Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/11234631.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Major_Character_Death, Rape/Non-Con,
      Underage
  Category:
      Multi
  Fandom:
      Outlast_(Video_Games)
  Relationship:
      Val/Heretic(s)_(Outlast), Marta/Val_(Outlast), Val_(Outlast)/Other(s)
  Character:
      Val_(Outlast), Marta_(Outlast), Sullivan_Knoth, Laird, Nick, Ethan,
      Simeon, Paul
  Additional Tags:
      Child_Abuse, Murder, Psychology, Love, Friendship, Trauma, Post_Traumatic
      Stress_Disorder, graphic_depictions_of_violence_against_minors, trigger
      warning_for_child_abuse
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-06-18 Updated: 2017-08-10 Chapters: 3/8 Words: 14796
****** The Heretic ******
by NebulaViburnum
Summary
     Val Ordish is the daughter/son of Simon and Ida Ordish, who from a
     young age was chosen to be chief deacon of Temple Gate. Val completes
     most of their tasks meticulously and with rapt attention. They
     diligently take care of orphaned children as well. They are a
     respected member of Temple Gate. However, when the child killings
     begin and Val has to kill most of their adopted kids by their own
     hands, they start losing their mind...they become susceptible to the
     creature who lives inside the white light...who whispers to them
     about chaos and destruction. Feeling dejected by what they had known
     as righteousness and feeling seduced by what is considered impure,
     Val renounces The Testament of New Ezekiel to become The Heretic.
     Hope you enjoy the drafts and chaos inside the mines [companion piece
     to Temple Gate]
     Story dedicated to my friend Dia and Tumblr's Val-is-Val =)
Notes
See the end of the work for notes
***** Chapter 1 *****
 
We_Are_Creatures_of_Appetite 
 
The birds got them curious. But they knew not to always get excited.
 
Excitement was….well, a difficult emotion, a difficult feeling.
 
A feeling that they had decided long ago to restrain if possible.
 
What good did it do to them? Except, get their hopes up and get them unhappy.
 
They looked at the birds at twilight and seemed to be waiting for something.
They had a bad in their hands. Soon, there was a noise that screeched across
the horizon like a loud denotation of a bomb. And, they closed their eyes as if
burning around with the white light that accompanied that noise. Then all was
silence. Soon, pitter-patter noise was starting. They took out their bag,
stretched it out high and the dead fouls landed on their bad. When the bad was
filled Val Ordish started walking, not mindful of the other birds that was
falling around them. They took some cover over their head so that the beaks of
birds did not hit them.
 
They had come back home after a while. On the way, Val saw Marta Hawthorne,
patrolling diligently as usual, “You are off for dinner?” she had asked. Val
had the insurmountable feeling of wanting to kiss her like she did all those
years ago when she was younger and growing up alongside Marta. Even around two
years ago, Marta and they had been sort of a couple. They missed it. They
missed her. Though, they wondered if Marta missed them. Missed all the
exchanges, that happened between them. Yet, it was sometimes so hard to say
these things.
 
“Yes, I am, Marta.” She wanted to feel that name on her tongue, coiling around
there like some choral on a bedrock. That sweet name that she had always
appreciated. Marta, she knew, meant “The Lady” and Marta was so much of an
imposing Lady. With long limbs, a generous breast, if not so large, still nice,
accentuated well against her loose clothes. Val had another urge to start
stitching Marta’s clothes. They had become threadbare over the years. She wore
no stockings as many of the women did. And part of her skirt had a slit,
possibly to ensure better movement, though her dress-skirt was not tight. Marta
was an image to be seen.
 
“Oh, I shouldn’t keep you up then.” Marta carrying her pickaxe, looked at Val,
a bit endearingly, which made Val’s heart flutter a bit, “Take care of
yourself. If you need some help around the house, you can ask me.”
 
“I can?” Val licked a bit secretly their lower lip.
 
“Well,” Perhaps Marta noticed that Val had been looking at them for a long
time, but decided not to judge it, “Yes. You have a lot of responsibilities.
And, I think it is important to help you out. After dinner, are you going to
the confessional to hear confessions?”
 
“Yes, I am.” Val had almost forgotten that.
 
“Well, you need to keep your house well enough.” Marta suggested, “I know it’s
hard. With all those kids in one place.” Marta sighed, “I didn’t know it would
be like this. It wasn’t like this when we were growing up.”
 
“What is also troubling…” Val interjected, “Are the houses being boarded up.
Some of the people in the night had decided to do vandalism, there was one such
house in Central Square. It stated ‘Whores of Satan.’ I don’t quite like this.
I know people are divided about the Scalled, but they are also forgetting that
Laird is also a deacon and that he has gone there some months ago.”
 
“I heard Paul Mills was trying to take Laird’s place.” Marta snickered, “Papa
Knoth told him to do his job at interrogations. Which means,” Marta smiled,
“Helping you about.” Then she laughed a bit, Val missed Marta’s laugh, nowadays
she didn’t laugh so much as she was supposed to, then again with how Temple
Gate was going, with the sickness and children becoming as good as orphans
overnight, there wasn’t much to laugh about except irony, “I see he is still
raw you became chief deacon aside him.”
 
“He can be raw all he likes.” Val stated, “I hope he does his job well. He is
supposed to also help you patrol. So, are the butchers. What are they doing?
Are they involved in the vandalism?”
 
“Maybe, someone may own up in confession?” Val knew Marta searched optimism
when reason was nowhere to be found. It was a defence mechanism and also one to
make them feel better. Though, there was a hint of betrayal that Marta herself
wasn’t convinced that was going to happen.
 
“Even if that doesn’t happen, thanks for trying to make me feel better.” Val
smiled, then edged near Marta, to the other’s surprise, “The way you feel for
me…I don’t think anyone would love me the same…” Marta looked away as if not
trying to meet their gaze. Val got her face, with one hand, tenderly, “Don’t
always act like a stranger. You know what you mean to me.” Before Marta could
reply, Val kissed her nose and her lips. They looked happy, “Marta, I don’t
think I can completely forget about you. And, I am sorry. I am not trying to
burden you. But, I had to say that.”
 
“Val…” Marta looked apologetic, “I think…” She didn’t know how to frame it but
she tried, “You don’t always understand. I don’t always understand. But, I
wasn’t overtly as frustrated as you. It becomes a burden when it is like that.
To be so overtly frustrated. I don’t think we have anywhere to be and go aside
Temple Gate. You talking like that all the time was dangerousfor you and me. I
didn’t wish to encourage that. I wouldn’t want you to get into trouble.”
 
“We could always run away.” Val seemed to look away. They looked at the sky
there was a moon out.
 
“To the world outside, could we survive there?”
 
“I don’t know. We could try.”
 
“I think…” Marta spoke solemnly, “I can’t always dream like that. I know I
should try it but we also have people and children here we can’t abandon. I
don’t know. I haven’t known for a long time.” Then she smiled, “Well, I will
come by after dinner when you go to confessionals. Help to take care of the
kids.”
 
“Don’t you have rounds?” Val was touched. Marta and they may not always have
seen eye to eye. But, Val knew they were actually pretty similar.
 
“Yeah, but I can go about them a bit later.” Marta winked, “I think the kids
will be too scared to be by themselves all the time.”
 
“Knoth thinks it’s not completely bad for them to get used to their new
lifestyles.” Val stated, though their face looked that they didn’t really give
a fuck to what Knoth thought.
 
“Well, we don’t really need to tell Knoth about it.” Marta raspily said, Val
always admired the precipitousness of Marta’s dedication and her alienation
from Temple Gate laws. It was like she was always on edge but the decorum with
which she carried herself was impressive. “Besides,” Marta stressed, “Anyone at
any age can feel lonely without their loved ones and parents. And, these
children are too young. They are confused. They would guidance and love. I
suppose we need to give them that love and guidance.”
 
Val nodded. Before Marta left, they gave Marta and embrace and Marta half-held
back and half caressed Val’s hair.
 
Then she went away.
 
Val looked at her receding figure before walking back to the boarding house.
 
===============================================================================
 
Val had a house of their own. Though, it had been a long time since they have
gone to visit it. Marta sometimes went over to see if things were going okay.
And they went themselves to their house when they needed paper. It was becoming
increasingly difficult but as chief deacon Val carried on with an even
temperament and patience. It was sometimes hard because they didn’t exactly
know how they managed. Initially, when the Scalled were a few, there had been
around five children and for around six months, Val and those five children had
boarded up together in Val’s place. It had not had been easy. The children were
ostracised and teased a lot. Their parents were the Scalled. They had committed
sins. Those sins were now manifested. They had the sickness of the soil.
 
Soon, the demographic, however, began to change. A bit too rapidly for Val’s
tastes. Some of the children who teased themselves found in the predicament of
the victims of their aforementioned bullying. There had been then around eight
children in Val’s house. It was a ruckus to say the least. The children who
were bullied before, not all of them wanted to mix with the newly afflicted.
There had been fights and jars and dishes did get broken. It took a lot of
mental fortitude for Val to stop them from fighting and going at each other.
 
Then there was the crying.
 
The children felt abandoned. They were abandoned. It felt like nothing was
right in the world. However, soon Papa Knoth had made one of the chapels a
permanent boarding house for them. It was done. The children moved out. Soon
from eight it became ten then fourteen, the twenty. Now, there were forty
orphans.
 
