a civilization where only once a year the leader is allowed to say they're god's name in prayer. the whole city is gathered around ready to listen and join in the prayer. they stand in a large circle, colorful and decorated like everything about this culture is. inside the circle is a smaller circle where their leader stands. he is about to say his prayer when he spots a boy with a hood over his face on a glowing orange bike riding from the docks towards the circle which is just at the edge of the water.
This boy's name is Jacob Young. he and his family were banished from this place nine years ago when he was 14 years old. it was quiet and nobody really knew the reason for it except Jacob, his family and a few of their closest friends. there were only a few people that the young people could call friends when the lived on the island not that they had any enemies. they just lived far away from the rest of the people. anyway, most of those friends have probably long forgotten the about Jacob's family.
despite being banished Jacob manages to sneak onto the island every year and join in the prayer in which their leader who is like a mayor but also a religious leader gets to speak their god's name only once. this year, however, he was late. he tried his best to get there on time but the weather wasn't great and something was messing with his memory of the town so he struggled to find his way.
the leader saw Jacob riding in on the bike he'd stolen so he could get there faster. and in his raspy voice, he called out "Jacob, so nice of you to join us." Jacob is so scared and shocked he almost falls off his bike. he hops off his bike and bows. mumbling out apologies to the leader despite being way too far away for these apologies to be heard. the leader then yells, "Jacob, I don't care that you're not welcome here in my eyes, its the day of prayer and our gracious God welcomes everyone, and for some reason, I cannot explain, I feel that you should lead the prayer."
jacob stared at the leader in confusion. he comes here every year for fourteen years. did the leader know about that? and how did the leader know it was him underneath the hoods. and why did he ask jacob of people to break sacred tradition and read the prayer. it was the leader who had done such since their religion was first discovered centuries ago.
Jacob stuttered "wha- what, why me?" the leader just bowed his head to joseph who found himself walking towards the center circle. once he got there the leader looked at him encouragingly jacob nodded shyly. he knew what to do. he knew how this prayer worked. he proceeded to get on one knee and look towards the sky. "Dearest god, may you grant every occupent of our island good crops, and good health. and to those who may not be fortunate to last until next year. please grant them passage to the afterlife and a fast painless death. You have done us well for centuries dearest, (god name)," jacob spotted a familiar face in the crowd. mel, he realized, she was hid best friend when he still lived there.she was hardly recognizable she'd changed so much. her curly golden brown hair was in a tight bun. she used to be short and chubby and now she was a beautiful about average height woman. he continued with the prayer but his memory messed up again and he repeated (god's name). everybody stared at him in awe. jacob was a bit confused until he realized what he'd done.
People were terrified of what would happen, would the whole city be punished for his mistake or just jacob. he quickly ran the way he came from. three pair of footprints followed him. he turned around to see that it was mel and two of her friends. he kind of recognized their faces but thought it best not to ask who they were because black clouds were beginning to form overhead. jacob stopped and mel and the two other jogged up to them.
" whar the hell was that?" she yelled at jacob. "you know what nevermind, we don't have time. you have to get off the island before you destroy it." she cried out.
"i would but my memory is fucked up and i can't remember how i got here."
"goddamnit, jake, you probably took your dad's bridge right?"
