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~1905 Second Salem church~The house was cold, making Credence shiver.Beside him his older sister Grace humms a song to pass their time getting rid of weeds from ma's modest garden. And it helps. Grace's voice is soothing and cheerful, unlike mother's. Credence finds himself working in tune with the music, letting it guide him as he works. Unfortunately it doesn't take long for ma to come outside to check on the children. She hears the girl's quiet humming, which immidietally sets her off." How dare you! You stupid girl. " Mary Lou yells, grabbing Grace by the arm, roughly dragging her back to the church. Credence follows suit, trying to make as little noise as possible."Your voice should only praise the Lord, not indulge your sinful desires!" Mary Lou screeches, angrily taking hold of a leather belt. The same belt Credence would be made to wear years later." Stand before me, you foolish child and outstretch your hands. " Mary Lou's voice is soft now. A sign that punishment is about to be delivered. She brings the belt buckle down on Grace's hands. The burn sears into the girls skin, but she doesn't cry, instead she looks at mother with a defient look in her eyes. She will not let herself break.Unable to watch any longer Credence turns away, quietly sneaking back to the garden to continue on his chores. When ma calls him back inside its already evening. Grace is nowhere to be seen. She isn't even sitting at the diner table. Credence wonders where she might be. Soon he gets his answer. When he is heading for bed that night, finally having managed to avoid punishment himself he hears terrified sobs from a small closet, located in the girls's room. He knows he shouldn't be there, but curiosity gets the better of him."Grace? " he whispers, confused."Credence " Grace's voice is hoarse, most likely from all the crying Credence figures. But there is also desperation in it entwined with terror." Please can you help me, I am scared. The darkness... its suffocating me. Everything hurts, please Credence. " the boy doesn't know what to do. He is just 4 years old so he fails to understand why ma had done this to his sister. She was just humming! He is about to go to his older siblings for help, but fear freezes him in place. He cannot dissapoint mother or the same fate will await him, so he leaves with tears prickling at the corners of his eyes."Sorry" he whispers, feeling helpless as he slips out of the room.So Grace is left all alone, in the dark, cold closet. The welts from the whipping make it impossible to find a comfortable possition and her body shivers from the cold, seeping into her muscles and hardening them. Come morning she has no tears left to cry. Humiliation burning brighter than the pain as Mary Lou unlocks the small space and finally lets the girl out. Its dawn the next day. The sun shines through the window casting shadows along the walls. They seem terrifying and too close somehow, as if they are going to grab her, pull her back into the darkness. She finds she is unable to move, her body rigid with fear. What has happened to her? She had never been afraid of the dark before.When she spots Credence hatred surges up inside her. She knows its not his fault, yet fails to push it away. She feels numb.Credence runs up to her, excited to see his sister again, but she pushes him away, hard. Her gaze is unfocused as if going right through him. There is nothing but cold contempt on her face as she brushes past her little brother and leaves.
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~ 1907 Second Salem church ~Verity and Credence are busy cleaning the upstairs rooms of the house. Verity is in mother's room carefully sweeping the floors and dusting the shelves. Suddenly a crash sounds. It is defeaning in the silent house. When the girl looks down she sees ma's porcelain cross, shattered beneath her feet. Panic wells up in her chest, making it hard to breath. Mary Lou is upstsirs in seconds. Already shouting." What on earth have you done ?! You are useless." She then grabs the girl's arm in an iron grip and all but drags her downstairs. She brings Verity to the fireplace, standing in the kitchen and heats up the porcelain shards over the flames. Dread pools in Verity's stomach as she watches mother. She has a bad feeling she knows what Mary Lou intends with her. She is right. The woman comes closer, taking Verity's hand into her own, holding it in place. She presses the white hot porcelain on the child's skin, burning it immidietally. Verity bites down on her lip. It is so unexpected she makes a small dent in the tender flesh, drawing blood. The irony taste of it fills her mouth and Verity has to stiffle a gag. Still, she doesn't cry."Let this be a reminder of your carelessness."Mary's voice is laden with sharpness, like that of a searing blade. When she is satisfied with the damage she has done to the girl's arm, Mary Lou locks her up in the attick. With nothing but water for 3 days. While the physical pain dulls overtime, the emotional wounds remain. She marked me as a failure, Verity thinks as she finally lets the tears fall.Even after she is released Verity still doesn't regain her former self back. She is very closed off now, afraid whenever she has to clean something, out of fear of the punishment repeating. She dares not come near the fireplace. Not even in winter.
