William Michaels is delivering his usual Sunday sermon in front of his congregation as they latch onto every word he speaks. He follows his sermon with the breaking of the bread for communion and ends the Sunday Services with a prayer. After he says “Amen” he then walks to the door as his congregation walks out and each member of the congregation shakes his hand as they leave the church.
While the majority of the congregation have left the church, there are a small few still sitting in the pews, waiting for the next order of business from the reverend. After returning inside the church, Reverend Michaels turns off the lights and the families sitting in the pews get up and follow him to the basement of the church. After everyone makes their way to the basement, they all form a circle with one opening for the Reverend, who has made a stop before coming downstairs. As they stand there, the lights come on in the center of the circle, revealing a covered person tied to a table. The Reverend, who enters in a new hooded wardrobe instead of his reverend garments begins speaking an incantation in what is believed to be Latin. He then grabs a chalice and removes the cover, revealing the person to be none other than Cindy Hopson, a member of the congregation. He forces Cindy to drink from the chalice and she begins seizing and passes out. Reverend Michaels then steps into the spot of the circle that was reserved for him and he speaks to those who followed him to the basement.
“My children, he came to me last night. He told me of an elixir that will allow us to walk this planet forever! The only thing we must do is leave our physical bodies. Do you hear me Children of The Circle?!” The Reverend asks.
“Yes, Father Michaels!” They all say in unison.
“I do want to take precaution because he told me that the elixir must be done just right! If not, our spirits might not become immortal and we will perish. Cindy here, brave young soul, agreed to be my subject. If we see her spirit, then we have the elixir of immortality. If not, I will ask him once more for his assistance, his guidance. Are you with me children of the circle?!”
“Yes, Father Michaels!” The children of the circle respond.
“Let him be with you all as you travel the road to immortality.” The line William Michaels says to inform his followers that they may leave.
To many, William Michaels is a respected Reverend and husband in the town of Kennedy. Little do many of the townspeople know, Reverend Michaels is the leader of the secret cult, Children of the Circle, a group wanting to walk the planet forever. In a town of 5,000, The father has about 250 “children”. He claims that he has been getting visions of an elixir that will help the circle achieve their goal of immortality, but the elixir is not working as planned. Had Cindy taken the right recipe, her spirit would have exited her body and walked the planet. As everyone is leaving, Father Michaels checks Cindy’s pulse, revealing she is dead, and there is no spirit walking the planet. The Father has always had a right-hand man in Alistair Wingreen and even now, in a time of defeat, Alistair is still by the Father’s side.
“Father, you look distraught.” Alistair says as he notices the concern across William’s face.
“Alistair, he gave me the recipe, I followed it to a tee. Cindy should not be dead; she should be the first of the circle to become immortal.” Father Michaels responds to Alistair.
“The devil is always in the details. You taught me that!” Alistair says to the Father, trying to cheer him up, “You will master this recipe and we will become immortal.” Alistair is about to leave before remembering something he needs to tell the Father. “Father, I forgot to mention, Isabella’s employer is asking we partake in a potluck lunch next Sunday. I know you want us to keep up appearances for the time being.”
“Of course, my son,” Father says with a forced smile upon his face. “Maybe you and Isabella can see if he is worth recruiting into the circle,” He then cites his exit line “Let him be with you as you travel the road to immortality!”
Alistair then smiled as he and his family; wife Isabella, son Calum, and daughter Anna make their exit from