Cinematic Adventures: Carrie

Later that same evening, the Mane Six and Spike are sound asleep in their motel room following a long, very weird day. Earlier, they were subjected to a powerful drug created by Faith Seed, which sent them into a mystical plain of Bliss. All this in the hopes of encouraging them (And Carrie) to believe in the Project at Eden’s Gate and turn to their side. However, Twilight and the others would certainly not be swayed by crazy fanatics and their mad preacher of a leader. They intended to stay on track and help Carrie out of her situation no matter what. For now though, they were extremely tired and needed to get up bright and early for school. So for now, they laid in their beds sleeping peacefully.

So peacefully, in fact, that none heard the door to their room being opened and a group of cultists quietly snuck into their room. These people slithered toward their beds and quickly clasped their mouths shut. This action awoke them, and they struggled to break free before the people stuck a few syringes filled with suspicious liquids into their necks. They struggled for a few moments before whatever they were drugged with took effect and soon they were all out like lights.

The cultists grabbed them all, one by one, and flung them over their shoulders as they carried them outside to where there were two white vans with Eden’s Gate symbols painted on the sides. They loaded the girls and Spike into the individual vans and drove off down the road toward their compound. It was uncertain exactly what it is they’d do with them, but one thing was absolutely certain:

They’d certainly need God’s help now…

<>

Meanwhile, deep in the woods near a gentle flowing creek, Sue Snell and her boyfriend, Tommy Ross, parked their car out on an old dirt road. The two teenagers were currently partaking in events rather… steamy to say the least. However, Sue wasn’t feeling it as all she could think about was how horrible she and all her friends were toward Carrie White today. Tommy noticed this and looked at his girlfriend worriedly.

“What?” He asked her.

“I’m sorry,” Sue apologized.

“What?”

Sue and Tommy stood outside the car, getting dressed as Sue looked miserable. Tommy was rather confused, if not worried about his girlfriend.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Tommy asked again.

“I really messed up today, Tommy,” Sue admitted guiltily.

“What, that thing with Carrie?”

“You know about that?”

“Yeah, everyone knows about it,” Tommy assured her. “But you’re not responsible for what Chris does.”

“Yeah, but it was me, too!” Sue retorted.

“You threw tampons at Carrie White?”

Sue gave no response as she just turned away, ashamed. Tommy couldn’t stand seeing his girlfriend so upset. So he decided to tell her something he hoped would ease her guilt.

“You know, I… I kicked a kid in the ribs once,” He confessed. “Yeah, while-while he was knocked out. Because this kid, he used to beat the living shit out of my every day in sixth grade: Danny Patrick.”

Tommy scoffed, laughing over the memory. But Sue still looked guilty, and Tommy took her hand.

“Did you apologize to Carrie?” He asked her.

“Did you apologize to Danny Patrick?” Sue scoffed.

“What? No, but we’re not in sixth grade anymore.”

Sue started to walk away, but he swept her into his arms in a bridal carry and Sue couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Don’t!” She laughed.

“He was a dick to me,” Tommy chuckled. “What did Carrie White ever do to you?”

Sue didn’t have an answer for the question, just kept looking away in guilt. Suddenly, both teenagers noticed headlights heading in their direction and watched in curiosity as two white vans drove by. Then suddenly, they turned onto the dirt path to their right and down the creek. Sue and Tommy looked at each other curiously.

“Wonder what’s going on?” Tommy asked curiously.

“Only one way to find out,” Sue responded.

She started to walk into the wooded area near the creek with Tommy following closely behind. When they reached the edge near the creek, they both knelt into the foliage so they could see what was going on and couldn’t be seen themselves. They watched as the two vans pulled up along the side of the creek and a few men stepped out wielding guns. They opened the back of the vans as even more men came out holding what looked like six teenage girls and one boy. The men dropped the teens down at the edge of the creek as another vehicle pulled up to a stop.

Out of that vehicle stepped none other than John Seed. Both Sue and Tommy looked at each other, not really knowing what to do at this moment. They had heard about Eden’s Gate from their friends in school, but never had they actually ‘seen’ them for themselves.

“What the hell’s going on here?” Tommy whispered.

“I don’t know,” Sue answered. “Maybe we should call the cops!”

“Good idea,” Tommy nodded.

Both teenagers quickly retreated back into the wooded area towards their vehicle, to quickly inform the police of what’s happening. Assuming of course that they’d believe them.

<>

The first to awaken was none other than Spike, whose bright green eyes slowly peeled open from the drug-induced slumber. When his vision returned, he noticed they were no longer in their motel room. Instead, they were laid upon the gravel road near a slow-moving creek.

