บท 7: The Devotee

The following narrative is a work of fiction that draws inspiration from an event that occurred in May 2003. It is important to note that the content of this story may not be suitable for all audiences. The author does not have any intention of offending or questioning any religious beliefs. If the material in this story causes discomfort or offense, the author sincerely apologizes and asks that the reader proceed with caution.

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Every morning, Mary rises before the sun to fulfill her devotion to her faith. Her name, given to her by her mother in honor of the Virgin Mary, is a testament to her family's devotion. Mary can often be found at the local chapel, where she visits daily to offer her prayers and to tend to the altar. As part of her routine, she changes the flowers on the altar every other day, adding a touch of beauty to the sacred space.

She arrives early at the chapel each day to assist the priest in his duties, and in the evenings, Mary takes on a leadership role as she leads the rosary, her voice echoing through the chapel as she guides the congregation in prayer. The rosary is a daily ritual for her, a sacred moment of reflection and connection to her faith.

After her duties at the chapel are complete, Mary returns home to care for her three young sons. Her husband, taken from her at an early age, is always in her thoughts, but she is grateful for the support and kindness of the church, which helps her raise her family. Mary repays that kindness by serving the church with unwavering devotion and faith.

Mary's faith in the Bible is unshakable, she believes that its pages are teeming with mysteries and miracles. In the face of the struggles her family is facing, she is resolute in her belief that this too is a test from the Lord. Mary has a deep conviction that the Lord only gives the toughest battles to his mightiest warriors, and she sees herself as one such warrior, steadfast in her faith and ready to face whatever comes her way.

The chill of October 23rd seeped into Mary's bones and she knew she would never forget that night. As she lay in bed, she was visited by a nightmare that shook her to the core. In her dream, she saw Miguel Archangel strangling one frog, then turning to another and piercing it with his sword. The third frog suffered a cruel fate as it was pelted with stones until it perished.

As she awoke from the terror, Mary understood the dream to be a test from the Lord. She believed she was being tested, much like Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his only son Isaac. The three frogs in her dream symbolized her three beloved sons, and the realization that she might have to sacrifice them caused her heart to race.

For the first time in her life, Mary felt the weight of a dilemma. Her unwavering faith was being put to the test and she felt the urge to disobey the Lord's command. The thought of losing her sons was unbearable, but she knew she had to trust in the Lord's plan, no matter how difficult it may be.

The next day, Mary visited the church and approached the priest with a heavy heart. She struggled to find the right words to express her thoughts and her recent dream.

"Father," Mary began, her voice filled with uncertainty, "Do you believe in dreams from above?"

The priest nodded, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "Yes, my child. Just because the world has changed doesn't mean we should forget the messages from above."

"How do we know if He wants to communicate with us?" Mary asked again.

"You'll know," said Father. "You'll feel it in your heart. The answers to the questions that have been eluding you will become clear. Everything is a gift from God. Even small things, like how we can enjoy this conversation, are gifts from God. I believe that there might be many questions on your mind right now, but the key is to have faith and trust in Him."

Despite the priest's reassurance, Mary was still uncertain. But she tried to convince herself that her faith will not harm her. She attempted to let a few days pass and believed that it was just a simple dream.

However, The same dream tormented Mary once again on the night of November 9th. The vivid imagery of Miguel Arcangel strangling one frog, piercing another with his sword, and throwing stones at the third until it died, was seared into her mind. She awoke in a cold sweat, knowing that this was no mere coincidence.

As she gazed upon her three sleeping children, she felt a deep sense of uncertainty. Could they be the frogs in her dream? She struggled with her thoughts, her beliefs and her love for her children. She took a deep breath. Despite her tears, she went outside and picked up a big rock and a knife. She cut the clothesline made of a solid copper wire, feeling helpless as she knew that this was a test of her faith by the Lord.

She slowly approached her sleeping firstborn. The innocent face of the sleeping child was peaceful and serene, with a hint of vulnerability. His eyes were closed and his chest rose and fell with each gentle breath. His arms were tucked under his head and his hair was messy, a sign of the deep slumber he was in. The child looked like an angel, pure and untainted by the world's troubles.

Without saying anyword, she stabbed the eldest as tears freely flow from her eyes. She continued with her deed until the deep breathing of the kid stopped. She noticed her two other children were awakened by the commotion. They were frightened by the sight of their sibling being hurt.

"Remember, this is just a test from the Lord. Have faith," the second child reluctantly nodded, yet still clearly afraid. The youngest child was now bawling loudly, causing a potential disturbance to the neighbors. Mary knew she needed to act quickly and keep the situation under control, as it was already late at night and any noise could attract unwanted attention.

She took the copper wire and with all her strength used it to strangle the poor little child. She pulled the strings with all her might while trying to control the pain that is attempting to come out of her mouth. She kept telling herself that this is just a test of her faith and that the will of the Lord shall be fulfilled. She culdn't even look at the face of her child as the life on him was snuffed out.

The youngest child was completely confused as he watched his mother stab and strangle his older siblings. He couldn't understand why she would do such a thing, and the fear he felt only added to his confusion. As she tried to calm him down and explain that this was a test from the Lord, he couldn't help but feel even more bewildered. The fear eventually overcame him and he ran out of the house, with Mary in hot pursuit.

He ran as fast as he could, his tiny legs carrying him to the other corner of the neighborhood. Just as he thought he was safe, he heard Mary's footsteps getting closer and closer. He stopped, knowing that she would eventually catch up with him. He stood there, waiting for her, still not fully comprehending the situation.

"Mom, what are you doing? I didn't do anything wrong." The youngest child stammered, his eyes filled with confusion and fear.

Mary tried to calm him down. "It's okay, my love. This is what the Lord wants us to do. Trust in His plans," she said soothingly.

"But Mom, I don't understand. I don't want to do this." The child was shaking with fear, but Mary was determined to carry out the task the Lord had given her.

Suddenly, the village security guard appeared and restrained Mary, preventing her from hurting the child. "Stop! You can't do this," the guard shouted.

"You don't understand. This is the Lord's will," Mary yelled, struggling against the restraints. "I must carry out this duty, no matter what."

Despite the child's protests and the guard's intervention, Mary was determined to fulfill the Lord's intentions and carry out her task.

The priest was quickly summoned to the scene, where the local chief and the village guard were already present. The priest approached the woman, who was shouting and ranting about faith and sin.

"What is happening here?" The priest asked calmly, trying to assess the situation.

"I am following the will of the Lord. He gave me a message through my dream. I am just following what Abraham did to Isaac. Do not stop me from fulfilling my fate," the woman replied passionately.

The priest furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of what the woman was saying. "I do not understand what you are saying, but the Lord does not want you to harm your children," he said firmly, hoping to diffuse the situation.

However, the woman was insistent and refused to listen to the priest's pleas. The village guard had to intervene and restrain the woman to prevent any further harm. The youngest child was also present, looking on in fear at the unfolding events. The priest took the child in his arms, offering him comfort and protection.

After she was arrested and put into trial, the court eventually ruled that Mary could not be held responsible for her actions due to her state of mind.

Mary remained steadfast in her belief that what she did was a test of faith from the Lord. However, many, including the priest, struggled to understand her actions and found it difficult to reconcile her beliefs with the horrific act she had committed.

As she was sitting in her cell in an asylum, Mary couldn't help but feel frustrated with the priest's apparent lack of understanding. She felt that he had forgotten the story of Abraham and Isaac, who was also tested by God's faith. Despite the criticism and confusion from those around her, Mary remained confident in her beliefs and trusted in the Lord's plan for her.