The clouds were beginning to get thicker. Faith knew a storm was coming. The sand beneath her feet scurried to the east, subject to the strength of the wind. The union of dark clouds warned of danger. Faith stood frozen on the beach, still wondering if her friend had really been gone. Love was her friend, their leader. Faith’s existence had only been possible through Love. Although, Love was always able to distort her vision and blind Faith. Faith had never felt stronger when Love was around. Now, She couldn’t help but feel defeated, as if her existence was weakening.

“Faith,” a voice called out. Faith was immediately dispelled from her trance. The ocean had seemed deeper, wilder, a little more dangerous. The waves called out to her, roaring while pulling her gaze. The water darkened, reflecting the troubling skies above. The beach seemed to disappear more and more as the tides grew, gaining power from the strength of the wind.

“Faith,” the voice called out once more. Faith turned around, holding onto her dark scarf. She looked up to the church, knowing she would have to face her friend. Joy smiled as she approached Faith. “Faith, what are you doing? It’s getting dangerous out here and you’re important to us all. Come inside the church, the service is about to start,” Joy declared with a smile. Her voice had given  Faith a little peace. Joy had that affect on everyone. She had a way of spreading her contagious smile. Faith smiled as she picked up her shoes and began to walk to the church. She looked back one last time at the troubling waters and then entered the church.

The church had been dark. Everyone congregated in the pews, whispering among themselves. They had all looked up to Love. Some of them cried, while others comforted those beside them. But there were those who smiled. There were those who waited for Love to fail, to die, so that they may rise in her place. They had not been fans of Love and everyone knew it. But Love was the one who kept these negative individuals away. She was the one who encouraged all of the others to believe, to love with everything they had. Faith had remembered all of which Love had taught her.

The storm thundered and roared outside. The doors shook with great force, as the wind attempted to attend the sermon. No one paid mind to the wind and his perilous threats. Many rose from their seats to view the body. There were many who wept on their way to their seats. Others had small personal conversations with Love’s corpse. Probably I told you so’s.

Depression serenaded the sanctuary with her dark and lonely music. Her voice reached the bottom of everyone souls, grabbing their strength. Each individually reliving the failures they contributed to the pain. Depression lifted her eyes to the ceiling, searching past the concrete and the mortar of the building, glancing to the sky’s as she tried to see Love. But there was no one gracefully looking down upon her, smiling. Depression had been lost for so long. As she sung her dark worship, she remembered the first time she met Love. Love had told her everything was going to be okay, that she was going to make everything better. For a while she had accomplished such things. But now she was gone and the tears depression fought so hard to hold back, flowed from her heart like the rain that drummed on the roof.

“You’re not going to view the body?” Trust whispered to Faith. Faith had not responded. She knew Trust had been partially responsible for Loves death. She had not wanted to associate herself with him, but her grief had not let her keep her grudge.

“Faith, are you going to…”

“I heard you the first time,” Faith snapped. She glanced in his eyes, searching for answers.

“I know what she meant to you. She meant everything to me,” Trust declared.

“Then where were you?” Faith whispered angrily.

“Excuse me?” Trust asked, surprised at her sudden anger.

“Where were you when She needed you. She’s in that casket, because you were missing. You had the ability to save Love, but you were not there. Where were you?” Faith asked sternly. Trust looked at the floor and then at his broken arm. A tear slipped from his eyes. It seemed he didn’t have the words to put together for her to understand.

“I… tried Faith… I mean, I got hurt too. It’s hard for me to stand once I have been broken. I would have been there, but… but I guess… I was…”

“Save it,” Faith declared. “In the absence of Trust, Love cannot prevail. That’s your code, it’s what you live by and you failed. Any excuses you have, leave them in your will, because I don’t want to hear anything from you,” Faith sternly whispered. She immediately rose from her seat and stood in the aisle. Trust looked up at her in shame. He too felt responsible for Love’s death. Faith walked the aisle towards Loves Casket. Whispers continued, but she knew the whispers were about her.

“What is she doing here? There is no room for her here, now that Love is gone,” Envy whispered softly to Respect.

“If only she was stronger,” Faith heard Patience whisper to the person next to her. Faith had finally reached the casket. She glanced at Depression as she continued to sing. She looked back at Love, waiting for her to wake. Faith grabbed her hand and placed it close to her heart.

“Do you feel that Love? There’s no pulse. My heart has stopped beating. Do you hear that Love? Depression has been inspired to sing again. She’s a horrible singer,” Faith said as she smiled. Loves forced smile had not encouraged Faith to continue smiling. “I’ll miss you dear friend,” Faith declared, placing Loves hand back into the casket.

