by Samie Sands
While the majority of the congregation have left the church, there are a small few still sitting in the pews, waiting for the next order of business from the reverend. After returning inside the church, Reverend Michaels turns off the lights and the families sitting in the pews get up and follow him to the basement of the church. After everyone makes their way to the basement, they all form a circle with one opening for the Reverend, who has made a stop before coming downstairs. As they stand there, the lights come on in the center of the circle, revealing a covered person tied to a table. The Reverend, who enters in a new hooded wardrobe instead of his reverend garments begins speaking an incantation in what is believed to be Latin. He then grabs a chalice and removes the cover, revealing the person to be none other than Cindy Hopson, a member of the congregation. He forces Cindy to drink from the chalice and she begins seizing and passes out. Reverend Michaels then steps into the spot of the circle that was reserved for him and he speaks to those who followed him to the basement.
“My children, he came to me last night. He told me of an elixir that will allow us to walk this planet forever! The only thing we must do is leave our physical bodies. Do you hear me Children of The Circle?!” The Reverend asks.
“Yes, Father Michaels!” They all say in unison.
“I do want to take precaution because he told me that the elixir must be done just right! If not, our spirits might not become immortal and we will perish. Cindy here, brave young soul, agreed to be my subject. If we see her spirit, then we have the elixir of immortality. If not, I will ask him once more for his assistance, his guidance. Are you with me children of the circle?!”
“Yes, Father Michaels!” The children of the circle respond.
“Let him be with you all as you travel the road to immortality.” The line William Michaels says to inform his followers that they may leave.
To many, William Michaels is a respected Reverend and husband in the town of Kennedy. Little do many of the townspeople know, Reverend Michaels is the leader of the secret cult, Children of the Circle, a group wanting to walk the planet forever. In a town of 5,000, The father has about 250 “children”. He claims that he has been getting visions of an elixir that will help the circle achieve their goal of immortality, but the elixir is not working as planned. Had Cindy taken the right recipe, her spirit would have exited her body and walked the planet. As everyone is leaving, Father Michaels checks Cindy’s pulse, revealing she is dead, and there is no spirit walking the planet. The Father has always had a right-hand man in Alistair Wingreen and even now, in a time of defeat, Alistair is still by the Father’s side.
“Father, you look distraught.” Alistair says as he notices the concern across William’s face.
“Alistair, he gave me the recipe, I followed it to a tee. Cindy should not be dead; she should be the first of the circle to become immortal.” Father Michaels responds to Alistair.
“The devil is always in the details. You taught me that!” Alistair says to the Father, trying to cheer him up, “You will master this recipe and we will become immortal.” Alistair is about to leave before remembering something he needs to tell the Father. “Father, I forgot to mention, Isabella’s employer is asking we partake in a potluck lunch next Sunday. I know you want us to keep up appearances for the time being.”
“Of course, my son,” Father says with a forced smile upon his face. “Maybe you and Isabella can see if he is worth recruiting into the circle,” He then cites his exit line “Let him be with you as you travel the road to immortality!”
Alistair then smiled as he and his family; wife Isabella, son Calum, and daughter Anna make their exit from the church basement and to their car. After everyone has left, William Michaels exits the Children of the Circle meeting room and goes into a room where he practices his incantations and rituals. He then picks up a cup and throws it across the room, breaking it into pieces in the process. “DAMMIT!” He screams, “She was meant to LIVE!” He then looks at a painting on the wall in the room, “She was being loyal....TO YOU! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME!?!” He screams as he punches the wall holding the painting of a demonic entity. He looks down for a brief moment and when he looks up again, the demonic entity in the picture is holding up four fingers with its left hand while pointing at the table next to the frame with its right hand. William sees that he did not use enough drops of the mystery chemical that arrived at his house days earlier. He only used three drops and the demonic entity says he needs four drops. He takes another shot of making the immortal elixir, but he doesn’t have a test subject. He decides to keep the elixir hidden until he can find a new test subject. He then leaves the basement of the church and makes his way home.
