Hands of sin
~ 1909 Second Salem church ~
The 6 year old girl, Chastity has found a magazine while out. Handing out pamplets alongside Credence. The boy had warned her not to take it.
" Ma will punish you if she ever finds it, Chas" he said, trying desperately to reason with his sister. Chastity just sighed and took it anyway, too young to understand just how deep Mary Lou's cruelty ran. When they got home that evening mother was waiting on them already. They had come late for dinner. They should have been back 5 minutes ago. Credence gets away with only a whipping, but Chastity is met with a far harsher punishment.
" What is that you got here ? " Mary Lou asks, infuriated. Chastity's blood turns to ice.
" Nothing - just a magazine ma " she admits quietly. Her eyes meet Credence's who has just picked himself up from the floor, his back bleeding. His eyes are filled with terror, but he walks to his room, leaving Chastity behind, too fearfull of another punishment should he intervine.
" Follow me " ma comands and so Chastity does. Fear weighing her down as she goes. Ma stops before the fireplace. Making sure Chastity is watching her as she throws the magazine into the flames. The girl's eyes fill with tears that she quickly blinks back. Crying is a weakness, all the Second Salemers know this. Ma seizes a switch, whipping it across Chastity's hands, until they are bleeding and swollen.
"Your hands touched sin—they will feel the wrath of the Lord!" Mary Lou preaches as she beats the six year old.
For the next week she is unable to use her hands properly, but that doesn't stop ma from making her do chores around the house. Chastity becomes obedient after that. Rarely breaking any rules, keeping her head down at all times to avoid drawing attention to herself. Even though she never let it show, something inside her died that day, when she had learned the extent of mother's cruelty.