Chapter 27: Preacher
When morning came around, Zac and Galen decided to sleep in. Without worry, they slept like babies from staying up all last night running from the town guards. When they woke, it was already mid-morning, so they went down for breakfast at the inn. The innkeeper's wife had a hearty appetite that rivaled her husband's. She served them fried eggs with sausage and bacon as well as biscuits and gravy. They ate heartily and were soon ready to go on their way again.
After eating, Galen grabbed whatever was left on his plate, and they left the Inn, thanking the innkeepers for their hospitality. They walked through the town of Gulliver, which is filled with people going about their daily lives. It seemed like any other small town, except there were no beggars or drunks here. It was a small community that helped each other out, and everyone seemed happy, which was nice to see for once.
"I don't think I've ever seen such an organized place," said Galen after taking a bite of sausage. "It is quite refreshing." He took another bite before continuing, "But why are we leaving so early? We could have probably stayed for another night." Galen asked. "We can't risk wanted posters reaching this town while we're still here," Zac answered. "Besides, I want to be as close to Garyplains as possible. I want the chance to get as much information as possible."
They continued walking around, and they needed things before they left. They went shopping and bought new clean clothes that looked cheap and inexpensive but still good. Then they stopped by the local barber shop where Zac got a haircut. Zac tried getting Galen to get one as well, but his ego wouldn't let a blade touch his glorious hair. The day he would get a haircut is the day it reaches the ground.
Afterward, they both purchased some fresh leather boots; theirs fell apart after wearing them for days straight. Lastly, they picked up some supplies for the road. After they were done shopping, they headed back toward the main street. Several men approached them as they made their way, asking if they needed help finding anything.
Zac and Galen didn't know what to make of this situation; both of them were on their guard. Were they thieves stopping them to rob them? Or did they genuinely want to help...? It turns out they just wanted to help. Declining their help, they all went on their way.
When the group was leaving, just loud enough to be heard from afar, they mentioned something happening in the town center. Curiosity hit them, and with nothing else to do, they decided to head for the center of town.
They saw a large group gathered together as they passed through the center square. A man was standing on a podium, giving a speech. He was dressed in black robes and held himself high above everyone else in the crowd. Everyone was staring at him intently, waiting for his following words. His voice carried throughout the entire area, causing heads to turn wherever he spoke.
And up there was another person, but he was a little different, the man who stood up on the podium with the guy wearing the dark robe teared up, not of sadness, but with a smile and joyous eyes.
"What do you think is happening?" Galen asked Zac. "Maybe it's a religious thing?"Answered Zac. They listened to the man at the podium. Listening closely, Zac hears a familiar voice coming from the man. Thinking it was nothing, he kept listening.
"...and I say unto thee, my friends, fear no evil! Fear only those things within your control!"
The crowd began cheering loudly when the man finished speaking. This caused Zac to stop and look over at Galen, wondering if they should just leave. But then the man raised his hand, signaling silence, and the crowd fell silent.
Then he started talking again. "You must remember, dear brothers and sisters, that our God is a loving God. We give life back to show our gratitude for the life he has given us, and thanks to this young man here, we can give our gratitude." With everyone clasping their hands together, the man on the podium raises a big, clean knife that reflects the sun against the blade, reaching to the back.
Everyone in the crowd starts chanting "Aaaaaahhhhhhhh!!" and applauding wildly.
This was a moment neither Zac nor Galen expected. With the knife, he brought the knife to the young man's throat and cleanly sliced it from one end to the other. Blood gushed out of the wound and splattered everywhere, covering every inch of his skin.
As blood ran freely from his neck, the boy smiled widely until his dying breath. The crowd cheered louder than before. Finally, the man stepped off the platform and embraced the boy. Tears streamed down his face as they shared their final moments. The crowd clapped and chanted, "God bless you, brother!" and "May you find peace beyond death." After witnessing the event, Zac was shocked as Galen chuckled at what had happened.
"Well, this is getting interesting," Galen said. Taking off his hood, the man revealed to be the same elderly man who welcomed them at the entrance last night. "Is this what I think it is?" Zac whispered to himself.