It was like another civilisation in the boarding house. Sometimes, when Val
went away, the children would overturn chairs, make forts, have imaginary wars
— played house (both girls and boys; that day she saw them playing house where
one of the boys actually dressed as a bride), played hopscotch, played
television personalities (they heard about it from older children; Val found
one of the boys and girls making a detergent advertisement) and did all sorts
of plays. Some of the children had already started drawing on the walls when
they ran out of the paper Val gave them. It was necessarily allowed to use
paper beyond gospel writing but Val was able to get some for drawing. They
found that drawing helped calm the children down.
 
Without their parents the mild-mannered children who were coerced into cages of
obedience many a times went wild. Val had to appreciate it from time to time.
They remembered their own upbringing, the staunch writings of gospels and of
learning prayers daily, the sudden transformations from girl to boy and also
the feeling that the future would be weightier that they could have ever
anticipated. To see children more like children, more like how they once saw
Marta having fun times with her best friends Helen bailey and Asher Arazabel,
and her close friend Thaddeus Dodson. Marta had a better childhood than them.
Val always felt like it. Yes, they had Maryanne Knoth and Annabelle Bailey,
sister to Helen Bailey and Lois Bailey or rather Lois Knoth, yet, with their
duties decided as chief deacon there came the extra work. As a child, Val also
noticed that their ordinance and order to male hood required making male
friends. And, Val had troubles doing that with some of the males who found it
confusing as they had once treated him as a her. As Val grew older there were
things that Annabelle and Maryanne could enjoy which they seemed to cannot.
 
One of them was marriage.
 
Maryanne was not wedded yet but she had a child with her uncle, Zephaniah,
Laban.  Maryanne was hoping that Zephaniah would leave his wife Athalia
Rippington now that they had a child together. Val severely doubted that and
had told her about it, which had led them to a sort of fight. They had mended
that margin. Only, Zephaniah was hopelessly in love with his wife Athalia.
Athalia Rippington was in love with her cousin, Simeon Rippington, head of
provisions and one of the electrical masters of Temple Gate, alongside Athalia.
Their love was always known in Temple gate. It was a misfortune he had to marry
Rebekah Barrow. Nowadays, Rebekah seems unhappy even though they had given
birth to a son recently, Jason, who was as old as Simeon’s youngest sister,
Olive. It could be that Rebekah was worried about her mother, Blanche Barrow,
who was now part of the Scalled as well.
 
Annabelle Bailey was now Annabelle Brewer, married to Brewer’s oldest son,
Jethro. Annabelle had two twins, Marianne and Tobias. So, Annabelle seemed
happy. Though there were times when Val talked to Annabelle, all she could do
was talk about her oldest sister, Helen Bailey. She said truthfully that she
missed her and that she wished she could know what had happened to her. If she
was still alive or dead. Then she would start crying. Val could only comfort
her childhood friend.
 
When Val started growing older they did make some male friends. They also
realised that they should steer clear of Paul Mills who loathed them with a
passion that they should have melted in their prayers. Val knew the story of
Paul Mills supposed to be chief deacon and then when Knoth elected them, he
wasn’t in line anymore. Paul was the head interrogator who was supposed to help
deacons. To add insult to injury, Paul was now directly the subordinate to Val
Ordish. So, Paul wasn’t always making their life any better.
 
When Val got in they saw that the children were running around playing tag,
building a fort with pillows made out of feathers, acting like a television
anchor and screaming and shouting. Only, they did become silent when they saw
Val.
 
“Hey Val!” All forty of them rushed towards Val and Val felt like they would
actually fall down.
 
“Uh, kids…” Val could not be heard amongst the crowd, “Kids! Stop!” Then they
did as Val managed themselves. “Look, I got dinner.”
 
“I thought the birds were like angels…the ones killed by the white light….”
Augustus Bright, one of the first children to be under their car commented,
“Or, Miss Bishop taught us that in school.”
 
“Yah, I thought we’s to take a bird, put a wish around its leg, and throw in
the lake.” Samantha Penny spoke.
 
“Or, we are supposed to go to the far off lake as a dare.” Spoke Evelyn Turner,
“I heard that is the best place to get prayers answered.”
 
“Or, that’s just some story you pull out a bird’s ass.” Talked Miranda Barrow,
youngest daughter to Blanche Barrow, precocious seven year old. Rebekah had
offered to take care of her but Laird and Knoth decided to hand her over to
Val.
 
“Miranda, language.” Val spoke firm but kind.
 
“Sorry Papa Val.” Miranda opened her mouth to smile.
 
It was getting distinct that they were calling them ‘Papa Val’ when they were
alone. And, Knoth they called Knoth when not in public. Val wondered if they
were channelling Helen bailey and Asher Arazable when they were younger.
 
Val counted the heads. Listing all forty children. There was:
 
   1. Augustus Bright
   2. Linda Bright
   3. Patty Bright
   4. Joseph Bright
   5. Miranda Barrow
   6. Marcus Siphon
   7. Mary Siphon
   8. Tabitha Tate
   9. Henry Tate
  10. Judy Tate
  11. Julianna Fairborough
  12. Michael Fairborough
  13. Samuel Peters
  14. Jessica Peters
  15. Nathaniel Peters
  16. Evelyn Turner
  17. Evan Turner
  18. Anna Turner
  19. Jude Turner
  20. Phoebe Turner/Knoth
  21. Bernice Brown
  22. Claudius Brown/Knoth
  23. Hadrian Brown
  24. Justus Bryant
  25. Abigail Bryant
  26. Talitha Bryant
  27. Jonah Bryant
  28. Samantha Penny
  29. Joab Penny
  30. John Penny (The Twins)
  31. Susanna Candle
  32. Aiden Candle
  33. Bruce Candle
  34. Tamara Candle
  35. Sharon Hazel
  36. Ruby Hazel
  37. Jacob Hazel
  38. Julie Falcon
  39. Elijah Falcon
  40. Daniel Falcon
  41. Hayden Duke
  42. Job Duke
  43. Jeremy Duke
  44. Uzziah Ellis
  45. Zemira Ellis (The Un-identical Twins)
 
Yes. In this entire boarding house, there were forty-five children in total
under the care of Val. And, Val knew all their names. It took some time knowing
all of them but they eventually learned all of them. Out of the five children
that came to live with them first, it was the Brights and the one Barrow. Soon
it was the Tates and then on. Val was knowing all of their idiosyncrasies too.
Augustus was a little bit as Asher was when they met when they wete younger.
So, was Linda. Augustus was the oldest in his family with Patty being the
second oldest and still naïve and well, terribly optimistic, this got Augustus
and her into fights. Linda was the third oldest and then there was Joseph.
Joseph was around four or five years old. Joseph was the one Val had trouble
with. Joseph always called for his Mama or Papa and didn’t eat properly and was
stubborn so much that he preferred to stay silent and angry than express his
pain. Linda usually scolded Joseph when he got like this; telling him to grow
up. But Val understood that it was an unreasonable request. Julie Falcon loved
art and would love drawing flowers with her brother Daniel. Elijah was more
into reading and learning things about science. So was Zemira Ellis. Elijah and
Zemira, at age eleven, were already smitten with one another. It seems they had
more than one marriage play and Zemira pretending to be pregnant and then
cradling a doll as their baby.
 
Samantha Penny liked colouring so at times she took on some of the artwork in
the boarding house with Daniel and Julie when they were sketching; she also
seemed to be very good at learning new spelling and reading mechanics books
with Elijah and Zemira. Samantha had a deep friendship with Susanna Candle and
Sharon Hazel. Sharon liked cooking and Susanna liked working in the fields. She
could be found picking up vegetables or incorporating the help of Bruce Candle,
Job Duke, and Abigail and Talitha Bryant to do picking up stuff from the fields
alongside Hadrain Brown. Justus also liked cooking; he aspired to become an
interrogator or a butcher to keep the piece of Temple Gate. Sometimes Justus
even tried to fashion himself a pickaxe like Marta and said he wanted to be The
New Sentinel and help Marta in her rounds. He wasn’t the only one; Uzziah Ellis
seemed to want that too.
 
The children around here were around the ages of four to twelve. There weren’t
any girls over here who had started their menstruation. A blood covenant female
meant she was ready to marry and/or to breed as Temple Gate laws seemed to
indict. Some of the younger males were also encouraged to breed when they were
nearing the end of their teenage years. So, there weren’t any young adults
around. Val had to take care of all of them. It was a hard life. They didn’t
have much help. Some of the mothers from the town were asked to volunteer from
to the boarding house. There weren’t many takers. There had been rumours that
the sickness of the souls was a contagion; that lesser whores would give to
their children. Many of the women did not wish to besmirch their own houses, or
their husbands were not eager to have taken care of what they called ‘whores’
children.’ Though there were many males among the population of the Scalled who
were also called Satan’s whores.
 
Val was perennially exhausted nowadays.  Though during school hours, the
children were the headache of the unfortunate June Bishop, who had also been
their teacher when they were young. Some of the kids also got treats from Mad
‘Ol Maggie Bland. So, some of the times, Maggie, the burnout old woman who
chanted and prayed constantly in front of Knoth’s picture, offered to help in
the cooking. They didn’t have a biased palate; they knew Val cooked fowls from
the white light and seemed to be alright as long as something tasted well. Then
there was Rebekah who helped out as well. She was always desperate to meet and
love her younger sister Miranda. Rebekah looked like she was always having a
panic attack when she met Miranda. Val couldn’t blame her.
 
Because, Val had a bad feeling about all of this.
 
There had been talks.
 
The fate of these children seemed to be mired in something dark and foreboding.
 
But, while around them, Val didn’t wanna think about it.
 