“Aww man, what happened?” He groaned, slowly sitting up. “Feels like I got hit in the head by a raging bull.”

The feeling of something poking into the back of his head quickly caused him to turn around and come face-to-face with a machine gun pointing right at him. His eyes grew so wide they almost popped out of his head as he started shaking Twilight.

“Uh Twi, um… we got a problem!” He spoke nervously.

Twilight groaned as she and the others started coming back to reality. They themselves sat up and groaned in pain.

“Did anyone catch the license plate of the truck that hit us?” Rainbow moaned.

Once all their visions become clear, they noticed where they were and who they were with. They finally realized what exactly was going on.

“Oh, for buck’s sake!” Rainbow sighed.

“What in the wide world of Equestria is going on here?!” Rarity yelled frightened.

“Well, ah ain’t reckon tah find out!” Applejack growled.

The country girl tried her hardest to break free of the binds keeping her arms behind her back and her feet latched together. But for some reason, her usual Earth pony strength wasn’t working.

“Wut in tarnation!” She muttered confused.

“Perhaps it requires a more magical touch,” Rarity piped in.

The fashionista gathered her thoughts and focused on her magic, as Twilight did just the same. However, their magic seemed to be failing them because absolutely nothing happened.

“My magic… it’s gone!” Rarity gasped.

“Mine too!” Twilight dreaded.

The sudden sound of a low chuckle drew everyone’s attention toward John Seed, who stood in the midst of his followers.

“Look down at your wrists,” He said.

Everyone looked down and noticed their wrists had these strange leather cuffs. Rainbow grabbed hers and tried yanking it off, but it refused to budge an inch. Everyone followed suit, desperately trying to get their cuffs off, but to no avail. This left John laughing lowly as he stood from the rock he sat upon and approached the group. All the cultists that stood around them, pointing their guns at their heads, stepped aside for John Seed to step forth as he smiled with sick joy toward the group of teenagers.

“Try as you may, but nothing on this Earth can take those cuffs off except for the Father,” He told them. “Sure you may strip away the leather, but underneath are some of the finest metals known to mankind. Those very metals have been blessed by the divine light of the lord to drain away any and all powers of the devil. In other words… you’re powerless.”

Hearing this made everyone gasp in fear and worry. Their magic and strength stolen away from them, leaving them as nothing more than any ordinary run-of-the-mill teenagers at this point.

“Yes… we know what you are,” John smirked. “Now then… which of you shall be first to be cleansed?”

His grey blue eyes looked over them all, one by one, before his eyes locked upon Rarity.

“You…”

He walked right over and snatched a handful of the poor girl’s hair, making her cry out in pain. The others tried to stand and fight, but without their powers the cultists easily overpowered them. John dragged the screaming Rarity to the creek, wading them both right into the middle. Once far enough, John looked toward the heavens before violently shoving Rarity’s entire form under the water. The entire time he held her down, he preached his madness:

“We must wash away our past!” He spoke loudly. “We must expose our sins! We must atone! For only then may we stand in the light of God and walk through his gates unto Eden!”

Rarity struggled for life under the water, as John continued to hold her down. He then looked back toward the others and gave a nod to the other cultists. They grabbed a hold of the other girls and Spike, dragging them all. They kicked and screamed as the cultists hauled them toward the water as well. Once there, the cultists followed John and shoved them all under the water. Everyone kicked and struggled for air, but the cultists and John had such strong, vicelike grips that it was difficult to escape. Soon they lost whatever breath they had left in their bodies and were ready to black out.

Then, mercifully, John and the cultists led them back above water and they all took that much-needed deep breath. The cultists started leading them out of the water, Twilight being the last, but John held an arm in front of her and stepped right before her to look deep in her eyes.

“Not this one,” He told the cultist. “This one’s not clean…”

John grabbed Twilight’s shoulders and violently shoved her backwards, down under the murky depths once more. This time, as Twilight struggled for breath, she could look into the hateful face of John Seed as he drowned her. From the side, her friends were held back and forced to watch in sheer terror.

“Please just let her up already!” Rarity begged.

“She’ll die!” Fluttershy cried.

“SILENCE!!!” John screamed.

Finally, John pulled Twilight back up, laughing as he gazed upon her half-drowned face. He had half a mind to hold her back under again till she finally stopped moving… for good.

“Do you mock the cleansing John?”

The sudden voice from behind everyone made all heads turn toward none other than the Father himself, Joseph Seed, standing a few feet away. The sight of his older brother made John look down almost in shame.

“No Joseph,” He said dejected.

