Shadown in the cellar
~1916 Second Salem church ~
Isaiah had just been adopted. Right after the death of Christian as ma needed more boys to help her with the pamplets as the girls were left to take care of the household. Unfortunately for himself the boy was too caring. It was his weakness. They were all having dinner, when suddenly Hope dropped her fork. It clattered to the floor. The sound defeaning in the quiet church. Mary Lou was up in an instant. Seizing a wet towel she smacked the girl over the head with it, repeatedly. She even went as far as to shove Hope face first against the table. Isaiah sprang to his feet in seconds, yelling :
"What are you doing ? Let her be. It was an accident can't you see?! " his outburst angered ma as she let go of Hope and narrowed her eyes at Isaiah.
" How dare you speak to me like this, you good-for-nothing wretch! " her scream was loud like thunder. Echoying from the walls. Isaiah showed no fear however. He had only been with ma a week. He was still strong and a head taller than ma. She didn't scare him, but she should have. Turning on her heels she gripped his arm tightly. Too tightly. It hurt. For the first time since coming to the new house Isaiah felt a pang of fear.
" Take off your clothes "
" But - his protest were cut short by a slap across the face. The boy's head spun from the force of it.
" Yes ma'am" he replied, eyes downcast. Not daring to meet the others's gazes, Isaiah stripped off his clothes. He was now wearing only his underwear as he stood before them all. Shame heated his cheeks. He could feel the others watching his every move too frightened to look away.
" Credence, give me the belt" Mary Lou commanded in her usual cold voice. Devoit from all emotions. The boy did as he was told, quickly sliding off the belt and placing it into ma's outstretched, waiting hand. The crack cut through the air. They all expected Isaiah to cry out. It was his first beating after all. But he stayed silent, unmoving. A final show of his defience. It only made ma more furious. During the whole whipping the boy didn't as much as shed a tear. Infuriated by this Mary Lou locked him in the cellar for 3 days, hoping to finally break the boy. Most broke after spending enough time locked away, alone in the darkness. Not even Isaiah was strong enough to keep his wits about him after that. He came out weak, fearful, so damaged he could no longer stand on his own two feet. The humiliation of the public whipping scarred him emotionaly so much so that he never spoke up again. He withdrew completely, hiding away in a far corner of his mind. No one knew what he thought or felt, but they all remembered as Isaiah woke screaming, unable to tolerate the dark anymore, always having to sleep with a light on to keep the nightmares at bay. It was not uncommon that this happen, as locking the children away was Mary Lou's prefered form of punishment. It nearly always broke them. If not physically then mentally.