Cinematic Adventures: Carrie

Later that same evening, at the Snell household, the Mane and Spike were hanging out with Sue in her room. As they told her what happened at the compound, the whole time Sue listened to recount they heard, and tears eventually streamed from her eyes. A deep sadness resonated within her heart. To think someone would willingly murder their own child over some twisted sense of righteousness. It sickened her, made her feel absolutely terrible even. Sue herself hoped she’d have children of her own someday and just knowing someone could do something like that, it tore her apart. Finally, by the time the group finished explained, they just sat there in utter silence for the longest time.

“… I don’t even know what to say,” Sue finally spoke up.

“It feels like all the joy had been completely sucked out of the world,” Twilight replied sadly.

“What kind of monster does such a thing?” Rarity asked tearfully. “To their own child nonetheless?”

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie said absolutely nothing, as they both held each other and sobbed quietly in silence. The story they’ve been told was absolutely terrifying and heartbreaking, neither of them could find it in themselves to speak. Fluttershy was a complete emotional wreck, while Pinkie was so sad her hair lost its bounce and hung flat behind her. Especially hurtful given that Pinkie Pie herself has a child of her own.

“Sorry guys, but after all this information I’d really want to be alone right now,” Sue spoke regretfully.

“That’s okay Sue,” Twilight nodded. “We understand.”

“Try to get some rest dear,” Rarity suggested. “Maybe think of better things tomorrow.”

The Mane Six and Spike got up, departing the room while waving a sad goodnight to Sue as the door closed behind them. They proceeded toward one of the guest rooms and shut the door. Eventually everyone sat on the ground, their sadness resumed.

“What do we do now?” Spike asked.

“We must protect Carrie at all costs,” Rainbow responded. “That’s what we have to do.”

“And how do ya reckon we do that hon?” Applejack shot back. “We ain’t got no clue how tah even get started. Even when we get some ideas, that there cult’s one step ahead ah us.”

Twilight stood to her feet, proceeding to pace around the room as she tried brainstorming other possible ideas that could help Carrie. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie remembered something she found back at the camp and instantly stopped crying.

“Wait a minute!” She said quickly. “I remember something when we were running out of the compound.”

Everyone immediately turned their attention toward Pinkie.

“What is it Pinkie?” Twilight asked.

Pinkie reached into her hair and pulled out a large schematic folded up as well as a video camera. She laid them out in front of everyone, who looked at them in confusion.

“So what exactly do you have here Pinkie?” Rainbow asked.

“I really don’t know what all of this is,” Pinkie admitted. “But I know it must be important. What else would they keep behind a locked door like its some sort of big giant secret?”

Twilight looked toward the schematics laid out in front of them and noticed they looked like the layout of the Ewan High School gym. At the very bottom of the plans, there was a date as well as an event marked on it.

Prom, 2013

“These schematics are showcasing the school gym on Prom night!” Twilight told everyone.

“Why would the cultists care about the prom?” Fluttershy asked.

“Let’s see what’s on this camera,” Twilight said, grabbing the object.

Flipping the small screen on the camera, Twilight activated the device and played back the tape while the others gathered around her. The tape played back to when Jacob Seed had Carrie held in the basement. The moment Jacob opened the little music box, something strange happened. Carrie started shaking uncontrollably for a while before going limp as Jacob left the room. Next thing they knew, Carrie ripped right out of the chair restraints and held out her arms. A strange energy started flowing throughout the room she was in.

And then… it began.

Carrie’s eyes turned solid black as a massive scream of pure rage shot throughout the entire room and sent all the cultists in the room flying. She then shot her arms out and lifted the projector in a telekinetic grip before reducing it to pieces. She grabbed a number of screaming cultists in her grip before smashing them to a bloody pulp against the solid steel walls of the basement. It was about that time the camera went to static and cut off, leaving the Mane Six and Spike staring wide-eyed, and their mouths dropped over what they just witnessed.

“Oh… my… Faust!” They all gasped.