“You have to love them John,” Joseph told his brother. “Do not let your sin prevent that. Bring that one to me.”

John merely nodded and proceeded to drag the nearly unconscious Twilight toward Joseph. When they were close enough, where Twilight was only a few inches away, the Father placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes from behind his aviators.

“I trust by now you understand how we know of you,” He spoke. “Years ago, my family and I were approached by a hooded figure, who gave us the ultimate secret to seeing the divine light of God. The flowers from your homeland allowed us to mass produce the Bliss and expand our reach far beyond what we ever hoped for. All the figure asked in return… was for us to kill you, Twilight Sparkle. You… and all the rest of your friends.”

Joseph then closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“However, despite all you’ve done, you are not beyond salvation. You are not here by accident or by chance. You are here by the grace of God. You and your friends have all been given a gift. Now it remains to be seen whether you choose to embrace them… or cast them aside.”

Joseph then stepped away from Twilight and approached his younger brother.

“They must reach atonement, John,” Joseph said. “Or the gates of Eden will be shut to you.”

He leaned in and both brothers pressed their foreheads together.

“Yes, Joseph,” John replied.

Joseph backed away again before walking away and the cultists dragged Twilight back toward her friends hurling her toward the ground. They all scrambled toward her, holding her close as Twilight tried to regain her breath and keep herself from passing out. John walked toward them and looked upon them with a stone expression.

“You will confess,” He told them. “Every sin you’ve ever committed, no matter how petty, no matter how small, I shall pull from you. Then we will see if you are worthy all atonement.”

Then each of the cultists grabbed the blunt ends of their guns and smashed them into the group’s heads, knocking them all out. One by one they were loaded into the back of the vans once more and Eden’s gate drove them back to their motel, knowing that when they wake the next day they’d now know exactly what they were dealing with. So says the Father…

<>

Meanwhile…

Billy’s car revved up to the biggest, expensive house on the block. The house of which just happened to belong to Chris herself. Speaking of which, Chris practically laughed in excitement.

“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why he lost his license,” Chris told her friends.

“Then why’s he still driving?” Tina asked curiously.

“I don’t need a license if they can’t catch me,” Billy replied.

Once the group were inside, the three teens made a dash upstairs toward Chris’ bedroom.

“Jackie’s email, Jackie’s email!” Chris called out.

Chris practically sprinted those stairs just to get to her own bedroom. Chris jumped upon the bed, but Tina wrestled her for the laptop. Billy soon strolled in to see them all over each other.

“Chris, no,” Tina squirmed. “No!”

“Wow,” Billy smirked. “Why don’t you two kiss or something while you’re at it?”

“Oh, baby…”

Tina and Chris laughed, as the former leaned down to ‘fake’ kiss Chris. Chris laughed and pushed her away, sitting herself up.

“Don’t be so stupid,” Chris remarked.

Chris jumped into Billy’s arms, and they seal the deal with a kiss. They lay upon the bed, making out while Tina watched from the side. It was during which time a thought occurred to Tina, the girl starting to have second thoughts.

“Wait… do you think we’re going to get detention because of that?” Tina asked. “Because that would suck.”

Chris sat up as she straddled Billy so seductively. They brushed the idea aside like its all a joke with no guilt whatsoever.

“No! They should be thanking us for helping her through her first period,” Chris retorted. “I got her a tampon. So what?”

“You were only trying to help her, right?” Tina asked, in on the joke.

“You should post it.”

Chris grinned like she had the best idea for a prank in the history of Chamberlain. Without hesitation, she jumped for the laptop.

“No, I’m in it!” Tina whined.

“No one’s going to see you, Teenie,” Chris teased.

Chris started thinking more of what to add in order for this joke to work.

“What? What are you doing?” Tina asked curiously.

“Carrie… White…” Chris typed.

Chris proceeded to upload the video to YouTube as Carrie White.mov. Soon she added a slight description to go with the video.

“Favorite movie?” Chris asked Billy.

“Blood Sport,” Billy smirked, laughing at the joke.

“Favorite drink?” Tina asked.

“Bloody Mary…” Chris smirked.

It was only a matter of seconds before the video went up. Moments from now, the whole world would be watching this. For soon, Carrie White would be famous whether she wanted to be… or not.

<>

Back at the White household, Margaret was making a dress while singing along to a record playing ‘Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy’. She sat by her work bench amidst all her sewing equipment which included, but not limited to: Her sewing machine, measuring table, some pins, and other seamstress tools. She cut out some fabric with the large pair of scissors, humming to herself.

