The Forsaken (The Chosen Series Book 2)

many of the rituals and traditions of The Chosen and the woman listened with great interest. She did not cast down their ways or give her opinion on any matter.
“So, Rachel, do you believe the High Prophet was justified in sending you away?”
Rachel nodded.
She wanted to tell the woman about her terrifying dreams of her baby clawing its way out of her stomach. Of his red eyes, long horns, and spiked tail. A demon, just as Elder Aaron had described. But she couldn’t. She wasn’t ready. “I have committed a grave sin against God and my people. They did what they must, in that situation. I deserve whatever punishment I have received. I only wish my child did not have to suffer for my insurrection.”
Dr. Paine glanced at the digital clock that sat on her desk. “I think that is enough for today.” She placed a hand to her chin. “I’d like to give you some homework if you don’t mind.”
Rachel nodded, surprised that the woman did not go into further detail.
"I want you to look up several verses in the Bible. She flipped her notepad over and ripped out a piece of paper. She scratched out a couple of lines and slipped the page across the table. “Now, I know you are still learning how to read, so feel free to get some help with it. But I think these will be beneficial, and I will let you draw your own conclusions from them, and we can talk more about them on your next visit.”
“Thank you.” Rachel took the page, folded it up, and placed it in her pocket. She was eager to get home and see exactly what these verses said.
As she left the office, she had to admit, she felt a little bit better after talking to the woman. Maybe there was something to this counseling thing.

Chapter 10 ― Malachi
Malachi followed Elder Aaron into the big house on the hill. The one that no one but his younger brother Jacob and the elders themselves had ever seen. He swallowed the lump in his throat as his tough demeanor faltered.
Jacob is dead.
But why was he being brought to the home of the High Prophet? He’d had nothing to do with that. In fact, he’d tried to warn his brother of the trouble he was making for himself. Concern over the conversation he and Elder Aaron had had only days before entered his mind. He had been disrespectful to the man, but that most certainly did not require a visit to the home of the High Prophet. Elder Aaron had not even consulted Malachi’s father on the matter.
He followed the elder down the long hallway. The strange lighting that illuminated the hall intimidated him. They were not candles, and yet they were not lanterns. They were like glowing balls of flames encased in globes.
He’d witnessed those same kinds of globes that lit the restaurant they sometimes visited when running late from the market. He’d seen them in other places as well. The street lamps in the city, the traffic lights that hung high above the streets, the flashing lights of oncoming traffic, their own vehicles. It had overwhelmed him the first time he’d gone to PSP, but Elder Joseph had explained it to him.
Electricity.
It was not only deemed an unnecessary commodity by the community, but it was worldly and forbidden. And here he was walking the halls with the very evil the elders spoke of, lining the halls of the home of the High Prophet. Something about that did not sit well with him. Was the High Prophet not held to the same standards as the community? Did not the same rules apply to him as did everyone else?
“Wait in here,” Elder Aaron said as they stopped at the entrance to a small room.
Malachi stepped inside. The room itself was not much bigger than the discipline shed behind his home but was wider than it was long. One solitary chair sat against the wall at the back of the room. Malachi took a seat and stared at the images that lined the wall across from him. He’d seen them before. They were the photographs of the High Prophets, past, present, and future. The same ones that lined the center where they all met for sacrament services and community meetings meant to remind them of the superiority of the High Prophet.
The new High Prophet was too puffed up. At least that’s what he’d overheard his father say. The man had taken his position for granted and he’d not ruled with the same compassion as the previous leaders. Malachi had nothing to compare him to. He’d known nothing else.
His eyes moved to the man in the next picture over. The previous prophet. The man had kinder eyes and a smile that said he might care about his people. Malachi even heard it told that the previous ruler had intermingled with the congregation.
No one ever saw the current prophet unless they were in trouble. Just the mention of his presence, instilled fear into the hearts of the people.
“He is ready for you.” Elder Aaron popped his head back into the door. “Come with me.”
Malachi stood and followed the man out of the room and down the hall. When they reached the end, Elder Aaron opened a door and nodded for Malachi to enter the room. He walked inside, and the door closed behind him, leaving him alone with the High Prophet.
“Come in,” a voice spoke from the back of the room.
Malachi squinted until the man came into focus. His eyesight had been poor for a long time. At times he had awful headaches from squinting to see things more clearly. His father told him it was because of the sin in his heart that he was not able to see well. God had punished him for his anger. Malachi shrugged off the thought.
“Come closer,” the voice said. “I will not harm you.”
Malachi took a deep breath and stepped forward