room, slamming the door shut behind her. She had a deja-vu. This was basically how she and Zoey met for the first time, only a couple of weeks ago.

Zoey seemed surprised to see her, surprised and happy.

“Hello Zoey. We met briefly last night. I’m here to talk to you about what happened.”

Zoey kept quiet and looked at Zelda, quietly asking her what was going on.

“I want you to be honest with me. We know that you talked to the police about our community. We need to know what exactly you told them. Can you tell me everything that happened?”

“I… uhm I was scared of the punishment. So I ran away. I… I hitchhiked to Riverdale and slept there in a school. But the police found me” Zoey started to explain.

“Good, you’re doing a great job, Zoey. What happened then?”

“They took me to the precinct and started to interrogate me. But I didn’t say a word. I swear I said nothing!”

“Okay. But somehow they still found out about us. Would you like something to drink?”

“Yes.”

Zelda sighed, shaking her head. Then she slapped Zoey hard across the cheek. At least that’s what it looked like, because Zoey let her head fly to the side and cried out.

“I’m sorry, Miss S. I’d like something to drink please, ma’am.”

“That’s better” Zelda hissed and bent forward to whisper in her ear: “Keep talking, make up some crazy stories, but stay close to the facts!”

Then she said louder: “Consider this your last warning!”

“Yes, ma’am” Zoey said, looking down on the table, pretending to be scared.

Zelda was anxious about how long they could keep up this act. She was sure that Miss A. was watching them. Mary, when are you coming to get us out of here?!

Chapter 18

Summary:

Will Mary be there in time?

TW: violence against minors

Notes:

End notes contain spoiler ;)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

„I swear I wasn‘t going to tell them anything, ma’am” Zoey repeated: “But this police woman, she kept asking me questions and send me to a doctor and the doctor told her about my wounds and she wouldn’t let me sleep, and I was so tired and hungry and I was scared and then she said she was part of the organisation.”

“How could she say she was part of our community if she didn’t know about it?” Zelda asked sharply. She had to act as stern as possible or Miss A. would intervene.

“Well, I mean, she didn’t say it exactly. But she said I have to talk to her or I would face severe consequences. So I assumed…”

“I see. Well what did you tell her exactly?”

“Not much, I swear, Miss S. I just said that I ran away from the foster home and didn’t want to go back, because of the way I was treated there. She wanted to know where it was, but I didn’t tell her.”

“How did she find out about us then?”

“I don’t know…”

Zelda slammed her hand on the table, making Zoey jump and stare at her anxiously. She trusted Zelda, she knew that Zelda would never hurt her, but this room, the fact that Miss A. was just metres away made her nervous and scared.

“I um maybe I mentioned something about Miss A., ma’am. I’m so sorry, I thought the police woman belonged to us and she acted like she did, so I told her how scared I was to be punished. Only later I found out she wasn’t really part of our community. But I swear I didn’t tell them about the campus and all. I just thought she already knew and she was a member, like Prudence. And…”

Before Zoey could finish the sentence, the door was slammed open and Miss A. stepped in.

“Lies! Zoey, what did you tell them exactly!” Miss A. yelled and stepped to the table, pulling Zoey up by the collar of her shirt.

The girl began to shiver instantly and looked helplessly over to Zelda.

“Not..nothing, ma’am, I swear, I told them that I didn’t know where the Campus is” Zoey stammered.

Miss A. pushed her against the wall, so she hurt her head. Zelda sprung up from her chair, unsure what to do. She couldn’t rescue Zoey without revealing who she really was and then she had to get away from these people and she had no idea how to do that.

“Why are they here then?” Miss A. screamed.

“What do you mean?” Zelda asked now making the woman turn, without losing the grip on Zoey’s collar.

“There is a helicopter and several police cars outside demanding entry. Miss B. is talking to them currently, but it seems like they have a warrant.”

Mary, Zelda thought, her heart skipping a beat, but she didn’t dare allow herself to smile.

“Oh no! But how did they find us? What are we supposed to do now?”

“Well, that is the question, isn’t it?” Miss A. said narrowing her eyes and focusing on Zoey: “I think it is an impressive coincidence that this one showed up last night and now the police is here knocking on our door. Did they bug you? Tell me!”

“No, no, ma’am, I swear. I just didn’t want anymore trouble, that’s why I came back” Zoey stammered.

“That’s hard to believe. Undress!” Miss A. ordered sternly.

“What? Why? No!” Zoey said.

Miss A. slapped her hard.

Zelda walked closer: “Shouldn’t we hide or something, when the police sees this…I mean…”

“Ah don’t worry. We are prepared for situations as such. The hurt kids are brought into a hideout and the other’s will act normal. We just need to make sure, that they
don’t have any inside information” Miss A. said and waved Zelda off.

“Do you really think this girl was sent back here? I don’t think the police would send someone underage” Zelda said still trying to protect Zoey.

“Well, how else would they get in here? We’re very careful with who we let in and for adults it’s near impossible, so they can hardly sent an Undercover Cop.”

“But there is other people coming and going here, maybe one of them…”

“That’s impossible. Everyone who is a member and working on the outside is perfectly loyal and trustworthy. Why are we even arguing over this? It is obvious that Zoey brought them here.”

“Okay! Yes, I admit it” Zoey said, she was screwed either way and at least Zelda should get out safely.

“What?” Zelda asked sharply, shooting her a warning look.

