Chapter 30 You will be Slain by the Evil

Hi folks. Sorry it took so long. But the story isn't almost over, its just beginning to spiral towards the climax. Hakuhen, I'm glad you found it interesting even though you aren't religious. I was hoping to be able to do that.

Starry Night Festival. A romantic event in many people's opinion. It was the tradition that the women of the town would ask there favorite guy to join them for dinner. Ann had asked me to join her for dinner that night, and I had accepted, after making sure that the festival had nothing to do with the Goddess religion. Apparently the Starry Night Festival had been around long before the Harvest Goddess had revealed herself to the people of this Island. When she had done this, she had tried to make the Hail Goddess festival appear to be a time of celebration, so she scheduled it right after the day of most celebration. Okay, so I had been wrong. I didn't only have one day of happiness, I had two days. When I arrived at there house that night, Ann and her father greeted me warmly.

"Zach!" Ann said happily. "I'm so glad you could come."

"You know Zach," Doug said. "You really should think about marrying Ann."

"Dad!" Ann said, her cheeks a deep crimson. "Say stuff like that to him, and he may never come to our house again."

I blushed, and looked away.

"Notice Ann didn't say she didn't want to marry you," Doug said laughing.

"Dad!"

I smiled, this was going to be an enjoyable night. And indeed it was. Ann and her father had cooked a delicious meal for the three of us. It consisted of meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and sweet corn. To say it was good would be an understatement. We finished the meal, talked, and then it was time for me to leave. I kissed Ann on the cheek, and said goodbye to Doug before leaving for my farm.


"I can't believe you said that to him Dad!" Ann said right after Zach left.

"Admit it," Doug said. "You would be quit happy if Zach were to propose to you."

"It's none of your business what I think of Zach!" Ann shouted.

"Your blushing honey," Doug said chuckling. "It's quit obvious that the two of you have strong feelings for each other. And you know I want to see you as a bride. You would make a perfect wife. And you're pretty enough for the occupation."

Ann couldn't help but smile at her father's kind thoughts.

"Dad, I-"

"You'd better get to bed soon," Doug said. "You need your sleep."

Ann nodded, and started for the door. Doug watched her as she made her way to her room.

"That's my girl," he said quietly to himself.


One would think that I would sleep wonderfully after such a wonderful night, but no. I was awoken in the middle of the night by a voice whispering to me in the dark.

'This day is the end of happiness,' it said. 'For now Darkness will overthrow all.'

I nervously scanned the room for a source of the voice, but found none.

'Darkness is descending on Mineral Town, and you will be slain by the evil.'Suddenly a dark figure leaped out of my closet towards me. I awoke in a cold sweat in my bed. No voice was speaking to me, and no dark beings were leaping out of my closet. I turned over, and went back to sleep, but more dark dreams and images haunted me that night.


The smell of coffee awoke Ann from her sleep. She groggily rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and stood up. The sound of bacon frying in the kitchen coaxed her into her clothes, and out of her room. Ann smiled at her Dad as she sat down at one of the tables. Doug brought out a tray of cheese strata, and set it in front of her.

"Eat quickly," Doug said. "The Hail Goddess Festival starts in forty five minutes."

Ann thought about the festival for a minute. She had never missed a Hail Goddess Festival ever in her life. No one had. Except for Gotz, who had simply disappeared a couple years ago. But Ann knew someone who would not show up at the Hail Goddess Festival this year. And she knew why as well. The Harvest Goddess hated Zach, and wished he was dead. Zach did not worship the Harvest Goddess, so he wouldn't show up to the festival. Ann then began to wonder, could she be friends with one who hated Zach with all its heart.

"Dad," Ann said.

"Yes Ann?" Doug said turning to his daughter.

"Would-" Ann took a deep breath, "would it be alright if I didn't come to this year's Hail Goddess Festival?"

"Are you crazy?" Doug said. "You don't want to offer sacrifices to the Goddess? You could get lynched or..."

It was then that Doug began to realize how tyrannical the reign of the Goddess was. Anyone who didn't obey her commands was destroyed, either by the town's people, or by the Spirits. Doug also remembered how his daughter's life had almost been taken because of the Harvest Goddess.

"Alright Ann," Doug said grabbing his shotgun. "I'll stay home as well."


