Trigger warnings
❗️❗️❗️
Abuse
Self harm
Religious extremism
(happy Halloween 🎃)
Elisha starts her morning by getting out of bed and immediately getting on her knees to pray. Her long white nightgown causes her to stumble sometimes, but she has prayed first thing in the morning, every day for 8 years without fail.
''dear God, thank you for allowing a sinner like me to wake up another day and worship you''
She always starts with gratitude, thanking God for her life, her home, her children, her husband, and her family.
''May the Lord Protect my husband from the gates of hell''
Next, she will pray for protection, for her children's minds and souls and her husband as well.
''If it is your will for Daniel to pass on now, use me to help him give his life to God before he leaves this realm, so he may join you in heaven''
Her husband has been bedridden for 2 years now, his alcohol addiction got the best of him, he suffered multiple strokes, and now he cannot walk, eat, or wash on his own.
After her prayers, Elisha will meditate for a few minutes on the word of God, on this specific day, she was in Revelations''
'Revelation 21:8 KJV - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death'
After her meditation, she went to get her children ready for school. Her son Amos is 8 years old and her daughter Adah is 5 years old.
''Amos, wake up dear'' She pats his back lovingly and Amos wakes up slowly, turns on his side to look down at his mother from the top of the bunk bed.
''How did you sleep sweetie''
''Good mommy, how about you''
''I slept well my darling, now go brush your teeth so and come back here to get ready for our morning prayer''
Amos rubs his drowsy eyes and takes himself down the ladder of the bunk bed and out of the room, while his mother moves lower to wake her daughter next
''Adah, wake up dear'' She ewakes her up the exact same way, soft pat on the back, her hand as warm as her love for her children.
''How did you sleep love?''
''Mommy, I had a crazy dream'' It doesn't take long for Adah to be wide awake
''You'll tell me about it after morning prayer Adah, go join your brother, and brush your teeth''
''Adah nods and leaves the room to join her brother in the bathroom across the corridor.
''Morning Amos!'' Adah shouts in excitement
''Morning Adah'' Amos, a bit low on energy takes down Adah's toothbrush, puts some toothpaste on it and hands it to her, then he continues to brush his own teeth.
Adah gets on her tippy toes to spit out the foam in her mouth ''Amos, the dream I had was sooo crazy'' she says, with foam taking up half her face.
''You'll tell me after morning prayer'' Amos says, while wiping Adah's face with a little pink face cloth, he then ushers her out of the bathroom and back into their room where their mother is waiting for them, on her knees at the edge of their bed, with a glass bottle of holy oil it her hand.
Amos and Adah get on their knees in front of her and close their eyes.
Elisha puts a bit of the oil on both their foreheads then stays silent until the olive scent of the oil fills up the entire room. then they begin
''Our Father...'' Elisha starts
''Our father, who art in heaven...'' the children follow in the lords prayer, and once they are done it's time for a bath.
''So Amos I where running away from this woman that had a big red heart for a head, the heart was big and shiny, I wanted to go play with her, and she was dressed like you mommy, but Amos said no, so we ran away, we were running for a bit, and got to the edge of hill, the heart lady was still running after us so Amos said Jump. and as soon as I jumped, mommy woke me up'' Adah explains her dream while she plays with her bath toys
''That's interesting Adah, what do you think that means...'' Her mother asks
''Maybe the end of something for me and Amos, I think''
Elisha, a bit taken aback by her five year old's intelligence, pauses for a bit to smile at her daughter.
After breakfast the children picked the bags up and waited by the door for their mother to give the go ahead to go to the car.
''Adah darling, the barbie doll, where did you put it...''
''I put it in my room like you said mommy''
''ohk'' Elisha replies and starts to head toward the door where her children are waiting for her. She unlocks the door and lets the kids out first, and while they walk in front of her she notices some blond strands of hair peeking out of Adah's bag.
''Adah, wait'' she says, walking over to her ''Where is the barbie doll''
Adah looks up at her mom, not breaking eye contact ''In my room mommy
Elisha in one violent move, takes the bag of Adah back, unzips it and pulls out the barbie doll. Furious, she raises her hand to slap Adah, but Amos jumps in front of her holding her arm up in mid air.
