Act 4: Black River

Black River 1875

“I’m up, I’m up.”

James dragged you out of bed to make it into the center of town right in time for the hanging. James always had a morbid fascination with these executions. Maybe it was the lack of other kids, maybe it was the lack of any other entertainment, but even you found it fascinating. The way the legs kick, straining for a new fate that has long been decided is particularly interesting to you.

“Alright, now it’s my turn son.”

You dragged James to church. You went home to collect your wife Jess, as she hated the “barbaric” executions, and headed to the town chapel.

It was a modest chapel, as all should be, and in good attendance for Pastor Clark.

“Fear not the pain of the devil! But the forgiveness of the lord! Revelations 3: 2-4 says, ‘Wake up! And strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.’ There is no punishment from the devil which the lord has not permitted! All things good and evil are by his hand.”

The sermon ended and the congregation rose in prayer. It was particularly intense that day and you remember how much it shook your son. He stood there with a terror in his eyes you couldn’t understand, a true fear of God.

“James? James it’s okay.”

“Sweetie?”

James turned towards you and Jess in tears; he could hardly speak a word.

“How about we go talk to the pastor when this is done, and he explains a little better?”

James wiped the snot with his sleeve.

“O-Okay.”

You and your family waited for the people to clear and talked to Pastor Clark.

“Now I’m sorry James, I ain’t ever mean to scare ya like that.”

“W-What do I do?”

“Watcha’ mean son?”

“I…I don’t wanna make God angry.”

Pastor Clark gave a warm and inviting smile to James.

“Live well then, live long, and come back here every Sunday. Anything you do in between is fine.”

He let a chuckle out so infectious it got everyone to laugh just a little. James slowly stopped crying.

“How do I live well then?”

“I see watchu’ mean. How bout’ this? You come here Sunday early morning, to help me prepare for the service, and I’ll make sure God sees your good deeds.”

James lights up at the opportunity.

“Really?”

“Really son.”

“Thanks Pastor Clark, I’ll be there!”

James ran out of the church in his excitement, having narrowly escaped the wrath of God in his mind.

“Thanks pastor.”

“No, no. Thank you. And I’m sorry bout’ the rough service, I’ll keep it calmer in the future.”

“Not if you want every kid in town helping out.”

Everyone laughed at your quick comment, but the laughter died soon after. In the coming weeks James held true to his promise, he met you there at church, and it really was a better service. The church even started offering prayer groups on Tuesday with James’ help. He was starting to spend more time at the church than at home, it was only a matter of time before something snapped.

“James! You’re back late, help me set the table for your mother.”

In the cold darkness of that Wednesday night, you could hardly see the look on James’ face until he stepped into the light.

“James? James, what the hell happened!?”

He had a placid thousand-yard stare, his mouth hung agape, his hands were bloodied and caked in dirt, and his face was cherry red under dried tears.

Jess walked into the dining room to see what was the matter and immediately understood.

“James! James sweetie it’s okay, it’s okay now.”

Jess also started crying at the sight of her boy, she hugged him in a warm embrace and you joined her. The floorboards creaked under the combined weight of your family’s love.

“Mama, what’s gonna happen?”

“I told you James, it’s all gonna be alright. Let’s get you some food sweetie.”

“I’m not that hungry mama, may I be excused?”

“Of course sweetie.”

James mechanically disengaged the hug and walked upstairs to his room. Jess sat you down on the couch and explained what happened to James.

“Bill, I believe our son was raped.”

You were instantly filled with a paternal rage, but you stemmed it for the sake of discussion.

“How do you know?”

“I’ve seen that look a few times before, all was the same case. It changes you Bill, it changes a person, I’ve just never seen it on a boy.”

“But who then?”

You and Jess both thought for a moment, he helped Pastor Clark set up for the Thursday morning service, and then he came home. So it had to happen sometime in between.

“We’ll have to ask Bill.”

“Then I’ll leave that to you.”

“No Bill, at least be in the room with me.”

“Alright, alright.”

You and Jess climbed the stairs to James’ room and knocked on the door. He laid down in his bed, wide awake, gazing at the stars through his window.

“James? We wanna ask you about what happened tonight?”

He’s unresponsive, but you and Jess take a seat at the foot of his bed regardless.

“Sweetie, I don’t know what happened to you…”

Jess herself started to break down crying.

“B-But we need to know a few things.”

“Who were you with son?”

“Pastor Clark.”

“Tell us what happened son?”

James spoke about his molestation at the hands of Pastor Clark with innocence only a child could. Jess quickly broke down in tears further, but you couldn’t help listening intently with that same morbid curiosity. James himself spoke remarkably calm and smooth, though he never stopped staring out the window with that ever long glare.

When his story was over Jess quickly said goodnight and left. You spent the night in a rocking chair the two of you had made in the corner of the room, thinking of the next day.

The next morning, James was finally asleep, and you had to ask a couple questions. You waited for the Thursday service to end and went to ask the pastor. The people had cleared out and only you and Pastor Clark remained.

“Oh Bill! What brings you here on a Thursday?”

Your fist reflexively curled, but you stemmed the urge to beat a pastor out of respect for the institution.

“My boy.”

“You mean that queer, Bill?”

“What?”

Pastor Clark immediately started talking about James with venom on his tongue.

“I caught him last night fornicating with some townsfolk in the shed. Big bastard ran off before I could catch him, but your boy sat there, smilin’.”

“My boy wasn’t smilin’ last night.”

“Oh but he was Bill, I dragged him out that shed and beat the fear of the Lord back in him, all the while he was smilin’.”

You couldn’t hold back any longer and grabbed Pastor Clark by his collar.

“HE WASN’T SMILIN’ WHEN YOU RAPED HIM, YOU LOUSY SO-”

“Hold on, hold on, hold on. That’s a large accusation to levy on such a man of large standing.”

You turned around to find the mayor standing at the back of the church with the sheriff at guard. Three men were also behind them, grinning incessantly.

“Sounds like you raised a queer, and shoved him off onto the pastor.”

“Not a good look Bill.”

“James said it was Pastor Clark. He told me every little thing this GODDAMN worm did to him last night. He can tell you too.”

Pastor Clark smiled back at you and looked towards the back of the church.

“Ain’t a good idea to use the Lord’s name in vain Bill.”

The mayor shot you a devilish smile.

“Maybe you should get home Bill.”

“See what your boy has to say.”

You felt the evil in that room emanating from every man. You looked up towards the cross for respite, but even it was obscured in the corruption. You shoved past the mayor and his goons, sprinting through the dirt roads of Black River, and you were still greeted by your boy on the porch, strung up by his neck.