Disclaimer: I do not own Rachel, Malachi, Isaac, or anything else related to Children of the Corn. (If I owned Malachi, would I be bothering with this?)
Rachel stood staring, with wide eyes and dropped jaw, for several minutes after He disappeared. Had she bothered to turn her head, she would have noticed that everyone around her was doing the same. The cornfield had returned to normal, and, yet, it hadn't. It never would.
She shook her head quickly, trying to regain her senses. It wasn't that she hadn't believed Isaac's teachings before - she had been the firmest believer, other than Malachi, of course. It was just that it had all seemed so…abstract. But now, the sight of He Who Walks Behind the Rows was burned into her mind. The changes would begin soon.
"Well, my children." Rachel turned to face Isaac and nudged several others near her to do likewise. Isaac shot a glance at her; perhaps it was wishful thinking, but he seemed pleased with Rachel. "You have now seen our Lord, He Who Walks Behind the Rows, and I assume you understand His greatness. Therefore, go forth, and prepare to fulfill His word. We shall reconvene on the next Sabbath."
The children slowly began to disperse. Rachel felt a bit cheated, almost as if there should be more, but was resigned to wait until the time came to learn more about their mission. She cringed, stretching her shoulders back - it had been a long meeting. As she straightened up, trying to think of a good lie in case her parents asked her about the day's sermon, Isaac approached her, a calm smile on his face.
"Rachel. Please stay a few minutes longer; I wish to speak with the two of you." She was about to ask who else he meant, but she quickly noticed Malachi, watching them from a few feet away. Of course, she thought; Malachi was a strong boy who seemed to hang on Isaac's every word, and it made sense that Isaac would want him to remain. But why her?
Isaac had been holding these sermons every Sunday since the beginning of the summer. The first time, Rachel had only gone out of curiosity – he was a strange boy, she'd thought. He'd preached on the revival circuit since he was five years old; now, at twelve, he commanded the kind of respect most people didn't get until well into adulthood.
That first Sunday, there had only been a few of them. But each week, the audience grew. As the summer wore on and the drought continued, the people of Gatlin had been only too eager to send their children to pray in the corn; perhaps God would hear them, and take pity on the town.
They were fools. They hadn't understood that their own sins had devastated the corn. But Rachel, who was only thirteen and had a purer soul, understood. Malachi was fourteen, and he understood better than anyone.
Minutes later, the other children were gone. Isaac motioned for Malachi and Rachel to sit; they obeyed. He looked out into the corn, then back at them, and began to speak.
"I have brought the two of you here because each of you has a very important calling," he began. Rachel's eyes widened. "Malachi." Isaac stood directly in front of the other boy. "Thou hast a spirit of a true disciple, and the strength of a warrior. Thou art called to serve as the enforcer of His word and will. Thy knife shall be ever-stained with the blood of the Unbeliever, and thus, thou shalt protect His children from those who wouldst corrupt them, and shall bring forth many sacrifices for the corn."
Malachi was speechless for a moment; Rachel could see that he was suppressing a grin. He must have realized that Isaac was waiting for a response, for he nodded solemnly and said, "So it shall be done."
Isaac smiled, nodded, and took several steps to his left, stopping in front of the girl. "Rachel." She looked up, her heart thumping.
"Our God must rule, not only by the sword, but also through the faith and devotion of his Children." Something about the way he said that last word… "I have seen the care thou takest with the young ones, and the influence thou hast over them. Thou art called serve as a keeper and teacher of His knowledge. Thou shalt instruct the Children in His ways, and see to it that they learn to obey."
Rachel felt her face grow hot. Surely, Isaac didn't really think her worthy? And yet, there she was, sitting to his left as Malachi sat to his right. Well, Isaac was certainly right about Malachi; he would enforce the sacred teachings by any means necessary. And really, all she was being asked to do was to help spread those teachings. She could do it. She was devoted to He Who Walks Behind the Rows, and she would spread that devotion to every child in Gatlin.
She straightened her back and nodded, echoing Malachi's words: "So it shall be done."
Isaac smiled again. "Good. The Lord will bless ye both for your service. And now, children, we may begin laying the plans to carry out His work." He looked out into the field again; Rachel followed his gaze again, but saw nothing unusual. Except, of course, that the corn looked a bit shabby. That would change soon.
"Two weeks from today," Isaac continued, "Gatlin will be cleansed."