Hey guys! Sorry for the delay! My career is taking off! Wheeee! But that means less time for writing =/ Anyway, here's the next interlude. Hope you enjoy!
Vices
INTERLUDE IV
[Friday night, 8:45pm]
[1 day, 11hr 15min before Sunday Holy Service]
"The story of the First Man, the First Woman, and the Serpent," Gale read aloud, dragging her finger across the inked inscription on the page.
"I've already heard this one, Grandma," complained the listener, a young girl tucked in her bed.
"I know, my sweet Anthea," Gale gently replied, adjusting her reading glasses, "but this is the most important one. Now, are you ready to listen?"
Anthea nodded, looking less than pleased. Her tiny hands emerged from the blankets to weave through her long auburn hair.
"The Great One gathered dust from the Earth, and breathed life into it. Borne was the First Man, created in His image, for the Great One was first born a human man. The Great One called him 'Adin'. The Great One provided Adin with a beautiful garden, full of trees with delicious fruit, and He named it the 'Garden of Ophion'. The Great One appointed Adin as Keeper of the Garden of Ophion, and the Father of All Living Things."
Gale flipped the page. Her eyes flickered up to Anthea, who was staring blankly at the duvet covering her feet. She had heard this story many times before, and was likely not listening very attentively.
"Adin was to care for the Garden of Ophion, and the Great One commanded: 'From every tree I have created you are free to eat fruit, except one. You must not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of the Curse, for if you eat from it you will surely die, and doom your Children to sin'.
"Adin did as the Great One commanded, but he felt lonely, as there was no living creature quite like his own, and no one to help him tend the Garden and nurture the Land. So, the Great One put Adin into a deep sleep, took one of Adin's ribs, and created the First Woman. The Great One named her Ethel, the Wife of Adin, the Mother of All Living Things.
"Adin and Ethel were faithful to the Great One, but the Great One wanted to test their faith. Unbeknownst to Adin and Ethel, the Great One then assumed the form of the Serpent, thus becoming the Serpent God Leviathan."
"Grandpa told me that the Serpent was Satan," Anthea interjected.
Gale shook her head. "Grandpa got it wrong, dear. Just like everyone else."
"Is that why we left him at home?"
Gale paused. A flash of bitterness crossed her face before a pleasant smile reemerged. She patted her granddaughter's hand. "We don't need to talk about Grandpa anymore. Let's continue with the story."
She resumed her place midway through the page. "The Great One, disguised as the Serpent, spoke to Ethel. He said: 'Ethel, why do you not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of the Curse?'
Ethel then answered: 'Dearest Serpent, I do not eat from that Tree, nor does my husband, for the Great One commands that we do not, for if we do we shall die, and doom our children to sin.'
The Great One then said: 'Dearest Ethel, the Great One has lied to you. For the Tree of Knowledge of the Curse is not a cursed tree with cursed fruit! It is a tree of ultimate power, for when you eat from it, you will gain knowledge of power beyond your Creator.'
Much to the disappointment of the Great One, Ethel fell for His deception, and took fruit from the tree, and bit into it in front of the Serpent. Adin came to her side, and she gave him the fruit, from which he also ate. Because both Adin and Ethel ate from the Tree of Knowledge of the Curse—"
"—from that moment on, they bore the curse for all eternity," Anthea finished with an exasperated sigh, "and doomed their children to sin."
"It's not nice to interrupt," Gale gently scolded.
"Please Grandma," implored Anthea, sinking her head into the pillow. "I've heard this story so many times, I practically have it memorized."
Gale closed the book, 'The Holy Book of Light and Truth', keeping her thumb wedged in the pages to keep the story bookmarked. "Alright, I'll tell you a different story, then. Did I tell you about how I had come to own this book?"
Anthea shook her head.
"This copy," Gale began, pointing to the cover, "of the Holy Book was given to me by Prophet Dartz himself. He showed me the light of the Great One at a critical time."
[Tuesday afternoon, 3:13pm]
[7 years, 187 days, 16hr 47min before Sunday Holy Service]
After several long hours, the jury had finally reached a verdict. Henry Russel was going to walk free.
