Chapter 5:

-Carla-

Joseph didn't ask for something lightly, his will was law within the cult camp. They prepared for quite a sermon as it seemed the whole camp filled the church. Carla's guess was that on the broadcast, they wanted to seem as innumerable as possible. The resistance in the Valley had watched the religious broadcasts to get updates on the situation, Joseph made sure that the resistance knew how many pieces he held.

They were in the back room, behind a curtain, watching the townspeople arrive through a slit in the curtains. The other room was filled with people quietly chattering but they didn't seem violent or mad. He was gathering the men and women, children… How many people were part of his 'family'?

She saw families, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. Joseph's church was not filled with people who were bloodthirsty, they were people who feared what he warned of and hoped for what he preached.

Finally, her eyes landed on the cameraman sporting camcorder that rested on his shoulder. Her friends would see her drop before the cult. She sighed, it was time they saw her for what she was, a scared little girl facing a big scary cult. She was just one woman.

To further the shame she felt, Joseph produced a pair of shiny metal cuffs, and like when this all began, she put her hands out before her, just as he did. She was to kneel before Joseph. 'How egotistic of him' Carla thought.

"John believes that this will make you realise your sins. Public confessions were… Useful to our cause at one stage. And yours will only strengthen the word of God." He clasped the metal cuffs around her wrists. He smiled at her, but not out of happiness, pride or anything so selfish. No, she could tell his smile was one of empathy. He didn't want to cause her further pain, it was only that to further his reach he had to publicly shame a young girl. Her shame would be greater than the sinners before her. She was the sword in the dark against the cult. "God spoke to me and told me that your confession was vital to the sheep below us. You and I have more to play than those who follow us. They require us to be the bleed and show no pain… God demands the most from his messengers." Joseph pulled on the cuffs making sure they were secure. He gently held her hands in his own, she was tempted to pull away from him, but his eyes caught hers and held them. "I wonder if you're ready to bleed for what you believe… For if you can't…" He chuckled. "Those sheep will swallow you like wolves." He smirked then, his blue eyes were serious. More than ever, she saw John in him. She didn't expect the great 'Father' to find something comical like the average man.

"I guess we'll have to find out." She stubbornly said, pulling her hands away from his in defiance.

-Joseph-

He knew that his brother harboured feelings for the girl, she was full of fire. Like his late wife, he could see the spirited nature within her. The Deputy… No, Carla Mack was like a fire that burned his children… He knew that sacrifices must be made so that God wanted him to save all that he can, he knew that better than anyone. And yet, God had chosen for this woman to fight his flock. Everyone had a purpose and hers was to challenge his faith to God.

She didn't look all that much, this Carla Mack. She didn't appear as a wrathful demoness that slew her men and liberated places for her cause. If he didn't want to give her more power within his group as a mythical figure, he would preach to his flock that she was the demoness that dragged you through Hell's Gate.

Although, in her eyes, he didn't see the hatred that his brother's spoke of, or the fear that Faith saw. No, he saw shame. Her greatest sin was her inability to help her friends more.

"Come, the world waits." He said, gesturing to his men to being her.

She barely struggled, he felt the girl was resided to her fate as the Project of Eden's Gate's bargaining tool. Her presence threw the resistance off, they may attack and rescue her, but he knew that he could get to her mind before she left the cult.

He separated and walked out through the curtains, his eyes rising to see the congregation before him. They all were silenced immediately by his presence. He understood it was in John's nature to indulge in the audience, but Joseph knew that true loyalty was not earned through applause, but in the silence they cause when they enter a room. He saw fear in his followers faces, but he also saw the blind devotion they had.

He walked as a God in the world of man and he caged the demon that hunted them. He smiled to his children. "Greetings Children. I am your father." He put his hands out palms facing them in a worship stance. "God, hear your sons and daughters. We have found the Deputy!" His flock began to cheer. He made sure to look at the camera every so often, he knew who was watching and he wanted them to listen.

He gestured behind him, and his men brought out the Deputy. Her eyes were full of fire but her body was defeated. She hated them, but she had submitted to them.

-Carla-

When she was pulled through those curtains, she'll never forget the fear and hate she saw in the faces in Joseph's followers. They hated her. She never thought she could piss off a group of people so much.

"Now my brothers and sisters! The Deputy has come forth wishing to atone for the sins she has… Shall we baptise the demon and redeem her?" Joseph preached.

They hissed, they actually hissed at her! The crowd had begun to shout. "She doesn't deserve redemption!" One called out. "Her soul will never be free from the stain of sin!" Another yelled out. "She's just a sinner, what does she know of salvation! I say, kill her with the rest of them!" A particularly violent follower screeched.

