Sunday morning. The Sabbath. A day of rest in The Promise Land, devoted to relaxation and religious devotion. But something is amiss in the partly-cloudy, yet still sun-drenched confines of the compound. Eli is gone -- off on an errand, possibly personal. No one has thought to question it. There would be no point in doing so. Eli is a leader that does not bother to be questioned. He simply does. There is no complication in that matter.

But what is truly amiss in the wake of Eli's absence from The Promise Land is the issue of what to do about the Sunday Sermon. On this particular Sunday, the job has fallen upon the shoulders of one David Martin. As the crowd flocks into the church building, David sits comfortably in a makeshift chair just off-stage from the pulpit. He seems oddly at ease. He hasn't preached in over a month and a half, but this feels right. He's coming right back to where he started, but in a much better state. Having swallowed the beast Mystica for the day, David is sure his sermon will please the hungering masses now taking seats in the pews. Next to him sits Becky, dressed in her Sunday best: a dark blue sun dress that teases just over her knees; her hair done up modestly. David himself has dressed down for the occasion. Adorning a simple white shirt and white slacks, he looks as though he is dressed for a baptism. He hasn't done his hair. This is all part of the ritual. He figured the evening before that there was no point in being flashy. Modesty was key in getting through to the minds of the people. He was one of them.

As the church finally comes to a head, the crowd quiets down. Taking in a breath, David looks to Becky, who offers him a friendly smile.

"Knock 'em dead," she says warmly, pressing David on the back as a means of urging him up to the pulpit. Standing, he gathers his papers from the table next to him and looks back to her.

"Figuratively, of course," he jokes before taking the stand.

"Good morning, everyone," he begins, clearing his throat. He was always good at speaking publicly, despite his normally quiet, withdrawn nature. An extrovert within an introvert. A little of the two.

"I know you're all probably wondering why I'm up here instead of Eli. Truth be told, I'm rather confused myself. But Eli has offered me the opportunity to take hold of the reigns for this Sunday. As you all are probably aware, Eli took me in from a life of utter chaos. I was under a strange delusion. So to be offered this chance is quite a display of trust from Mr. James. I do hope I live up to his expectations."

He smiles out at the crowd. They seem to be following him, their heads forward and all eyes locked on him. There are a few skeptical glances, but David ignores them and presses on.

"Today is not a day to demonize. The Sabbath is the Lord's day of rest. I wish to emphasize this fact. We are not gathered here to point fingers and start witch hunts. We are gathered here as a community. And might I say, that is exactly what I have seen from the moment I came here. Community. You all work toward the same goal: enlightenment. The pursuit of happiness. But this is not a singular, selfish act on everyone's part. We are not individuals striving for our own salvation. We are all the children of a higher power. And The Promise Land is our home. You have all worked together to bring this Congregation to fruition. While I may stress modesty, I must hand it to all of you. Nay, to all of US. Together, we have created something beautiful. This is a paradise on earth, and we owe it to one another. All you YOU have done this. WE have done this. So take this day as your day of rest. You all deserve this glorious day that a better power has sent to us. Be thankful in your prayers, and pray for one another. We are a collective good. There need be no evil in our eyes. We are good."

There are a number of agreeing nods in the crowd. He has them now -- their collective attention and appreciation. David scans the crowd, and his eyes land on one girl in particular: a redhead with bright green eyes and freckles dancing across the bridge of her nose. She is smiling -- not at the feeling, but at him. Or at least that's what David wants to believe. He shakes away the sudden flood of feeling and looks down at his notes before continuing.

"With this revelation, I wish to thank you all for embracing me into your world. When I came here, I was lost. Dying inside from a creature I could not tame. The beast known as Mystica. You know this. But since I have been here, the creature and I have come to peace. Restrained peace. Eli himself asked this better side of me to speak today. I work in his honor. This is the man David speaking. And who have I to thank for this control over my own mind? Not only Eli James. But also all of you. The man I have become is someone brilliant. A perfect balance of everything I can be. And I owe all of this to you. Your love has beckoned me forward to embrace a better being. I am a man. I am alive."

He coughs, creating a pause in his speech. Once again, he looks to the crowd. They seem firmly behind him now. He's no Eli when it comes to speaking to a big group, but he seems to be doing an okay job. David looks again for the red-haired girl, hoping to see her smile again, but he has lost her in the crowd of nodding heads. Somewhat defeated, he begins to alter his tone.

"But though I am born anew, that does not go without saying that there are indeed snakes in the grass. As you all know, this week potentially shines light on a new opportunity for us all. As Mr. James defends his title against Santos, I too have been handed a golden chance. This Wednesday, we may very well welcome two new souls to our home. They are the darkness amongst our light. They have fled from righteousness, into a cave of ignorance. They live in a den of wolves, eyeing our goodness with greedy eyes. Many of you have seen the title I have in my shack. Let this not persuade you to think that there is morality in gold. Gold will send us away from the path. But the title is more than pure gold, my friends...my brothers and sisters...the title is a symbol. Not an idol, but a representation. It is a message. It says that we as a collective have dominated the darkness. Nay, you might say. Eli was the one to conquer the serpents biting at his heels. I was merely the recipient. But in this time of questionable morals, I hope to prove that there is merit in me holding onto that symbol. I shall show these two vile creatures the path of light. In their pain, they may find a way home to us. You know their names, but we will not speak them. For they shall be reborn when they suffer at my hands."

He glances up, hoping to see some sign of Elisha or Lacey out in the pews, but alas, they are disappointingly absent. In a way, David had quite expected this. Elisha did not seem one for group meetings or sermons. He was out there...in the woods.

"You all know the story of Elisha's rebirth. He is my companion to the end. Though we may whisper his name in fear, we must understand that he is a child of God, much like ourselves. He is finding himself, still blinded in this newfound light. We must love and accept him as we would one another. That, dear brothers and sisters, is a quote directly from the Book of Eli. Love the creatures that differ, should they come forth unto us. We are their family. We are their love. And that is the emphasis. I end this by bringing you onto the truth. It is not I or Elisha or Eli defending the honor of this glorious shire. It is all of us. As I have stated...it is a collective WE. Pray for us all, my family. Pray for us all. Amen."

He lowers his head and mutters a short prayer to himself. Looking back up, he sees that the entire church has lowered their individual heads in equal prayer. Their words echoed in whispers around the walls, creating a quiet cacophony. David smiled to himself, looking across the group seated before him. Finally, his eyes came to rest upon the girl he had spotted earlier. Her head down in prayer, she muttered a few words before looking up. For a moment, David found himself lost in her gaze. There was something truly magnificent there -- something all of his years of writing could not define.

He was awoken from his daydream by Becky clapping him on the shoulder.

"You done well," Becky assured him. "Eli would be proud."

David nodded to himself, looking over his shoulder at Becky.

"I'm sure he is...

Wherever he is..."

Achievements

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• August 2013 Superstar of the Month (Thank you all so much!)
  
• 1x US Champion
  
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