So, they started cooking. Some of the children helped and while the others
cleaned up and fixed the table. Papa Val sat on the head on the table. After
finishing cooking soups and steamed birds and corn on cobs they said their
prayers and started eating. Then the children washed up, they got ready for
bed.
 
Val told a prayer over them.
 
They reminded them that today is one of the late nights that they had to go to
confession.
 
Val heard some people make a groaning noise. While others, who were a bit older
and/or responsible, Val delegated duties.
 
Today was unfortunately not story night.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
“Val, are you sleeping?”
 
“I am awake!”
 
Val fixed up their priestly robes. Oh dear, fell asleep on confessional night
again. Not good.
 
“Uh, do you want me to come back later?”
 
“No, No. I am awake!” Val blushed.
 
“I think this is pretty unfair for you…”  The voice was soft and kind, “Mary
and I both think so…”
 
“Josiah…” Val knew they were talking to Josiah even though they were half-
asleep, “I am sorry.”
 
“No, don’t be…” Josiah chuckled warmly, “How are the children?”
 
“They are as anyone can be in their situation. Rowdy, Scared. Sometimes
oblivious. Sometimes crying. You know…” It was somewhat painful to talk about
this.
 
“You know Ethan Sohr’s wife got Scalled right?” Josiah uttered.
 
“Oh my God!” Val was wide awake now, “You mean Lois Knoth?!”
 
“Yeah, Knoth’s own daughter and the mother of Anna Lee.” Josiah conveyed, “It’s
a good thing Anna Lee has already started her blood covenant, nor else you
would have to take her in.”
 
Val fell silent, “So, I guess she should just call herself Lois Bailey, being a
Knoth had no effect.”
 
“Isn’t Claudius and Phoebe confirmed to Knoth’s children as well?” Josiah
revealed, “Well, their luck is just the same.”
 
“Yes, I suppose you are right.” Val didn’t know what else to say.
 
“The dreams are getting bad, Val.”
 
Val piqued up, “Are they?”
 
“Yup, I thought I saw the apparition of my father being mauled by coyotes. You
know the way he died. It felt like it was happening again.”
 
“I am sorry Josiah.”
 
“I feel bad for Mary.” Josiah whispered, “I apparently wet the bed. I had to go
and work at Kent and Brewer the next day so Mary had to wash the sheets. I
think I respect my wife more for it.”
 
“Your wife is a good woman, Josiah, and you are a good man.” Val had to admit
he liked them, “Marta even —“
 
“Don’t talk about her, please.” Josiah sounded angry, “You know what she did.”
 
“But Josiah —“
 
“I don’t wanna —“
“She kept your brother’s marbles.”
 
It came out of them before they could stop themselves, “Really?” Josiah stated,
“That’s where Samuel’s marble collection went?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Do you really think she loved him?”
“We are all made to do complicated things here in Temple Gate.” Val sighed,
“But I am sure Marta loved your brother.”
 
“I guess I will see you again soon Val. At the town meetings in two days.”
 
“See you.”
 
 
Val didn’t directly go home.
 
While they were walking down to their residence they saw Marta come along; the
saw and smelt the glowing incense before they saw Marta, “Going home?”
 
“Yeah, to my previous one.” Val explained, “Getting paper.”
 
Marta nodded understandingly, “I went to your other home. The children are
asleep. Justus asked me about my pickaxe and told me he was fashioning shears
or something like my pickaxe. Interesting.”
 
“I see, you know he loves you and your role and wishes he can be like you.” Val
smiled.
 
“Well, he is getting tall enough for it.” Marta smiled.
 
They said their goodbyes. Val went to their old home and up the stairs. They
opened a secret study they had fashioned behind a bookcase. It just seemed this
was the best thing to do. The room was supposed to be a small storage and Val
still used it to keep some goods. After the door broke down years ago, they
just decided to change it into this. Once upon a time Simon and Ida Ordish also
lived in this house. They had made the house bigger when Val was growing up.
Val had been the only child until a few years ago they had a sister. Val’s
sister died some years ago when they were giving birth to children. Her name
had been Vera. Val had been a bit jealous of her. Vera had been jealous of Val.
This small room was once a bath and closet when a storm had collapsed the roof
over there so they kept it as an additional storage hardly used. Unbeknownst to
Val’s parents, Val had asked put it some loose boards and antlers and fixed the
roof as they were growing older. No one seemingly knew. And, they liked to keep
it that way. And, as that part had been a bit unstable they were encouraged not
to go there. It was a good thing Val and Vera did not share rooms. Val being
considered a boy and chief deacon who had to study a lot was given their own
room. They had space in the house so it wasn’t a problem.
 
Val then took out some papers, sighed and started writing…though, they looked
an old entry too…
 
“January 7
 
Three more were sent today to live among the Scalled, their sores too florid to
disguise. They had seven children between them, all of whom Papa Knoth has sent
with the others into my foster care. I now have more than forty orphans under
my wing, who love me desperately, as only can a child abandoned by the parents
they thought were as natural and dependable a fact as the rising sun. And I
love them. As I will never have children of my own, and have so much love to
give. When God leaves them, too, I will be there with comforts and guidance.
 
What do these dreams mean?”
 
 
 
***** I Wanna Feel Your Hunger *****
Chapter Summary
     Well, another chapter of this fic.
     Alright, I wanna make some things clear. There are many readings to
     Val's gender. Some of them actually said they were cis woman. Now, I
     did not completely agree with that read. Some said they were
     castrated male. Some also say they are trans woman.
     The latter one has become more popular on Tumblr. I had made Val
     intersex because it made sense to me to the culture of The Testament
     of New Ezekiel that a intersex individual would be chief deacon. Now,
     Val in this chapter shows that they are more female leaning of many
     things so this incorporates the trans female perspective. I have not
     erased it. So, please don't think that.
 
I_Wanna_Feel_Your_Hunger
 
 
 
 
“February 10
 
It was sad today. I think I feel sad most days now. Sometimes, the children ask
questions I don’t have ready answers for. They audibly voice their discontents,
their sorrows and even their anger. Children have not mastered the technique of
hiding their feelings and emotions, which is more proof of their innocence.
There is a belief; I feel it rise like a rumour, or rather a fever. These
children, these children born of the lesser whores, are to be the children that
are sacrificed. I do not understand why sacrifice will become an issue here. I
do not understand if Knoth agrees to this or if he is the one who ascertained
the lesser whores as the signs to our damnation. I do not know if the children
I care for are to be the antichrist. They all seem so normal that I do not see
the seeds of evil within them. Also, hasn’t the gospels talked about the
antichrist being a baby whose eyes opening will damn the world? I don’t see how
it could be children under my care. I haven’t discussed this with anyone. Not
even Marta. Who can I discuss this with? I know no one can really say much. Our
words don’t always have power. But I am concerned about how people feel that
getting rid of these children seem to not disturb them in the slightest. I
wonder what I will ever have to say to the children? I hope nothing harsh or
cruel. They already want their parents back at times. Wailing, it is not joyous
all. They feel at times pretending to be playing house. Then the best minute
wanting the game to be over. Often, brutally realising it is not a game. That
their parents are gone. If not dead than close to it. I understand the need for
parental love. I know my own relationship with my parents were a bit difficult
ever since I was chosen to be chief deacon. Which, unfortunately, have covered
most of my existence till their passing. It pains me to know how my mother was
so happy that she had a girl and then wept dearly when that girl-child was
gone. I understand her. I don’t begrudge her. Perhaps, she just wanted someone
to understand her own pains. Her own domestic quandaries, which I am told that
I won’t understand at all, no longer being of the ilk of women.
 
Though, was I far removed from that ilk?
 
This is a question that often crosses my path, deep, even within the night and
my sleep.
 
I feel oddly aroused by a dream or dreams I keep having where I am both male
and female. Making love to each of my forms with a delicacy and ferocity of
only one who knows their limits. I am not used to relegating the “she” from who
I am. I don’t know how to do it. To rid the “she” in me feels like a
castration. No. Is a castration. I am daunted by that possibility even if I
know that is what people want me to do. It is a doing I do not ever want.
 
What are these feelings, and what do they mean?”
 
Val had taken a nap in their old home, which they had inherited from their
parents. It was around 10 past 5 in the morning and the children were now busy
with school and being June Bishop’s priority and headache. Val had directly
heard complaints from Bishop that Samantha Penny and Augustus Bright had got up
on their desks during a class assignment to protest widely on their exile from
their parents. They had also heard that Bishop was forced to call Paul and some
of his pen. Augustus was slapped on the face by Paul Mills and he had pulled
Samantha’s hair. None of them cried out as much as they showed their building
rage. Bishop had confided that though she understood the children she could not
completely accept their aggression.
 
“I am not responsible for it!” June Bishop cried out in frustration, “I am not
the one who said they have to live with you or that their parents be branded as
lesser whores!” she was sobbing, “I am now and older woman, I am close to
fifty, this is an absurd feeling…to cater to the anger of children…” then
weakly smiling, “You lot were easier to handle.”
 
“But we had our parents and a pretty normal life.” Val argued, something in
them would support the children, always, “I know your qualms are justified but
you agreed so were theirs.”
 
