Follow the Leader

The air was thick with heat even as the sun continued to peek and hide behind cirrus clouds high overhead. Cicadas buzzed their grating, whining song from the landscape that surrounded them. The farmhouse and barracks were the only civilized buildings around for miles, a couple of beat-up trucks and an old van parked beside them, quiet and unused. Below the hill behind him, seen from a distance was the vineyard, rows and rows of grape vines, snaking over their supports.

"This is a proud day," he said, his deep baritone carrying out strong and forceful without him needing to yell. He looked proud, as he laid a hand on the shoulder of a young man kneeling before him and facing the small crowd. "Sam has proven himself a loyal and trustworthy member of INK. A hard worker and dedicated to helping his brothers and sisters also become stronger members. And this exemplary behavior needs to be rewarded."

His hand left Sam's shoulder to grasp an electric razor in both of his hands, his slender fingers turning it on before resting his hand back where it had been. As the light, mechanical buzzing started, the young man's eyes shown bright with an internal excitement, unable to hide a grin from his boyish features as he looked out at the faces of those situated around and watching. Only a small handful of others in the group had achieved this honor and now it was his turn, his expression growing reverent as the razor was finally pressed to his neck and started sheering away the soft, spiky strands of his russet colored hair.

The crowd was silent but several watched with an equal amount of pride in their brother, while others stood silently in awe and envy. Ben worked methodically to shed Sam of the representation of all that held him back from achieving his full potential. It was only a year ago that the young man had been a drug addict and now he'd reached ultimate purity. Finally, the deed was done, and Sam brushed a few cut hair pieces from his shoulders fully shedding his old life and identity. Ben held a hand out to the lad and Sam willingly took it, gripping the older man's strong palm as he was helped to stand. And he tried not to cry as he was patted on the back and laughed meekly as he was brought into a hug.

"Let's break for lunch now and then get back to our duties," Ben addressed the crowd as he pulled away, a comforting hand laid on the back of Sam's neck. Then they began wandering across the lawn towards the large farmhouse, Sam blending in with the others as a few fussed over his new look. But Ben, the Leader, walked alone, clad in only boots and weathered brown pants, his broad shoulders and chest colored a dark and healthy tan from working in the sun for long hours. And other than a ring of dark, groomed facial hair around his lips and on his chin, he too possessed no hair on his head, the smooth expanse of his scalp glistening in the sun.

She was proud, she was...well...Merela Kovac. She still didn't fully understand why she was here. It was her third month and her progress had been well. The depressed heroin addict was learning from The Leader, although she was still no where close to his inner circle yet. She was still new in their eyes, not quite trusted despite her complete devotion. A devotion, that as she thought of it, scared even her.

She couldn't explain it, but for a woman who had lived her whole life away from herself and her morals, trapped in a nihilistic hedonism, she felt like she had finally found her calling. It was complete, pure, unadulterated. Celibacy, the cleanliness, the rigorous exercise that was every day, all of it added up to a feeling that..dare she say it...was more powerful than any love she had ever experienced. They were going to be cleansed; they were going to be healed. And that idea, no, that promise, is what kept her going. The Leader knew how to heal people like her, he knew that this was what she needed, a new home, a new family.

And not only did he know what she needed, he provided it.

She began setting the table for lunch with the other women. The food was grown, cooked, born out of their own sweat and blood. They were independent here, she was independent here. And that thought put a smile to her face as she sat down at her place on one of the long picnic tables. Lunch wasn't nearly as rigorous as dinner, but it was still something that needed to be taken slow and enjoyed. As she gave a small prayer to the universe, thanking it for bringing her her into this new family, she began filling the water glass of the woman next to her and started to dine.

There was something bright and pure shining within Sam now. Whether it was the way he held himself, upright and tall, filled with a sense of purpose and confidence, or just the way he looked now without his hair, clean and dignified. Either way, something changed. And Ben considered himself the author of those changes. INK, which was founded by him more than a year ago, was about achieving purity through the unity of it's members. Through the strength of their community and their "family", cleansing and purifying the self as they became one with the fold. Sam had reached the highest stage in that process of unity, just like a few of his brothers and sisters had. But none of them were anything without Ben.