Once home, his wife, Cassie, welcomes him with a kiss. Cassie is not a member of the Circle as the Father is wanting to keep his private life just that. He also plans to have a child with Cassie before he and his followers drink the elixir of immortality.
“Honey,” Cassie says, “You look upset. What happened today?”
“Sometimes I feel his presence is needed more than ever. I think everything will be ok though honey.” The Father says as he gives his wife a kiss on the cheek. Before he makes his way to the bedroom to change into more comfortable clothing, Cassie stops him.
“Will, I forgot to mention, Mr. Wingreen stopped by on his way home and asked if you could give him a call when you got home.”
“Thanks honey. I’ll call him after I change,” William says as he continues to make his way to the bedroom.
After changing, William makes his way to his office. He informs Cassie he will be making that phone call, just to make sure she doesn’t go on the internet while he’s talking. He then makes the call to Alistair Wingreen.
“Hello?” Alistair says as he picks up the phone.
“Alistair, it’s Father. Cassie told me you wanted me to call.” Father William responds.
“Yes, Father.” Alistair then continues his reason for the requested call, “After the attempt with Cindy did not work, Calum told me he wants to try the next attempt for the recipe. I told him I’d ask you if you think the recipe is ready yet?”
“Alistair,” William begins, “I think I have the correct recipe, but you should know, if this does not work, Calum will not walk the planet forever, he’ll be dead. Does he understand this?”
“He does Father. He said if it fails then he can be the martyr the Children of the Circle need to further the movement. Not only does my son believe in you, I believe in you father.”
“Ok my son. I will see to it that Calum tries the most recent attempt of the recipe. My son Alistair, let him be with you as you travel the road to immortality.” After saying his concluding line, Father William hangs up the phone. He then goes downstairs to spend some time with his wife.
“Honey?” Cassie asks, “Do you want to try again tonight?” She says with a smile on her face.
“As long as you want to try.” He responds.
Cassie and William have been trying to have a child for the last few months and have been unsuccessful. Father William is making sure he leaves a legacy in the land of the living before going any further in his movement with the Children of the Circle.
A FEW MORE SUNDAYS pass before Father William calls for another meeting for The Children of the Circle. He told the Wingreen family they need to keep up appearances until the elixir of immortality was perfected and that required various lunching dates with Isabella’s employer. Father William Michaels was not going to go forward with his plan without his right-hand man, and his newest sacrifice in Calum Wingreen, Alistair’s son.
While the Father is preaching his sermon to the congregation, Alistair and Calum make a brief exit from the sanctuary to the basement. That way, Calum will be ready for the latest attempt of trying the elixir of immortality. Alistair prepares his son for the sacrifice, then makes his way back to the sanctuary before Father William Michaels concludes the weekly Sunday Services.As they have done for previous meetings, the Ch
ildren of the Circle wait for the other members of the congregation to leave before waiting for Father to arrive in his hooded attire.
The Children of the Circle make their way down to the basement and Father Michaels shortly arrives and unveils Calum is their newest sacrifice for the elixir of immortality. In previous attempts, the member of the congregation was not someone close to The Children of the Circle. This time however, Calum, a preteen boy is their newest sacrifice and members of The Children of the Circle want to protest to this decision. Before anyone can say anything, Father begins speaking.
“My children, I know many of you are uncomfortable with this decision. I want to make it known now that Calum made this decision and Alistair contacted me personally regarding this decision.” Father Michaels then looks at Calum and asks, “Son Calum, id you agree to be the latest to try the elixir of immortality?”
“Yes, Father,” Calum says, “The decision was mine and mine alone.”
He then looks over at Alistair Wingreen and asks him, “Son Alistair, my right-hand, did you agree to Calum’s decision, knowing the consequences?”
“Yes Father,” Alistair responds, “I stopped by your home and asked your wife to contact me and I told you of the decision Calum made.”
