Misadventures Of Michelle And Her Friends: Children Of The Corn

I stood in a small room in the back of the church, my friends were sitting on a bench while two girls fixed the wedding gown I would wear. According to the raven haired girl named Rachel, none of the dresses belonged to anyone. They were made for the different body sizes and there had been a good handful of girls who had already wore the very dress I was standing in. And just about more than half of them have died already.

Thank you for making this an even worse occasion. I, just like an other rational girl, had my dream wedding all planned out. A beautiful white dress (I would highly prefer a black dress but everyone said that there was no such thing as a black wedding dress.) with a handsome groom waiting eagerly to say I do. I had a white dress and it was pretty, the groom was attractive more or less but he didn't want me as his wife and I could say the same about him. This was just a life shattering moment.

"You look really pretty." Rachel smiled, which I found so unpleasant since she was one of the girls who were angered by Malachai's engagement to me. I guess the easily angered guy was more popular with the ladies than I thought.

I looked into the cared for mirror that I stood in front of to see what they made me look like. My long mixed brown hair was tied into a ponytail with two wisps of hair hanging in the front. The plain dress enchanted some of my bodily curves but again it was plain and nothing special since others have worn it.

I took a deep breath and tried to smile but the nervousness and sorrow kept me from even pretending like I was okay.

"You'll do fine." Rachel assured me, "Everyone here has married someone they either don't know or despise but soon they learn to love each other."

"So you think we'll learn to love our grooms?" I asked, finding the idea somewhat helpful in easing my nausea. At the same time, it disgusted me that these kids submitted themselves to this.

"Eventually you will. He is never wrong." That made any comfort I had dissolve as she reminded me of their god. This was his will, not mine nor Malachai's. How can they do this?

Malachai's P.O.V

I stood on the stump of a stool as my best friend, Richard, helped me fix the tie on the tuxedo. Even though we destroyed most of the ways of our past society we kept the traditional wedding concepts, like men wearing a tuxedo and women wearing the gowns. I didn't see the point really, we wear just going to put back on our regular clothes afterwards so what was the point?

"Calm down Malachai." Richard chuckled, giving me a small push, "Getting married to an Outlander isn't all that bad."

I snorted at that, he once was in my shoes damning Rose to hell and now he was condoning this. "How is this not bad?" I asked, definitely annoyed.

"She's a strong and stubborn one." To anyone who didn't know Richard this would sound like he was rambling but he was proving his point. "She also has a strong sense of right and wrong. I have no doubt that she is the one who can save us."

I force out an annoyed sigh; after we purged Gatlin, killing everyone of and over the Age of Favor, we followed our first leader without hesitation. Once Isaac came into power Richard was having a hard time continuing his loyalty as was I. When Richard and Rose married, he started realizing that there was a world which was evolving around us and he soon started wanting to leave Gatlin to go see the world we were missing.

"Don't give me that snooty attitude Malachai." Richard warned, "If you want, I'll have Rose teach her how to cope with these changes she'll be facing so you won't have to."

"And how can she do that while tending to the house?" I asked.

He shrugged, "In case you forgot Mally," Oh how I hate it when he uses that stupid nickname, "we live right next to each other."

"Right." I hissed, "Don't call me that, especially in front of Rose and Michelle."

He laughed, knowing well enough how much it bothered me. "Yeah, yeah I know." He gave me a once over, making sure everything was on right. "Looks good on you."

I glanced at the mirror and nodded my head a bit, it was pretty good looking on me but many boys have worn this tuxedo before me. Isaac said that by wearing this, we are honoring those who have preformed their duty to He Who Walks Behind The Rows but sometimes I just felt that we weren't doing anything at all.

I inhaled deeply and asked, "Is it time?" The sooner I got this over with the better.

Richard poked his head out the door I heard some mumbling before he came back in."Yeah, Isaac said that the girls are ready."

"Alright." I tried to calm myself as I left the dressing room. Here I am, sixteen (almost seventeen) and getting married to a girl I just met and I'm going to have to sleep with her right after the wedding. Yeah, this was the life alright.

Michelle's P.O.V

When I stepped out of the room, Malachai was standing there waiting for me. I always thought that the groom was never allowed to see his bride in her dress until she was walking down the aisle. Or so the superstition claimed.

"Shall we?" He held out his arm and I hesitantly took it. He walked me onto the stage where Isaac stood, barely dressed for the occasion. He was still in his white shirt and brown jacket thing with his weird Kung Lao hat but his jacket was buttoned close and his clothes didn't have the dirty texture they had moments ago.

