NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Sad news to report, the horse we were doctoring collapsed and had to be humanely euthanized. On a more positive note, my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has improved. Still have some numbness in the tips of my fore and middle fingers, but it's getting better.

I have NOT been watching wrestling lately. Now that the WWE has decided to break up the Wyatts, I've lost my desire to watch. So, I've been working on this to console myself.

DISCLAIMERS: Not my characters (Except for Anna and the Pollards as I imagine them). Bray's sermons, promos, etc. are courtesy of cagematch dot net, their extensive promo database, and webmaster Philip Kreikenbohm. Story series inspired by theytalktome's Wyatt/Jay one-shot series and used with permission.

Chapter Four

"I think my eyes are getting better," Jay smirked as Luke carried him down the stairs. Earlier, Luke helped Jay wash up and dress in some khakis and a faded purple shirt. "Instead of a big dark blur, I see a big light blur with some brightly colored shapes thrown in for good measure."

Luke set the recovering blonde down on the bottom of the stairs. "Big light blur, huh?" The crisp scent of peppermint and watercress danced along the breeze as Luke and his recovering companion made their way to Bray's shed for morning devotionals. The grass was thick and lush, and the air was cool.

"I guess it's a good thing," Jay shrugged as Luke gently ushered him into the shed. "I can tell what color your shirt is now."

In the shed, Luke, Jay and Erick knelt on the floor as Bray opened devotionals up with prayer, and then began his sermon.

"The Devil and his minions tortured me last night in my sleep," Bray announced to his family, as they sat in quiet attention. "They surrounded me on all sides. The minions crept up close and taunted me. They whispered in my ears, hateful, evil, dark words. I tried to block them out. But they kept on and on for what felt like hours.

"Then they picked me up like I was nothing and threw me down onto the ground. I found myself lying on my back as they shined what looked like a laser beam at my feet and moved it up. If you could imagine the old James Bond movie Goldfinger, that's kinda what it looked like. And the pain was indescribable. It was a searing, burning pain. Pure and perfect agony as they cut me from the bottoms of my feet to the top of my skull. I felt like I was in this black pit of despair and pain. It was like I was being cut into pieces.

"And while all this torment was going on, this voice was whispering in my ears. It was telling me, Bray, just say the words. Surrender to me. Just say yes, and my minions will stop tormenting you. The pain will disappear. You'll be healed and restored. Just say yes and surrender to me.

"It didn't take me long to figure out who was trying to persuade me.

"I can remember only one thing lying there: the reality that if I surrendered to the Devil, then I would die. Not just physically, but spiritually. It didn't hit me in the form of words, rather it was just a feeling, a gut instinct, and I can't describe in words the hollowness, the emptiness that only death could be described as. I didn't want to give in, so I resisted. And I responded in words. I screamed NO! It was loud, and it was primal.

"And to my surprise, that Unheavenly Host and his band of Tormenting Funsters backed away from me like I was radioactive. There was a thick silence once my tormentors disappeared back to whatever rock they crawled out from under. A moment passed and then I heard a soft voice in my head. It said, Bray. You've suffered and bled enough. You've been measured and tested, and you're worthy. Your place in Heaven is assured. But...there's something else you need to know. The fight isn't over. For you, or for any other believer, it's never over. Just as you've experienced.

"James 4:7 in The Message says it best. Let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. I can't think of a more appropriate verse. When you're at your lowest and least, and most broken, you can either surrender to the Devil, and let him destroy you. Or, you can resist him and call out to the Lord, and let Him take care of you…"

Four days had passed since Jay returned to the main house, and his recovery, while not miraculous, was steady. His wrists and ankles had healed enough that he no longer needed them wrapped. The cuts and bruises on his face were not noticeable unless you looked up close. Color had returned to Jay's face, and he was putting on much needed weight.

Jay was even getting around better. The first day out of bed, he was weak and his legs were wobbly. The veteran wrestler, who'd participated in arguably the greatest TLC match of all time with Edge and the Hardy Boyz, and had ruled ECW and TNA as their respective champions, stumbled around like a newborn colt, barely able to walk. But Luke was patient, and Jay was determined, and by the end of that day, Jay was able to stay on his feet and walk the full length of the upstairs hallway. He had to be guided to the bathroom and carried down the stairs, of course, but he was ambulatory now, a very encouraging sign.