The public defender was plenty competent and did what he could, but Mr. Russel's million-dollar lawyer was bar none. Technicality after loophole after technicality. Henry's father couldn't allow his college freshman son's incarceration to tarnish his reputation while he was running for state governor. Pay an upgraded fee, and he could save his son and blame the incident the car manufacturer, or even on the irresponsible poor people who got themselves killed. Because he'd be the kind of governor who won't tolerate good, hard-working young men like Henry being blamed for the recklessness of others, and that's why he's the family man who deserves your vote.
At least, that's what the tabloids said. It didn't matter which parts of the sensationalism were predicated on truth; new voters and old alike gobbled up their headlines like Thanksgiving turkey.
Gale Campbell, a woman who was known for her unyielding confident posture and good manners, staggered out of the courtroom, posture sunken, eyes glossed with failure. She lost, and lost badly. She failed her son and daughter-in-law. She failed Anthea. She failed the world, because the world still had Henry Russel, and no longer a beloved schoolteacher and local musician, parents of a girl of five.
Anthea's mother and father deserved justice, but justice couldn't ante up.
Someone tapped her shoulder. "Mrs. Campbell… I am so sorry. I couldn't beat him. I failed you." It was the public defender, Lector Lee.
Gale swallowed a lump in her throat. Tears rimmed her eyes before she could choke out her words, "go home, Mr. Lee. We've lost. Now I have to go home and tell my orphaned granddaughter the news."
"When Mom and Dad went to Heaven, right?" asked Anthea.
"Yes, dear."
Night after night, since the day Liam and Jane Campbell passed away, Gale had prayed alone in the dark, silent sanctuary, begging God for justice. Perhaps the more hours she spent praying, the louder her voice would resound in Heaven. Plea after plea went unanswered. Gale slammed her fist into the pew in unbearable frustration, and sobbed into her hands. She raised her head to cry at the ceiling, "Answer me, please!" The only response she received was her own desperate voice ringing dissonantly in her ears.
"Oh, Gale, you are so broken…"
Gale jumped. She was supposed to be alone, as it was after hours. Her eyes darted around the dark sanctuary, looking for the owner of the voice.
A man appeared at the altar, standing beside the crucifix. He was a strange-looking man, certainly someone Gale had never met. She couldn't decide which feature was most striking—the ghostly pale complexion, the flowing cotton blue hair or the heterochromatic pair of blue and green eyes.
"Who are you?" Gale demanded.
"The very person you are destined to meet at this time," answered the man, a small grin on his face.
"What do you mean? Are you a member of our congregation?"
"No," the man denied. "I do not subscribe to false worship. The god I obey is the real God and Savior of this world. For He is the True Arbiter of Justice, and He will eradicate the sinners of the world."
Gale relaxed her shoulders. "Young man, I think you might've been swept away by a cult or a scheme. Can I get you some help? Do you have family I can call?"
The man shook his head. "You are the one who needs the help. For while you pray to your so-called God, a God who has never truly answered you—the real God, the Great One, is swimming beneath the Earth's surface, and in due time He will answer your prayers in the form of divine retribution."
"Divine retribution?" Gale inquired.
"Sinners like the Russels must be revoked of their right to live. Don't you agree?"
Gale's eyes widened in shock. "How do you know about—"
"I am a prophet of the Great God Leviathan," the man interjected, "an all-knowing, all-powerful God. He sees all, and through him, I see all."
Gale stuttered in response, "I-I still don't believe this nonsense. If you are admitting to me that you are or are planning on engaging in illegal activity, I will have no choice but to contact the police."
The man gently shook his head. "There is no need."
"No one deserves death, not even the Russels. God has taught me to forgive those who have wronged me."
"To forgive the man who killed your son and his wife," the man mused, "leaving their five-year-old child without parents. All the while, Trevor Russel is actively seeking more power. Interesting."
"Henry will be punished accordingly by the criminal justice system," Gale returned with feigned confidence. "And, after that, he and his father will be judged by God."
"For a woman with such steadfast faith, you are wasting it on an ongoing trial in a flawed system. Why not place your faith in a God who cannot be bribed, coerced, or fooled? Who will actually answer your prayers, and give Liam and Jane the justice they deserve?"
