Chapter 1

"September 20th" I read the calendar silently. It was my birthday but as usual I won't be celebrating because it is an unholy celebration. From a young age we were taught not to be swayed by worldly celebrations that will end only on earth. We were taught to always set our eyes on the afterlife and to not accommodate distractions like birthdays.

After all, life only starts after death.

This day made me seventeen, bit I didn't feel a bit older. Neither did I look so. I sighed and looked at the mirror. A chocolate coloured girl with a round face and slanted dark brown eyes like burnt sugar, a pointed little nose and full lips stared back at me.

"We are leaving in five minutes!" Mother announced from the hallway. I quickly slapped some powder on my face (the only luxury of makeup I was allowed) And carried my bag that contained nothing but broken pencils, few torn papers and my beloved Believers Bible.

Downstairs was in chaos as everyone struggled to meet up Mother's deadline which was Father's indirectly. My fraternal twin siblings; Anne and Andrew were in engaged in a heated argument of the correct way to put on shoes.

"Nooo! This one goes to the left leg" Anne said

"That is your right leg Anne" Andrew said, his hand curled into a tight fist. I wouldn't be surprised if he started clawing her face. He had done it before and received the beating of his life and a promised trip to the punishment room. The memory made me shiver.

"Give me those" I said swiping the pair of shoes from Anne and helped her put it on. All the while looking over my shoulders for any sign of Mother or Father but it was my elder brother Justus who bolted into the parlor searching for God knows what.

"Have you seen my music note?" He asked. I could hear his heart beating five hundred times per second. I shrugged which only made him frantic. Then he looked at the twins and it clicked.

"I swear if the both of you do not produce my music note right now I will -"

"Sons of God. What are you children still doing here? I thought you will all be waiting outside by now" Mother came from the kitchen wearing her earrings and stopping what would have been a massacre from happening.

Justus was still heaving in mad rage. Anne and Andrew for their own good ran outside after Mother.

"Relax at least you know the song" I said. The songs sung at the temple sounded all alike only with different lyrics. That was where Justus was lucky. He wasn't a singer but a percussionist, all he had to do was listen.

"That is the problem. I do not know which song. Remember I didn't go for rehearsals yesterday because I was busy reading for missionary exams" His frustration was clear now. He was beyond exhausted and it showed all over his face although it did nothing to mask his handsomeness.

"You will do fine. You always do well" It wasn't a lie. Justus is a natural at excelling and I was meant to follow.

We heard Father's heavy footsteps coming down the staircase.

"We better go outside" Justus whispered and I agreed. Father appeared almost immediately.

"We are now one of the head family in the temple. We have to be early to set an example" Father said with a tint of pride.

Normally, Father made it a point to always be punctual and orderly but ever since he was made one of the elders in the temple few months ago, he became more obsessed with being on time and attending services. His eagerness to set 'an example' knew no bounds and frankly it was beginning to wear me out.

I had volunteered to help at every event when help was needed because of Father. The only time I had turned down an offer was when the choir was looking for more singers. I could sing but the strain made my throat hurt and it wasn't worth the pain.

Father let me know how disappointed he was in me by giving me scars on my back with the rod.

However being an elder at the temple came with many benefits. First benefit was our relocation to the beautiful and serene Elder Street where all the head families stayed. Then the second was the privilege to own and drive a car.

We drove past other Believers who were also going to the temple on foot. The distance between the house and the temple wasn't much but why do we own a car if not to drive and show our new status as leaders of the temple?

Aside from status, the car served as a validation of Father's immense support and loyalty to the Vicar and the temple. It wasn't easy to keep to all the laws guiding the Believers gathering. (Which is one of the criteria to become an elder.)

There were so many things we were forbidden to do. So many rules and laws we had remember always. But the most important one was never to leave camp without a permission, even as an adult.

The world is full of terror, wickedness, temptations and distractions that would prevent us from making the kingdom. Not to mention the devilish devices from the pit of hell under the code name of technology which is used to trap and control people who don't know better.

