Authors Note: Thanks everyone for reviewing. This chapter took me a little bit because I had been forced away from writing for a bit so I apologize, I'm going to try keeping on track still. Well, enough babbling, enjoy!

Claudia served everyone the dinner she made and sat down at the far corner of the table next to her father who sat at the end. They all put their hands together and closed their eyes. "Dear God, we thank you for all the blessings you have given us and salvation to come." Claudia said before they all ate.

Claudia opened her eyes and looked at the guests. There were two men and one silent woman. She could feel a strange aura about them. She decided to keep her thoughts to herself. "I see your daughter is very appreciative towards our God. It's a good habit; she may lead the order as you do Mr. Wolf." The man with the short greasy black hair commented.

"Please Kaufman, you can call me Leonard." Her father replied looking at Claudia, "I was thinking about taking her to one of the night meetings. Most of the town wouldn't approve of these meetings but I think my daughter is much ready for it." Leonard said to him.

Claudia took a sip of her water and said nothing. She wasn't supposed to talk. Claudia looked at the girl sitting beside Kaufman. They both locked eyes. Claudia had guessed she was a follower of the church by her clothes. She looked so uncomfortable; she didn't know why the poor girl was brought here. Perhaps she was friends with Kaufman? "Is there anyway way we could get Tamara joined into the order?" Kaufman asked gesturing to the silent girl beside him.

Leonard looked at her. "She's your niece is she not?" Leonard asked.

"Yes, she's been studying very hard. She takes great interest in the order." Kaufman said.

"Ah, yes. I've seen her loyalty. Even in the night meetings. I think Dahlia and I could arrange it. Bring her by next week ready to go." Leonard said.

The girl finally smiled. It scared Claudia. The girl held a malicious smile, her teeth were like daggers. Claudia continued to slowly eat with more mannerism. She usually would slurp her spaghetti and make a lot of noise, but this time she knew her father would more than likely beat her for it. Claudia wasn't completely paying attention to what they were saying. She knew it wasn't anything about her. She was beginning to bore of this dinner party. She knew it never was meant to entertain her. "Have you heard of Dahlias new idea?" The man beside Kaufman asked.

Claudia's eyes shot to him. What was he talking about Dahlia for? "No, I don't believe I am aware." Leonard said concerned.

"Well, she intends to bring salvation as fast as possible. She says the only way to do that is-" Leonard cut him off by pointing at Claudia.

"Oh, I will explain to you maybe a little later then?" The man asked fixing his tie.

"Yes. We shall." Leonard said shooting a narrow glance at Claudia

Claudia wanted to know. Was something going to happen? Claudia finished her food around the same time everyone else did and she began clearing the plates away. She put them in the sink and began washing them. She watched her father and the guests head into the other room. She tried to listen hard. She could hear some of it.

"….Was it…. Wanted to tell…?" She could hear her father's voice.

"Dahlia… birth…Alessa…soon"

Claudia paused from washing the dishes.

"How?" She heard her father's outrage.

She heard mumbles but couldn't make out a single word. Claudia finished the final dish and ran to her room. She was so worried. Was Alessa going to be ok? Claudia picked up her bag for school. She began looking for her homework. Claudia started to do her math. She had a lot of problems with it. She decided since she was to be tutored she could just see Vincent tomorrow to help her correct it. She lay back on her bed. She decided to call it a night.

Claudia sat in class with Alessa. "Alessa, are you ok?" She asked.

"Yes? Why do you ask?" Alessa asked concerned.

"I was… just wondering." Claudia shook her head.

For Claudia, this had been a long day. She decided that since she would have time before she had to see Vincent, she would Visit Dahlia at the church on the way home. She opened the church doors and walked in. She knew her father and Dahlia were discussing duties around the church around this time. She walked in far enough to see Dahlia and Leonard talking. "Claudia?" Dahlia asked.

