Transcend

Finnegan - In the Wake

Finnegan paced outside the monastery. The massive building rose high in the looming gray clouds, the white stone still somehow shimmering in the slender sun rays. Tall, wide stained-glass windows sit generously in the walls beneath ornate crenellations and crosses covered in swags. His black cloak was pulled closed and his hood hid his face along with few grey scraps of clothes and anything else he could find.

He stopped in front of the heavy metal doors looking out at the storefronts across the road through the carts and foot traffic that had begun to thicken in the late morning.

He watched the windows of the shops for suspicious eyes. He couldn't afford to be seen.

"He should've been here by now." He hissed under his breath.

Two red eyes opened behind his head in the darkness of his hood. A small mouth yawned showing multiple rows of tiny sharp teeth. "give him time." Its voice slithered out in piercing syllables.

Finnegan shook his head, turning from the wandering eyes of an onlooker. "I've given him plenty. If he isn't here in..."

"Browning?"

Finnegan's eyes widened at his name and he turned to the smiling young man. His dark hair hung loosely over his brows and masked his rosy cheeks. It was a direct contrast to the pristine officer's uniform he wore. He held his hand out to Finnegan.

Finnegan shushed him and knocked away his offered hand, "Dougie, are you crazy? You're gonna get us both killed."

"Calm down, Finn. No one's listening." Dougie smiled crookedly at Finnegan.

Finnegan looked at the crowd's indifference and softened. He lowered his hood and his loose sandy brown curls fell free. "Fine, you got the key?"

Dougie scoffed, "Do I have the key. Of course, I got the key. Do you have the green?"

Finnegan pulled a long, green weed from the inner pocket of his robe. Dirt still clung to the roots as he handed it to Dougie. He took the plant and sniffed it.

"Crush it in hot water with honey," Finnegan said, lowering his hood, "it'll help her stomach pain."

Dougie smiled and reached in his pocket, pulling out a brass key. "See, being a city officer isn't bad sometimes."

Finnegan took it and smiled. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks."

"No thank you." Dougie saluted him with the plant, "my mother thanks you too."

"Tell her I said anytime."

Finnegan waited until Dougie blended into the crowd before turning to the monastery doors. A green skinned, three-horned Imp slowly emerged from his dropped hood. At no more than a foot, its tiny body straightened, and four tiny, bat-like wings uncurled on its back. Its left foot was bandaged, and a thick salve coated a large burn on its tail.

Finnegan turned to look at the church again, "Well, what'd'ya think, Otto? Should we go now?"

Otto nodded, "No time like the present."

Finnegan sighed, pulling his hood back up before preceding to the door on shaky legs. The small window next to the door had been smashed in and shards of glass littered the ground. The darkness inside was thick as he pushed the door open.

Finnegan looked over his shoulder one last time before opening it, slipping in at just the moment when he thought no one was looking and locked the door behind him.

On the inside, the narrow braziers at the end of each opulent, but uncomfortable pew sat cold and darkened in the aisle.

Finnegan stepped further inside, his boots digging the broken glass into the chestnut carpet that ran the length of the walkway all the way to a sapphire altar. From this distance, he could make out the bible that once sat neatly on it was knocked off and splayed on the floor. Notes and pages scattered on lavishly gilded wood.