Besides the camo had everything that we needed. A clinic, the Believers school, (where all the children in Camp attended) The fields, stores which we sold and bought goods by trade by batter because money is the root of all evil. The farm were almost all the food consumed were grown. And most importantly the temple where our worship to God and his sons was done.

I, like every other teenager my age was born in the camp and we would die here because it is necessary for the redemption of our souls.

We arrived at the temple in record time. The temple was easily the biggest building in the camp as it was built to accommodate thousands of people even though there was only about a few hundred believers in the whole world.

Service started thirty minutes after we came in. Father went to sit at the altar with the other elders. Justus vanished to join the instrumentalists. Mother, the twins and I were left to sit in the congregation. There was no Sunday school for us as today was announced as a special service.

After a few moments of worship headed by the choir. Vicar Paul, a tall slight man with a bald head and clean shaved chin. His skin was a shade of dark chocolate that always made me think of shoe polish. He's evenly shaped body made him look younger than his supposed age of late fifties. He is the only head of the Believers gathering. The second son of God in the flesh and comforter to those who believe.

We all stood in reverence as he came to the pulpit. We were to remain standing until he said otherwise.

He silently murmured a prayer then in a deep and audible voice he said.

"Brethrens open your Believers Bible to Matthew 5 verse 29" The temple instantly became filled with rattled of turning pages. After a minute or two when the noise died down, he cried in an elevated tenor. "Read!"

The temple read at once.

"If your right eye causes you to fall, force it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown in hell."

"Brethren" He started with a pained smile. "A sister of ours has committed a great sin and it would be wrong if we do not do as the Bible instructs"

The hairs on my neck stood. I had a bad feeling about this.

"Bring in the girl" He ordered, his voice suddenly cold. The temple door flew open on this decree a girl who I recognised immediately as my senior in school was dragged in by two sentinels. Her hands were bound at her back. Her eyes wild with fury as she fought to be released with mad strength, shouting and kicking all at once. Her wounded body and matted hair showed that she had spent enough time being tortured in the punishment room.

It was unfortunate that her plight to be released would be denied because she had sinned and she would be punished as the scripture demands.

She was hauled to the altar. The temple was filled with a thick silence and stillness I could feel it choking me. The only sound to be heard was the girl's cry.

The girl was tied to an erect wooden board in a manner that she faced the congregation and everyone could see her face. Binoculars would be provided to people who sat behind. Nobody would be left out of the action.

"This girl. Ade Susan" The vicar pointed strongly at her but his concentration was on the congregation. "She was caught reading a book that wasn't approved by the temple and that is against the law of our faith and according to the scripture" A knife was handed to him. I knew what he was going to do but I hoped to be wrong.

"One of her eyes must be forced out as punishment" He decreed sternly, looking at us with what I thought was excitement.

I felt a shiver go down my spine but I must maintain a straight face void of any emotion because if I do, I might end up taking her place.

I heard a soft whimper by my side. I looked down to see tears threatening to spill from Anne's eyes. Andrew tried his best to keep her calm by holding her hand.

The law didn't care if she was only six years old, she would be punished for every year for every tear drop.

"Mother can I be excused to take Anne to the restroom." I whispered even though I knew it was impossible to leave the temple at this time.

"Be quick and be back on time, no one must know that you are gone" Mother whispered back at me from the corner of her mouth.

I took Anne by the hand and led her out if the temple as quickly as I could.

"Where are you going to" An usher blocked my way. Just wanted I needed.

"She isn't feeling well and is about to vomit" I lied. He looked quizzically at Anne who held her tummy in pretence and made a sick face. I hope it was pretense.

"Be quick" He said sternly.

Just as we left the temple. Susan gave a horrified cry that was too animal like to be human. The cry indicated that her eye must have been removed.

The organ started playing to drown out her cries. I could hear the shrill cry of celebrate.

A sinner had been punished and hence she was cleansed. The sinner has been saved.