Chapter 6 - Faith Healing

Stanley S. Rugg was a preacher, a faith healer, and depending on what town he visits, a fraud and a scoundrel. Practicing the power of God's power he uses illusions, fast acting drugs, and actors to fool the faithful of a community to pay him to heal him of all illness. Teaching people that cancer treatments, vaccinations, and all drugs made for healing are tools of the devil to fool them away from God's almighty power. So powerful and passionate were his words that it fooled the desperate, and earned him cash donations in the thousands for each town he set up in that wasn't wise to his ways.

One town he pretended to cure a wheelchair bound boy and offered to heal another child at his residence for an up front fee of a considerate amount then never showed, instead hopping to the next state. Stanley being an atheist had a contempt for the religious and saw them as guilable and stupid, so much so he took no shame in scamming people for their savings in hopes for salvation. So profitable was his scam that he was thinking of retiring after one last big score, upon arriving to the isolated south florida town of Haida he was swarmed with a crowd of the most devoted people in all the state.

Hype men he hired to stir up rumors of his arrival had reached the ears of every faithful in the area, people in wheelchairs, hospital gurneys, and even iron lungs shows up in hopes of being healed. Typical for his show he gave a sermon damning all modern medical treatments, and said the power is with God. Never before had he given some an impassioned and empowered speech, even the skeptics who showed were a little more trusting after hearing his eloquent words.

Afterwards he healed some plants in the audience, used painkilling gas from his sleeve to ease pain, and pretending to cure cancer with just the touch of his hand. Fiending weariness he retired for the night but accepted donations that filled over eight dozen collection baskets. Then after it was collected the preacher retired to the back with his cronies to count their lucre.

"Gentlemen he said to his staff, we have truly done God's work. And tomorrow we'll be on the road to retirement." Stanley said proudly.

"Sure thing boss, with this money we can all retire rich men." praised one of his men.

"Yes it is rewarding to do the Lord's work." he said as he left to smoke a cigar outside, proud at the performance he did that night.

As he suckled on his lit cigar he heard someone approach, startled he turned around and saw on the bright moon lit night a man dressed in a black trenchcoat and large brimmed hat approach him. Face hidden by the shadow Stanley couldn't make out who it was, fearing it was a federal agent he decided to play it close to the chest. Until he saw him reach into his coat and pull out a stack of hundred dollar bills.

"Please preacher I need your help, you and God's." begged the man whose black gloved hand trembled.

The moment Stanely saw the money he was interested in whatever the man had to say, giving him the best smile he could he reassured him with a gentle shoulder squeeze.

"My son there is nothing that can't be helped when God's on your side." Stanley assured.

Sobbing for joy the man in black bowed his head in praise of Stanley who absorbed all the messiah like praise.

"Please preacher Rugg come to my house, my son he is sick with a horrible disease. Medicine can't cure him and I fear he'll only get worse without divine intervention."

Sounding on the verge of tears Stanley sucked on his cigar and nodded gently.

"My son say no more I would of course help heal your son but I am afraid that I have a schedule to keep, there are a lot of souls that need…" before Stanely could finish the man rammed the stack of bills into Stanley's grasp.

"That is ten thousand up front, my family is wealthy we will donate to you five million dollars all in cash if you can only help my son." pleaded the man. "My name is Julius Gram, me and my wife have been wealthy landowners all our lives. We've said our prayers and went to church two times a week, and nine years ago we had a son, his name is Brett after my father."

Unable to continue without breaking down Julius bent down in tears crying sorrowfully in his gloves. Counting the money in his grasp Stanley realized the prime opportunity to not only retire, but do so in his mansion in Hawaii. Dreams of beach drinks and bronze skinned women made his salviate at the offer on hand.

"I understand," Stanley said trying to soothe Juilius "I will come to your son tonight and perform faith healing before I go… I do trust the donation will be ready when we're done."

Sensing the desperation Stanley was confident to ask about the money not willing to do it unless he can vacate the state by day break before they realize they've been conned.

"Of course!" yelled Juilus who clutched Stanley's shoulders with bone crushing strength.

Smells of sweet almonds and strong lavender assaulted his nostrils, as it was clear it was covering up something putrid.

"It is all packed in a suitcase ready for you, please come help my son tonight. I fear he won't have much longer." Julius pleaded.

Nodding Stanley said putting out his cigar on the ground and pocketing the money, "I'll get my personal driver to take me to your house, just lead the way in your car if you please."

Shaking the preacher's hand in gratitude Julius went back to his vehicle saying he'll show him the way, telling him to hurry before it was too late. Quickly Stanley dashed inside the tent got his driver and filled him in privately about the side deal. Once inside his car they followed Julius whose bright rear light guided them to his residence. On the way Stanley plotted with his driver and right hand man Dennis.

"Look here pal it's simply, we say we only got three grand for the job, and split the one million between you and me, that way we both can retire in Hawaii." Stanley said gleefully.

Nodding in agreement Dennis gave his boss a large smile, unknowing that four million was on offer.

"Sounds good to me, after we split the collection in the next state you and me get two first class tickets to paradise." he said unable to stop himself from laughing.

Both greedy men followed the car down a road that turned over bridges that stretched over swamps, and head deep into the bayou, that made Dennis nervous.

"Hey boss you sure this guy is legit, maybe he is a cop or an angry past customer leading us to a trap." Dennis said as sweat dripped down his forehead.

"Relax." Stanley ordered. "I believe one hundred percent that he isn't bull shitting us, it takes one to know one after all, and trust me that guy doesn't have a deceptive bone in his body."