“It’s just difficult…” Bishop cried a little more, “Do you know that Sharon
would not drink milk the other day but she poured on the floor in anger? I had
mad her clean it up. I made her do extra work. There seems to have been
clamouring of support when she was doing it. I also have to…” Bishop was
exhausted and Val could tell, “Make sure rampant bullying does not break out.”
Unlike, when Marta was in school and Bishop had been younger, it seemed with
age she had come about with some maturity, “I know in my lesson plan discussed
with you, Papa Knoth, Laird and the others that one of our aims is to show who
can be the Enemy. But in a school with so many children whose parents have gone
to the Scalled you can imagine the ones who haven’t, the ‘bourgeoisie’ of the
bunch, would always point to some like the Brights and even Miranda Barrow.
Some of the younger children were so sad they refused to eat knowing they are
being called the Enemy.” She looked worried and was sobbing, “I feel this is
like a self-imposed Armageddon than a biblical one in the school right now
seeing it is so chaotic at times. Even in the silence, you can feel the tension
can break under a whip or something. I don’t understand much of anything these
days. I know the gospels. I have been keen with them since I was a young woman.
I know our nation had to grow before the ends of days. But, aside the visions
we see daily. I did not think it can be worse.”
 
“I understand your problems; trust me I do.” Val approached this tentatively,
“However, it’s just…” Val looked a bit sad, “I am also trying…” In their eyes,
June saw that they too were struggling with new responsibilities and
exhaustion, “I think they are just really confused. They all have been good
enough children and they don’t know why they feel they are being punished.”
 
June looked at the tired Val. It seemed they were also not having good enough
sleep. There was a soft spot between them; between mentor and former student.
June had been school teacher for most of the children here till they had
graduated with occasional help from Kent and Brewer, Vincent and Rosemary
Hawthorne. She had more regular help from Mad Ol’ Maggie, who after Marta had
graduated from school, had come around to cleaning and also teaching poetry
alongside June Bishop. Geraldine Rubery, who had once been the wife of Albert
Lane, had helped as well. She had kept her maiden name after her husband was
executed. Her marriage to the leech was not one of great happiness. June
understood and knew most of the children she had taught. She felt terrible for
them too but how could she conduct order if her smart pupils, like Augustus and
Samantha made a ruckus? She was also worried what would happen when they
understood that perhaps some of their parents wouldn’t get better. What was the
sickness of the soul was also contested in secret amongst most of the members
of The Testament of New Ezekiel. The discussions, if not always secret, had a
tendency to erupt into small quarrels on whose husband did what and whose wife
did what. It was not always a juncture of ‘civilised’ conversation in Temple
Gate.
 
There were also the ‘naysayers.’ The ‘naysayers’ were a group of people, who
Marta and Val, Laird and Paul alongside Corgan and Zedekiah Knoth, were
supposed to be finding out. Corgan had personally brought out two ‘naysayers’
to the chapel a month ago. They were burned alive. They had been distant
relations of the Peters and bore the same name. That night was an awful one at
the boarding house. Nathaniel, Jessica and Samuel Peters had rushed at Val to
find out what had happened to their family. Val couldn’t lie. It was first
Nathaniel who had broken down, being the youngest amongst the Peters children.
Samuel was the second to go — despite being the oldest it was too much to bear
for him to see him losing family everywhere. Only Jessica had remained calm and
actually seemed to be taking things like an adult. Val could have sworn seeing
her mother on her face.
 
“We have to be brave, boys.” She casually referred to her brothers, “If we are
not strong, it’ll be harder for Mama and Dad. They won’t be able to take losing
so much in one go.” She then smiled at Val, “Also, we have Val.”
 
Val distinctly saw her mother on Jessica’s face. The woman who punched Paul
Mills for calling her a ‘lesser whore’ while being dragged out of their home
for becoming the Scalled. Usually, Marta didn’t always like to be part of
Scalled interrogation parties. She had by then killed around over thirty people
for trying to leave Temple Gate or for one thing or the other. Val had asked
once what it felt like, killing someone. Marta had not immediately answer.
Marta’s job was get people who were not so dedicated to the Testament of New
Ezekiel or breaking rules in a horrible fashion. One of the kills was someone
who was stealing food for communion feasts who was actually a Bryant. Even
though it was Justus Bryant’s uncle who got cleaved by Marta he wanted to be
like her. On mentioning his uncle’s fate by Val, he had stated:
 
“He did wrong. He should have stolen food for our joined feasts. Marta is The
Sentinel. She was only doing what her divine task was.”
 
Claudius Turner or as he was known also as Claudius Knoth, did not always like
Marta: “She is just a big nuisance.” He was heard saying though Justus has in
confidence told Val, “He is only jealous of her like Corgan Knoth. Let’s not
forget he is a bastard Knoth who has less privileges than Corgan, Zedekiah,
Lois and Maryanne Knoth.”
 
Val was lost to their thoughts, thinking of certain things. They didn’t notice
that June was looking intently at them as well. Soon June embraced Val, “Oh my
dear sweet Val. I wish I could help you more as well.” Val almost slumped in
their teacher’s arms. They were so tired. Taking care of the children alongside
helping with confession was some of the most laborious works in Temple Gate.
They were also sure Marta’s job of covering so many areas by foot and looking
at places so much was also hard work. Though, Marta was kind enough to help
with laundry and cooking. It seems to Val, more and more, that Marta was one of
the people they could count now.
 
They fell asleep with June Bishop’s lap due to the fatigue. It had been a very
tiring day that day.
 
June fanned Val’s face and saw them in complete slumber.
 
It had also been Val’s duty to go meet June regularly so that they could be
updated on the children under their care.
 
Usually, June had a pot of strong milky or raw tea or a nice coffee with milk
ready for them. June stated that Val should sometimes have dinner with her,
which she offered to cook all by themselves beforehand. Val was touched by the
offer but had to usually decline as they had to cook alongside with the 40+
orphans who lived with them. Still, June got out some small sugary pies or some
cake with the teas or coffees she served to Val when they talked. One of the
cakes Val had recently reminded them of Helen Bailey. Bishop then confirmed to
Val, that yes, Helen was kind enough to teach her the recipe with some nice
smelling flowers. Val has asked for a piece to take home but in reality, they
had given it to Marta as a midnight snack.
 
Marta had tears in her eyes when she ate the cake. Val secretly saw. There was
both a pain in seeing Marta cry and a pain to know how dear Helen was still to
Marta. Val had wished they could exchange places. Or, perhaps, them and Asher.
Asher Arazabel was another mystery.
 
Tonight, Val could see that Bishop had put on a strong doze of coffee on,
“Thank You Madame.” They all sometimes called her that on account on her being
their teacher, “I really have to talk to you and go to confession again
tonight. Then I have a meeting with Papa Knoth.”
 
“Aww, my poor sweet Val…” June seemed to been heating the cake slightly on an
already warm pan, “You have so much to do.”
 
“Yeah, I’m…” Val didn’t know how to phrase it again without sounding they were
nagging or whining, but it was the truth, “So tired.”
 
“Perhaps, you should have a talk about this with Papa Knoth?”
 
“Yeah…I have decided that I need to…” Val sat down and welcomed the brewed, hot
coffee with milk like a heavenly dish. They decided they should get some of the
coffee in their house too. As Val could not really stay their nights. They had
to stay with the children in one of their rooms or a separate study for them.
They had to make sure the children did not feel already more alone than they
felt. Sometimes, they would have a pleasant surprise. They would wake up and
find Marta beside them. Marta who had already readied the oats for breakfast
and milked her cows for Val. The milk was usually from the small cattle that
Marta kept next to their own house which was both fearfully and affectionately
called “Marta’s Piece.”  
 
Marta really helped them a lot. Then there was Geraldine and Maggie who seemed
to help out for most lunches and dinners. Mad Ol’ Maggie was not a less
hermetic figure when the children were getting displaced. She came in with pots
of soup and even made breakfast broth out of wheat and molasses for the
children. Sometimes she made brought along buttered bread and fresh berries or
good jams. Geraldine also did most of these chores as well. Geraldine had a
daughter and a son from two different fathers, whom she had also taught. Jair
Rubery was now in the class as well. Unlike most of the ‘bourgeoisie’ he had
not acted unfairly to the any of the orphaned children. He understood what it
meant to be different. When his mother came to help out, Jair also did and
would seem to be eating all his meals or spending a lot of time with the kids
at the boarding house. Susanna, Geraldine’s oldest daughter, didn’t always
approve. She knew her father was actually the Bryant that got killed Marta. Not
that she cared, she thought him to be a dead beat who her Mama had fun with.
She actually liked Knoth a lot. Too much (yeah, they did have sex). She was
very fond of her brother Jair who she treated also like her son and was worried
that Jair would get cursed being around the children of lesser whores.
 
There was also a rumour going on, which people decided not to investigate much
and avoid as much as possible. Val knew it was true. That Geraldine Rubery and
Maggie Bland were lovers. And, have been ever since Albert had passed away. It
just seemed Maggie seemed to understand Geraldine’s listlessness after her
husband’s death. One thing led to another and love blossomed. No one seemed to
care much to verify staunchly them as lovers. Marta didn’t seem to care one
bit. Paul did, always trying to expose them when the interest too him. It was
strange that when Blake would visit the Scalled encampment that despite some
people muttering about being gay that Geraldine and Maggie weren’t there at
all. Geraldine and Maggie would be happy for as long as they had been together,
which was till the ends of their lives. Till Knoth pretty much forced them all
to end their own lives to escape the antichrist or whatever Murkoff had told
them to do.
 
