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Category:
Psychology
Type: Fiction
Pages: 211
Copyright: April 2013
ISBN-13: 9781300483649
Price: $3.50 (eBook)
A disturbing journey into the secrets of a dangerous brainwashing cult
Taken aback by the generous and caring “Enlightened Ones,” Maggi is convinced to leave her dysfunctional home for what will now be her true family. Led by their enigmatic leader, John Cronus, the Enlightened Ones believe they are building towards a beautiful utopia; one they feel will be the dawning of a new way of life.
The past lives of all involved unravel as they give up all their worldly possessions to build paradise on a remote island. Have the Enlightened Ones taken the road less traveled, or have they sealed their fate with a madman?
Enlightened Ones are required to feel a great sense of trust, love, and freedom, but what happens when the rules change? What will they do when they realize paradise isn’t ready? How will they handle it when their sense of trust is questioned? In a society where betrayal is not an option, what will they stoop to in order to escape, and who will take the blame when their plans mistakenly lead to one of the greatest tragedies of their time?
Excerpt
Kim’s Folly
Kim watched the ocean as they flew over it, dark and endless like the depth of the human heart, of humanity, of the longing she felt that entire year as her work grew dry and boring. But that would all be over. Finally she would see Yyatman. Best of all, she would see Henry again, and they would talk again, the way they used to, the way she needed to. Beyond the clouds she saw a glint of orange slowly ascending. The sunrise, splendid in its glowing intensity, greeted her happily and eased her thoughts into nothingness.
Wendy and Jude shared the private plane with her. They were a gorgeous power couple. Jude was the classic tall, dark, and handsome type. He was just as active and committed to the cause as Kim, but more humble. He had no problem bowing down to John, which was probably why he was allowed to stick with Wendy. Well, they hadn’t known John as long as she and Henry had. It seemed so unfair that Wendy was allowed to stay with her boyfriend and Kim had to give up her entire family. She often wondered if Master John knew about their talks. Perhaps one of the children overheard and exposed them. She wouldn’t be angry if he did. That’s what they were taught to do. As Master John said, “You make your own destiny,” which could also be translated as, “You get what you deserve.”
Kim felt her heart rise with anticipation as the plane approached the island. There were hills of greenery shadowed by the orange hue of the sun rising behind them. It all seemed so perfect, the fresh feeling of dawn, the golden beams of light that were reflected in the ripples of the water. She had made it. Finally she would see the result of all her hard work. In five minutes, she would be landing in paradise.
Master John greeted them all at the landing strip. Kim didn’t remember much of the encounter. The thing that stood out the most for her was how elated she was to see Master John’s provocative smile, but that became overshadowed by the sinister resentment she felt when Master John gave Wendy and Jude a place to stay together. Although Kim expressed a need to be with her family, Master John brushed her hints aside. He had someone take her bags without telling her where they were going, and told her there was a long day of work ahead of her. Her family would have to wait. She would see them all at the circle that night anyway.
It took Kim a while to become used to the change in humidity. Though the sun blazed above them, the air was heavier than it was in LA. She could feel the dampness of it on her skin as she toured the island with Master John. There was a penetrating quality to the air. It had a sensuousness that was irritating to her. Master John was warm and magnanimous, but a bit on edge, a bit off kilter, and this was exasperating. Perhaps it was because she thought the island would be more pristine. It was originally a resort, after all, and they had spent so many years building it to house thousands of people. Yet it was plain. The houses were little wooden shacks hidden amongst the thriving foliage. The irrigation system was poorly implemented. The roads were badly paved dirt roads that created dust clouds as John drove over them. He drove an old Ford truck, the only car on the island.
Kim had raised so much money for Yyatman. Where did it all go? John continued to show her around and asked for her input here and there, but she didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t think straight. She wanted to see Henry. Henry always put things in perspective for her.
By the time the sun had set on Yyatman, Kim was exhausted. John would have easily succeeded in charming her, as he seemed determined to do, but he irritated her with his possessiveness. Finally she would see the rest of her family. She had actually missed those long, late-night sermons. This time, it would be under the stars and amongst the mosquitoes. Unlike the nights in the valley, the temperature didn’t change when the sun went down. She still felt warm in the tropical moisture. He would present her to the crowd as he had in the past. Always, he applauded her deeds. Yes, she was obviously important, an example to them all, but sometimes she felt a bit mocked by this. Weren’t they all supposed to be equals, all of them finding their place in their peaceful society, all of them climbing the steps toward enlightenment?
John brought Kim to a large circle that was surrounded by hills. The moon was full and cast a mysterious, cold light on them. Kim was suddenly dazzled by the stars and the sounds of insects chirping. The hills were draped with banana trees, exotic leaves hanging large against the moon. Several wooden benches surrounded the circle. John held her hand as they stood in the middle of the circle. It was as if they were standing in the middle of the universe itself.
“We did it,” he said. “Can you believe it?”
“We’re here. We just need to finish it for the rest of us. They’re waiting.”
John looked into Kim’s eyes. He seemed concerned, yet fascinated. Then he seemed cold, as if he were studying her, calculating the expressions on her face. “Remember when it was just you and me?”
“Yes, Master, but now it’s us and a thousand others.”
“You were barren after Sandy, and I gave you hope.”
Kim was silent then. Sandy, where was she? Sandy would have no siblings if it weren’t for John and their cause. Even the twins were fathered by him. She gladly took them in, but in doing so, she had indentured herself to him. He would always be a part of her because of it.
“I’ll always own a part of you,” he said.
