Burn Your Local Church

Happy Birthday

"Oh shit."

"What?" He asked. We were stopped in the middle of the sidewalk.

"I have to go."

"What?" He asked again.

"It's my birthday."

"I know, we already established that."

I shook my head. "No, no I have to go." I turned the way that we were walking and ran all the way. I heard Zach's voice yell something from behind me, but I couldn't make out what he said over the sound of the voices in my head. I passed shops, houses and stores, hoping I could see a clock or something, but nothing, they were all dark with the lights turned off. I passed one store near the end of the town where it was getting close to the forest where I could leave the town. The shop had a glass window in the front. I slowed down and looked inside. The clock said 8:14 PM. I picked up my speed again. I ran through the forest violently before I hit the wall. I didn't even want to go to the spot where I'm supposed to go, I just hopped the wall.

On the other side where I was now standing, there was a giant gap in the road. I ran around it and bolted down the dark road until I found the familiar spot when I could get back into my village. I ran through that forest and ran through my village without being seen. I used the back door to get into my house. I walked in and lightly closed the door behind me, trying not to disturb my mother. I walked through the kitchen and passed the worship room. All the candles were burnt out and the room was left a mess. I ran up the stairs, and was about to walk into my mother's room. I stopped myself at the doorway when I realized she wasn't here. She wasn't anywhere in here. She was gone.

I ran to my room and opened all my drawers. It wasn't anywhere. I got down on my knees and grabbed my bookbag from under my bed. I pulled it out and unzipped the smallest compartment. I dug around in the small space until I felt it. I pulled out my compass and held it in my hands with a sigh of relief. I stood back up, keeping the compass in my hands, and walked over to my closet. I changed my clothes into a fresh band shirt and some darker black ripped skinnies. After hoping around and dealing with the struggles of putting on skinny jeans, I walked back over to my closet. I pulled out the only hanger that had a cover on it. I pulled it out and tossed it on my bed. Changing into the black gown quickly, I turned to look myself in the mirror.

I had the blackest shade of black you could ever imagine on. The dress went down to my ankles and I had a long pattern of lace in the back. The neck line of the gown was basically non-existent. It was a high rise collared dress, and even the collar of the dress was layered in silver studs. Looking down on myself, I saw the arms of the dress come out like the bottom of bootleg cut jeans. I studied myself in the mirror before opening the second part of the compass. Inside was a dark, rusty red colored charm. It was a star. Nothing pretty, but it was a mandatory thing. I took off my necklace and attached the charm. Feeling the necklace and running it through my fingers and feeling the warm medal made everything seem so much more real. I attached the clasp of the necklace behind my neck and took one last look at myself in the mirror before leaving.

Rushing down the stairs with nothing but the compass made me feel like I was leaving too much behind. I opened and walked out of the door, and made my way to the village square. People had already began to gather there. It was almost 10 o'clock and people started looking my way. I smiled slightly and awkwardly as the crowd parted for me so I could walk to the middle. In the middle was a statue where He was standing. He looked at me and grabbed my hand. It was rather a violent grab, but I went with it. He was wearing all black, just like me, and he had an even bigger version of my charm on his necklace. He held up my hand in his like referees do for the winner at the end of a boxing match. But I didn't feel like a winner. He and I looked around at the crowd that had already doubled since I got here. There was the entire village in the crowd. Mothers and fathers, and even children. Children were being brought to and exposed to this kind of bullshit.

After a good minute or two, he let go of my hand and motioned for silence. "Here," he began, "is the beginning of an old tradition. A tradition that our great ancestors took on after the grusume Christians so horribly tore apart our town." There was a quiet ugh that the crowd produced, and then they were silent again. "This young daughter of Lucifer, after sixteen years, will take on the tradition and carry it out for our ancestors to glorify in, and for us to worship to." He reached into his robe pocket and took out a small bottle. Inside was a clear liquid, and if I hadn't known any better, I would've assumed it was water. "May I have the first fire conceived."

A flame busted out directly beside me. I could feel the heat erupting off of it to the left of me. He handed me the bottle, and although I have never done this before, I knew exactly what to do. I poured the entire bottle of the liquid into the flame and it grew. Then, I took my compass, and threw it all into the fire. I stood, in a helpless way, staring at the fire as I watched the medal slowly begin to lose shape, and melt into the fire. "Now," His voice startled me, "we shall take our torches to the flame and begin our righteous journey to the Christian City." The crowd began making noise and lining up in front of the flame. One by one, torch by torch, the crowd dipped their torches into the flame then made their way into a line. One in front of the other, the crowd piled out and waited for each other. After every single person in the village had a fire burning on their torch, they walked together in a silent line in the middle of the road. I wasn't sure what anyone else was thinking, but the thought of people starring at me and supporting me as I destructively ruined someone's worship place made my stomach knot up.

I wasn't too sure what to expect, but then again, neither were they.