Ep 3. Highway to Hell

In Deadly Devotion season 1 episode 3, Highway to Hell, viewers are taken on a chilling journey through the harrowing story of a young couple whose lives are forever changed by a dangerous cult.

The episode begins with a beautiful young couple, Melissa and Tony, who met and fell in love while attending college in Michigan. Melissa was a devout Christian and had a strong faith, while Tony struggled to find his place in the world. When Melissa graduated, the couple moved to California where Melissa got a job as a teacher and Tony began working in sales.

One day, Tony met a man named Chris who introduced him to a small group of people who belonged to a religious cult. Chris spoke of a utopian community where people lived off the land and followed the teachings of a charismatic leader named Brother Twelve. Tony was intrigued and felt like he had found a sense of purpose in his life. Melissa, however, was skeptical and fearful of the group's extremist beliefs.

Despite Melissa's reservations, Tony became more involved with the cult and eventually convinced Melissa to attend a meeting with him. At first, the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere seemed appealing, and Melissa even thought about joining the group. However, during the meeting, Melissa observed a disturbing ritual where members were encouraged to confess their sins in front of the group.

As time went on, Tony became more and more entrenched in the cult's teachings and began to distance himself from Melissa. He stopped working and became increasingly volatile and erratic. Melissa tried to intervene and convince Tony to leave the group, but he refused and became increasingly hostile towards her.

The final straw for Melissa came during a road trip with Tony to visit his family in Michigan. Along the way, they stopped at the cult's rural compound in eastern Washington state. Melissa was horrified by the squalid living conditions and the cult's extreme views. She pleaded with Tony to leave the group, but he refused and became violent towards her.

After the couple returned to California, Tony's behavior continued to deteriorate, and Melissa knew she had to leave him before something terrible happened. She filed for divorce, but Tony would not let her go. He began stalking and harassing her, following her wherever she went and leaving threatening messages.

One day, Melissa received a horrifying call from a member of the cult who told her that Tony had committed suicide by driving off a cliff while listening to a cassette tape of the cult's sermons. Melissa was devastated and felt guilty for not being able to save Tony from the grip of the cult.

The episode ends with Melissa finding solace in her faith and using her experience to help other people who have been victimized by dangerous cults.

Highway to Hell is a gripping and emotional episode that sheds light on the dangers of cults and how they can tear families apart. It is a cautionary tale that reminds us to be wary of extremist groups that prey on vulnerable individuals seeking a sense of belonging.