Flash Challenge Day!

A couple of weeks ago Daniel O'Shea issued a flash challenge and today the "Shall We Prey" Noir is going live. You'll find my piece below, and links to nearly thirty stories at Daniel's blog Going Ballistic http://danielboshea.wordpress.com/


THE TESTING
By Sandra Seamans

Melody Jean heard the whispers rushing in waves through the congregation as she walked down the aisle to her seat. She tried to ignore the snide remarks and pointing fingers, focusing, instead, on the stage. Reverend Mack was preaching hard, wrestling with the devil himself. His body, sheathed in faith, protected him from the snakes wrapped around the length of his arms, their fangs inches from his glistening face.

The baby in her arms stirred, her tiny lips searching for the comfort of her mother’s breast. “Shhh now, Rose, your daddy’s wrapped in the arms of God, those rattlers won’t hurt him none.”


Melody Jean could feel the congregation’s eyes on her. She knew they were gossiping about her baby. Her mother had begged her to stay away from the Reverend and his snake-lovin’ holy rollers. Mama believed there was evil lurking behind the double doors of Holy Signs Church, but how could she turn her back on God when he’d given her such a precious gift?

Reverend Mack’s snake defying sermon was winding down. Shouting praises to God, he brought his rabid followers to their knees, ready to do his bidding.

“Bring me the Magdalene,” he shouted. “Her faith must be tested.”

Hands reached for Melody Jean, but she shook them off. With her fifteen year old body held straight and proud, she walked alone to the front of the church, Rose held tight against her heart. The deacons were rolling the glass testing box across the stage. She’d heard the quickly hushed whispers about the box. The rumors that nobody who entered the box lived to talk about their test of faith, but she wasn’t worried. She had faith, a whole mountain of it. A God who could gift her with the sweetness of Rose wouldn’t, couldn’t, turn his back on her.

“Naked she sinned, naked she’s tested.” said Reverend Mack.

“Naked she sinned, naked she’s tested,” intoned the congregation.

Melody Jean held Rose out to the reverend, when he refused to touch the child, Deacon Aldrich took the baby from her. She untied the strings of her cotton sundress, allowing the soft material to slide down her body and lay crumpled around her ankles. Stepping out of her panties she stood naked before the congregation.

“The baby also,” said Reverend Mack. “Naked she entered the world, naked she’s tested.”

A startled gasp rose from the congregation before they intoned the chorus, “Naked she entered the world, naked she’s tested.”

The baby’s clothes were removed and she was placed in her mother’s arms. Melody Jean stooped low and wiggled her way into the four foot square box. She settled herself on the floor of the box sitting cross-legged. With Rose nestled in the cradle of her legs, Melody Jean laid her hands on her bare legs, palms up in supplication.

“The Serpent,” said Reverent Mack, lifting a deadly Copperhead from its cage and holding it high for all to see. “God said unto The Serpent, ‘I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed’. But I say, if the woman embraces her faith she shall lift up The Serpent and it shall not hurt her.”

Reverend Mack eased the snake into the glass box and closed the door. Silence descended on the church as everyone watched the trio in the box. Some sat gleefully awaiting the coming dance of death while others moved their lips in silent prayers for Melody Jean and her child.

The snake slithered across the box, drawn to Melody Jean’s body heat. The snake slid over her bare leg, its tongue flickering in and out, tasting the tempting flesh of mother and daughter.

Melody Jean sat perfectly still, the snake’s skin as soft and cool against her skin as the touch of Reverend Mack’s hands. She shivered with remembered pleasure as the snake settled into her lap. Slowly, The Serpent raised its head, stretching higher and higher, until they were face to face.

“Not since Eve, have I beheld such a beautiful woman,” said The Serpent. “I wonder, what it is that I shall tempt you with? Your nakedness doesn’t shame you. Perhaps your life? Shall you trade your child’s life for your own?”

“You shall have neither, Serpent.”

“Ah, but there you’re wrong. Reverend Mack desires your death and the death of his sins, which would be this lovely baby. How can I disappoint the man who worships me? We are one, he and I. His will is mine.”

“Reverend Mack is one with God, he will not allow us to die.”

“Look at him, child. The sweat pools on his brow as he waits for his sins to be cleansed. He merely craved the delights of your body, not your love nor the life of that precious tidbit in your lap. I will consume his sins and he shall be set free.”

Melody Jean looked at Reverend Mack. His face was beaded with sweat, his eyes glowing with anticipation as his tongue darted in and out of his mouth, licking his lips. The Serpent spoke the truth. Reverend Mack wasn’t a servant of God, he served the devil and his own secret pleasures. Mama was right about the evil that lived in this house of worship.

Her hand reached out, fingers closing around the base of The Serpent’s head. She lifted his twitching body high above her, feeling no surprise when Reverend Mack’s feet left the floor. She twisted the head until she heard the bones crack, then tossed the offending creature to the floor. Picking up Rose, she pushed through the door and crawled out of the box.

Reverend Mack’s body lay on the floor, his head twisted at an odd angle. Stepping down from the stage, Melody Jean picked her way up the aisle towards the door, her bare feet tiptoeing through the stricken congregation writhing on the floor like a multitude of headless snakes.