A Gangster's Gospel

Chapter 2: Forgive Me, For I Have Sinned

The drive to St. Clementia was silent.

The driver didn't turn on the radio nor did he even suggest it as it was clear Thaddaeus was in a foul mood after dealing with Neumen Caldwell and Yohan.

The Reaper of Enigma had a sort of ritual which no one bothered to pry into nor interfere with.

After taking a life, Thaddaeus Kong always, without fail, smoked a cherry cigarillo and went to St. Clementia's Chapel.

Clementia was the Roman goddess of clemency, forgiveness and salvation.

St. Clementia's Chapel was a little church outside the small port city of Beaurock in Massachusetts. It was a branch loosely connected to the Catholic and Christian churches that resided in the heart of Beaurock itself. It was a place for those with or without a religion to go to and seek peace and forgiveness without feeling shame.

It didn't matter what religion one followed under the roof of St. Clementia.

Everyone who passed through their doors was a child of God regardless of creed.

Due to this St. Clementia's Chapel was considered neutral ground to everyone in Beaurock, including the gangs, organized crime syndicates and even the police.

Once the driver reached St. Clementia he hopped out and opened the door for Thaddaeus who told the man to stay put until he returned.

The small church looked like a Greek temple from the outside. It looked out of place in the rural area it was built in.

Once inside it had heavy Catholic and Christian influence with its high vaulted ceilings and paintings of Jesus hanging side by side with the Virgin of Guadalupe and other central figures in various religions.

The stained glass windows always made the dimly lit church thrive in colors of red, yellow, green, and blue.

To keep the church as neutral as possible the stained glass windows showed depictions of peaceful scenic nature rather than religious figures.

Thaddaeus noticed a few people were already in the church even though it was so early in the morning. They sat scattered in the pews. Some sang quietly to themselves while others prayed or cried.

The gangster headed towards the confessional booth. Once inside, he closed the door, sat down and waited.

After a few moments he heard someone enter the confessional next to him.

"Hello child, what brings you here today?" the soft voice said.

Thaddaeus turned his head, facing the screen that separated him and the other person when he didn't hear the deep voice of the man he usually confessed his sins to.

"Where is Father Abrahim?" Thaddaeus asked.

"Apologies, Father Abrahim is currently unavailable." the voice replied.

Thaddaeus felt a tick form in his jaw. He stared at the figure through the screen trying to see the person on the other side clearly but unable to.

"I only confess to Abrahim." Thaddaeus doubled down.

The gangster's uncle had recommended St. Clementia to Thaddaeus as a place to decompress and cope with his crimes. The old priest was the only person Thaddaeus felt he could trust with his horrible confessions. Even if he's never laid eyes on the man in his nearly ten years of confessing at the chapel.

"Father Abrahim is not available," the voice replied again, "if it puts your mind at ease, all priests are bound by the canon law concept known as 'the seal of confessional'. What you say here will never be repeated outside of this confession and these four walls."