While no one said anything, there were loud, audible sighs coming from the concerned members of The Children of the Circle. Father Michaels then grabs the chalice containing the latest attempt of the elixir of immortality and tilts the chalice towards Calum’s mouth. He begins to drink the elixir and quickly passes out and his lips turn blue. The members of The Circle begin to express sadness before they hear something from behind.
“Did it work?” a prepubescent voice says.
Everyone turns around and sees a ghost Calum standing outside of the circle where The Children of the Circle have their meetings. Everyone suddenly light up with excitement as they now have proof that the elixir of immortality has now been perfected. Before a chaos of happiness interrupts the usual meeting, Father Michaels interrupts them.
“Before we begin our excitement, I must inform everyone we will be making ourselves public and very soon,” He then looks at Alistair, “Son Alistair. You must inform people of your son drinking the elixir of immortality. We go public and obtain more children first! I will announce a date of elixir intake at the next meeting. Let him be with you as you travel the road to immortality.”
Everyone leaves except for the Wingreen family. Alistair and Isabella are trying to figure a way to ask Father what they need to ask him.
“I see you have something on your mind my children.” He says.
“Father,” Alistair says, “I’m not sure how to ask this but...”
Before Alistair can ask his question, he’s interrupted by his daughter Anna, “They want to know what the plan is with Calum’s physical body between now and the reveal.”
Alistair and Isabella look like they are about to discipline their daughter before Father Michaels prevents them from doing so.
“We can bury his physical body in the church cemetery until the reveal. We recently sold a few plots and one dug up spot will not be noticed, especially at a church.” Father then points his attention towards Calum, “Son Calum, may I have your consent with burying your physical body in the church cemetery?”
“Do whatever you want, I’m now one with the immortals and that body was holding me back!” Calum says as he is proud to be a ghost.
“It shall be done. Now, let him be with you all as you travel the road to immortality.” The Wingreen family then exit the basement as Father Michaels then goes to his personal room to thank the demonic entity in the painting on his wall.
“You are leading ME; you are leading MY CHILDREN to immortality! I will make the Children of the Circle public very soon!” Father then changes from his hooded attire to some clothes he kept at the church before going home. While not ready to give the news, he is excited to tell his wife everything.
“Cass!” William says as he enters the home, “I’m home!”
Cassie runs from the kitchen to the front door, wraps her arms around her husband, and gives him the most passionate kiss he’s received from her since the day they fell in love.
“Willie!” Cassie says as she begins to tear up, “I’m pregnant!”
William, achieving both of his goals in one day, now holds onto his wife tightly and spins her around.
“This is easily the best day of my life. Services were the best they ever were and now you are carrying my child!”
“We’re going to be a family!” Cassie says followed by kissing her husband.
William then goes to his office and thinks about those words his wife just said. William’s plan was to get Cassie pregnant so he could leave an heir and then join his followers in the drinking of the elixir of immortality. But Cassie saying “we’re going to be a family” are words that are stuck in his head. He knows Cassie and his future child are going to need him. After hours of thinking about what his wife said to him, he decides that he knows is necessary. He calls up Alistair and tells him what is on his mind.
“Hello?” Alistair says as he answers the phone.
“Alistair, it’s William. We need to talk.” He responds
“May I ask what is wrong Father?” Alistair says in a concerned tone.
“Cassie informed me she is pregnant. I’m going to become a father.”
“Father, that is what you wanted!” Alistair says in excitement, “You said you wanted to leave a legacy before leaving your physical body. The elixir of immortality has been perfected and you are about to have an heir. You’ve achieved your goals! He is leading you on the road to immortality!”
“Alistair, Cassie is going to need me. I can’t leave her alone with a child. I’m not going through with the reveal. I’ll tell everyone at the next meeting.”
“NO!” Alistair says in anger, “YOU promised immortality. YOU persuaded me to sacrifice MY son. YOU said we will reveal The Children of the Circle!”
“The Children of the Circle will soon be no more. Goodbye Alistair.” William then hangs up the phone.