He and Luke were growing closer as well. At first, Jay trusted Luke out of necessity. Now it was by choice, and he was beginning to enjoy and appreciate Luke's company. Luke would situate Jay in a chair on the upstairs porch so that he could get some fresh air and sunshine and turned the radio on to the classic rock station out of Lafayette. He'd bring his own meals upstairs along with Jay's so that the two of them could eat together (Luke's room had a door that opened up directly to the upstairs porch, and he'd cleared away a space and brought up a table and chairs for him and Jay to eat at). At night, he read to Jay; Scriptures, newspaper articles, paperback mysteries, and classic westerns that he managed to find downstairs. Jay would listen with undivided attention until the soft rumble of Luke's voice and the whirring of the fan in the room lulled the convalescing blonde to sleep.

They shared the bedroom. Jay slept in the bed, while Luke slept on across from him, on a cot he'd found downstairs. It was the most selfish desire of Luke's heart to share the bed with his older would-be lover. To have Jay wrapped in his arms, sleeping soundly and feeling safe and loved, was a goal that was more within reach now. But Luke wasn't going to rush things, not while Jay was still in a fragile state. He wanted Jay to make that move himself, and he'd wait as long as it took.

Luke still struggled with the question of why Bray had felt the need to beat Jay into submission in order to save him, and he hoped that what was done to the blonde veteran was the exception and not the rule. Bray didn't need drugs or alcohol to hook new followers. All he really needed was that dark chocolate voice and a few persuasive words. Hopefully Bray's subsequent followers wouldn't be in such dire straits as Jay had been.

Luke let a smile spread slowly across his face. His would-be lover was sitting up straight, cross-legged on the floor. His eyes tracked Bray as he walked back and forth across the concrete. From the looks of things, Jay was hanging on everything the Eater of Worlds was saying. Jay's blindness was a clear example of Bray's lessons of hitting bottom and descending below all things before rising above them all.

"Everything you think you know about your own lives is all based upon a lie," Bray continued. "Men wake up every morning and go to work, they break their backs just trying to earn a little bit of cash, so that they can buy fancy suits and sports cars and try to impress the women. And the women wake up every morning and slather make-up all over their beautiful faces to impress the men. But that's what society expects. It's what society demands. Everyone, men, women, even children, are wearing the masks that society demands them all to wear. But it's all lies. It's a bottomless pit of lies.

"I'm here to announce that you don't need a mask. You don't need to wear a mask in this society. Turn to the Lord. He doesn't demand that you wear a mask. He wants you to join Him in slaying the demons. He just wants you for you..."

"Society plasters your hopes and dreams up on a billboard. And who is the man that is on that billboard? Well he's the man that hides behind the plastic smile. He's the man that plays the role of hero better than anyone else. He's the man that tells you everything you think you need to hear and I think to myself, oh, what a wonderful world.