"We are gathered here tonight," Isaac started, not even asking if we were ready. "to witness the joining of Malachai and Michelle, who we will rename, for Michelle is no name in the eyes of the lord, Ruth."

Wait, I have to change my name too? The fuck..? Why was I never told about this? He did the whole long boring speech, most of it was putting me to sleep but I made myself stay awake and focused by biting the inside of my cheek. That and it was bothering me that he kept calling me Ruth. I so badly wanted to scream, my name is Michelle!

"Do you, Malachai, take Michelle as your lawful wedded wife?" Oh they kept this too? How official this is!

Malachai nodded, "Yes."

"Do you, Michelle, take Malachai to be your lawful wedded husband?"

"Yes." I was quiet but he and Malachai heard me. Isaac handed Malachai a cup, filled with a dark red liquid. I remembered that at my older cousin's wedding they did something like this, the groom and bride drinking out of the cup . However, I should have known that there was a twist to this.

Isaac handed Malachai a knife, which gave me a little bit of the shakes, and he grabbed my hand, cutting it diagonally. He then place my hand over the cup, letting my blood ooze into the cup. I nearly puked when he handed me the knife, obviously expecting me to copy him.

Omigod, I don't know what to do! I panicked in my head as I hesitantly took the knife. Should I cut his hand in the same direction? Or the opposite?

Cut the opposite way. A dark voice said. Taking a deep breath, I cut Malachai's hand in the opposite direction. It was still diagonal but mine leaned more toward my right while I made his lean to my left. To put it in simple terms, we sorta made an X on our hands.

I placed his over the cup, just like he did to mine, and Isaac smiled, although there was a curious glint in his eye. Once Malachai removed his hand, Isaac held the cup up over his head and kind of gave it a swirl.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Isaac declared loudly, signaling the audience to clap. I felt my stomach rise to my throat again as Isaac continued, "Now let this couple be joined as one."

You have got to be shitting me! I mentally screamed as Malachai started undo the dress, we were going to do the dirty dance in front of all these people!? What the hell happened to the locked room and do not disturb sign?!

Malachai's P.O.V

I could tell that Michelle was nervous about mating in front of the entire cult but, it had to be done. All the men here needed to see that she was now mine and mine alone. Same went for the girls, I was no longer someone they could openly admire and this was proof of it.

Once I undid her gown she proceeded to undo my tuxedo. Something in her eyes told me that, while she was scared and clueless, she was determined to deal with it. I've had my fair share of women, none of course I ever slept with but semi-romantic affairs are not uncommon here, and none of the girls I've cared for ever shown this kind of determination and loyalty to friends. She was different, Outlanders always are, but not in the bad way I've seen them be.

Now that we were both undressed, I led her down to the floor so that we could get this over with as quickly as possible. I climbed on top of her, engaging in a kiss to distract her from any pain she might feel. Although Rose has told me that most girls nowadays aren't virgins I figured it would be best to not risk it.

As we started mating I felt something. Not anything physical but something spiritual. It was like our souls were bonding into one and, although I'll probably never admit it out loud, I found myself enjoying our union. Her skin was soft and creamy, different from my old flirts' skins, which were rough and worn from the endless days of work. Her lips were soft, not chapped and they were a pink color I hadn't seen since the purging. She also had the scent of flowers, not earth and dirt like we did.

She was different, different was always considered to be a bad thing here but maybe it wasn't. Gah! What an I thinking?! I growled mentally, refocusing my attention on just impregnating the Outlander beneath me. This girl is bad, she's nothing like us. She doesn't belong here.

Zenin's P.O.V.

Jackie, Dylan and I sat outside the church, the Rachel coldly informed us that we would not be allowed to witness Michelle wedding, which wasn't totally a problem since we found out that she'd be having sex in front of everyone. What was the big problem was that we were now apart of a religion that we never wanted to be part of.

"This bites." I sighed as I leaned back on the small bench. "We should have listened to Michelle."

Dylan stayed silent, she knew that I was pointing the blame mostly on her since she insisted Michelle go and find someone to help us out when the rest of us wanted to leave. I shouldn't totally blame her though, I was one to say we need to take the kid's corpse off the road and report the incident too.

"Can't change the past." Jackie sighed, leaning forward on her knees, "We should worry more about the present than the past or future."

We all stiffen as we heard the loud clapping from inside. Where we were sitting, there was a small hole, big enough for me to peek through. I looked and saw that everyone was leaving and that Malachai and Michelle were getting dressed in the clothes they had been in before this.

"I guess they finished." I said to no one in general.

"Shouldn't you be with your chosen ones?" A high-pitched voice asked softly.

