Fear the Unknown
Chapter 2: Truth and Perception
(Disclaimer: all characters are copyrights of DC Comics, a division of AOL- Time Warner. I don't own any of this stuff, sadly.)
Salem, Massachusetts
June, 1692
It was a cool morning, despite the time of year, when William Phipps, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony stepped from his carriage and into the streets of Salem. Things that he'd seen confirmed the terrible things he had heard of the city's activities, and a deep chill ran through his heart as he saw the frightened looks in the eyes of the citizenry.
People should not fear me, Phipps thought to himself. They should respect me. They should respect authority, not quiver in fear of persecution. But Phipps' authority was no longer the law in Salem. Since the terrible events that had led to the hanging of 18 of Salem's citizens, things had become untenable. A new voice had risen in city politics, Reverend Dominic Bliss. Reverend Bliss had claimed that waiting for witches to be denounced was not enough. They could, he had claimed; overpower the mind of a pure- hearted person, protecting their own identities. The community must, by necessity, he claimed, root them out, hunt them down, and destroy them. It seemed that any who might have questioned Bliss were witches themselves, men and women with strange abilities, and they had been "purified" at the stake.
"Governor Phipps. I was wondering when you would show your face in Salem."
Phipps turned slowly to face the one man in Salem who might dare address him in such a manner.
"Reverend Bliss. You have been quite a busy man, sir."
"The pursuit of purity is a mighty task, Governor."
"So long as one does not lose sight of truth, Reverend."
Bliss steepled his fingers and was, by appearances, the picture of the saintly preacher.
"Truth. Governor, truth is what we make it. Perception is nine tenths of reality. What people perceive to be the truth will be the truth."
"People must be led to the truth by wisdom, I've always thought, not their own flawed perceptions."
"And what does your 'wisdom' tell you about what I've accomplished here?"
"I have my questions, Reverend. I will seek my answers, and in doing so, I shall find the truth."
Phipps turned from Bliss and began to walk away, when the voice from behind him chilled him to the bone.
"Be careful, Governor. Salem is a town wrought with peril. I should hate to see anything unfortunate occur during your visit here."
TWO DAYS LATER
"Let us pray."
Bliss watched as his congregation rose, and concealed the smile that he could not show.
"This day has brought us great tragedy. Not content to see their numbers culled by righteous justice, the minions of Satan have stolen from us a great man and a great leader in Governor William Phipps. As befits them, they attacked him at night, under the evil moon which they call Mother. Governor Phipps was a righteous man, a just man, and a seeker of truth."
Bliss bore down on the people with his burning eyes, which seemed to pierce the very depths of their souls.
"I swear to you this day, my flock, that we shall not rest while darkness runs free in this great land. Across the sea, evil brings fear to the righteous, but not here! Here in this great land of ours, we shall cut out the vile filth that taints our holy blood and start anew! We have taken the first steps, right here in Salem, to building a better world, a world free of darkness and magic and unholy power. What has begun here shall spread before us, and as the hand of God, we shall reign fire on his enemies until all have bowed down before his glory!"
He was almost fevered now, but he calmed and regained his composure.
"That path is set, my flock, and we shall stay the course. For it is this course which leads to life everlasting."
Deep inside Dominic Bliss, a dark voice cackled with joy. It had won.
Chapter 2: Truth and Perception
(Disclaimer: all characters are copyrights of DC Comics, a division of AOL- Time Warner. I don't own any of this stuff, sadly.)
Salem, Massachusetts
June, 1692
It was a cool morning, despite the time of year, when William Phipps, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony stepped from his carriage and into the streets of Salem. Things that he'd seen confirmed the terrible things he had heard of the city's activities, and a deep chill ran through his heart as he saw the frightened looks in the eyes of the citizenry.
People should not fear me, Phipps thought to himself. They should respect me. They should respect authority, not quiver in fear of persecution. But Phipps' authority was no longer the law in Salem. Since the terrible events that had led to the hanging of 18 of Salem's citizens, things had become untenable. A new voice had risen in city politics, Reverend Dominic Bliss. Reverend Bliss had claimed that waiting for witches to be denounced was not enough. They could, he had claimed; overpower the mind of a pure- hearted person, protecting their own identities. The community must, by necessity, he claimed, root them out, hunt them down, and destroy them. It seemed that any who might have questioned Bliss were witches themselves, men and women with strange abilities, and they had been "purified" at the stake.
"Governor Phipps. I was wondering when you would show your face in Salem."
Phipps turned slowly to face the one man in Salem who might dare address him in such a manner.
"Reverend Bliss. You have been quite a busy man, sir."
"The pursuit of purity is a mighty task, Governor."
"So long as one does not lose sight of truth, Reverend."
Bliss steepled his fingers and was, by appearances, the picture of the saintly preacher.
"Truth. Governor, truth is what we make it. Perception is nine tenths of reality. What people perceive to be the truth will be the truth."
"People must be led to the truth by wisdom, I've always thought, not their own flawed perceptions."
"And what does your 'wisdom' tell you about what I've accomplished here?"
"I have my questions, Reverend. I will seek my answers, and in doing so, I shall find the truth."
Phipps turned from Bliss and began to walk away, when the voice from behind him chilled him to the bone.
"Be careful, Governor. Salem is a town wrought with peril. I should hate to see anything unfortunate occur during your visit here."
TWO DAYS LATER
"Let us pray."
Bliss watched as his congregation rose, and concealed the smile that he could not show.
"This day has brought us great tragedy. Not content to see their numbers culled by righteous justice, the minions of Satan have stolen from us a great man and a great leader in Governor William Phipps. As befits them, they attacked him at night, under the evil moon which they call Mother. Governor Phipps was a righteous man, a just man, and a seeker of truth."
Bliss bore down on the people with his burning eyes, which seemed to pierce the very depths of their souls.
"I swear to you this day, my flock, that we shall not rest while darkness runs free in this great land. Across the sea, evil brings fear to the righteous, but not here! Here in this great land of ours, we shall cut out the vile filth that taints our holy blood and start anew! We have taken the first steps, right here in Salem, to building a better world, a world free of darkness and magic and unholy power. What has begun here shall spread before us, and as the hand of God, we shall reign fire on his enemies until all have bowed down before his glory!"
He was almost fevered now, but he calmed and regained his composure.
"That path is set, my flock, and we shall stay the course. For it is this course which leads to life everlasting."
Deep inside Dominic Bliss, a dark voice cackled with joy. It had won.