Cellar, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Oh!

Okay.

Yes. Well, I'm glad

you didn't have any

trouble arriving today.

I know.

The train wasn't late.

Well,

thank the Lord for that.

Oh I didn't get a chance. Sorry.

You should check it out.

It's really good.

Yeah, I will.

I've been reading

this one to be honest.

- Oh, what's it about?

- A serial k*ller.

Oh, I love serial k*ller

novels.

Yeah, it's a good one.

Can I borrow when you're

finished?

Yeah, of course.

I got black.

You wont find them.

Sorry I'm late.

- Hello Abigail.

- Yes.

Pleased you're here.

Well, what--

Now that it seems everyone

has arrived, we can begin.

My name is Gabriel

and as many of you know, I

have been with this church now

for over five years.

I found my way here

after decades of struggling

with my own

inner demons.

And make no mistake, I

would not be sitting here

before you today if it

weren't for this church

and the power of our Lord.

What I'd like to do today

is go around the circle

and have everyone share

their stories with us.

You've all made a conscious

effort to be here today.

And remember, whatever is shared

whatever you say, stays

strictly between us.

We are here to

listen and support.

Hello?

Hello!

Now with that being

said, Andrew, I'd like you

to read the preamble.

We are a fellowship of men

and women who share their

experience, strength,

and hope with each other that

may solve their common problem

and help others to

recover from alcoholism

or any other addiction

they may have.

The only requirement for

membership is a desire

to overcome their addiction

and no dues

or fees for membership.

We're all self-supporting

through our own contributions.

We-- We are not aligned to any

sect, denomination, politics,

organization, or institution

does not engage

in any controversy.

Neither endorses nor

opposes any causes.

A-- Our primary purpose is

to stay sober, help others

to achieve sobriety

and purity along with

the help of our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now, let's

open it up to the floor.

Who is going to be brave

enough to start?

My name's Isabel

and I'm an alcoholic.

My relationship with

alcohol began

because I was in an

a*usive relationship

and was made to feel pretty

worthless by my ex-partner.

Fortunately, I got myself

out of that relationship,

but obviously my confidence

took a massive hit

and I started to go

out more and more

and I knew that alcohol

was the only thing

that would give me that

wonderful feeling. You know,

make me feel beautiful and sexy

and all those things

I wanted to feel.

So I thought that was the

relationship I had with alcohol,

you know, that it was fun.

Fast forward a year

and I was drinking half

a gallon of vodka a day.

At the end of my drinking, I

was drinking around the clock

and had to have a drink

just to get through.

Physically, my

hands would shake

and... had to have a drink

every couple of hours.

I remember one day I was at work

and I had this moment of clarity

I looked at myself in the mirror

and I realized... alcohol

was k*lling me

and I was powerless

against alcohol

and I needed help.

That's why I came here.

The biggest gift the center

has given me has been

codependency.

So when I first came here,

I was exposed

to all the different programs,

but yeah,

on codependency,

light bulbs went off

and I realized

I had taken care of

everyone and everything,

but...

I didn't take care of myself.

Can you hear me?

Laura, what do you

think about sharing your

story with the group today?

Hi everyone. So I'm Laura

and a few years ago I lost

my 4-year-old daughter

Matilda in a traffic accident.

And that led me to making

some bad decisions in my life.

I started smoking weed

to numb the pain and

before I knew it, I was tricking

the GP into giving me some

painkillers on prescription and

getting addicted to codeine.

After a while, the codeine

wasn't enough,

so a friend said he knew someone

who could supply fentanyl.

So I started on that.

At worst, I was on 60

fentanyl lozenges a day.

I didn't know I was addicted.

It just took the pain away

and took the edge off

life, really.

The last few years were

destructive in many ways

and caused a lot of harm.

I still wasn't ready to

accept that I had a problem

because I was so scared

of it being taken away,

even though it was affecting

me so badly.

I ended up overdosing

and in hospital

and not knowing

what happened.

I was so scared when I saw

the fear in my parents' face

and I saw how much

harm I was causing

to the people I cared

about the most.

I knew I had a serious

problem and I had to get help.

So once I'd admitted it

and I'd spoken to somebody

and shared what I've

been going through,

what I've

been dealing with.

That was the best feeling

I'd had in a long time.

That feeling of being heard

and being seen

for the first time,

that was the first true feeling

I'd had in such a long time.

So that started my recovery

and learning

about this addiction

'cause I knew it was

causing problems in my life,

but I didn't know, I didn't

see it as an addiction.

That may sound naive, but

once I started learning about

addiction, that started

my road to recovery.

Darren, how would you

feel about sharing your story?

Uh, yeah, sure.

Uh, hi, I'm Darren.

I'm an addict and alcoholic.

Uh.

I haven't taken

anything for three years,

but I'm, I'm struggling

at the moment

and I came here today to spend

some time with people who...

know what I'm

going through and, um...

uh, to people out there who

might be contemplating

getting help, just take it.

You will never regret it.

It's the reason

I'm still alive today.

Uh. Just over three years ago,

I, uh, was in a really dark

place taking copious amounts of

drugs and alcohol and one day I

was found on my kitchen floor.

I was rushed to hospital

and my heart stopped

for 35 seconds,

legally dead, they said.