We all glanced toward the back door we were force through by Rachel and saw a dark haired girl. I never seen this one before but I had a feeling that she was this Rose that Michelle was talking about.

"Um, do we know you?" Dylan asked cautiously.

"My name Rose." she answered softly. "You should go before your chosen ones find out you've been here this whole time. They've been looking for you."

I let out a frustrated sigh, "Do you know where they might be now? I would rather have a lead before wandering aimlessly."

She shook her head, "No, but I can take you to their houses since you'll be living with them from now on."

I glanced at Dylan and Jackie, they didn't seem too thrilled but I couldn't blame them. Still, I nodded my head and gave her an indication to lead us to these houses. I would rather wait to see Michelle again but I knew that whatever was happening, I wasn't going to see her that much anymore.

Rose led us to the houses that stood like prisons in the hellhole called Gatlin. Why this He Who Walks Behind The whatever wants us is a mystery to me. None of us were anything special. None of us had some sort of spirituality bullshit.

No, scratch that. I realized, Michelle does. She told us that she could see the future in her dreams but she also said they were fragments of unimportant details and plus, she never remembers them when she wakes up. I walked up the steps of the house I was to share with the son of a bitch David still lost in thought. What could they possibly want with us or her?

Michelle's P.O.V.

I stood, now fully clothed again as we waited for everyone to leave. Humiliation, anger, hate, these were few of the emotions that were running through me at this moment. There were more, but I'm unable to really recognize them. Once everyone, save for Malachai, Isaac, and myself, left Isaac motioned for me to walk up to his podium thingy.

"I'm impressed." he said, it's starting to really bother me that a little kid can talk much like an adult. "You've never witness a wedding here, yet you knew exactly what to do."

"What are you talking about?" I was so not about to admit that a voice in my head told me what to do, last I checked, voices in your head meant you were crazy!

Isaac smiled at me, "Don't play stupid with me, I knew you were special but, not this special."

I still didn't give him the answers he wanted so he simply sighed and opened a small bible like book. I've seen various forms of bibles and none looked as destroyed, hatched up, or vandalized as his. He flipped through the pages for a good five minutes before finding the one he was looking for. Malachai and I both leaned forward, reading the title of the page.

She Who Sees And Hears All

Okay, I thought as I eyed the title, little boy has some weird page that has to do with me, NOT good!

"We were given a prophecy a few months after purging the town. It was said that a girl with the ability to see the future as well as hear the voices of the dead would come and bring us great fortune." Isaac looked at the book, "I never thought that the prophecy would be occurring so soon."

"I've got no clue what you're talking about." I stated firmly, my chocolate eyes narrowing darkly. "Anything I did during the ceremony was merely a random guess and hope. I didn't see nor hear anything tell me what to do."

Isaac smiled. "Denial will not help you Michelle. I highly suggest you learn to accept yourself."

"I do NOT," I emphasized, "know what you're talking about."

Again, I only got a smile for a response as Isaac turned toward Malachai, "It's late, you two may go home. I'll be expecting you early tomorrow Malachai."

Malachai nodded and gave me a push on my back. I followed only to spare myself of any pain Malachai could and would inflict upon me. Once we were outside of the church and well on our way toward Malachai's place, he stopped in the middle of the road. He held my arm in a tight grip, preventing me from continuing on.

"We need to talk." he said quietly, was this a secret or something?

I narrowed my eyes at him, this guy was confusing. "And why must we do it out here? What's wrong with being in the house?" The look on his face clearly told me to shut up and listen so I obeyed. "Fine, what is it?"

"I know you were lying in there." he stated, "I saw that look in your eyes, you didn't know what to do, someone told you to cut my hand in the opposite direction."

"I don't see why you're pushing me for answers I don't have nor will not give." I replied, sounding strong but I'm definitely frantic on the inside. "Besides, even if I did hear someone's voice in my head there are tons of people with psychic powers, therefore your She Who Whatever The Fuck could be anyone!"

"But," Malachai countered, "they would have high-tailed it away from here right at the get-go. You didn't sense anything wrong with this place until you got here."

"Not true!" To be honest it was, but hell, I'm never admitting that. "I knew something was wrong when we ran over that boy's body! They wouldn't listen to me!"

"Then why did you come to Gatlin?" Oh man, he was catching on to my lies. "Like I said, others like you would have ignored this place, He would have scared them off. You came here for help, only to find that we've taken over."

"I was simply going against my better judgment." I crossed my arms across my chest and turned my head away.

"So, you admit to having special powers then."

I let out a small eep, that bastard tricked me! He actually tricked me into admitting the truth! That sly bastard!