Leonard looked at her as if he was surprised to see her. "Dahlia, after you're done talking to my father, could I have a word with you?" Claudia asked.

Dahlia nodded. "Yes, I will be but another moment."

Claudia sat in the last bench. She couldn't hear them but she didn't care. She looked at the ground. She wondered how Alessa was going to be still. She needed to ask Dahlia. She knew she could trust her. She knew it would be ok, Dahlia never told her father anything that would make him mad. Dahlia walked over to her. "Now child, what appears to concern you?" She asked.

"Dahlia… My father and another man were talking about Alessa. Is something going to happen to her?" Dahlia seemed to know already what this was about.

"You mean about me bringing Paradise through Alessa?" Dahlia asked.

"Yes. Will this hurt her?" Claudia asked.

"Maybe we should take a walk." Dahlia looked back at Leonard before continuing, "We need a more, secluded place." Dahlia said putting her arm around Claudia's shoulder.

Dahlia walked Claudia around outside the church. "How do you intend to bring salvation through Alessa?" Claudia asked looking down as they walked.

"If I tell you this, will you keep it secret?" Dahlia asked.

Claudia looked up. "Yes. I promise." Claudia said feeling privileged.

"Alessa carries God within her as you already know. God is sleeping still and I would like to help her wake up. When she gives birth to God, we will all receive salvation and the sinners will go straight to hell. I would simply like to speed up the process." Dahlia smiled at her.

"Where will we all go when God finally awakens?" Claudia asked.

"The good souls like you and I will be brought into eternal paradise. There will be only good things there, nothing bad. Alessa would be happy too. She agrees that she wants to bring god, but I believe I should keep it a surprise for her. I think it would be better that way." Dahlia said to Claudia.

"Now go along now, I have much work with your father." Dahlia smiled.

Claudia nodded. "Thank you Dahlia." Claudia nodded.

"Think none of it, bless you child." Dahlia walked back inside.

Claudia walked down the street. She walked towards Vincent's house. So Dahlia wanted to bring God faster. That didn't seem so bad. Why were her dad's guests so worried about her knowing? Maybe they too were afraid she would warn Alessa. She didn't know why this would be something to hide from Alessa, but maybe it was for the best. Claudia walked up Vincent's path to his porch. Claudia knocked three times on the door and waited for an answer from within. She silently tapped her feet against the boards of the porch. Her feet were bare, but she preferred herself like that. Vincent's mother answered the door. Claudia smiled slightly at her. "You must be Claudia. Come in, Vincent's in his room reading; just walk in, he'll be happy to see you." His mother greeted.

Claudia smiled, "Thanks mrs… um…" Claudia paused not knowing what her last name was.

"Ms Duran. My husband, he… isn't around anymore." His mother said trying to get Claudia to understand.

"Oh…. I see. My mother is passed on." Claudia said.

"We haven't heard from his father in years. Vincent doesn't know why and if I knew, I would tell him. Well, no need to be worrying, go to him." His mother encouraged.

Claudia nodded and walked to his room. She looked around with her mouth half open. He had about four book shelves overflowing with books. She never met anyone who loved books this much. Some of them were books from when he was younger, while some were school related or just plain novels to enjoy. Vincent's was apparently transfixed on a novel right now. Claudia didn't disturb him right away. She watched him. The words he was reading were reflecting in his emerald eyes, his teeth were biting lightly onto his bottom lip as he read. She watched as his braces caught the light when he inhaled the air of his room. "Vincent?" Claudia called.

"Whoa!" Vincent gasped as he fell off his chair and onto his floor from shock. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" Claudia walked a step closer in worry.

Vincent's hands gripped his desk and his head appeared. His glasses were diagonal across his nose. "I'm fine." He said looking anything but that.

Claudia bit her lip to keep from laughing. She could have sworn she gave him a heart attack. "Are you ready to learn math?" He asked placing the book he was reading to the side.

"Yes, I brought some work too." She said holding her bag.