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~ 1909 Second Salem church ~The 6 year old girl, Chastity has found a magazine while out. Handing out pamplets alongside Credence. The boy had warned her not to take it." Ma will punish you if she ever finds it, Chas" he said, trying desperately to reason with his sister. Chastity just sighed and took it anyway, too young to understand just how deep Mary Lou's cruelty ran. When they got home that evening mother was waiting on them already. They had come late for dinner. They should have been back 5 minutes ago. Credence gets away with only a whipping, but Chastity is met with a far harsher punishment." What is that you got here ? " Mary Lou asks, infuriated. Chastity's blood turns to ice." Nothing - just a magazine ma " she admits quietly. Her eyes meet Credence's who has just picked himself up from the floor, his back bleeding. His eyes are filled with terror, but he walks to his room, leaving Chastity behind, too fearfull of another punishment should he intervine." Follow me " ma comands and so Chastity does. Fear weighing her down as she goes. Ma stops before the fireplace. Making sure Chastity is watching her as she throws the magazine into the flames. The girl's eyes fill with tears that she quickly blinks back. Crying is a weakness, all the Second Salemers know this. Ma seizes a switch, whipping it across Chastity's hands, until they are bleeding and swollen."Your hands touched sin—they will feel the wrath of the Lord!" Mary Lou preaches as she beats the six year old.For the next week she is unable to use her hands properly, but that doesn't stop ma from making her do chores around the house. Chastity becomes obedient after that. Rarely breaking any rules, keeping her head down at all times to avoid drawing attention to herself. Even though she never let it show, something inside her died that day, when she had learned the extent of mother's cruelty.
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~ 1911 Second Salem church ~Hope was one of the older children, having turned 15 last week. It was breakfast. One of the rare times Credence and the others would get something to eat. They all savoured it. Hope was carrying a carafe of milk when she tripped. The milk went flying, spilling everywhere. The girl froze in terror, but immidietally went about cleaning the whole mess. Credence jumped up as well, even though he knew he wasn't allowed to help the others. He knelt down next to Hope, wiping at the milk with a henkerchief. Mary Lou got up looking down at the pair." You freaks ! Look at what you have done Hope! Foolish child. " then she proceeded to take a bag of rice from the pantry. The siblings exchanged confused looks together. What was ma planning to do to them? Why the rice ? Wasn't she going to whip them as she always did?" Get out all of you. " she says calmly to the other children who obey without protest. Glad it isn't them this time. Credence and Hope get up to leave as well when ma stepps between them and the door. Blocking the only route of escape." You stay here " with that she spills the rice on the floor, aranging it into two small piles." Kneel on it and pray " is her comand. The children exchange glances but do as they are told."Lord, I am a sinner, unworthy of Your love and grace. Cleanse me of my wrongdoing and make me pure in Your sight. Forgive my disobedience, for I am weak and sinful. Teach me to walk the path of righteousness and cast out the darkness from my heart. Amen."Ma makes them recite the prayer over and over again. Their knees go numb from the long hours spend kneeling in the uncooked rice." Only obedience will save you, follow the word of the Lord, only he will show you the way" Mary Lou tells them before finally allowing the children to get up. Their knees are bloodied and swollen from the punishment but neither cries. They both just retire to their rooms, hungry but grateful that they weren't hurt worse.
