Alessa is born out of wedlock in the year 1965 to Dahlia Gillespie, and is cast out by the townspeople, who believe she is "sin incarnate". The local religious cult, led by Christabella, believes Alessa is a witch because of her illegitimate birth and she is bullied and teased on a daily basis by classmates whose parents told them Alessa was bad and deserved such treatment.

In November of 1974, Alessa runs to the bathroom at her school to avoid the teasing and name-calling, only to be sexually assaulted by the janitor. Dahlia arrives at the school to take Alessa home, but Christabella detains...