Children Of The Sacred Gate

My name is Brother Arthro but I am told that I no longer need to use that name if I wish. I am to understand that my childhood has been anything but ordinary; however in this strange world of colored lights and deafening noise I no longer know what is normal. I have been advised by a man referring to himself as my attorney that I should write out my experience using my own words, even if they seem unbelievable. So here is my story, make of it what you will.

I was born into “The Children Of The Sacred Gate” and we are a self contained commune. We have existed for 3 generations in our village living a life of peace and prosperity. I am told that when I was born my body was lifted towards the stars by The Beloved himself. Children are considered the greatest gift by our commune. Our community is one of love but also discipline and structure. One must follow the commands of the sacred tomes.

The most important rule is that no one is above Father Gavin. He is the great leader of our people. The title was handed down to him from his father and his father before him. He is a man of great love and wisdom. To even be in his presence causes overwhelming serenity. His ancestors led us from the land of darkness and into the light of the commune. We follow without question for though he is a kind man he can be cold and vengeful at the slightest disobedience. I witnessed this first hand on two separate occasions but I am getting ahead of myself. To understand what happened to me and why I left you must understand my community.

Our commune runs on a simple but strict hierarchy. The lowest rung are those that tend to the village. Farmers, builders, spinsters and the like. Now don’t misunderstand me, these folk are not disrespected in any way, far from it they are seen as the backbone of our people, they simply held the least power. The next rung are the clergy and those that work directly for the church. Next are The Guardians, who are Gavin’s personal servants. They watch over the community and the surrounding forest protecting us from the darkness that dwells beyond our borders. Then there are The Beloved’s wives known as “The Brides”. Father Gavin always has to have five Brides, who are to always walk with him. Whenever a bride passes on, which seems to happen every few years, he will immediately take upon another. She must be a pure, unwedded woman of no less than 20 years of age. They all wear simple but regal white dresses with a thick white veil over their faces, for only The Beloved is permitted to look upon them. To be chosen as a Bride is considered the greatest honour, for The Brides are second only to Gavin himself.

There is one other position, one of great importance and honour. Once a generation one member of the commune would be chosen to be The Vagabond. They are the only people ever permitted to venture beyond our borders. They would be given a mission known only between themselves and our leader. They venture forth only to return once they have achieved a great age and the next Vagabond would be sent forth. Only the most loyal and trustworthy of members would even be considered for such a noble position. It was truly a great honour and joy when my very own father was chosen 5 years ago. Though I missed him terribly I knew that his pilgrimage was of the utmost importance.

Life without my father was a difficult one. I had no blood brothers and therefore no male figure in my home to look up to. The Gate was kind in its mercy in providing a strong male role model and friend in the form of Brother Darian. He was a few years older than me but always treated me as an equal. He was a boy of strength and kindness. He never feared darkness or even at times the hierarchy. Out of sight of the Guardians, he would do impersonations of the Beloved that had all the boys bursting with stifled laughter. He was the truest friend I ever had.

My years spent in the commune were truly joyous ones. My days were spent in both worship and study. Education was considered crucial to our people. “The path to darkness is paved with ignorance.” Byron 45:17. We would read the scripture passed down from the first Beloved and have long discussions of their true meaning. After studies we would aid our community in whatever way the clergy saw fit. Every night of the full moon we would have a community night service around the fire where we would sing and dance until sunrise. When I turned 12 I was allowed into the second layer made of the older boys. We were to be trained to become strong patriarchs to our families. It was around the bonfire of my first night that the Beloved himself told me the origin of our people. I have always had a powerful memory and I present to you his words verbatim:

“Before man, before life, before time itself there was the Gate. It stood on the edge of the universe in solitude. Over eons unmeasurable the Gate opened and from its sacred mouth our universe emerged. The Gate then gave birth to life itself and man walked the surface of the Earth. For a time there was nothing but peace however even the Gate could not keep out the darkness from before creation. That darkness began to consume mankind turning it into feral creatures of war, greed and sin. That was how it continued for countless generations until The First came. He was not bred of man but born from the Gate itself, the last true birthing known to our people. He was not corrupted by the ancient darkness, he was pure. With great risk he gathered a flock of rescued children and brought them here. Through his wisdom we have learned the truth and what was once a mere flock is now a thriving community. Though the rest of humanity lives in darkness we live in service of the Sacred Gate awaiting such a time that it will open again and bless us all.”

