We're All Human

>CLOSED

CLOSED

Message from Atai [REPLY]

>nevermind

>this whole thing was stupid.

>he found a church and a girlfriend so whatever--

>

>You're right Wareware

>I'm an idiot.

Atai was stewing in her own folly.

"It's alright, Atai," Tall Mud said calmly. "You were just concerned about a friend."

"He's a totally different person now," she said. "I hate it. Why does this happen?"

"It's called 'puberty', Atai," Nadeshiko said. "You must remember how weird it was."

"I'm seven, remember?" It was something like an old joke.

"It's not like that for everyone, of course," Tall said, "But, you know... sometimes."

"...Whatever," Atai said. "I'll be back... later I guess."

She disconnected. For a moment, she stayed alone with that dark spiral of self-abasing thoughts. And then, with shame and trepidation, she connected to the CASH site. There was a message waiting for her. She expected a friend expressing condolences or a troll taunting her or... something other than the message she recieved.

Greetings

Private Message from Dante [REPLY]

>Miss Atai.

>I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

>My apologies if this is forward...

>But the group your friend found:

>Is it called the Church of Us by any chance?

>Please respond as soon as possible.

>This is important.

Atai waited a moment, composing her thoughts.

RE:Greetings

Private Message from Atai [REPLY]

>Yes!

>What about it?

>What's going on?

RE:Greetings

Private Message from Dante [REPLY]

>I'm sorry to inform you of this:

>But there's cause to believe that that group is...

>

>There's really no polite way to say this:

>The Church of Us is a cult.

>You won't see many stories about it being a cult, of course--

>It has the media protection of, you know, "that other cult".

>(The one whose name starts with an "S" of course).

>But I have friends that have been taken by this organization, too.

>The indoctrination is fast and mostly unbreakable.

>There's a chance that your friend hasn't been indoctrinated yet.

>In which case we absolutely have to break their hold over him.

>I would like to offer my assistance in this.

>I live in France and will likely not be able to assist directly, but can offer you information and advice.

>Time is of the essence.

Atai signed back onto BASMUSH as soon as she had finished reading the mail.

"Back so soon?" Tall said.

"SO!" she wrote. "Sorry, caps lock. Uh, I've been... informed that Glass has joined a cult!"

There was a long pause.

"Are you sure?" Nade asked. "You know it's not like every faith that isn't Judaism is a cult, right? No matter what Tall Mud would have you believe."

"That's what I've been told, at least! By someone who wasn't Tall."

"Is this person particularly reputable?"

"Look, we have to at least check it out!"

"...I'm actually with Atai here," MMori said. "If there's a chance he's been taken in by... I mean we have to do something. Absolutely. Suddenly finding religion isn't like him-- otherwise Tall would have gotten to him years ago."

"You'll take me to see him again?" Atai said.

"'Course. I mean I'm sure his mom's gonna be just thrilled to get two visits from weird internet people in as many days but that's her problem."