Forum:Take Me To Church (Open For Review)

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Take Me To Church (Open For Review)

I wouldn’t say that I’m overly religious. I believe there is a power that can’t be explained. It’s everything you’ve been told about and nothing you want to meet. When you go to church, you listen to someone holy speak of a power that is merciful, kind, and passionate, but what you were told is far from the truth. I think I should explain why.

I was about sixteen years old when the worst day of my life unfolded. I know it sounds ridiculous and cliched, but it's true. It started like any other Sunday morning.

I would get up to my alarm clock at about seven in the morning. I’d always stumble on dirty clothes or textbooks I neglected to put away trying to turn it off. My room wasn’t clean or anything, but it was mine. The walls were decorated with superhero posters and Star Wars merchandise. My bookshelf was placed in a corner of the room; it held mostly books about mythology and urban legends. I stretched, with my arms over my head, and a loud popping noise rising from my spine. I slipped my shorts from my hips and stepped over a pile of clothes to my dresser which held my clothes, or at least, what wasn’t on the ground, I shuffled through the top drawer for some pants finding all I had was jeans. I decided to settle. I hung the pair or dark blues jeans over my left forearm and dug through the middle shelf until I pulled a plain grey button up. Putting on the pants and shirt were easy enough, I walked into the hall of the small apartment building that my mom rented. I lived there with her and my little brother, Kal. My dad died serving in the military, but It never tore me up on the inside. I was too young to remember what it was like to have a dad. I walked into the kitchen. My mom was making french toast and humming. The smell always put a smile on my face. My brother sat at the table on his phone. He held his fork in his hand slowly moving, inch by inch, closer to his face. I smiled and put my hand on the top of his head and ruffled his black hair.

“Morning, brat,” I said playfully. He glanced up and gave an absent-minded grunt. Even though he was my brother, he didn’t look much like me. I was blond and had green eyes but he had natural black hair with steely blue eyes. My mom placed a kiss on my forehead, even though I was no longer twelve, and towered over her by almost a foot.

“Good morning sweetie,” Mom held a plate of french toast, bacon, and eggs. “Please hurry and eat, Alex, we’ll be late for service.” She named me Jonah after his favorite bible story. Ever since my dad died, mom wanted to find a place where she felt safe, as she describes. I can’t blame her. She was close to him. She once told me that they were high school sweethearts. I hurried and inhaled my breakfast as I was told. After a minute or two, we were able to get out of the door and onto the cold pavement of Justice Avenue. We drove about thirty minutes to the church from our apartment. I looked out of the car window to the sidewalk that held dozens of pedestrians. Some wore vibrant and bright colors on their jackets, hats, or scarves. And others were plain and bland. I must have zoned out for a while because when I looked back we were at the church. The church itself wasn’t all that impressive like in the movies. It was covered in generic red bricks and was lined with tan faded cement bricks. An electrical sign sat next to the front of the church. It said ‘New Life Fellowship Church’. Along with the name of the church, both the temperature and time were displayed in orange analog numbers. Me, my mom, and Kal got out of the car into the brisk fall air. Leaves slid and rolled along the asphalt. We walked up the steps leading to the dark oak door. A weathered green copper sculpture of a stag sat next to a railing of the entrance. The inside looked much better than the monotonous outside. The inside was nice and warm. The walls were a calm yellow and the dark wood lined the open hall. It trimmed down to a tan floor with dark blue diamond spaces every few feet. The ceiling looked like marble with a light blue glass pane set in every space. Small golden circles in every diamond pattern held a hanging light from it. The place smelled like floor wax. We walked through the entrance to the room that held the long pews. It was a nice church. No one, other than the usual families, sat in the pews. A man in a black suit who wore a clerical collar was giving a sermon. He was a man in his mid to late sixties, with greying hair, and thin aviator frames. He was talking about Revelations. More specifically about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He spoke for about ten minutes before I zoned out as I usually do. I thought about what I was going to eat when I got back to the apartment. Then I got smacked in the face.

“Ow!” I shouted with a startled yelp. I raised my hand to my face rubbing my left cheek. “What was that for?” The pastor, A man named Henry Addams, stood next to my brother. My brother was sipping a mug of what I assumed was coffee. My mother glared at him, then turning slightly, gave me a worried look.

“Dude,” Kal said with a small grin, “you spaced out for almost an hour.’ he paused and sipped his coffee. “Mom was shaking you and the pastor thought about exorcising you. So I took the chance to give you a firm and glorious slap” I looked at the pastor with a raised brow.

“Really?” I asked Pastor Addams.

“I’m afraid so,” He said matter of factly. “it was quite a while.” He was holding the Rite of Exorcism. “But I am glad to see you’re alright.”