''Mommy sorry, I should have told her to put it back, I should have told her, forgive me'' Amos says looking down at his feet, while standing tall in front of his sister.
''Did you see the way she lied to me, while looking me in the eye'' Elisha says, moving Amos out of the way to look down at her daughter. As soon as Adah is exposed to her mother she starts to cry out loud.
''Get inside both of you!'' she yells, and the kids both run into the house, Elisha takes a few breaths to calm herself then walks into the house closing the door behind her, the children are standing still in the middle of the living room.
''Get on your knees'' Elisha commands, and the children both get on their knees, bow their heads and close their eyes.
''and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death'' she says ''Do you want to burn in a lake of fire Adah?''
''Mommy, I said I'm sorry'' Adah cries, and just as she does a gets a slap across her face from her mother
''Mommy we are sorry'' Amos puts his head on the carpet in child's pose position
''Spare the rod and spoil the child'' Elisha says to herself ''I asked a question, do you want to burn in a lake of fire Adah?''
''No mommy'' Adah says, sobbing
''I Thought so, now both of you repeat after me, Lord I repent...''
''Lord I repent...'' The kids do their mother's repentance prayer. Once Elisha is satisfied with their prayer she kisses her children on the forehead, and gives them both a big hug.
''Now its time for school my angels, just know punishing you hurts mommy more than it hurts you...'' she says as they all enter the car ''Now I have to find a way to cut through all this traffic before my angels are late for school''
Right After Elisha dropped the kids at the school that day, she went straight to the church
''Father forgive me for I have sinned, I have raised my children the wrong way, and now they tell lies, because of me, my children might end up in hell'' Elisha cries, tears dripping down her chin as she explains how her daughter lied to her while looking at her straight in the eyes.
''We are all born sinners Elisha, we have to learn to be honest and righteous, your children are still young, there is time for you to teach them the straight and narrow, but be lenient, not only on yourself but on the children, they are only growing''
''But father we do not know the day or the hour, so I have to make sure my children do not end up in a lake of fire''
''Elisha...''
''That is my confession father'' Elisha hastily ends the conversation and walks out of the church.
Later that afternoon, Elisha was in the store restocking snacks for her children. She had some apples, peanut butter, rice cakes, some chocolate chip cookies and some jelly beans. She walked passed a young mother and her daughter who looked around the same age as Adah. The little girl noticed the jelly beans in Elisha's trolley then turned to her mother
''mommy, I want some jelly beans''
''We still have some jelly beans at home sweetie''
''But I want the jelly beans now'' the little girl cries
''Just be patient''
''Mommy no, want jelly beans now'' the girl throws herself onto the floor and kicks her feet in the air ''now! now! now!''
''Ok Lisa, I'll get the beans just stand up'' Her mother tries to quiet her down.
Elisha; who watched the whole altercation walks over to the young mother and whispers in her ear ''Be careful, if you don't discipline that girl she might end up in hell''
The young mother does not respond and only stares in shock while Elisha walks away.
Amos and Adah take the bus home from school, at around 3pm Elisha could hear their excited voices approaching the door from her bedroom. She walked over to open the door for them, Adah is the first to run into the house screaming at the top of her lungs
''Mommy I'm home!''
''Hello Adah dear'' Elisha watches her excited daughter with a smile on her face ''Adah darling, your shoes are leaving mud on the floor'' She says, and just then Amos walks into the house with his shoes in his hands
''Hey Mommy, I'll mop up Adah's mess, I apologize, I should have told her to take them off when we got to the porch''
''Oh Amos, don't worry darling, you are a very good big brother'' she pats Amos on the head ''Now clean up honey, then go greet your father, remember love; cleanliness is next to godliness'' she says walking away to prepare food for the children
Once Amos and Adah are in clean clothes they go into the spare room to greet their father, he is laying on his back with his hands on his side, his chest slowly raising and falling. the only other sound in the room is the fan by their father's bed keeping him cool in the tiny dim lit room.