Gale boldly stepped forward. "Young man, I do not know how you got in here, but you must leave. This is a place of worship, and you have blasphemed greatly against God."
The man stepped down from the altar and approached Gale in the aisle. He reached into his robe, and Gale's arm raised to shield her from this potential threat.
Rather than a weapon, the man uncovered a leather-bound book, roughly the size and thickness of a mortar brick. He held it out to her.
Gale reared back slightly. "What is that?"
"The truth," he responded simply. To Gale's shock, his body seemed to disintegrate into the air, leaving the book to fall.
"Wait!" Gale called after him, "What's happening to you? Where are you going? Is this a trick?"
And just like that, she was alone again, her voice ringing in her ears, along with the slap of the book against the carpet floor. She blinked, wondering if she was beginning to lose her mind. She was approaching the age, after all.
Gale knelt, and cautiously reached for the book.
"'The Holy Book of Light and Truth', The Righteous Word of the Great God Leviathan."
The day after the hearing, Gale received a letter in the mail. She saw the return address and frowned. "What now?" She opened the letter, and read it straight top to bottom. As she reached the end, she felt sick to her stomach.
Wheels creaked as a wheelchair was labored into the kitchen. "Gale, my darling, have you read the morning paper?"
Gale threw the half-folded letter on the counter and rubbed her eyes, taking her time to reply. "No, George. I don't care to read it."
Her husband handed her the newspaper anyway. "You'll want to see this."
'Russel Son Acquitted of Charges of Vehicular Manslaughter, state governor candidate Trevor Russel responds by personally offering sizeable donation to son's accusers for their losses'
"Though I'm relieved that my son was not found guilty," Russel Sr. told reporters the morning after the hearing on Tuesday, "I cannot help but sympathize with the Campbell family. The losses of Mr. Liam and Mrs. Jane Campbell are still very heavy on our hearts. It's been said before, I am a family man. There is nothing in the world more important to me than family, and young Anthea Campbell lost hers in a single night.
In good faith, I will personally be donating seventy-five thousand dollars to her grandparents and legal guardians, George and Gale Campbell. At a time of unimaginable pain and loss, one should never be concerned with the hefty costs of a double funeral service. I know this money alone will not cure the heartache, but I hope it will compensate for the funeral expenses and help provide the Campbell family with everything they need. I hope it will also show that, no matter who you are, the Russels will always help those in need. May God comfort them in these times of grief."
The article continued, but Gale could no longer stomach it. She turned away, scowling at the kitchen sink.
"God is mocking me," Gale spat under her breath.
"Gale, is this true?" inquired George, "Did he send money?"
"He sent a letter," Gale answered bitterly. "or, at least, his office did. We will be receiving it by next Monday."
"That was generous of him," George commented wistfully.
Gale slammed her hand on the counter. "Generous? You call manipulating the justice system to keep his guilty son out of prison for killing our son, and then sending some pity cash our way generous?"
"He didn't have to," George rasped in response, pausing to cough.
"Don't you get it, George?" Gale swiped the letter from the counter and held it up two feet from George's face, "this is damage control, saving face, good PR. If the people knew Trevor Russel's son caused a fatal car crash because he was texting and driving, it would surely cost him the public favor, and the election. This is not some magnanimous gesture from a 'family man'. This is a slap in the face to the family whom he denied true justice to. These dollars are not reparation, they are votes!"
Gale's composure continued to dissolve as she crumpled up the letter, weeping. She threw the paper ball in the trash, and slid to the tiled floor to weep.
George leaned over as far as he was able, and took his wife's hand. "Darling, I'm so sorry. But, we need the money, the funeral has put us in debt. Think of Anthea."
Gale frowned, and took her husband's hand. Her eyes wandered to the counter, and saw the small book she had received in the sanctuary from that mysterious man, "The Holy Book of Light and Truth".
She squeezed George's hand determinedly. "I will not take a dime of that disgusting man's money."
