"Stop kidding around and pray!" Maya states reprimanding Jay who replies "amen" in response,

(I've never had much faith, even less after 'that')

"What's that Maya?" Jay inquires pointing at the basket held up towards the trio.

"That's an offering basket Jay"

"Is it okay to give a lot?, I've got a hundred credit bill on me. Can i give that?"

"It's not about giving a lot Jay"

"That fine i was planning on going to the arcade anyway"

"Hmm" the two turn to the sun blonde haired boy by the seat's edge

"Why's he giving a candy wrap?"

"JAY!, don't mind him Daryun" she states turning to the boy in grey worn out clothing, "what did you pray for?"

"I prayed to God to heal my mom" the boy replied while beaming the girl a smile.

(For the boy who'd believed in God before he was even born, blessed with a mother who was an angel)

The three walk down into the poorer part of town where a fair skinned woman could be seen beyond the corner shop door giving little kids hair cuts

"There you are!…how're you two?" She inquires staring at Jay and Maya,

"We're fine Mrs Won" the girl beamed in reply

"How can i help you lovely kids today"

"Jay needs a hair cut" Maya states pushing the protesting boy forward and into an empty chair

"Your not going to snip my ears right?, I hear you can't see too well these days"

"JAYSON!" Maya screams towards the boy, the lady chuckles in response while brushing his hair lightly "that's quite harsh Jay my eyes aren't that bad yet"

"Daryun, your mother really is an angel" a man of average height with mop black hair and a light stubble smiles towards the group, "thank you for your contribution sister"

"This is nothing brother, you've even spent a lot of your money on food for the children" the smiling woman replies referencing the bag of rice placed atop his shoulder

(The preacher had given the rice to Daryuns mother and assisted with their up-keep, and i wondered, was everyone involved in church activities an angel?)

"There" Daryun's mother states tying rainbow colored bracelets around each of the trio's wrists.

Looking up to the woman Jay spoke up the fastest

"What's this?"

"If you wait till it grows old and falls off by itself you'll be granted one wish", having heard the smiling woman's response jay begins to tighten the bracelet furiously chanting his wish incessantly into his mind,

(Maya will be my wife Maya Jean and i will married, she'll be the wife! Maya Ross!)

"You have to wait till it falls of naturally" she states chuckling as Jay pulled on the band furiously.

"Mom can i have two wishes?" The sun blonde boy inquires,

"of course you can darling, You can have as many as you want"

Smiling in response the boy clasps his hands and assumes his prayer position,

(firstly i wish mom's eyes get healed and secondly i wish to be beside Maya to protect her forever)

(But as with all things time brings change)

Sprinting towards the scene Jay's anger flares at the sight of the wheezing boy coughing violently while on the ground, three boys loom above his grounded form while continuously assaulting him, smashing his fist into the face of the first, Jay sends a jab into the temple of the other, before leaving the third him floored with an uppercut, Daryun watches as Jay the strongest boy in school saves him yet again, Jay extends a hand towards the injured boy but his gaze wonders to Maya who's standing a few feet away and he's up in a sprint.

"That bastard pretends like he doesn't even know us now"

Stolen story; please report.

"I'm sure he's going through a lot Jay" Maya replies unable to hide her apparent sadness.

Daryun still clutching his side comes to a halt before his small apartment door, pushing it aside the fleeting memory of an angel is quickly shattered by the blind and obviously insane woman crouched on her fours with a freightingly contorted visage

"Pray!, Pray! You devil child!, demon spawn!!, For I have seen, i have seen!, you are a demon!"

Watching the woman scream in-congruently the boy bites down against his teeth clutching the door handle till his knuckles turn white,

(why?, I gave all i had, why have you forsaken me, why have you forsaken my mother?),

"If i off...if i offer, i will see, god will let me see, pray, pray to him, our Dog god!"

Holding out till his mother falls asleep he steps out of the apartment, exhaustion painted on his face, Daryun wanders around aimlessly before finding himself at a gym, Jay's gym, he listens from the doors edge as the shouts of encouragement Eco pass the door,

(everywhere i go he's all i hear about, even at home i cannot escape it, rich and talented, i in comparison poor and weak, it's obvious why she would be more interested in...)

"Daryun" a voice whispered behind him almost breathlessly.

"Why haven't you been coming to church?, why have you been avoiding us?, How's your mom?" Maya inquires in quick succession,

"No!" He replies, hastily sprinting away from the gym door, a while later Daryun finds himself standing before his apartment door for the second time today, stepping into the apartment he's met by a rare sight if his blind mother seated calmly and Maya seated on the chair opposite her.

"Oh Daryun, it's been so long since i last came over, i just wanted to say hi to your mom"

(Then that means she...),

"Oh my Daryun?, Is that you?" freezing in place at the sight of his mother's calm reply and her beaming smile, memories of his childhood flash by.