"Yeah, right. This is the same society that tries to vilify a man like me. Why? Because I say everything they're afraid to say, and I do everything they're afraid to do. And I promise you today, tomorrow, and up until my final breath that I, with the the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, will lead others to slay this mighty dragon. And we will stand over its body and proclaim, The lie has come to an end."

~~~ANGEL~~~

Once morning devotionals were finished, it was back to the main house. Jay listened to the radio while Luke went outside to help Erick and Bray with chores. Then, after going back in to wash up, Luke helped Jay back upstairs. The two of them enjoyed a simple meal on the upstairs porch; shredded carrots, chopped onions, and raisins, mixed with mayo and rolled up in tortillas for lunch, with cheese cubes, and iced tea to drink.

Everything that Jay ate for the past few days was simple fare. Yesterday's lunch had been a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, on white bread, with a glass of milk, carrot sticks, and canned pears. It was the kind of lunch you'd serve a school-aged child, but Jay had eaten everything on his plate. Jay was able to feed himself with little difficulty now, and ate everything on his plate once more, although he still used a straw to drink out of his glass.

On this particular day, Luke and his...perhaps he could call Jay a companion now...discussed what Bray wanted to teach. It was a concept called the Seven Diamonds Plus One. The seven diamonds were the teachings Bray had gleaned out of several books: the main ones were the Bible (he preferred the NIV version, because it was easier to read and understand), the Doctrine and Covenants of the Latter Day Saints, and the Book of Mormon. The teachings from those books, along with a few lesser ones, were the seven diamonds. The plus-one was the teacher, who would pass those lessons on to others.

"Bray's tried all religions at least once in his search for God," Luke said later, as he gazed out the window and watched the clouds gather. A thunderstorm, a common event this time of year, was on its way in. "Catholicism. Judaism. Mormonism. Methodist, Buddhist. Protestant. Scientology. You name it. He even went to a ceremony worshiping Mother Earth." Jay chuckled at that. "No, seriously. Bray's always felt His presence."

"It would be hard to imagine him without religion," Jay admitted, setting his glass down on the table. He paused. "So why hasn't Bray spoken to me directly yet? I mean, he did a helluva lot of talking while I was out in the garage. He'd say to me, You're in the Lord's university now, and He'll teach you everything you need to know. When it's all finished, you'll have a degree from God that's bigger and better than any the world could possibly give you."

"Maybe he talked himself out," Luke shrugged.

"I don't know. But while I was out there, Bray would tell me, You know, Jay, you're a very lucky man." Jay attempted an impression of Bray but failed epically, and Luke had to chuckle. "I took you out of the world and saved you. I brought you out of sin and drained all the poison of this wicked world out of your heart and soul. The Lord's chosen you for something bigger and greater than you realize. You're blessed! But now...except for morning devotionals, he won't give me the time of day."

Jay sighed and gazed out across the porch. "Did I do something to upset him? I could apologize to him. Maybe he's angry because I was dumb enough to look at the sun, and you taking care of me is getting in the way—"

"Jay, don't EVER let me hear you talk like that ever again!" Luke interrupted, his voice sharper than he would have liked. A look of fear flashed across Jay's face for a second, and Luke softened his voice. "You're blaming yourself again. What happened to your eyesight was not your fault, and don't think for a second that Bray's angry because of it. He's NOT angry with you, and that's a fact. If he's angry with anyone, it's probably me because I called him on what he did to you out there. And if anything, he owes you an apology, but don't tell anyone I said that."

"I won't."

"And there's something else I want to tell you, Jay." Luke paused while he collected his thoughts. When he spoke again, his voice was soft, but sincere, and very serious. "You know how I feel about you, which was one of the reasons why you were taken in the first place. But I want you to promise me something. I don't want to hear you say I love you, unless you absolutely want to say it, and unless you absolutely mean it. I don't wanna hear I love you because somebody beat it into you. Promise me that. Do you promise me?"

The silence that followed was almost thick enough to slice. That was interrupted by a loud roll of thunder that made Jay sit upright in surprise. "Boy, I wasn't expecting that," he chuckled softly. He nodded then, and did Luke see an expression of relief on Jay's face? "I promise." He paused. "Uhmmm, shouldn't we get back inside before the storm hits? I can smell the ozone."

"Naah, we can sit out here. We've got shelter." Luke was used to the rainy season, so the change in weather was no big deal. Thunderstorms in these parts weren't just dark clouds moving in, a few rolls of thunder, a flash or two of lightning, and a steady downpour that ended in an hour or two. No, not at all.

Here, the skies parted with little warning, and water gushed and gushed down to the ground in fits and starts. The rain was like a writhing silver curtain as it fell from the sky, especially when the sun was out. When the rain abruptly stopped (which it usually did), the water hanging from the leaves would sparkle and shimmer like diamonds, the standing water on the ground would reflect like a mirror, and the air would be cleansed and cool. Even the green of the landscape would look darker and richer after a storm like this. And if the ground was warm enough, steam would sometimes rise up in small clouds, like a natural sauna. Then, a rainbow, perfectly vivid in color from one end to the other, would stretch across the sky. Sometimes, it would be a double rainbow, the second one a bit lighter than the first, but no less stunning.

He wished that Jay could watch this spectacle with him, but after the conversation they'd just had, Luke had a feeling that he and Jay would be watching thunderstorms together for a long, long time.

