AN:TW: all the normal ones, homophobia

Friday

Down in the basement Gabriel was with his father. They were counting money donations.

"Father, we're actually going to get away with this. We'll be rich. Oh poor Azira he's just so willing."

Gabriel felt some kind of hate for Azira after seeing him kiss Anthony last night.

Gabriel's father placed a stack of ten dollar bills down on the table. "The boy is going to have the blame on him. He'll be dead though. Dead men can't take their money back."

Gabriel laughed, "The police will never know."

Gabriel's father said, "Cheers son. We are wonderful."

"Wonderful," Gabriel snorted, "That's a stupid, bland word."

"They love it."

"They do."

Gabriel put a hand full of money down on the table. "I can't believe you came up with this."

Gabriel's father did not create the cult. Gabriel's great-great-great grandfather created New Beginnings. That's seven generations of cult life. Considering the leadership is always passed off to the eldest son, that means the cult is over one hundred twenty years old. Gabriel's father did come up with the idea to have them pay him offerings, so they could get into Heaven. The money built up quick. It was greedy, but nobody had to say anything about that.

Gabriel's father said, "Without your help, son, we never would have went this far. Your mother would have ratted us out."

"But she's dead. Don't speak ill of the dead."

"Who cares? She was a bitch."

That was something his father wouldn't have said yesterday. Some days his father cries because he misses her. Other days his father cries because he thought she was a sinner, yet good. Some days Gabriel feels hated by his father, other days he feels loved. It's just a day to day thing. It's a very difficult thing to keep up with. It's just life for Gabriel.

Gabriel said, "I didn't know her. She was my mother though. You are my father, so obviously I trust you. I hope I'm enough for you."

"You are, son. You are. You're also going to college. Right as soon as we get out you're going to an Ivy League school."

Gabriel laughed, "That's why I'm the only one allowed to get proper schooling. They all have to deal with our arranged school. Private school. They learn things, but all of them are too dumb to really know anything."

"None of them are smart enough to realize what this is."

"Mmhm. It's so good, father, so good."

Gabriel's father asked, "What ever happened to Anthony and Beezy? Have you been keeping tabs on them?"

"Uh, yeah, they were both adopted by the same set of parents. Last night Anthony met up with Azira at Walmart, and they got mad then hugged and kissed and got mad at each other all over again."

"Huh. At least we still have Azira. What ever happened to his eldest sister?"

Gabriel said, "She changed her name to Lillian and moved to Maryland."

"Interesting. She would have been a fine member if she didn't think so much."

Gabriel said, "That's common of the Phales. They think. I'm worried Azira will eventually start to think, but that is being fixed upstairs."

"That's good. As long as we still have him, he's good."

Gabriel nodded and said, "I'll make sure he doesn't do anything to ruin this."

"Ah yes, if he does start acting up, remind him of who he is. Show him that he's branded, then tell him that's a symbol of God's love. He'll buy it."

All members of New Beginnings had a mark on the inside of their wrists. It was branded onto them when they were young or just joined the cult.

"I know he will. He's so stupid. And friendly. Oh my Lord he's friendly. It makes him seem queer and soft. He is queer and soft."

"Is he?"

Gabriel shrugged and sighed, "Definitely queer. Mention Anthony once and watch him. He freaks out and starts sweating. He has nervous patterns and he does all of them. I have no doubt they've banged before. That whole thing last night with the Holy Water was just an act."

Last Night

"Anthony- oh Anthony Crowley was there and he tried to do impure things to me! He did something only for the deepest of lovers! He kissed me! He touched my lips to his and- oh I feel nasty!" Azira screamed as he got inside. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. "I need holy water!"

Gabriel walked into his anti-possession room. He poured a glass of holy water and brought it to Azira.

After that they all sat down and prayed. They prayed as hard as they could.

"Lord, may you free Azira from the sin of homosexuality!" Gabriel shouted. He used his loud, preaching voice to shout it.

In all actuality, Gabriel didn't care.

Now

"Interesting. He's a good actor. Either that or he's a strong believer, or possibly both."

"I say both. He screams about it all the time. Bible Discussion and Study Meetings are more like public confession when he's around."

Gabriel's father laughed, "Bible Discussion and Study Meetings. Nobody knows what BDSM actually stands for."

Gabriel said, "They can't be having sinful sex, father, for that is... Well a sin. Sodomy."

The two laughed about that and continued to count money. This was all their big happy plan.

Gabriel didn't feel happy with it though. Unfortunately, he's seen the outside. He knows that it's wrong to swindle people like this.

He just wouldn't do anything about it.

He'd never disappoint his father like that.