“You should…” June Bishop brought Val back to the present, “Even with us
helping out. There are around forty-five children whose parents have been
Scalled. It is a lot of responsibility. I don’t know how we only a handful are
supposed to manage such a large bunch of children.” Bishop looked
contemplative, “I mean, I have taught a lot of you while you grew up but this
is not only teaching in a classroom. Most of these new batch of children in in
a boarding house. They don’t have parents anymore. They live with you. They
seem to have no stability.” June sighed, “What I mean is, is that this is not a
regular boarding school sort of situation that the world outside entails. This
is a form of exodus for the children. Yes, I chose the right word, ‘exodus,’”
The response came from Val’s surprised face and then they seemed to accept the
semantics of the situation, “It isn’t really pleasant for any of us. We have to
do more than make do. The situation will spiral out of control otherwise.”
 
Val nodded, “I thought of sometimes visiting the encampment of the Scalled — to
see how they are doing.” The latter response was to answer the alertness of
Bishop’s face.
 
“Are we allowed to go there?” June looked at Val hesitantly.
 
“Not always. There are only some special occasions.” Val explained, “We are not
to be getting the sickness of the soul.”
 
“The sickness of the soul.” June repeated, “You know the ‘naysayers’ state it
is STDs.”
 
“I am still a bit unsure what that means.” Val confessed.
 
“In the world outside, there are STDs, sexually transmitted diseases…” June
carefully detailed to Val, who listened closely, “It is because of unprotected
sex. And, to be frank,” she said this to the other in a whisper most secretive
so Val had to lean in, “I am not so sure if they are wrong. We have,” in a
lighter thread of air her face was closer now to Val’s, “People here having sex
all the time. With different people. There had been extramarital affairs in
secret as well, without contraception, or protection like condoms. It can
happen Val. Perhaps, what I am saying is heresy. Yet, it can be true.”
 
“It is indeed a heresy.” Val looked a bit annoyed and June became tight lipped
and expressionless, “Papa Knoth says the ‘naysayers’ try to distort the truth.
We are not in the world outside June. We are in the holy grounds of Temple
Gate. Surely, this affliction has to be the sickness of the soul.”
 
“Then…”  June says after a while of restrained silence had come between them,
“That you agree that the children are the children of lesser whores and should
be killed as probable risings of the antichrist?”
 
To this Val fell silent. Bishop made a sort of a snorting noise to show her
chagrin. “I am sorry.” Val apologises, alarming June, “I didn’t mean to be so
annoyed…” Val sat down finally, they hoped they were still welcomed after
behaving so discourteously to the host, “It is just…” rubbing the bridges of
their nose, “It feels just strange that these sexually transmitted diseases
would take over us from the world outside.” Then looking closely at Bishop who
sat down, “Does this mean, the end of days is near?”
 
“You tell me.” June answered helplessly, “You are chief deacon.”
 
“I may be, but you have been my teacher.” Val replied then questioned, “What do
you think?”
 
“I am not certain this is Armageddon. To be frank,” again a whisper, “I have my
doubts about everything in Temple Gate in recent years.” Then with solemnness,
“I thought I would be happier here. I don’t know if I have been completely. I
have in some moments. There was a passage of time here that I have been
inordinately happy. But, that changed in recent years. Since people started
dying by Marta’s pickaxe and seeing her weep in secret. To see Paul and Corgan
have such happy bloodshed, to see the prayers of the travailing women. I know
some people are very happy but as they say in the world outside where I came
from,” she looked at Val unflinchingly, “This is not what I signed up for.”
 
The words took a powerful hold on Val. They had to sit with them intimately.
They knew that some of the content of these words, even their context, could be
considered a profound heresy eligible to meet the quick and sharp end of
Marta’s blade or Paul and Corgan’s. There was still a decisive truth to it.
What had the people who migrated here from Albuquerque had come here for?
 
Their gospels say “Grace unto you, but never peace.” Those words sometimes were
chilling to Val. They also seem to chill Marta at times as well. But Val didn’t
know how to accommodate them to how they felt so they didn’t always try to
think about it. It made them somewhat miserable when they thought about it.
 
“What did you sign up for?”
 
“I guess some peace, if not all. The world outside was not necessarily nice
either. We had some intermittent peace here that I think was not always
possible there.” June explained, “When we were leaving there had been some wars
being fought; people could be drafted without any choice, at least, I felt over
here, we had some volition.” Then she closed her eyes for a bit, the pot hissed
with boiling water and Val was about to get it but June showed her a sign that
it was okay and went to get the boiling water. The smell of coffee was stronger
now as June poured over some nice blue ceramic mugs, still looking new, boiling
water and put in the coffee and drained it and put in some good milk, which
came from some cows. There was a chicken cooking in the pot nearby, as Val
noticed, perhaps a late supper for the schoolmaster. Then she set down the mugs
and Val drank a bit of the coffee; outside was a pure purple mix with burnt
orange and flickering crimson, the sun dipping ever so slightly on the horizon
like a trampoline act between night and day, or was it nodding of? A final
salutation, a marker, like a thumbprint on some white and mist paper, on the
hardships both Val and June were facing. “But perhaps,” June started again,
looking at dyed sunset, “I was only kidding myself.” Looking straight at Val,
“Volition means an act of personification not enforced contrition.”
 
The meaning was not entirely vague. Val got it. Punishment for the sake of
punishment was a bad thing. Instead of restraint they were pretty excessive
when it came to hand down punishments. To place blame, their community had
intimacy in scraps — no one would completely trust each other. Initially, that
was not always the case. However, ever since Temple Gate became larger and was
established that became a normalcy to be expected. One of the events that
heralded this was the killing of the Clarences. That poor family executed when
invited over for lunch one day by Papa Knoth. Then there had been the execution
of Albert Lane, their predecessor. Both events became a bulwark to judge that
the predicaments in Temple Gate could get dire and fast. People could mark
those as precedents to what was happening now — conversations around the hearth
or the camp with coffee or tea precipitated from this juncture. Critical
commentaries would enmesh different genres of narratives but these were the
samplings of Temple Gate that were offered as intellectual engagements. Like
some colloquial idiom these happenings were well known as the gospels
themselves so no one was unchristianed to them. The only thing was that these
were also incendiary items.
 
An example, is that the Mills, even though losing the popular vote via Val’s
ascension to chief deacon enjoyed some success in recent years with Paul as the
head of the interrogators. Paul still had Papa Knoth’s ear and still could be
persuasive. There was already a steady rivalry, albeit one sided, between him
and Val. As an insult, Paul mistakenly called Val as ‘she’, which was a showing
of disdain even if Atarah Rippington, Paul’s wife, seemed not at all unhappy
with Val and was happy having their children confess to them. It was Paul being
petty. Paul just angry that he lost so much. The Mills who were still alive and
well enough did not completely find the Clarences to be undeserving of their
fate. This was a bit of a controversial positionality because unlike Albert
Lane, who was an asshole and people didn’t miss, the Clarences were a pious
sort and a friendly neighbour. There was not always direct admonishing against
them even though Papa Knoth had told everyone to hate them. Truth was, many
people carried mixed feelings. They wanted Papa Knoth to baptise them again, to
have them apologise, because they were not so hated. Yet, even Petunia Mills,
to the great annoyance of Anna Bailey and Rosemary Hawthorne, had, even after
her demotion, considered the Clarences a nuisance to be better rid of. Now,
Rosemary had speculated that this was just to stay on the side of the good
road. She wasn’t wrong because Petunia struggled to get recognition ever since
being dethroned and beating her husband didn’t always give her as much joy as
she thought it would (granted it was still blissful to give it to that old wife
beater). Some of her attentions paid off as Paul was also following suit. Paul
was determined to lost ‘lose’ though in many ways he had already lost. Val was
still prized as the best. Val’s ‘maidenhood’ made things feel purer and
sanctioned a sense of innocence that felt like a deacon’s way.
 
Well, there were some who shared the Mills’s views of the Clarences. There were
many more who hated Albert and had been most happy seeing them getting
quartered. Here, the unpopular notion was to show him clemency which the
Baileys and Hawthornes had to be weary of. Granted, they did not like Albert
but they weren’t sure if a public humiliation and execution of him was the
right way to go. Not to mention, they thought Knoth denouncing the Mills
publicly was in very bad taste. Of course, the Mills agreed on that part. They
didn’t understand why Father Martin had not like them anymore. Even to the
present day, with Paul growing older and having some recognition, some part of
him regaining their former glory, they still couldn’t completely get it. They
understood that Val, whom they called a ‘cursed body’, was easier to have
around seeing that their status of transforming from girl to boy still creeped
out some people. The lecherous nature of Albert Lane would not necessarily be
repeated on Val (and to that they were right). However, that would imply that
Paul was lecherous which was also quite erroneous as he had seemingly been
committed (as much as a Temple Gate extremist and sexist could be) to his wife,
Atarah. They had at times hit the nail with the hammer when they realised the
Ordishes were poor and able to be manipulated. They didn’t voice this. They had
to be content in seeing Paul graduate from complete devastation to some other
senior position, even if Paul wasn’t always satisfied with it.
 
There had been other instances along the way but these two crucial ones now
stood out to Val.
 
“Well…” June Bishop took Val’s silence as a mediator to get back on track, “I
suppose we should start talking about the children.” Val nodded, “You know The
Brights are not a problem much after that odd incident where Paul had to smack
Augustus,” Val felt Paul was being extra hard on Augustus because he treated
Val more or less as a sibling and parent than just adoptive chief deacon, “I
know they still resent me and don’t really always wanna learn their lessons. I
can’t really do much about that.”
 
Val nods, “Augustus and his sister Patty are a handful.” Though they smile, “I
understand them though. They are curious. They want answers. As a thirteen-
year-old who haven’t start her blood covenant and a twelve year old who
seemingly has a blood covenant of his own I get them.”
 