The beginnings of snow had begun to fall from an overcast sky. Gale pulled her blue peacoat tighter over her pantsuit as she briskly walked a familiar road. Moreso familiar, at least, for the past year, as it was the road leading to Cypress Cemetery, where Liam and Jane Campbell lied buried beneath cheap flat headstones. A cloaked stranger sat upon a park bench, and raised a hand to wave at her. Normally, Gale would have spared a smile and a hello, but she could not manage it, and marched past him without even a glance.
"Mrs. Campbell."
Gale stopped in her tracks, and turned around. The cloaked man raised his head, and Gale scowled at the face beneath the hood. "I have no time for you, sir," Gale told him sternly, and continued on her way, her heeled boots clacking heavier against the cement. She half expected another attempt from the man to get her attention but, to her surprise, he did not stop her again.
The cemetery was quiet that afternoon. Gale treaded past headstones of various sizes, shapes, colors, and degrees of extravagance, memorials and dedicated monuments for lost loved ones. A thin sheet of white powder rested upon the small cemetery, adding a ghostly element to the already somber mood of a burial ground.
Something else was different, and Gale spotted it right away, causing her to marvel at it in wonder as she approached it.
A companion headstone, twenty feet away from the south entrance, stood high above the rest as a stunning six-foot-tall black granite tombstone, with elegant script writing for Liam and Jane's names and descriptions. Upon the grey marble base were flowers, hundreds of them—pink and white peonies lying about the plots in large bouquets, glowing especially vibrantly under the dusting of snow.
"Did I get their inscriptions correct?"
Gale jumped at the voice and swiftly turned around. The cloaked man stood behind her, watching her with a calm and gentle expression with his hands folded respectfully in front of him.
"This was your doing?" Gale asked, pointing to the ornate display.
The man nodded in confirmation. "I believe it is time I introduce myself." He held out his hand. "My name is Dartz, though the Great One's disciples address me as 'Prophet Dartz'. I am the president of a large company, and the Great One has chosen me to be his prophet, and has commanded that I use my power and capital to help the good people of this world, and to teach them of His good word. I thought I'd properly commemorate your late son and daughter-in-law, Anthea's parents. Good people, victims of such terrible tragedy by the hands of evil."
"How do you know my granddaughter's name?" Gale demanded.
"I told you before," Dartz answered coolly, "I know all, I see all, through the eyes of the Great One, our God Leviathan. Aside from that, even the most ordinary man can read a newspaper."
Gale sucked in a breath. "Listen, Dartz," she began a bit nervously, "I appreciate this, but this is not appropriate, and I am afraid you are stalking me. If I see you again, I will not hesitate to call the police. You are lost and confused by a false god, and you're using your hard-earned money foolishly."
"Interesting," Dartz responded thoughtfully, "that you would accuse me of misusing my wealth, when your trusted criminal justice system has been bought out by the man whose son killed Liam and Jane."
Gale paused, unable to retort. "But this headstone," she finally argued after a few moments, motioning to it, "this display has to be thousands of dollars. Whatever it is, I cannot afford to pay it back to you."
Dartz shook his head, his blue bangs catching snow in its motion. "I know you can't, not on a notary public's salary, and also considering your husband's medical expenses, and now a young child to care for as well. But I do not expect it back; consider it a gift." He tiled his head to the side. "However…"
"However what?"
"I am aware that Mr. Russel has offered you a large donation, of sorts," Dartz explained, "and that you are planning to refuse it."
"He's trying to restore his reputation," Gale spat, "and I, frankly, would rather die than fall for it and play a helping hand to his campaign."
He nodded in approval. "I see. You are a woman of conviction. I admire that." He paused, and caught Gale's eyes, and tapped his chin. "What if I told you I can offer you far more than that scoundrel ever could, and you will never have to worry about money, or being wronged so despicably ever again?"
Gale scoffed. "I'd say you're insane, and that I'm not interested in your scam, and stay away from me and my family. I don't believe in your god and I will never believe in any god except my true God, my Creator, Lord the Almighty."
Dartz smiled and tilted his head to the side. "How funny. We sound exactly the same, don't we?"
He turned his back to her and sauntered towards the exit. Just before he crossed the gate, he turned his head halfway to Gale, his expression serious. "By this time tomorrow, you, Gale Campbell, will be a believer. For while you all pray to your god who watches idly as your son and his wife are murdered, the Great One and his disciples have been hard at work making your prayers come true. I cannot wait for the light to reach your eyes, when you finally know the truth."
