Halfway Between Heaven and Hell
Since the slaughter of the adults, the children of Gatlin have been divided. The loyal followers of He Who Walks Behind the Rows and the "Unbelievers"... But He, Himself has plans for the leader of the "Unbelievers"...
"With thy giver of my word as thy vessel, mine child shall be conceived in the womb of an Unbeliever... And he shall rise up and smite the unholy of this world..."
~
"Rebekah!" The girl looked up at the young dark-haired boy coming downstairs, from her place on the worn-out couch. As he passed the window, the knife in his hand, caught the moonlight streaming through and gleamed. 'It's time. They've all gathered in the cornfields.'
"Is everyone ready, Jose?" She asked, her face always solemn and her rasping voice always emotionless, her blue eyes, empty and like tarnished marbles. Jose or Joseph, wondered how long it had been since she had smiled or been happy or shown any kind of emotion at all...
Before the slaughter, he thought, before the slaughter of our parents...
But then he realized he had been asked a question, to which he replied,
"Yes." with a nod. "We're just waiting for you."
For a moment, Rebekah stood as still as a statue, blue eyes burning into Joseph and he knew she was thinking... Then she turned to the knife, she gripped in her hand...
"All right." She gripped the handle tighter and stood slowly, "Let's get it over with."
She walked across the room, brushed past him and walked up the stairs. Without stopping, she called over her shoulder,
"Tell the others to wait outside." Her voice was always low, always barely than a whisper...
Rebekah opened the door with 'Job an Sarah's room' written on it in red and green crayon in big letters over the worn-off white paint. Inside the room, amongst clothes, toys, games, pieces of paper with crayon drawings on them and crayons, sat little Sarah, with a red crayon in one hand, drawing another 'masterpiece'.
And sprawled on the bed, listening to the record player was Job, looking through a picture book.
"Hello Becky." smiled Sarah.
"Hey Becky.' said Job, though his face was concealed in the book.
"We're going now, and remember don't..."
"Come out of this room," finished Job, peering at her over the book.
"That's right. Stay in this room, and don't come out, no matter what, okay?"
"Okay." The two kids said in perfect unison.
"Good." Rebekah nodded and turned to leave but tiny, scrawny arms wrapped around her waist.
"Your coming back, aren't you, Becky?" asked Sarah. Rebekah leaned down to Sarah's height, staring into her eyes.
"Sure I will." Sarah took her arms from around Rebekah's waist and put them around her neck as Rebekah pulled her in for a brief embrace. "Okay, I gotta go now." Rebekah said as she broke away from Sarah and stood up,
"Goodbye Becky." There were tears forming in Sarah's eyes. Rebekah was like a big sister to her...
"See ya soon, Sarah." And her 'big sister' walked out the door without looking back.
As the door closed, Sarah went back to her drawing. Picking up the red crayon, she put the finished touches to the picture... The blood from the mangled bodies of children in cornfield... And the red headed boy holding a knife to the blonde haired girl's throat...
~
Rebekah closed the door to the house and felt the eyes of all the children upon her. She was their leader...
She looked at them, standing before her. Clutching knives, pitchforks, scythes and sickles...
'Tonight,' She began, her voice rose but only slightly, 'We will take vengeance on those who murdered our parents and take back our town.'
They cheered, raising their gleaming weapons in the air,
Rebekah pushed past them, stopping before the cornfields, and turning back,
'Let us go.' She said...
... And she ran into the cornfields...
~
"Bring Rebekah to me, spare no other."
"What do you want with Rebekah?"
"It is not what I want with Rebekah, it is what He wants with Rebekah."
"What does He want with her? She is a heathen Unbeliever."
"He has... use for her.'
"But..."
"Do not question, He, Malachi! Just do as He wishes!"
~
They moved through the battle, through corn stalks and dead bodies... Through the live ones crashing together... Hearing blood-dripping metal clashing above the howling wind...
She ran as graceful and quick as a deer...
Her bloodstained knife piercing one follower after another...
He struck like a snake...
His bloodstained knife plunging into the chests of 'Unbelievers'...
They collided...
Her knife found his thigh, while his found her shoulder...
Their cries mingled...
And they tore apart from each other like an explosion ripping them away from one another...
They lay on the ground, breathing hard and screaming in pain as blood gushed from their wounds, feeding the soil.
Malachi reached for knife that had flew out of his grasp as he fell...
But Rebekah was faster, forgetting her own blade and lunging on him...
Her hands wrapped around his neck, strangling him...
Now she was the snake slowly squeezing the life from him...
Malachi looked up into her pale face, with its haunting blue gaze and straw- colored hair... Full pink lips smirking...
His hand searching and closing around his knife...
Then he struck...
Rebekah screamed in pain and fell back, clutching the knife sticking in her thigh... Tears forming in her eyes, as her thigh seared in pain...
Malachi grinned, and stood, rubbing his neck... He went over and pulled the knife from her thigh, liking how she screamed.