"In which case, you are a Her. Deny all you want, but you just gave yourself away." he smiled triumphantly and continued to walk to his house. I stood there, absolutely furious at myself for allowing him to beat me like that. Silently fuming, I hardly realized that he came back and dragged me into the house until he lit a candle.

I forgot that they no longer have electricity. I followed Malachai silently upstairs, he led my to a room that was obviously mine seeing as once I entered the room, he promptly left. Awesome, I don't have to share with you.

I sat on the bed, contemplating on what we were going to do. Obviously not stay here, but how in the hell can we leave? I needed a plan but, in order to make a plan, I needed answers. Who and what is this He Who Walks behind The Rows? Is he a god? Is he god? Can he hear me? Can I hear him? Why did he want all the adults here dead? Why did he want me here? Why won't he let anyone leave?

He is no god. I froze, that voice. I recognize it, it's the voice from the wedding. It wasn't as dark as before but still cold.

W-who are you? I asked nervously, And why did you help me?

I do not remember my name.He said almost sadly, I helped you because I knew you were the one, the one who can end this madness!

What do you mean I can end this madness?

You are She Who Sees and Hears All. You can foresee the future and hear the voices of those who were murdered, you can bring us peace while saving the sanity of these children. He paused for a minute and then added Well, what sanity they have left.

I was so freaked out about this that I honestly questioned my sanity. I could not be seriously talking to a dead person. This just had to so terrible nightmare, it just had to be!

Do not doubt yourself. This is real, you said so yourself that lying until the truth was unavoidable isn't the way to live.

I sat there on the creaking bed, even though I believed that the truth was to be recognized throughout life, I too have lied to myself. Lied that I was as normal as any other kid, lied that I didn't foresee the future in my dreams, lied that I didn't hear voices of the dead past, lied that I wasn't special like Isaac described me to be.

What choice do I have? I wasn't expecting him to answer, or anyone to answer, I'll always be a freak, always.

No, a female voice whispered, she sounded so old, so worn. This gift was bestowed upon you for a reason, you are the true savior of these lost souls.

No! I can't, I hardly believe in God. I mean, I have my beliefs, I do believe he exists, I do believe that he loves his children, but I don't...

This gift has nothing to do with whether or not you believe, this gift was given to you so that you could help and make something for yourself. The reason you never could remember your past predictions was because they events that weren't meant to be changed, when you remember, they must be fixed.

I gulped making no sound, I wanted to argue with them, say that this was nonsense but, I couldn't. I knew, I've always knew, that this day would come. That the day I would use this gift for either good or bad. I never predicated this, an old lady who once lived on the street where my elementary school was did. I still remember that day, she came up to me while I was waiting for my mom to pick me up. She smelled of cigarettes and alcohol, she was nearing her end,

"Yer a special one ain't ya?" I looked up at her, frightened that she knew my darkest secret. "I see it in those eyes of yer's, eyes that see everything. Betcha hear things too huh?"

I nodded slowly. "One day, little one, one day you will use those pretty little eyes and that hearing for someone, or someones."

She got up from the plastic bench and limped away, "Whether or not yer gonna work for the light heaven or shadow of hell, I can't say. But one day."

I never asked for her name, everyone at school knew her the crazy old hag. I tried to forget her, even after all these years she still haunted me with those words. Those words, they meant I had a choice. Or did they mean that I had a battle? Surely from how Isaac praised that little page, it sounded as if I was to be used for Gatlin in their way rather than do what these spirits say.

This is too confusing. My mental voice was so soft that I almost wasn't sure they could hear me. really need some sleep, I-I'll think about this tomorrow.

Be careful young one. The woman said cautiously, He Who Walks Behind The Rows is very convincing and He does not like to miss golden opportunities like you. While he may help you with daily needs, he will twist your thoughts against those you love. He will make you one of them if you're not careful.

I gulped again, this time it made a noise. I'll try to be on guard but I cannot guarantee success. And I must ask, will I or my friends become pregnant from these encounters?

I felt stupid for asking, of course we're going to end up pregnant none of us were on birth control! But then again, it worried me; would being pregnant in this place, and so early, cause us to not have a future away from Gatlin?

Yes, of course. The female voice stated sternly, but we cannot see who. Surely though, we feel that you are the one to bare one first, He Who Walks Behind The Rows seemed so greatly eager to have you married so quickly that we believe you are the first to bare a child.

I managed to stifle a groan as I laid on the old bed. Fabulous.

Hey there people, this chapter received very little changes but I think it came out okay. And just to let you know, we have not seen the end of Noah and the twins, we'll see them again soon. Review, favorite,follow anything please

-Michelle Lacie Kat