The layers of ice

Dark Church

-Pardon me, Father, for I have sinned...

Mom insisted for us to go to church to thank God for saving me but...

I don't know. Before the sacrifice my vision of the world was clear. Science explains how it works, faith give it a meaning. But what I saw in the lake opened to me an other realm were spirits and pagan gods exist.

-What is your sin, my girl ? responded the pope.

I take a deep breath...

-I doubted of our Lord and I bowed my head before an idol while our Savior bestowed his grace upon me... He saved me and I doubt His presence and I see divine forces that are not His...

-As angels exist and sometimes descend on hearth to fulfill His will and are revered by believers, others creatures who rule over nature in His name are to be adored as His servants...

I shake my head is disbelief.

-No, Father... You too ? You are...

I there no one in this city who is not a fanatic ?!

-Hail His name, hail the spirit of the lake...

The door of the confessional fly open and I see the people who sacrificed me.

It repeats itself! They will try to drown me again and this time I will not have the same luck   twice !

-How did you escape?

-Now we are cursed...

-We should kill her.

Panic crunch my mind under its might. I will die. They will kill me. They are so mad , they will make me suffer!

And they will surely kill my mom too !

I cannot let that happen.

-I didn't escape, I...

-You liar !

There are more than twenty, they will lynch me !

-Please, let me...

The fisherman shouts.

-Let's drown them all! The three moscovite!

They will kill mom !

I yell with all my might.

-He left me go !

And I roll up my sleeve and I scratch my wrist for the stain to appear.

It's the last chance, the only possible way to save mom.

The silence regain the church, they are all looking at me dumbfounded.

I decide to push my chance.

-The spirit of the lake said I have to live and he sent me to the surface with that thing on my arm !

The old lady shaman walks toward me. I try to escape put she grabs me with her crooked hands and she examines the dragon's stain for a long time.

I'm afraid, for my mom, for myself, for my dad who will find himself alone, for the chief of police who deserves nothing like that.

The shaman speaks:

-For this day forward anyone who harm this girl will attract on himself and the city the curses and misfortune. She has to be revered alongside the others gods as the bride of the great spirit...

She bowed to me and the whole crowd prostrated.

-Hail the spirit of the lake, hail his bride...

-I want to leave, I say trying to hide the tremblement of my voice.

-Do as you please, Lady Natalia.

I run to the bench where I left mom and my coat.

But mom is not there.

Panic soar in my heart.

But my phone ring. A message...

"They need me at hospital. The key is under the ashtray."