When The World Caves In |C.G.

fifty three

No sooner than I've fallen asleep have I been woken back up. Sitting up, I tilt Carl's hat back so that I can see what's going on. Sasha is approaching Father Gabriel like a woman sent on a mission.  Rick falls in place behind her. 

"Stop." She says. "What are you doing?" 

The Father looks confused at her words, in all honesty I'm confused as well. Judith gurgles in Carl's arms and he hands the baby off to me. I take her protectively in my own arms and she places her head on my shoulder, sucking on her thumb. Carl shifts his body to cover the both of us as the interrogation on Gabriel begins.

"What," Sasha asks again. "Are you doing? This is all connected, you show up, we're being watched, and now three of us are gone." 

My eyes trace the room, trying to figure out what she's talking about. She's right, three of us are missing. Bob, Carol, and... my Dad isn't in the room. I watched him leave with Carol earlier, but he should've been back by now. It isn't unusual for him to wander off without saying something; but he's always back soon. 

"I don't, I don't have anything to do with this." Gabriel stutters. 

Sasha pulls out her knife and everything seems to erupt into chaos. She gets even closer to the priest, yelling once more. Slowly, she back behind Rick who steps forward. 

"Why did you bring us here?" Rick asks. 

"Please, I-" Gabriel says putting his hands in front of him in defense. 

"You working with someone?" Rick says taking an offensive stance.

"I'm alone." Gabriel defends. "I'm alone. I was always alone." 

"What about the woman in the food bank, Gabriel?" Rick asks. "What did you do to her. You'll burn for this. That was for you, why? What are you gonna burn for, Gabriel?" 

I feel out of the loop, not understanding the mention of a woman. There was an odd aura surrounding the group that came back, even in the midst of excitement over the amount of food.

Rick grips Gabriel by the shoulders then and I shift my body so Judith can't see over Carl's shoulders. Even if she doesn't remember this moment, she doesn't need to see her Daddy like this. Even if it is in the groups best interest. She gets fussy but I bounce her gently until she stops, shushing her.

"What?" Rick asks. "What did you do!" 

"I lock the doors at night." Gabriels lip quivers as he speaks. "I always lock the doors. I always lock the doors at night. I always-"

The Father takes a moment to recollect himself as he silently cries. 

"They started coming, my congregation." He continues. "Atlanta was bombed the night before and they were scared. They were, they were looking for a safe place, a place where they felt safe. And it was so early, it was so early. And the doors were still locked. You see, it was my choice. There were so many of them and they were trying to pry the shutters and banging on the sidings, screaming at me and banging on the sidings, screaming at me. And so, the dead came for them. Women, children..." 

Gabriels eyes fall onto Carl and I sitting in the front pew. His hand grips my knee, protectively, as I continue to hold his baby sister close. 

"Entire families calling my name as they were torn apart, begging me for mercy." The bald man weeps, holding his hands close to his chest. "Begging me for mercy. Damning me to hell. I buried their bones, I buried it all. The Lord sent you here to finally punish me, I'm damned. I was damned before. I always lock the doors, I always lock the doors." 

The man falls to the floor weeping and I look at him in horror. I'm uncomfortable, and Carl can sense my unease. Especially as whistles begin to come from outside. The hairs on my arms rise with goosebumps as I look in the direction. What if it's another group like Joe's? I take a step backwards towards the direction of the office, keeping Judith close.