Unholy Mary

Baptised By Blood

I slowly come to my senses. I'm staring at my hands. They're bloody. I let out a soft  whimper. I have no idea what happened. I remember I got pushed down the stairs, but that's it.

And Fleur.

Where's fleur?

I try to walk but fall. My vision goes blank for a second. My body feels bruised, my muscles feel like I had the weight of the world on them. I look around me. Most of the  rubble is missing.

The basement.

She's in the basement.

I start crawling on my hands and feet. If I remember right the basement's to the left.

My mouth is so dry. How long have I been out?

I stop when i set my hands in a puddle of blood. I slowly look up.

It's the man.
Or what's left of him.

Crucified against the wall, pierced by hundreds of splinters hangs what once was the religious fanatic man.

His intestines hang loose from his ripped open stomach. His arms are spread like Jesus on the cross, and splinters  pierce him  in every possible place. His face would've made a terrified expression if it hadn't been reduced to a bloody pool. You can see bits of his brains against the wall, dripping down.

He doesn't even look human anymore.

I let out a cry of fear. Did I do that to him? Why would I do such a thing? What did that man ever do to me?

I wanted to turn back, but I know I have to pass if I  want to get to Fleur.

The sight of the crucified man reminds me of something he said.

"The cross will save us all!"

I start dragging myself through the pool of blood, loudly wailing. My clothes suck up all the blood. I try to stand up but have nothing to pull myself up to, I drop face first.  I cry and vomit when blood enters my mouth. I can't see anything but red. I pull back my hand as i touch a part of his intestines. I bring my hand to my face to wipe the blood off but only make things worse. Blinded and gagging because of the disgusting smell and taste of rotting blood I force myself to go onward.

I'm coming, Fleur!

 When I finally get to the stairs I try to wipe my hands clean with the wall. Without success. My clothes are heavy with all the sucked up blood, leaving a red trail. I could care less. I haven't come this far to give up. Fleur would do anything for her students, her friends, me.

I try to see what's down there, but it's pitch black. With all what's left of my strength I push myself up to the banisters of the stairs and slowly, step by step Idescend.

Going down the stairs cost me more than ten minutes. I regularly take breaks, trying not to fall.

When I do get there I whisper : "Fleur, it's me Mary." but no answer follows. I feel no human presence, hear no soft breaths or don't smell anything except for the gory blood in my nose.

I start to wail and sink to the ground. Loudly sobbing.

The dissapointment is too much. I've killed a man, dragged myself through his blood and intestines and at the end I find out it's all been in vain.

I crawl back against the wall until I feel something touching my shoulder. I rapidly turn around and surpress a shriek.  I stand eye to eye with a deformed corpse. Staring at me with fear of death in it's eyes.

Fleur! Oh god, Fleur, what have they done to you! I howl out of pure misery until my voice cracks and only air comes out. I hold her body close to me. You can't even see how beautiful she once was. I hold her close to me, telling her it will be alright. I'm going insane.

I am startled when i hear  voices coming from above the stairs. I drag Fleur's body with me to the closest corner and curl up in a ball. Scared. Alone. Defeated. I blink away my tears and cover my mouth with my hand, scared i'd make a noise.

"The trail leads down here, miss."

"Go and find out who's in there. Be cautious, i'll be right down."

"Come out!" "We know you're in there."

On top of the stairs a flashlight turning on blinds me.

I hear the man gasp.

"I found her, miss Delacour"

No. It cannot be. But miss Delacour is...

I see her.  Her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. She has blood smeared over her face and a long bloody scar over her left eye that breaks the sweet porcelain complexion she always had. Her eyes look bewildered.

She runs down the stairs. "Mon dieu, Mary. What on earth did you do?"

I drop the body  and raise my hands in a desperate action to shield myself.

When she hugs me and presses me against her I realise.

Fleur.