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~ 1913 Second Salem church ~It was sunday, the chilren were once again forced to listen to Mary Lou's dull sermons about witches. Many didn't actaully listen to her, but Faith had the misfortune of falling asleep. She was waken by someone poking her in the ribs. She startled awake, loudly. Interrupting Mary Lou's monotone speech. All eyes turned to her. But she could only focus on Credence, who was sitting beside her. A mortified expression on his face. His eyes were full with a mix of guilt and shame. He looked apoligetically to his sister. It was clear he didn't intent to get her into trouble." How dare you interrupt me, you insolent child ! " Mary Lou's angry voice broke the silence. She marched up to the girl, seized the girl's arm, hauling her up to her feet. She struts over to the front door, throwing the struggling child onto the cold pavement, lined with freshly fallen snow. Faith cries out from the sudden pain. She turns to run back inside, but Mary Lou had already shut the door. Faith cried the whole night, begging and banging her fists against the heavy double doors. But no one came to save her. Her frail body shivered with the cold, and fear seized hold of her. Making her fall into a frenzy, unable to stop her pathetic wailing. It was dawn when ma finally came to collect the half-dead girl. Her skin was freezing cold. Her body still shivering. Her eyes flickered rapidly taking in her sorroundings. Ma pulled the girl inside, belt at the ready. The whipping that followed was the most brutal one Faith had ever experienced. It didn't take long for her body to surrender to fever. Faith was bedridden for the next week, yet mother wouldn't allow her to stay lazing around and made the girl go about her daily chores and prayers as if nothing had happened. After a few days of this, Credence approached his sister. At first he just observed her from afar, but later got the courage to speak to her." Faith I am sorry, I really am. " he apologized, guilt evident on his face. From that day forward he made sure to help Faith out with the onslaught of chores ma forced her to complete as the girl grappled with sickness. He earned himself numerous beatings, but they did little to ease the guilt he felt for getting his sister punished. He was just glad she didn't hate him. As time passed it became clear that Faith's illness was going to be the death of her. She was unable to lift herself out of bed and even Mary Lou stopped expecting the girl to be of any help around the house. Just 3 weeks following the unfortunate sermon Faith passed away from fever. Credence never forgave himself. Becoming more distant after his sister's passing. A shell of the bright boy he used to be. Carrying the weight of Faith's death on his shoulders for the rest of his life.
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~ 1915 Second Salem church ~Christian was the second boy Mary Lou adopted. He was just 2 years younger than Credence, Chastity's peer. Ever since he turned 10 it was clear he had a love for reading. And as any teenage boy he was rebelious. Often sneaking "forbidden" books into his and Credence's shared bedroom if one could call it that. It was a small room, with 2 matresses along two opposite walls. Christian would hide the books under his matress, feeling pride at going against mother, with none the wiser. But that feeling didn't last long. The 15 and 13 year old boy had just returned from the city, handing out pamplets advertizing their mother's cause. Both exhausted from the long day, headed straight to their room, only to find ma standing over Christian's so called bed holding all his books in her hands." Christian, what is this ? " she asked her voice whispery, but both boys didn't miss the anger hidden behind the mild tone." I am sorry ma, I just wanted something to pass the time, besides they are just books " Christian managed, sounding confident even as his voice quivered sligtly." Just books, you say " Mary Lou shot back, mockingly." Credence, you stay here. Christian, downstairs, now !" her voice had a sharp adge to it. Unsettling even Credence, who now looked at his brother with pity." Be brave, don't let her see you break" he tried to sound encouraging but failed as his voice cracked. Christian just nodded before following mother down the stairs and into the kitchen. They were now standing just before the fireplace and Cristian had an uncanny feeling he knew what was going to happen. All his treasured books lay scattered on the floor. Fire licking at them." Burn them" Mary Lou's cold voice rang out. The boy stepped forward, but hesitated for just a moment. It didn't escape Mary Lou's notice. In one smooth motion she kicked the stack of books. They tumbled into the flames, burning. Then faster than Christian could comprehend she took hold of the iron rod, that she kept by the fireplace for punishments just like this." Kneel " she spat, driving her boot to meet with the back of the boy's knees. Making him stumble and fall. Before he could adjust himself into a more comfortble position, the first lash fell across his back. Christian bit down on his lip, determined to do just as Credence had instructed him. But keeping quiet proved difficult. Each lash shattered a bit more of Cristian's resolve. The rod was flaming hot. Its tip slicing through abused skin like a hot knife through butter. A searing pain exploded over Christian's back following each sickening crack of the whip. His skin split open, hot blood running down his back, mingling with his sweat. Tears flowed soundlessly from his eyes."Let this remind you what happens to those who harbor sin." Mary Lou spoke loudly, sending a shiver down Christian's spine. Then she put the iron rod aside, allowing Christian to rise. The boy forced himself up, swaying on his feet slightly as he went back to his room. There Credence tended to his hurts to the best of his ability, but even that did little as ma provided her children with no medical care whatsoever. Christian's wounds became infected and the boy died of sepsis the following week. Yet another death Credence held himself accountable for. If I hadn't allowed Christian to bring home the books he would never have died, Credence thought unkindly as more guilt clouded his mind.
