Freedom

Her awakening

Britannia was in her father's old car, and they were on their way to the church. She has been thinking a lot about what Cecelia said, and decided to make her mind up by tonight. Maybe something in her would snap during this church meeting, and she could tell Cecelia her answer tonight. As soon as she walked into the church, something felt.... off. More off than normal, but it was enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She tried to brush it off, but she couldn't. Sitting in the row like they always did, she felt very on edge. As soon as Stanley grabbed the microphone and began to speak, she had the urge to punch him. Or grab one of the weapons off of the old wooden cart and throw at him. Hoping to hit his face, or one of his organs. She shook her head and tried to get rid of the thoughts, but she couldn't. When they started praying and he read the book she now could hear it, but an altered version from what the others were hearing. She was hearing what Cecelia told her about. This version was where all of the money, prayers and everything else would go to William and Satan. She heard those two names the most in the book, and she felt sick. Now she knew the true meaning of all of this, and wanted to escape. But she couldn't just get up and leave, as that would be suspicious. She decided she would stay for the whole meeting, but would immedietly go to bed once she got home so she could tell Cecelia her answer.

Stanley finished reading the holy book, and everyone finished praying. Then he grabbed the microphone and began to speak. "Alright everyone, as you all know this is the time where we bring the sinners out to rehabilitate them. But first, we should tell Britannia what happens when you are sixteen. When you are sixteen, you are given one of the people, and are allowed to and must muder them all by yourself." Britannia's eyes widened, and her face went pale. She would not just have to torture someone, but she would have to kill them? That made her anxious. She must do that do make HIM happy and go to Paradise? This made no sense and she didn't want to do it. She tried to run to the bathroom to hide, but she couldn't as her mother was gripping her arm with a strong grip. "You know you can't skip this right?" She shook her head. "But I need to use the bathroom..." She tried to lie, but her mother could see through it. "You can go to the bathroom once you murder the person. Easy right?" She went silent as Stanley grabbed the microphone again to speak. "Okay, Britannia please walk towards the front of the church." Her mother let go of her arm and she slowly walked towards the front of the church. With every step she took, her feet felt like they were cemented into the ground. But she made it to the front of the church, and she stood next to Stanley. "Okay, Axel and Charles please bring the sinner out now." His two men brought out the victim, and it was a young woman. She didn't look too much older than Britannia, and she looked terrified. Stanley had a smile on his face as his men gripped her arms tightly and she looked in pain. "This young lady here has tried to doubt THEIR teachings, and wanted to leave the church. We must show her the right way, and stop her from trying to do something like this ever again." He paused, and Britannia kept staring at the girl. She reminded her of herself. Someone who doubts the church's teachings, and wanted to escape. Well, now she wanted to escape after she saw what was going to happen to her. She was so glad she didn't tell her parents, Stanley or anyone about her feelings. "Now Britannia, please grab a tool off of the cart to kill this young lad-" He was interupted when one of his men touched his shoulder and whispered something into his ear. "Oh.... oh my...." He muttered before pausing. "Okay I have to attend to get something in the back room. Everyone, read one page of the book please while I'm gone. I won't be too long now." And with that, Stanley ran off into the backroom after his men. While her parents and everyone else was too into their prayers, Britannia saw this as the perfect oppurtunity to escape. She ducked out of the church's front door and ran down the street to her home. She decided she needed to escape, and to tell Cecelia she was ready to make a plan.

She quickly grabbed her brown trunk and packed it with a few clothes, some emergency supplies, stole some food from the kitchen and anything else she may need. She spent thirty minutes packing, before she was out the door. She didn't care what her parents reaction was, she needed to escape. And what better place than the forest behind her neighbour's house? Not many people went there, and it would be the perfect place to hide and contact Cecelia. She quickly stepped outside and walked down the dirt road before making a left turn and walking into the forest. She was grateful everyone was at the church, as it would make her escape easier. Once she was about a kilometer deep into the woods and surrounded by the big brown trees, she stopped walking and stood against one of the trees. "I.... Cecelia please be listening.... I-I made up my mind..." After she said those words, Cecelia showed up and looked concerned. Britannia never summoned her during the day. "Already? I surely thought it would take you longer than that...." She began to tremble as it got windy, and the sky seemed to get darker from when she first entred the forest. "I...... I want to escape.... I am ready to do whatever it takes too..." Cecelia had a wide grin on her face after hearing this. "Oh? Are you sure? What changed your mind?" She asked. "They.... the church..... they wanted me to murder a girl my age for trying to escape the church and for doubting its teachings... I-I just couldn't do it..." She was on the verge of tears, and was hugged by the taller girl. "Let's work on that plan, shall we?"