“Mind you,” June laughed, “I like their ferocity. I really do. We need people
with principles in Temple Gate. This is the most important thing. I also was
very happy when Samantha Penny also asks questions. Well joining her were her
own siblings. Joab and John were adamant as her as well.” Then drinking her
tea, “Today, I saw Elijah Turner and Zemira Ellis kiss for the first time in my
class. I let them.” Val gave a smirk, “Yes, perhaps I am getting old. In your
time I would have been pretty angry with that kind of behaviour. But, I saw it
as natural. Two Twelve year olds kissing. Though Job Duke and Ruby and Sharon
Hazel had pretty much today had a tantrum and scattered all the colours. I
think they get angry at times.”
 
“Yes, they do.” Val explained, “They would be fine when suddenly they may start
crying and get angry.”
 
“I think out of all of them Claudius Brown or as he likes to call himself
Claudius Knoth is the most adamant and arrogant one.” June now looked annoyed,
“He knows that he and Phoebe Turner are directly Knoths as well it was
explained so and he makes it to be more than the bourgeoisie and all the
others. He has airs. Reminds me of Corgan if you ask me.”
 
“What about Phoebe?” Val asked worried.
 
“At first, she wanted to get along with everyone. But increasingly, she is
adopting the rules that Claudius is bringing forth. Claudius is twelve and
Phoebe is ten. I think she thinks she should listen to her older brother.” June
saddened, “This is also creating problems between well you know the Turners.
Evelyn, Evan and Anna are all doing their prayers properly. You know they like
drawing biblical images and reading prayers a lot. They also love memorable
favourite gospel quotes. Well, they are finding Phoebe’s reactions a mortal sin
and also a spiritual sin. Her arrogance. The Browns all like serving their
brother hoping this would get them better position.”
 
“I can understand Hadrian,” Val mentioned, “He had always been pretty
supportive of his older brother being eight and all. Bernice is ten and she
does love reading her books and prayers. I guess I thought she would be the
median amongst them.”
 
“She hardly reads now and though likes reading from gospel of Knoth she has
made enemies amongst the bourgeoisie, calling them the antichrist who deserve
to die.” June quietens, “It seems she just misses her mama and papa a lot.
Well, she had been insistent in meet Papa Knoth, saying if he is of Knoth’s
loins so she must be too. Of course, this makes Claudius and Bernice butt heads
at times like two bulls at each other. But, I suppose this is how children can
become.” June saddens then brightens, “The Candles are no problem. They seem to
like measuring the value of good foods to eat. They like cooking even their
boys. Though you know in our culture boys are not really encouraged to learn
cooking, it seems their parents taught them all. I think Tamara has affections
for Uzziah Ellis. I can see her hoping to catch the attention of the older boy.
But, I suppose young love can happen. “
 
“I will try to see what I can do about Claudius and Phoebe, Sharon, Ruby and
Sharon Hazel and Job Duke. I know we can find a solution.” Val drank their
coffee and got up. They started surveying the books that June had, some of them
seemed ‘illegal’ by the standards of Temple Gate.
 
“I have brought many books hidden in my trunks.” June Bishop confesses, “I knew
perhaps they weren’t; completely ‘right’ by our standards. But, I wanted them
around with me. I have gotten very happy with them and I didn’t want to part
with them.” June beamed, “There is a joy in books. You know, you and Marta
should inherit some of them.” She looked ecstatic, “I don’t think it will be
safe with anyone else and you two looked good enough to keep them safe.”
 
“Are you sure?” Val looked at some of the books — One Hundred Years of
Solitude, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Phantom Tollbooth, Jane Eyre, Wuthering
Heights, The Professor, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Where the Wild Things Are,
James and The Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Slaughterhouse
Five, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Left Hand of Darkness, Wide Sargasso
Sea, The Last Unicorn, A Clockwork Orangeand then they found Lord of the Flies.
“Oh, this one seems interesting…” They picked up the book.
 
“That one jars you.” June commented, “It is a deeply philosophical book. I am
afraid Papa Knoth may not like it.” Then fondly, “I re-read most of them. I got
some Shakespeare too. You may actually like Hamlet and Othello. I actually gave
Marta to read Othello and Macbeth. “
 
“Has she read them?” Val smiled, despite their closeness Val did not knew that
Marta read. Their smile wavered a bit. Marta didn’t tell them that. Perhaps,
there was a reason. Then Val wondered if they should ask her.
 
“I am not sure if she is done with them.” June decides to get some more coffee,
the pot was still hot she poured in some more water and strained the beans and
put it some milk, “Yet, I like The Sentinel likes reading.” As if musing, “I
think she is killed around thirty people or more ever since she has been
seventeen or eighteen.” Looking at Val, “This may take a toll on her. It’s good
that she gets to read and relax.”
 
Val had to admit she was right. Val drank her coffee, the mug they had brought
along while surveying the books, “Can I borrow one of them? The Lord of the
Flies one?”
 
“Sure.”
 
 
===============================================================================
 
 
When Val walked into the chapel they could hear wailing. And, it wasn’t joyous
all.
 
They looked up at a sullen Marta. Marta’s hands were covered in blood, “What
happened?” Val asked urgently.
 
“It’s still happening.” Marta commented and motioned towards a young dark
haired woman, around twenty years of age, struggling with Nick and hitting by
Paul who had hit her first.
 
Val saw Papa Knoth.
 
Knoth had gone strangely obese in all of his years. Knoth also suspiciously
limped when he walked and looked quite harangued at times to breathe. They
didn’t exactly know if old age was like this but Marta and Val had their
concerns. They also seem to sometimes had strange pustules, almost hidden by
clothes, but gone in a while. Not like the Scalled. Yet, Marta and no one, not
even Val commented much on this.
 
They hadn’t both really thought of this.
 
And, when they did, they didn’t always disclose things to the other.
 
“You fucking bastards! Papa Knoth! I am telling you! I am telling you!” The
young woman cried, “My parents and aunt! I am telling you they are not opposing
you! They are not naysayers!”
 
“Are you telling me that Chief deacon Val lied to me?” Papa Knoth bellowed,
“That he had some suspicions that were wrong? That your parents and you aunt
talked about things other than the sickness of the soul?!”
 
“I just believe it is a misunderstanding!” The young woman cried and to this
Corgan Knoth punched her right in the face; blood came out. Val gasped. Marta
looked on a bit tenderly.
 
“Shut up wench!”  Corgan Knoth started, “Marta may have hit them enough to stop
them…” a maniacal glint in his eyes, “But I am the man who cut their throats. I
know lesser whores when I see them and I can sniff them too!”
 
“Harriet Harrington.” Papa Knoth coldly spoke, “You will come tonight to my
home and give your body to me as penance. I have no more to speak to you.”
 
Nick then threw Harriet on the ground, she got up and looked at Val and Marta
coldly, “Chief deacon Val…you…Marta…” she looked sad then angry and then went
away.
 
Marta, Laird, Nick, Paul, Corgan and the select butchers with the interrogators
left the chapel. Marta had given Val a weak smile before leaving. Val could
have sworn they saw Marta look teary. Paul sneered and decided to give a dirty
look at Val. Val just smirked making Paul angry when he left. Corgan just gave
a nod which Val returned. Nick smiled at Val so they smiled back and Laird also
gave a nice jovial nod.
 
Now Val was alone with Sullivan Knoth.
 
Knoth looked very happy to see Val, “Oh, my blessed boy! It is you!”
 
“Yes, Papa Knoth, we had a meeting?” Val smiled.
 
“Of course, we did. We have pressing matters to attend you. The children —“
 
“Yes, about the children…” Val walked forth, “I just really needed to talk
about them.”
 
Knoth seemed annoyed for being interrupted. Ever since he became the Modern
Ezekiel he had enjoyed a station of power with wealth and women. It also
included the ability to talk uninterrupted for long periods of time on the
radio. Most people wouldn’t ask Knoth direct questions for fear of Knoth
getting angry and having Marta, Paul or Corgan and their men to silence them.
Though, this has happened sometimes as Corgan or Paul usually took care of it —
greedy and sycophantic as they were. Marta had to do it once and had actually
asked the other person to apologise first, which Knoth got a bit mad as he felt
an offense to him could not be repented over. So, Marta was told to then kill
the person and she did. Though, Val recognised hesitation in her demeanour.
 
“Well, what do you want to say?”
 
“There are many children and I think it becomes very problematic with me at
times to help them in every way. I wish I could be in more places at once and
do my job as diligently as I could. The children are young and do need constant
care. I feel that sometimes that this becomes a barrier because I cannot always
look at my other duties if I feel the children are being ignored. It also makes
them feel lonelier, thinking we have also abandoned them. I have to go to
confessionals most nights as well. So, when I go, or when I don’t go I want the
children to be taken care of or at least have someone to look out for them.”
Val, with utmost clarity, explained the situation.
 
“So, you say you need more help?” Knoth surveyed Val, “Well, you are a strong
man but I suppose it is a very taxing job, taking care of the lesser whores’
children.”
 
“There are forty-five of them Papa Knoth.” Val defended their position, “I am
happy to do work for them. To love and care for them, but I do need some spare
hands at times. It feels quite taxing to cook for over forty people by myself
all the time when I have other services to attend to. For example, almost every
night is confession night. If I am to be take care of the congregation during
confession who will take care of the children? They do need attention Papa
Knoth. And, it is not that there are my own children. I am not saying they are
badly behaved and that they  cause a ruckus when they don’t find them but it is
good to have at least someone nearby when I have to do that work.”
 
