Battlegrounds

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A brick sails through the window, raining glass down on the old priest. He brushes the glittering shards off his robe and grimaces at the flare of torches arching up through the stained glass.

Around him, pews are empty.

Something bangs against the barred front doors. He tenses as the crack of wood echoes through the cavernous church.

The priest turns to the table of prayer candles. They tear at the wood of the front doors like rabid animals. He ignores it, taking a bunt and lighting the end with a match. As candles flare to life in front of him, he mutters a prayer for each invader.

Behind him, the last restraints on the doors fling open. Torch light glares against the cross; Jesus averts his gaze to the sky.

The priest lights one last candle - a prayer for himself - and turns to greet the mob: "The grace of the lord and the love of God be with you all."

The mob floods in.

With flourish, he pulls a sword from the inside of his robe and dispatches the nearest invader.

"Let us begin," his voice rings out over the mass as his sword sings.

(Note: this won an 'honorable mention' on Flash! Friday's Vol 3 - 41, linked below)

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