"What is it?" Galen asked. "... A cult," Zac responded. "He's leading these people into committing suicide."
Galen put a comforting arm around Zac as they watched the ceremony unfold. All the people present were smiling brightly and looking forward to the future. The old man slowly walks away from the altar, raising his arms high and shouting, "Our Lord thanks us for this man's sacrifice!" He exclaimed, acting as the voice of their God.
Finally, he disappeared behind the crowd, and the whole town became quiet once more. Looking out among the faces in the crowd, it was just another ordinary day for them. No one showed any signs of sorrow or anger. Many people were laughing and enjoying themselves. Only two people seemed upset: Zac.
"How could anyone be okay with this?" Zac questioned. "To die because someone told you to... How can people be so blind to reality?"
It wasn't Zac's place to tell the town that their God wouldn't ask for a sacrifice or even tell them that their God wasn't real. This was probably what they were raised to think. People's lives are sacrifices for their God, and that's what they live for. But Zac couldn't help but still feel angry at them. They celebrated a man's death when it wasn't even for a crime.
Not wanting to stay longer, they left the scene quickly and returned to the inn. Walking inside, they noticed that the owner was nowhere to be found. "Where'd he go?" Galen wondered aloud.
Looking out the window, they see him walking toward the church across from them. Curious to learn more about this strange religion, Zac followed the man outside. Once he reached his destination, the door opened, and a woman came out holding three cups full of water, the woman being the innkeeper's wife. Each cup contained precisely one drop of blood.
She handed one to Galen and one to Zac. "Drink deep," she instructed. They drank deeply without hesitation.
"What does it do?" Asked Galen.
"That's the question, isn't it," replied the wife. "If you drink it, you'll gain knowledge." She turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Galen looked at Zac, and Zac shrugged his shoulders. What choice did they have? If they were going to infiltrate and see what this religion is about. They needed to blend in and avoid drawing attention. They had yet to learn how long they might be stuck here. They kept knives hidden in their new clothes in case they needed it.
When they looked in front of them, the church was filled. Almost everyone from the center of the town was inside the church, waiting for someone. Appearing from behind the walls of a stage, the elderly man who welcomed them once again started preaching to the people. He gave them hope and courage that everything would work out fine, and everyone believed him.
When Zac couldn't hear any more of his religious nonsense, he finally spoke up. "Why did you kill that man?" he asked. The old man glanced over at them, realizing who they were.
"Such a nasty word, 'kill'? I simply returned him to our lord as a gift for giving us life." The man replied with a grinning smile.
"Are you insane?! You killed someone who did nothing wrong; how can you do that so easily?" Zac shouted.
"Oh, I'm sorry," the old man apologized, "but this is just our way of giving back to our lord. Who are you to question our faith? This is justice! This is returning what is rightfully God's!"
"Order? Justice?" Zac yelled angrily. "There is no such thing as justice or fairness or truth anymore! No, not anymore; there never was justice in this world. And this is not order; this is brainwashing people into believing your lies." Everyone looks at him, the look with anger and disgust as they are offended to hear such words.
The old man continued preaching. "Do not worry yourself over matters you cannot change! Your God will guide you and lead you toward salvation! Our God is perfect and knows all things."
"And how do you know all of this?" Zac asked. "Because he speaks to me, he showers me with his love as he asks me to be his voice" There was no reasoning with this man; he justified killing people and made everyone accept it. It wasn't something Zac could accept. Zac and Galen left the church, he could probably change something, but he didn't bother. It wasn't his place to force his morals onto people who have accepted death.
They left the town behind. Zac's anger subsided when he remembered his goals, and his goal wasn't to be people's saviors; It was to be the grim reaper to his targets. There should be nothing else clouding his judgment or mind. That is the burden he put on himself. Another long journey and another day passed.
~[1 More Day Before The King's Order]
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
BadStripes
BadStripes After this chapter, I am taking a break to pile up more chapters as well as organize my thoughts, imagination, and motivation.
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