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~1916 Second Salem church ~Isaiah had just been adopted. Right after the death of Christian as ma needed more boys to help her with the pamplets as the girls were left to take care of the household. Unfortunately for himself the boy was too caring. It was his weakness. They were all having dinner, when suddenly Hope dropped her fork. It clattered to the floor. The sound defeaning in the quiet church. Mary Lou was up in an instant. Seizing a wet towel she smacked the girl over the head with it, repeatedly. She even went as far as to shove Hope face first against the table. Isaiah sprang to his feet in seconds, yelling :"What are you doing ? Let her be. It was an accident can't you see?! " his outburst angered ma as she let go of Hope and narrowed her eyes at Isaiah." How dare you speak to me like this, you good-for-nothing wretch! " her scream was loud like thunder. Echoying from the walls. Isaiah showed no fear however. He had only been with ma a week. He was still strong and a head taller than ma. She didn't scare him, but she should have. Turning on her heels she gripped his arm tightly. Too tightly. It hurt. For the first time since coming to the new house Isaiah felt a pang of fear." Take off your clothes "" But - his protest were cut short by a slap across the face. The boy's head spun from the force of it." Yes ma'am" he replied, eyes downcast. Not daring to meet the others's gazes, Isaiah stripped off his clothes. He was now wearing only his underwear as he stood before them all. Shame heated his cheeks. He could feel the others watching his every move too frightened to look away." Credence, give me the belt" Mary Lou commanded in her usual cold voice. Devoit from all emotions. The boy did as he was told, quickly sliding off the belt and placing it into ma's outstretched, waiting hand. The crack cut through the air. They all expected Isaiah to cry out. It was his first beating after all. But he stayed silent, unmoving. A final show of his defience. It only made ma more furious. During the whole whipping the boy didn't as much as shed a tear. Infuriated by this Mary Lou locked him in the cellar for 3 days, hoping to finally break the boy. Most broke after spending enough time locked away, alone in the darkness. Not even Isaiah was strong enough to keep his wits about him after that. He came out weak, fearful, so damaged he could no longer stand on his own two feet. The humiliation of the public whipping scarred him emotionaly so much so that he never spoke up again. He withdrew completely, hiding away in a far corner of his mind. No one knew what he thought or felt, but they all remembered as Isaiah woke screaming, unable to tolerate the dark anymore, always having to sleep with a light on to keep the nightmares at bay. It was not uncommon that this happen, as locking the children away was Mary Lou's prefered form of punishment. It nearly always broke them. If not physically then mentally.