"Did it ever occur to you that Zach might not come to the Festival today?"

Mayor Thomas looked up at his son Harris, the policeman in surprise.

"Um..." the Mayor said.

"He doesn't worship the Goddess," Harris continued, "and his Grandfather never came to the Hail Goddess Festival's."

"His Grandfather always was afraid to leave his house on the Hail Goddess Festival," the Mayor retaliated. "That is the reason he never came. I'm sure Zach will come."

"Why would he?" Harris asked. "He doesn't worship the Harvest Goddess, so he won't be giving any sacrifices to her."

"He'd better come," Thomas said. "If he doesn't... I don't know what will happen."

"If he doesn't," Harris said, "many of the town's people will be angry."


Kai, Captain Bates, Gotz, and I all decided to stay at my house until the Hail Goddess Festival was over. Each of us had our weapons in case things got ugly. I even passed out Bibles in case any of us needed Spiritual uplifting. I didn't know what happened during the festival, nor did I know if I wanted to know. Suddenly there was a knock at my door. I opened it slowly, and saw Carter standing on my porch.

"Hello Carter," I said with a smile.

"You won't be coming to the Hail Goddess Festival, will you?" Carter asked in a strange voice.

"No, I-"

"And neither will Kai, Gotz, and the captain, will they?" Carter said in the same strange voice. "I know that they are in there."

"No," I said. "What's wrong Carter? Why does your voice sound different?"

"Ten Plagues!" Carter shouted stretching his arms out. "Ten Plagues of such power, and might, that you will fall on your face before the Goddess begging for forgiveness, but you will receive none!"

"Carter, can you keep your voice down..."

"All will feel the might of the Goddess! Nine Plagues to prepare for the Tenth Plague! The coming of the Right Hand Hand!"

"What do you-"

"Ten Plagues! You will pay the penalty for your disbelief!"

And with that, Carter turned, and walked away. Kai walked up behind me.

"Ten Plagues eh," he said.

"Its an attempt at mockery," I said. "Don't you remember how in the Bible God sent ten plagues upon Egypt when they refused to let his people leave the country? The Harvest Goddess is trying to use the same methods as God, except she uses them for evil as opposed for good."

"I see," Kai said. "She's trying to say that she's as powerful as our God because she can send plagues as well."

"I seen people do that before," Captain Bates said. "They're jealous of the abilities of another person, and try to make themselves out to be just as powerful by copying that person's methods."

"Its official now," Gotz said. "The Goddess is officially trying to kill us."

"Man you've got no idea what I've had to endure so far," I said. "The Goddess has been trying to kill me for a while."


Rose Square was once again filled with the people of the town. They were not dressed in black, for this was no time of mourning. Neither were they dressed in bright colors, for this was not a time of celebration. The Hail Goddess Festival was said to be a time of celebration, but a strange feeling of darkness always banished all thoughts of partying. Everyone knew that what happened this day would be too great to comprehend. Throughout the whole day indifference, fear, horror, amazement, happiness, senseless joy, and hate could all be felt all because of one being. The Harvest Goddess. In the center of the square sat a large plate like alter which was covered in flowers and other symbols of nature. Carter stepped up to the plate, and looked out at the crowd of people.

"May the sacrifices begin!" he shouted.

No one said a word.

"The Goddess has given me a message to deliver to you before the sacrifices begin! There is a new member of the Church! Who is it you ask? He is a loyal servant of the Harvest Goddess! His power will be almost equal to mine! He will be the assistant pastor from now on. His name, is Won!"

At this, the people in the crowd began murmuring among themselves. This made many of them uneasy. Won, the most dangerous, most feared member of the town had just been given power. What would become of this? Everyone knew what Won could do to them, and feared what this change could bring upon them.

"Yes," Carter said, "Won will be the assistant pastor! He has proven to be a loyal servant of the Goddess, so this is his reward!"

Won stepped up to the alter, and shook Carter's hand. The crowd then died down, and Carter held his hands out again.

"Now! We will begin the sacrifices! I will call each and every villager up to the alter, and you must lay your sacrifice down before the alter. Now calling Elli and her family!"

