The Way of Escape

Somewhere in the middle of the ocean, the island of Kumani sat alone, surrounded by sharp shards of volcanic rock protruding from the rolling blue waves. This natural barrier worked well for the village elders in preventing both intruders and those seeking to escape the harsh controls placed upon the inhabitants. The smoldering haze covering the lowlands of the island and the Smoking Mountains were used as an excuse to control and manipulate the lives of the residents. For generations, it had been this way. Every young man was told where to work and all young women were told whom to marry. Every detail of their lives was carefully dictated. Anyone objecting to the regulations of this societal control was either arrested as dissenters and disappeared from sight or they died.
One young woman named Shoshanna decided that she simply could not comply when her name was added to the registry of brides. She felt like nothing more than an object on display so the elders could force her to marry their choice of a groom. Just when she began to believe there would be no escape from the inevitable, Shoshanna discovered a secluded cottage that seemed strangely unaffected by both the haze that seemed to smother the rest of the island and the dictates of the village elders. Her curiosity led her to a fellowship of people living completely outside of the Elder’s controls and free of the chains of fear. She decided to learn more about these outlawed people and their ways.