She didn't look up much after that, the fear of seeing either devotion in their eyes at Joseph or the burning hatred for her led her to think that looking up wasn't a good idea. Joseph, didn't seem blinded by what she had done, he merely continued with the sermon.

Joseph raised his hands and the crowd was silenced. "'He redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.', is she not worthy of the same redemption that God gave to each of you?" He rested his hand on her shoulder. "She shall be saved, this is the word of Joseph."

Joseph crouched down to her level, he ran his hand along the side of her face. Carla didn't pull away, she knew that if she spoke against Joseph here of all places, she would regret it. Although, she didn't think he touched each of his followers with such a gentle gesture.

He clicked his fingers and was brought a jug of water. "If you declare with your mouth and believe in your heart that the Creator is your God, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

She remembered last time she asked, 'what if I don't', and she still cannot wash the blood from her hands. The face young girl that John killed still haunted her dreams. Her eyes filled with fear and her mouth opening and closing as if saying 'why?'. She didn't want to know the outcome if she did the same with his big brother.

"Yes." She uttered, whispered in fear.

"What was that?" Joseph asked, even though they both knew he heard it. The man with the camera came closer, he gestured to have her speak louder. Carla understood then, it wasn't just her he wanted to convert. It was the whole valley. She was the resistance, and she'd be damned if she gave up on that.

"No!" She shouted, turning to the camera. She kicked the jug from Joseph's hand.

Joseph's hand wasn't touched by the blow but she couldn't tell she shamed him though. 'Fuck him' she thought.

-Joseph-

She didn't surprise him. Not at all. In fact, she was just like Vivienne in every way. She had the same dark brown hair, the same green eyes and the same anger in those eyes. She was beautiful, he could see why John had fallen for her so much.

But, she had still disobeyed him. "If the great Deputy does not submit to me, perhaps she needs encouragement." He sneered. "Bring the girl." He gestured to his followers.

Two of his followers brought in a dark-skinned woman, her black brown hair was tangled and covering her face. When she struggled against the followers she swore and kicked. "Fuck off! If you don't let go of me I'll skin you alive!" She screeched.

Joseph watched as all defiance fell from Carla's face at the sight of her friend. He knew she needed a little nudge.

"…Grace?" Carla asked, her eyes widening in fear. "What are you doing here?"

Joseph answered for her. "She was caught trying to sneak into John's ranch."

"Yeah, I guess I couldn't leave you with them." Grace grumbled, she looked ready to throw punches.

"I told you to stay with the others." Carla argued.

"Yeah, well… Tough." Grace smirked. "Couldn't leave you to the Peggies."

"Enough." Joseph commanded. He turned to Carla. "I have your friends, I have your home, I have the county. Do you still wish to say no to redemption just as your friends have? After you have seen what 'no' has caused do you wish to take that path?" He walked over to Grace and grabbed her by the hair yanking her head up to face his. "Do you wish to see her dead like the others you have killed by refusing us?"

A tear ran down the side of Carla's face. Joseph knew that she didn't want her friends to be hurt, her weakness was the dependence she has on others. Where he was dependant on his family, Carla was dependant on the people of Hope County.

-Carla-

Carla wiped her face with her cuffed hands. She bowed her head, she knew that every part of this was being seen by the resistance, but she would not submit to Joseph. To do that, would be betraying the honest people of Hope County for her own sake. She would never be so selfish. With a heavy heart she said through tears running down her face. "I only have one thing to say to you." She gritted her teeth and prepared herself.

"And what is that?" Joseph said.

"Fuck you and Fuck your 'Word', Joseph!" She spat out.

"So be it." Joseph turned to his followers. They had stayed rather silent throughout, she supposed this was the most entertaining sermon ever. Although, what Joseph said next made Carla's stomach drop. "Kill Grace. Take the Deputy away."

"No!" Carla screamed. She tried to free herself but was forced down to her knees by Joseph's followers and they dragged her away as she screamed and managed to break free, but she tripped and fell to the ground.

John walked through the church doors and pulled out his revolver. "I hope hell welcomes you Armstrong." He said, although the normal cheeriness was gone.

"I'll be waiting for you there, Seed." She spat out and looked at Carla. "Goodbye Carla." She smiled in the end. "Don't be too sad, I'll be joining my father."

Grace just bowed her head and the last thing Carla saw before she was dragged through the curtains was John placing a barrel against Grace's head.

Behind the curtains, a shot was fired.

Carla let out a cry as one of the cultists injected her with something. She went out cold.