And he was right, but she still said nothing. Nothing about John attracted her physically. Even his vibe did nothing for her. If she was ever attracted to him, it was out of guilt because she knew he loved her, and she just went along, learning all she could from him, but never returning the intensity he felt toward her. She said nothing because there was nothing to say. She knew he would use her words against her to try to convince her that she wanted him too, but she didn’t.
“When do the people get here?” Kim asked, after a long, uncomfortable silence.
“Soon,” John answered as he combed his hand through her thick, brown hair.
“Please, John. You know I can’t. I’ll do anything for you but that. If you make me do that, it’ll all be over.”
He looked at her hard and she stared back, resolute, remorseless. With a huff, he turned away and rambled on about the treasury, the budget, and what was the situation with the drones again? Then the people started coming. They looked gaunt, but lively. Kim looked anxiously for Henry. Then he came; his eyes brightened when he saw her, solemn eyes brimming with acknowledgement. Then came Sandy, Nate, Maggi, and the twins. All of them came out, all alive, all hers. Yes, they were still hers. Then John spoke:
“When Kim Wise, now one of our top and most valued administrators, landed on our new paradise this morning, I gave her a tour of our colony and its facilities. We talked about what we have done so far and about what has yet to be done. She commented that the farms are not well irrigated yet and the plumbing is faulty. The key word here is yet. When I look back at where we started and how quickly we have come this far, I know that yet is right around the corner. Our food is sparse, but we have all this land and time to cultivate it. Our plumbing is faulty, but we have our freedom. We don’t have a computer and a phone in every home, but we don’t need one because we have family and trees and clear skies. We do not fight for ownership because we all share. We do not fight for land because we are one race of many colors. We do not fight for God because he is in every one of us and we all know him. No one is lonely. And no one is better than anyone else. Soon the world will learn from us. ‘Look!’ they’ll shout. ‘A land of peace and harmony! How did they do it?’ We did it because we have faith in each other and faith in me. You all have seen how far I have taken you. I will bring you to the ultimate paradise soon enough. I just need your faith and love and understanding that everything I do is for a reason. My dream for peace is not mine alone. We are of one mind, one vision, and with the power of our conjoined spirit, we will find glory!”
The congregation cheered as they were expected to do, and John gave Kim a triumphant look. Yes, he pointed out all of the grievances that she had, and nobody cared. Yes, no one cared, but her. Then he continued:
“Now trust that I have rules. We all must follow these rules in order to keep trust between us. Sandy Wise has broken a rule. She wandered off into the forest to do God knows what. There is wildlife that is dangerous or poisonous and we care about you, Sandy. Why would you run off without telling us where you were? I will not tolerate selfish and foolish actions from seekers of enlightenment. Sandy, step up.”
Sandy stood up amongst the crowd. She seemed smaller, more slender, darker, more bronzed, but she looked the same. Kim had feared that she would change completely, that she wouldn’t recognize her mother, but a year didn’t change the little girl at all. If another year went by, Kim might have noticed a completely changed girl. Fourteen was such a blossoming age. Sandy rose slowly, but she walked into the circle without hesitation. The fear and apprehension was in her eyes, yet she dared not cross John by hesitating to come when she was called. “I’m sorry I wandered off,” she said. “You see, I was lost.”
“Lost?” John responded, “Sandy, I do not want you to go astray, so I must reveal the truth. You did not get lost. You ran away from your father because, deep down inside, you resent him for adopting so many children. You wanted him all to yourself, and if you were an only child, your parents could spend more money on you. Daughter, you must stop thinking like a capitalist. We live in a society now where everyone shares.”
“But I love my new siblings. I—”
“But you resent them, and now I am making you realize who you really are. You are consumed with jealousy and a need to compete, aren’t you?”
Kim stood in front of the crowd, unable to speak, unable to digest what she was seeing in front of her. Sandy loved her brothers and sisters. Never did she show any sign of jealousy or a need for attention. Was John spotting something that Kim could not? Or was he making some kind of point, not to Sandy, but to Kim. Yes, Henry and she practiced wasted thought. She still treated John as an equal rather than a follower. Now he was putting her in her place, not directly, but through her children.
Sandy responded to John’s accusation as a loyal follower must, with an unquestioning, “Yes.”
“Daughter, you know I love you, but for the sake of our home you know I must punish you. For breaking this rule, Sandy will receive twenty lashes. Kim, since you are here to see what your daughter has done, why don’t you do the honors.”
John nodded to a man who held a leather cane in his hand. The man walked toward Kim in a humble, revering manner and handed her the cane. Kim refused to take it. “I can’t beat my own child! Please, Master, have mercy!”
“Kim, I said she must be punished. I don’t go back on my word.”
“Master, considering all I’ve done for you, please give this to me. Don’t let me beat my child.” Although she tried to speak under her breath, Master John did not.
Kim became blatantly aware of the crowd watching them when she heard Wendy call out, “She thinks Sandy can get better treatment because she’s her daughter!”
“I thought we were all equals here,” she heard someone else say.
“I can’t go back on my word,” said Master John, his eyes burning into her.
How could she fight against him when he had the crowd behind him? She had preached against such behavior herself.
“Please Master,” she whispered
“I can’t go back on my word.”
“Beat the child!” a voice cried out. “We’re all equals here.”
“Punish her!” called out another voice. Then more voices called out. “Punish her,” they all said.
“Don’t let me lose face,” John demanded.
“Punish her,” she heard the crowd say again. She couldn’t place whose voice belonged to who.
“Don’t break the peace,” John said as took the cane himself and handed it to her.
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