Margaret (Sings):
Brightly beams our father’s mercy
From his lighthouse evermore.
But to us he gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning…

Later, Margaret White finally approached the closet and unlocked the deadbolt. Opening the door, she found Carrie sound asleep on the floor. She knelt down and rubbed a hand along Carrie’s head and shoulder, stirring her awake.

“Did you finish your prayers, little girl?” Margaret asked.

“Yes, Mama,” Carrie whispered, sitting up.

“That’s my good girl,” Margaret approved, kissing her forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mama,” Carrie spoke softly.

They looked toward each other with a slight hint of affection. Yet underneath their expressions, they both shed plenty of fear in their own way. *KNOCK! KNOCK!* A sudden knock at the door drew their attention, to which Margaret stood up to answer it. The moment she opened the door, she smiled at the sight of Jacob Seed and a few cultists.

“The time has come Margaret,” Jacob said lowly.

Margaret gave no response, but her smile only said enough as she nodded. She stepped aside, allowing the former soldier and his followers into her home. Jacob’s eyes fell onto Carrie, and he beckoned her to come forward. Carrie was both frightened and also intrigued to see the eldest Seed brother in her home instead of the church like they normally were. She hesitantly stepped forward until she stood directly in front of him. Being a full grown man, Jacob was much taller than she was. So he had to look down upon her. Reaching out a single hand, he ran through her strawberry blonde hair and smiled for a moment before quickly turning serious.

“It’s time to cull the herd,” He said.

The next thing Carrie knew, she felt pain in the back of her head as something struck her in that very spot and she fell forward into Jacob’s grasp, completely out cold. Jacob picked her up in his arms bridal style as he looked back at the young girl’s mother, who stood before him with a frying pan in her hand. Jacob just gave her a nod, which she returned with one of her own before he turned and left the house with his followers in tow.

<>

Darkness…

This was the only thing Carrie White was surrounded by as her head throbbed immensely after being struck in the back of the head. Her eyes slowly started to flutter open as her hazy, milky vision was blinded by light. Slowly her sight returned to her and when it was fully restored, she wished it had stayed gone.

For her eyes widened with terror when she realized she was strapped down in a chair in some filthy old basement. Sitting before her on a little table was a projector showcasing some pictures on a screen. All the pictures were of different types of wolves, some of them feasting on dead carcasses of other animals and others snarling. This had to be the most terrifying moment Carrie faced in her entire life.

“Momma!” She yelled. “Momma, help! Someone please help me!”

A low chuckle made her blood run cold and she froze in place as Jacob Seed walked out from behind her, observing the project before them.

“The world is weak,” He spoke. “We have forgotten what it is to be strong. You know our heroes used to be Gods and now our heroes are godless… weak… feeble… diseased.”

Jacob then turned back in her direction with those cold eyes, staring directly into the frightened girl’s soul. Slowly, ever so slowly, he started walking towards her. She could do nothing but just sit in fear, allowing her tears to fall.

“We let the weak dictate to the powerful and then we are shocked to find ourselves adrift,” Jacob continued. “But history knows the value of sacrifice. Of culling the herd so that it stays strong. Over and over, the lives of the many have outweighed the lives of the few. This is how we survived. And we have forgotten… and now the bill has come due.”

Jacob knelt down so he was directly in front of Carrie. The frightened girl tried desperately to turn her head away from this man. But he just grabbed her head and turned her back to face him.

“Now, the Collapse is upon us, and this time the lives of the few outweigh the lives of the many. And when a nation that’s never known hunger or desperation descends into madness, we’ll be ready.”

Carrie looked into the man’s eyes that seemed to burn with hatred and malevolence. To say she was truly terrified was an understatement. Yet there was also a small part of her that wanted to understand him, all of this. For years she and her mother have followed Eden’s Gate and yet she still could never understand exactly what it is that they preached but found herself drawn to them anyway.

“It all comes down to you Carrie,” Jacob told her. “You were chosen for a higher purpose than any could ever possibly understand. The Father chose you to be his guiding light… his everlasting peace… his hope.”

Jacob then stood back to his full height and reached over to another table beside Carrie. He picked up a small music box and proceeded to wind the gears.

“We will cull the herd,” He said. “We will do what needs to be done. When you awaken, you won’t remember any of this. Then when the time comes… you will be unleashed.”

Jacob slowly lifted the lid of the tiny music box, which released a small jingle. However, Carrie couldn’t even make any of it out because the moment it began, her brain started going dark. Her entire vision was replaced with red, and her entire body began to convulse. The last thing she saw before her vision was lost once more was the image of Jacob standing over her and singing deeply…

Jacob (Sings):
Only you, can make this world seem right…
Only you, can make the darkness bright…