In light of a lot of things in the news recently, I felt it important to really start to reveal what the Willowbrook Saga is leading up to. I don’t want it to appear to be condoning certain behaviors, because it isn’t. It’s an exploratory look into a culture that goes against the norm and will build up to consequences. Here is another excerpt from the forthcoming THE FIRST, THE LAST, THE ALWAYS, which is wrapping up editing now. Look for an announcement of a release date soon. – Shannon Muir
“There’s a lot of things done here in Willowbrook that people might not think are okay,” Cherie said to Grayson. “You’ve lived here all your life, and as the son of Riverton Hudson, I’m guessing you’re aware of more than most.”
“Yeah,” Grayson responded hesitantly. “And your point is?”
“I just wondered, I mean, if there were things that even by Willowbrook standards might not be seen as all right. Are there behaviors that might get people ostracized from this secret way of life?”
“Why do you care? You don’t even want to be caught up in it, which by the way is the biggest reason.”
“I wondered if it was the only one.”
“Well,” Grayson responded. “There aren’t many. However, the key to all this is that people are expected to be involved willingly, even of not necessarily eagerly. But kidnapping anyone – man or woman – and forcing them to do something against their will is very very much frowned upon. The biggest one of all would be to physically kidnap and keep someone prisoner against their will. I’ve never known of a case of that happening, and it’s hard to say if that’s because people are too good at getting caught or they don’t dare risk getting caught. This society will raise pitchforks – probably literally as well as figuratively – against that.”
“I see. So being an emotional prisoner doesn’t carry the same stigma?”
“Amazingly, no,” Grayson confirmed. “I guess because in theory the others involved could physically leave. Being bound, chained, or locked away deprives even the illusion of choice.”
