#*bound

PASTOR ELLIS: -and Lord we ask that you continue to watch over this church, and of course, its congregation, Amen

ALL: [in unison] Amen

[aged wood creaks as everyone takes their seat]

PASTOR ELLIS: Now, the good book tells us...

MAE: [internally] Ugh we gon’ be here forever

MAE: [sighs]

LOUISE: [whispering] Mae fix your face

MAE: [whispering] But Mama-

LOUISE: Shut it

MAE: But I’m bored, we’ve been here for hours and-

LOUISE: And we need to be here for more, swear your Grammy gon’ come down from heaven and box my ears for how you act

[bickering continues]

PASTOR ELLIS: ‘Scuse me!

Mae and Louise: Sorry Pastor

PEARL AND NANCY: [laughs]

PASTOR ELLIS: [huffs] LIke I was sayin’, the Bible says: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, James 4:7

PASTOR ELLIS: But I know some of you struggle to resist the call of the devil, his pull towards sin. And I understand it can be hard considerin' the devil can take many forms to tempt you

PASTOR ELLIS: He'll change his uh… serpent-like, appearance to draw you in and pull you from God's light. But no matter what form he takes, two things are always the same…

PASTOR ELLIS: His sharp teeth

PASTOR ELLIS: And an unearthly appearance that'll make you feel an almost....unnatural connection to 'em

MAE: W-What am I thinkin'? I've never even seen Lucy look like that. And we don't have an "unnatural connection"- she's just my friend

PASTOR ELLIS: So we must resist the devil, and his soldiers here on earth

[pearl raises her hand]

PEARL: 'Scuse me, Pastor?

PASTOR ELLIS: Yes young lady?

PEARL: [condescendingly] What if a friend of yours, I don't know...Mae for example looks like the devil is temptin' 'em? What should I- I mean we- do?

MAE: What?! I-I ain't been tempted by nothin', let alone the devil

[whispers erupt from the congregation]

CHARLIE: [whispers, urgency lacing his voice] Mama say somethin'!

LOUISE: [sighs, annoyed] Hush

NANCY: Oh sweetheart, no reason to get all upset, my Pearl here is just givin’ an example

PEARL: [chuckles] Yeah you’d think the devil really had you from how you’re actin’

[Murmurs continue until Pastor Ellis loudly clears his throat, silencing

the congregation]

Earl: Lucy..

Earl: Lucy...Lucy are you listenin’ to me?

Lucy: Huh?

Earl: I said you’re gettin’ older, which could mean that, that part of you could get stronger

Earl: And that monstrous side of you we do our damndest to control, is gon start tryin' even harder to claw its way out

Lucy: W-What?!

Lucy: But I don’t wanna be stronger, Daddy why [huffs] why ain’t you tried to make me better?!

Earl: Now hold on, just what the hell you think I been doin’ Lucy? You think all these damn shots and experiments been for fun?!

Lucy: N-no Daddy I-

Lucy: I’m just scared...I don’t wanna get stronger! I don’t wanna be-

Nightmare Lucy: You don’t wanna be what?

Lucy: W-Who? I-

Nightmare Lucy: [mockingly] "I-I.. I don't wanna be a monster?" Please, we both know it's gettin' too late for that

Nightmare Lucy: I mean come on, look at Daddy’s arm

Nightmare Lucy: [chuckles] At this rate, you’ll gnaw the whole thing off next time

Lucy: I would never do that!

Nightmare Lucy: Hmm maybe not...or maybe you’ll get so mad you’ll take out his other eye, just like Mama did

Lucy: [gasps] Why are you sayin’ such awful things?! Is it so wrong to wanna not be strong?! To try and stop myself from becoming a..a..

Nightmare Lucy: *tsks* You can’t even say it! You need to wake up and face reality

Lucy: [timidly] no..

Nightmare Lucy: Yea! Open your eyes and look at the dirty, ugly truth... that you, me, WE ARE MONSTERS

[Lucy covers her ears, breath quickening]

Lucy: No I-I’m not a monster! Stop it!

Nightmare Lucy: Stop what?! Ain’t nothin’ to stop!

Nightmare Lucy: ‘Cuz deep down, you know you can’t stop what’s already happened!

Mae: LUCY!

Mae: Lucy what's goin' on with you?!

[Lucy exits her dream as she hears a door creak open]

Mae: [huffs, panicked] Forgive me, I don't know what else to do

[Lucy’s body rocks as a hand shakes her violently]

Mae: LUCY!!

[Lucy jolts awake, breathing harshly]

Lucy: [meekly] huh?

Mae: [gasps, relieved] Oh...oh thank the Lord! I'm sorry for shakin' you, you were just yellin' and bleedin' I didn't-