“Are you sure you are not spoiling them with over attention, young man?” Papa
Knoth asked while surveying the bust of animals and a man in the chapel. There
had been a large wheel put on one side. Countless wheels upon wheels was the
credo of The Testament of New Ezekiel. Sometimes, wheels scared Val; the only
person they were able to share this to was Marta.
 
“I am not.” Val determined spoke clearly albeit cautiously, “I just feel,
seeing recent events, they will be scared and feel abandoned and we don’t want
a ruckus in the boarding house at night. It will look and sound pretty bad and
disturb others.”
 
“Yes, Yes…” Knoth nodded, “You are right. Perhaps, it is good that Geraldine
and Maggie help you out. I will make sure that they permanently help you out as
part of their duties to The Testament of New Ezekiel. There will be some other
help. I will ask the women.”
 
Val nods.
 
Then the question that was pressing them, seemed to erupt in a whimper, a death
to their frustration of not-knowing: “Papa Knoth…are these children really the
children of lesser whores? What is to happen to them? Will they grow up as I
raise them and will they become part of the nation of Temple Gate?”
 
Knoth smiled, eerily, Val would remember this smile when they would be writing
their final letter to Knoth, “They are the children of lesser whores, Val. You
should know that as my chief deacon. They may be the start of it all.”
 
“The start of it all?”
 
“The end of days Val.” Papa Knoth looked secured in his knowledge, “God has
spoken to us before these lesser whores. Now, the nation has been formed. The
sword should be readied. We are already seeing more afflictions. God has spoken
to me and said that this is the right time. I hope the children will be ready.”
 
Val’s guts seem to twist, they felt a heaving, but they somehow controlled it,
“Ready for what?”
 
“Their time to paradise has come Val.” Knoth looked a bit disappointed at Val
asking so many questions, “We will prepare them for their ultimate purpose.
Their reaping will feed the grass. They are all tainted by the antichrist and
must now be saved by our blades. We will sharpen them and be prepared for the
coming of the greater whore.”
 
“But Papa Knoth, but you told the Scalled that being penitent will allow them
mercy.” Val was confused, “So, even if there are lesser whores, shouldn’t they
forgiven if they are repentant?”
 
“No.” Papa Knoth surmised it in one word, “There is a chance they will not be.
They are whores and God has already forsaken them. I asked God and he told me
that there may be no cure for them. They are the Scalled for a reason.”
 
Val found this a bit hard to stomach, “So, their children will have to be
killed?”
 
“Sacrificed, yes…” Papa Knoth corrected them, “However, it is not only those
children. God has told me every child newly born, newly going to be born and of
a particular age must be sacrificed to fasten ourselves for the birth of the
greater whore.”
 
Val felt their guts churning. It was an upkeep not to vomit, though they
quietly asked, “Who will tell the children about all of this? And how?” Val
knew from a young age that Temple Gate was meant to sharpen the knives and get
ready but so soon? And, with the kids that they are taking care of? This was a
lot to handle.
 
“What do you mean, what and how you are going to tell the children?” Knoth
sounded angry, “It is your and June Bishop to explain to the children that what
is happening to them is what God wants and that they should be happy for it. I
will talk to June Bishop myself tomorrow. She will be given a lesson plan. It
is your job young man to make sure that apart from school the children under
your care will be pretty well handled.”
 
Val took some time to adjust to this new information. Before Knoth could ask
them why they were just standing there, “It would be confusing for the
children.” Val gently approached, “They won’t understand what they have done
wrong. The ones who are not under my care —“
 
“Are not really your headache, Val.” Knoth looked seriously annoyed, “Listen to
me!” Val was taken aback by the anger, “It isn’t about wrong or right! It’s
about what God wants!”
 
Val was confused right now. Wasn’t God for rights and wrong? And, Justice? Why
was Knoth speaking like this? This seemed unusual, “I was only saying that
those who are not under my care will also be confused. They think the other
children had done wrong so that is why they are already a bit separated.”
 
“Oh yes, the so-called bourgeoisie.” So, Knoth had heard, “That doesn’t matter
if their parents are here or amongst the Scalled.” Knoth stressed, “They are
going to enter into paradise. They should be happy for such an honour. That is
what we are going to explain to them.” Then looking straight at Val with a look
that showed he had explained all there was he stated, “I know I made myself
clear now young man.”
 
“I suppose you did.” Val was still unsatisfied but they didn’t exactly know how
to voice it. Was the Enemy really amongst them in the form of the children that
they took care of? They knew they were scared now. It was scary to think that
their children were going to die. That they were sacrifices.
 
It made them feel sick.
 
Even if God wanted it; did God really want it?
 
Val loved God so much. God has brought them here in Temple Gate on their little
slice of paradise and they were grateful for that. Yet, was it really a
paradise, if children were to be sacrificed? They were so confused. Hoping God
would provide a way.
 
“After this…” Knoth pressed on Val’s shoulder, making them slightly shudder and
break out of the reverie, “We will wait for the end of days. When the greater
whore is born, we will have our knives ready after all lesser ones we killed we
will be ready. And, then we will ascend to paradise everlasting.” Knoth smiled,
and slowly brushed Val’ face, slowly moving a stray blonde strand on their
face, “Ah, look at you.” Val slowly looked nicely at Knoth, “You are beautiful
as you are righteous and diligent. God had sent you to us for this, Val. You
are to be one of our greatest. You are one of our greatest. The fine work you
are doing. We couldn’t have asked for a better chief deacon. One who is hungry
for the righteous like you. We are all hungry for the righteous.”
 
Val smiled and touched Knoth’s arm, “I won’t let you down Papa Knoth.”
 
===============================================================================
 
“Was it a good meeting?”
 
“Why didn’t you tell me that you read?”
 
Marta seemed caught by them, “Are you going to tell Papa Knoth? I know, it’s
imperfect, my faith is imperfect —“
 
“I didn’t say that.” Val smiled and hugged Marta who was taken a bit aback, “I
am also reading, Lord of the Flies, June Bishop gave me to read.”
 
“I haven’t finished the plays properly yet.” Marta looked at her hands which
were cleaned now, “It is quite something to think that these plays are actually
performed in the world outside. Even today. Simeon once saw a flier, you know
piece of paper, talking about a Hamlet play nearby.”
 
“Did he go to see it?”
 
“It needs a lot of money and Henry and John were giving him the looks.” Marta
revealed, looking at the sky. Clusters of stars were chasing each other. A
half-moon out like half eaten cheese kept in a cool place for the next day. The
night air was cool as they were near a desert.
 
“It was a strange meeting.” Val finally answered, “You know…” They trembled and
Marta noticed, “Papa Knoth wants them to die…”:
 
“Who to die?” Marta looked attentive.
 
“The children are supposed to be sacrificed. All of them, not only the ones
under my car but the ones who aren’t older yet. I think Papa Knoth will say
that in a sermon soon. I wonder what this means.” Val trembled more, “Is this
right? I know the nation of the sword needs to be struck. I didn’t think so
soon.”
 
Marta took this in. Val and she remained quiet for a long time.
 
“I will miss the children.” Marta spoke suddenly, “I didn’t know they have to
be sacrificed. I don’t know anything…but, we all had to sharpen our blades. I
think you and I both know this. I don’t really like this. I don’t know what to
say to them. I just hope I don’t do the killing. I already have done so many
killings that don’t leave me. To kill children would be…” they looked at the
sky, then they looked at their hands, “Here's the smell of blood still. All
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”
 
“Marta?”
 
It was many months later that Val would know that Marta had spoken from the
play Macbeth.
 
 
***** Come after us. Hunt Us Down *****
 
Come_After_Us._Hunt_Us_Down
 
 
What happened was a pretty unexpected.
 
There were some children who get invariably numb. It was if the news itself was
death. A death coiling itself upon them like a python coils itself upon
victims. A form of rattling as the conspicuous rattle-snack. There had also
been an uproar. A chance for normalcy to go down the drain.
 
Samantha Penny, Miranda Barrow, Joab Penny, John Penny, Augustus Bright, Linda
Bright, Elijah Falcon, Zemira Ellis, Uzziah Ellis, Tamara Candle, Bruce Candle,
Justus Bryant, Talitha Bryant, Marcus Siphon, Abigail Bryant, Jonah Bryant,
Judy Tate, Tabitha Tate, Henry Tate, Michael Fairborough, Jessica Peters,
Nathanial Peters, Evelyn Turner, Evan Turner, Anna Turner, Jude Turner, Phoebe
Turner/Knoth, Claudius Brown/Knoth, Hadrian Brown, Bernice Brown, Susanna
Candle, Aiden Candle, Sharon Hazel, Ruby Hazel, Julie Falcon, Daniel Falcon,
Hayden Duke, Job Duke — almost all of the forty-five were in an outrage that
made the schoolhouse tremble and feel the wrath of the children. They were not
alone. Even the quiet ones like Julianna Fairborough, who keeps on writing
drafts of letters to her parents, one of those letters Blake would find one
day, was wearing a scowl. Patty Bright could not at all feel optimistic on this
one. She broke down in tears along with her youngest brother Joseph and the
glared at June Bishop, who was intimidated would be a grave understatement.
 
Talitha Bryant was usually quiet and she actually got up on one of the
schoolhouse tables and starting screaming, “Sanctuary! Sanctuary!”
 
Julie Falcon also of a similar temperament alongside Daniel Falcon looked
fuming and were saying the words “Betrayal and Betrayal!” All over again and
again. Their shouting being controlled by a crescendo. They were having a sit
off. Many of them got up on their tables to scream and shout and no matter of
yelling from June Bishop was calming any of them down.
 
