He's got the whole world in his hands | Jeongin

Chapter seventy-two

The world gets a little blurry with a lack of sleep. The roads begin to wiggle and the walls turn to static. Colors collide, the dark night sky seems endless, and the stars turn into cameras. Everyone begins to turn on you and you alone. There is nobody to turn to when the world begins to swallow you whole. 

God turns his back on traitors. He turned his back on Lucifer and he was now doing it to Jeongin. He could feel God's love leave his body. That purity and forgiveness had been washed away. The sins were coming back and staining his skin. He was lassoed by the past and dragged towards the open pits of hell by the future. A convoluting dance and the price was paid with his soul. 

The sunrise began to suck away the darkness. Daybreak broke over the horizon and he disappeared again. He didn't know who he was searching for until he found himself stumbling through old graves in a graveyard. 

His ankle caught in a sunken spot and he landed hard with a groan. Dew filled grass soaked his shirt and it chilled him straight to the bone. Across the way, his church sat like it always had. He wasn't sure how he had arrived here in one piece. 

Maybe he found his way through the overgrown cornfields, but brittle corn husks didn't stick to him. He didn't smell of earthy soil. He didn't smell like anything besides sulfur. The stench hung on his clothes and lingered in his nose. Sulfur mixed with fire; a sharp and unpleasant scent. 

His arm supported his body, he gritted his teeth, and he began the trek through the stones. Delirious was an understatement. His body swayed unevenly and his shoes lost their support multiple times. They squeaked each time he struggled to adjust his balance. 

Empty laughter filled the air when he made it to the worn pavement. The parking lot remained vacant besides the occasional chirping bird. They could search and search and search, but the worms were gone this morning. They were deep beneath musky soil and they were slithering towards him. Just like the devil that was cast from heaven and cursed to slither on its belly until the end of time. 

His head tipped back weakly and a broken chuckle fell from his lips. The morning hazy lavender sky was speckled with pink. Considering the cameras from last night, the belief the devil was out to get him, and the blanket of darkness, this was much more welcoming. 

On his way up to the church, he began to pat his pockets. The rosary that sat in his left pocket had strayed away. His fingers dug into both felt pockets, but they felt nothing besides tiny specks of lint. His teeth clenched together and a huff shot through his nose. 

He pushed one foot in front of the other and made his way up the cement steps of the brick building. The sign, sitting back in the yard, had some random Bible verse on it. It was changed every Sunday by a member of the congregation, but he didn't pay attention as he made his way inside. 

Soon he'd be inside and he knew what he needed to do. He knew how to end this madness once and for all. After it was over, he'd celebrate with Felix and Seungmin. He'd go to Felix's house and curl up in the oversized bean bag. He'd celebrate and let out a cheer as his friends battled head-to-head in Mario Kart. 

Freedom from this guilt was so close and yet so far away. The church was always open twenty-four hours a day and nobody was here. It was the perfect cover and the perfect chance for redemption. With God, all things were possible. In His name, things could change. With Him, there was freedom as the shackles of guilt fell away. 

He didn't remember stumbling into the building. He didn't remember scanning the sanctuary and disappearing into his office. His rolling chair welcomed him when he sat down. It rolled back a few inches and he let out a sigh of relief. 

He hummed to himself, pulled out the corded phone hooked into the wall, and began to dial a number. He wasn't sure what time it was, but she was always up early. His humming continued as he waited and waited and waited and then- 

"Hello?" 

A grin grew and he sucked in a deep breath. "Mrs. Park, just the woman I wanted to speak to. I'm sorry if I frightened you last night. I didn't mean to disrupt your sleep." 

Her sleep-ridden voice flipped into a cheery tune. He rolled his eyes at her response and let his body sink back into his chair. "Uh-huh. Yeah, I'm sorry for calling you this early, but your words have been on my mind lately. I can't help, but think about Minsi." 

"Really?" 

"I don't want to alarm you Mrs. Park, but I've been watching Minsi. The two of us have grown closer over the past few months. I'm sorry that I ever doubted you. If I can have your permission, I'd like to perform an exorcism as soon as possible." 

There was a brief silence and then a flood of relief. Nari Park knew her daughter was struggling. She had been silently struggling ever since she took off for college. The distance was cut short. The church and God had saved her daughter. This was the blessing that she had always been waiting for. 

"I can send her over right away. Would you like me to come with her? I've been studying my Bible and I-" 

"That would be perfect. As for you, just stay home. This thing could take hours and the devil can be contagious if we're not careful. The bishop and I will take care of everything. I've entrusted a few members of the congregation to assist if things go wrong. Just please don't tell her what is waiting for her. I'm sure it'd frighten her and then we'd never be able to cast out that dirty devil."

"Of course, Father Yang! Thank you! Thank you! I'm going right now. I'll get her up and she can be there in less than a half hour."  

"I'll be waiting for her arrival." 

The two exchanged parting-ways and Jeongin placed the phone on the receiver. He'd need his bible and another rosary. He was sure that this was all happening because of Minsi. He fucked up because of temptation, but Minsi was full of the devil. He didn't need the approval of a bishop because this was between him and the devil. 

He was fully capable of handling this demon by himself.