Elli and Stu stepped up to the alter, and bowed before it. Elli then placed a basket of bread to cover her sacrifices, and Stu put down a large salad. Then, one by one, Carter called up each of the villagers, and they placed their sacrifices onto the plate like alter.

"Doug and Ann," Carter said, looking up for the two of them. Neither Doug nor Ann stepped up to the alter to deliver sacrifices. Carter cleared his throat nervously, and the town's people began murmuring uneasily.

"Doug and Ann," Carter repeated, secretly hoping that the two of them just hadn't heard him right.

"They haven't come!" Won shouted. "They have desecrated this holy holiday by refusing to show there presence in Rose Square!"

The crowd roared at this. No one ever missed a Hail Goddess Festival. Missing a Hail Goddess Festival was considered much worse than not believing in the Harvest Goddess. Even when Kai had been an atheist he had been excused, for he was never in town in the winter.

"Okay," Carter said. "They have not come, will anyone offer to give sacrifices for Doug or Ann?"

That was what had always happened in the past. Zach's Grandfather had been loved by many of the town's people, so when he didn't come to the Hail Goddess Festival many of the town's people had pooled together sacrifices to cover his, even when he asked them not to. As such, the town never became angry at him for missing the festival, for his sacrifice was always covered, but the Harvest Goddess' anger increased every year he failed to come to the festival. But today, no one made a move to cover either Doug, or Ann's sacrifice.

"They have betrayed the Harvest Goddess!" Won shouted. "Don't you all remember back when they defended the Heathen?"

The crowd roared.

"With my new power I decree that anyone who aides a heathen will die!"

"What?" Carter said in shock. "You can't do that!"

Harris' eyes widened, and he stepped back into the crowd to try and hide.

"Now wait Won," Mayor Thomas said, stumbling up to the alter. "You can't just go and..."

Won turned, and looked the Mayor straight in the eyes. Thomas stopped dead in his tracks.

"You were chosen by the people of this town Mayor," Won said. "Don't forget that. I was chosen by the Harvest Goddess. Don't forget that." Won then turned, and held his arms out to the crowd. "Now, I know some other people who didn't show up for sacrifices today."

"They must die!" someone in the crowd shouted. Won smiled as he controlled the mob.

"Yes you are right! Zach, Kai, and Gotz did not show up to sacrifice!" The crowd roared in anger. "They must be punished!"

"Yeah!" shouted many of the people in the crowd.

"The Harvest Goddess will deal with them in due time!" Won shouted. "For now, no one will aid them, or help them in any way! Anyone who disobeys this will be punished! No one will help Ann or Doug either! They have chosen their fate!"

The mob immediately began crying out in anger, and contempt. Won turned, and walked out of Rose Square. Carter chased after him.

"Won!" Carter shouted, running up to the new assistant pastor.

Won turned, and gave Carter a cold stare.

"You have neither the right nor the authority to-"

"I have every right!" Won shouted. "I was chosen by the Goddess!"

"You are the assistant pastor. You cannot do such a thing without asking me first. And I say no! We will not kill them! Our ways are not the ways of violence, and if the Goddess desires their blood, then what kind of Goddess are we worshiping?"

Won turned away from Carter.

"You know," he said. "There was something else the Goddess told me when she informed me that I would become the assistant pastor. She told me not to let anyone, not even you, get in my way. And she also told me to kill all those who interfered."

Won turned and faced Carter.

"You read the Bible Zach gave you, didn't you?"

"Well I-"

"You did."

"Yes," Carter said, "but I burned the book when the Goddess told me too, and..."

"And you believe what you read, don't you?"

"No, I..."

"Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt honor your father and mother, thou shalt anything! You believe that. You agree with the ideals in the Bible."

"Well," Carter began. "They did make some sense..."

"Traitor," Won said before drawing his Katana and slashing it through Carter's neck.

Carter gasped, and fell to the ground, clutching the side of his neck. Carter's vision began to blur as he felt himself slowly begin to leave this world. His neck was plastered with red blood, and was quite a disturbing sight. Won bent down and looked the dying pastor in the eye.

"You now pay the price of your lack of loyalty. I was chosen by the Goddess, therefore I am superior to you!"

Won then stood up, and ran after the mob he had just created. Carter lay on the ground dying.

"Jesus," he gasped. "Forgive...me..."

Next chapter will shock you.