They were not alone in this endeavour. The youngest daughter of the
Harringtons, Lisbeth, was also screaming and shouting. The chanting, “Freedom!
Salvation!” They were taking out words they know and meant something to talk
about their sadness.
 
They were not willing to expect that their deaths, called sacrifices, was what
God wanted.
 
The noise became like an atmosphere of its own.
 
It permeated the town of Temple Gate like a gutting.
 
Soon, people were surrounding the schoolhouse with apprehension. They all
looked scared of their own children. Of the town’s children who had become as
ferocious as the apparitions.
 
It was presumably Jacob Hazel, who was also scared by all the noise, decided to
call Val Ordish. Val had heard the noise before hearing the actual reasons for
it. They could hear it some houses away; right now they were at their own
house. They had been writing a journal entry, which they instinctively ripped
off when they heard someone running up the stairs calling out Val and then
after the deed was done they heard Papa Val. They quickly exited their secret
room. They had heard the noise and wondered what was it, though bothered with
their writing thought to finish before investigating. As they pushed the
bookcase fast over the room and exited the place they saw Jacob absolutely
terrified telling them what has happened and was happening at the school.
 
But, instinctively he asked: “Is it true though, Val?”
 
“Yes.” Val didn’t have the energy to lie. Hearing what was happening to their
children was excruciatingly painful.
 
It was unprecedented that children in Temple Gate acted like this.

Val rushed alongside Jacob to get to the school. They were allowed in. After
that the children actually used the chairs and tables even one or two bookcases
to board the school.
 
It was a complete lockdown.
 
The children were young but they had grown in an extreme environment and knew a
lot about survival. They knew how to separate wheat from chafe, swim, fish in
cold days in the desert and even cold nights, made wicker baskets, milked cows,
rode horses, cooked and helped to cultivate fields. They were not about to
accept anything they found absolutely ridiculous. Many of them had lost their
parents to the Scalled. Now, they had to die too? Become martyrs? What would
God want then? Their skeletons to made into conch shells? Their flesh to be fed
to demons to cause the demons stomach ache on feeding on the righteous?
 
Why was God asking so much from them?
 
Why was God being a bully?
 
Well their ‘god’ was Murkoff who was a bully.
 
And, bullies make bullying plans such as this.
 
Val saw the screaming and yelling, even the throwing of pencils, at June had
made her sit down, huddle on the floor and cry. This was too much to take.
 
“Please! Children!” Val called out throughout the chaos, “Can we settle down?!”
 
But the children would not listen to them.
 
They looked angry.
 
Some of them, upon hearing Jacob explain what Val told him, looked disappointed
or angry at them. They seemed to be accusing Val for not telling them this
before. And, Val did not completely know how to answer that accusation.
 
Then there was the banging.
 
The children stayed quiet for a while. Val heard the banging deepen for a
while. It was the front doors. “You scum, you bastard children of lesser
whores!” That was unmistakably the voice of Corgan Knoth; Val became pale, “You
open these doors right now!”
 
“No, we won’t you fat piece of shit!” Cried out Samantha, “We don’t want to be
martyrs!”
 
“What is this even my brother becoming a martyr!” Bernice was screaming, “I
thought he was a Knoth!”
 
“Shut up! You selfish cunt!” cried out Patty Bright, surprising everyone, “This
is only about yer brother! We are all going to be killed!”
 
“I am not a lesser whore!” Lisbeth cried out, “You can’t take away our parents!
You can’t take away our lives!”
 
“I am not a lesser whore!” Daniel screamed.
 
“I am not a lesser whore!” Elijah screamed along.
 
“I am not a lesser whore!” Zemira shouted and joined them.
 
“I am not a lesser whore!” Jeremy, who had been quiet till now, also screamed.
 
“I am not a lesser whore!” Talitha shouted so loud, Val knew this is one of the
first times they had seen her shout.
 
“I am not a lesser whore!” Phoebe rose up with energy to yell.
 
“I am not a lesser whore!” Justus Bryant and Mary Siphon also chimed in.
 
“I am not a lesser whore! I am not a lesser whore! I am not a lesser whore! I
am not a lesser whore! I am not a lesser whore! I am not a lesser whore! I am
not a lesser whore! I am not a lesser whore! I am not a lesser whore!” This was
the rallying cry the children started shouting and truth be told it was
frightening at the same time admirable.
 
Val didn’t know to be worried or proud.
 
The children were all grabbing broomsticks and other objects. They seemed ready
to fight if fight was needed. They were ready to fight for their lives.
 
Val didn’t know if they should chastise them for these actions or to feel a
deep melancholy fill them up. It was so cruel at the same time so fantastic
that words felt insufficient to what they were seeing occur.
 
“You fucking bastards asked for it!” Corgan sounded mad, “Zedekiah Paul! Where
the fuck is Marta?! Tell her to come over here!”
 
At this, the children paused for a moment, but then started screaming again.
“You can’t scare us!” Judy Tate screamed out with her brother Henry, “We are
not going to give in! What you are doing is murder! Not martyrs!”
 
And then a new chant started:
 
“Murders not Martyrs! Murder not Martyrs! Murder not Martyrs! Murders not
Martyrs! Murders not Martyrs! Murders not Martyrs! Murders not Martyrs! Murders
not Martyrs! Murders not Martyrs! Murders not Martyrs!”
 
Their passion. Their determination. Val started weeping.
 
There was shame in their eyes.
 
Val didn’t know how to take in this knowledge, take in hope for the future. It
was all too much. It was all so much that it hurt them. The children were not
going down without a fight if they were going down at all.
 
Then they heard Corgan talk to someone.
 
“Val is inside there!” It was Marta, “I don’t think we should make the children
more scared and angry!”
 
“Marta, you are The Enforcer of The Testament of New Ezekiel!” Corgan was
furious, “You should be doing this! This is a violation to the integrity of
Temple Gate!”
 
“I don’t need you to teach me what is the integrity of Temple Gate and what is
not, Knoth-son.” She stressed it on the parentage, “The children are special in
life and death,” She seemed to be surveying the barricaded front door, “We must
treat them with respect.”
 
“Respect?!” Corgan was screaming, “Fuck your respect! This is —“
 
“Perhaps, she has a point.”
 
That was one of the first times Zedekiah Knoth spoke in a situation of crisis.
Usually, he followed orders. Val always mistrusted his quiet yet observant
demeanour. They didn’t know if it was uncharacteristic of him to talk in favour
of peace for as a member of the butchers where his brother led Zedekiah did not
seem like a pacifist.
 
“What the fuck yer rambling about?!” Corgan now grabbed his brother, the shadow
of it visible, “We cannot listen to these fucking brats!”
 
“Well, we could. There is nothing wrong with it.” Zedekiah freed himself.
 
“We don’t wanna die! This is not fair! God loves us!” Samantha screamed. It was
the least they could do to protest.
 
Val didn’t know what to do — what to say — they were just so shocked. The
children were usually morose, depressed at their life circumstances changing
and they were irritable — this was not the usual fare of melancholy — it was as
if a declaration of war against adults were the adrenalin in their blood. And
Val knew — fearfully so — that they weren’t wrong to behave like this. 
 
“This is fucking stupid!” Corgan was screaming. “I didn’t become one of the
heads of the Executioners by milking damn children!”
 
“Children!” Val called, “I know this is hard but…please,” they were all looking
at them now, “Don’t do this.”
 
“You can say that because you are notdying Val.” Zemira Ellis angrily told Val,
“You don’t have to die suddenly. Your family was not suddenly taken away from
you! And, no one fucking thinks you are the fucking enemy! It’s not fair that
everyone is after us like this!”
 
Everyone got quiet at the anger she resonated. Val was even quiet. To hear
Zemira swear was the least of their problems. The fact was…Val had no way to
counter the logic and perspectives that was being put forth. It was in no way
wrong to them. It was actually rightly spoken to them. Feeling so conflicted
and tensed they wanted to vomit.
 
Suddenly, there was a bang in the door, “If Marta and Zedekiah don’t do shit at
least the other Butchers and Interrogators will!” They had gotten a log and
they were pounding it at the door.
 
Val could see that everyone got quiet for a while.
 
“It doesn’t matter.” Samantha started and everyone looked at her, “We will
stand together. Or, we will fall down. But, not as the Enemy. We will fall down
as people who wanted to live.”
 
Val never thought they would hear such mature words for such a young girl.
“Yeah. Not as the enemy. But as the children we are.” Augustus chimed in, “We
have nothing left.” Then Augustus looked accusingly a bit to Val, “We can’t
really trust anyone.”
 
Val felt terrible.
 
This was horrible.
 
“Stop it Corgan!” Val could hear Marta scream, “We can talk to them!”
 
“Some Enforcer you are!” Corgan called out. “We are gonna get these little
pieces of shits! They are to be sacrificed! They can be the enemy! They gotta
accept that as we did!”
 
And the log got louder and louder.
 
Val closed their eyes as they heard the school doors partly become unhinged.
 
And the screaming began.
 
 
End Notes
     As Val is an intersex individual in my story I will use all pronouns
     for them, they are seeming bigendered/agendered so "they/them, she/
     her, he/him." all goes for this incarnation of Val in particular.
     This does not go against any other reading of Val especially her as a
     trans woman.
     And yes, that was a tongue-in-cheek reference to Blake Langermann and
     Val having a similar experience XD
     I hope you like the story so far! Please read and review! =)
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!