Gale rushed forward to yell back, "If I see you anywhere near me or my family, I swear I will have you arrested!"
But before she could finish, a sharp gust of wind rushed past Dartz, whipping his cloak into a tight spiral, and then he was gone.
"Breaking News! State governor candidate Trevor Russel, along with his wife Patricia and son Henry, were just found lying comatose on the living room floor of their suburban home."
Gale dropped the plate of chicken and vegetables in her hands in shock. She ran past the shards of ceramic and chunks of food on the floor into the living room, where George was watching the news.
"Neither Trevor, Patricia, nor Henry are responding to paramedics, but seem to be breathing normally and have no apparent sustained injuries. They are being rushed to Cypress Hospital, where they will be further evaluated. Police say neighbors had called 911 after seeing the Russels' front door wide open and the three Russels lying on the floor. Nothing appears to be vandalized or stolen. The causes of their conditions remain unknown."
Gale gasped with a hand over her mouth. "What in the world…"
George took a breath, and coughed. "How strange. I wonder what could've happened to them. And how will the election be affected?"
She stood, and cleared her throat. "I'm going to clean up the mess. Sorry, dear, I ruined your dinner. I'll order take-out tonight."
She headed into the kitchen, taking care to hide her hurriedness. With violently-shaking hands, she opened the kitchen drawer and pulled out the 'Holy Book of Light and Truth'.
"But Prophet Dartz didn't kill them… right?" Anthea asked curiously.
Gale shook her head. "No, darling. Prophet Dartz only put them to sleep. They were bad people, and they were rightfully punished."
"But what about Grandpa?" she pressed. "Why didn't he come with us?"
Gale reached forward and placed her hand over Anthea's. "My dear, Grandpa did not want to come with us. He chose not to believe in the Great One, even after He had more than proven His existence and good will. We had no choice but to leave him."
"But who's taking care of him?"
Gale released her hand and straightened up. "He is in the country's top-ranked senior care center. Grandpa is receiving the best possible care."
Anthea slumped lower in her sheets, a frown on her lips. "I miss him, Grandma."
A pang of guilt struck Gale's heart. She turned away for a moment to swallow her sob. "I know, dear." She set the book on the nightstand beside Anthea's clock, and folded her glasses. "It's time to go to sleep. We can continue our story another night."
Anthea yawned. "Goodnight, Grandma," she said as she caught her grandmother's kiss on her forehead.
"Goodnight, angel," Gale replied gently, and reached over to her lamp. Before pulling the switch, she added, "oh, I forgot to tell you. There was a train crash in Shifter's Valley earlier today. It's too late to go out now, but in the morning, why don't you see if there are any survivors? If there are, they will surely need food and shelter, hmm?"
The girl nodded sleepily. "Sure, Grandma."
"Just remember what we always tell you before going out there."
Anthea rubbed her eyes. "Yeah, I know. If I see a man wearing a golden pyramid, he is the Nameless Pharaoh, and I have to turn him in."
"But be careful," Gale warned, "he is a very dangerous, very bad man. Just be sweet, don't panic, and don't provoke his rage."
"Yes, Grandma."
"Alright, sleep well dear." She pulled the switch, and the room plunged into darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED
Notes:
*This chapter is not, in any way, intending to denounce any particular religion.
*A public defender is an attorney appointed to those who cannot afford to hire their own.
*For reference: the original companion headstone Gale bought was around $200, which is pretty much the cheapest headstone you can find. Black granite standing headstones start at $2000—a large companion headstone of that size is at least $3000 and only goes up from there. That many flowers are also really expensive.
*A notary public is a person concerned with official documents (contracts, etc.) as an impartial witness, screener, and certifier. Impartiality is the foundation of a notary public's duties and cannot act upon personal bias or self-interest. Surprisingly, their salaries are pretty average middle class.
*In case it wasn't clear, the beginning (and end) of chapter takes place the night before Anthea found Yami and Tea and brought them to the church. AKA the night they were eating each other's faces XD
Thanks for reading!
xo ALG