At the time I was completely enthralled by his incredible words. My faith in Father Gavin was unwavering. That was until the first instance where I saw his wrath. It was a few months ago when all of the second layer were bought together. We were herded by the Guardians around one of our own, Brother Darian. He knelt at the foot of The Beloved with a look of great sorrow. When all of the boys were gathered Gavin addressed us. “My children, one among you has committed the ultimate taboo. He has left the boundaries of our commune and he returned with a tome of darkness itself!” He threw something on the ground and a gasp went through all the other boys. The thrown item was a small book yet it was nothing like our scriptures. It seemed to have some colourful drawings of a smiling boy. I made out the letters “Arch” before the Beloved doused the book with oil and lit it aflame.

We all stood in silence as the book burned, none of us daring to even take breath. Our father looked at all of our faces sternly. “I see confusion in some of you but let me be clear. This sin may seem minor to some of you but I assure you, there is no minor sin.” Gavin motioned Darian to rise which he did without hesitation. He took the boy’s hands and for the briefest of moments I thought he had been forgiven. “A sin can start off small.” With that he poured a small amount of burning oil over Darian’s hand. “But sin spreads and burns the soul itself.” I watched in horror as the oil spread over his hand sending him into restrained grunts. Finally The Beloved let him go and Darian fell to his knees, cupping his wound.

Gavin knelt down to the boy’s level and looked him dead in the eyes. His eyes held no love, no gentleness, only fierce anger. “The wound you bear is one you have inflicted upon yourself. The pain does not absolve you of your sins. Do you wish to be absolved?” Darian, who even when he was being burned did not flinch, now turned pure white. Even the dresses of the Brides were not as pale as the boy before me. He began to shake and his face bore a look of absolute terror. However through both fear and tears he managed to get out the single word “Yes”.

The Beloved smiled and gently took the boy across the field where a simple metal hatch lay. If possible the boy shook even harder than before. Father Gavin gently stroked his arm. “Do not fear my child for if you truly wish to be absolved then there is only one path. I ask once more do you wish to be absolved?” A single tear rolled down the boy’s face and he nodded. His body no longer shook. Gavin opened the hatch and I swear the whole world went silent. I tried to get a look inside and glanced at a ladder before one of the older boys held me back shaking his head at me. No one made a sound but I swear I could hear something coming from the hatch. It sounded almost like a hum but I thought I could make out faint whispers behind it.

The Beloved gestured to the hatch and with no argument Darian went down the ladder into the hole. Father Gavin closed and sealed the hatch, that was when the screaming started. Darian, a boy who feared not the dark, was screaming in absolute terror. For two days he screamed as if he was being murdered and on the third day he fell silent. It would still be another three days before he emerged and when he did he was no longer the boy I knew. His hair was blindingly white with a complexion to match. He never again spoke unless spoken to by someone higher. He no longer laughed or had interest in games. The only time he truly came alive was during the monthly night service where his voice rang to the stars in praise of the Gate. The brother I knew was gone forever.

Looking back I should have left then but I was too far in. I no longer knew if it was faith or fear that kept me there but I stayed nonetheless. That was until tonight, the night my father came home from his pilgrimage. No Vagabond had ever returned in less than 30 years, it was not his time and yet into the village he strode. I ran to meet him but he walked right past me and straight to The Beloved who took him to his home. I didn’t realise how much I had missed my father until I saw him. Against the rules and my better judgement I snuck over to Gavin’s home.

Thankfully darkness had fallen or I would never have gotten past the Guardians. My path took me past the strange hatch and chill rushed through my body. I moved past it quickly and crouched beneath the window of his den. I could hear my father and Gavin talking, however I could not make out their words. That was until my father belted out “SCREW YOUR GATES!” I found myself completely dumbfounded. I had never heard my father speak that way before and he had certainly never used that tone with The Beloved. The father I knew would never dream of it, he was far too loyal.