<>

Carrie sat on her bed, closing on of the books she got from the library. Several laid on her bed, one sat on the table at the other side of the room. Carrie decided to test her new powers. Staring at the book on the table, it started to shake and eventually it levitated as the lights flickered. Deep in her focus, she hovered the book towards her. With a wave of her hand, the books on her bed started levitating. They floated around the room like a small flock of birds much to Carrie’s amazement. A few books slammed into the wall or dropped from her telekinetic grasp.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Margaret heard the books thumping and saw the lights flickered. She looked up, scared as the house groaned from the energy.

“Carrie?” Margaret called out.

Back in her room, Carrie was astonished as she rose her bed off the floor as well. Margaret turned back toward the sink and pulled a large kitchen knife from the dishwater. She cautiously made her way up the stairs with the knife. In her room, Carrie smiled and laughed a tad as she started getting the hang of controlling the levitation. Suddenly, Margaret grabbed the door handle and tried opening it.

“Carrie?”

Carrie heard her mother, and the fear broke her concentration. The books fell and the bed returned to its spot on the floor. Margaret opened the door, finding all the lights off and Carrie curled up in bed, pretending to be asleep. Margaret looked around, deciding there’s no danger, and very quietly she put the knife on the dresser. Margaret pulled the blanket over Carrie, stroking her shoulder.

“I’m not going to let anyone hurt you, little girl,” Margaret whispered, to her ‘sleeping’ daughter. “You’re safe here with me.”

Carrie’s face was hidden and judging by her eyes she didn’t believe her own mother. Carrie flicked her fingers, and the knife fell off the dresser landing with its blade stuck on the floor with a loud *CLANG!*. Margaret turned around and gasped with fright, while Carrie just smirked.

<>

The next day at school, Sue watched Tommy and the rest of the team playing Lacrosse. The Mane Six and Spike stood beside her, all having huge bags under their eyes. They were unable to get much sleep from the night before. After seeing what they’d seen on that video camera, to say they were horrified would be an understatement. They decided against telling Sue for the moment, speaking in a hushed tone around her because they really didn’t want her to worry.

“Now we don’t know Carrie very well girls,” Fluttershy whispered. “But after what we saw on that camera last night… that wasn’t her at all… *SQUEEK!*

“She had to have been brainwashed somehow,” Twilight surmised. “Possibly some form of mind control.”

“You mean like the time Plankton had everyone in Bikini Bottom under his mind control?” Pinkie asked.

“Exactly!” Twilight nodded.

“If what you say is true darling, based on the schematics of the school gymnasium, I think we know what Eden’s Gate are planning,” Rarity pointed out.

“Those sick creeps are going to make Carrie go crazy at prom and kill everyone attending,” Rainbow added.

“They do that, and it’ll cause a mass panic,” Applejack spoke up. “It’ll be the end of the world as we know it. Just as Joseph done said.”

“This must’ve been his plan all along!” Spike realized.

“Should we tell Carrie about this?” Fluttershy asked.

“Even if we did, she’d never believe us,” Twilight shook her head. “She’s too far brainwashed by the cult that she believes they can’t do no wrong. We’re going to have to take matters into our own hands.”

“And how do we do that?” Pinkie asked.

“We’re going to that prom and we’re going to stop whatever plans the cult has in store. We must do whatever it takes to prevent Carrie from losing control. But for now, we just play along and act like everything’s normal. We can’t risk tipping off the cult that we know what ‘they’ know.”

Soon as the game ended, Sue went to meet with Tommy as he took off his mask. He ran toward Sue and kissed her on the lips.

“Hey!” Tommy greeted. “How’re you doing?”

“Good…” Sue laughed.

“Good?”

“Yeah…”

“What’s up?”

“I want you take Carrie White to prom.”

“A-ha-ha!” Tommy chuckled. “Good one, babe. Come on.”

Tommy turned to walk away, but Sue didn’t follow. It was then he realized she meant it.

“Are you serious?” Tommy asked, surprised.

“I’m just trying to fix what I did,” Sue insisted.

“Yeah. I-I-I get that, but this is…” Tommy stammered. “Uh, Sue, it’s nuts.”

“Okay, so it’s nuts. But after what we did to her, I have to do something. I have to do something that counts.”

“Uh… what even makes you think that she would say yes to me?” Tommy chuckled nervously.

“She’d say yes,” Sue reassured.

