Note: I have to admit that I watched some videos of Hate Preachers like the West Borough Baptist Church and Paster Steve Anderson to get some ideas for writing this chapter, much to my distaste as I hate people like that.
As far as I'm concerned, they're not promoting Freedom of Speech but rather they are bullying people and using the Bible as an excuse to hurt and demoralise mentally and frighten people. I have no religious beliefs but I have an open mind and I believe everyone is equal.
Anyway, sorry for the rambling, enjoy the latest chapter!
Chapter Twenty-Three
A Visit Up Top
A few hours later, the whole of Mutopia was silent as everyone had retired to bed.
Well, almost everyone, as Callum was standing outside his room and making sure no-one was watching him as he started to make his way to the entrance of the Sanctuary.
Earlier after he had studied the Hate Preacher on Hugh's Iphone, he decided to do his own investigation of the man by searching on the internet.
The Raven was pleased to know that this Hate Preacher had made himself famous or rather infamous on the internet, and there were videos of him on YouTube, and even Instagram talking of his offensive views, and the more Callum watched and read about him, the more he wanted to go after the preacher.
He was desperate to use his mutated body to it's best advantages, and studying his features in the mirror, he had felt a strange sense of twisted pleasure that once the preacher looked upon him, that he would beg for mercy.
Even though the Raven was unsure of where the preacher resided, he was aware of where he did his regular preachings which was at a hall in the Downtown area of the city above, and he decided to head up there to look for him.
Looking at the time, and since the Mutopians were nocturnal he knew it would be daylight up there, so he had to be careful, and also, after studying the website of the Preacher's place of offensive sermons, he would be up there doing regular meetings.
"He will be taking a time to rest between his sermons." Callum thought "And when he is alone, it is then I will strike!"
He flexed his talons as he thought again about what the preacher posted online.
"I remember mum and dad used to say you had to be careful when you post stuff online." Callum said to himself "You never know who might be watching, or who might come after you!"
He smirked again and flexed his talons, his body shook slightly with excitement as he thought more about what he could do and what he could get away with once he was up there.
"When I first mutated." he thought again "I thought this was a curse, but I'm starting to think this might be a blessing now, in a twisted sort of way..."
Before he decided to head for the exit, Callum decided to check in on his brother and sister to make sure they were sleeping soundly which he believed they would be since it was two thirty in the afternoon.
He made his way to Jake's room where he saw his brother was laying face down on his bed and snoring softly which satisfied him that he was deadly asleep. As long as he had known his older brother, when he slept like that, nothing could wake him.
He then went to where Mona and Raphael were sleeping and he peeked into their bedroom. He was slightly nervous knowing about their strong ninja senses, Raphael more than Monalisa, but he still wanted to check.
The door was slightly ajar and he pushed it open to look inside.
In the dim light he could see his sister laying on her back, her dark brown hair over her face and Raphael was laying his head on her naked chest.
Callum grimaced in disgust as he saw how Raphael was snuggled up next to his sister yet he closed the door and walked away.
He wasn't sure if there would be anyone at the entrance watching or guarding, but there was only one way to find out.
He soon made it to the entrance that was lit by some crystals and he remembered the way from when he and Tyroth had gone out there to look for the caverns underneath so they could practice flying.
He analysed the area and he couldn't see any cameras, yet he hoped his black form would help him blend into the shadows so if there were any cameras, he would be hidden well from view. He knew Hacker was good with security, and it was only right there had to be tight security to make sure not anyone came down into the dee caverns and found the sanctuary.
Opening his wings, Callum held them over himself almost like a cloak and stuck to the shadowy areas in the dim lit area, his eyes scanned everywhere making sure there was no-one watching.
The whole area was quiet, and feeling satisfied there was no-one about, Callum walked to the entrance and into the tunnels to make his way to the surface.
It took over half an hour to find the entrance to the surface, and Callum had to memorise everything to make sure he found his way back before anyone noticed he was gone. He remembered the different tunnels leading to the different areas of the caverns when he and Tyroth had gone to help him find his wings.
He hoped he would be able to have his fun with the Hate Preacher, then make his way back to the sanctuary before anyone awoke.
He checked a watch he brought with him and knew that the earliest the residents would be up with be about 6pm since that was the time Louie would start up in the kitchen or Patch would be in the Greenhouses harvesting.
Before long, Callum had made it to the surface after leaving the tunnels and he inhaled as fresh air filled his body.
Feeling the air in his lungs, Callum felt a sense of freedom after being trapped underground for a while.
He soon saw a grey sky above, and a warm wind blew though his feathers. Even though it was summer, it seemed that the rains had decided to cover Chicago.
Leaving the entrance, he memorised it so he knew where to fly back and looked around to make sure there was no-one watching then he stood up straight and opened his wings feeling the air travel under them then he felt them left him into the air and he flapped hard to build some altitude.
A sense of a adrenaline filled his body as he was lifted into the air and he started to fly higher, at first it felt strange and he felt himself flail around slightly, but then he remembered what Tyroth said about working with the air currents and not fighting them.
He flapped his wings harder and flew higher and higher into the air, all the while the wind carried him almost like he was on a water-slide that went upside down and had sharp loops.
