I say jump, they say how high.

“Please, join me on your feet for prayer.” They all stand, scraping back their chairs in a cacophony of grating noise.

I say pray, they say what prayer.

I lead them in our prayer, me speaking, them repeating like a parrot learning how to speak.

I say drink this, they say how much.

I stand before one, Joseph I remember his name to be, waiting with eager anticipation. Taking his hand in mine, I pour the clear, viscous liquid into his outstretched cup.

“All of it,” I said, “But not yet. We do it as one, because being as one brings us closer to Him in a way that individuality could never do.”

I move to the next one, and the next, until each cup is full to the brim with the liquid, my liquid.

Returning to my altar, there is a buzz in the air. I can see some confused faces, some that may be questioning their decision, but among the dozen of these people I have no doubt that all of them will do as I say, because these people lack of the power of rational thought. I am their conduit to Him, I am their leader and saviour. They will do as I say.

I take my own cup of clear liquid and raise it high in the air.

“And now we drink. Drink it all.” I lead by example, by swallowing all of my drink. “To be with Him, we must all drink. Now drink!”

One-by-one they do. I see empty glasses, grimaces, hear coughing and spluttering, cries for help. They grab onto each other, asking it to stop, no, pleading it to stop. All of them drank, just as I knew they would.

It takes 30 minutes for the last one to fall. I watched the faces contort in agony as the bleach burnt their insides. There was no help for them now, no one to save them from the torture that is life.

Whether any of them would be united with Him, I had no idea. All I knew was that my job was done for another round of Followers, and my job would continue until all were enlightened.