Test of Faith

1

Faith, no that's not her name. That name- it doesn't belong to her. Faith was the name of the woman she killed. No, murdered. Rachel was her name and no matter the words the graces off the fathers lips, it didn't feel right. Rachel stood atop the statue in the pages of the book her hands and legs shaking as the scene before her played over and over again in her mind.

Joseph and Faith took her to the statue after her pilgrimage. Climbing the statue she felt herself smile and she felt like things had finally turned around for her. Her life was about to change; she was about to be born anew. She stepped out into the statue overlooking the foggy Henbane. The morning sun rising over the rolling hills of Hope county. The wind blowing in her hair, the sweet smell of flowers all around. She was ready for anything, anything to pledge her loyalty to the cause, here she would die for him. Faith walked toward the edge letting the sun dazzle off her golden hair forming a halo around her head. She woke up in the sleeping river and said Good Morning to her people below.

But it was with her back turned did the father utter the words to her. "Push her." That was all he said. Suddenly everything changed. The smile fell from her face, her eyes widened as she watched the woman. No, no she couldn't, but the father what would he do to her if she didn't. She liked to pretend but she knew the father did horrific things to those who did not follow the fathers words. She knew everything they did and it scared her but he saved her and she felt like she owed this to him. "Rachel. You are special, you will get the life that is rightfully yours. All I ask is that you prove yourself to me. Prove your love, devotion and loyalty to me. And do it."

She loved him, she loved him, she loved him. She kept repeating those words in her mind as she in shaken hands walked forward. Faith turned around ready to begin the ceremony, indoctrinating a new face into their flock. She saw the father smiling and Rachel with tears streaming down her face as she walked forth. The woman was paralyzed with emotions, what had he told her, what had he done. But before she could ask she felt a shove to her stomach and in only a second she was falling.

Everything felt like it was in slow motion for both women. Rachel looked down and watched Faith fall. She looked scared, but almost at peace like she was waiting for this. But Rachel only had an expression of horror and fear. She pulled away before she could watch the woman hit the ground, she couldn't do it. But as she turned the father was smiling, she should have known then. But she was young, and dumb, and so hungry for someone to love her, anyone to love her.

"My precious Rachel. You have shown true dedication, true Faith." From his back he pulled a flower from his pocket and somehow it was still beautiful. Pushing back her hair he slid the flower behind her ear. "You, my child , have been reborn. You have shown such strength and grace. You are my Faith you will show others the path to Eden in a way no one before you has ever. Dearest Faith you are everything."

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That night she couldn't sleep. She moved from the group home in the compound to the Seeds Ranch, it all happened so fast. Joseph said she needed to adapt to her new life and new role as the sister of Eden's Gate. And the first step was to live with her new 'family.' Just days ago this would have been a dream but now, Rachel was horrified. She had never been so close to John and Jacob but they looked at her like meat. Men unwilling to let someone new into their tight knit family. She didn't even bother with dinner, instead she ran straight for the room she would live in.

The father saw nothing unusual. He walked in and told her to get some sleep as in the morning he would have something for her. He said it had something to do with the flowers and her old home. He told her he had something to make the demons go away. And god knew she needed it. Literally.