An eerie red mist flows out over the floor of the dismantled and disassembled church. One fireplace is set ablaze despite having a huge crack down the side of it. The carpet is burned almost everywhere in the entire church. The hole in the roof of the church is now enormous with almost the entire roof being gone revealing the night sky above. Many of the pillars that had fallen over have been removed or replaced. All of the fallen rafters and pillars have been moved to the walls. The walls have largely been stripped as The Asylum has begun working on the church since the big fire caused by Woe a few weeks ago. Only a few pews on each side remain. The few without fire damage. The hung lanterns on the poles in the center of the room have decreased in numbers to three. A newly assembled podium is standing at the top of the staircase at the front of the church.



Hysteria walks up to the podium from the back of the stage. He opens The Book of The Higher Power and clears his throat while chuckling.

Welcomeeee to yet another induction ceremony! Today we are here to welcome the newest member to The Asylum! He showed his dedication and love for The Higher Power by coming into our title match and taking out one of our foes. He even showed the moxie to hit me when I requested it! Hahahahehehe! Now it’s time to bring this new vessel for The Higher Power forth! Fly, little birdy! FLY!

The hooded frame of Aaron Underwood is shown walking down the center aisle careful to watch where he steps. He’s being led to the ring by Frodo ‘The Violator’ Smackins. The other members are already at stageside. They walk slowly down the aisle. They get to the front and Frodo forces Underwood down to his knees before the altar.

AARON UNDERWOOD! The Higher Power is impressed with your work and your dedication to the lifestyle! We are impressed and look forward to seeing you move forward in this Family. Now… swear your allegiance to The Power on High!

Aaron, keeping his head down, utters the words in a hushed and determined tone.

"O Mighty Higher Power, I humbly request you take me with you at your side. If you allow me to join your ranks, you will be gaining a man who can spread word around and gain followers to you faster than it took the others to beat down the prat, Justin Sane. Recruit me, O Mighty Higher Power, and I can assure you, there will not be a soul left standing on this Earth who does not believe in you."

Hysteria takes a deep sigh as he chuckles softly to himself. He raises his hands and looks upwards. A few seconds pass before he begins laughing wildly.

He has spoken! He say-

The front doors are kicked open. The silhouette of a body with a cat head is shown through the doorway.

"What's up, meowtherfuckers?"

Hysteria stops laughing at the ceremony being interrupted. He looks up at the doorway, sees a man wearing a suit and having a cat head. The unique specimen has him obviously intrigued.

Whoooo are youuuuu? Do you realize you've just interrupted a ceremony of The HIGHER POWER?!

"Wait, cat headed humanoid walks into your meeting and the first thing you question is whether or not it realizes it walked in on a religious themed orgy? Well then, I like your priorities."

As you will learn, we take all without discretion. Thus a... peculiar appearance is hardly something a leader in my position could question. After all...

Indicates body.

Not like I have a lot of room to condemn.

"Then allow me to introduce myself."

The cat person thing reaches up to scratch an ear, and then he decides to continue scratching for way too long.

"Apologies. Chairman Meow, at your service."

Chairman Meow...Bahahamahaha! Fantastic! I love this! I was just telling Tank the other day we needed a Cat-Headed Man in our midst! Wasn't I Cleanser?

Tank shakes his head and Hysteria gives him a look. Tank begins slowly nodding.

Now, what the hell are you doing here?

"I dunno, I thought I was going to Fuddruckers. Damn GPS sent me here instead."

I see... well if you don't have a reason to be here then perhaps it's time you LEAVE!

Hysteria raises his hands and three members of the congregation jump on Chairman Meow. Within a few seconds, they lie on ground holding random body parts in pain. Chairman Meow stands up, adjusts his suit, and stares ahead at Hysteria. Hysteria begins laughing ridiculously! He lowers his hands and the other members stand at ease.

You seem to be quite the fighter Mr. Meow. Hehe

"It would seem so, would it not? Now, on any normal occasion where instead of sending me to Fuddruckers, my GPS sends me to the hideout of a cult, I'd leave the first chance I got. However, something about this one has caught my interest. May I learn a little about the 'Higher Power,' as you put it?"

Hysteria seems to have a fascination with the Cat-Man.

Why yessssss of courssse! You see... our Higher Power has bestowed in me the guide to our eternal salvation! The Book of The Higher Power. Within the confides of this...

Hysteria looks around at the ruin that surrounds them.

... building, we are all a family. The Higher Power is our shepherd and bestows his grace upon us. He guides us to Enlightenment as well as guiding us to becoming better and stronger versions of ourselves. After all, we're all stronger in numbers.

The Cat-Man strokes his chin for a moment, deep in thought.

"Hmm, yes. I don't know what draws me to this, but there's very clearly something that is. If I may, I'd like to request the opportunity to join this coalition, if you will. If that is alright with whomever is in charge of converts. It would be nice to introduce a new set of principles to my people's admittedly antiquated society."

The more the merrier, Mr. Meow! Bahahamahaha! Bring them all! The Higher Power can always use more vessels. Now somehow I feel as though you won’t need a ceremony now will you, Mr. Meeeeeeowwwww?

The Cat-Man is in mid-scratch and isn’t paying Hysteria even the slightest attention. Hysteria bursts out laughing.

I can see you’re busy there. I’ll leave you at it. Mr. Underwood. The Higher Power has instructed me to give you the name of… THE RECRUITER! Now I’ll ask all of you to bow before me.

The all bow their heads. Hysteria begins laughing sinisterly.

It’s time we had a little discussion about the elephant in the room.

A few look up at him in intrigue.

We have a weak link amongst us.

TO BE CONTINUED