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~ 1917 Second Salem church ~Samuel was a young boy, having just turned 10. He had been adopted like most his siblings at the ripe age of 4. One thing everyone knew about Samuel was that he loved food. It brought him joy, as nothing else did. One night there was a shortage of food and most went to bed hungry. Samuel tossed and turned in his and his brothers's shared bedroom, but sleep eluded him. The hunger was too strong. The boy couldn't ignore it anymore and snuck down, into the kitchen. Stealing a single slice of bread from the counter. The next morning he awoke to mother's angry voice in his ear. She was practically shouting at the poor child." You insatiable boy ! " she screamed." How dare you ?! Stealing the food I buy with my hard earned money! I will not tolerate such behaviour" she dragged the still-sleepy child out of bed. She walked outside with him and told him to wait there. Samuel's mind was just coming awake and so he struggled to make sense of ma's actions. She didn't come back until dawn the next day.She left poor Samuel out like that the whole day and night. Insects bite him and he can feel spiders crawling all over him. By dawn when she comes to collect him the boy had already screamed himself hoarse. His body is shivering and tears are frozen on his face. He is wearing nothing but a thin nightgown, he is frozen through and covered with bite marks from the numerous insects that bit him during the long night. He was lucky he hadn't frozen off a limb in the harsh winter. Upon being taken inside Samuel recieves a brutal whipping."A thief will always pay for their sins." Mary Lou preaches her voice harsh as she strucks Samuel's back with the belt.His whole body burns and he feels feverish. He has no energy left to scream or protest, and even if he did he knows he wouldn't dare. After that Samuel develops a deep fear of food, being unable to eat even when he is allowed. He doesn't eat even when ma whipps him for wasting food.His ribs start portruding from both front and back. His energy fades and he becomes quiet and withdrawn. Too scared ma will find fault in his actions again. He now no longer sees starving as punishment. No he sees it as reprieve, absolution. The boy passes away from this illness the following summer. Again replaced by another, like he had never been.
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Samuel's replacement goes by the name of Theodore. He is a shy, reserved boy. Rarely speaking, preffering solitude to large crowds. One memorable thing about the teenage boy however is that he is a great jokester. Always finding a reason to make others laugh. Even in the darkest of times. It is a bright sunday morning, the children had all gathered round to listen to mother preach about witches and witchcraft. All of them are bored though. So naturally Theodore finds a way to make the dull sermon more entertaining. Him and a group of teenage adoptees whisper in hushed tones, huddled close together, but careful so ma doesn't notice their little rebelion. Suddenly one of the boys says something to Theodore and he bursts out laughing. The whole place goes eerily quiet. All eyes pinned on Theodore. A red blush creeps over his cheeks as he looks to the floor. Suddenly very fond of the dust gathered there." How dare you mock the Lord " Mary Lou cries, pointing an accusatory finger at him. Theodore obviously tries to defend himself." No ma, I wasn't I swear " but Mary Lou pays him no mind as she continues speaking in that same, haunting tone."Your hands are unworthy of prayer. They must be cleansed by fire."Everyone goes perfectly still and just stares. Stares as ma brings out a lighter, and beckons for Theodore to come closer to her. He does, head bowed, the smile that had crossed his lips just minutes ago, wiped away, replaced by dread and fear." Hold out your hands" ma commands. Theodore obeys not daring to move an inch even as flame licks at his fingers, burning his skin. Leaving behind but raw, angry stripes.The punishment scarrs the boy deeply. Now Theodore is unable to pray with his hands clasped, and when ma forces him to do so he becomes a nervous wreck, shaky and snivelling. His fingers tremble when he brings them together and tears well up his eyes. He feels guilty and fearful for speaking to God, as if his prayers are cursed.
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~1920 Second Salem church ~It is dinner time. Everyone is already waiting, their mouths watering at the smell of potato stew they had helped prepare. Elizabeth is the hungriest of the bunch, having been denied food for a whole week as punishemt, because she had spilled tea on the floor. The 14 year old is so eager to eat that she forgets to say grace, before shoving food into her mouth. Pleasure spreading over her at the taste. The sensation of it. It's warm and doesn't taste like the water she had been surviving off of for the last week. Witnessing it Mary Lou immidietally takes the girl's food away again. Forbidding her from eating for yet another 2 days."You don’t deserve the Lord’s blessings if you can’t remember Him."The words hit Elizabeth like a physical blow. Even after her punishment is past, she remains unable to eat. Thinking she no longer deserves it. Her health deteriorates and she soon becomes emaciated. She dies next summer, suffering the same fate as her brother Samuel, before her.
