Mary lie in her bed, her nightgown buttoned to her neck. She thought about what she'd seen that night. She kept replaying it over and over again in her head. She'd seen a new side of Father Luke. A new side of the Church. For someone so young, he'd seen so much. However, so had she. She never really thought about what Father Luke did. All she knew was that the other sisters were quite fond of him given his looks. However, the mothers would soon scold them for their "impure" thoughts.
When she rose in the morning, Jess was already gone and ready for breakfast. She slid out of bed, and her body felt tired. She got dressed in her habit and veil, and slowly slipped out of the door and into the hallway. The dining room was buzzing with laughter and talk. The slipped next to Jess on the bench, realizing she didn't have the appetite to eat. Father Luke walked past all of them in the hallway, and his eyes grazed over them, making sure everything was in order.
"Good morning, Sisters." He said.
"Good morning, Father Luke." The girls replied in a sing-song voice.
Mary was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn't even reply. Jess took notice of her silence, and glanced at her.
"What's wrong with you this morning?" She raised a brow.
"Nothing." She muttered back, and slid up from her bench.
She quickly walked down the hall and into the Church, sliding into the pew, and pressing her knees down onto the cushion. She prayed, pressing her palms together. She wanted to pray away the evil she'd seen. She'd been up all night with nightmares, and a stinging pain on her back.
She felt her mind trail off, and her eyes scanned the Church. Many different people kneeled around her, each praying for different things and lighting the prayer candles. She watched as Father Luke stood surrounded by different people, each asking for prayers from him. They would all praise him over his sermons, and then ask him to help them with their issues. Of course he'd tell them "I am only the messenger from our God." And then the conversation would end shortly. He turned around to walk to the next group, and his eyes met hers. She quickly looked away, when she realized that she'd been staring for too long. Straying from his path, he walked over to her pew, and kneeled beside her.
"How are you feeling, Sister?" He asked her softly.
"I've never seen evil like that, Father."
He took a breath. Their eyes were both glued to the crucifix of Christ statue that sat a few feet in front of them.
"I know. Even now, it frightens me."
She had always wondered if he was ever afraid, ever overwhelmed. He was always able to keep a calm and stern face no matter what. It was like nothing ever phased his cold glares.
"How do you do it, Father?" My voice grew with keenness.
Father Luke took a breath, and tried to gather his thoughts. He was seemingly at a loss for words, especially considering he never expected a novice to find what he'd spent to much time protecting them from. Father Luke pulled at his collar, and swallowed.
"The Lord guides me through everything. I've learned at the power truly comes from him."
Mary would never admit it, but she was very skeptical about the ways of this "God". If there was a God, how could he have allowed her to watch her parents burn? How could he have allowed it that she was orphaned at six? Wasn't God supposed to love children? Or, did he just hate her in particular?
All the thinking about God had made her head hurt. She tried to swat the thoughts away.
"When are you planning to take your vows, sister?"
She knew that question was coming. She'd done everything she needed, but hadn't taken the final step. What was stopping her? Why wasn't she? She couldn't figure it out.
Later, she headed back into her room, and changed from her garments. She braided her long, dark hair, and pushed it down to the nape of her neck. She stared in the mirror, her eyes stuck to the opium colored rosary that rested on her chest. Her thoughts were interrupted when Jess burst through the door, like a hurricane. Her face was bright with mischief.
"What are you doing?" Mary turned from her hair.
Reaching into her pocket, Jess pulled out a gold key.
"We're free for the day." Her voice shrieked.