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Everyone in the world has something they believe very strongly in. So strongly that they won't let anyone convince them otherwise. Religion, Politics, Science, Sports. People believe so strongly one way or another that they are willing to fight, violently, for their convictions. Religion is one of the most volatile topics on earth. Many people have died fighting for religion, and many have dies fighting against it. The Crusades are the prime example. A four hundred year war to bring the "true" religion to the Holy Lands. Ark of the New Covenant Church of God in Christ Well dressed paritioners sit in the pews, their heads bowed in prayer. In the congregations hands is a Bible, open to a predetermined section and verse. At the front of the church stands the minister. On his alter is a cup of wine and a small bowl of wafers. With both hands the minister holds up one of the wafers and begins speaking. Minister: ...And he gave his body and blood to forgive our sins.... At the back of the church one of the giant oak doors begins creaking open. As he continues his prayer the Minister seems to take no notice of the door opening. Minister:....let this represent the body of Christ.... The Minister hold the wafer above his head, in thanks, then places it on his tounge. At the back of the church Shane Jackson steps through the opened door. His black duster hangs open revealing a Cleveland Cavs T-shirt. His right cheek sports a bruise from the beating he recieved from the New School. Shane: I'm sure you're enjoying the small victory you scored over me aren't you Phenix. Shane touches the bruise on his cheek. At the front of the church the minister raises the goblet of wine from the alter. Minister: ....and this his blood..... The Minister raises the cup to his lips and sips the wine. Shane begins walking down the centre ilse that seperates the many rows of pews. Even with the church filled to capacity his footsteps still echo as he walks along the stone floor. His echos dont phase any of the paritioners. All the heads are still bent in prayer, nobody takes notice, not even the minister. Minister:.... for this we give thanks to the lord God and his son..... Shane: The first stone is cast. There's no turning around from the journey we've started. Shane's words fall to the floor. Unoticed by all in the church. Perhaps their reality is different from Shane's. Minister:.....praise be with you. The minister nods his head. As if by commandment every paritioner in the church replies. Congregation: And also with you. Shane continues his walk down the iselway. Shane: I'll admit I know nothing about you Phenix. I don't even understand the motives for your hatred towards me. You've said nothing. That disturbs me. It's unsettling. Your silence is weighing more on my shouders than any words ever could. I don't know what to expect from you, I don't know how you think, I don't know how you act, nothing. Minister: Now please turn to your neibour and give thanks that your sins have been cleansed. With their heads, now raised from prayer, they begin turning to the people on either side of them, in the pews, and begins praising them with good blessing. Shane's footsteps echo above their hushed voices. Shane: You're only human. Open you mouth. Speak. Prove your substance. After several more moments of talk the congregation quites down to await more words from the minister. Minister: Praise be with you. Congregation: And also with you. As Shane nears the front of the church he reaches into one of his pockets and pulls out a small box of matches. Shane: I'm a hurdle, am I.....Jeckel? Just a name. Something a stroke of a pen can eliminate. Minister: Please remember to keep the word and teachings of Jesus with you in your everyday life. At the end of thie isle Shane stops and looks up onto the stage, directly into the eyes of the Minister. Shane: Do you believe your claims or are you hoping that they fall on deaf ears? Tell me the truth. Minister: Go with God. As the Minister finishes his sermon he turns to his left and nods his head at the choir. After a short moment of rustling the choir stands and prepares to deliver the final gospel to the crowded church. Shane: Sometimes salvation comes in the most obscure of forms. Shane, with his eyes still fixed on the Minister, slowly slides the box of matches open and pulls out a single matchstick. On the stage the choir begins their song. I see the bad moon arising. Strangely enough the song isn't from the church. Although the choir sings and moves as if it's a hymn, what's coming from their mouths is far from church standard. I see trouble on the way. Not a single person in the church seems to notice the marked difference in what they're hearing. I see earthquakes and lightnin'. In front of the choir the Minister smiles as if he's hearing his favorite gospel. I see bad times today. In the pews the congregation begins claping and swaying, as they would to any regular hymn. Don't go around tonight, With a quick flick of his wrist Shane strikes the match agains the emery stripe on the side of the box. Instantly a small head of flame appears at the end of the matchstick. I hear hurricanes ablowing. Shane breaks his lock on the Minister to look down at the glowing stick between his fingers. Don't go around tonight, Turning his head slightly to the right Shane's eyes catch sight of a bath containing Holy Water. Carefully he rolls the burning match between his fingertips as he raises his arm toward the Holy Water. Hope you got your things together. With a snap of his finger the match goes sailing from Shane's hand and arcs toward the small encriclement of Holy Water. Don't go around tonight, As the match falls from it's arc the emblazened tip of the stick touched the top of the Holy Water. In an explosion of light the bath of Holy Water erupts in fire. This too goes unnoticed by everyone in the church as they continue to clap to the words of the choir. Don't go around tonight, As the choir finishes the song the Minister turns back to his alter. He raises his arms in sign that the service is done. Minister: Praise to the Saviour. Amen. With little hesitation the paritioners begin standing from their pews and start shuffling out of the church. Shane Jackson quietly disappears in the crowd as, off in the corner, the bath of Holy Water continues to burn. (OOC: Credit for "Bad Moon Rising" goes to Creedence Clearwater Revival. The entire song is incorporated in the RP, so there's no need to repost it below) |