''Hello dad'' Amos says ''We just got back from school, hope you have been well''
''Daddy!'' Adah chips in ''I had a crazy dream last night do you wanna hear about it?''
''Amos! Adah!, dinner'' Elisha shouts from the kitchen. Without protest the children head to the dinning room for dinner. There is small conversation during dinner, then the kids go off to do their homework while Elisha goes to feed her husband.
Daniel can move his neck, so he usually turns his head when he doesn't want to eat, or doesn't want to listen to Elisha. On this particular night Daniel was not in a bad mood so he gave in to Elisha feeding him. Once she was done she stood up and went to bring the anointing oil from her room. As soon as Daniel saw it he turned his head away. Elisha defeated, just stops in her tracks
''Daniel please, give your life over to the lord'' She says, but Daniel keeps his head away from her, not moving a muscle. So Elisha Just walks out.
After the children where ready for bed, she went over to their room to read the bible with them and do the evening prayers.
'Psalms 51:- Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me''
''This means my children, we are all born sinners, but thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, we can be saved if we give our lives to him''
''But mommy how can a small baby be a sinner, a baby cannot tell a lie'' Amos asks
''The bible says in Ephesians that by nature we are all children of wrath, do you know what wrath is?''
''Its a really strong word for anger'' Adah replies in excitement
''Yes Adah, its anger, and we know that being quick to anger is not good, but now the bible says we are children of that anger''
''Oh, I think I get it'' Amos says ''We are born from sin so even though we have not yet sinned, that sin is within us''
''Yes Amos, yes'' Elisha smiles ''But we can be free from this sin within us if...''
''We give our lives to Jesus Christ...'' The children finish of the sentence.
''Let us do our evening prayers and go to bed'' with that the kids get off the bed and onto their knees and wait for Elisha to bring in the oil.
...
The next day while Elisha was cleaning the living room she got a call from Amos's teacher.
''Amos has been in a fight mam, we need you to come in and pick him up''
Hearing that made Elisha's heart skip a few beats, she dropped the broom and rushed out the house in a few seconds.
''Amos is in the principal's office, two doors to your left''
''Thank you Linda'' Elisha says, running down the hall.
Walking in Elisha comes face to face with her son looking up at her from the chair right next to the principal's desk. His eyes were blood red as if he had been crying for weeks, he had scratched on his eyebrows and his lips, he had his hands clamped together so tightly that his finger tips were as white as snow.
''Mommy I'm sorry, its all my fault'' he says, a new wave of tears stinging his eyes''
''Mam please take a seat'' The principal gestures Elisha to take the seat in front of her.
''What happened ?'' Elisha asks the Principal
''Well, he had an altercation with three boys from his class, they all ganged up on him but somehow you son was able to really hurt all three, the one boy has a sprained ankle''
''Amos, is this true''
''Yes mom, it's true'' Amos looks down at his feet, still clamping his hands together, trying to keep his body from shivering in fear.
''Your son, though violent was not completely in the wrong, the boys had ganged up on him and his little sister, please keep this in mind when you take him home, I am saying this because the way he cried and begged me not to call you was a bit concerning, but I have to stick to the school rules''
''He was the wrong mam, he knows what I taught him about turning the other cheek. He could have ran to your office to report...''
''Mam, these things happen when a child is growing up..''
''I will take my leave now thank you for calling'' Elisha cuts the principal off mid-sentence
''No problem, you daughter is waiting for you to collect her as well, she is in her guardian teacher's class, I believe it is nap time right now''
Elisha walked out of the school holding a sleepy Adah in her arms while Amos followed behind them. In the car, Adah was fast asleep in her car seat while Amos stared at his mom from the back seat waiting for her to say something
''Explain'' Elisha says
''So Adah came to ask me for some money to pay for her school trip, I forgot to give it her this morning when you gave me the money. I gave her a 100 bucks and those boys saw me do that, they waited for me to leave, and then surrounded her, so I went there to stop them, I asked nicely for them to leave me her alone, but they said no, then one of them punched me, so I looked away and another guy punched me. I took Adah's hand so that I could get through, but they would not let me through and started pushing me around. That's when Adah started crying and I got frustrated so I lost my temper and started fighting them. It's all my fault''
''It is your fault Amos, you could have let them push you around they would have stopped eventually, or it would have given time for Adah to run and tell a teacher, but instead you decided to let the wrath in you overcome you'' Elisha responds calmly.
