The sun had risen behind Loretta, the sky returning to its usual pale blue, the clouds white. They stood in silence for a moment, birds singing happily in the distance.

“Ya’ve changed, Julia.”

Krause remained silent.

“Ya need to head east. If ya don’t they’re going to kill ya along with everyone else here. It’s not worth it. The Church, the Beanmeister, the End of Days, none of it is worth getting ya family killed over.”

“Heretics aren’t allowed to say His name.”

“Ya can’t spread His word if ya’re dead!”

“I have no intention of dying here. His plan... Our plan… is incredible. It saddens me that you won’t be able to see it completed.”

Loretta’s voice was shrill now. “Ya’re a fool, Julia Krause! Ya’re not the Julia I used to know— ya’ve changed! The Jules I knew wouldn’t be acting like this! The Jules I knew would be thinking about Henry, about Annemarie! If ya keep doing this, ya’re going to get them killed!”

Krause took another step forward, now within arm’s reach of Loretta. Krause studied her face for a moment, and felt something stir inside of her. For the first time that morning, maybe even since she joined the Church of the Beanmeister, she felt as though something was wrong. If she kept doing what she was doing, maybe she really was going to get her family, her friends killed. Her necklace hung cold and heavy against her chest. “Do you not want my help? Do you want to leave the Church, really want to? Do you not want me to protect you, do you not want the Church to protect you? Do you not want Him to protect you?”

“I don’t want to get myself killed! I don’t want George to get killed because of the Church of the Beanmeister!”

“Please, Loretta, don’t do this. You’re only going to get yourself into more trouble by leaving.”

Anger began forming in Loretta’s voice. “I’m going to get myself into trouble by leaving, am I— I’m going to get myself into trouble by getting out of a cult that worships something called the Goddamned Beanmeister? Even thinking about joining this stupid cult was what got me into trouble in the first place, and now my best friend actually believes in the crazy stories they tell her. The Great Tribulation, the End of Days, the Beanmeister, all of it is insane! Something’s coming, Julia— something terrible’s going to happen— and ya cult is going to cause it. They’re going to get ya and ya family killed!”

“Why do you hate the Church so much? What have they done to make you think they’re a cult? The Church, Pastor Marcel, the congregation, they have been nothing but kind to me! What happened to make you think they’re going to get you or George or me or Annemarie or Henry killed? What makes you suddenly think that they’re dangerous?”

“They’re killing people, Julia! They get good people like ya to join— good people like ya join and they make ya do good things, but then ya don’t even question it when they ask ya to do something else, and that’s exactly what they want, Julia! Are ya listening to me— The moment ya stopped questioning what they want ya to do, they had ya! Ya trust them more than ya trust me, and now I’m here telling ya that they’re going to hurt ya— hurt ya family— and ya don’t believe me! What can I do to convince ya? I care about ya, Henry, Annemarie. It’s my fault that ya’re caught up in all of this, and for that I am truly sorry, I want to help get ya out, but ya’re not listening to me! Let me help ya!”

Krause was silent.

“Let me help ya!”

Krause blinked. Maybe Loretta was right. She stared at her, unsure of what to do.

“Ya’ve changed…” Loretta stared back. Her eyes were wide, her voice, much quieter now, was trembling. “Ya daughter, ya husband… they’re going to die. And ya— ya’re going to be the one that killed them.”

Then, rage burned in Krause’s chest. She slapped Loretta, hard. Loretta stumbled backwards, holding a hand up to her cheek, which began to turn red. Krause’s hand stung, but she ignored it. “Everything I’m doing, it’s to protect the people I care about. Annemarie, Henry… I’m doing everything I can to keep you safe. I care about you too, Loretta, I do… and that’s why I can’t leave.”

Loretta stared at her, her face unreadable.

Krause stared back for a moment. Then, she turned to walk away.

“Ya’re a fool!” Loretta spat. “Ya’re going to get them killed!”

Krause ignored her. The rage in her chest was gone now, replaced by an immense calm. She wasn’t going to get her family killed…

She was going to save them.

Her head was empty as she walked back. Before she realized it, she was opening the door to her cottage. Her husband sat at the table, rocking their daughter in his arms. The early morning sun poured through the window. He smiled as she entered. “Everything alrigh’, Jules? Ya were out there for a long time.”

“I’m fine,” she replied.

“Is ya friend alrigh’ too?”

“What?”

“The friend Loretta came ta talk ta ya about.”

“Oh. Yes. Nothing too important.”

“Ah, well… Ya know, I don’t like ya two goin’ out alone this early in the morn’. There’ve been lotsa sightings of that cult. There’ve been rumors that people’re goin’ missin’... I don’t know wha’ I woul’ do with myself if ya got hurt.”

“Sorry.”

“Ya alrigh’?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Ya don’ seem alrigh’. Ya seem off.”

“Just tired. Not used to being up this early.”

“Well, that’s fair. Still…”

“I’m fine, honey,” Krause gave him a kiss on the cheek. “How’s she doing?”

Her husband paused for a moment. “This lil devil didn’t want ta fall back asleep, so I’ve been tryna convince her.”

Annemarie mumbled something about cabbage, half asleep.

“Would you like me to make you breakfast?”

There was another pause, this time longer. “Ya sure everythin’s alrigh’?” He turned to face her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

He studied her face for a long while. “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe ya. I can tell when something’s botherin’ ya. I get that ya migh’ not want ta talk about it, but… it’s not just this. Something about ya’s changed, Jules, and not in a good way. Please, tell me what’s wrong, so I can help ya. Please.”

There was that word again. Changed. Maybe she had changed.

Krause could feel tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She made her way to begin making breakfast, her back to her husband. Everything she did, it was to protect them, but none of them appreciated it. She wondered why that was. “What do you mean?”

“Ya used to be so much happier. Don’t think I’ve seen ya smile in weeks. Ya’re distant. Ya’ve stopped talkin’ over our meals. I used ta look forward ta the conversations we’d have over supper, ya know… I’m not an idiot, I can tell ya’ve been hidin’ somethin’ from me. I want ta help ya, ta bring the old Jules back.” His voice wavered slightly. “I miss ya.”

Krause felt a pang of sadness. “I’m fine...”

“Jules…”

Neither of them spoke as Krause made their breakfast. She could feel the tears at the corners of her eyes, but she couldn’t cry. She hated the way she had made her husband feel, but she knew she had to if she wanted to save him.

When she finished, they ate in silence.