Dead Moon Chapel | ✔️

thirty-two

ZORA'S ARMS WERE AROUND HIM the second her name left his lips. Abel was still unsure how to move. How was she here? Why did she look so different? What happened to her?

Why did it take so long for them to find each other?

Her embrace was a warm blanket as much as it was a bucket of ice water drenching every inch of him. After some time, he mustered up the strength to wrap his arms around her in return, his body as stiff as a board. Zora didn't budge, her arms tight around him as though she was attempting to melt him back down into a person.

"Abel, I missed you so much." Her voice hadn't changed a bit.

Abel softened into her. "I missed you, too. I wish I could've saved you."

"I'm so glad you didn't." Zora pulled away at last, holding him out to examine him. "What happened to you? You smell like blood."

Right. He was still drenched from his slaughter. Now that he was in his right mind, he felt sick to his stomach thinking about what he did. And yet, he had no regrets.

"I, um..." Abel gestured inside. "Can I come in? We have a lot to catch up on."

"Oh, of course." Zora stepped away, allowing Abel to enter the apartment. "Come with me. We can chat while I take you to someone who can help you."

For a moment, he'd forgotten what he came there for. Her reminder brought Abel back to reality.

The apartment was in an uninhabitable state. Windows were broken and patched up with fraying plastic, there were holes in the walls and ceiling, and lights hung off of their cords. There were unidentifiable messes across every surface, and what little furniture there was was either broken or melting in its own filth-or both.

Worst of all, the stench of it stung his nose, a mix of evil and mold.

Had Zora been living here this whole time?

She took him to a room down a hall, and Abel stopped short. There was a hole in the floor, exposed by a raised hatch resting against the wall. A cement staircase led down to a dark abyss. How many other secret tunnels were in the city that he didn't know about?

"Follow me," said Zora, stepping down the first few stairs.

"It's dark."

"My eyes glow, it's fine. Just hurry up, okay? They don't like me leaving this open for very long."

"Oh. Sorry."

Abel scurried after her. He slipped the glowing golden knife out of his pocket as an extra light source, and Zora gave it a look he couldn't read.

"That's Naomi's, isn't it?"

"Yeah. She's the one who helped me escape the Chapel."

Once Abel was low enough down the stairs, Zora closed the hatch. They were engulfed in thick darkness for a moment while Abel's eyes adjusted to the light Zora provided. It wasn't bright by any means, but his blade was useless in comparison. He tucked it back into his pocket.

"She didn't come with you?"

"No. I'm sorry." Abel tossed her a knowing look. "You sound disappointed."

"I'm not! I'm just curious, is all."

She spoke in a tone he knew well. It was defensive, embarrassed even, the tone she used when she didn't want to admit to something. The sound of her footsteps shifted with her tension.

"Come on, Zora, I'm not an idiot."

"So, why did you need to escape the Chapel anyways?"

In any other situation, Abel would've pried further. For now, he conceded. "I was being held prisoner there."