Hell Followed With Us

Benji plays along with everything, knowing that the ALC will arrive tomorrow to help him take revenge on the Angels. He walks with Theo to New Nazareth, which he refers to as “the mouth of Hell” (306), and is met by hundreds of worshippers who see Benji as Seraph and their savior. People pray and thank him for returning. Benji is then met with his mother, who he refers to as a monster, and she calls him by his former name, Esther. Hearing his old name makes Benji hostile and even homicidal toward her, but he resists these urges knowing what tomorrow brings. Benji’s mother forces Benji to put on a dress and attend the upcoming church service.

Benji puts on the dress and avoids looking in the mirror. Theo half-heartedly complains that his mother is being unfair but tries to tell Benji that he and his mother love him. Benji goes with Theo to the chapel, where his mother finds him and takes him to the pews. She puts a firm hold on his neck under the guise of compassion but also to keep him under control. She warns Benji that he will have to be “cleansed” again after returning from the world of sin and choosing to abandon the church.