I risked rising up and peaking through the curtain. Inside was indeed my father and The Beloved, as always flanked by his five brides. Gavin seemed shocked but not shaken. He leaned back and tented his fingers. “Brother Jacob you speak in the manner of the dark ones.” My father grew angry and thrust his finger towards him. “You are the dark one, you and this whole godforsaken place!” I saw The Beloved twitch at the word god. He didn’t interrupt however and let my father continue. “You have been lying to us from the beginning, you and your fathers. I see the truth now and I’m not putting up with it anymore. I am taking my family and getting out of here.”

The Guardians in the room moved to grab my father but a single raised finger from Gavin stopped them in their tracks. He stared at my father with far too calm eyes. “Brother Jacob you have been corrupted by the darkness and have committed the ultimate sin. Were you any other man you would be dead already, however I believe loyalty can be relearned. I believe that your sin can be absolved. Do you wish to be absolved?” My father then said another phrase that I do not understand but The Beloved seemed to understand it just fine. He let out a sigh and folded his fingers as if in prayer. “Then I am afraid you offer me no choice. For your sins I sentence you to excommunication.”

What happened next is a moment I will never forget as long as I live. All at once the five brides reached up and removed their veils. What was under those veils was not human. I remember seeing a couple of The Brides before they were wed and this was not them, at least not anymore. The Brides all had a strange greyish brown skin. There were ridges across their faces and their eyes were a deep amber. Their once beautiful white teeth were now rows of razor sharp fangs. The Brides all seemed to hover over to my father and all began to suck in at once. My father screamed in agony as some strange white vapour was sucked from his mouth. Before my very eyes I saw my father’s skin wrinkle and crack violently. His hair turned white and then his whole body crumpled to dust on the floor.

As my father’s body disappeared The Brides looked out the window and their eyes widened in shock. They could see me, and it took me less than a second to know what I had to do. I turned on my feet and ran. I do not possess the physique of a Guardian but in that moment it did not matter, I ran faster then any before me. I did not dare look over my shoulder for all that lay behind me was death. All that mattered was what lay ahead and to bring myself to it with utmost haste. As I reached the trees of the forest I could hear the footsteps of The Guardians behind me. I could not let them catch me, not for anything. Images of those horrid faces filled my mind fueling my every step. I ran with those thundering footfalls behind me and suddenly they vanished.

I emerged on the other side of the treeline and found myself bewildered. In the distance I could see strange balls of light as far as my eyes could see. Black pathways with red and white lights traveling in opposite directions filled my vision. That was when the noise started and I could hear a great rumble coming towards me. I saw yellow lights and feared The Brides had found me. The lights and the rumble grew until I thought I would faint. Then they stopped and that is when a man appeared from behind the lights and asked if I needed any help. The kindness in the man’s voice stunned me. Was I not in the land of the dark ones? How could one speak so kindly to me? The man offered me a ride to the police station and I didn’t know what else to do so I agreed. Anywhere away from that forest was a blessing.

The man brought me here where I have been asked dozens of questions each more confusing than the last. I do not understand this new world but strangely I feel more comfortable here than I ever did in the commune. Perhaps this is what my father saw on his journey. Of all the questions I have been asked tonight there is one I can’t seem to answer despite understanding it perfectly. Again and again they have asked me where the commune is and yet I can not answer. I have already spoken of my gifted memory and yet I can not remember the path that brought me here. The police say that it is simply shock and that the memory will come back to me but I fear they are wrong. I do not know not know what force lies within those trees but I feel as if it does not want to be found. Even more so I fear that what lies within will emerge one day. It is just as the scripture says. “As surely as the sun will rise each day, the Gate will open again. With it will come new life that will spread across the plains and rivers of the Earth like fire. To those who dwell in the darkness, you shall all know terror and death” Orkathis 5:14:4

Credit: Tenac