Morning Star Full Novel

Chapter 7

July 2, 1969

By dawn, all traces of Viola Mae Johnson were gone. All that remained was the empty shell of her house and the ghosts that remained behind. The house was cleaned with bleach, the carpet shampooed, and acid misted on any surface that may retain any biological traces such as hair or fingerprints. Soon no one would remember Viola, and her memories would be dashed away by the members of the church. No one would remember her name or speak of her in public again, washing her from existence.

It just so happened that the doublewide trailer owned by Dennis Johnson caught fire, burning to the ground, killing all the members of family that same evening. A strange coincidence anywhere else except for this town.
Brother Follett sat patiently in his car three blocks from the church building watching as Seth and the sheriff exited the North entrance of the church and get in a white Ford sedan. A moment later they pulled out of the church parking lot and turned down the street, driving in the opposite direction. Brother Follett had been sweating out this moment since they first discovered the man creature in the basement of the house the night before. He was exhausted and feeling sick to his stomach from lack of sleep and stress induced by the anxiety dwelling deep in his head. Seth did not know it for sure, but Brother Follett was one of the rebellious church members he was talking about.
Brother Follett put his car in gear and drove down the street to the church. He turned into the gravel lot and parked his car under a silver maple tree across from the back door of the church. He turned his key, shutting off the engine and reached into the glove box pulling out a seven inch serrated hunting knife covered securely within a leather sheath. He pulled the knife free and used it to cut a length of twine from a roll he had lying on the seat. He ran the twine through the leather of the sheath and wrapped the rest around his calf under his pant leg fastening it so it would not move as he walked.
He stepped out of his car and gave his leg a good shake to check the knife to make sure it was secure and well hidden. His eyes squinted in the bright morning light as he scanned the church lot for any other members he might come across. Gathering his courage, he walked across the grounds making scrunching sounds as his heels scraped across the gravel lot. Reaching the back of the church, he grabbed his key set from his belt and unlocked the padlock.
With a tug and a click, it opened allowing him to open the door and gain entrance. The church layout was familiar to him as all the brothers took turns maintaining the façade, doing chores and cleaning the premises all for the good of the church.
The morning sun lit the interior of the building well illuminating the bare white walls and hallways. Every step he took echoed off the walls and throughout the empty rooms to his dismay, as he tried to maneuver covertly about inside the huge building.
Peering through the hallway, he peeked into the large room on the main floor used for services in most Christian churches. In this building it was a barren wood floor from wall to wall, floor to ceiling. He did not expect to see anyone here, but had to check anyway. Back down the hallway he went and turned to face the staircase leading to the lower level.
Faint voices could be heard conversing from below. He took his first step down the stairs stopping at the landing half way down. From there he moved like a stealthy cat after a mouse keeping an open ear to the voices he was following. He peered around the corner to see two of his fellow brother’s guarding the wild man who sat naked, chained to a sewer pipe that ran the length of the wall, floor to ceiling.
The prisoner sat still and silent as he watched the two men sitting on fold out chairs chatting. He seemed mildly interested but afraid at the same time. Just then Follett saw one of the keepers get off his chair and walk to the captive.
"Hey monkey boy!" the keeper said as he taunted his victim and raised his leg as if to kick him. He turned to his friend and said "Watch this," and he took a swing at the prisoner’s head. The swing connected and the man fell back to the wall.
"Kick him in the ribs!" his partner shouted.
"What is your name Monkey boy?" he yelled again to the prisoner who was now cowering against the wall. "I don’t know what Seth has planned for you monkey boy, but if I had my way I would have you on the slab tonight," he said laughing.
Brother Follett, feeling more at ease, came around the corner from which he was hiding, clicking his heels on the tile floor.
"Brother Jake, Brother Paul, how is our friend this morning?" Follett said, crossing the floor. His voice caught them off guard.
"He is a dirty filthy animal." Brother Jake responded stepping towards Brother Follett meeting him half way across the room. "It does not matter how he is. He is just lucky to be at all."
"Yes he is," Brother Follett stated looking down upon the terrified creature chained to the wall. "Do we know why Seth decided to spare him?" he asked.
"He has not said anything to us," was the reply.
"This man looks retarded," Follett scoffed pointing at it. "Does Seth now show compassion for the weak and helpless?" he asked rhetorically. "Lucifer demands a sacrifice! Who are we to deny him?"
From behind Follett, a low booming voice replied, "I do not deny my Lord!"
Follett turned his head and reached down to his pant leg pulling the knife from its sheath. The sheriff, standing next to Seth in the doorway, pulled out his revolver.
"You lead the resistance?" Seth questioned as he looked to Follett. "I assumed it was you and now I know."
"Lead?" he asked back. "There are no others. I stand-alone. I have seen the truth, the light and the way," his voice echoed off the walls.
"Oh there are others Brother Follett, that is one thing I am sure of. I have seen a change in the heart of many members and now I know who instigated it."
"Why do you save this man?" Follett asked Seth pointing to the helpless creature. "I see change in your heart Seth. Something in your heart made you spare this mans life."
"Yes something did, but not what you think,"
"Seth, you can repent, it is not too late."
Seth chuckled at Follett’s attempts to point fingers in his direction and said, "No Brother Follett, I have not changed. I shall not repent. I have seen to it that our Lord Lucifer has his sacrifice."
"You don’t mean this creature? He is too old for the sacrifice. You know the doctrine!"
"You think I am going to sacrifice him?" Seth said laughing. "You fool!" he added taking a step forward. "This creature as you call him is no sacrifice. He is your Messiah. The chosen one."
Follett clutched his knife harder as he listened to these words.
"It has been written that he would be delivered as an empty shell that we would fill with the spirit we maintained in the secret vessel of the church."
"Secret Vessel?" Follett asked, "I have never heard of such a thing."
"Of course not. I am the sole keeper of the doctrine."
"What is the vessel?"
"Not what my Brother," Seth replied stretching out his arm. "Let me introduce you to the vessel."
The sheriff took a step forward, and his eyes glowed red.