Uh, but if it wasn't

for... the doctors

and especially

a nurse called Natalia,

uh, I wouldn't be here today.

I asked her for help and she

pretty much saved my life.

We still talk, I uh, speak to

her once or twice a month.

Uh, found out a couple weeks ago

she uh, she bought a little

puppy and uh, she-- She called

it Darren, which is uh, kind

of funny but heartwarming

at the same time.

But um, speaking to her kind of

reminds me that um, you know,

you're never on your own.

There are people out there

if you want help, you know,

there are people that have

been through what you're going

through and have...

on the other side.

We never know when those

dark days are gonna come.

You know, sadly, they will

visit us again at some point,

but there's people out

there to help you

and those dark days are the

toughest. They're the hardest.

And uh, you know, we can

struggle through it,

but not today. Ahh.

I'm glad I'm here and I'm

happy to be alive. Thank you.

Emergency services,

what service

-do you require?

-Please.

Hello? What service

do you require?

Please. Hello?

Where is the help required?

Yes, I need the police.

Is anybody there?

Yes! I need the police.

I can't hear anybody.

Is anybody there?

- Yes, I need assistance.

- Caller,

can you hear me?

Caller, can you

state your location?

I don't know where I am.

Caller, if you don't respond,

I will need to clear the line.

Hello? Hello?

Hi, This is Chloe.

I can't take you

call at the minute,

leave a message.

If you're lucky, I might get

back to you. Bye!

Chloe, it's me.

Listen, I-- I don't have

much time, okay?

So I need you to call me

back as soon as you get this.

I've been taken somewhere

and I don't know where I am.

I've tried calling the police

and I can't get through to them,

so I need you to

call them for me, okay,

and ask them to track my

phone or something.

Okay?

Love you.

Bye.

Abigail?

- Mom, it's me.

- Abigail, are you there?

Mom, look, something's

wrong with my phone.

Abigail, can you hear me?

Mom, listen. I don't know

what's happening with my phone,

but if you can hear me, I need

you to call the police.

Abigail! Can you hear me?

I've been kidnapped

and I don't know where I am!

Listen, whoever this is,

I just want my daughter back!

Please!

Hello?

Hello. This is police control.

Yes? Yes, I need the police.

- Can you hear me?

- Yes, I can hear you.

Hello, this is police

control. Can you hear me?

Yes, I can hear you.

Can you hear me?

Hello?

Hello, this is police control.

- Are you in trouble?

- Yes!

Look, look, something's

wrong with my phone.

- I don't know--

- We've received a

silent call from this number.

Do you need assistance?

Hello?

Look, I've been kidnapped

and I don't know where I am!

Sarah!

May I ask you to lead

us in the serenity prayer?

- God,

- grant up me in serenity

to accept the things I cannot

change, courage to change

the things I can, and the wisdom

to know the difference.

Thank you Sarah.

That was lovely.

Well, we've all heard some...

pretty heavy stories here today.

Some dark times, some...

evil subject matter.

But, together we

can get through this.

We have each other

for support always.

And I know that very soon

you shall all lead

lives of purity

and freedom in

the name of our Lord.

I'd like to do something a

little different this week.

I would like to say the

Lord's prayer of sacrament

in remembrance of his flesh

and blood that he

sacrificed for us.

John?

Oh God, the eternal Father.

We ask thee in the name

of thy Son, Jesus Christ,

to bless and sanctify

this bread...

It's okay. It's only

bread and holy water.

It's not gonna hurt you.

To the souls of all

those who partake of it,

Thank you.

...that they may eat

in remembrance

of the body of thy son.

And thus witness, oh

God, the eternal Father,

that they be willing to take

upon them the name of thy son

and always remember him,

and keep his commandments,

which he has given them,

that they may always

have his spirit

to be with them.

Amen.

Welcome, Abigail.

You've done ever so well

to make your way here.

-Where am I?

-You are home.

This isn't my home.

What's going on?

I want to go back

to my real home.

Ah, it would appear Abigail

still has a lot to learn.

What do you mean?

Who are you people?

We are your liberation,

Abigail.

Take me home.

This is your home.

What are you

talking about?

We've cleansed you. We've

rid you of all your demons.

-What do you mean?

-Your demons are no more.

All your sins? Your pain? Gone.

You are free.

I don't understand.

You came to us seeking solace,

wanting a new life

and that is what we

have given you.

A new life, a new soul.

I have people who

will be looking for me

and they will find me.

I don't want any part of this!

This is exactly

what you wanted

and more importantly, it's

exactly what you needed.

You're insane.

I have family.

I have friends!

Who do you think you are?

Keeping me here, locked up.

We are your saviors, Abigail.

And you needed

saving from yourself.

And we were the only

ones who could save you

and now you can

spend eternity free.

Look, I just wanna go home.

I--

Please, just let

me go home.

It's okay dear.

Everything's okay now.

Here.

Let me help you.

No. I don't know who you are,

but I don't want any part of it!

You don't understand, Abigail.

I want to go home!

I need to go home!

I don't wanna be part

of whatever this twisted--

Whatever it is.

Very well,

but I must warn you:

you will regret it.

You've sealed your

own fate, Abigail.

Mom?