Muriel watched as the small box containing Enoch’s bones and ashes was lowered into the hole she dug. She was able to convince the small town of Helmuth that Enoch deserved to be buried there and that they should hold a funeral. In the absence of any kind of clergy to conduct the ceremony, Muriel’s own father presided over the proceedings. He was an awkward man of few words but spoke a lovely eulogy over his once future son in law.

Muriel wore her wedding dress, it being the only formal gown she owned. She wept as all of her hopes and dreams for the future were buried with her fiance. As the service came to a close Muriel could see Molly waiting on the other side of the fence to the cemetery. She walked up to her.

“What are you doin’ here, Sug?” she asked.

“I’m here to see pastor Enoch’s funeral.” she said, “I’m glad to see pastor Williams made an exception for him”

“Sugar, we need to talk. Pastor Williams is…”

“Dead. I know.” said Molly, “Momma said I could get rid of him.”

“Get rid of him?" asked Muriel confusedly, “Where is your Momma? I ain’t never seen her before.”

“It don’t matter.” said Molly, “She comes out when she’s needed.”

“What does that mean?” Muriel started to inquire, but Molly cut her off.

“Do you love me, Muriel?” She asked.

“What?” Muriel asked.

“Do you love me?” she said, “I want you to love me.”

“Well, sure, Sug.” Muriel said, “I love all of God’s creatures.”

“But I need to know if you really love me.” said the little girl, “I need your devotion.”

“My, what?” Muriel was confused.

“I think it’s time you met my Momma.” Molly said, "She'll make you love me."

“Oh, okay... Why don’t I walk you home, Sug?”

“No, we’ll come to you.” said the girl.

“Nonsense,” said Muriel as she started looking around, “You tell me which house is yours and we’ll go see your Momma.” When she looked back Molly was gone.

Later that night Muriel was walking through the garden by torch light. She had spent the day packing her things; since Enoch was gone there was no reason to stay in Helmuth and she planned to return to her family’s farm. As she headed inside and up the stairs she parked the torch on the veranda and used it to light a candle to make her way through the house. She mounted the stairs and as she came to the top of the staircase she saw in the faint silhouette of something in the corner of the hallway. As she walked towards it she caught a sudden fright as she realised it was Molly.

“What are you doin’ here, child?” she asked in shock, trying to catch her breath. “You done scared me!”

“I need you to love me.” said the girl.

“I do love you, Sug.” she said, “but we gotta talk. What we did to pastor Williams, it ain’t right.”

“It had to happen.” Said Molly, “He had to die so that you could love me.”

“What does that mean?” asked Muriel confusedly.

“It’s your destiny to love me.” she said, “Momma says.”

“You keep talkin’ about your Momma, but I ain’t never seen you with her.” said Muriel, “Where is she? She shouldn’t be lettin’ a little girl run around unattended like this.”

“She’s here.” she said, “She’s behind you.” Muriel turned around and screamed as she saw an emaciated woman with long stringy dark hair and sunken eyes lurching towards her with her back hunched and her bony arms and hands held forward in a threatening way. The woman growled a low moan as Muriel dropped the candle and fell backwards.

“What, what is that?” she asked, frightened. The mysterious woman began to open her mouth more to reveal several rows of fangs.

“That’s Momma.” said Molly, “She will make you love me.” The monstrous woman lunged at Muriel, she rolled out of the way and tried to scramble over her to get to the stairs, but Momma caught her by the heel and pulled her to the floor. She leapt on top of Muriel and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head to one side as she sunk her rows of teeth into her neck and began slurping and sucking the blood pulsating out of her jugular. She whimpered as the woman rose from on top of her, letting Muriel's soon to be corpse drop to the floor. Muriel rolled over and looked towards Molly.

“Wh...why?” she asked.

“For love.” Molly said, “I need you to love me.”

“I’m… I’m dying…” Muriel croaked. Molly took out a knife and dragged the edge across the palm of her hand and extended it to Muriel.

“Drink of me.” she said, “and you will live.”

“What?” Muriel was stunned, she didn’t know what was going on.

“Go ahead,” said Molly, motioning again with her bleeding hand. “If you drink my blood you will become like me, you will live. But you must love me. You must give me your devotion.” Muriel was scared. What did she mean? This was no ordinary little girl. Something was seriously wrong here, but she was dying. What else could she do? She dragged her body forward towards the little girl. She couldn’t believe she was doing this, but she didn’t want to die, not here, not like this. She grasped Molly’s bleeding hand and held it to her mouth.

“I love you, Molly.” she said as she began to drink the blood. She could feel power flowing through her body. She could sense the gaping wound in her neck begin to stop bleeding, and then start stitching itself back together. She felt life as she knew it exit her body and be replaced by something else. Something different. Something dark.

“I love you, Molly.” she said again.

“Use my real name.” said Molly, “You know it now that you have tasted me.” Muriel hesitated. What was she talking about? How would she know a name that Molly never gave her? And then, without thinking, she opened her mouth.

“I love you, Molech.”