The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

The Reverend
by Kathleen McCluskey

Gillian was always skeptical but this new adventure seemed to be legit. She climbed into the van with the other faithful and began their journey. She looked around and saw people of all different sizes and colors. Some had very black sunglasses on.  She thought that was strange but shrugged it off. She thought, “It is the jungle, after all. I think I have finally found a home.” With sweat running down her face she looked out the window and watched as the jungle grew thicker. A note of trepidation filled her heart perhaps this was a mistake. As that thought sank in, the jungle cleared ; before her was a beautiful  compound. Family sized cottages and a pavilion were stunning to Gillian. She was in awe of how happy everyone was and how clean the compound looked. The bus came to a stop and the parishioners of the compound came to greet them.

Gillian stepped off the bus and was immediately greeted by three women. All of them were dressed identical and each wore dark sunglasses. They removed her bag from her shoulder and led her into one of the cottages. Confusion filled her as the women stripped her all the while singing a soft song. She tried to speak but was hushed by one of the women. They dressed her in the same frock that they wore. One finally spoke, “Tonight you will meet the reverend and your life will never be the same. He is magical and his words will ring in your ears for days. To be part of the chosen you will go through the sacrificial right.”

Gillian grew even more concerned, “Sacrificial right?”

“Oh don’t worry,” another woman spoke, “It’s all symbolic. No need to worry.”

She was led out of the cottage and across the lush grass. She sat in the pavilion and was given a bowl of rice and something that resembled chicken. She began to eat, watching the parishioners never removed their sunglasses. Gillian wondered why this odd behavior seemed to be universal. All the parishioners dropped to their knees as the reverend came into view. She watched as he made his way through the faithful and sat down next to her. He spoke, “You are very special, indeed. I don’t want to wait until this evening, I need you in my flock now. You will see everything.” He started by getting a beautiful wine glass out of his purse and filled it with water. He drizzled a beautiful, blue shimmering liquid into the glass. She was mesmerized as he handed her the glass. She drank and he touched the glass. “No dear, we don’t drink this.” He dipped his fingers into the liquid and flicked it at her. She grabbed at her eyes as the sizzling slowly ravaged her sockets. She could feel her eyeballs melting.  Her psyche was being tormented to the edge of insanity. She screamed as her mind was flooded with nuclear apocalyptic visions and fainted.

When she woke, she had no recollection of the burning of her eyes. She now had on dark sunglasses and was humming along with two other women waiting for another bus to arrive.

Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!