“The police lady gave me this GPS tracker and send me back here, so they could follow.”

“I knew it!” Miss A. said and shoved Zoey even harder against the wall: “Where is the thing?”

“I…I don’t have it…”

Miss A. punched her in the stomach, making Zoey cry out.

“She made me swallow it, because she was scared that I would be searched.”

“Swallow it? Does that exist?” Miss A. asked Zelda while Zoey was trying to catch her breath.

“Yes, it’s very advanced, but I suppose it’s just GPS. I never heard of a bug to swallow.

“Did they give you something to record us?”

“No, ma’am. I swear” Zoey said breathless: “They said they would find enough evidence once they’re here.”

“Maybe we should take Zoey to the hideout, if they find her like this…” Zelda made another attempt to make sure Zoey is safe.

“You’re right. But you can be sure that you’ll face the worst punishment as soon as they are gone” Miss A. hissed and punched Zoey again even harder.

This time Zelda stepped in: “Stop this!”

“Why should I? She needs to learn her lesson!” Miss A. said raising her fist to land another punch in Zoey’s face.

Zelda held onto her arm, holding her back and pulling her away from Zoey.

“Are you crazy? Let go of me!” Miss A. screamed.

“No way. I can’t allow this” Zelda yelled back.

“You can’t allow that? And who are you to think that you have any say here just yet? You’re just a newbie and have to learn how we handle the things here” Miss A. said calmer, but no less angry, pulling her arm free from Zelda.

“I don’t care how you think you handle things here. You stop punching this girl right now!” Zelda said in her most authoritative voice.

“And why should I?”

“Because… we can’t waste time with this now. They can start searching this place any minute now” Zelda tried to sound reasonable. She knew that situations like these were dangerous and she couldn’t risk Miss A. mistrusting her so close before her being rescued.

“Fine, I suppose” Miss A. said with a shrug and opened the door, gesturing for Zelda and Zoey to go through.

Zelda nodded at her appreciatively and walked up to the door. As soon as she took a step outside, Miss A. shoved her out, slamming the door shut and locking it.

“You’re in no position to give me commands here” she screamed through the door and turned to Zoey, who turned white with fear.

Zelda slammed against the door, calling for Miss A. to let her back in. She ran to the observation room, hoping to find a spare key there. She banged against the mirror, but it was bulletproof and wouldn’t break.

She watched as Miss A. punched Zoey hard in the face, making the girl tumble and fall against the wall. She had her hands still cuffed and couldn’t protect herself.

Zelda’s heart began to race and she talked to through the microphone: “Miss A. please we have to leave. They will be here any minute. You don’t want to risk our whole community just to get your revenge, do you?”

“This is not about revenge. It’s about discipline” Miss A. said and stepped towards Zoey, sending another punch towards her stomach.

Zelda could barely watch. She had to get back in there. Where were the cops? Where was Mary? They could probably break the door down or something.

Breaking the door down sounded like a good idea and since she could obviously not talk Miss A. out of hurting Zoey, Zelda turned away and walked down the corridor, trying to find something to open the door with.

Suddenly the door of the corridor was burst open and two cops stepped in, pointing their weapons at Zelda.

“Arms where we can see them. Get down!” They yelled.

“No, please. You need to help, please” Zelda begged them.

“On the ground, now!” They screamed, their weapons raised to Zelda’s chest, but she wasn’t scared.

The door was opened again and Mary stepped in.

“Weapons down, now! This is my wife you morons! Our undercover officer! Zelda” she said, walking quickly over and kissing her wife.

“Mary! We need to save Zoey, she’s…” Zelda was unable to speak and just pointed to the door.

“This is the police! Open up right now!” Mary said banging against the door.

The door opened seconds later and Miss A. stepped out, her clothes was blood stained and she was carrying a weird smile on her face.

“What did you do to Zoey, you monster!” Zelda screamed, walking past her into the interrogation room.

Mary pushed Miss A. hard against the wall, handcuffing her behind her back.

“Oww! This is too tight. I’m sure you don’t want to be accused for police brutality.”

Mary just smiled, not letting herself lose control: “You’re right. It will be far more pleasurable to see what the other inmates will do to you.”

“Zoey. Oh god. Zoey” Zelda sobbed as she kneeled down next to the unconscious girl.

“We need a doctor. And the other kids are in some kind of hideout. You have to find them, Mary!”

Miss A. stared at Zelda: “Traitor! You’ll never find them. And without our help, they will slowly starve to death.”

A new person entered the corridor: “Detective, we found another thirty kids, heavily hurt. The fire brigade is coming out to help us.”

“Prudence?!” Miss A. hissed.

“Thank you, Prudence. We need to take Zoey to a hospital. Use the helicopter. That’s more important than tracking down this Blackwood guy.”

“Yes, ma’am” Prudence said, turning back around.

“Prudence! You will pay for this. You all will pay for this!” Miss A. screamed.

“Shut up! Here take her to the car” Mary said, handing Miss A. over to one of the police man.

Then she turned towards Zelda. She had Zoey’s head in her lap, making sure she was still breathing.

“She can’t die, Mary” Zelda said with tears in her eyes.

“She’s a fighter, Zel, she won’t die!” Mary tried to sound confident though her heart was breaking at the sight.

Notes:

*Spoiler alert*

She will live! And you'll have some fluff to finish up this story.