chapter 3

Michelle walked into the house jubilantly, but she stopped short at the sight of gloomy Abraham, who wasn't responding with his usual complaints towards her.

"Abraham…sweetie! How was your day? Why are you looking so

weird ,and scary? What happened?" Abraham couldn't respond

,and kept staring at the ceiling. She sat by him, patted his head ,and finally forcibly shook him.

"What's going on with you? Where's your mind wandering to? Snap out of it or I'll call the police." Abraham turned his head to her monotonously, looking like an old robot.

"Nothing special happened. It's just that Eve, the vampire, keeps sucking my blood constantly. that devil!"

Abraham threw the Foreclosure notice he got from Eve towards her. Michelle looked through it slowly ,and couldn't believe what she saw. She read out loud.

"Foreclosure notice? Failure of alimony payment? A stay of exit order against the defendant Abraham Menis." She went through the documents again in shock,and put them down on the table.

"Wow, Wow! What happened with the alimony? I thought you paid her!" Abraham suddenly snapped at Michelle, who paled ,and retreated.

"Are you secret police? Are you grilling me too? I told Eve I've been having a bad time lately at work. There was a lot of cancelled

production. Some I haven't been paid for yet. What do you want? You want me to rob a bank? Work as a call girl? Work as a hitman? What can I do, Michelle!"

Michelle stood up. He was sure she was going to slap him for his problems, or she was going to curse him. To his amazement, she hugged him tightly ,and kissed him.

"Don't worry, Abraham! I'll take care of this debt ,and I'll get the stay of exit order cancelled." She laughed. "Maybe we can have a little vacation abroad because of it…you, me ,and my big belly,and our sweet baby."

Abraham's face paled as she mentioned the pregnancy ,and the baby, but he forced himself to smile ,and hug her. He rained kisses on her after he realized he'll be saved from Eve's chokehold thanks to her

"Thank you, Michelle! I love you so much,and I'm so glad we're going to have a baby. ,and the main thing is that Eve can go to hell. But before this happens, let her burst with jealousy. Now I'm going to make coffee. Do you want some too?"

"Umm, yes, you make good coffee…spoil me a little. " She placed the documents in her bag. Abraham walked into the kitchen full of energy ,and happiness. He waited for the water to boil.

"The fight continues, Eve…you may have won the battle, but I promise you I'll win the war…I'll land the killing blow on you one of these days ,and defeat you! I'll destroy you until there's nothing left of you!"

The sun had already begun setting after a long grueling day of work. Abraham, Michelle ,and Isaac took a walk to the town center. Michelle, dressed in casual clothes, hugged Isaac with one hand as the other handheld the bag hanging from her shoulder. Isaac was dressed in a t-shirt, jeans,and sneakers. One hand hugged Michelle, barely,and the other was holding a slice of pizza from which he was taking deep bites. Abraham, dressed in his best clothes, trailed behind them, smoking ,and watching them without

interest ,and disgust with the way Isaac ate the pizza. Michelle turned around to face Abraham.

"Maybe we should get Isaac another slice? He seems to like it." "Yes, Michelle, get me another. It is good."

Isaac answered quickly with his mouth full. Pieces of pizza spat out from his mouth ,and hit passers-by as they stared at him angrily. Abraham choked with shame as Michelle hugged Isaac ,and laughed. Abraham hugged Isaac with one hand, Michelle with his other,and they kept walking. The group continued in a good mood until they noticed a crowd of people. Abraham pulled them to the center.

"Let's see what's happening. I hope those hoes give out money."

Abraham pushed people aside, squeezed himself more ,and more towards the center,and dragged the embarrassed Michelle ,and frightened Isaac behind him. Abraham barely managed to get to the center, breathing heavily. The three of them opened their eyes, stunned.

"I'll dam…what is this? What are these creatures doing?"

Michelle covered her gaping mouth ,and tried not to laugh. Isaac watched the weird group of people like they were aliens. There were nine men, women,and children of various ages holding ancient

,and strange instruments, dancing ,and singing biblical chants weirdly ,and monotonously. The youngest one was about 4 years old,and the oldest was past fifty-five. They were all dressed in a biblical style, which included white robes that reached their feet

,and simple fabric belts fastened at the waist. On their feet, they wore sandals,and their heads were covered with colored head- kerchiefs. At the center of the group stood the leader; a fat, balding stout man. Handsome, tall,and impressive. He was about 40 years old. He stood on a little brown stool. Unlike the others, he was wearing an Arabic robe ,and a brown headscarf. His face was fat,

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,and he had fierce eyes. A beard ,and a moustache grew wildly on his face like the black hair on his head. He wore simple black shoes.

On his neck was a gold necklace with a square bronze pendant with 12 beautiful stones of different colors ,and textures at the center.

Other people were trying to make their way into the group ,and one of the curious ones yelled toward him, "You said your name is the bible disciples, but what's your name? Do you even have a name?"

"My name is Joshua Solomon. It is a combination of Joshua, who brought down the walls of Jericho ,and Solomon, the wisest of all men. I am God's messenger for the redemption of humankind. You are all God's children,and in me, you shall put your trust." Abraham ,and Michelle smirked, which made Joshua angry. One of the people in the crowd burst out with laughter ,and mocked Joshua

,and his faith.

"Forget it. Forget the Bible. It's just a fantasy. You are God's messenger like I'm the Martians’ messenger." Some people of faith in the crowd were appalled ,and angry at this exchange ,and said to the curious man.

"It’s not right mocking the bible, young man."

"Did you forget the blows delivered by God? Ten plagues of Egypt, two destroyed temples, two world wars, the holocaust, reality shows."

"God is punishing us because of people like you…agnostics that

have no God."

"What do you believe in, young man? A nice car? Money? Women? Lying ,and cheating?"

