*~The Sisterhood [Part 4]~*

***
I couldn't concentrate on anything that day. I was just looking at the clock. I was afraid that I'd fall asleep and miss the 8 o' clock meeting. Then I'd never know the name of that sleazy bastard that killed my wife.
07.00 PM
I am walking from corner to corner. My name is Christopher and my wife was murdered. I am going to discover the name of the killer at 08.15 PM. Why 08.15 PM? Easy. I need to spot Ana; I need to make her talk. And then she will spit it out. Just the name. Maybe the surname. Either way, I shall dig up the rest
07.20 PM
My name is Christopher. I am not going to the meeting. I'm not afraid. Maybe my wife's death should be left a secret to me and my family?
07.30 PM
I do not know. Should I go? Should I tell Mike? Should I take a knife with me?
07.45 PM
I am leaving. I am locking the door and making sure that I am not being watched. Nope, no one there, I guess it's safe to go.
I enter the local cafe. Not too many people there. About 10. I easily spot Ana. I want to make eye contact with her but she does not pay attention to me. I come near her and sit in front of her.
'Coffee?' she asked.
'I can't resist', I answered.
'I see you're nervous. You don't have to be.'
I opened my mouth to say something but she put a finger on my lips.
'The wig, you ask? Well, I don't want people to know that I told you about this.'
'About my wife's murder?' I almost screamed.
She looked at me and smiled. Then she looked left. Grabbed a cigarette and looked right. She stayed calm.
'No, not exactly.'
'Tell me, Ana, then why the fuck I am here?'
'It's not that easy, Tiger'
'I noticed. It's never easy with you. Good bye, Ana.'
'Shah... Why don't you relax? Sit and have a drink. You want to know SOMETHING don't you?'
The way she pronounced 'something' hypnotized me, and I just couldn't speak. All I could say was:
'Yeah, Ana.'
With a note of accomplishment she took a deep breath and looked at me.
'Have you ever noticed that the women here have never cried?'
'Not likely. I mean yes. I have never seen a woman cry in this town. Is it that important?'
'Well, yes. How many times have you seen girls fight in this town?'
I had flashbacks. The girls were certainly manly here.
'Loads. Are you saying those girls killed my wife? That's stupid.'
'No. You are stupid for thinking that. They are being trained.'
'What the heck are you talking about?'
'Have you ever entered the temple of Silvia?'
'Of course. It's a historical monument. Everyone was in that temple.'
'Have you been in the underground of that temple?'
'No, it's under construction.'
'Is it?'
'Yes it is.'
'I was there once. But that I will remember for the rest of my life.'
'What did you see? Ruins? Whoa...'
'No. It's a very clean and built-up place.'
'So?'
'Silvia was a leader of a female tribe, called Badhelians. They were taught how to fight and die as a proud warrior. They were taught how to seduce men.'

'Whatever for?'
'They needed to sacrifice bodies. Male bodies. Only then their goddess, Badhelia, would give them immortality. But then, a ruthless tribe has attacked. Some say it were the Vikings. They raped and murdered all of the Badhelians. They kept hostage some of them, enslaved others... All except one, Silvia... She sacrificed herself for... The sisterhood.'
'She sacrificed herself?'
Ana smiled.
'Oh yes, she did. She lay down on needles. But it is said that her soul lives until now. Women know about the sisterhood. Men don't because they must not.'
'Why are you telling me this? I mustn't know.'
'Women here belong to the sisterhood. So did your wife. It was her I saw that day. I saw your wife, Ana. I saw other women that died.'
'Why are you not a part of the sisterhood?'
'The Badhelians were everything but prostitutes. Before sacrificing a man, they used him. Not every man. Not all men are handsome and I think you know it. If a son was born, he was killed immediately. If a daughter was born, it was a celebration.'
She lit another cigarette. Then she continued.
'They never told me about the sisterhood. Not about the Badhelian tribe.'
'Then how do you know this?'
'Your wife told me. Mike's wife told me, Elizabeth, I think. A few other younger girls told me. But then their leader came. The younger girls hid but your wife and some other women didn't have time to hide me not hide themselves. They were punished. They were ordered to have an argument with their husbands and commit suicide. They had to put the knife in themselves.'
She paused and covered her mouth. She started to cry.
'Put the knife in themselves, then take it out and throw it as far as they can to make it look like murder. Do you understand Chris?'
I was speechless.
'How could the leader predict that I would go to you?' I finally said.
'It didn't matter where you'd go. All that mattered was that you'd go. Somewhere. Anywhere, Chris.'
'Who is the leader?'
'The leader is supposed to be Silvia. Her soul lives in the leader. A kind of reincarnation. But I don't know that woman. She is a foreigner. They call her Silvia.'
I looked down.
'Do all women of this town except prostitutes belong to the sisterhood?'
'No. The only women that belong to the sisterhood have a symbol under their breasts. It's either the right one or the left one.'
I had flashbacks again. I did notice something strange about my wife, Ana. But now it became so crystal clear.
'You are in grave danger now, Ana.'
'No, Chris. I am not. I cried. They will think that I told you about somebody who hit me or my family... Or my unhappy childhood.'
'I am worried about you, Ana. I also can't express my gratitude. You look exhausted; let me lead you back home.'
'That would be nice. Let's go.'
I walked approximately 2 meters behind her. She said it would be for my own good. When we reached her home she tuned back and waited for me to come closer. And so I did.
'Chris... There is also one thing you need to know. There was one man who saw one of the processions of Silvia's so-called reincarnation. The guy is old and crazy. He comes up to almost every man in town and tells him that he is in grave danger. That's how that procession affected him. If he comes to you, don't get frightened.'
'He already has.'
'Did he frighten you?'
'A tiny bit', I even smiled. She smiled back at me.
'Don't ever speak about this with anybody, especially women. For your own good, please.'
'I won't Ana.'
I kissed her goodbye. A deep, passionate kiss. It was the least I could do. She at last revealed the truth that Mike couldn't reveal. This will be mine and hers secret. I can not tell Mike, or anybody else, for this matter. I want that damn sisterhood to be left a secret. But the thought that haunts me is that girls do know about it... But no one got hurt... Except my wife and some other women. Technically, it was their fault and...
'You are in grave danger!'
He scared the shit out of me and interrupted my thoughts.
'Fuck off, old timer!' I said
'You shan't be warned again! But mark my words, you will die! You will die!'
He walked away laughing so loudly I could hear him choke.
I was left on the streets alone. And it was so dark. I was without my Ana. I never had her. The sisterhood had her.
That's when I got the idea to ruin the sisterhood once and for all.