Suffice to say, Tommy was still uncertain about this. Sue looked wistful but still she was determined to do the right thing.

“We’ve barely even spoken.”

“What girl doesn’t even want to go to prom? What girl doesn’t want one magical night? Maybe I can give that up for her.”

“No…” Tommy shook his head. “Babe, I want you to have that magic night. I don’t want to go to prom with Carrie White. I want to go to prom with you.”

“Well thankfully, you won’t have to worry about that.”

They both turned toward the direction where the voice came from. Sure enough, Derick Collins approached them.

“I’m asking Carrie to prom,” He told them. “We’ve been hanging out as of late and, if I’m being honest, I actually really like her. I’ll ask her to prom and you two can go together. It’s a win-win.”

“I did catch how she looked at you in class when you rescued her,” Sue recalled.

“Well there you go, problem solved!” Tommy smiled at Sue.

Tommy raced back to the field t continue the game. Sue merely shook her head before walking off. Derick was just about to do the same before Twilight and the others approached from the front.

“Derick, wait!” Twilight spoke urgently. “Before you do anything, we know your loyalties lie with Eden’s Gate. But you have to know…”

“My loyalties don’t lie with that brainwashed cult,” Derick interrupted. “At least… not anymore.”

This caused the group to dawn some confusion.

“But I thought you were part of the group,” Spike spoke confused.

“I was… till I heard what happened.”

“You heard all that?” Fluttershy asked.

Derick nodded his head before hanging it in sadness.

“All my life, I thought what the cult was doing was just. I thought the Father was our savior, our guiding light towards the promised land. But after hearing what twisted, demented sense of God he had, after what he’d done to his own child, I refuse to follow anything like that again. I follow the will of God, and I know God would never allow anything like what Joseph Seed has done.”

The group looked toward each other for a few moments, then back toward Derick. They wanted to believe what he was saying, but after being part of the cult for so long they had serious doubts.

“How do we know that what you’re saying is true?” Twilight asked.

Derick took off his backpack and pulled out his Eden’s Gate bible from inside. Walking toward a nearby trash bin, he produced a lighter from his jacket pocket and lit the bible on fire before tossing it toward the bin. Everyone watched with wide eyes as he was essentially throwing away the very teachings he grew up with his entire life. Walking back toward them, a determined look filled his eyes.

“If you guys are protecting Carrie from these assholes, count me in!” He volunteered.

“Ya really care about her don’t ya?” Applejack asked.

“Yeah, I do!” Derick nodded.

Twilight gazed toward Derick for a few moments more, trying to determine whether or not to actually trust him. Then she finally stuck out her hand, to which Derick gently grabbed and shook. From that moment on, their commitment to helping one another was sealed.

“So what do I do?” He asked.

“Well, since you’ve already planned to ask Carrie to prom, that’s all we really need you to do,” Twilight responded.

“Right! Take her to prom and make sure she has the greatest night of her life,” Rainbow added.

“The happier she is, the less likely things will go wrong,” Applejack nodded.

Fluttershy soon approached Derick, much to his confusion, and gave him a big hug. He stood there frozen for a moment before awkwardly placing a hand on her back.

“Please make sure Carrie has a good time,” She pleaded. “She’s been through so much already, and I really want her to have a good night for a change. She’s my friend, and friends always want to see each other happy.”

Derick lightly patted Fluttershy’s back before the girl finally drew away to looked toward the pink-haired teen’s eyes with a smile.

“I promise…” He said.

<>

Later…

Derick Collins walked like the world was in slow motion, treading across the school like a model on a runway. With his slick hair, the hypnotizing eyes, and even a leather jacket, all the girls smiled and giggled toward him. He’d exchange a few handshakes and some high fives to some students and faculty alike. He’s every bit of the embodiment of every teenage heartthrob cliché.

Walking straight into the lunchroom, it didn’t take long for the young man to spot Carrie White. She sat alone, hunched over her telekinesis books. He soon approached her with a tray of food and tapped her shoulder.

“Hey, Carrie!” Derick greeted.

Carrie gasped in surprise over someone talking to her. On instinct, she quickly covered the book as he sat down. She turned toward him and sighed with relief.

“Hey… you…” Carrie greeted awkwardly.

