As I walked past the elder sister the atmosphere grew darker. The faces of despair lingered on some of their faces, others just too far gone. Those who were left out to wander amongst us were deemed too incompetent to cause any harm. Either from over use of their medication or they've just lost it all together. No wonder, after all this place had nothing of importance to offer them. No hope nor proper care. Half of them didn't even need to come here then there is the actual percentage of those who were sick. The sickness comes and takes them like a thief in the night with no signs of discrimination whatsoever. So many good brothers and sisters have fall to the illness. Then there are those who are here because they refused to see him as the one to carry the torch. They just wouldn't hear a word of it and now this is their fate. I had wondered many times when it would be me..hauled off with the rest of the forgotten souls. I leaned against the frame of the entrance way for a minute, just long enough to try to slip away. I tried so hard to think of a better place other than this hell.
"I demand to speak with the Clergy! This is unjust!" What came next were horrible shrieks, they were almost inhuman. What came next was a loud clap, as soon as I turned my head I seen the young sister on the cold ground. Her habit had been halfway knocked off and a small trickle of blood ran down her ear. "I-I..." She slowly propped herself up on bend of trembling arms. "Soon he will be back...soon the sins of this place." "Enough!" The doctor struck her with his cane bringing silence after the attack. He stood there looking at her through hollow eyes, no emotion came out. "I suggest we start her off with electro shock...perhaps that would bring her down a bit." No emotion came from the doctor. Watching this whole thing made my heart stall, it was terrifying to see what had become of us..this clergy truly was no more. Finally he gave a nod. "Yes sister." He gave a bow before throwing the unconscious nun over his shoulder. There had been a brief silence before Sister Imperator glanced over at me. "You still here? These matters are none of your concern so I suggest you be on your way." Her cold expression caused me a great deal of discomfort making me look away. "Yes Sister." Were the only words I spoke to her as I turned and began making my way up the winding stairs. The words "Soon he will be back" stuck with me because no he wouldn't. Papa Emeritus was long gone, that was in fact the harsh reality of what we were facing. These days were dark with no sign of hope in sight.
As I made it up the stairs the corridor split up, the left then the right. The left wasn't much of importance but right however was the truest form of hell if there ever was one. I held my breath as I took that right, with the turn the temperature seemed to change at the snap of a finger chilling me to the bone. The rest section brought endless rows of small rooms with rectangular window or well a pathetic excuse for a window. However he wasn't in one of these room, he had what Copia considered special treatment a decent sized room all to himself furnished with a decent sized bed, a small tv, some books and other little things. I stood outside his door and tapped my fingertips against it almost hesitant to even go inside. Minutes almost felt like hours as I finally turned the knob and stepped in. The room had a bit of a musty smell to it but I tried to ignore it. "Evening." I spoke in a gentle tone as I closed the door with the same precautions as to not spook him. I checked his personal mail box and frowned the letters I had written him went untouched, only collecting dust. I glanced over in his direction, he hadn't even bothered to move. He continued to sat in his wheelchair just looking out the window. "Come on now lets get you ready for breakfast." I gave a sigh as I walked over and slowly turned him to face me. "The day is young and we mustn't waste what our father has given us." I went quiet as I began to study his features, looking upon him most would never recognize him. It had taken me a lot to be able to do so. The once slicked back raven hair now becoming shaggy and tangled at shoulder's length with patches of gray. His miss matched eyes dulling as he only seemed to look past things, no longer holding curiosity or wisdom. His face now covered in stubbles. "Emeritus.." I looked onto him with no reply, his eyes didn't even glance up in my direction. He just continued to sit there with that stone expression looking past me. Who knows where his focus was or if he could focus for that matter.
When I looked at him I so desperately wanted to see the old Emeritus, but I couldn't. This shell was becoming too much of a new normal for me. "How about a shower and a shave?" "I will tend to that, doctor Nielsen has requested to see you at once so please." She made the gesture with her hand as I stood there with confusion. "What could he possibly want with me?" She shook her head. "The order was not stand there and question, but simply to go now sister do not make me repeat this." I knew there would be no point to stand there and try to argue against it. I glanced back at Emeritus, being hesitant on having to leave. "Go on, I will see to it that he will be taken care of."
