Glory Be

Chapter Forty

It was an unusually cold morning. The sky was filled with clouds that threatened thunderous rain. Isaiah rose from his bed, uncomfortable and frozen. He inched over to his closet. Dropping his sheets to the floor, to immediately throw his clothes over his head. Still the chilliness bit through his clothes.

Isaiah fixed his hair in the mirror. Moving curls from side to side, before he looked presentable. Then the nervousness caught up with him. What he ought to do, what he shouldn't do. Who to talk to, and who to leave alone. A vicious commanding feeling in his heart tugged him forward, and Isaiah left for the hallway. Outside he walked. Stopping on the outside steps, the chilling wind pricked his skin.

He'd need a thicker jacket for today.

Another gust of wind blew against his clothes. The Church's walls creaked and ached against the force. Isaiah looked upwards at the sky. The thick, heavy gray clouds. Perhaps God was watching the scene today. Isaiah just wished he knew if God was upset with him, his father, or all of them together.

When the drop of rain hit his nose, Isaiah returned indoors. His brother as standing in the end of the hallway, with his father. Their eyes turned to look at Isaiah. His brother's, suspicious, while his fathers were aimed high. with confident steps, if confidence was denying the wish to run away, Isaiah approached them.

"Good morning, Isaiah," Hi father spoke first.

"Good morning," He answered, but had no patience for niceties, "Have you come to a decision on what to do with the outlaw?"

His brother looked away with a shake of the head.

"Yes, I have," The Reverend nodded, "We'll have the hanging, and your brother will be leading it."

Isaiah's eyebrows shot up.

"What?" Isaiah asked.

David looked back with a painfully plain expression.

"It'll be tough, but good experience." The Reverend said.

Isaiah stood up a bit straighter.

"Wait, father," He sputtered.

"Yes?"

"Why did you decide on the hanging?"

His father pursed his lips, and his throat visibly tightened.

"It'll make a statement. As it must," He says, "May Falcon be a woman, she still committed one of the greatest sins of murder. There was no other option."

Isaiah's heart dropped into his stomach. Suddenly it became hard to breathe or function.

"Do you have some sort of other opinion?" David asked.

"No, I," Isaiah said quickly, "I just... Wanted to know."

Both his brother and father were eyeing him oddly now. Isaiah just shrugged, hoping their gazes would cease soon. His mind was racing; had Seth really spoken to Temperance? What happened?

"Are you going to attend?" His brother asked, "You haven't been to any if at all in a long time."

"I'll be there," Isaiah said.

"That's pleasant to hear," His father said.

"Yes, I'll... Noon?"

"As always," He replied.