"Excellent. Come sit here." He patted the chair next to him.

Claudia sat down. He taught her how to do a lot of things and suddenly, this unit of math didn't seem so hard. It was about four and Claudia felt it was time she left. "Well, thank-you so much, for all the help." She smiled at him.

"Your welcome, believe me its nice hanging out with someone other than myself or my mom. I usually don't have people over." Vincent looked somewhat sad.

"Why not?" Claudia asked.

"People don't like me. They, usually just think, I'm a nerd so I'm not going to get anywhere in life." Vincent said to her.

"Well, I don't think so at all. Maybe it's just because I've been treated poorly by them as well." Claudia said to him.

They smiled at each other in an understanding way. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" Vincent asked her.

"I can't… I've got to make dinner at my house for father. But thank you so much." She smiled.

"Well, sometimes when he's not around, maybe you can." He said to her.

"Yeah, I will have to. I should go now though. Dinner time is soon. Thanks for the help." Claudia said picking up her stuff and heading for the front door.

"Come back anytime, Claudia." Vincent said to her as she left.

"I will!" She smiled leaving.

Claudia walked down the street with a big smile on her face. She was so happy to have a friend like Vincent. He was a sweet guy. She never knew guys that were nice to her like he was. Claudia walked into her house and hummed a song she heard on the radio. Claudia walked over to the fridge and began digging out some rice and chicken. She looked to her left to see her father standing beside her. She stopped humming automatically. "What were you doing at the church?" Leonard asked looking extremely angry.

"Nothing, I was talking to Dahlia about important things of my own." Claudia said to him feeling a strike of fear through her already fast beating heart.

"What did you two talk about?" He asked.

"Nothing!" She said.

She felt pain on her cheek and then her back hitting the counter painfully. "Don't you dare lie to me Claudia! I know how you love to lie." Leonard yelled at his daughter.

"I can't tell you!" She said.

She knew from the moment she spoke it was a bad move to tell her father that. He grabbed her by her neck and threw her into the living room floor. She cried out with pain. "What has she been filling your head with!" He yelled.

"Nothing! It was just some personal issues!" Claudia tried to tell him.

He punched her face hard. Claudia realized she was unable to open her left eye. "Tell me everything!" He yelled.

"Ok, just please, don't hurt me anymore!" She sobbed.

"I won't have you if you tell me you ugly little bitch!" He yelled back at her.

"I asked her about Alessa and that's it! I asked her if she was ok, and she told me she was fine!" Claudia cried back holding her eye.

"Is that all she said to you?" Leonard asked.

"Yes." She lied.

Leonard looked satisfied but then smiled deviously. "I think you deserve an extra beating, just for not telling me right when I asked."

Claudia felt her body go numb when she realized what he was saying. "No, please…. You said you wouldn't…" She felt tears of fear drip down her cheek.

"Well, I lied, much like you did." He smiled before grabbing her arm.

She was pulled to her feet. He pulled her up the stairs. Her legs gave out under her and he dragged her rest of the way. She watched him go to his room. She laid there on the ground. She felt useless and so mentally and physically tired. He came out with a belt of his. She watched him move her onto her knees. He pulled her shirt up at the back so her entire back was bare. She felt the first slash across her back. She knew it was cutting her beautiful pale back. She sobbed at the pain but didn't say a word. He slashed her three more times. "Now, go to bed… I don't think you should be eating tonight." He said to her.

When he walked away she crawled to her room. She climbed up onto her bed and began to cry so loud she had to cover he face with a pillow. Why did she deserve this? Was she really such a horrible girl? She hated herself. She hated her mind, her heart, her body and her soul. She was stupid. She wanted to hurt herself, but she knew she shouldn't. That was only going to make things worse. She didn't deserve everything she had. She didn't deserve friends. That was why her mother was dead, according to her father. "I shouldn't have been born…" Claudia said before she cried herself to sleep.