Reassured by Stanley's acute sense for deception, Dennis continued to drive, no longer bothered by any more second thoughts. Finally they arrived at Juilus's house, it was a large manor building in a beautiful grove, with a willow tree out front and a swimming hole next to the tree. Marvelling at the sigh in the full moon light Stanley had the car parked behind Juluis's car and got out, ordering Dennis to keep the engine running in case something went wrong. Eager Stanely followed Juluis up to the front door, feeling his heart thump in his chest with nervous anticipation.

Five million dollars, a goal he would reach far before the average man, just one night's work and then by morning on his way to an Earthly paradise. Opening the door Juilius quickly went inside and ushered Stanley, the preacher looked about and marvel at the eloquent home of exquisite art pieces, and priceless decour. Occupied with his surroundings Stanley didn't notice a woman in a pink dressed wrapped head and toe in bandages walk up to him and embrace him tightly.

So tightly in fact he felt his ribs creak from the pressure.

"Honey this is Stanley S. Rugg the famous healer." Julius proudly introduced.

"Thank you for coming." the woman squealed as she held on a little tighter.

"And this preacher Rugg is my wife Patricia." Julius said.

"Nice to meet you." Stanley grunted painfully.

Hearing his discomfort Patricia let him go, and apologized profusely for her overzealous embrace.

"No problem my dear, but I must press the time sensitive nature of this house call, so if you have the briefcase placed by the door I can go upstairs and with God's divine aid heal young Brett." Stanley said as sincere and righteous as he would in one of his sermons.

Tears poured from the eye holes in her bandages as Mrs. Gram took him by the hand in a tight grip and lead him to the stairs. Climbing up the Stanley looked back at Julius who placed the coveted black suitcase near the front door.

"It'll be right here preacher, once you've done God's work." Juluis said jubilant.

"Won't take long." Stanley assure as the wife nearly dragged him up to the second floor.

The hallway they came to was dark, except for a light from a half opened door at the end of the hall.

"This at the end of the hall is our Son's room." Patricia explained. "Brett honey we've got the preacher, he's going to make you all better."

Nearly hysterical Patricia Gram ran down the hall dragging Stanley behind her with the strength of ape. Charing through the door, it slammed opened as the scent of lavender and almonds filled Stanley's nostrils bringing tears to his eyes. Only when he wiped the tears from them did he see what afflicted Brett Gram.

"Oh Christ!" Stanley shouted.

Laying on the bed tucked in with cowboy pajamas was Brett Gram, he was a skeleton with rotting, moist flesh clinging to his rotting body. Turning his head his lidless brown eyes looked at the preacher and his skeletal mouth flung open and let out a happy scream.

"Yeah preacher's here to help me!" Brett said happily.

"What's wrong with him?" Stanley said disgusted never before seeing such a grizzly sight in his life.

Turning her head Patricia Gram gripped the preacher's hand tightly and ripped the bandages from his face showing a rotting face, bloated with green lumps, and drooling scabs.

"The same that is me preacher." she answered laughing insanely. "Brett went swimming one day and there must've been a chemical spill because since then him and everything he touches just started rotting from the bone. So hurry preacher use God's power to heal him before he rots anymore."

Pulling his hand towards the grotesque zombie looking child's skull, Stanley recoiled as he tried to pull away but he grip was insanely strong.

"Please preacher!" she shrieked "only God can help my baby!"

Inches from the child's skin melting head, Stanley acted fast and reached over to the child's bedside table and picked up the lamp. Raising high up he slammed it as hard as he could into Patricia's skull, sending a gush of green slime all over Brett's bed. Letting go from the sheer pain Patricia collapsed on the floor trying to keep her brain in her skull. Screaming in pure terror Stanley fled the bedroom and sped down the dark hallway, rushing down the stairs he saw the briefcase.

With the shriefs of the monstrous mother and son at his heel Stanley scrambled down the stairs and grabbed the handle of the suitcase, but a gloved hand held him in place. Without the hat the preacher saw Julius Gram's face, it was completely skeletal, except for a few pulsing patches of muscle still clinging to the bone. Two large green eyes stared at him, and his mouth made a chattering noise as he began to speak.

"You haven't healed my son, you must go back up and fix him." the father hollered just as Patricia reached the stairs carrying Brett in her arms.

Both of them begging for help.

"I can't help you." Stanley said as he tried to pull free from the iron grip.

"You must! God must help us!" Julius pleaded.

Seeing the frantic desperation in his eyes that he cultivated with his false preaching Stanley feared he would suffer the same as those people. Unable to accept that fate he reached for a stone bust that was near the door and smashed it into Julius's skull.

As the skull of the father cracked and he fell to the floor Stanley screamed "Go to hell!"

Before speeding out the door with the five million in the suitcase. Behind him the inflicted family begged for help.

"Preacher save us, please, save us."

Running at full speed Stanley didn't look back as he ran down the stairs of the porch and ran towards his car, but a blinding white light stopped him in place. Squinting his eyes he tried to block the blinding light till his eyes adjusted and he saw surrounding the house was a small army of men dressed in yellow biohazard suits. Vans parked everything and a perimeter set up, before he could say anything a loud engine started to churn and a large plastic dome started to inflate around the property.

"No, no." begged Stanley "don't leave me here with them, I'm not sick, I'm not please I don't want to die!"

Pleas for his life went unheeded as the plastic dome filled and trapped the con artist preacher inside with a family of inflicted, walking dead who were reaching out towards him still begging for God's help.