“I was just looking for you at the library, since that became your new hangout and stuff,” Derick spoke. “But I never would’ve figured you’d be here.”

“Yeah… sorry if that’s weird…” Carrie apologized.

“It’s cool…”

For a moment, Carrie said no more. She seemed to be waiting for another mean comment. Derick picked up one of her books and read the title.

“’Telekinesis: Unlocking the mind’,” Derick read. “You certainly have taste.”

Carrie quickly grabbed the book away as he chuckled. A few other students took notice of Derick sitting right across from Carrie, all of them murmuring as to why this random guy would suddenly be hanging with the outcast.

“So, this whole… telekinesis thing. Is that like—some form of, um… hypnosis?” Derick asked, starting conversation. “My choir friends and I tried that once… we actually hypnotized Charlie’s dog to take a dump on Principal Morton’s porch.”

Derick chuckled, yet Carrie retreated herself further. Seeing as being lighthearted wasn’t reaching Carrie, he decided to switch tactics.

“So… how are you doing?” Derick asked casually.

“I’m… okay…” Carrie answered, awkwardly.

“Great. So you know prom’s next week, right? At first I was just going to skip the whole thing. But then I was thinking… if you don’t have a date already, maybe you’d want to go with me?”

Carrie looked toward Derick in utter confusion. True, she really liked this boy, and they were very good friends. But she couldn’t help but shake her head, thinking she heard him wrong.

“What?”

“You know? The prom?” Derick repeated. “You and me… next week… do some dancing?”

Now Carrie clearly had no idea how to respond. She looked around, seeing all the other students staring at the pair in disbelief. And Carrie could swear she heard a chuckle somewhere in the crowd. In her mind she must be thinking it’s another joke, as Derick leaned toward her.

“What do you say Carrie?”

Carrie stood up and quickly threw her books in her bag hurrying out of the lunchroom. Derick went after her in the hallway and reached for her arm. She whirled out of his grasp, frightfully upset.

“Derick, please stop!” Carrie begged. “Just stop trying to trick me… just like everyone else!”

At first Derick didn’t say a word. He could clearly see how vulnerable and used to being hurt Carrie was.

“Carrie… I’m not trying to trick you,” Derick assured. “I really want to go to prom with you; I refuse to go with anyone else.”

“You don’t mean that…” Carrie whimpered.

“Yes I do!” Derick insisted, holding her coat. “I’m with you Carrie White, every step of the way. Not because someone told me to… not because I have to… I want to go with you. It’ll be the most fun you’ve had in years, I promise!”

“B-B-But…”

“Please…?”

Carrie stared toward Derick for a moment, the way he looked at her as if beckoning to take his hand and say ‘yes’. Instead, as she reached out toward him, she merely grabbed her coat back.

“I just can’t!” Carrie insisted, shaking her head.

And just like that, Carrie took off before Derick could reach out to her. So confused, so upset, she couldn’t even look back toward Derick as she ran as far as her legs could carry him. And Derick just looked after her, his eyes wanting to help but not knowing what to do. Around the corner, Twilight and her friends approached and stood behind Derick. The young man let out a sigh, as Fluttershy placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry…” Fluttershy apologized.

Derick didn’t say another word. Instead he slowly turned toward Fluttershy and pat his hand against hers. He then decided to walk away, his hands in his pocket wondering what he was going to do now. The very same question plaguing the minds of the girls, and Spike. What were they going to do?

<>

In the darkened girls’ locker room, Carrie sat while crying her eyes out. It didn’t take long for Miss Desjardin to find her all by herself. Feeling sympathetic for the child, she knelt down to speak to her.

“Did one of the girls try something again?” She asked worriedly.

Carrie shook her head before gazing up toward her teacher with tears in her eyes.

“No… I got invited to prom.”

Hearing the amazing news, Miss Desjardin was ecstatic for Carrie.

“Really?” She gasped. “That’s great news! With whom?”

“Derick Collins,” Carrie responded.

Miss Desjardin tried to retain the happy façade, but the answer set off a red flag.

“Derick Collins?” Miss Desjardin asked. “I don’t think I’ve seen him around school very much. Is he… dreamy?”

