Chapter 3- Welcome to Hell

Int of Hell's Kitchen, a restaurant and where Mara, Midday, and Xezbeth are conversing over their origins into the business

Midday opens up the conversation. "So since you are new to the team, why don't you do an icebreaker and introduce yourself, with your original name, and how you were chosen by the Djinn. Xezbeth quickly stopped eating and glared at Midday, his eyes and mouth fully open.

"You mean that guy who gave us our new names and powers. Why did I think he was a Genie."

Midday smiled and replied, "Genies don't exist, the closest thing to them are Djinns and Angels, who grant us our wishes of power and safety, as well as a rebirth, a new start. Why don't you tell us your story Xezbeth, and we will tell you ours." Xezbeth looked at Midday and Mara, and sighed.

"Fine, but it ain't pretty, I almost died and everything."

Flashback- Int/Ext of Xezbeth in a park near a lake with a group of teenagers.

"You son of a bitch, you thought it would be funny to steal the church's money and spend it on my girlfriend. I'll kill you," the guy said as he punches Xezbeth over the face, blood streaming out of Xezbeth's mouth.

"Ugh, I-I- I'm I'm sowwy," Xezbeth tried to pronounce, but was kicked by the surrounding teenagers around him.

"I was in charge of the church's money affairs, and you embarrassed me and you stole my girlfriend. My own father fired me and said I was a disgrace. Me? ME? I'm suppose to eventually run this church. You just ruined it for me, and now I'm going to ruin you," the guy said as he clenched his fist and stormed around.

"God, please help me, please," Xezbeth said as he attempted to get up, but was met with a storm of kicks and punches from the surrounding children. Xezbeth's face became more fat and swollen and blood rushed his cheeks.

"God can't help you now Saul, no way he can. You don't deserve help. Hmm, and for mocking God like that by calling for his help, we will make you suffer, crucify you like a criminal and a Judas of the church like you should be crucified."

Xezbeth was laid flat on the ground, body stretched like the letter X. The group of teenagers then proceeded to plant nails in his hands, legs, and feet. Xezbeth screamed in agony, but there was no one around to save him. The guy who planned the assault brought out the girl who had cheated on him in order for her to witness what was going on.

"You see what you caused you b*tch, do you see! Now he will suffer and hopefully die here, learn that you don't cross the church," the guy said as he pulled the girl's hair, while she winced and cried at what she witnessed. After the teenagers were done nailing Xezbeth to the ground, they left, leaving Xezbeth covered in blood. Xezbeth began to get cold, and he no longer knew his surroundings, all he could sense was the coldness engulfing his body. It was then, a man with a short cut in a suit and tie approached Xezbeth while he was approaching his end.

"Tsk, tsk, and they say Christians are suppose to be compassionate. Where was God when you needed him, huh Saul," the unknown man said as he walked around Xezbeth's body. "People never really begin to understand the fact you guys are human, and you all are truly sinful animals. None of you are better than the other, you all will show your true colors when pushed to the limit. Which is why it bewilders me that religion is run by men, and that the bible and other religious books are run by men!" The man's voice became louder as he continued on.

"You want faith, well faith didn't save you now did it. I thought God watches over his children, I thought you guys were suppose to be safe and live wonderful lives. News flash, your own people did this to you. Future leaders of the church, Saul, life is a lie, you have been fed lies." The unknown man then calmed his tone as he bent over Xezbeth's body, his face facing Xezbeth's face. "What is reason, reason is the power to think, to explain events and actions, reason is what humanity has relied on to make it thus far. Faith is the enemy of reason, faith is hope in the unseen, it is believing in something with no proof. If we all believed we could survive in the cold or make it thus far without proof or reason, then my friend we will all be dead or useless. If religion goes against evolution and advancement, I'm sorry, but it suppresses us."

The unknown man paused his speech and pulled out a black knife. "Saul, I could offer you redemption, I could save your life, I could give you a rebirth. All you have to do is repeat after me, ego offero mea anima." Desperate, Xezbeth repeated after the man, and the man proceeded to cut his hand and put his blood within Xezbeth's mouth. "Today, you are new, you are reborn. You are no longer Saul, you are Xezbeth, and your power is the ability to make anyone believe a lie, you can reprogram anyone's mind, just how religion reprogrammed yours." Xezbeth's eyes dilated and his body began to have a violent spasm. Within seconds, his body was cleansed of pain and nails, and Xezbeth was left new and strong, and all alone.

"Wow, wow, this can't be," Xezbeth said as he looked at his hands. He then proceeded to go to the nearby lake, where his reflection was smiling, even though he wasn't.