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~ 1924 Second Salem church ~Modesty is playing with her dolls instead of praying like she is supposted to. Mary Lou catches her however and takes them away. Making Modesty watch as her belowed toy goes up in flame. Modesty is too young to be able to properly control her emotions and bursts into tears at the sight. To drive the lesson home Mary Lou locks the 7 year old in the basement. Ignoring all of Modesty's cries and her begging. The girl spends days there. Locked up in the dark room. She can hear the leaky faucet at night and it keeps her from sleep. Her days she spends screaming and fruitlessly pleading for someone-anyone to let her out. By the last 2 days she gives up even that, instead sitting all alone in the dark, incapable of closing her eyes without cold fear washing over her. She spends whole days awake. Her mind weaving cobwebs of wild, terrifying apparitions. When ma finally decided the girl had learned her lesson she releases her at last. It takes Modesty weeks to be able to sleep normally again, having spend so long awake. The nightnares never stop though. She wakes screaming, not unlike the other children. Frantically going on about monsters she claims are lurking in the dark. Monsters ready to hurt her. The dolls she used to love, now bring her nothing but fear in the night. She in no longer able to keep them in her room. Most nights she still can't fall asleep without at least one of her siblings sitting by her side, holding her hand, whispering soothing words to the little girl. The happy child is gone now, its place taken by a nervous wreck, trembling whenever the lights go out. So scared of the dark, her breath is stolen from her lungs and her body collapses anytime she finds herself in a dark place. Her mind is a cobweb woven from her darkest fears. The happy, cheerful Modesty now dead.
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~ 1925 Second Salem church ~Credence was tasked with reciting a prayer for today's sermon, but as his mind races he struggles to remember the correct words. Everyone is looking at him now. The hundreds of strangers. Their hard eyes meeting his own. He can't breath, his chest hurts. He gulps down air greedily but none of it fills his lungs. The floor seems to be swimming under his feet. His gaze goes blurry and unfocused. Mary Lou's voice cuts through the air like the crack of a whip. She storms over to him, her icy cold hand closing around his neck as she pushes him down on his knees in front of everyone." Your insolence is an insult to God ! " she spits, ripping the belt from his waist.The first lash reopens the wounds from yesterday's beating, but he doesn't as much as hiss in pain. Staring numbly ahead. Not a single tear spills from his eyes. He bears the beating in stoic silence. Just as he was taught to do. He endures it all, even as his knees go numb from having kneeled on the floor for so long. The cold seeping into his muscles, pulling them taut like wires. When ma is through with the whipping she proceedes to kick him into the stomach. The blows swift and brutal. Coming in quick successions. Robbing Credence of the all-too- precious air. After the sermon ends, ma locks him up in the basement for a week. He doesn't cry. Not once is he heard. It gets to the point Mary Lou unlocks the door just to make sure he hadn't died. When she lets him out he is forced to complete all of his usual chores, depsite his weakened state. But even after all that he is not yet broken. No matter what ma does to him, his body refuses to give out. Refuses to fail him. He is one of the only adoptees that doesn't wake up screaming, from nightmares. In fact he doesn't have them at all. Credence almost seems uneffected by all the abuse and neglect that his body had been subjected to for years. But that is far from the truth. The boy is barely holding it together. Suicide is never far from his mind, having attempted it multiple times with none the wiser. His feelings are gone now too. He can't feel anything, its as if someone switched his emotions off. Even during the cruel whippings and burnings, not a single tear falls from his eyes. So he results to other methods, to make himself feel something. He skips any meal he can and frequently whips himself with the belt, adding a fresh layer of welts onto the already existing ones. Still no matter what he does his emotions do not return. Its like they are broken. Are they really though? He sometimes feels them, all at once spinning inside his mind, making him dizzy, but they are soon gone again. As quickly as they come. So Credence just goes through the motions, praying to God every night to let him die. But his prayers always go unanswered. All Credence can do is hope. Hope that one day by some miracle he will be able to leave this all behind. To leave the church and start a new life, somewhere far away, where no one would know him or his past. Somewhere where he could let it all go. Let the burden fall off his shoulders. But for now he has to keep pushing forward. Has to keep fighting even when all he wants to do is give up.