Carrie sniffled a bit before her nodding her head ‘yes’.

“Yeah…” She replied. “I don’t know why he’d ever want to go with me though. He must have just been out of options.”

Suffice to say, Carrie was convinced it couldn’t possibly be true. Despite being everything a girl could dream of Collins really only spoke with one girl… and that was her. Part of her desperately wanted to believe Derick was being genuine but was so afraid she’d just get her heart broken again. Poor Miss Desjardin couldn’t bring herself to crush her hopes, even against her better judgement.

“Maybe he really meant it,” She assured.

“No…”

“Yes, of course he did.”

“Why?” Carrie sobbed. “Why would he want to go with me?”

“Come here.”

Miss Desjardin took Carrie’s hand and lead her toward the mirrors. She put her arms over Carrie’s shoulders for support.

“Do you know what I see?” She asked. “I see a beautiful young woman. Maybe wear a little make-up.”

Carrie gazes upon her reflection, daring for a moment to hope. Miss Desjardin pulled her hair back and poked Carrie’s cheek, getting a smile from the girl.

“Pinch your cheeks a little bit, put some color in there. Curl your hair. Stand up straight.”

Miss Desjardin gently pulled Carrie from her usual crouched posture.

“There you go.”

And as Carrie looked upon her reflection, she began to see someone worthwhile looking back. The woman she wanted to be.

<>

Later that day, Carrie walked along the street toward her house. Suddenly, to her horror, she spotted Derick pulling up his car along the driveway. Soon as he emerged, he began walking straight towards her house. Quickly, she raced after him.

“What are you doing here?!” She asked horrified.

“Aren’t you going to ask me in?” He joked.

“This is not a joking matter. You can’t be here!”

“Why shouldn’t I? I hoped to continue our conversation from earlier. About the prom. Kind of left me hanging back there.”

“I’ve already told you…”

“You did, but I figured you’d change your mind.”

Carrie watch a car come down the road, making sure it’s not her mother. All the while Derick kept talking.

“Girls change their mind all the time.”

“Why are you doing this?” Carrie asked him seriously.

“C’mon, I’m really trying!” Derick insisted.

“Who’s been telling you to try?! Did Twilight and her friends put you up to this? Eden’s Gate?”

“Nobody told me to do anything… I chose to approach you! And I meant every word I said.”

Derick looked deeply into her eyes, placing a gently hand upon her cheek. Carrie flinched a bit, and yet somehow she didn’t mind.

“I’m not an idiot… I know what its like to be the outcast,” Derick responded. “For years, my entire life has always been with Eden’s Gate, we’re always praying every day and I never really get to do regular teenage activities. You and I have gone to the same place for religious fulfillment but never once had we even spoken to each other. Then I actually get a chance to meet you, to get to know you not as a follower of God… but as a person.

“I realized that the only fulfillment I haven’t had was someone special to call my own. I get you don’t think very highly of yourself, but believe me when I say… I think you’re the most beautiful, kindest girl on the face of God’s green earth. And I’d give up ‘all’ of my beliefs, if it means getting to know the ‘real’ you.”

Carrie almost wanted to cry over such kind words, she desperately wanted to believe them truly. She just didn’t know if she could find it in her heart to believe him.

"You need to leave,” She insisted.

“Not until you say yes,” He responded. “Just one night being regular kids and I’ll never ask again.”

“Why is the prom so important to you?”

“Because I think we’d have a good time. Truth is… I’ve been to so many schools, yet I never actually been to a dance. Honestly, I really believe if you’d give it a chance as I’m willing to, maybe you’ll realize your missing something in your life too. And even if nothing happens afterwards and we still want to be friends, I’ll have no regrets.”

Carrie spotted another car, fearing that it could be her one. And even if that wasn’t the case, surely the next car would be.

“Yes!” She spoke quickly. “Yes, okay, I’ll go. I gotta be back by 10:30.”

Even though it was a rather ‘quick’ yes, just to convince him to leave before her mother arrives, Derick was still pleased she agreed.

“No problem! So… I’ll pick you up here at 7:00?”

“Yeah… okay,” Carrie nodded.

