Our Meliora

Slipping from reality

I sit back as I continue to admire the designs on the windows. The silence was just what I needed but then suddenly I hear a faint coughing from the front. I start to freeze as I feel a cold chill go up my spine. "Step forth my child." I look around the room then suddenly everything goes dark. The only light source was the faint candle light flickering in the front. I feel my heart race as I stay seated. "My child of darkness do not make me ask again." I take a deep breath as I slowly stand up and hesitantly make my way to the front as I fidget with the grucifix pendant. "Do not be frightened my child." I gasp as I step back, I look at the old man a bit in horror. "Allow me to introduce myself I'm Papa Zero. I have been sent here by the dark lord himself. I have come to warn you of a great change to come. Papa Emeritus will not take heed. As his wife you must do what you can, should you fail and I will take the unholy throne. I shall sit on a throne of the fallen. Brothers and sisters as well as the bodies of others.  When I take over the party will be over and the dark ages will come. Your husband will be sentenced to death but you my dear.." He chuckles in between coughs as he walks over and takes my hand. "I can't let such a gorgeous creature go waste you will be my wife." He kisses my hand and looks up at me with his milky eyes. I pull away from him in disgust. "N-No! We won't allow this! Papa would never allow this to happen! He is not a foolish man!" The old man goes into a laughing fit then coughs. "Let me show you the things to come, the new world!" He shouts as  windows of the chapel bust out revealing the pitch black sky, the bodies stacked high as blood soaked the ground. "This! This is what is to come! This will be the fate of the world!" He shouts as he points to Papa Emeritus who was being burned alive as he hung upside down, I couldn't see much but it looked like blood was dripping from his throat. I back up in disbelief then suddenly I jerk away looking around in shock as I pant. I wipe the sweat from my forehead as I try to relax my breathing. What the hell..I could have sworn that was real. I felt his bony hand grabbed mine, I could smell the stench of death. What the hell was that. I slowly up as my legs shake, I just want to get out of here. My breath gets caught in my throat. I bolt out the door and rush through the corridor looking for Papa. I have no idea what I was going to do to convince him to listen to me, would I even be able to convince him? As soon as I see him I run over and hug him tight. "Papa!" I say as I nearly knock him over. "Pandora? What has got into you?" He asks in a worried tone. "Papa..I am so confused here.." Papa pulls away a bit and looks at me as he holds my hands and looks into my eyes. "Talk to me my love, what is bothering?" I take a deep breath as I look into his eyes. "I went into the chapel to clear my mind..and well I sat down and thought I was alone but apparently I wasn't..there was this old man." Papa stops me by leaning in and kisses me. "You worry too much my dear, it was a bad dream nothing else to worry about." I shake my head. "You really don't understand, he seemed so real.." Emeritus shakes his head. "No no darling you don't understand. Look I think it may just be the stress." He says in a gentle tone as he caresses my cheek. "You may just be spooked by what Sister Imperator told you but please believe me when I say that you are in good hands." I look into his eyes and sigh. "I just feel like you aren't taking me seriously.." He looks at me. "But I am, I would go to any length to keep you safe from harm. I don't know how to prove this to you.  But please believe in me." He sighs and shakes his head. "How about this go to our chamber, try to relax because I am relieving you of your duties for the rest of the day. I will see you soon." I shake my head. "Papa no, I have duties that I must uphold." "No, now Pandora please, you are not in any condition to be bothered with work. Now please go rest." I sigh softly and nod. "Okay, but you have to promise to be careful." He takes my hand and squeezes it a bit. "Of course, now on your way darling. I will see you soon." I sigh and nod as I slowly walk away from him and sigh, still feeling a bit aggravated that he wouldn't take this seriously. He was so damn stubborn, I just didn't know how to get through to him. I wipe my eyes as I walk into our chamber and sit down on the sofa as I lower head and sigh as I wipe my eyes just trying to put this whole thing out of my mind.