Amos just kept on staring at his mother after that, as if he was waiting for something. They got to a red light, while waiting, Elisha started scratching the back of her neck. Amos took a closer look at her neck and noticed a rash from the back of her ear all the way up to the back of her neck, and sweat from her neck starting to wet her blouse, seeing that made his breath quicken... he knows something is coming
''Mommy, you seem stressed''
''I'm not darling don't worry, you just reflect on what you did, and when we get home, we must repent''
Amos knows about his mother's paranoia, and he knows that when she starts sweating and scratching she is almost at the point of no return.
When they arrive at home Adah was just waking up''
''Mommy! you should have seen Amos today'' Adah doesn't waste a moment to get into what happened at school ''His like spiderman!'
''Adah, how do you know who spiderman is?'' Elisha removes her seatbelt and turns to look at little Adah in her car seat
''Amos and his friends were watching it on the bus the other day, so I went to join them, it was amazing''
''Amos'' Elisha turns to face her son ''have you started keeping secrets from me, and lying to me?'' Her eyes are bloodshot and the sweat is prominent on her forehead, she looks like she is about to cry out in pain, Amos, looking at his mother's face does not say a word in return.
Elisha stumbles out of the car and, she is starting to lose her breath, she walks over to take Adah out of the car while Amos lets himself out.
''Mommy are you okay, why are you sweating so much?'' Adah asks
''Its nothing honey, you and your brother go and clean yourselves up, then I'll come and pray with you before we lunch.
The kids run up into the house and head to the bathroom, Elisha followed slowly behind, walking as if she had bags of sand tied to her feet.
''Elisha!'' Carol, her neighbor runs towards her ''why you walking so slow''
''Huh'' Elisha looks up and Carol's bright face, trying to refocus her attention
''Elisha why do you look so sick'' Carol puts her one arm around Elisha's shoulder and the other hand on her cheek
''I'm okay, don't worry about it'' Elisha slowly removes Carol's hands of her body and walks to her door.
''Hopefully I see you at bible study later today...'' Carol shouts after Elisha as she closes her door.
While Carol is walking back to her house she notices Amos at the window looking directly at her, he looks as if he wants to tell her something. Worried, Carol stops and walks towards the window.
''Are you okay Amos?'' Carol asks as she approaches the boy.
''Aunt Carol my mom is sick again..'' He says quietly
''Again... Amos you mean...'' Just as they are about to continue speaking, Elisha walks into the room, and sees Amos by the window talking to carol, in a swift move Elisha closes Amos curtain and gives him a deadly stare. Scared, Amos just runs back into the bathroom.
Carol on the other side of window starts calling out to Elisha ''Elisha can we talk... you don't look okay''
''Elisha''
''Elisha''
No response, defeated Carol goes back to her house.
While the kids where getting ready for dinner, Elisha locked herself in her room.
she set on he bed quietly for about 15 minuets, meditating
'' And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell'' she whispers under her breath, scratching her neck more and more violently, rubbing her hands to together, hot tears streaming from her eyes
''And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched'' she continues, her neck starting to bleed from the scratching.
