Death and All His Friends

Guilty

Key Sixteen: Guilty:

-Noah-

I don't want to do this anymore. I used to be a good man. I wish I could stop. But he won't let me. I haven't been able to tell anyone the truth until last night.

He was beautiful with his short white hair and glowing pale skin. But yet, he looked so ugly with his emaciated body and missing left eye.

"Who are you?" he asked me. I lifted my chin.

"I am a priest," I said.

"Is that right?"

"Yes." I can't move from the chair that I am sitting in. He stares at me with no emotion on his face.

"Do you like being a priest?"

"Yes."

"Do you really?"

"Yes." I didn't sound too convincing.

"What do you like about it?"

"Um... I help people."

"Do you really?"

"I think I do."

"Interesting." He doesn't sound convinced. He doesn't sound like anything at all. Why was I sweating? I'm not lying, am I?

"I help people. I am a good person."

"Why would you say that?"

"I am!"

"Didn't say you weren't."

"Oh. Sure. Of course." I want to run away. But where can I go? The Earl will know where I am. He will just pull me back.

"Are you happy?"

"Yes." Am I sweating? When did it get so hot in here? He's still staring at me. No emotion on his face. Who was he?

"Who are you?" It doesn't sound like my voice when I speak.

"Nobody. I am nobody."

I wrinkled my nose. "That can't be possible."

"What do you mean?"

"You have to be somebody. That's how it is."

"Is it?"

"Why are you here?"

"Why am I here?"

"Yes."

"I don't know."

"Why am I here?"

"I don't know."

"So... we're just in this room with no reason?"

"Yes."

"Then... how do we get out of here?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want to get out of here?"

"Well... Yes. I have to get back to my flock. I have a sermon in the morning." Did I sound convincing? I still couldn't tell if he believed me or not. His face hasn't changed since we started talking.

"What is it about?"

I started to speak. But no words were coming out.

"I don't remember, honestly."

"You don't?"

"I mean... I think I did."

"So you do remember?"

"No. If I had my notes I could remember."

"Where are they?"

I sighed. "Back in my room." I cursed myself. I still couldn't get up from this chair. Why couldn't I get up?

"Let me out! Let me out!"

"I'm not the one holding you here."

"Then why can't I get up?"

"Try."

"I can't."

"Try!"

I woke up in my bed. My heart was pounding against my chest. I swallowed hard. My throat felt so dry. I closed my eyes and cursed myself. I know that I am going to see him again. I want to make it stop but I don't know how.

I lifted my head when I heard a knock on my door.