Before he left, he decided to be brave and go for the moment. He leaned close and placed a gentle kiss on Carrie’s cheek, smiling at her as he hopped in his car. Carrie stood frozen as a heated blush came to her face as she watched him drive away. Slowly lifting her hand up, placing it on the exact spot on her where he kissed her, Carrie White couldn’t stop the huge smile coursing its way to her face as she walked back home.

Little did the strawberry blonde know, from the sidelines, Chris Hargensen had been watching the entire time with an angry look on her face. She couldn’t believe the little bible thumping freak was now going to prom. A deep rage boiled deep inside her, being kicked out of prom all because of Carrie White. Pulling her hood over her head, Chris walked down the street huffing angrily to herself. She needed to figure out a way to get back at Carrie White, something even more humiliating than last time. But how?

As she walked, the sound of a car behind her caused her to turn around and spot two white vans coming in her direction. Chris quickly stepped out of the way to let them pass, but they pulled alongside to a complete stop next to her. From the vans, a group of Eden’s Gate cultists jumped out with machine guns and started towards her. This scared Chris immensely and she quickly fled the other way. However, she hadn’t gotten very far as another group of cultists jumped out the other van and cut her off. They grabbed her by the arms and started dragging her back towards the others.

“Let me go freaks!” She yelled loudly. “I swear if you don’t let me go, there’ll be Hell to pay! My dad’s a lawyer and he’ll sue your asses off!”

The cultists said nothing as they dragged Chris back towards the rest of the group. One of the cultists opened the back doors of the van and out stepped Joseph Seed. The Father gazed toward the girl struggling in the grips of the other cultists and smiled.

“Release her!” He ordered.

The two cultists simply nodded their heads and released their hold on Chris. The girl in question rubbed her sore arms and just glared at the Father.

“If you so much as long one finger on my, my dad will ensure you’re locked away for the rest of you fucking life!” She threatened.

Joseph, meanwhile, chuckled in amusement as he stepped towards the girl.

“Worry not my child, for I am not here to harm you,” He assured her. “Rather in fact, I’m here to offer you aid.”

“Yeah right creep,” Chris scoffed. “If I were you, I’d get in your shitty can and get as far the hell away as possible because I’ll call the cops!”

The cultists behind Chris raised their guns and aimed for her back. But Joseph merely held a hand to stay their fire. He then held both arms to the sky as he looked toward the heavens.

“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal… there was silence in Heaven… and the seven angels before God were given seven trumpets. And there were noises, thundering’s, lightning’s, and an earthquake… and I heard a great voice from the temple say to the angels… go your ways… and pour from the vials, the wartch of God upon the Earth.”

Hearing his preaching, Chris merely rolled her eyes.

“Oh great, another Jesus freak!” She muttered. “Look, I’ve had enough with this shit in my life. You can all go back to singing your little songs and I’m going the hell home! I want nothing to do with ‘any’ of you!”

She pushed the two cultists aside and started walking her way back down the street.

“Not even if it concerns vengeance against Carrie White?”

Chris stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder toward the mad preacher and his followers.

“What do you mean?” She asked confused.

“I know you harbor great resentment for Carrie White all your life,” Joseph continued. “God has spoken to me child of a great collapse that will destroy this very world as we know it. We believe young Carrie is the chosen one, who will bring the great collapse upon the Earth. All she needs is to be pushed in that very direction and the prophecy that has been foretold unto me will be fulfilled.”

Chris turned fully back around now. She walked right back into the middle of the group.

“Why the hell should I help you?” Chris retorted. “What kind of church are you?”

“The kind which rewards an opportunity to torment Carrie White with any punishment deem worthy,” Joseph continued. “In order for the prophecy to be fulfilled, she must first be broken beyond repair. I knew you’d never pass on an opportunity to cause that girl pain; I’m offering you that very opportunity. TO help show the world exactly what she is… nothing.”

Joseph held out a hand for her, leaving Chris to ponder for a good moment. It was certainly a very tempting offer. An opportunity to humiliate that stupid little freak even further and show it off to the whole world. An opportunity for revenge knocking right at her front door, and this man offered her that chance to do anything she wished. With a wicked smile on her face, she reached out and shook the preacher’s hand.

“What did you have in mind?”