~~~ANGEL~~~

Later, Luke sought out Bray, who was at the kitchen table reading one of his many religious tomes. "So why haven't you talked to Jay since he came back to the house?" he demanded, leaning his big frame against the icebox.

Bray set his book down and turned around, his expression almost haughty, like he wanted Luke to understand what an honor it was for the Eater Of Worlds to bestow upon him his undivided attention. "I thought he'd appreciate not hearing my voice for a while."

"That's smoke, and you know it," Luke spat; so much for bestowing an honor. "You'd spout off at the mouth, even if someone didn't wanna hear your voice." He paused. "Jay's confused. He's wondering if he did something to upset you. He's blaming himself for his blindness, and he thinks you're angry at him because of it."

"I'm not angry with him!" Did Luke see a look of confusion on Bray's face?

"Then set the record straight with him!" Luke fired back. "If Jay's gonna be part of this family, there can't be any discord between you two. Otherwise, everything we've done for him will be pointless." And with those words, Luke turned and stomped out of the kitchen.

Bray watched the retreating form of his First Son with a thoughtful look on his face. In spite of the prideful part of himself shouting that Luke was wrong, the Eater Of Worlds knew that he was right. Luke was the kind who was willing to antagonize and challenge someone, and not for malicious reasons. He did it to make those around him think and question and want to explore. If he questioned you, that meant you were worthy of his time and effort. He was argumentative by nature, but when push came to shove, he'd always have your back.

It was now time to explain to Jay the why behind the what. The why behind the kidnapping, the why behind the days of praying, of torture, of indoctrination, of telling Jay that he came from a wicked and sinful world. The why behind telling Jay that his friends were no longer part of his life, and that they were paving their own paths to destruction. And the why behind telling Jay that he should consider himself honored that he'd been chosen to join the Wyatts.

But before he did that, he had to get his "sons" out of the house. Perhaps some chicken from Popeye's would put smiles on their faces. Bray's hands reached for the wallet in his front pants' pocket as he climbed out of his chair to search for Luke. He'd send him and Erick away for a few hours so he could talk to Jay uninterrupted.

~~~ANGEL~~~

"With me, illusions are bound to be shattered. I am here to shatter all illusions. Yes, it will irritate you, it will annoy you - that's my way of functioning and working. I will sabotage you from your very roots! Unless you are totally destroyed as a mind, there is no hope for you."
― Osho

"Please...please make it stop...make it stop..."

Jay lay curled up in a ball in the middle of the cold dark garage floor, while Bray began, in a singsong voice, "I got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart. I got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart, down in my heart, to stay."

Jay let out a yelp as Erick grabbed a handful of his hair and forced him to sit up. How long could Bray continue talking like this?

"You know, Jay, as our day of reckoning inches closer, I can't help but feel this child-like excitement building up in me," said the Eater Of Worlds as he paced back and forth across the cold garage floor. "The clock is ticking. The defeat of your stubbornness won't be in vain. Your shattered pride will pave the streets of my kingdom and from my throne, I'm going to turn them all towards the light, and you're going to help me. I can't help but wonder, Jay, I must ask you: In the end, was all of this worth it? Only because if you're not willing to lay your life down for the greater good, then you've already lost."

Bray drew closer, and Jay stared at him with bleary eyes. What could he do, chained up and helpless like he was?

"This world has an infection and the virus is the human race," Bray continued. "Through all these troubling times, Jay, it makes all the sense in the world that your so-called heroes would place themselves right in the middle of the action. After all, what would the world be without heroes? Without its knights in shining armor swooping in to save the day? So-called heroes? They're hollow. They're full of empty promises. They promise to save people, to keep them safe, and tell them that everything will be all right just as long as they're around.

"They're all lies, Jay. Nothing but a pack of shameless lies. This is a terrible world. It's a cold, dark, and lonely place. Fake heroes stand for the illusions of a bright and beautiful world, but I stand for everything that's real about it. I'm watching a species that has so much promise and potential circle the drain, as they desperately believe that there's a misplaced 'American Dream', and that everything will be fixed and all spiffy at the end. I watch it from a safe distance, detached from it, in the world but not part of it, and I have to laugh. Because I know I don't belong in it.

"You don't belong in it either, Jay. Please, excuse me. Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Bray Wyatt. We are the reapers that bring death to this era of lies...and when I finish with you, you'll be the newest one."