“Now, now,” A voice said. ‘Why would you stop the fun?” Everyone turned their heads to see a man. He wore shined dress shoes, gray slacks, a gray vest with a white button-up, and a white tie. He had black hair that was pushed to the right side of his face. He had a

light stubble on his chin and a very handsome face. His eyes stood out the most. They were so light they seemed white. “Henry,” he said as he paused to chuckle deeply. “It’s been a while.”

“James?” my mother said in horror. She shook furiously.

“Hello, Helena,” James said. “And are those the little angels of yours? How lovely” James slowly strolled to the small group. “You must be young Kal and you,” he pointed at me with his weathered right hand. “I’m here for you Jonah."

“Excuse me?” I said in confusion. “James was it? I don’t know you.”

“Is that what your mom is having you believe?” James said with an air of irritation in his voice. “I am your father,” He turned to Kal. “and yours too, kiddo.” he looked around the large sermon hall. He took in a deep breath and sighed. “I’m everyone’s father.”

“Your delusional,” I said. My brother nodded in agreement. James seemed to become more irritated by each minute.

“Boys,” My mom said cautiously. “It’s time to leave. Now” Mom stood from the pew where we sat and grabbed both my and Kal’s arm and led us to the doors. James snapped and every door slammed shut. He turned to us and smirked.

“Come back here.” He said aggressively. I turned to look at the man. He was no longer smiling. “Helen, why don’t you give me the children? It would be easier for everyone.”

“N-no,” Mom stuttered. “James. I won’t.”

“I was afraid you’d say that,” James said. He waved his hand and Mom disappeared. I turned to see a faint cloud of powder fall slowly to the ground.

“Mom!” Kal screamed in horror. I was at a loss for words. All the air in my body left me. As did the strength. I dropped to my knees and shook. Kal cried as tears began to roll down his pale cheeks.

“You're a monster, James.” The pastor said as opened the book in his hands. “It’s my job to rid the world of evil, so I shall.” He began to chant in Latin.

”Yes. Henry. Chant those useless phrases to me. Use them in my name!” James exclaimed as he laughed hysterically. The pastor chanted and chanted but to no effect. James turned and walked up to the pastor and put his hands on his face. “ But now I wish for silence.” he twisted the pastor’s neck and a loud snap came from him. Pastor Henry collapsed to the floor with a loud thump. And there he lay. His breathing stilled and his chest no longer rose My brother cried louder. I could only imagine getting someone's attention.

"I'm not used to getting my hands dirty," James said. He turned his head in the direction of the podium. "I remember Sodom and Gomorrah." He turned back to me. "I sent two of my children to destroy them. Dear Abe contested me tooth and nail. I miss his naivete." I sat on the ground next to my Mom's ashes. She was completely incinerated. Every muscle in my body screamed in alarm. I leaned on my arms and began to shuffle away from the monster that was James. He glared in my direction, groaning in anger, and stepping closer. “I said,” he slowly walked to me. ”I want silence.” He strolled past me. He was going to kill my brother. I stood and wrapped my arms around his chest and pulled with as much force as I could.

“Stay away from him!” I shouted. I pulled with everything I had. My Converse squeaked and skidded against the tile.

“Now is not the time for a hug,” James said with a chill to his voice. He rammed his elbow into my sternum. He hit me so hard. My chest protested in pain loosening my grip. James grabbed my hand and pulled. A deep searing pain shot from my wrist to my shoulder making me let out a roaring scream that felt like it ripped my throat. I pulled my arm away. Blood rushed from where my hand would be and I saw the veins that connected it. The ones that remained hung from the space. They pulsated and gushed thick dark liquid. The pain was unbearable. My vision doubled and blurred. I saw my brother shake his head and scream in protest as James grabbed his hair and pulled him from the ground. I pushed my foot into the ground and rushed James’ back. He fell forward, releasing my brother and falling to his hands and knees. He quickly stood and turned to me. He rammed his foot into my shoulder. A loud crack accompanied by shooting pain made me realized he broke my collarbone. I cried in pain. I began to feel faint and my vision pulsed red. He grabbed a handful of my brother's hair. Kal screamed and kicked James over and over. He never budged. He put his red right hand into Kal’s mouth. I started to blackout. My body was cold and going limp. I was only conscious long enough to see James rip my brother’s head off. His muffled cries were silenced. Blood spewed and gushed from his lower jaw. Kals tongue hung to the side as his body hit the floor. Blood pooled from his body and stained his tan khakis and a white t-shirt. That's when I passed out.

After three days I came to in the New York Hospital Med Center in Manhattan. When the police came to visit me the following morning they told me that my family was gone. The rest of the day I cried with fits of rage, grief, and pain blending into one. Eventually, I was able to move on. Since that day I never had a normal sleep schedule. I’m scared that he’ll find me. I lied though. I said I wasn't overly religious, but I'm not religious at all. I said I believe there is a power that can’t be explained. He's evil and driven. He will never stop until he gets what he wants and will murder anyone in his way. So when you pray to God be careful what you say. He's listening very closely.