But then she looked up at him, her eyes blazing and still smirking...
And spat on the ground in front of him...
Malachi gave a cry of rage and grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up by it. Rebekah winced and kicked him hard in the shin with her good leg... He let go of her and she ran for it.
Her shoulder and thigh searing in pain, slowed her down but she was still faster than Malachi.
'Retreat! Retreat!' She yelled, her voice echoing through the cornfields, 'Get back to the house!'
Rebekah burst out of the cornfields and stared in shock at what she saw...
On the porch, stood Isaac, smirking triumphantly and surrounded by two of his teenage boy followers, each one held a child with their knives at their throats...
Job and Sarah! Trembling, whimpering, wide-eyed and cheeks shining with tears...
No! Rebekah thought. No!
The house guard, Moses, lay sprawled on the steps, blood spilling from his chest...
"Let them go," said Rebekah calmly, softly.
"Why should I, child?" replied Isaac, in the same tone.
'Please, come on, their just little kids, leave them out of it.' reasoned Rebekah, walking slowly towards them, 'This is between you and me, Isaac, not them.
'Drop the knife, Rebekah.' Isaac said almost boredly.
Seething inwardly, Rebekah did as she was told, and let go of knife.
'Good girl.' Isaac smiled, 'Now I don't want to harm these children. They are His children... just like you and the rest of the children you've corrupted. But He is forgiving of you, for you are special to Him.'
'Special?' Rebekah asked, crossing her arms.
She had other choice but to listen to what to preacher boy had to say. The 'Unbelievers' and Followers of Him were emerging from the cornfields behind her. But neither leaders payed any attension to them, their gazes locked.
'Oh, yes. Very special. He has big plans for you, child.'
'What...' Rebekah began but suddenly the cold feel on metal on her neck, the sharp blade pressing against her throat.
Malachi stood behind her, an evil smirk on his face...
'Gotcha.' He whispered in her ear...
'Let the children go.' Isaac turned to two boys holding Job and Sarah. And they were released. 'We have Rebekah now.'
Rebekah flinched as she felt the rough, strong fingers of Malachi caress the back of her neck...
'We got you.' Malachi repeated...
Isaac went over to Rebekah and Malachi, he ran a hand down Rebekah's cheek,
'Do you really think I would hurt them? The girl has the sight.' He told her in an almost mocking tone. 'Come.' He said,
Isaac, a struggling Rebekah being shoved along by Malachi with his knife still at her throat, and the rest of the Followers disappeared into the cornfields...
~
Since the slaughter of the adults, the children of Gatlin have been divided. The loyal followers of He Who Walks Behind the Rows and the "Unbelievers"... But He, Himself has plans for the leader of the "Unbelievers"...
"With thy giver of my word as thy vessel, mine child shall be conceived in the womb of an Unbeliever... And he shall rise up and smite the unholy of this world..."
~
"Rebekah!" The girl looked up at the young dark-haired boy coming downstairs, from her place on the worn-out couch. As he passed the window, the knife in his hand, caught the moonlight streaming through and gleamed. 'It's time. They've all gathered in the cornfields.'
"Is everyone ready, Jose?" She asked, her face always solemn and her rasping voice always emotionless, her blue eyes, empty and like tarnished marbles. Jose or Joseph, wondered how long it had been since she had smiled or been happy or shown any kind of emotion at all...
Before the slaughter, he thought, before the slaughter of our parents...
But then he realized he had been asked a question, to which he replied,
"Yes." with a nod. "We're just waiting for you."
For a moment, Rebekah stood as still as a statue, blue eyes burning into Joseph and he knew she was thinking... Then she turned to the knife, she gripped in her hand...
"All right." She gripped the handle tighter and stood slowly, "Let's get it over with."
She walked across the room, brushed past him and walked up the stairs. Without stopping, she called over her shoulder,
"Tell the others to wait outside." Her voice was always low, always barely than a whisper...
Rebekah opened the door with 'Job an Sarah's room' written on it in red and green crayon in big letters over the worn-off white paint. Inside the room, amongst clothes, toys, games, pieces of paper with crayon drawings on them and crayons, sat little Sarah, with a red crayon in one hand, drawing another 'masterpiece'.
And sprawled on the bed, listening to the record player was Job, looking through a picture book.
"Hello Becky." smiled Sarah.
"Hey Becky.' said Job, though his face was concealed in the book.
"We're going now, and remember don't..."
"Come out of this room," finished Job, peering at her over the book.
"That's right. Stay in this room, and don't come out, no matter what, okay?"
"Okay." The two kids said in perfect unison.
"Good." Rebekah nodded and turned to leave but tiny, scrawny arms wrapped around her waist.
"Your coming back, aren't you, Becky?" asked Sarah. Rebekah leaned down to Sarah's height, staring into her eyes.
