Vanessa Richardson

Every day, Mitchell went out in search of food and booze, but every day he returned to camp empty-handed. Wanda and Elizabeth were starving to death. Finally, in late December, Mitchell came back with good news. He told Wanda he'd been invited for a home-cooked meal by someone he met while preaching on a street corner.

Every day, Mitchell went out in search of food and booze, but every day he returned to camp empty-handed. Wanda and Elizabeth were starving to death. Finally, in late December, Mitchell came back with good news. He told Wanda he'd been invited for a home-cooked meal by someone he met while preaching on a street corner.

He boasted of chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cake, but he'd brought none of it back for his wives. Wanda flew into a rage. She asked Mitchell why he thought so little of her. She laid into him for shoving his face full of food, but coming back with nothing but a story about it. She screamed she'd been eating like a mouse. How could he bring back nothing?

He boasted of chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cake, but he'd brought none of it back for his wives. Wanda flew into a rage. She asked Mitchell why he thought so little of her. She laid into him for shoving his face full of food, but coming back with nothing but a story about it. She screamed she'd been eating like a mouse. How could he bring back nothing?

Mitchell reminded Wanda who she was speaking to. He warned her to be careful, for he was the true prophet. But she couldn't stop. Weeks and weeks of pent-up rage had been sharpened by hunger and exhaustion. She kept on screaming until finally he fled from the camp. Mitchell stayed away all day and night, and he didn't come back the next morning. Or the next.

Mitchell reminded Wanda who she was speaking to. He warned her to be careful, for he was the true prophet. But she couldn't stop. Weeks and weeks of pent-up rage had been sharpened by hunger and exhaustion. She kept on screaming until finally he fled from the camp. Mitchell stayed away all day and night, and he didn't come back the next morning. Or the next.

Losing him was always Wanda's worst fear, and now he truly was gone. Mentally, she'd beat herself up for causing his disappearance. If she could get a do-over, she'd never have yelled at him in the first place. At least a week went by before he came back. At first, she was elated to see him. But then he told her where he'd been. Jail. He was arrested for drunkenly wandering the street.

Losing him was always Wanda's worst fear, and now he truly was gone. Mentally, she'd beat herself up for causing his disappearance. If she could get a do-over, she'd never have yelled at him in the first place. At least a week went by before he came back. At first, she was elated to see him. But then he told her where he'd been. Jail. He was arrested for drunkenly wandering the street.

He expected Wanda's sympathy, but she was all out. She hated him for getting meals in jail while she had to forage tree nuts. She railed on him for getting to sleep in a real bed and take showers while she and the girl were left for dead. Wanda had enough. For days, she'd worried that something had happened to him. Instead, he was just relaxing in jail, living the sweet life.

He expected Wanda's sympathy, but she was all out. She hated him for getting meals in jail while she had to forage tree nuts. She railed on him for getting to sleep in a real bed and take showers while she and the girl were left for dead. Wanda had enough. For days, she'd worried that something had happened to him. Instead, he was just relaxing in jail, living the sweet life.

Irate, she reached for Mitchell's serrated knife and pressed it against her own neck. Death would be better than one more minute with him. But Mitchell was nonplussed. She doubled down. She was going to do it, going to kill herself right then and there. Still, Mitchell offered no discernible reaction. Wanda stormed off through the brush.

Irate, she reached for Mitchell's serrated knife and pressed it against her own neck. Death would be better than one more minute with him. But Mitchell was nonplussed. She doubled down. She was going to do it, going to kill herself right then and there. Still, Mitchell offered no discernible reaction. Wanda stormed off through the brush.

She was gone for at least a full day, and when she returned, she was different. Fire filled Wanda's eyes. Slowly, she moved to grab the book of Immanuel David Isaiah. With her hand on their scripture, her eyes went dead. Then she methodically ripped out every scribbled page. She let the sheets of calligraphy blow away in the wind as she tore, shredded, and destroyed.

She was gone for at least a full day, and when she returned, she was different. Fire filled Wanda's eyes. Slowly, she moved to grab the book of Immanuel David Isaiah. With her hand on their scripture, her eyes went dead. Then she methodically ripped out every scribbled page. She let the sheets of calligraphy blow away in the wind as she tore, shredded, and destroyed.

At first, Mitchell just laughed. He didn't need the written word. The doctrine was locked in his mind. But when Wanda's outburst came to an end, she explained she'd been with Satan's hosts all night. Mitchell's ears perked up. Now she was strong and knew what her next course had to be. She had to leave San Diego. As if rehearsed, Elizabeth chimed in with support.

At first, Mitchell just laughed. He didn't need the written word. The doctrine was locked in his mind. But when Wanda's outburst came to an end, she explained she'd been with Satan's hosts all night. Mitchell's ears perked up. Now she was strong and knew what her next course had to be. She had to leave San Diego. As if rehearsed, Elizabeth chimed in with support.

She said it was time to hitchhike home. Surprisingly, Mitchell agreed. The trio hitchhiked back to Utah, clad in old street clothes and cheap wigs. They weren't recognized or even questioned. By March 12, 2003, they were only about 20 miles from home. But their hitchhiking luck ran out. They couldn't find a ride for the last leg. They'd have to take a bus instead.

She said it was time to hitchhike home. Surprisingly, Mitchell agreed. The trio hitchhiked back to Utah, clad in old street clothes and cheap wigs. They weren't recognized or even questioned. By March 12, 2003, they were only about 20 miles from home. But their hitchhiking luck ran out. They couldn't find a ride for the last leg. They'd have to take a bus instead.

Worried that someone might recognize Elizabeth, Mitchell made her wear a gray-haired wig. The bus was packed. Forced to stand, Wanda surveyed the other passengers. She knew she and her crew stood out. They were in too close a proximity to maintain anonymity. The other passengers were clean, well-dressed. They were in dingy rags. Then Wanda noticed a man staring at Elizabeth. Her heart raced.

Worried that someone might recognize Elizabeth, Mitchell made her wear a gray-haired wig. The bus was packed. Forced to stand, Wanda surveyed the other passengers. She knew she and her crew stood out. They were in too close a proximity to maintain anonymity. The other passengers were clean, well-dressed. They were in dingy rags. Then Wanda noticed a man staring at Elizabeth. Her heart raced.