After all, without their Leader, INK would fall apart. And then where would they be? These were the people that society had rejected because they just didn't fit in with the status quo. The world said "fend for yourselves" and pitted everyone against each other, all for the sake of egotism and individualism. All of that potential was just rotting away because some people weren't strong enough to make it on their own and nobody gave a shit. There was nobody else in the world who cared about these people... his children.

Here, they belonged, and they belonged to him.

Still, he silently watched as Sam sat amongst a row of others, a couple with shaved heads and a few without. People listened and watched with hopeful eyes when Sam spoke, and they opened up to him. He was a shining example for others to follow. And there were several who Ben personally felt were already well on their way to recovery and unity as well. Then there were a few others, newer members of the family, who still struggled. A couple of months ago, everyone sort of blended together. Everybody was new and scared, full of defense mechanisms and walls that the world had made necessary but which were volatile to the growth of the group as a while. As time wore on, and through Ben's support and teachings, the lines became clearly drawn between those who were committed to the group and those who were still attached to their identities and egos. The one's who still needed help and encouragement.

Like Merela. Ben would have liked to say that he had a personal relationship with all of his children, but as INK grew, he found less and less time to dedicate to each individual person. Now, however, with Sam's final ceremony completed and more of them among the higher ranks, he didn't have to spend so much energy on cultivating everyone at once. It was time to dedicate a little more effort to those who might be struggling and get to know some of his newer children.

The tables were set in long rows next to each other and although he was across the room from her, Ben was positioned just so, that he was able to see her from where he was sitting. Pausing to regard her for several moments while those around him continued to eat, he finally broke his unwavering stare to set his meal aside and rise from his seat. Sauntering through the room, he took his time, looking over his flock, making eye contact with a few and sharing an encouraging word here and there. The reactions always intoxicated him, like a lantern in a darkened cavern as he walked between the rows, eyes and faces lighting up as he passed by. All attentive, all meek and looking to him for the guidance and leadership he provided.

Lunch was almost over by now, so the tables he already passed were being cleared and people were going off for their afternoon exercises and chores. Later on, they'd all gather together in this hall again, for dinner and then evening activities before finally heading off to the barracks for sleep. Coming to Merela's table, he stopped and gave her a neutral smile and said, "Merela. You'll be doing your afternoon drills with me today. When you're done cleaning up after lunch, meet me at the Training Grounds D." It was the most isolated out of all the different sections of the property that they used for these purposes. Getting her alone and away from the others would be a good way to see how she acted when on her own and feel out any problem areas.

The order was given with his usual air of authority, but was tossed out casually. He didn't even wait for a response before he was moving further down the table, continuing to shed light into the glistening eyes of his faithful followers even after he was out of sight.

Fear settled into Merela though she tried hard to ignore it. She knew was a defense mechanism, something from the old life that was going to continue to creep into her person until she was healed. She knew the Leader was going to speak to her before he even opened his mouth, it was the sixth sense that all women have. Her mother called it the "touch of the goddess" but Merela knew better.

It was survival instinct.

Not that she could afford to believe that her brothers and sisters here in the compound were predators in any fashion. Simply that the world out side had trained her that every friendly gesture one person made, it was to conceal the knife they were about to stab in your back. She was still not over this defense mechanism yet.

However her smile was unwavering through his words, and she nodded her head eager to test her body again to it's breaking point. The beautiful thing about coming to INK is the feeling of control she had acquired over her own body. She was quickly getting into the rhythm of exercise and work, and her otherwise thin broken body was healing into strong muscle and had a healthy glow about it. She finished her food, and helped clean the mess of the meal. It didn't take long before she was walking to the slightly out of the way training grounds. Not many people went to D, not only was it out of the way, but you needed an elder with you to be there. Luckily she was going to have the teacher himself with her, so she didn't feel guilty at all for breaking any kind of rules. (Whether they were enforced or not wasn't the problem, it was simply keeping her new found integrity.)

She approached the gate and stopped, closing her eyes for a moment to mentally prepare herself. Most of it was just gated field but there was a small obstacle course, a small shed that held some training and medical equipment, and a punching bag that could be set up outside. Altogether, it was neither the best ground, or the worst, but mostly a place to train in relative solitude and reflection. A place only big enough for two people at most. She smiled her eyes still closed, before she moved to open the gate and take int the site of the grounds.