~~~ANGEL~~~

"No...no, don't hurt me..." Jay whimpered before he forced himself awake, his dream/flashback ripping away like wrapping paper. He was aware of the taste of copper in his mouth and a mist of sweat on his skin. He rolled onto his back on the queen-sized bed and tried to slow his racing heart. His vision was still quite blurry, but he recognized where he was from the red and black shapes he could distinguish; he'd fallen asleep in Luke's bedroom. He could sense natural light and wondered how long he'd been asleep.

Jay smelled food cooking and heard kitchen sounds, cooking sounds; cupboards and drawers being opened and shut, pots and pans and silverware rattling. His stomach rumbled. I must have slept long enough that it's now time for supper, he thought in amusement, as he climbed out of bed. The gentle ruffling of the air in the room told Jay that the door that led from Luke's room to the upstairs porch was open, and he carefully ventured outside. The homey smell of cooking tickled his nostrils as well; obviously, dinner was here and waiting.

Jay was able to make out more shapes, and as he sat down carefully, he could identify what was on his plate. A large chicken thigh. A few nibbles told Jay that it was slightly overcooked, but edible. Mashed potatoes, green beans, and a salad. Canned pears for dessert; Jay could smell the cinnamon sprinkled on top of them. He was getting used to the canned pears, and it was almost like he'd feel like something was missing if they weren't there in some form with his meals. It was good food, healthy food, though bland. He remembered something one of his aunts—her name was Aunt Lydia—said whenever he had supper at her place; You're a growing boy, Jay. You have to get your vitamins and minerals. The memory put a smile on his face.

He heard heavy footsteps step across the bedroom floor and approach the table. He glanced up, expecting to recognize the familiar shape of his caretaker. His nostrils flared as he picked up a scent that was different from what he'd been expecting.

"You're not Luke," Jay said, matter of fact, after a pause.

"No, I'm not," Bray said, pulling up a chair and sitting across from the table. "Thought you might like some company. I put this together for you. I wasn't too sure about the chicken, figured I'd err on the side of caution and overcook it. Didn't want you to eat something that's not cooked long enough and get sick afterwards because of it." He paused. "You're getting quite good at figuring out who's who around here."

"You smell different from him."

"Is that a good thing or bad thing?"

"Neither. It's just different." Jay paused and picked up his fork. "Speaking of Luke, where is he?"

"I sent him and Erick into town for the evening. Thought they'd want to get out of the house for a while. So it's only you and me for a couple of hours."

As they ate, Bray watched the recovering blonde carefully; he gaged the atmosphere, and waited patiently for the opportunity to bring up the reason why he was upstairs. Jay sensed that something important was on the horizon as well. After being in captivity for so long, he had a decent enough handle for Bray's intentions and moods.

Finally, during dessert, Jay asked bluntly, "You're not up here eating supper with me just out of the kindness of your heart, are you?"

"Not entirely," Bray said, after a sip of iced tea. He was used to Jay's directness now, so he knew Jay meant no disrespect. "You seem to think I'm angry with you."

"And you haven't spoken to me directly until just now. Have I upset you?"

"Why do you feel like you've upset me?"

"I've been taking up more of Luke's time and yours than necessary because I can't see proper. I was stupid enough to look at the sun when you took me back to the house."

"That's not your fault, Jay. You haven't done anything to upset me. And Luke doesn't mind taking care of you. He's quite fond of you."

"Which is true. But how do you feel about me?" Jay paused, and then spoke carefully. "You didn't take me here and put me in chains and beat me within an inch of my life without a good reason. I must mean something important to you if you were willing to take over my life like you did, right?"

"That's true."

"Then why haven't you spoken to me?"

"Do you want the warm fuzzy answer, or do you want the truth?"

"Has there ever been a time when you've been warm and fuzzy with me?"

