From Fingers to Talons

Through the Fires and the Flames

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“What's that in your hand?” 

“A bible.”

“From where?”

The boy pauses for a moment, unsure what exactly that is supposed to mean. Soft eyes meet a fierce gaze, nothing like the warming gaze he once knew, full of faith and understanding. But more judgemental and cruel. Did he do something wrong? He paused, gazing down to the book in his hand. “You're not supposed to bring the books from the outside here, it’s corrupted by heathens, work of the devil himself. Work of Heathens.” The boy paused for a moment, eyes looking around the woman's face for something, like some sort of sign of understanding of where the anger is coming from. “But- I’ve read it and it’s not much different from yours.” 

“You read it?” She questioned, her tone straining with the hint of disbelief and anger. Tongue laced with some sort of poison because those words felt like a stab to the gut, twisting in a nasty manner.
With a small squeak in his voice, he spoke. “J-Just a little- please- it wasn’t that much I promise.” The boy whimpered softly, before he knew it, the book was slapped out of his hand and was being dragged to a chapel, with stained cass.

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Nathaniel always thought the chapel looked pretty inside, the sun would reflect through the tinted window. Its multi color rays would shine down onto the wooden benches, you can see small fragments of dust dancing in the air where the sun shines. Oracle lets go of her death grip from his wrist, he cradled his hand instinctively against his chest as his worried eyes look at the back of Oracle. 

Oracle let out a sigh as she gracefully walked up to the altar, like a beautiful swan.  "Nathaniel… we cannot let those outside control us. It's not- holy. Or godly. And this makes me very concerned." She started, resting one of her hands on the altar. The boy perked up a bit, raising his brows, as a slight pang in his chest grew. "I-I'm sorry I.. I was only curious. I wouldn't think there was a difference." He said, his throat seeming to tighten a little when he tried to talk. He didn't want to upset Oracle at all, only wanting to please her. 

Oracle narrowed eyes at him, a frown forming on her face. "I don't believe you." He said, with a slight grit in her teeth. "Nathaniel do you want to be in hell for eternity?"  Nathaniel flinched, cringing at the thought. "No ma'am." He said, as green eyes meet pink. The women's gaze grew shaper, stepping back a bit as she crossed her arms. Slowly, Nathaniel cannot help but feel a weird itching sensation crawl on his left hand. He looked down at it for a moment, as the weird feeling began to grow in his hand. Before he saw a little light flicker, of a small flame on his finger tip. His eyes widened as his hand suddenly erupted into flames, letting out a loud shriek. It burns, why is this happening? It hurt so much- how is that even possible? He started hitting his other hand against the back of his hand in an attempt to smother out the flames. He was so scared he stumbled behind him, falling onto the ground as he tried to get away from the flames eating away at his flesh. "Help! Someone help me!" He said, using his cape as a fire blanket. But nothing could tame "the flames of judgement," the fire would eat away at his skin in delight, as tears streamed down the boy's face. It felt like pure agony. The boy didn't know why he thought the flames were relishing in his pain and confusion, it's nothing like campfires or the one time he burned his finger against a tea kettle. It felt alive somehow, and it was taking his hands and creating it into something different in exchange for his mortal flesh. 

 His fingernails grew, and it hurt, it felt like someone was trying to pull them off. His hand would shift, and his bones would crack. He cried helplessly at the horrific sight of his hands, and nobody came when he called. 

The only other person to bear witness to it was a younger boy, with black hair and tan skin and a love for bugs. Hiding behind the altar with a hand covering his mouth as he watched in horror. 

There was nothing either of them could do.