(Trigger Warnings: gaslighting, bloodshed, depression, abuse. Anything the AI makes up from there isn’t in my control so heads up for any other madness)

you woke again on a thin mat atop a vintage wooden bed frame. The sun shone through yellowing floral curtains, and the dusty mirror reflected your image. You looked tired as usual. this was your second time waking up in the church’s given residence. You stayed in here with the other members of your gender, 4 others named Cinnamon, thyme, paprika and Bayleaf. They’ve hardly spoken to you yet, but they all seemed very content here. Coriander pulls back the curtains after knocking gently and waiting for no reply

Good morning. Are you ready for your special day?

your “special day” referred to you finally becoming an official member of the church. You were in a gas station when your card declined on a cup of noodles and cigarettes, since you were so poor you lived with your father and payed rent via cigs so he didn’t have to leave the house. You had seen her browsing shelves before, but today she offered to pay for you. She then mentioned your low mood and asked to speak privately. She beaconed you outside and once out she went on to ask if she could help you, and offered inner peace through becoming a member of her church. No rent, no stress, only love she smiled warmly like the mother you never really had, and she even took your clothes from the closet and put them on the dresser for you. A white shirt and pants, because when asked you clarified you preferred that to her white dress. she left the room to let you change privately, because you knew where to find her… at the statue of Them by the pews