The man, stunned by the responses, began praying silently to be left alone ,and quickly moved away. Abraham decided to prove to everyone that the new king was a liar. He grabbed Isaac by one hand

,and Michelle by the other ,and approached Joshua. Sure, he wanted to humiliate Joshua the way he could. Joshua looked at Abraham scornfully ,and his look lingered on Isaac's beautiful face.

Abraham screamed out loud, "Who are you? What do you want from us? What are you trying to prove?"

"We are the bible's disciples…we are people who love ,and want to help anyone who wishes our Help. We do not force ourselves or our faith on anyone. All members of our cult decided to join of their own free choice, with no coercion, pressure, threats, or blackmail. You are welcome to join. We will take care of your every need. What is your name, dear man?"

Abraham was embarrassed for a moment but immediately felt like the lead actor in a movie with all eyes on his character adoringly

,and answered with his chest puffed with pride ,and his head held high.

"My name is Abraham, this is my son, Isaac,and my partner, Michelle. Just so you know, Mr. Entertainment! I don't believe in the bible.”

Voices of consent ,and dissent sounded around him. There were even some enthusiastic clapping that died down as soon as Joshua shouted ,and continued in an authoritative threatening tone.

"Listen to him…don't believe in God, don't believe in the bible disciples, don't believe in anything…,and of course, don't believe in himself…that's okay! Do you like living like that? Is this what you want out of life? No direction? No meaning? No faith? You're all living out there…what are you? Logs? Cattle? Animals? Bacteria? Who are you?"

Some people in the crowd moaned ,and got angry upon hearing this, but Abraham got over his nerves to continue ,and angrily berated him.

"This is bullshit…who are you? Who are you trying to kid? Maybe you're an escapee from a mental institute."

Most of the people in the crowd who were people of faith on various levels were enraged by Abraham's words, but his supporters argued with them.

Joshua raised his hands ,and silenced everyone with his charismatic hypnotizing voice reminiscent of the speakers like Churchill.

"Silence! Quiet! Don't you understand you've been given a gift from God? He sent me to open your eyes, light your path,and enlighten your hearts. He ,and I love you more than ourselves. Give me the power to lead you into heaven."

A loud burst of clapping ,and cheering echoed—even those who questioned Joshua until now cheered him. Abraham glanced at Joshua from the corner of his eye with jealousy. Michelle retreated, sheltering Isaac with her body ,and watched Joshua in fear ,and scorn. Joshua nodded his head lightly at his people ,and they began singing ,and dancing to the sound of cheering from the crowd. Joshua, who sang ,and danced with his people, waved his hands toward Abraham ,and signaled him for join him with the support of the enthralled disciples.

"Come, Abraham. Come ,and join us, join God. Bring Isaac ,and Michelle with you. "

Joshua noticed Abraham's eyes, focused with lust on a female disciple ,and his body already moving to the beat. Isaac ,and Michelle joined in the danced,and Joshua continued,

"Let's dance ,and thank the good lord for choosing us from among the animals to continue his path."

Everybody danced ,and sang, looking like a group of crazy people on leave from the nearest mental institute. Joshua hugged Abraham

,and suddenly raised his hand towards the sky, signaling for it all to cease.

He hugged Isaac with his right arm ,and Abraham with his left ,and spoke, "Do you know who these two dear people are? These are Abraham ,and Isaac. Abraham ,and Isaac, the biblical heroes."

A strange sense of supreme joy started flowing through Abraham who smiled proudly ,and vainly at Joshua's words, "God chose you

,and Isaac to be here…you are part of us…you are part of the bible

disciple's family! I want you to come ,and visit us in our dwelling, the woods by "Albertson" correctional facility."

Joshua turned to everyone. Abraham was excited ,and admired the amazing hypnotizing performance by Joshua.

"God has chosen Abraham ,and his son Isaac to show us all the truth! But really – the truth! Abraham! You are the chosen one. Soon, very soon, God will guide you in his mysterious ways! ,and when he does, you will understand that God is with you everywhere, all the time. ,and when God tries you, Be ready. You are a symbol of wonder of his strength ,and power."

Joshua again signaled his people,and they broke out, singing ,and dancing. Joshua held the hand of a 5-year-old from the cult ,and took him to a remote, secluded spot hidden from the crowd, unaware that Abraham was following him with his gaze. Michelle felt an unexplainable sense of uneasiness ,and even slight fear ,and tugged on Abraham's shoulder.

"I want to go right now. I think we're dealing with lunatics who should have been apprehended a long time ago."

a few minutes until I get back. I just want to check something out."

Abraham disappeared in the direction Joshua left. Michelle held Isaac's hand ,and watched the surreal cultists. Abraham hid behind a deserted building ,and peeked at Joshua, who stood hidden from the crowd behind a wall! Suddenly he grabbed the boy ,and started stroking him perversely. The boy was embarrassed ,and confused

,and had trouble saying anything. Joshua continued ,and kissed the boys' hair, neck,and mouth. Suddenly a stranger walked by ,and watched him suspiciously. Joshua noticed him ,and retreated.

"What are you doing to the boy? Leave him alone, or I'm calling the police" Joshua hurriedly answered gently

"This is my son, sir. Don't worry about him. The boy is upset,and I'm trying to help him! I'm a clinical psychologist ,and an expert at

helping depressed children. My son wants to run away from home

,and I must get him to think straight. "

The Stranger nodded his head understandingly. Joshua hugged the boy. Fondly smiled back to the Stranger, who waved goodbye. The Stranger disappeared. Joshua was concerned about the Stranger's reaction ,and hurriedly returned to the disciples with the boy ,and they all continued dancing. Abraham left his hiding place ,and watched the cult with a hard-cold face.