REVEREND WILLIAM MICHAELS enters the sanctuary of his church and sees a television in front of his podium. There’s a note that says Play during the sermon! And nothing else. He stands there are the congregation come in and fill up the pews. He then informs the congregation that he was asked to play something for the congregation. He then proceeds to turn on the television and hit the play button on the VCR. Much to his surprise, it’s the Wingreen family and they are at home.
“To the other members of the church,” Alistair says as he, his wife, and his daughter are seated on the couch with the chalices that were given to them for the reveal. “We are here to expose the reverend for who he truly is; a traitor and a coward! To those of you who are naïve, the reverend was also leading a few of us. He calls us, I mean, called us The Children of the Circle. He told us of a way to immortality. My son Calum was the sacrifice to see if the elixir of immortality would work.” A ghost Calum then appears on the screen.
The congregation then lets out a simultaneous gasp! Reverend Michaels tries to stop the VCR, but one of his “children” comes up and forcefully removes the remote from his fingers so everyone can finish hearing the words of Alistair Wingreen.
“This week we, The Children of the Circle, were meant to reveal ourselves as our now former father was going to lead us in the drinking of the elixir of immortality.” Alistair, Isabella, and Anna all hold up their chalices and show the camera the neon blue liquid in their cups. “I contacted the other children and informed them of my plans. The Children of the Circle will eventually reveal themselves. But today, I am here to declare I, Alistair Wingreen, am the NEW FATHER!” The three of them then drink the elixir of immortality. Everyone watches as all four of the Wingreen family are now ghosts. Alistair then looks at the camera and says, “William, you will get yours soon and to The Children of the Circle, I, the NEW FATHER want to say let him be wit
h you all as you travel the road to immortality.” The video then goes to black.
The reverend then looks at a shocked congregation, including the ones he knows are members of The Children of the Circle. He then decides to speak while everyone is frozen from the shock.
“I followed a demon who told me he knew the road to immortality. I followed everything he told me and had others follow me as I followed a demon. None was more loyal to the cause than Alistair Wingreen. The elixir of immortality kills the body and leaves the spirit on Earth. Alistair’s son Calum wanted to be the test subject and it was successful. I then go home to my loving wife who tells me she is pregnant with my child. Knowing Cassie will need me I chose to cancel everything involving The Children of the Circle.”
A member of the congregation then stands up and asks, “Then why is Alistair saying those things?”
Reverend William lets out a sigh and then continues talking, “I found out about Cassie’s pregnancy after we tested the elixir on Calum. When I told Alistair that I was planning to disband The Children of the Circle, he wasn’t having it. I was not expecting him to break into the church of all places to steal the elixir, which is just household chemicals that are harmful when swallowed. As for the Wingreen family becoming ghosts, it was an enchantment from a demon. After Cassie telling me she is pregnant, I see the error of my ways now and I need to do what is best, not only for my future child, but for each of you as well.”
Many members of the congregation, including some members of The Children of the Circle stand up and give Reverend Michaels an applause. He did say he will not be unveiling who is, or who was a member of The Children of the Circle. He said it’s not his secret to tell but that he will forgive any and all members. Many choose to follow the reverend and go back to their church going ways. A few decide to exit as they still believe in the works of The Children of the Circle. To avoid any scandals, the papers reported that the Wingreen family died of carbon monoxide poisoning. They even dug up Calum’s body and placed it in the Wingreen house along with the bodies of the other members of the Wingreen family. Other members of the Wingreen family leave town with many believed to have changed their last name to avoid being connected to Alistair and his family. Reverend William Michaels shares one final enchantment, a spell that will force the Wingreen family to stay in their house until their spirits can crossover. Reverend William Michaels and his wife Cassie soon give birth to a little girl they name Juliana. A few years later they have a son, William Jr., or Billy. After years of making things right, the reverend turns things around and becomes a very well-respected reverend and community head. He eventually steps down to do more work for the community.