On His Terms

○×49 part 1: dark confessions & deranged priests○×

<Always have an escape plan>

|Jadesola|

*Slightly unedited! Also, play the song above on repeat as you read!*

10:20 pm, Friday, September 17, 2021

IF I happened to stare into the eerie darkness one more time, I would go bat shit crazy. For hours–not that I could tell the time–Richard had departed to God knows where with the dead body, leaving me alone in total darkness. Not only was I terrified, I was still bound to the chair, my wrists, ankles and buttocks hurting from sitting down on the metal seat for too long.

Cold air brushed my cheeks, its icy fingers trailing over my skin. I shivered and shut my eyes tight. It was already scary being stuck alone in the dark, the thought of ghosts lingering around skyrocketed my anxiety.

Inhaling a deep breath of the rancid air circulating inside here, I mused on what Richard had divulged to me. He was probably right, because while I prayed for safety, there was no fucking way Kian was rushing to rescue my kidnapped ass. Especially after my father had killed his mother. Honestly, at this dire point, it was up to me to save myself and my baby.

"You'll be fine, Jade. God doesn't let anything bad happen to his children. You'll get out of here, all you need to do is calm down and think. Remember the ultrasound? You need to be strong for your baby," I muttered beneath a shaky breath, the matra taking a hold of me until fatigue and hunger threatened to knock me out. Until he arrived.

I perceived his presence before I saw him, the woody smell of burning incense tickling my nostrils.

My lashes fluttered open, as they adjusted to the blessed light chasing away the darkness once Richard flipped the switch on.

"Missed me?" he mocked, deep voice ricocheting off the damp walls.

I plastered a look of disgust on my face and said nothing, wondering why the fuck he'd changed his appearance.

He was clad in a priest's garb, the white garment decorated with splotches of red, bloody stains. Around his neck was that blasted chaplet of his, the metal beads glistening with red. In his right hand, a thurible containing incense, burned. It was suspended from a merge of chains, while in his left hand, he clutched a crucifix outwards as if to ward off an invisible enemy.

What was he up to?

"Did you know that incense is the only material that bridges the gap between heaven and earth? It sends our prayers to Mother Mary immediately. Whenever I make a kill, I have to burn incense and cleanse the place to chase away any lurking spirits. It's the only way Mother Mary accepts my sacrifices." As he spoke, he walked around slowly and swung the thurible in a gentle to and fro motion so that white smoke billowed from it.

Horror rolled within me at the utter nonsense he spewed. Gritting out between clenched teeth, I asked, "Are you doing this because Kian found out my father killed your wife?"

Richard's robe swayed to the right, enclosed in a cloud of smoke that proved difficult to peek at his features. "Far from it. In fact, now that you're very much curious, I think it's time to let someone finally read my letters. Give me some minutes, dear."

Letters? Swallowing down hard, I wished I had closed my mouth, that my curiosity hadn't gotten the best of me. But it was too late.

Ignoring me, he began advancing towards all the corners of the room, humming:

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.