"Sure I will." Sarah took her arms from around Rebekah's waist and put them around her neck as Rebekah pulled her in for a brief embrace. "Okay, I gotta go now." Rebekah said as she broke away from Sarah and stood up,
"Goodbye Becky." There were tears forming in Sarah's eyes. Rebekah was like a big sister to her...
"See ya soon, Sarah." And her 'big sister' walked out the door without looking back.
As the door closed, Sarah went back to her drawing. Picking up the red crayon, she put the finished touches to the picture... The blood from the mangled bodies of children in cornfield... And the red headed boy holding a knife to the blonde haired girl's throat...
~
Rebekah closed the door to the house and felt the eyes of all the children upon her. She was their leader...
She looked at them, standing before her. Clutching knives, pitchforks, scythes and sickles...
'Tonight,' She began, her voice rose but only slightly, 'We will take vengeance on those who murdered our parents and take back our town.'
They cheered, raising their gleaming weapons in the air,
Rebekah pushed past them, stopping before the cornfields, and turning back,
'Let us go.' She said...
... And she ran into the cornfields...
~
"Bring Rebekah to me, spare no other."
"What do you want with Rebekah?"
"It is not what I want with Rebekah, it is what He wants with Rebekah."
"What does He want with her? She is a heathen Unbeliever."
"He has... use for her.'
"But..."
"Do not question, He, Malachi! Just do as He wishes!"
~
They moved through the battle, through corn stalks and dead bodies... Through the live ones crashing together... Hearing blood-dripping metal clashing above the howling wind...
She ran as graceful and quick as a deer...
Her bloodstained knife piercing one follower after another...
He struck like a snake...
His bloodstained knife plunging into the chests of 'Unbelievers'...
They collided...
Her knife found his thigh, while his found her shoulder...
Their cries mingled...
And they tore apart from each other like an explosion ripping them away from one another...
They lay on the ground, breathing hard and screaming in pain as blood gushed from their wounds, feeding the soil.
Malachi reached for knife that had flew out of his grasp as he fell...
But Rebekah was faster, forgetting her own blade and lunging on him...
Her hands wrapped around his neck, strangling him...
Now she was the snake slowly squeezing the life from him...
Malachi looked up into her pale face, with its haunting blue gaze and straw- colored hair... Full pink lips smirking...
His hand searching and closing around his knife...
Then he struck...
Rebekah screamed in pain and fell back, clutching the knife sticking in her thigh... Tears forming in her eyes, as her thigh seared in pain...
Malachi grinned, and stood, rubbing his neck... He went over and pulled the knife from her thigh, liking how she screamed.
But then she looked up at him, her eyes blazing and still smirking...
And spat on the ground in front of him...
Malachi gave a cry of rage and grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up by it. Rebekah winced and kicked him hard in the shin with her good leg... He let go of her and she ran for it.
Her shoulder and thigh searing in pain, slowed her down but she was still faster than Malachi.
'Retreat! Retreat!' She yelled, her voice echoing through the cornfields, 'Get back to the house!'
Rebekah burst out of the cornfields and stared in shock at what she saw...
On the porch, stood Isaac, smirking triumphantly and surrounded by two of his teenage boy followers, each one held a child with their knives at their throats...
Job and Sarah! Trembling, whimpering, wide-eyed and cheeks shining with tears...
No! Rebekah thought. No!
The house guard, Moses, lay sprawled on the steps, blood spilling from his chest...
"Let them go," said Rebekah calmly, softly.
"Why should I, child?" replied Isaac, in the same tone.
'Please, come on, their just little kids, leave them out of it.' reasoned Rebekah, walking slowly towards them, 'This is between you and me, Isaac, not them.
'Drop the knife, Rebekah.' Isaac said almost boredly.
Seething inwardly, Rebekah did as she was told, and let go of knife.
'Good girl.' Isaac smiled, 'Now I don't want to harm these children. They are His children... just like you and the rest of the children you've corrupted. But He is forgiving of you, for you are special to Him.'
'Special?' Rebekah asked, crossing her arms.
She had other choice but to listen to what to preacher boy had to say. The 'Unbelievers' and Followers of Him were emerging from the cornfields behind her. But neither leaders payed any attension to them, their gazes locked.
'Oh, yes. Very special. He has big plans for you, child.'
'What...' Rebekah began but suddenly the cold feel on metal on her neck, the sharp blade pressing against her throat.
Malachi stood behind her, an evil smirk on his face...
'Gotcha.' He whispered in her ear...
'Let the children go.' Isaac turned to two boys holding Job and Sarah. And they were released. 'We have Rebekah now.'
Rebekah flinched as she felt the rough, strong fingers of Malachi caress the back of her neck...
'We got you.' Malachi repeated...
Isaac went over to Rebekah and Malachi, he ran a hand down Rebekah's cheek,
'Do you really think I would hurt them? The girl has the sight.' He told her in an almost mocking tone. 'Come.' He said,
Isaac, a struggling Rebekah being shoved along by Malachi with his knife still at her throat, and the rest of the Followers disappeared into the cornfields...
~