Corn Stalked 2: Converted (Children Of The Corn)

Chapter #23: Blasphemy

After leaving Malachai's house, Annie and I made our way back to my grandparent's barn. It was here that I handed Sapphira to her and set down the basket of food on a hay bale. Kneeling down to her, I pushed some hair behind Annie's ear.

"Alright. I have to go to the clearing for Malachai's ceremony now. I want you to stay here and wait for me and stay hidden! If anybody that's not me comes, no matter who it is, don't reveal yourself! I'll try to be back as soon as I can, but if I don't return within one hour, I want you to leave without me. Understand?" I instructed, clasping one of my hands with her's.

Annie nodded to me, not saying anything. I returned it and pulled her into a hug...just in case I didn't see her again...With a kiss to Sapphira's head, I stood back up and made my way to the doorway of the barn. I looked out across the field and found the direction I needed to go, disappearing behind the cornstalks seconds later.

The rows were dark. Shadows bounced off of everything, playing tricks with my eyes. I glanced up at the sky, seeing that the sun was completely gone under the horizon. It was beginning to get darker and darker outside and I knew that meant that Malachai would be leaving soon. The Lord would be coming for him...to drag him to Hell...

No. That wasn't going to happen. I shook myself of these thoughts as I continued through the corn, trying to stay focused. My feet crunched the dirt and leaves beneath me as I came nearer to the clearing. The sound of voices that started off as faint noises became clearer the closer I got. I eventually got close enough that I could make out the two voices as Issac and Micah. They were speaking in hushed tones so that only they could hear each other. From what I could pick up, they were talking about Mary and the others.

"Where are they? They should be back by now with the little girl." Micah was saying, concern lacing his tone.
Issac however, sounded nonchalant.

"Micah, my loyal consultant, you musn't worry so much. Even if we do not have young Adriel for the offering, the Lord will still take Malachai with Him." He replied.
Micah sighed.

"Does everyone else know that Malachai is leaving with an impure mind? That he will be going to Hell instead of to walk with Him?" He wondered.

By this time, I was only a few rows back in the field. I could see the two boys just a couple yards away from me. At Micah's question, Issac shook his head.

"I will explain it to them after he is gone. Surely they will understand that the outlander Samantha is the one to blame for corrupting him. This can only fuel their lust to kill her once the ceremony is over with." He answered.

"Why not just use her as the offering, Issac? Does Malachai really care about her that much that he wouldn't allow it?" Micah inquired.
Issac nodded.

"He does. I've already had to lie to him about how she was going to miss his ceremony due to catching Adriel's so-called flu. If we were to use her as a sacrifice, he may rebel against us and anger the Lord. We cannot have a repeat of Amos' leaving. This must go as smoothly as possible. I know that you understand this." He explained.

Back in my spot in the corn, I narrowed my eyes at the preacher. He'd lied to Malachai and planned to run a full scale attack on me once he wasn't able to save me. Asshole.

"Issac, Micah. You should come join us! The Lord will be here soon!" A different male voice called to the boys. I recognized it as Ezekiel.

Neither Issac or Micah responded to him, but just nodded and took their places in the crowd of children. At the front of the group with his head hung sat Malachai. Seeing him this way made my heart strings pull a little. I knew he was like this because of me.