"Touché," Bray chuckled. He pushed aside his plate and glass and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger before he spoke. "I had a chance to reflect on what went on in that garage. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so brutal, because now you won't be able to see or hear or speak to me without thinking of me as an abusive, evil monster.

"I've done horrible things to people in the name of cause. I justified it because I told myself that it was for the greater good. I was brutal, I was unconventional, but if I could make someone see the light at the end, then it was all worth it." And with that, Bray explained the why behind the what:

Jay's abduction had not been some random idea that was carried out on a whim. It was well planned, well-executed, and in Bray's mind, all of it was justified.

From the moment he and Luke lay eyes on Jay, he knew the older blonde was the next member of the Wyatts. The Lord had chosen him, Bray realized; the fact that Luke was smitten with Jay was a bonus, and his in-ring skills would be a benefit to the family.

God intended for the blonde veteran to be Bray's newest convert, and the one to help bring change to the masses. In order for that to come to fruition, Bray had to kidnap Jay to save him from all of the wickedness in the world. Everyone around him, the entire world, was carnal and sensual and devilish. But before he could save Jay from the wicked world, he had to save the veteran blonde from himself.

Before the abduction, Bray, Erick, and Luke shadowed him, both at home, and on the road. Bray had learned Jay's habits, found the name of Jay's house/pet-sitter, and made a few persuasive phone calls. At first, the woman had been suspicious, but a few hundred extra dollars changed her mind quickly. Some would call it bribery; Bray called it stewardship for a worthy cause. Once he was confident that Jay's affairs would be taken care of in the interim, Bray and his "sons" prepared in earnest.

The timing had to be absolutely perfect. Waiting until Jay returned to his hotel room in Baltimore was not an option; too many opportunities for Jay to succeed in his final act. So, Bray and his "sons" waited until after the match with Kane was over to take him.

"To that end, I put you in chains to save you from yourself. You were going to take your own life in Baltimore. If by some unexpected chance you didn't succeed, then you would have taken it elsewhere. It would have been just a matter of time. All of us here know that. Honestly, I thought you were upset with me, for what Erick and I put you through, although deep down, it was for your own good."

"You did what you had to do." Jay tried to assure him. "You were trying to teach me, and I was mouthy and rude."

"You were," conceded Bray. "But I persevered. Because underneath all that bluster, I could see the heartbroken and lonely man in need of healing. I did what it took to reach him. You may be in the twilight of your career in the WWE, Jay, but that doesn't mean your life had to end along with it. Your so-called friends left you behind, but that didn't mean you couldn't have new friends or a family who loves you just as much, if not more so. And you really didn't want to kill yourself. You wanted someone to save you. You needed someone who loved you enough to do whatever it took to save you."

Jay felt tears prickle his eyes. They weren't tears of despair or pity. What Bray just said was the absolute truth. "Bray," he ventured softly. "You don't know how right you are. I didn't want to kill myself that night. I wanted someone to stop me. I wanted someone to care enough about me to ask me what was wrong and try to help. I didn't wanna die that night, Bray." He felt the tears spill from his eyes and trundle down his cheeks. "And I don't wanna die now." He took a shaky breath and dried his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt. "Dammit, I'm sorry."

"It's alright. You're experiencing an emotion other than self pity and selfishness, and it's a beautiful thing to watch. The worst is behind you now. You've hit bedrock. You've descended below all things, and now there's no other direction to go but up. I hope that doesn't sound overly cheerful."

"You go right ahead and be as cheerful as you want," Jay said. "My spirits need lifting." He paused, and a grateful smile spread across his face. "Thank you, Bray. Your methods were unorthodox, but you saved me."

"There's no reason to be sad. The worst is behind you now."

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: One of those chapters that wrote themselves, and those are the ones I like the most. I don't see the Wyatts as so insular that they shut themselves away from civilization as a whole. You can be in the world, but not of the world (I believe that's from John 17:14 – 16 in the Bible, and BTW, I read the NIV like my Bray muse). The sermon in Jay's dream is from promos from Monday Night Raw, February 17 and 24, 2014, mixed in with portions of the book Brain Droppings by George Carlin.

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