"It really is a pleasure to see you Maya"

"Likewise Mrs Won, i didn't know you had changed churches, Daryun never told me" Maya replies giving the boy a stern look, "since daryun's here now i'll be on my way, i'll come over again sometime" she states shooting them her usual beaming smile before she exits their apartment

"Mom...." The boy calls out tensely "are you...okay" he states after a light pause

"But of course!, i have BEEN CHOSEN!" The woman answers in reply as her face contorts visiously.

"There's a three day prayer retreat, you will go with me!"

Exiting his home instantly Daryun quickly makes his way to the church,

"Your mom is taking you to a prayer retreat?"

"I'm really not sure myself, she seemed so.....normal all of a sudden, I've tried to get her to reveal the location but it's been fruitless, the police won't help so i really only have a story to tell" Daryun replies face in hand.

"I'll go with you" the preacher states

"Uncle!" He calls in agitation

"Don't bother trying to talk me out if it, i can't abandon a lost sheep, you're still young Daryun, and it's my duty as a preacher and a family friend to help you both"

Daryun stares towards the man wo gazes at him in determination with unrestrained adoration.

After several days of anxious anticipation he finds himself inside the preachers truck. Seated up top with his mother is the preacher holding the wheels.

"Thank you for inviting me Mrs won"

"It's my pleasure, I'm not surprised you're also interested in out retreat, You've always been a blessed child, you may yet receive salvation" she concludes beaming them a smile, "I'm exited to be going to Eden aren't you too?" She inquires turning towards Jay and Maya

"Yeah!" The two respond in reply for very different reasons.

"Your mom invited me when i came over the other day" Maya states answering Daryun unasked question

"You ignored me but still hang out with Maya?, I Can't allow that!" Jay interjects While Daryun looks at the duo with ardent dismay,

(No matter what happens i have to protect her!),

Several hours later the truck gradually comes to a halt along the rocky forest surface, standing before them is a short plainly dressed man sporting an unnerving smile,

"Welcome my brother's and sister's, welcome to EDEN!. You'll have to walk the rest of the way from here, follow me closely"

"Take my arm ma'am" Jay states stretching his arm towards Daryun's mom who thanks him in reply,

The group after a few minutes of walking up hill find themselves standing before two tall metal bar gates, the gates pull apart after the insertion of a password, Jay and Maya exclaim excitedly but a grim expression dawns on Daryun's young visage

Stepping into the 'holy' grounds, far off into the distance they see a huge cross, large enough for a person to be crucified, it is embedded into the ground and towering ominously above it's surroundings almost seeming from their angle to touch the sky. Maya offers a silent prayer with clasp hands as the group make their way further into the grounds, coming to a halt the short man turns to address them,

"The adults and children have separate classes, my colleague here will escort the kids to their section, but you must leave your phones or any other gadget here"

"There taking our phones!?" Jay calls in distaste,

"This is pretty normal at church teen events", Maya speaks up in response.

"Heed god's words kids" Daryun's mother states as she walks off with the aide of the preacher

"It's quite exiting, the adults aren't with us" Jay states with a wandering mind

"We'll all be praying together though" Maya replies seeming to have grasped his thoughts,

The trio follow behind the man set to lead them, coming to a stop before a warehouse Jay exclaims unhappily

"A warehouse?, Seriously?"

"Stop complaining it's neat"

Stepping in the other kids dressed in all white shirt wmd trousers turn towards them,

"Huh?, New kids?, Middle schoolers"

"Aww i wish they were in high school"

"At least they aren't in elementary school"

Stepping forward guardedly Jay greets them rather tensely

"Hey...." He greets as his intuition blares against their stay here,

The group greet in unison and in response the kids run up to hug Maya, pulling her along to play, Jay frowns briefly when noticing the shaved heads of all the males present.

"Hey, you're middle schoolers right?" One of the older boys walks up inquiring with a bright smile. "What're your names?"

"Jay"…

"I'm Maya" ...

"Daryun" the three respond

"Jay.... come outside for a bit, i have to tell you something" Daryun states, the duo make their way out of the warehouse before giving it a wide distance to ensure they can speak in private.

"What's up man?"

"Jay.....i...i think this might be a cult!"

Jays fists flashes forward in reply, reeling from the blow, Daryun staggers but is caught by Jay who heaves him up by his collars,

"a cult?, You brought us to a fucking cult?…i get why you had to come, but as someone who talks a big game of wanting to protect her you brought her right into a den full of psychotic patients!?" pushing the stunned boy away Jay paces about in circles while pondering furiously as on a suitable solution,

"Jay....."

Hearing his name Jay turns towards Daryun following his pointed finger towards it's mark he inhales sharply as he stares down towards the giant crucifix.

"Let's go",

The two make their way towards the cross before coming to a halt at the sight before them, Daryun turns away releasing his vomit in the bushes but Jay stands staring wide-eyed as he wonders if the bloodied person is even alive, hitting is feet against a rock he looks down noticing the blood covered rocks and the stains on the soil,

(so that's where the bruises and injuries come from), staring up towards the bruised man he calls out towards him

"Hey, hey!" He calls repeatedly, eventually the man squirms in response before speaking up weakly.

"Es...cape...yo...u...ha..ve..t..o...lea..ve".