He looked down and he could see the city of Chicago below him through the wisps of clouds and he felt some of the rain lash against his face and over his feathers.
It was such a liberating feeling, he was free! All thoughts of how angry he was at his brother and sister vanished, and all the wishes that he was dead began to cease to exist, he could feel a new purpose forming within him.
He was a mutant Raven, and he never wanted this life, but after feeling the wind under his wings, he couldn't help but feel so happy and liberated, he wanted to fly higher, he wanted to keep flying, and spread his wings, he could do anything he wanted, and there was nothing to hold him back!
After a while, Callum started to remember the reason why he was topside in the first place and he decided to get on with his mission.
Remembering that where this hate Preacher was in the city, and his church was located in the Downtown area, he started to fly in that direction.
"You better say every prayer you have." Callum smirked as she flapped his wings and flew with ease through the whisps of cloud and over the high buildings "Because I'm coming for you! And your God will not save you! Because there is no God! And No God that will protect you for that matter!"
Meanwhile, the Hate Preacher was in his office, looking over some emails that linked to his website as well as some paperwork.
He could see there were some comments on his website saying they agreed with him and then of course there were the ones who said he was wrong for saying such things, and said he was evil, vile and disgusting.
There were more of those than there were messages of support.
But the preacher just smirked, he just loved the attention, it didn't matter if people called him a vile monster, or a bully, he just loved spreading the word of what he believed with all his being was true, and he would continue to do so, until the day he died.
He looked at one section on his page and saw the comments he had written on his website about giving advice to homosexuals, saying they had to kill themselves because they didn't belong in the world, or telling people who weren't in his mind true Americans to go back where they came from.
Typing another comment on the site, he smirked as he clicked send and leaned back in his chair, just another hour and a half to go until his next sermon and he was excited to speak his words of wisdom to his loyal followers.
Just then, he felt a breeze through his hair and he looked behind him.
The door was closed, so he didn't understand where the breeze had come from.
"Maybe I left the window open?" yet as he stood up and checked, he couldn't see any windows were open.
He frowned again and turned back to the computer but no sooner did he do so than he heard the door of his office creak and he turned around.
"Hello?" he called thinking it was one of his acquaintances arrived early. Yet there was no-one there.
"David?" he called "Is that you? Steven? You there?"
The Preacher walked to the door which lead into the main hall of his church and yet again he saw it was empty.
"Guys?" he called again "Guys? You playing tricks?"
He waited once again, but there was still no answer.
Just then, the lights went off, and the church area was plunged into darkness, due to the cloudy weather outside, the whole place was dark and almost foreboding.
The Preacher jumped and looked around.
"Hello? Look guys, this isn't funny anymore! Stop it!"
"Not funny hmmm?"
The Preacher froze as he heard a voice he didn't recognise.
"Who said that?" he asked, the hairs on the back of his neck sticking up in fear.
"Such words that come from your mouth are sour thorns! Such bullshit! You should have your mouth sewn shut!"
"The Hell?" the Preacher asked, his eye wide and sweat forming on his forehead "Whose in my church? Leave before I call the police?"
"Call the police? I thought you were always welcome in church? If you call this dump a church?"
"Where are you?" the preacher asked "Where are you? Who are you and what are you doing here?"
He then heard a cackle behind him and the preacher turned around and he saw Callum emerge from the shadows.
Callum was wearing a heavy coat hiding his wings and a large hat over his eyes hiding his Raven features as he approached the preacher.
"Who are you?" the preacher asked scared "What are you doing here?"
Callum smirked as he stepped forward and closer to the preacher who backed away.
"Who are you Dammit?" asked the preacher.
"Just someone who wishes to speak to you personally." Callum smirked "About the poison you spread in this world!"
"Poison?" the Preacher cried "My words are those of God!"
"Oh really?" Callum asked again "Words of God huh? When have I heard that God hates Homosexuals? Or Black people? Or Muslims? I never saw that in the bible, what I see, is someone who just wants a little bit of attention because they're no good at anything else!"
The Preacher stared at Callum and he stepped back yet tried to speak his words he believed would save him.
"Stay back!" he said "I don't have to listen to you, your words are blasphemy!"
"Blasphemy?" Callum asked then lifted his hand showing his talons and pulled the hat off his head showing his Mutant form.
As he did that, the Preacher stared in shock and his jaw dropped.
"What the...?" he asked "What is this?"
Callum then let the coat fall off and exposed his wings and his black feathered body.
The Preacher fell backwards and began to crawl away but each time he tried Callum stepped closer to him.
"Who are you!?" shouted the preacher "Who the fuck are you?"
Callum smirked again.
"I'm the servant of the Devil..." he snarled holding up his taloned hands "And I'm here to do his work! And no prayer can save you! Nor your faith! Because God...is not here!"
The Preacher shook in terror as Callum stepped closer to him, his eyes blazing and his sharp taloned fingers came towards him.
"No...no! Please God! Mercy! NO! NOOOO!"
So Callum has left Mutopia and gone after the Hate Priest! I wonder what he'll do to him? And will Mutopia wake up before the Raven returns?
Find out soon!