''And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth''
Suddenly Elisha jumps up from her bed and rushes to her closet, she throws out all her clothes, banging doors and drawers; looking for a new bottle of holy oil, after almost breaking the whole closet she finds the unopened bottle of oil at the very back of her drawers. she grabs it impatiently, opens it and pours the whole thing over her head, oil dripping from her forehead she rubs it onto her face, her nose, her cheeks drenched in the thick olive oil, the entire room was smelt like olive well, She then lit up about 15 candles, burning her fingers in the process, and placed them near her windows, on her table, and a few in front of her bed, then she knelt down there in front of her bed and started to pray
''Father God in heaven forgive me I have failed to keep my children from succumbing to their sinful nature, I have failed as a parent, do not punish my children for this, I will take the blame I will offer myself as a sacrifice for my children, just like Jesus did. I will give my life for them. Forgive my children God, do not send their sinful souls to the lake of fire God please... please... please...'' she rubbed her palms together while she rocked back forth, crying in prayer.
''God I will sacrifice myself for my children, let me do that, I will go to that lake of fire on their behalf'' she stands up and goes back to searching in her closets, she searches for about 5 minuets before she goes back to that empty glass olive oil bottles. She puts the bottle in one of her t-shirts, then she breaks the bottle by smashing onto the ground. She then pulls out a huge piece of broken glass from the t-shirt and puts it on her neck. she starts to press it slowly but firmly, blood starts to trickle down the glass.
all of a sudden she stops, dropping her hands down to her lap, eyes wide open in realization ''But if I die, no one will be left here to teach my children the straight and narrow, who will care for them, who will love them''
Just then she hears a soft knock on the door ''Mommy, we are done'' Amos says
she gets up quickly, puts the broken glass in her back pocket, and runs to unlock her door
''My baby'' Elisha cries, falling to her knees to hold Amos. But Amos's body is stiff, he doesn't move a muscle, when his mother lets go of him he looks up at her, all the color drains from his face.
Just before he is about to say something, Adah walks up behind him. ''Mommy!'' the little girl cries ''There is blood on your neck, and on your hands'' she runs to hold her mother's hand
''Don't worry about that sweetheart, I'm fine, come into my room and repent'' She takes Adah and Amos's hands in her own and ushers them into her bedroom. Amos is dead silent, moving so slowly as he takes in the state of his mother's room, he sees the broken glass, the candles, the oil drenched on her face and on her shirt.
''Kneel down and repeat after me''
unreluctantly the children kneel, close their eyes and bow their heads, Adah still sobbing, but doesn't even think of protesting her mother
''Jesus we give our lives to you''
''Jesus we give our lives to you'' the kids repeat in unison
''We repent for all our sins''
''We repent for all our sins''
''We love you God''
''We love you God''
''Amen''
''Amen''
''Now keep your eyes closed and reflect on all the lies you have told, and all the secrets you have kept, all your anger, and your bad thoughts, ask God to forgive you, and give your heart unto him'' she says, standing behind her kids a pulling out the broken glass from her back pocket, she stood behind them quietly, tears streaming down her face, and she thought to herself 'I will save my children from the blackhole of sin that is this earth''
''Elisha'' There is a knock on the door, it is Carol
''Keep you eyes closed kids, don't worry about any outside noise, concentrate'' she says, moving closer to them
Unbeknown to her, on of the candles by the window set the curtain alight.
''Elisha can you open the door please!'' Carol knocks even harder
''Elisha... Elisha... Elisha...''
''No one should distract you from you time with God my children, no one''
Elisha gets on her knees, she raises her hand with the broken glass ready, then she swings her arm down towards Amos's back stabbing him in the shoulder.
Amos screams, which causes Adah to shoot her eyes open
''Don't yell child, I am trying to save you''
''Mommy what did you do to Amos!'' Adah cries
''Adah run'' Amos screams, stumbling away from his mother
''Don't you dare go anywhere little girl'' Elisha says, with a crazy smile plastered on her face.
the smoke of the curtain gets to her and she starts coughing, she runs towards the window to try and put the fire and when she gets there, there are 4 police officers by the window with their guns pointed at her head, she turns to run away, only to come face to face with Carol who has both Elisha's kids in her arms
''How did you get in here'' Elisha shouts
''Elisha, relax, I brought the police here to help you''
''Carol!'' She runs towards Carol who has started dragging the sobbing kids out of the room ''Carol give me my kids, I have to save them'' Elisha cries
Just before Elisha is about to get hold of Carol, other police officers get hold of her...
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