The doors to the church Suddenly opened. It had startled the congregation, everyone turning around to see who had entered. The man slowly proceeded into the building. All eyes pasted to the stranger who had no been welcomed. They almost had not recognized him. They had never seen his face before, but everyone knew who he was. The way he made them feel made it clear to them who he was. He continued to walk down the aisle, non-reverent to the service that had taken place. He glared at Faith with a smile. He pointed his finger at her, silently shooting her with his fingered pistol.

“You are not welcomed here!” Joy declared jumping in front of him. She stopped immediately, it was as if she could not breath. The man stared at her with his cold blue eyes. Joy fell to the floor as she gasped for air. She felt weak, weaker than she had seconds ago. The man in front of her was stronger. Stronger than she had ever felt. Everyone knew, They prayed it wasn’t true, but they knew. He had been Love’s successor.

“How dare you come in here,” Faith declared as she ran to Joy. She quickly bent down to pick up Joy. Joy began to slowly breathe.

“How dare all of you!” The man declared. Everyone became silent. Depression stopped her song, as she attentively paid attention. “You who believed, you have been deceived. You who stand, shall fall. You who do nothing, shall vanish. And all who oppose, shall be stopped.” The man stepped closer to Faith and Joy. He looked them in the eye and then at all who watched him.

“I am Hate and I have come to dictate, to judge and cast away those who have no place here. I am strong, stronger than Love and I shall not die,” Hate declared.

 

“I was suppose to be Love’s Successor!” Pride declared standing up. Hate turned to the man and chuckled to himself.

 

“You? You who have wavered? You are weak and unstable. You can barely follow my voice and yet you plan to lead these people.” Hate laughed at Prides ignorance. “No, I shall lead you and you will follow,” Hate declared. Pride slowly nodded his head in agreement, recognizing his strength.

“I will follow you!” Fear declared.

“And so will I,” Trust declared. He looked at Faith with shame, as if to apologize. Hate slowly walked to Trust and stopped.

“I do not need you. You are but a hindrance to me. And with your death, I will become stronger,” Hate whispered. Trust eyes began to quiver. He looked up and found fear above him. Trust tried to run, but fear captivated him, pinned him down. Trust had been defeated.

“You say you have come to dictate? That you have come to judge and cast away? But You will not prevail!” Faith declared. Hate turned around to face his opposser. He knew Faith had been weak. He knew what propelled her, but he also knew that it had also been gone.

“You are strong, Faith. Even when you are weak. You will prove to be trouble and I cannot defeat you, as of yet. But I will, one day. I have come to make everyone stronger, this is the only way to live. I am Strong and you by my side, I can become invincible. I invite you to turn away from your oppositions, your strange and futile conquest to defeat me and join me by my side. I can make you stronger. Strength is what you desire, am I not right?” Hate declared. Faith stood up, still holding Joy’s hand. She stepped to the powerful man. He smiled at her bravery.

“Love was not always here. There was a prophecy once, that she would arrive and lead us. For years there had been those of us, who had risen up ourselves, falsely claiming that we were Love. We were foolish and naive. We were in over our heads, we didn’t know what we were doing. We thought one of us would rise to accept the responsibilities. And for years we failed. But then something happened. Love was born and we nurtured her. We not only empowered her, but we gave birth to her. Joy, Respect, Courage, Hope.” Faith turned around to turn around to a man she had lost respect for. “Even Trust,” She declared, looking at him.

“I never knew happiness, true strength, until I met Love. She ended up teaching me my own errors, pointed out my own flaws. I used to be Hope, but Love changed me, transformed me. Now I am stronger. I am Hope without seeing, seeing without believing. I am Faith and I know Love will return,” Faith declared. People in the pews began to stand, as they nodded their heads in agreement. Hate began to look around, afraid of the aura of encouragement.

“I have defeated my enemy Doubt, long ago and he has no place here any more. Love taught us that she exist when there are those who are willing to fight for her. Love exist when you are at peace with the man/woman in the mirror. Love exist when it is dark and you can still see the light. Love… Love exist when you are willing to Trust. But you, you only exist in the absence of Love,” Faith declared. Hate laughed, humored by Faith’s speech. He backed away from the aisle and slowly towards the door. He stared at Faith after composing himself.

“And what makes you think she’s coming back?” Hate asked, grin on his face.

“Because we have Faith,” Courage declared

“Because we have Faith,” Depression declared

“Because we have Faith,” Respect declared

“Because we have Faith,” Trust declared

“And I have Faith as well,” Love declared as she rose from her casket.

The congregation cheered, each more happy, than surprised. Tears escaped their eyes, happy the storm was finally subsiding. Faith looked upon Love from afar. Love stared back at her. Their eyes conversed, both locked to each other as the congregation continued to cheer. They held each other and jumped up and down. Faith looked back towards the door, but Hate had been gone. Faith smiled.

“Do you feel that Love?” Faith whispered, more to herself than aloud. “My pulse has returned.”